Mets Morning News: Hello Shaun Marcum and RIP 2013 Mets

Meet the Mets

Shaun Marcum made his Mets debut, tossing four innings but the bullpen betrayed him as the Mets fell again to the Phillies, this time 9-4. Marcum was not all that pleased with his outing.

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Jon Niese goes to the hill in his first start since getting hit in the leg with a ball, as the Mets look to salvage the series finale with the Phillies. Game time is at 1:10 PM and you can catch the action on WPIX.

To make room on the roster for Marcum, Josh Edgin was demoted down to Double-A Binghamton thanks to the PCL's awful pitching environment.

Can the Mets take advantage of the Phillies' and Nationals' early struggles?

Joe Posnanski says that Matt Harvey is more than just New York hype.

We've got some injury updates: Frank Francisco is still rehabbing and his velocity is ticking upward. Jenrry Mejia is supposed to throw a bullpen, Tim Byrdak will throw from a mound soon, and Pedro Feliciano is also working his way back. In the minors, three pitchers are on their way back: Michael Fulmer threw in an extended spring game and will begin working on a starter's schedule, Cory Mazzoni is throwing, and Luis Mateo should start throwing in the next week.

Yesterday At AA

Here's our Daily Farm Report from yesterday.

Brock Mahan looks back to April 27th in Mets history.

Around the NL East

Giancarlo Stanton hit his first home run of the year but the Marlins lost to the Cubs 3-2. In case you didn't realize, Marlins Park's outfield wall is a giant green screen.

The Braves lost again to the Tigers, this time 7-4. Talking Chop has an interview with Buster Olney, with part one focusing on the Braves' offense.

Bryce Harper ripped his ninth home run of the young season, as the Nats beat the Reds 6-3 behind Dan Haren's strong start. Have I ever mentioned that Bryce Harper is really @$%^ing good at baseball?

Around the Majors

Attendance is way down in Philadelphia so far. So you're telling me that all of those fans who started showing up in 2009 didn't stick around?

The Dodgers are down another starting pitcher, as Stephen Fife has hit the DL with shoulder bursitis. Remember when they had too much pitching?

Kevin Youkilis is back in the Yankees' lineup after missing six games with a back injury.

Ryan Zimmerman is on track to return from the DL next Friday.

Rob Neyer looked at what may happen in baseball once a new commissioner is eventually put in place.

Are there any legs to the comparison of Yu Darvish to Pedro Martinez?