Mets Afternoon News: Bumgarner bums out Cardinals fans, Britton bitten by a couple of Royals

Meet the Mets

The Mets have not yet announced a hitting coach. There's only so much a hitting coach can do, says David Lennon. He's probably right.

Baseball America named Jacob deGrom and Travis d'Arnaud to its all-rookie team. Both players are deserving of that acknowledgment.

Brandon Nimmo went 1-for-5 with a double and a couple of runs batted in last night in the Arizona Fall League, but Matt Reynolds went 3-for-5 stole the show in that game, as he went 3-for-5 with a double and a go-ahead two-run home run in the tenth inning.

Around MLB

Madison Bumgarner was dominant once again, and the Giants beat the Cardinals in Game 1 of the NLCS. Game 2 takes place at 8:00 PM EDT this evening.

Ken Rosenthal explores why Hunter Pence looks so awkward when he throws.

The Orioles and Royals were tied heading into the ninth inning, but Kansas City notched a couple of runs against Zach Britton in the top of that inning. And that two-run lead held up, of course, as Greg Holland finished off the game. Kansas City's bullpen threw three-and-one-third scoreless innings in the game, and the Royals now lead the series 2-0.

Around the NL East

The Good Phight runs down the Phillies' best moments of 2014.