Mets Morning News: Cirque du Mets

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The Mets attempted to stage a ninth inning comeback yesterday with Aroldis Chapman not at his sharpest and fell just short, as they dropped the second game of the Subway Series in the Bronx. The fourth inning blew up on Steven Matz and Matt den Dekker’s defense in the outfield certainly didn’t help matters. Michael Conforto hit a solo home run in the second inning against Sonny Gray, his twelfth of the year.

Choose your recap: Amazin’ Avenue short and long, NY Times, Post, Daily News, Newsday, MLB.com, Bergen County Record.

Yesterday was, to put it lightly, not a great PR day for the Mets. After Yoenis Cespedes revealed on Friday night that his lingering heel problem would eventually require surgery, the Mets responded incredibly poorly yesterday. First, Mickey Callaway addressed the media, deferring to team doctors when asked about Cespedes’ heel issues and seemed completely unaware of Cespedes’ revelation on Friday night.. Cespedes sat for yesterday’s game and will be reevaluated soon, according to Callaway.

No one else, including any members of the Mets’ front office, spoke about Cespedes’ injury. The reaction was swift and it was critical from nearly every member of the Mets’ beat, citing the obvious disconnect between the team and its star player. The Mets’ solution to the whole debacle seemed to simply be to bury their heads in the sand and pretend it was not happening.

Meanwhile, the Mets traded Jeurys Familia to the Oakland A’s for two prospects and international slot money. By executing the trade many days before the trading deadline and not agreeing to pay any of Familia’s remaining salary, many were critical of the return the Mets got for their star closer. Keith Law went as far as to call the trade “embarrassing for the Mets and for Major League Baseball” and called for MLB to step in to force the Wilpons to sell the team.

Since all of that news above was depressing as hell, here’s a fun video of Stephen Colbert hanging out with some Mets players at Citi Field.

And here’s some good news. Ahead of Saturday’s celebration of the A’s 1989 World Series victory, Sandy Alderson said that he “feels good,” health-wise.

Around the National League East

The Marlins won their fourth straight game, as they bested the Rays 3-2 behind a strong start from Pedro Lopez.

Dan Straily has begun throwing a two-seam sinker and it may be helping him turn his season around.

Yesterday’s Braves vs. Nationals game in D.C. was postponed due to inclement weather.

If it takes a dugout argument to wake the Nationals up, then so be it, writes Jerry Brewer.

The Braves were showing interest in Michael Fulmer, but Fulmer has been diagnosed with a strained oblique which puts a damper on that trade possibility.

The Phillies were also rained out. They will play a double-header today.

Around Major League Baseball

The Cardinals have placed Carlos Martinez on the disabled list with an oblique strain.

But the Cardinals have to feel good about the fact that Matt Carpenter has now homered in six straight games. He is just the 28th player in MLB history to achieve the feat.

The Mariners plan to stick with Dee Gordon at second base, even once Robinson Cano returns from his suspension.

With Familia and Brad Hand off the market, interest in Orioles closer Zach Britton is heating up.

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

Lukas Vlahos and Brian Salvatore covered the details of the Jeurys Familia trade.

Kory Powell gave us the daily prospect report.

This Date in Mets History

On this date in 1994, Dwight Gooden checked himself into rehab while serving a 60-day suspension for cocaine abuse.