Mets Morning News: Mets managerial candidates get positive reviews from colleagues

Meet the Mets

Mike Bell is scheduled to interview for the Mets’ managerial position tomorrow. As previously reported, Joe Girardi, Carlos Beltran, and Derek Shelton will also interview in person. Jon Heyman also reports a “mystery candidate,” who is rumored to be Luis Rojas.

A.J. Hinch gave a ringing endorsement of Carlos Beltran, calling him “one of the best baseball minds I’ve been around.”

Former Mets reliever LaTroy Hawkins, who is now a special assistant with the Twins, said that Derek Shelton’s biggest strength is his communication skills and his ability to bring different personalities in a clubhouse together.

Around the National League East

The Nationals bested the Cardinals 3-1 in Game 2 of the NLCS, putting them ahead in the series 2-0. For the second straight day, Nationals pitching completely shut down the Cardinals offense. Max Scherzer got to the seventh inning before allowing his first hit. Sean Doolittle pitched a scoreless seventh and Patrick Corbin and Daniel Hudson combined to finish things off in the ninth.

Sean Doolittle had some choice words for those critical of Daniel Hudson’s paternity leave, which included a former Marlins executive.

Around Major League Baseball

The Yankees shut out the Astros 7-0 in Game 1 of the ALCS. Masahiro Tanaka surrendered just one hit over six innings of work. D.J. LeMahieu collected three hits and Gleyber Torres drove in five runs.

Ben Lindbergh of The Ringer took a look at whether the “de-juiced “ baseball may have changed the outcome of the NLDS between the Dodgers and the Nationals.

An employee of the Los Angeles Angels revealed that he gave oxycodone to Tyler Skaggs and that the two abused it for years. The team was also aware of Skaggs’ drug use long before his death.

The San Francisco Giants will interview Gabe Kapler, who was let go by the Phillies. He and Farhan Zaidi have a relationship from the time they were together in the Dodgers organization.

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

Maggie Wiggin took a look back at Walker Lockett’s season—one most of us would probably rather forget.

This Date in Mets History

On this date four years ago, the Dodgers beat the Mets in Game 4 of the NLDS 3-1 to force a decisive Game 5. The Dodgers were buoyed by a sparkling performance from Clayton Kershaw that day, as that performance has since been overshadowed by less stellar postseason outings. He pitched seven innings and gave up just one run. Steven Matz took the loss, surrendering three runs in five innings of work. But the Mets would go on to win the series and advance all the way to the World Series.