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Meet the Mets
Noah Syndergaard said he felt “really out of whack” during yesterday’s start, in which he allowed five walks in just 2 2⁄3 innings. But he also said it’s “great to struggle” because the ability to make adjustments “separates the men from the boys.”
The Mets are committed to Edwin Diaz pitching exclusively as a closer. But Joel Sherman argues that maybe they shouldn’t be so inflexible with their best reliever.
Speaking of Diaz, seeing him on the mound for the first time in a Mets uniform was a highlight of yesterday’s game.
Travis d’Arnaud will make his Grapefruit League debut on Sunday, his first game back from Tommy John surgery.
Around the National League East
The Braves franchise is raking in a lot of cash. But Liberty Media is spending it on real estate rather than investing it back into the club.
Yesterday during his first press conference as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies, Bryce Harper explained why he was changing his number from 34, which he had worn his entire major league career until this season, to 3. “I thought Roy Halladay should be the last one to wear it,” he said.
Now that the Bryce Harper mattered is settled and Washington DC starts to move on, the focus shifts to extending Anthony Rendon.
A new member of the Marlins, Curtis Granderson is already having an impact on the clubhouse in Miami. It’s the first time he’s going into spring training without a guaranteed job since the early days in his career, but adapting to change is part of his mantra to the younger players.
Around Major League Baseball
Joel Sherman lists the big names in next year’s free agent class and speculates how this year’s hot stove may affect them next offseason.
Jed Lowrie was a leader in the A’s clubhouse. And it is clear that he will be missed by his former teammates in Oakland.
The San Francisco Giants claimed former Met Merandy Gonzalez off waivers.
Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue
Robert Fallo previewed Luis Avilan’s season.
Maggie Wiggin wrote about how the Mets should rise to the challenge of the Phillies signing Bryce Harper.
Vasilis Drimalitis recapped yesterday’s spring training loss to the Astros.
This Date in Mets History
On this date in 1956, a proposal was submitted to the city that would have given the New York Giants a new stadium. The city declined and two years later, the Giants departed for San Francisco.