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Meet the Mets
The Mets were smacked around by the Nationals last night at Citi Field, suffering a 16-4 drubbing in their series opener. Steven Matz gave up three home runs over the course of the second and third innings and, after holding Washington scoreless in the fourth, was bombarded in the fifth in what turned out to be a seven-run frame. It was, by all measures, a bad day for the Mets. Brandon Nimmo did hit a home run in the ninth.
Choose Your Recap: Amazin’ Avenue short and long, Daily News, ESPN, MLB.com, Newsday, NY Post
Nimmo’s homer extended his on-base streak to 31-games, which matches four others Mets for 10th on the all-time franchise list. John Olerud set the all-time mark back in 1998-1999 with 47 consecutive games.
Marcus Stroman chose to opt out of the 2020 season, citing “many uncertainties” including traveling to Florida and the COVID spikes happening around baseball and the country.
The pitcher shared a statement on his decision via Twitter after holding a presser.
Stroman was set to throw a simulated game on Tuesday, so the decision to opt out blind-sighted Luis Rojas.
Brodie Van Wagenen said that, following the opt out, the team is still confident going forward in what they can do, and will have the “next man step up”.
Whatever the Mets’ GM might do next, fans should be terrified.
Tim Britton explored what the opt out means for the Mets in the short-term, the long-term, and for the league as a whole.
Mike Puma also looked at what the move means for the Mets.
SNY examined some potential in-house options to take Stroman’s spot in the rotation for the remainder of the season.
According to Van Wagenen, Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman could potentially find their way into the rotation to replace Stroman this season.
In a candid new interview, Darryl Strawberry said Alex Rodriguez would be “incredible” as Mets’ owner.
This week’s Mets Mailbag looks at how this year’s trade deadline could shape Brodie Van Wagenen’s legacy and who will be the team’s starting catcher in 2021, among other things.
Around the National League East
The Phillies jumped out to a 13-1 lead over the Braves and held on following Atlanta’s seven-run ninth to win 13-8.
The Phillies could piggyback pitchers Spencer Howard and Vince Velasquez in Friday night’s game against the Mets.
The Braves optioned pitcher Sean Newcomb to the alternate site.
Around Major League Baseball
MLB has held preliminary discussions on holding the 2020 playoffs in a bubble-type format, sources told Jeff Passan.
The Thursday doubleheader between the Cardinals and Tigers has been postponed, which would mean more than two weeks in between games for St. Louis.
The best hope is they will play the White Sox on Friday, but the understanding now is that they will not be able to play 60 games this season.
In a statement, Indians pitcher Zach Plesac apologized after going out with friends in Chicago on Saturday night following the team’s win against the White Sox. He has since been quarantined and will need to test negative twice before he can return to play.
It was later revealed that Cleveland starter Mike Clevinger also went out with Plesac that night. He has been scratched from his start tonight against the Cubs after breaking protocol. He will also need to quarantine until he produces two negative tests. The team announced that Adam Plutko will start in his place.
The Reds submitted a plan to bring fans back to Great American Ballpark as early as September 2020. The plan was approved by both the city and the county, albeit “with lots of conditions”.
Madison Bumgarner is heading to the injured list with a strained back. GM Mike Hazen is hopeful he will only miss a couple of starts.
In the fallout from the Astros/Athletics fight on Sunday, Jeff Passan reported that Houston hitting coach Alex Cintron made a vile comment to Oakland outfielder Ramon Laureano about his mother (a claim that Cintron denies).
Tom Verducci explored why the fastball is going away.
With BABIP unusually low this year, many are wondering why base hits are disappearing.
MLB is polling executives on the idea of cancelling the 2020 winter meetings.
The Rangers signed Derek Dietrich to a minor league deal.
Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue
I argued that Yoenis Cespedes deserves to be remembered fondly.
Steve Sypa reminisced about Steve Chilcott in his latest Prospect Retrospective.
Steve Sypa provided an update on the CPBL team, the KBO team, and the NPB team that the From Complex to Queens team has been following this year.
Episode 74 of From Complex to Queens looks at the impact that minor leaguers have had on the Mets in 2020, and what that means for the team’s future.
In the latest SB Nation Reacts, readers sounded off on the new rules in MLB.
This Date in Mets History
After a career-worst 63-game homerless drought, Gary Carter finally hit home run #300 on this date in 1988. In doing so, he became the fourth catcher to enter the 300-home run club, joining Johnny Bench, Yogi Berra, and Carlton Fisk.