Here are a few items to track in the baseball world on Thursday:
1. Mets drop eighth straight, head to Chicago
The Mets were in a tight one on Wednesday night against the Dodgers until Dalton Rushing blasted a grand slam in the eighth inning to put the game away. The small silver lining for New York fans is that the Rushing homer meant the game was no longer a save situation, so the Mets avoided being on the other end of Edwin Diaz and his trumpet entrance. The Mets have been held to two runs or fewer in seven of eight games during this losing streak. Their next chance to get into the win column will come on Friday against the Cubs. New York will have to survive one more road series without Juan Soto before his potential return next week.
2. Pitcher-only Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani led the charge in the sweep of the Mets, tossing six innings of one-run ball with 10 strikeouts. He was not in the hitting lineup, though. The two-way superstar pitched but didn’t hit for the first time since 2021. Rushing’s grand slam actually came as the DH in Ohtani’s stead. Manager Dave Roberts said the decision was made after Ohtani was hit by a David Peterson sinker on Monday night. “This one game, it just makes the most sense to give us the best chance to manage the shoulder and back,” Roberts told reporters, including Katie Woo of The Athletic. Ohtani’s next chance to get back in the hitting lineup as a pitcher is slated for Wednesday against the Giants.
3. Fermin leaves after a foul tip to the mask
Padres catcher Freddy Fermin was removed in the third inning of Wednesday’s game against the Mariners after being struck by a foul ball. Manager Craig Stammen told reporters, including AJ Cassavell of MLB.com, that Fermin does not have a concussion following an initial round of testing but will be reevaluated today. Luis Campusano replaced Fermin and is the only other catcher on the 40-man roster. Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune noted that Triple-A catcher Rodolfo Duran was removed from last night’s game in the ninth inning after Fermin’s injury. He’d seem to be a logical replacement if Fermin is forced to the IL.
The Mets being as bad at Baseball as they are is probably making Phillies fans feel better about themselves.
So this is the Padres Freddy Fermin? So I guess that should be manager Craig Stammen, yeah?
What did it say before they changed it.?
We need some excitement on this team, how about firing Mendoza and hiring Wally Backman or Carlos Beltran, than bring up Clifford to play 1b, Ewing in LF, Scott or Tong moving Peterson to the BP.
No to Backman but bring on Beltran. And bring on Scott and Ewing for sure. Tong and Clifford are not ready, imo.
As the Mets are tanking, Soto has a 164 OPS+, while making $51M Lux Tax Salary. Its seems like alloting so much salary to a single offensive-minded player, doesnt make them any better. A ‘generational talent’ that cant make his team, hmmm.
Remove Soto’s salary and the Mets would still rank 2nd or 3rd in MLB payroll. Not defending what they’re paying him, but he’s not the excuse.
You have overlooked the great signing of Bo Bichette @ $42M.
all the mets fans (and non mets fans) who thought stearns knew what he was doing. all the fans who were fine with devin (the disaster) williams signing. polanco, semien, even bichette has been garbage so far. but you guys are all baseball experts. mets made great offseason moves. this is gonna work out !!
shoulda fired stearns + mendoza last yr to really clean house… 8 L in a row lol… what a laughingstock circus freak show embarrassment
I wonder if there’s 140+ games left in the season…. Hmmmmm idk though
The Yankees traded Nestor Cortes and Caleb Durbin for one year of Devin Williams. Nobody won that trade.
Anyone w a brain knew Semien was washed n a big mistake
Nimmo must have really pissed some people off in the Bronx cuz w his bat, he could help carry this team until Soto returns. Grab a real 2b via trade like Marte( not likely) but Lowe was attainable easily. Fumbled the bag on Edwin too
Swap those 2 bats w or w out Edwin n this teams floor n ceiling is much higher IMO
Even being 2-6 on this run would be it much more easier to stomach.