FUNDAY/SUNDAY
The Mets are Molting
PETE ALONSO, EDWIN DIAZ, BRANDON NIMMO, & TAYLOR ROGERS SAY GOODBYE TO THE METS
Pete Alonso is now with the Baltimore Orioles. Edwin Diaz is with the Dodgers. Brandon Nimmo is with the Texas Rangers. Taylor Rogers is now a Toronto Blue Jay.
THE NY POST PHRASED IT THIS WAY
Tip of the Hat from the legendary Bob Ryan
ADDING RIGHT-HAND POWER
The Orioles last season finished 23rd (tied with the Marlins) with 87 homers hit by righties, so you can see the appeal of adding Pete Alonso. From the Mets’ perspective, it’s hard to lose Alonso’s 38 homers since they only hit 89 homers from the right side, two more than the O’s. So far, their replacements (Marcus Semien, Jorge Polanco (The Mets added Polanco seemingly to replace Alonso at first. He has played one MLB pitch at that position.), Devin Williams, who is replacing Edwin Diaz in the bullpen, despite a weak 2025 with the Yankees) are not going to bring that power.
Home run power from the right side is not easy to find. The Angels led the majors with 192 homers by righties. They already dealt 36 of those homers to the Orioles in Taylor Ward. This means the O’s have added 74 right-handed homers this offseason.
The Nationals could use some of them. The Nats only hit 46 righty homers last season, and they were led by Dylan Crews, who hit 10.
POLANCO’S ACCIDENTAL GAME AT FIRST BASE
Accidents will happen. On April 6, 2025, Mariners outfielder Victor Robles made a spectacular 9th inning leaping catch into the netting against the Giants. He suffered a fracture in the humeral head (ball) of his left shoulder and was carted off the field. The Mariners were already without third baseman Jorge Polanco (left knee soreness) for the second straight game. But Polanco came off the bench and played for a pitch as Wilmer Flores pinch-hit a walkoff single.
COINCIDENTAL STAT OF THE DAY
Last season, the Dodgers, Blue Jays, and Yankees all hit 116 right-handed homers.
BILLY-BALL-A-GRAM
This birthday boy has been a part of many famous baseball moments. Unfortunately, he is too often remembered for an infamous World Series moment.
