G-Fafif

Thor reinventing himself into what we might call a Chris Bassitt type could be a sight to see.

The pitcher formerly known as the New York Mets' Noah Syndergaard's debut at his West Coast place of employ seems to have gone well, with Thor getting outs, along with his sentiments well-articulated. (Paywall.) There was a lot of personal significance for Noah Syndergaard on Saturday night. It was his first game in an Angels uniform. It was also his first meaningful start since 2019. It's a moment he has worked very hard to achieve, and thought about, literally for years. But when Syndergaard was asked about that personal significance shortly after the Angels defeated the Astros 2-0 on Saturday for their first win of the season, he recognized that his start meant something more important. “The whole day I had goose bumps just because I was taking the mound on the 13-year anniversary of (Nick) Adenhart being tragically taken away from us,” Syndergaard said. “I felt like there was an angel by my side tonight. That was really special to me. “As athletes, I feel like our number — to the everyday person, it's just kind of a number — but to us, it's part of our identity. Growing up, my number was 34 because I was a huge fan of Nolan Ryan. But now it kind of means something a little bit different to me. I want to use that to lift up his name.” Thirteen years ago to the day, Adenhart was killed by a drunk driver just hours after a successful season debut for the Angels. He was 22 years old, only beginning to shine in his big-league career. That night was the last time any player had worn the No. 34 in an Angels uniform. It had been unofficially retired. It was also the number Syndergaard wore in New York, one the native Texan proudly wore as a hat tip to his former hero. He wanted to wear it in Anaheim, and the team agreed. Syndergaard lived up to every expectation. He threw 5 1/3 innings and allowed no runs. The powerful right-hander walked two, struck out one and induced 11 groundouts. “Outstanding,” manager Joe Maddon said of the performance. “He's just a strike thrower. The changeup is outstanding, and the slider, he's willing to pitch inside. … He was totally in command of everything that he's doing out there.” I must admit I've felt uncommonly jilted by Thor. Other free agent Mets who left I reasoned were partaking in business and it was probably the Mets' fault for not re-signing them if in fact I wanted them back. After being reminded Thor is a real person, I think I've moved on to sincerely wishing him well. Besides, his prospective slot in the Mets' rotation appears suitably filled. https://theathletic.com/3240809/2022/04/10/an-angel-by-my-side-noah-syndergaard-stars-in-angels-debut-with-a-tribute-to-nick-adenhart/https://theathletic.com/3240809/2022/04/10/an-angel-by-my-side-noah-syndergaard-stars-in-angels-debut-with-a-tribute-to-nick-adenhart/

A valentine to the disappearing agate type sports page. One more nail was hammered into the societal coffin this week when The New York Times published its Sports Section agate page for the last time. Those under the age of 40 will be wondering, “What's an agate page?” Those under the age of 20 will be wondering, “What's a Sports Section?” All good questions. So for those who need a quick education, the agate page is easily the most dense, most information-packed part of the Sports Section, or the entire newspaper for that matter. It's a daily compendium of sporting tidbits, a World Almanac of obscure information that zero people are interested in, at least you would think. It's where you go for box scores, the schedule of games tomorrow in the National Hockey League, boxing weigh-ins, horse racing schedules, results from the Miami Open — is the Miami Open tennis or golf? Who knows? Who cares? — standings in the NBA and preseason baseball games, high school lacrosse scores, the distance traveled by a javelin thrown by the third place finisher in a Boise track and field meet, and startling news including the revelation that the Minnesota Vikings have agreed to terms with guard Chris Reed on a one-year contract, and that Washington Nationals outfielder Andrew Stevenson has cleared waivers and been optioned to Triple A Rochester. https://www.heraldmailmedia.com/story/opinion/2022/04/06/nostalgia-agate-page-belied-need-magnifying-glass-read-tim-rowland-new-york-times-sports/9481345002/https://www.heraldmailmedia.com/story/opinion/2022/04/06/nostalgia-agate-page-belied-need-magnifying-glass-read-tim-rowland-new-york-times-sports/9481345002/

Nimmo CF Lindor SS Canó 2B Alonso 1B Escobar 3B D. Smith DH Canha RF McNeil LF Nido C Carrasco RHP

1,160. Chris Bassitt

David Peterson slides over from the taxi squad to fill Diaz's spot if not his role.

Edwin Diaz will go on the bereavement list (grandfather passed away). Corresponding move presumably to be announced.

1,159. Max Scherzer

Shea lives.

1,158. Travis Jankowski

1,157. Adam Ottavino

179. Eduardo Escobar 04/07/2022

1,154. Starling Marte 1,155. Eduardo Escobar 1,156. Mark Canha

Last Met season: 1969 Served as an instructor through 2004; consulted until his stroke in 2015.

Smith now places 6th in games played as a Met (not counting pitchers) to never start on Opening Day. Who's first? Jorgensen, who already appeared in a coupl'a threads today? Maybe McEwing? Good guess with the latter. Joe McEwing 502 Matt Franco 452 Mackey Sasser 420 Bruce Boisclair 410 Danny Heep 395 Dom Smith 389 Daryl Boston 382 Timo Perez 372 Teddy Martinez 353 Rod Kanehl 340 Endy Chavez 337 Jorgy started in right on Opening Day 1980. http://www.faithandfearinflushing.com/2018/04/01/time-continues-after-opening-day/http://www.faithandfearinflushing.com/2018/04/01/time-continues-after-opening-day/

A's in Philadelphia to open the season? Nothing unusual there, said somebody who just woke up from a 68-year nap.

Smith now places 6th in games played as a Met (not counting pitchers) to never start on Opening Day.

Edgy MD wrote: If "special assistant to the GM" counts for "in the game," I think 1970 Met Mike Jorgensen is still bringing it. Jorgy (whose Met debut was 1968) was last a Met in 1983, which would be the baseline for this "afterlife" exercise.

Our distinguished colleagues from across the aisle, as they like to say in Washington.

First lineup of the year (no Nimmo; stiff neck). Marte RF J.D. Davis DH Lindor SS Alonso 1B Escobar 3B Canó 2B Canha CF McNeil LF McCann C - Megill RHP (0-0, -.--)

=batmagadanleadoff post_id=88579 time=1649358779 user_id=68] =G-Fafif post_id=88513 time=1649295708 user_id=55] Brent Strom keeps it comin', via the Athletic (paywall)....

Cody Stavenhagen, who does terrific work covering the Tigers for the Athletic (paywall), has a profile up of Javy Baez. The other narrative always tied to Báez is the dichotomous nature of his game. The homers and the strikeouts, the highlights and the occasional errors, the boom and bust of a player so good yet sometimes so frustrating. Sometimes, scouts, fans, coaches and players wonder if Báez's flaws come from a bad attitude, arrogance, or worse, indifference. Too many people still don't get it. The unbridled passion that creates Báez's gaping flaws is the same source that fuels his greatest strengths. Too many people still have Javy Báez all wrong. https://theathletic.com/3234818/2022/04/07/to-understand-tigers-shortstop-javier-baez-you-must-understand-what-drives-him/https://theathletic.com/3234818/2022/04/07/to-understand-tigers-shortstop-javier-baez-you-must-understand-what-drives-him/

From SI: For the first matchup between the Mets and Nationals at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Melanie Newman (play-by-play), Chris Young (analyst), Hannah Keyser (analyst) and Brooke Fletcher (reporter) will call the game. Stephen Nelson (play-by-play), Hunter Pence (analyst), Katie Nolan (analyst) and Heidi Watney (reporter) will call the second game of the night between the Astros and Angels at 9:30 ET.