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Scherzer vs. Wright at 7:15. Fox you, Braves

1,184. Francisco Alvarez

Edgy MD wrote: Albert Pujols can hit 700. Aaron Judge can hit 61. Willie Mays just showing up is a bigger story than either, for me. I love this line. I also love that Willie Mays is around to, if he chooses, monitor the progress of http://www.faithandfearinflushing.com/2022/09/30/when-the-kids-make-it-to-the-ballpark/the first Met born in the 21st century.

Alvarez up. Ruf to the IL. Claudio DFA'd.

Francisco is wearing No. 50. He's on the roster at the expense of Darin Ruf, who's on the IL with a "neck strain". Alex Claudio was DFA'd for 40-man purposes.

The kid will wear 50.

Nimmo CF Alonso 1B Lindor SS Canha LF McNeil RF Escobar 3B Alvarez DH Guillorme 2B Nido C deGrom P

Alvarez is in the lineup tonight, batting seventh as DH.

Mets calling up Francisco Alvarez this weekend.

Willie Mays was back at the ballpark last night. Doesn't matter which one. The ballpark is where Willie belongs. His SF chronicler John Shea reported on his return, a heartwarming baseball story it's a baseball fan's obligation to share. ALL-TIME GIANTS GREAT WILLIE MAYS LIGHTS UP ORACLE PARK WITH SURPRISE VISIT By John Shea San Francisco Chronicle The ballpark was especially vibrant and cheerful Wednesday night because the legend of legends was in the house. For the first time since July 2021, Willie Mays visited Oracle Park and took in the friendly environment that greets him when he stops by his second home. Mays, 91, who was advised to stay clear of big crowds during much of the pandemic and has been rehabbing from hip surgery, set a goal to get to the stadium before season's end. Mays arrived a few hours before the San Francisco Giants' game against the Colorado Rockies and visited his old friend, Mike Murphy, the longtime clubhouse manager who was a batboy in 1958 when Mays and the Giants debuted in San Francisco. “I came to see the guys, not to cause any excitement. I want to make sure I keep up with the guys,” Mays said in a clubhouse room Murphy set up for him. “I just hope I can keep my body strong enough to be back for spring training. There are just a few games to go this year, but these guys will be back strong.” Mays sat in a wheelchair, and he and Murphy shared stories and laughs, as usual. One by one, Giants players entered the room and got a handshake from the Say Hey Kid, still one of the firmest in the game — “I miss all you guys,” he said at one point. “I never missed so many games in my life.” CEO Larry Baer, executive vice president Mario Alioto, president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi and public-address announcer Renel Brooks-Moon were among those to pay their respects. When outfielder Mike Yastrzemski entered, Mays mentioned he faced Carl Yastrzemski, Mike's grandfather, in All-Star Games. “He could hit, man. Made me run around a little bit.” Mays told the younger Yastrzemski he likes him in center field — “Just don't try to catch it my way (the basket catch). Catch it your way.” Joc Pederson and J.D. Davis came by, and Mays asked them how many home runs they had — 23 for Pederson, 11 for Davis. “That's not bad,” Mays said. Mays told Zaidi, “You guys give me a lot of spirit,” and he called Murphy “my guy — we've been together a long time.” Nearing the end of a disappointing Giants season, Mays told the truth to a couple of players when saying, “You guys need some help, man.” The players laughed and didn't disagree. Before the pandemic, Mays was a regular at home games, making himself available in the clubhouse to young players or anyone else who wanted to visit and say hello. He'd spend the first few innings in his suite above left field and return the next day. Even in spring training, Mays would be in Scottsdale throughout camp and religiously attend home games, at least until mid-March 2020 when the pandemic shut down the game. Once that season began, folks weren't allowed into ballparks, and Mays was asked to shelter in place, needing to wait until May 7, 2021, to make a triumphant return to 24 Willie Mays Plaza. It was his 90th birthday celebration, coming in a homestand opener the day after he turned the big nine-oh. That day, even with attendance still limited — the crowd count was 9,219, many in masks — the franchise icon was in his element and joyful that he was in the presence of fans, reveling in shared positive vibes as Mays did a lap around the warning track in a 1956 turquoise and white Oldsmobile convertible. Mays' visit Wednesday was a bit more subtle, but it meant the world to him. His body, mobility and eyesight aren't what they were — he has been dealing with issues associated with life at age 91 — but his sharp mind keeps him in his prime, and he still can read the room as easily as he can light it up. Mays was accompanied by his son, Michael; longtime assistant and friend, Rene Anderson; his physician, Dr. Carla Pugh; and helper Samoa Palauni. Even Willie's beloved dog, a poodle named Giant, came along. “Mr. Mays is doing amazing from a cognitive perspective and is making great progress in his rehab for his physical strength,” Pugh said. “Cognitively, he is at the the top of his game. It's rare to have the situation awareness that he has, and that bodes well for his rehab. I've never seen anything like that from a 91-year-old.” Mays is looking forward to the new documentary about him, which has his blessing and will air on HBO shortly after the World Series. He remains involved in his Say Hey Foundation, which benefits needy youth, and let it be known the second class of the Willie Mays Scholars — a college preparation and need-based scholarship program supporting Black youth living in San Francisco — was honored by the Giants this season. Last month, Mays got emotional when the New York Mets retired his number 24 during an Old-Timers Day celebration at Citi Field, carrying through on a pledge made by former team owner Joan Payson, who had vowed to retire the number, but she died two years after Mays retired as a Met. On Wednesday, Mays said he wanted to call current Mets owner Steve Cohen to thank him. Although the Giants will miss the playoffs, momentous news has been made around MLB. While Mays was in the clubhouse, Aaron Judge hit his 61st home run, tying Roger Maris' American League season record. Albert Pujols has 700 homers, joining the likes of Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth. Mays' 660 stood third in history for 30 years, and now it ranks sixth. When Pujols reached 660 in September 2020, Mays welcomed him aboard and said, “If I were to send him a message, I'd say, ‘Congratulations. Don't stop there. Keep going.' That's sports.” It came at the height of the pandemic, and Mays noted, “This is good for baseball, too. It comes at a good time. We need to have something going on right now.” Mays has been in the Giants' organization most of his life, as a player from 1950 through 1972 and as an ambassador, instructor and assistant to the president from 1986 to the present. He received a lifetime contract from former owner Peter Magowan in 1993.

Pete Alonso shares NL Player of the Week honors with Albert Pujols.

The September 23 ballot is listed as September 22 (an off day).

Remembering Joan Hodges, along with other members of the extended Met family we've lost since learning about John Stearns, http://www.faithandfearinflushing.com/2022/09/23/three-lives-three-questions/here.

Maury Wills coached Met baserunners in the Spring of '93. The Mets, perhaps the slowest club in the majors in 1992, have turned to a 60-year-old man to become faster. "I know I can make a difference in games," said Maury Wills. "Maybe 10 more wins a season." Wills, of course, won't be stealing second or going from first to third on a dare, but he will be instructing the Mets on how to do so. Wills, the man with 586 career stolen bases and a resume as a teacher that includes 12 clubs, has been signed to serve as a spring training base-running instructor for the Mets. "He's the best at the teaching as I've ever seen," Manager Jeff Torborg said of Wills. There were seasons a generation ago when Wills was arguably the best on the base paths that anyone had ever seen. With the Dodgers, Wills led the National League in stolen bases for six straight seasons, from 1960 to 1965. His total of 104 in 1962 was unprecedented and helped him earn the league's most valuable player award. "I've worked with all the great base stealers of late -- Willie Wilson, Davey Lopes, Lou Brock," said Wills. "Brock was calling me even when he was breaking all my records. I told him to ice his legs and quit. He, of course, didn't." The Mets, of course, were dreadful on the bases last season. Vince Coleman wasn't a factor, so the Mets weren't much of a threat. Triples, indeed, were almost as rare as triumphs. "Actually our greatest problem was that we didn't have base runners to begin with," said Torborg. The Mets believe they took the first step toward addressing their lack of speed and instincts on the base paths when they committed to a younger lineup (Jeff Kent, Ryan Thompson). Wills, who could return during the season for what the organization is terming "refresher courses" and who will also tutor the club on bunting, will work for three weeks with the Mets in Port St. Lucie, Fla. https://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/26/sports/baseball-mets-hire-wills-as-instructor-to-get-them-off-and-running.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/26/sports/baseball-mets-hire-wills-as-instructor-to-get-them-off-and-running.html

Drew Smith returns. Tommy Hunter is on the IL

Todd Zeile keeps saying it takes 25 guys. Gotta update that cliché.

About as gloppy a game as I've sat through, but leaving Citi Field, it sparkled as any win should.

Very classy lady. Carried her particular burden with grace. Amen to her living to see her husband finally have his day.

10 Down in Sept. 17, 2022's NYT puzzle: “Mascot whose head is a baseball.” Five letters.

Not only did bat last at the PG, he made the final assist in a home team win, handling an Ernie Bowman grounder to third and firing to first baseman Tim Harkness to seal Al Jackson's complete game victory over San Fran. Ted entered for defense in the ninth and notched two assists.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/theodore-schreiber-obituary?id=36458951https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/theodore-schreiber-obituary?id=36458951

Givens to the IL (COVID, apparently), Nogosek activated. Also, Marrero passed through waivers and was outrighted to the Cuse.

The writer is Stephanie Apstein, not "this guy," speaking of gender norm expectations