Edgy MD

Just to be clear — we are still, somehow, in a season in which Craig Kimbrell played for the Mets.

Here I am, Lord. Slingmaster Brad Lord RHP 5-2, 3.79 ERA, 56 SO Lineup Dylan Crews (R) RF Andrés Chaparro (R) 1B Brady House (R) 3B CJ Abrams (L) SS Harry Ford (R) C Jacob Young (R) CF Daylen Lile (L) DH Nasim Nuñez (S) 2B Andrew Pinckney (R) LF Kingchucker Sean Manaea LHP 4-5, 4.13 ERA, 106 SO Lineup A.J. Ewing (L) CF Francisco Lindor (S) SS Bo Bichette (R) 3B Carson Benge (L) RF Jared Young (L) 1B Marcus Semien (R) 2B Brett Baty (L) LF Jorge Polanco (S) DH Francisco Alvarez (R) C

A lot of things are maybe going to happen. But one thing that isn't going to happen is a union that saw Juan Soto set the bar at $51 million per year for 15 years acceding to a five-year maximum for free-agency contracts.

In the Mets own division: In Atlanta there's Matt Olson, who seems for all the world like a pure firstbaseman, but he spent half his time in the outfield in the minors. Philadelphia is playing Alec Bohm over there, moving him from third to accommodate Luis Arraez playing second, forcing Brandon Scott to move to third. Bohm going to first forces their superstar firstbaseman back into the outfield, from where he moved to first at 31 despite having played a total of 1/3 of an inning there previously in an emergency situation. He had earlier in his career moved from catcher, where he played in junior college, to center, to right, to first, and now back in right. Miami's most frequent occupant of first base this season has been Kyle Stowers, who has spent all of nine out of his total 3,700+ minor-league innings at the cold corner. And here we are playing Washington, breaking in a brand-new first baseman, a converted outfielder who is not situated where he is because his experience and nuanced dexterity make him a fine asset. He's there because he's hitting like a mofo but he's too hefty to put anywhere else. Folks don't play first because they're good at and experienced at playing first. They play there because they can hit and lefthandedness and/or defensive limitations relative to the other eight guys make them poor choices to play elsewhere. The Mets had the best defensive firstbaseman in history, but when his bat stopped being effective, his glove couldn't stop them from getting rid of him, and Cleveland quickly realized they were right. The Rays have baseball's best record, and they're playing a guy at first who was a middle infielder up until he reached the cusp of the majors. And then there's Scott Hatteberg, whose experience concerns over his move to first were so overblown, somebody made a movie about it. So yeah, when looking for someone to play first, I have no problem with considering everybody to be candidates. Guys transitioning from third, catcher, shortstop, weak-side linebacker, goaltender, fishmonger, lumberjack ... if they can hit, they're a candidate to play first.

I think the Major Leagues are filled with firstbasemen who ended up there after sliding over from other positions. Some did in high school. Some did in the minors, and some did in the majors, often well into their careers.

Sean Manea against TBD tomorrow. MLB should have a filler name like "Alan Smithee" to put on the schedule whenever they don't know who's pitching. Sean Manaea against LEO JARVIS tomorrow. Much better.

First MLB win (or decision of any stripe) for Jonathan Pintaro.

And YOUNGSTOWN gives them a touch of breathing room. Terrible nicknames for everybody!

The Mets have taken the lead, because the STOCKYARD kept 'em in it! Against the top offense in the league, too!

First guy I remember who smelled his bat after a foul ball to make sure it wasn't cracked. He foreshadowed Nimmo, I guess.

There has to be a pitcher. And they put their heads together and assessed that maybe he could be a helpful one.

They're not wrong.

Recalling fond memories Butch Huskey Day.

Carl Everett and Huskey — who were platoonmates for a time — pulled what I imagine was a unique feat, both coming on as pinch-hitters against Dennis Eckersley, who was protecting a one-run lead in the ninth, with each homering to turn a 4-3 deficit into a 6-4 win, and ultimately a victory, after John Franco locked it down. I imagine it was the only time Eck gave up two homers — let alone back-to-back — since becoming a reliever. I gotta believeTM this happening against Oakland-era Eckersley, but it was against the Cards. New York Mets vs St. Louis Cardinals Box Score: May 11, 1997 | Baseball-Reference.com

Make Butch Huskey proud. Moundfeller Andrew Alvarez LHP 2-3, 3.76 ERA, 65 SO Lineup CJ Abrams (L) SS Abimelec Ortiz (L) 1B Brady House (R) DH Daylen Lile (L) RF Keibert Ruiz (S) C José Tena (L) LF Nasim Nuñez (S) 2B Jorbit Vivas (L) 3B Jacob Young (R) CF Bumpbrother Robert Stock RHP 0-2, 10.13 ERA, 8 SO Lineup A.J. Ewing (L) LF Francisco Lindor (S) SS Bo Bichette (R) 3B Luis Robert Jr. (R) CF Carson Benge (L) RF Francisco Alvarez (R) DH Marcus Semien (R) 2B Jared Young (L) 1B Luis Torrens (R) C

Barry Bonds, among others, has taught me that not every corner outfielder hitting star is just going to go to first base. Fortunately for the Mets at the current time, as compared to the Giants of the early aughts, there is DH as an alternative. Unfortunately, with a bad-outfielding Soto, a bad-legs Polanco, and a not-as-good-at-catching-as-Torrens Alvarez, the DH option is getting to be a crowded alternative. My guess is that Soto opens 2027 as a DH/sometimes leftifielder, Alvarez as a catcher/sometimes DH, and Polanco as a reserve.

In Verse Three of "Moby Octapad," Met-loving weirdos Yo La Tengo sing: Eight o'clock, the lights are on at Shea Phone turned down, we've nothing much to say Dozing off, the TV drones Huskey makes the turn and heads for home Here's hoping Butch makes it all the way home. Thanks for all the baseball.

I cannot find any details anywhere, but official Mets social media channels are reporting the passing of Butch Huskey, corner infielder/outfielder with the team from 1993 to 1998, at just 54 years old.

I imagine they see value and potential to using him here and those guys there. Something you may not see or agree with. With Tong, I imagine, they are just trying to get him off the one-way train ride to Syndergaardland that he's been on for a good chunk of 2026.

Meanwhile, Syndergaard himself has called the New York City mayor a "lunatic," got behind the idea that the mayor "cursed" the Mets by hugging Mr. and Mrs. Met, and falsely claimed the mayor had never held a job before being elected to City Hall. And there he is in the article, getting on board the totally partisan hate campaign against Dr. Fauci. So, if you want to get behind the idea that it is wrong to make trashy claims on someone because they have differing political views, Noah Syndergaard is one place to start.

The last game of the Cubs series in 2015, with the Mets running away, Daniel Murphy hit a homer late in the game just because he couldn't stop. I can't imagine that was a high value homer, though.

A few minutes before that Jay Payton homer came a Mike Piazza homer.

That homer Jay Payton hit in the ninth inning of the Clemens/Piazza game. It would have been huge if another guy was on, but it turned out to not be so much. Offa Mariano Rivera, too.

I do try. And sometimes fail like a futhermucker.