Cowtipper

One thing I find about this team is it is very un-endearing. Maybe its because many of the real familiar faces are gone. But it's a rather un-endearing team.

They're going to have to go something like 54-38 the rest of the year if they want to be an 85-win team.

Right now, I just want to see the Mets not in last place.

Al Closter died. https://www.thatericalper.com/2026/06/13/al-closter-olympic-gold-medalist-and-major-league-pitcher-dies-at-82/ Who was Al Closter? Al Closter was an American left-handed pitcher whose career in professional baseball stretched from the mid-1960s to the early 1970s. Born in 1943 in Creighton, Nebraska, he played college baseball at Iowa State University and gained early international experience as a member of the United States team during baseball’s demonstration event at the 1964 Summer Olympics. He signed with the New York Yankees organization as an amateur free agent in 1965. Closter’s early professional career involved frequent movement through the minor leagues and short-lived stints with multiple organizations. After being selected in the Rule 5 Draft by the Cleveland Indians, his contract was quickly purchased by the Washington Senators in 1966, where he made his Major League debut in a single appearance before returning to the Yankees. Most of his development years were spent in the minors, where he pitched extensively at Triple-A Syracuse and became a durable, frequently used arm. His Major League career was brief and scattered. After not appearing in the big leagues again until 1971, Closter pitched intermittently for the New York Yankees as a reliever and occasional starter, before finishing his MLB career with the Atlanta Braves in 1973. Across four seasons in the majors, he appeared in 21 games and finished with a 2–2 record and a 6.62 ERA. After retiring from baseball, Closter built a long career with Philip Morris International in product development work focused on Latin America and lived in Virginia. He remained connected to the sport through recognition from Syracuse baseball circles, including induction into its Wall of Fame in 2006. He died in 2026 at the age of 82. Also, who was Wes Gardner? Wes Gardner was an American Major League Baseball pitcher who played in the majors from 1984 to 1991 for the New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres, and Kansas City Royals. Born in Benton, Arkansas in 1961, he was drafted by the Mets in 1982 out of the University of Central Arkansas and made his MLB debut in 1984, throwing a perfect ninth inning in a loss to the Cubs. Gardner spent his early career as a swingman with the Mets before being traded to the Boston Red Sox in late 1985. In Boston, he had the most notable stretch of his career. He became the team’s closer in 1987, leading the club in saves, and in 1988 transitioned into the starting rotation, where he posted career-best numbers, including 8 wins, 106 strikeouts, and a 3.50 ERA. He also made his only postseason appearance that year in the American League Championship Series against Oakland. After two more seasons in Boston, his performance declined. He was traded to the Padres in 1990 but struggled and was released in 1991. He briefly caught on with the Royals, spending most of his time in the minors and making only a short, effective relief stint in the majors before being released again, ending his MLB career. Across eight seasons, Gardner finished with an 18–30 record, a 4.90 ERA, and 358 strikeouts in 189 games. He was inducted into the University of Central Arkansas Hall of Fame in 2001. Gardner died in 2026 at the age of 65 in his hometown of Benton, Arkansas. Pedro Pacheco Figueroa was a Puerto Rican amateur baseball player born in 1933 who helped win a national title in 1957 and later represented Puerto Rico in international competitions, earning medals at the 1966 Central American and Caribbean Games and the 1967 Pan American Games. Beyond baseball, he was inducted into the Puerto Rican Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame in 1986 and served as a legislator in Ponce for 20 years before his death in 2026. David Pierce was a minor league baseball player from North Carolina who played multiple positions from 1949 to 1954 for several teams, including the Lumberton Auctioneers and Erie Senators. After his playing career, he returned to Appalachian State Teachers College as a coach in 1959–1960 before his death in 2026.

Francisco Lindor: Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said Friday that he expects Lindor (calf) to return "this month," Chelsea Janes of SNY.tv reports. Lindor played two simulated innings against a minor-league pitcher Friday, and he will repeat that step multiple times next week. The 32-year-old is expected to require a brief rehab assignment after that. Lindor might be ready to rejoin the active roster by the Mets' next homestand that begins June 22, which would be exactly two months since he sustained a left calf strain that sent him to the injured list. Injury Calf. Est. Return 6/22/2026. Jorge Polanco: An MRI on Polanco's left ankle/Achilles tendon came back negative Tuesday, Andrew Tredinnick of The Bergen Record reports. Polanco has battled problems with his Achilles all season, and the Mets paused his rehab assignment Saturday due to renewed soreness in his left ankle. Now that the 32-year-old has been cleared of any structural damage, the Mets will look to have him resume batting practice within the next few days. Injury Ankle. Est. Return 6/18/2026. Luis Robert: Robert (spine) said Thursday that his back has been responding better in recent days and he expects to return before the end of this season, Chelsea Janes of SNY.tv reports. Robert was administered a series of injections in late May to combat the lumbar spine disc herniation that's kept him out of commission since late April. Those injections seem to have helped, and he might be cleared to run on the field before the end of this week. However, a timetable for Robert's return remains fuzzy, and the outfielder conceded he might have to play with some discomfort when he does make it back. Injury Back. Est. Return 7/16/2026. Kodai Senga: Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Friday that Senga (spine/arm) will require at least one more minor-league rehab start before the organization considers activating him from the 15-day injured list, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. The right-hander had his rehab outing pushed back early this week due to ulnar nerve irritation in his right arm, but he was able to take the mound with Double-A Binghamton on Thursday and gave up just one run across six innings. Senga built up to 75 pitches in that start, so he's already most of the way to a full starting workload and could re-enter the Mets rotation with another solid showing in the minor leagues. Injury Arm. Est. Return 6/22/2026. Tyrone Taylor: Taylor (hip) began running this past week but has yet to resume full baseball activities, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports. The reserve outfielder suffered a hip injury while running out a groundball May 25. Taylor had a meager .530 OPS in 104 plate appearances when he landed on the IL, and with rookies A.J. Ewing and Carson Benge solidifying their spots in the lineup, the 32-year-old likely won't have much of a role once he gets healthy. Injury Hip. Est. Return 6/18/2026. Syracuse Mets activated 3B Grae Kessinger from the 60-day injured list.

Mets signed a youngster named Victor Gallegos.

I am not ready, I love David Stearns.

I predict, right now, in this moment, the Mets are going to make the playoffs this year.

This team is still slashing .229/.293/.365 through 66 games. I never would've guessed.

Wes Gardner, who pitched for the Mets in 1984 and 1985 and was involved in the trade that brought aboard Bob Ojeda, John Mitchell, Tom McCarthy and minor leaguer Chris Bayer, died today. He was 1-3 with a 6.03 ERA in 30 relief appearances with New York and 17-27 with a 4.80 ERA in 159 games (44 starts) in the 6 succeeding campaigns.

So what exactly is or was the point of Leaptoad itself? I checked it out, assuming it was a host or something, but it's actually a throwback to 2000s Internet. It was a time capsule.

That's true. Also, I just don't pay as much attention that early in the season. It just doesn't stick as much. Later season baseball just means more -- that's when playoff races take shape, etc.

He was an early-season Met, so he was easily forgettable. Like Andy Ibanez. Who? For whatever reason, historically early season Mets that depart quickly fade from the memory a lot quicker than late season Mets. I remember Jonathan Arauz and Rafael Ortega well, but can't even recall some of the guys who started the year in the bullpen but disappeared quickly from the past couple seasons. Anywho, I remember him as the guy who replaced Tommy Pham (I think) and I remember watching a single clip of him scoring from third once. A reason I don't remember early-season guys as much is because April is when I don't have MLB.tv, so I only know the Mets through highlights and condensed games.

Jordyn Adams retired.

Mike Johnson died. https://www.parkerkohlfuneralhome.com/obituaries/michael-johnson Who was Mike Johnson? Michael Norton Johnson (March 2, 1951 – May 20, 2026) was an American professional baseball pitcher who played briefly in Major League Baseball with the San Diego Padres during the 1974 season. Born in Slayton, Minnesota, he was a right-handed pitcher who attended Faribault High School before beginning a professional baseball career. Johnson made his major league debut on July 25, 1974, and appeared in 18 games for the Padres before his final MLB appearance on October 2, 1974. He finished his big-league career with a 0–2 record, a 4.64 earned run average, and 15 strikeouts. Although his time in the majors was brief, he spent several years in professional baseball and enjoyed considerable success in the minor leagues, where he often posted ERAs below 2.50. Throughout his career, Johnson played for numerous minor league clubs in the United States and Canada. While he is best remembered for his stint with the Padres, his professional journey reflected the dedication and perseverance of many players who spent most of their careers in the minor leagues. He died in Carefree, Arizona, at the age of 75. Bob Lacey died. https://www.si.com/mlb/angels/onsi/former-angels-pitcher-7-year-mlb-veteran-dies-at-72-01ktcajcsa6g Who was Bob Lacey? Robert Joseph Lacey Jr. (August 25, 1953 – June 4, 2026) was an American professional baseball pitcher who played seven seasons in Major League Baseball between 1977 and 1984. A left-handed pitcher, he appeared for the Oakland Athletics, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, California Angels, and San Francisco Giants. He finished his major league career with a 20–29 record, a 3.67 ERA, and 251 strikeouts. Lacey was drafted by Oakland in 1972 and quickly rose through the minor leagues. He became one of the Athletics' most dependable relief pitchers, leading the American League in appearances in 1978 while posting a 3.01 ERA. Known for his durability, he inherited a record 104 baserunners that season and was frequently called upon in high-pressure situations. He also gained attention early in his career by striking out future Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson twice in a key game and later becoming involved in a notable on-field altercation with Darrell Porter. After leaving Oakland, Lacey spent time with several organizations, including stints in the minor leagues and the Mexican League, before ending his playing career in 1985. He later returned to baseball as a coach and manager, most notably managing the Greenville Bluesmen in the late 1990s. Lacey died on June 4, 2026, at the age of 72, leaving behind a professional baseball career remembered for his resilience, versatility, and success as a relief pitcher.

Francisco Alvarez: Manager Carlos Mendoza indicated that Alvarez (knee) is scheduled to start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday, Andrew Tredinnick of The Bergen Record reports. Alvarez has been on the shelf the past few weeks after undergoing surgery to repair the meniscus in his right knee, but he's now been cleared for game action. The 24-year-old was initially expected to be sidelined eight weeks, but he's significantly ahead of schedule in his recovery. If all goes well with Syracuse, Alvarez could be back on the active roster in a week or two. Injury Knee. Est. Return mid-late June. Jorge Polanco: The Mets announced Saturday that Polanco's rehab assignment has been halted due to ankle soreness. Polanco began a rehab assignment last week and was expected to be nearing a return to the Mets' lineup, but he reported soreness in his ankle Saturday and will head back to New York to be reevaluated. The 32-year-old has dealt with Achilles and wrist issues this season, and he's now managing yet another injury. Polanco has been limited to 61 plate appearances across 14 games this season, and he's slashed an underwhelming .179/.246/.286 with one home run and two RBI. Injury Ankle. Est. Return 6/15/2026. Kodai Senga: Senga (spine) struck out five and allowed three earned runs on six hits and two walks across five innings in a rehab start Wednesday with Triple-A Syracuse. Though Senga was able to build up to 91 pitches (54 strikes) during the third start of his rehab assignment, his control once again left something to be desired. In addition to issuing the two free passes, Senga hit two batters and threw two wild pitches. Overall, Senga has turned in a 5.25 ERA and 1.58 WHIP over 12 innings between his two starts with Syracuse and one with Single-A St. Lucie, so he'll likely need to show some better results during his rehab assignment before the Mets consider activating him from 15-day injured list and adding him to the big-league rotation. Per MLB.com, Senga is expected to make his next rehab start Tuesday with Double-A Binghamton. Injury Back. Est. Return 6/9/2026.

Anderson Severino has been released.

Eddie Haas died. https://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/former-mlb-manager-paducah-native-eddie-haas-dies-at-91/article_6ce0af6a-4c3d-4f9d-ba6f-3051d3a70215.html Who was Eddie Haas? Eddie Haas (1935–2026) was an American baseball outfielder, coach, manager, and scout whose career spanned several decades in professional baseball, primarily within the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves organizations. Though his Major League playing career was brief, he remained a long-term figure in the sport through coaching, player development, and scouting roles. As a player, Haas appeared in parts of three MLB seasons between 1957 and 1960 with the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Braves. In 55 major league games, he hit .243 with one home run and 17 hits. His playing time was limited, including a missed 1959 season due to a broken ankle, but he spent much of his career in the minor leagues, where he was a productive hitter with several strong seasons. After retiring as a player, Haas became heavily involved in coaching and managing in the Braves’ farm system, spending many years developing minor league talent and later serving as a major league coach. He eventually became the Atlanta Braves’ manager in 1985 after Joe Torre, but his tenure was short, as the team struggled and he was replaced midseason. Following his managerial career, Haas continued working in baseball as a scout for the Montreal Expos and Boston Red Sox. Coming from a family with deep baseball ties, he remained active in the professional game for decades until his death in 2026 at age 91, remembered more for his long developmental and scouting career than his brief time as a major league player.

I've read a gajillion Mets books in my day. I remember Worst Team Money Can Buy being solid Tales from the 1962 New York Mets covering stuff that doesn't usually get covered in most Mets books.

Why it could be a summer bummer or a summer stunner, we just can't tell!

At some point in May, Daniel Juarez, who was granted free agency in November, signed with Saltillo in the Mexican League. He currently boasts a 1.69 ERA in 7 relief appearances so far. In early May, Colby Frieda, released in March, was signed by the Nats. Luke Jackson, briefly in the Mets system, was signed by the Royals on May 22. Kevin Gowdy, released by the Mets in May, was signed by Mexico City in the Mexican League, also in May.

Jorge Polanco - Polanco (Achilles/wrist) played in back-to-back games for Double-A Binghamton on Friday and Saturday, going 1-for-3 with two walks, two strikeouts, a home run and three RBI. Perhaps more importantly, the 32-year-old started Saturday's game at first base, indicating that the Mets haven't given up on the idea of Polanco being an important contributor at the position. He has yet to play a full nine innings in any of his three rehab games, however, so activation from the IL may not be imminent. Per Max Ralph of MLB.com, manager Carlos Mendoza acknowledged over the weekend that Polanco wasn't going to be fully healthy when he does return. "It's to a point where he's not going to be 100 percent," Mendoza said. "But as he went through the intensity [of baseball activities], the running the bases and the sprinting and all that, the next day, it's like, 'Hey, it's not getting any worse. I feel better.' The biggest thing was that it wasn't getting any worse, and he was able to manage it and was like, 'I'm good to go now.' " Once he does rejoin the big-league roster, Polanco will compete with Mark Vientos, Brett Baty and Jared Young for playing time at 1B and DH. Injury Achilles. Est. Return 6/5/2026. Kodai Senga - Senga (spine) will pitch Wednesday for Triple-A Syracuse, reports Mike Puma of the New York Post. Senga will aim to throw around 85 pitches in his next rehab start on Wednesday for Triple-A Syracuse. If this start goes according to plan, the 33-year-old could potentially return to the big-league club following this appearance. In seven innings, Senga has recorded a 5.14 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 7:3 K:BB during his two rehab starts. Injury Back. Est. Return 6/9/2026. Syracuse Mets sent 3B Grae Kessinger on a rehab assignment to Brooklyn Cyclones.

Junk has been scratched.

Also, Severino had a 1.31 ERA at Triple-A. He'll get scooped up quickly elsewhere. Kind of a shame he didn't get to pitch for NY, that's a solid number.

I know Hayden Senger hit a home run in this one, but he's still not "good." However, former #11 overall pick Kevin Parada is hitting .429/.458/.571 for Syracuse, so it might be time to give him a shot. They promoted him to Syracuse pretty recently, so perhaps they're preparing for that move, anyway.