Cowtipper

Peterson is moving to the bullpen. I didn't have this on my bingo card. Two years ago he looked like he finally figured it out, going 10-3 with a 2.90 ERA. Last year, he was rock solid into August, before falling apart in the home stretch. And now he's off to the 'pen. Crazy.

It's better than nothing. Joey Gerber, Jared Young and Jorge Polanco are all due back within the next couple weeks, too. Christian Scott, who gave us great hope at one point, is also being called up on Thursday.

He's 56 at-bats into his season. Not enough of a sample size to make such a bold proclamation.

The year we weren't that optimistic, 2024, they did something. The year we were optimistic, 2025, they disappointed. I think this year will be like 2024. The Mets were 10 games under .500 on June 3, 2024 and look where they wound up.

I have faith the big names will perform and the Mets will get into 85-90 win territory by the time the year is done. Last year, they were overperforming around at this point, because of the pitching. This year, they are underperforming offensively. The club won't maintain a .226/.288/.336 line all season. It won't. My fantasy team is fairly loaded but 20 out of 20th. But we're still working with small sample sizes. Things will regress to the mean eventually.

Dennis Paepke died in 2021, but his death was not confirmed until recently. https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=paepkde01 Who was Dennis Paepke? Dennis Ray Paepke was an American professional baseball catcher who appeared in parts of four Major League Baseball seasons with the Kansas City Royals between 1969 and 1974. Born in 1945 in Long Beach, California, he was a standout high school hitter before beginning his professional career in the Los Angeles Angels organization, where he was also connected through his father, Jack Paepke, who worked as an MLB coach. Paepke spent several years developing in the minor leagues before being traded to the expansion Royals in 1968 as part of a notable early franchise deal. He made his MLB debut in 1969 but saw limited action initially, struggling at the plate. His most active season came in 1971, when he played in 60 games and hit his only two major league home runs, though he continued to post a low batting average. Over his brief MLB career, Paepke played in 80 games, collecting 36 hits, 2 home runs, and a .183 batting average. He spent much of his career alternating between the majors and the minors, primarily with Omaha. A severe arm injury in 1974—caused by a spike on the field—significantly impacted his career and contributed to his retirement after the 1975 minor league season. Paepke is remembered as a light-hitting catcher who briefly contributed during the early years of the Kansas City Royals franchise before injuries ended his playing days. He died in 2021 at the age of 75 or 76. Also... Ken Salmon (1941-2026) was a right-handed pitcher who played in the Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Dodgers minor league systems, highlighted by strong seasons in 1963–64 including a 10–7 record and a league-leading four shutouts in the Northern League. After his baseball career, he earned a law degree, joined the FBI, and later became a Pittsburgh attorney and legal counsel for the Pirates’ ownership.

Joey Gerber: The Mets placed Gerber on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a right finger blister. Gerber struck out five batters across two shutout innings during his season debut Monday against the Dodgers, but a blister will now keep him sidelined for at least a couple of weeks. Austin Warren was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to fill the open bullpen spot. Injury Finger. Est. Return 4/29/2026. Jorge Polanco: The Mets placed Polanco on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a right wrist contusion, retroactive to Wednesday. Polanco has been dealing with a nagging Achilles injury all season, but he got imaging done on his right wrist Friday, and although he seems to be dealing with just a bruise, the Mets will put him on the IL anyway. MJ Melendez is a candidate to see more time at DH while Polanco is sidelined, and Hayden Senger will come up from Triple-A to round out the active roster. Injury Wrist. Est. Return 4/25/2026. Juan Soto: Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Sunday that Soto (calf) remains on track to return during the team's upcoming homestand, which runs April 21-30, Laura Albanese of Newsday reports. It was previously reported that Soto was expected to be reinstated from the 10-day IL during the upcoming week, so a return during the first half of the homestand wouldn't be surprising. The 27-year-old appears set to rejoin the Mets without needing a minor-league rehab assignment after missing the past two-plus weeks due to a calf strain. Injury Calf. Est. Return 4/21/2026. Jared Young: The Mets placed Young on the 10-day injured list Wednesday, retroactive to Monday, due to a meniscus tear in his left knee. Young reported discomfort in his left knee Tuesday, and further imaging revealed a more severe injury that will result in the 30-year-old undergoing surgery, per Will Sammon of The Athletic. It's a significant blow to the Mets' depth at first base and in the outfield, especially with Juan Soto (calf) still on the 10-day IL. Young is looking at a lengthy absence depending on the extent of the surgery needed to repair the tear, which could have him sidelined until the summer. Injury Knee Est. Return 7/1/2026.

Now that we're getting deeper into the season, we probably don't need to track this as much, so I'll call this thread done after this update. The final tally ... Stephen Nogosek is now off the list as he signed with the Diablos Rojos del México in Mexico. Mark Canha is now back on the list as he is a free agent again. Phil Bickford is back on the list as he is a free agent again. The final list: Mark Canha Frankie Montas Jesse Winker Jose Iglesias Justin Wilson Max Kranick Marcus Stroman Phil Bickford Adonis Medina Tyler Naquin

I think the Mets are still putting way too much hope into Vientos, Baty and Alvarez (and Mauricio). All four were supposed to do good things with them. Baty, Vientos and Alvarez are in their fifth year with the club, and Mauricio is in his third, and between them we have zero All-Star selections, zero Gold Gloves, zero anything. Baty owns a .230/.289/.365 career line, Vientos a .238/292/.435 career line, Alvarez a .232/.310/.433 career line and Mauricio a .234/.294/.359 career line. They are, on average, 25 years and 204 days old. They're not performing much this year, either.

Who was Garret Anderson? Garret Anderson was an American Major League Baseball left fielder who played 17 seasons from 1994 to 2010, most notably with the California/Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels franchise. Born in 1972 in Los Angeles, he was a multi-sport standout in high school before choosing professional baseball after being drafted by the Angels. Anderson quickly became a core player for the Angels, debuting in 1994 and earning a full-time role by 1995, when he finished second in Rookie of the Year voting. Over the next decade, he was one of the most consistent hitters in the league, regularly producing high batting averages, strong RBI totals, and steady run production, though his relatively low walk rate limited his on-base percentage. He was a key contributor to the Angels’ 2002 World Series championship team, including a pivotal three-run double in Game 7. Anderson was a three-time All-Star (2002, 2003, 2005), won the All-Star Game MVP in 2003, and earned two Silver Slugger Awards. He set numerous franchise records for the Angels, including hits, games played, RBIs, and total bases. After leaving the Angels in 2008, he played briefly for the Atlanta Braves in 2009 and the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2010 before retiring in 2011. He later worked in broadcasting and was inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame in 2016. Anderson died unexpectedly of a heart attack in 2026 at age 53. The Angels honored him with a tribute and a commemorative uniform patch following his death.

It's still only April.

I remember thinking it was strange that of all pitchers, he was one they decided to bring back and even crazier, put on the roster to start the year.

I have some bad news. The Mets suck.

They say deaths happen in three, and Lopes + Garner + Anderson are three pretty big baseball deaths in a row.

It was his being drafted by the Angels that was interesting to me. Phil Garner died. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/04/phil-garner-passes-away.html Who was Phil Garner? Phil Garner, nicknamed “Scrap Iron,” was a gritty and versatile infielder who enjoyed a 16-year Major League Baseball career from 1973 to 1988, followed by a lengthy tenure as a coach and manager. A Tennessee native and University of Tennessee standout, Garner overcame early draft confusion and a slow path through the minors to become a reliable second and third baseman, earning three All-Star selections and helping the Pittsburgh Pirates win the 1979 World Series, where he starred with a .500 batting average. Known for his hustle, toughness, and blue-collar style, Garner became a fan favorite in Pittsburgh and later played key roles with the Houston Astros and other clubs, finishing with a .260 career average and over 200 stolen bases. After retiring, he transitioned into managing, leading the Milwaukee Brewers, Detroit Tigers, and Astros, most notably guiding Houston to its first World Series appearance in 2005. Despite mixed long-term results as a manager, Garner remained respected for his leadership and competitive intensity, and he later served as a special advisor in baseball operations.

Billy Bryan died. https://www.jeffcoattrant.com/obituary/Billy-Bryan Who was Billy Bryan? William Ronald “Billy” Bryan (1938–2026) was an American Major League Baseball catcher who played eight seasons in the big leagues between 1961 and 1968. A left-handed hitter and right-handed thrower, he spent most of his career with the Kansas City Athletics, with later stints for the New York Yankees and Washington Senators. Though he showed occasional power—hitting 41 home runs—Bryan compiled a modest .216 batting average over 374 career games. Bryan found early success in the minor leagues and was a regular or semi-regular catcher for the Athletics in the mid-1960s. He is notably remembered for catching Hall of Fame pitcher Satchel Paige during Paige’s final major league appearance in 1965. Bryan retired from professional baseball in 1970 after 11 seasons and passed away at the age of 87 in 2026.

41-year-old Justin Turner isn't ready to call it quits yet, as he signed on with the Toros de Tijuana in Mexico. The list now looks like: Frankie Montas Jesse Winker Jose Iglesias Justin Wilson Max Kranick Marcus Stroman Adonis Medina Stephen Nogosek Tyler Naquin

Clay Holmes: Manager Carlos Mendoza said Saturday that Holmes' hamstring "checked all the boxes" during a series of strength tests, David Lennon of Newsday reports. The next step for Holmes is to throw a bullpen session within the next few days. If he gets through it without any issues, he'll receive the green light to make his next start against the Dodgers on Wednesday. Injury Hamstring. Day-To-Day. A.J. Minter: Minter (lat) will begin a rehab assignment with Single-A St. Lucie on Thursday, Michael Mayer of MetsmerizedOnline.com reports. It will be the first game appearance for Minter since he underwent surgery on his left lat last May. Given how long the layoff has been, Minter is going to require a handful of rehab appearances before rejoining the Mets' bullpen. The veteran lefty will eventually slot into a setup role but could be eased into high-leverage situations. Injury Lat. Est. Return 5/1/2026. Juan Soto: Soto (calf) could return for the start of the Mets' next homestand April 21, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports. New York won't rush its star outfielder back, but the organization seems confident that Soto's calf strain isn't a serious issue. The 27-year-old is currently swinging a bat and playing catch but hasn't yet resumed a running program. Once he does, a clearer timeline for his return should come into focus. Injury Calf. Est. Return 4/21/2026.

Browning Nagle died. https://www.cardchronicle.com/football/101839/louisville-football-legend-browning-nagle-dies Who was Browning Nagle? Browning Nagle (1968–2026) was an American quarterback who played in the NFL for the New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts, and Atlanta Falcons after being selected in the second round of the 1991 draft. A standout college player at the University of Louisville, he gained national attention with a record-setting performance in the 1991 Fiesta Bowl, but struggled to translate that success to the NFL, finishing with modest career statistics and a 53.5 passer rating. He later revitalized his career in the Arena Football League, excelling with the Orlando Predators and Buffalo Destroyers. Notably, Nagle had also been a promising baseball pitcher in his youth and was drafted by the California Angels despite focusing on football instead of pursuing a baseball career. He died on April 10, 2026, at age 57 from colon cancer.

My dream come true!

Bill Kern died. https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=kernbi01 Who was Bill Kern? Bill Kern was an American Major League Baseball outfielder whose brief time in the majors came after a long and productive minor league career. Born in Coplay, Pennsylvania, and a graduate of Muhlenberg College, Kern spent nine seasons in the minors, where he proved to be a consistent hitter, batting over .300 four times and hitting 144 home runs. Kern earned a late call-up to the Kansas City Athletics in September 1962 after a standout Triple-A season with the Portland Beavers, in which he hit .315 with 27 home runs and 97 RBIs. At age 29, he appeared in eight MLB games, collecting four hits in 16 at-bats (.250 average). His major league highlights included a pinch-hit single in his debut off Dick Donovan and his lone career home run, which came against future Hall of Famer and U.S. Senator Jim Bunning. Although his time in the majors was brief, Kern’s career reflects the persistence of a player who excelled in the minors and reached the big leagues later than most. He died on October 19, 2025, at the age of 92 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Now. Don't "worry," per se, but don't necessarily stick with him. They have a whole slew of prospects. Let the revolving door start now. See who sticks.

He'd been sick for a while and I think there were rumors he was on death's doorstep in 2025. Who was Davey Lopes? Davey Lopes was an American Major League Baseball second baseman, coach, and manager best known for his speed, leadership, and long tenure with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Debuting in 1972 at age 27, he became a key member of a historic Dodgers infield alongside Steve Garvey, Bill Russell, and Ron Cey, earning four All-Star selections, a Gold Glove, and a reputation as one of the most efficient base stealers in MLB history with 557 career steals and an elite success rate. Lopes combined speed with surprising power, highlighted by a 28-home run season in 1979, and played a major role in the Dodgers’ 1981 World Series championship. After his playing career (1972–1987), Lopes spent nearly three decades as a coach and manager, including managing the Milwaukee Brewers from 2000 to 2002 and serving as a respected base-running coach for several teams. He was especially influential with the Philadelphia Phillies, helping them achieve historically high stolen-base efficiency during his tenure. Known for his intensity and leadership, Lopes remained active in baseball until retiring from coaching in 2017. Off the field, Lopes was a Rhode Island native of Cape Verdean descent and battled prostate cancer later in life. He died on April 8, 2026, at age 80 from complications related to Parkinson’s disease, leaving behind a legacy as one of baseball’s most effective leadoff hitters and base stealers, as well as a respected teacher of the game. Also, Chuck Nieson died. https://www.mundwilerfuneralhome.net/obituaries/charles-chuck-nieson Who was Chuck Nieson? Chuck Nieson was an American Major League Baseball pitcher whose brief but unusual big-league career came in a two-game stint with the Minnesota Twins in 1964. Born in Hanford, California, he played college baseball at Fresno State and spent several years developing in the minor leagues before earning a late-season call-up at age 21. Nieson made his MLB debut on September 18, 1964, and appeared in just two games, pitching a total of two innings. Despite the extremely small sample size, he delivered a remarkable statistical anomaly—striking out 5 of the 8 batters he faced (62.5%), which stands as the highest career strikeout percentage in MLB history among pitchers with at least two batters faced. The only hit he allowed was a home run to Frank Malzone. Though his major league career was fleeting, Nieson continued pitching in the minors through 1969, compiling solid strikeout numbers and several productive seasons across multiple levels. He later lived in Minnesota and remained largely out of the spotlight. Nieson died on April 7, 2026, at the age of 83, remembered for his brief but statistically unique place in baseball history.

Nimmo's hitting .389 so far in Texas.

Danny Miranda died. https://www.acn.cu/deportes/silencio-en-los-diamantes-cuba-despide-a-danny-miranda Who was Danny Miranda? Danny Miranda Agramonte (1978–2026) was a Cuban first baseman and left fielder who spent his entire career with Ciego de Ávila in the Cuban National Series, earning recognition as a consistent power hitter and key contributor to his team’s offense. He represented Cuba internationally, most notably winning a gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics, and enjoyed several strong seasons, including a standout 2005–06 campaign with 18 home runs and a .310 batting average, before retiring after the 2007–08 season.