Your Thursday morning dose of New York Mets and Major League Baseball news, notes, and links.
Meet the Mets
On a night where the Mets bid everyone's favorite in-game reporter farewell, Dillon Gee just didn't have it, as he gave up four runs over 6.2 innings as the Marlins left the Mets a game shy of yet another losing season. For you math wizzes out there, they now have to go 8-1 over the final nine games of the season to get to .500. And three of them are against the Nationals. Not saying that it can't happen, but again, three of those games are against the Nats.
Choose your recap: Amazin Avenue short and long,MLB.com, ESPN New York, NY Post, NY Times (AP), Newsday, Daily News, or NJ.com.
Speaking of Gee, it's definitely been an up-and-down season for him all throughout 2014.
Wally Backman's set to join the team on Friday, and Terry Collins is ready to work with him during the team's final nine games. And no, there's no bad blood between the two, at least according to Collins.
The buzz has been growing about Wilmer Flores becoming the Mets' future option at shortshop, especially given his hitting over the past few days. Could he be the answer next year? (Remember when we were talking about Troy Tulowitzki?)
Joel Sherman at the Post thinks Jacob deGrom has Rookie of the Year honors nailed down.
The tests have come back on Juan Lagares, and it's an elbow sprain. He might be done for the rest of the year, and it might be the right decision as the team won't want to jeopardize the rising star center fielder's health further.
And some sad news to report: former Met and current Yankee Carlos Beltran's wife has miscarried with the couple's first son. The Beltrans currently have two daughters.
Around the NL East
A night after clinching the NL East, the Nationals fell to Atlanta 3-1. On the West Coast, the Phillies got past the Padres 5-2.
Around the Majors
Before the game, the Marlins officially shut Giancarlo Stanton down for the remainder of the season less than a week after the slugger took a pitch to the face.
A nod to the Orioles and their AL East title, the club's first since 1997. Meanwhile, the Angels punched their ticket, clinching the AL West after defeating the Mariners, coupled with an Athletics loss to the Rangers.
Joe West has been suspended after he grabbed Jonathan Papelbon's jersey. (Clarification: the upper part of his jersey, not—never mind.)
It didn't take long for the latest Cuban defector to make the Majors, Boston's Rusney Castillo, to pick up his first major league hit, which will look like a clean single in the boxscore. Speaking of Cuban defectors, the Phillies will kick the tires on the next one looking to make the jump, Yasmani Tomas.
The Brewers plan to pick up their part of a $14 million option on 36-year-old Aramis Ramirez.
A look at the 10 highest paid relievers in the league, and how they're currently progressing.
Yesterday at AA
David Wright is a Roberto Clemente Award nominee.
Eric had a farewell note to Kevin Burkhardt, who worked his last game at Citi Field last night.
If you read an article or find a link that you think would be a great addition to a future edition of Mets Morning News, please forward it to our tips email address tips@grission.com and we'll try to add it in.