Your Thursday morning dose of New York Mets and Major League Baseball news, notes, and playoff coverage.
Meet the Mets
Travis d'Arnaud had his elbow surgery yesterday, which was a success.
Jacob deGrom is up for the Players' Choice Award for the NL's most outstanding rookie.
NorthJersey.com named its Mets pitching MVP, who shouldn't be a surprise.
Changes could be on the way to the Mets' bench staff, including at the hitting coach spot.
A poll at NJ.com asks if David Wright and/or Eric Campbell should stay or go. Also, here's a hypothetical look at how the season would be different if Wright were healthy.
More offseason outlooks: Kristie Ackert at the Daily News lists five things Sandy Alderson needs to do to get the Mets to the postseason next year, Ed Coleman at WFAN thinks that it should be an interesting fall for the team, and NorthJersey.com has their take at the job Alderson has ahead of him during the offseason.
Former Met Joe McEwing is in the running to become the Diamondbacks' new manager.
Around the Playoffs
There was no drama whatsoever in the NL Wild Card Game after Tuesday night's AL version ended in walk-off fashion. Madison Bumgarner threw a complete game four-hit shutout, and Brandon Crawford hit a fourth inning grand slam as the Giants crushed the Pirates8-0 to move to the Division Series, where they'll take on the Nationals. Bumgarner celebrated the win by chugging four beers. At the same time.
Around the Majors
Here's a breakdown of Bumgarner's dominant win last night.
Grant Brisbee has a great piece about the maddening nature of baseball.
Pittsburgh's Russell Martin is set to be a free agent. Where could he be headed?
The Angels have announced their rotation for the ALDS.
Despite their loss the other day, the A's will be on the upswing soon with a new group of players.
Who else besides Joe McEwing is in the running for Arizona's vacant managerial spot?
Baseball will experiment during the Arizona Fall League to try to speed up the pace of the game.
So the Twins' Joe Mauer had to switch to first base due to concussion symptoms? A writer in St. Paul said to let him catch again, then had to backpedal to escape the criticism.
Here's a great longform piece about two Braves fans who bonded over their favorite player, Greg Maddux, and the tragedy that struck them just before the 1996 World Series.
Yesterday at AA
Here's our season review looks at Jacob deGrom.
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 addresstips@grission.com and we'll try to add it in.