Good morning, Mets fans! What’s a fair price for a foul pole?
George Springer sent Rogers Centre into a frenzy with a go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh inning of Game 7 of the ALCS. Toronto beat the Mariners 4-3 to advance to its first World Series since 1993. The Blue Jays bullpen came through with 5 1/3 innings of one-run relief. Ex-Met Chris Bassitt pitched a perfect eighth inning with one strikeout.
The Mariners led 3-1 behind home runs from Julio Rodriguez and Cal Raleigh, but fell eight outs short of their franchise’s first trip to the World Series. Seattle is the only team never to appear in the World Series.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who went 10-for-26 with three home runs and three doubles, was named ALCS MVP.
Game 1 of the Fall Classic will be in Toronto on Friday at 8 p.m. ET on FOX. The Dodgers are 8-14 in World Series play. The Blue Jays are 2-0.
Here is the full World Series broadcast schedule, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
Latest Mets News
For the second straight season, Juan Soto won the Juan Marichal Award, given to the best Dominican player in MLB. Cristopher Sánchez was the runner-up for the honor, followed by Junior Caminero, José Ramírez and Freddy Peralta. The award is in its fifth year. Guerrero (2021), Sandy Alcantara (2022) and Marcell Ozuna (2023) are the other previous winners.
The top 25 feet of a Shea Stadium foul pole is for sale on Facebook for $45,000. It has been authenticated by MLB in case you are concerned about all those scammers trying to pass off fake foul poles. (I’m also selling my daughter’s old electric scooter for $50 or best offer.)
The Scottsdale Scorpions (7-3), the Arizona Fall League team that includes Met prospects, play the Peoria Javelinas (5-5) Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. ET.
Latest MLB News
Albert Pujols is no longer a candidate to manage the Angels and will interview with the Padres on Wednesday, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The Orioles have also expressed interest in Pujols. There are eight MLB managerial job openings: Padres, Orioles, Angels, Braves, Giants, Nationals, Rockies and Twins.
Heyman also reported that the Orioles and Twins are interested in Scott Servais, who went 680-642 managing the Mariners from 2016-2024. Servais was a special assistant for player development for the Padres this year. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that the Twins are interested in Servais and Royals third-base coach Vance Wilson, who was a Mets backup catcher from 1999-2004. Wilson also interviewed with the Giants.
Baseball industry sources tell reporter Francys Romero that they believe the Yomiuri Giants will not post 3B-1B Kazuma Okamoto after the season. Okamoto, 29, hit .322/.411/.581 with 15 homers in 77 games this year.
Anthony Iapoce, the Tigers first-base coach for the last two seasons and a Long Island native, will not be returning next season, a source told MLB.com.
Latest on MMO
Allison Waxman has the details on Okamoto, Munetaka Murakami and Tatsuya Imai, three Japanese stars who could make an impact in MLB next season.
Free agent Kyle Schwarber hit 56 home runs. Should the Mets go after him? Satish Ram writes that it’s worth checking in.
It was an up and down year for Kodai Senga. Mojo Hill has a report card.
On This Date in Mets History
1973: Jon Matlack gives up two-run homers to Bert Campaneris and World Series MVP Reggie Jackson as the Mets lose Game 7 in Oakland, 5-2. Wayne Garrett pops out as the tying run at the plate to end the game.
1986: Lenny Dykstra hits a leadoff homer in a four-run first and the Mets beat the Red Sox 7-1 at Fenway Park in Game 3 of the World Series. Bob Ojeda throws seven innings of one-run ball.
2000: Armando Benitez blows the save in the ninth and Jose Vizcaino‘s walk-off single in the 12th off Turk Wendell gives the Yankees the 4-3 win in Game 1 of the Subway Series. Al Leiter gave up two runs over seven innings.
2015: Daniel Murphy, Lucas Duda and Travis d’Arnaud homer in an 8-3 victory at Wrigley Field that completes a sweep of the Cubs in the NLCS. Bartolo Colón earns the win in relief. Murphy, who went 9-for-17 with four homers in the series, is named NLCS MVP.
Born on This Date: Danny Barnes (1989), Danny Herrera (1984), José Lobatón (1984), Jim Henderson (1982).
