Listen, we know it's tough to catch up on everything happening in the baseball world each morning. There are all kinds of stories, rumors, game coverage and Vines of dudes getting hit in the beans every day. Trying to find all of it while on your way to work or sitting at your desk just isn't easy. It's OK, though, we're going to do the heavy lifting for you each morning, and find the things you need to see from within the SB Nation baseball network as well as from elsewhere. Please hold your applause until the end, or at least until after you subscribe to the newsletter.
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
★★★
Before Monday night, Mets third baseman David Wright had last hit a home run on April 10. He appeared in just four more games following that blast before hitting the disabled list with a hamstring strain that would eventually reveal spinal stenosis in Wright. Months later, in his first at-bat back from the DL, Wright went deep again for his second home run of the season, one of eight record dingers for the Mets on the night.
Juan Lagares had a homer, Wilmer Flores hit two, Travis d’Arnaud went deep once, Daniel Murphy notched a long ball and even Michael Cuddyer managed to clear the fences. The record-setting shot was hit by trade deadline acquisition Yoenis Cespedes, who has been a force in the Mets’ lineup since they dealt for him. He is a large part of why they now have a 5.5-game lead on the second place Nationals in the NL East.
The division looks like the Mets’ way in to the postseason, as their record isn’t good enough for the second Wild Card -- the Cubs have four more wins and five fewer losses and hold the second of two spots -- but curiously, could end up being more than enough than what is needed to top the NL East. Wright, even if he can’t play every day with his back condition, should be a significant part of New York staying on top. There’s still a lot of baseball left, but for once, Mets fans have some reason to hope.
- The Mets' playoff drought is nothing compared to that of the Blue Jays, who last participated in the postseason in 1993. A whole lot has changed since then, not just in baseball, but in the world itself.
- Like Wright with the Mets, the Jays are getting their own form of in-house hope thanks to the imminent return of Marcus Stroman.
- Bat flips have been around forever in America, and we have the photos(hops) to prove it.
- Orbit, the Astros' mascot, has better dance moves than you, and in all likelihood less pants.
- There is a bright side to lost seasons, and the Tigers stand to benefit from that.
- The Red Sox have a whole bunch of arms, but few reliable ones, and that means new president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski will have a busy, trade-filled offseason.
- Ron Washington is now the A's third base coach, taking over for the fired Mike Gallego. Washington had been reintroduced to the organization earlier in the season as a defensive-minded coach.
- Was Mike Fiers cheating during his no-hitter? A more complicated answer than "his glove was shiny!" is needed.
- The Cardinals are leading the NL Central despite a number of injuries to key players, but they should be back in mostly full force relatively soon.
- The Mets didn't just succeed at the plate on Monday, as Wilmer Flores threw Ryan Howard out at first base while literally sitting out in right field.
- The big moves like signing Jon Lester get the attention, but a number of minor, under-the-radar moves have also helped set this year's contenders up for success.
- Keeping up with the Little League World Series? You can check out Monday's results and significance here.
See More:
