Giancarlo Stanton Among Yankees Trio Rehabbing in Double-A Somerset

If there is one thing Giancarlo Stanton, Josh Donaldson and Tommy Kahnle are looking forward to the most right now it is getting back to the Big League's to help the New York Yankees this season. 

All three players are rehabbing with the Somerset Patriots, the Yankees Double-A Affiliate. We were there covering for Fox Sports New Jersey.

Photo courtesy of Somerset Patriots.

Stanton was mum on when he expects to return to the Bronx, chosing to see what happens over the next couple of days, but told reporters he felt good. 

WATCH STANTON PRESSER HERE!

Donaldson and Khanle both told reporters they are hopeful or returning to the Big's rather soon. 

Photo Courtesy of Michael Cohen - Fox Sports NJ

 

 Donaldson is coming back from a Grade-1 Strain that has kept him out for most of the season. He tried to rehab with the Patriots earlier this season, but his hamstring tightened up. Not the case on Tuesday, as he went 1-for-4 with a single. 

Khanle who has missed a better part of the last two years battling arm injuries after undergoing Tommy John Surgery in 2020 is trying to get back to solidfy the Yankees pen. He told reporters he has a new pitch in store. 

Photo Courtesy of Somerset Patriots.

On Tuesday Khanle gave up a run, and two walks, with a strikeout in the seventh inning. 

It will be interesting to see what the Yankees decide to do in recalling all three players in the coming days, perhaps when the Yankees visit the Dodgers this weekend.

Aaron Rodgers Tweaks Calf in OTA's, Media Melts Down

Reporters had a meltdown -- understandably so -- when quarterback Aaron Rodgers was not participating in OTA practice on Wednesday afternoon. It was the first OTA pratice that was available to Jets beat reporters. Apparently Aaron Rodgers tweaked his calf or ankle -- depending on the report -- and only did a walk through. 

Jets quarterback's Aaron Rodgers (8) and Zach Wilson (2). 

Getty Images

 

Rodgers told reporters afterwards that it is not believed to be a serious injury.

 

Wide receiver Allen Lazard also sustained a groin injury and walked off the field after remaining on the ground for a few minutes. Lazard later tweeted that he was A-Ok. 

Moreover Zach Wilson reportedly looked fantastic in seven-on-seven drills. 

What does this all mean? In the words of Rick Moranis in Spaceballs, "Absolutely nothing." It's OTA's! It's May 23! Relax folks. Yes, it was alarming for a New York minute, but as long as Rodgers was walking around just fine, and felt good afterwards that is all that matters. His health, of course, is paramount to the Jets success this season. 

As for Wilson, I don't know what to say; it's seven-on-seven drills. This is a guy who was slinging the ball all over the place during pre-draft workouts as we all remember before the Jets drafted him two years ago. He should look sharp in the drill -- he's in his third in the league now. If he is getting better, and improving all to the good for the Jets future beyond the 2023 season.
 

 

Lindor, Alonso and the Kids Power Mets Past Guardians in Thriller

 The Mets are back baby! 

After stunning the Tampa Bay Rays earlier this week by winning two-of-three, highlighted by Wednesday's thrilling comeback win, the Mets topped it on Friday night with a 10-9 extra inning thriller vs. Cleveland. 

And once again the kids were at the center of it. 

Mark Vientos, Brett Baty and Francisco Alvarez combined for five hits, two homers and three RBI in the Mets win, further proof that Buck Showalter must play this trio as often as possible. They have brought energy and power to a lineup that desperately needs it. 

They even rejuvenated a bench that appeared dead for the past three weeks. 

It all started with Alvarez's solo homer to left that cut a 5-0 deficit to 5-1. Later Baty homered, and all a sudden the Mets were right back in it at 5-3. 

Finally in the bottom of the seventh inning, with Cleveland now leading 7-3, Pete Alonso tore the roof off the building when he cracked a grand slam homer to right that tied the game at seven. 

Alonso screamed as he rounded first and nearly tripped over himself in excitement. Who could blame him. The Mets were back. All the way back. 

The Mojo was back!

 To extras we went, and the Mets again found themselves down, this time 9-7. And once again they stormed back.  Mark Vientos got the rally started with an RBI single, scoring Batty. Then Francisco Alvarez hit the ball through the hole at short, sending Vientos wheeling around third with the game tying run.

Finally it was up to Francisco Lindor, who had to hear for days about people questioning his leadership, and others questioning the trade the Mets made with the Guardians three years ago. He shut them all up with a seeing-eye single up the middle to score Alvarez with the winning run. 

Lindor ripped his batting helmet off and leaped into the arms of his teammates to celebrate one of the most impressive Mets wins not only of this season, but in a long time. 

Jets and Giants are Prime Time Players in 2023

 

The New York Giants and Jets will have a combined total of 10 prime time games during the 2023 season.

Think about it, last year the Giants and Jets combined to appear in only three prime time games between them.

The Giants open the season at home under the lights on Sunday night football against the Dallas Cowboys on September 10. After a visit to the Desert to see the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2, the G-Men travel to San Francisco to face the 49ers on Thursday Night Football, September 21.

 On October 2, the Giants will host the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night football. That’s three prime time games in the season’s opening four weeks for Big Blue.

The Giants face the Buffalo Bills in Week 6 on Sunday Night Football, and the Green Bay Packers in Week 14 on Monday Night Football.

As for the Jets, well, this is what happens when Aaron Rodgers comes to town.

The Jets are featured in five prime time games, and will also play in the first ever Black Friday game on November 24 against the Miami Dolphins.

 

The Jets open the season on September 11 against the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football.

After clashes with the Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots in Weeks 2 and 3, the Jets host the Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4 on Sunday Night Football.

 Two weeks later the Jets host the defending NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles at the Meadowlands.

In November the Jets will have back-to-back prime time slots. First in Week 9 against the LA Chargers at MetLife Stadium on Monday Night Football, and then a week later in Las Vegas against the Raiders on Sunday Night Football.

The Jets final prime time game comes in Week 17 on December 28 at the Cleveland Browns (could be a trap game).

Max Scherzer Scratched from Start vs. Reds

 Mets starter Max Scherzer has been scratched from his start against the Cincinnati Reds over neck spasms. 

The latest setback, although it is believed not to be too serious, is the latest in a long line of setbacks for the former Cy Young Award winner. 

 "It's easy to be frustrated by it, but at the end of the day, there's nothing I did. It wasn't like I'm doing something stupid or something like that," Scherzer said. "I literally just did my workouts and could feel it coming on, tried to get in front of it and then I didn’t. It blew up on me. There’s literally zero to regret. There’s no second-guessing of anything I’ve done. It just happened."

David Peterson is making the start as a result.  

Manager Buck Schowalter also confirmed that Justin Verlander tried to persuade him to make the start tonight on short rest, but the Mets opted to go with a well rested Peterson. 

Scherzer has seen one start pushed back due to soreness this year, and was suspended 10 games for an illegal substance on his hands against the Dodgers. Overall, Scherzer is pitching to a 5.56 ERA and has not looked anything like the pitcher he once was. 

Hey, at least the Mets signed ex-Yankee Gary Sanchez whom they optioned to Triple-A Syracuse.

 

Mets and Phillies Heading to London in 2024

 

Just a few days ago, the United Kingdom rolled out the royal red carpet for the crowning of King Charles III at his coronation.

Next summer, the U.K. will get ready roll out the red carpet for the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies.

According to Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci the Mets and Phillies will square off in London at some point in 2024.

The United Kingdom last hosted a Major League Baseball game in 2019 when the Yankees and Red Sox played a couple of wild ball games at West Ham London Stadium. The Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals were scheduled to play in London in 2020, but COVID-19 hit the world, and the series was obviously nixed.

The Cubs and Cardinals are set to play in London on June 24.

 

Playing overseas is nothing new for the Mets. They played the Marlins in Puerto Rico in 2010; played two games against the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo, Japan to open the 2000 season, and played three games against the San Diego Padres in Mexico back in 1996.

This will be the Mets first trip to the United Kingdom. It should be a smashing good time!

Will the Giants and Jets Open 2023 on MNF?

 There is rampant speculation, certainly understandable, that the New York Giants and New York Jets could end up facing one another in the opening Monday Night game this year. The schedule will be released Thursday, so we will firmly know by then. 

Obviously a Giants-Jets match-up to open the season on Monday Night does two things: 1) The game would be played on the 22nd anniversary of the 9-11 Terrorist Attacks. It would be a wholesome moment on a sacred day to have the two New York City-based teams square off for the City. 

2) The storylines would be immense. You would have the first game for Aaron Rodgers in a Jets uniform angle; the 'can the Giants show that 2022 was no fluke' angle.  Daniel Jones vs. Aaron Rodgers. Robert Saleh vs. Brian Daboll. Joe Douglas vs. Joe Schoen. 

It would be incredible. 

Will it happen? 

Check out my prediction here from Fox Sports New Jersey.