Showalter, Eppler optimistic ahead of Mets owner Cohen’s press conference
Manager Buck Showalter and general manager Billy Eppler struck an optimistic tone and said they feel supported by owner Steve Cohen, hours after the New York Mets owner said he planned to hold a press conference regarding the struggling team on Wednesday.
Cohen revealed his intentions Tuesday afternoon on Twitter, ending his tweet with: “You will get it from me straight.”
The Mets, who won 101 games last season and opened this season with a record $335 million payroll, had lost seven of nine and 15 of 21 entering play on Tuesdayto fall to 35-43 — the furthest they’ve been below .500 since the final day of the 2021 season. They entered the day 8 ½ games back of the third National League wild card.
“He’s been great, very supportive — I couldn’t ask for a better owner,” Showalter said before the Mets’ game against the Milwaukee Brewers. “He gets involved, obviously, in whatever he wants to. It’s his team.
I know how much the Mets mean to him.”
Eppler, meeting with reporters for just the third time this season, said he talks with Cohen every day.
“The questions that he’ll ask about is, how do we get a player from this point to that point and how will we know it’s working?” Eppler said during a 21-minute session in the Mets dugout. “And if that doesn’t work, what are we going to try after that? So it’s generally those questions.”
But both Showalter, in the second year of a three-year contract, and Eppler, in the second year of a four-year deal, hinted the Mets’ struggles have worn on Cohen.
“He’s frustrated — very competitive man, trust me, very competitive man,” Showalter said. “He likes to win.”
Showalter’s management of the bullpen — which has a 4.23 ERA while Edwin Díaz rehabs the torn patella tendon he suffered in the World Baseball Classic — has also been criticized. Closer David Robertson didn’t pitch Sunday, when the Mets squandered a three-run, eighth-inning lead in a 7-6 loss
to the Phillies.
Nick Gonzales homered and tripled in his first home game at PNC Park, and Pittsburgh broke out of an offensive funk to drill San Diego.
Bryan De La Cruz hit a two-run home run, Jean Segura added a solo homer and Florida beat Boston.
Thairo Estrada had a two-run double and scored a run, Alex Wood and three relievers combined on an eight-hitter and San Francisco beat Toronto.
Ronald Acuña Jr. hit two of Atlanta’s five homers — all in the first two innings — and the power-hitting Braves beat Joe Ryan and Minnesota.
Tigers’ Boyd will have surgery
Detroit Tigers starter Matthew Boyd will have season-ending elbow reconstruction surgery after tests Tuesday revealed a partial sprain of the left-hander’s ulnar collateral ligament.
Boyd (5-5, 5.45 ERA) exited his start against the Texas Rangers on Monday night after feeling discomfort in his arm after only 15 pitches. He pointed at his elbow during a conversation on the mound with manager A.J. Hinch and trainer Ryne Eubanks.
The Tigers didn’t say when Boyd would have the procedure, commonly known as Tommy John surgery. The timetable for recovery is typically at least 12-14 months.
Struggling Manoah allows 11 runs
Toronto Blue Jays starter Alek Manoah was hit hard in his first game after returning to the minors, allowing 11 runs over 2.2 innings in a rookie-level Florida Complex League game on Tuesday.
Before the Blue Jays hosted the San Francisco Giants in Toronto on Tuesday night, manager John Schneider played down Manoah’s rough outing.
“Obviously saw the line score, but heard that the things we were talking about, in terms of strike throwing, delivery, tempo, velocity, were all positive,” Schneider said. “The rest of the stuff, you can take it with a grain of salt.”