Wanted knee surgery
a veteran player. He was frustrated he wasn’t playing, and he didn’t get fully healthy.
“But whatever other conversations and his frustration that he’s sharing about the surgery, we did not expand on any conversation like that.”
Lowrie was absent from the Mets toward the end of their 60-game season last year. He had not participated in any baseball activities since July’s training camp. Van Wagenen, last September, alluded to greener pastures ahead for Lowrie, which he has since found in his strong start with the Athletics.
But Lowrie’s recent public comments are just another addition to the bizarre happenings of the Wilpon-era Mets.
“I hope he can get back to being the best player he’s been,” Van Wagenen said on Sept. 18, 2020. “I was disappointed we weren’t able to do that together.”
IN THE TRAINER’S ROOM
J.D. Davis (left hand contusion) took batting practice on Tuesday and Rojas was encouraged by the results. Davis is eligible to come off the 10-day IL on Friday and Rojas indicated he should be available for the Mets this weekend. Davis was hit on his left hand by a Chase Anderson fastball on April 6 against the Phillies.
“From being here Friday working with him, he wasn’t able to really grip the bat because of his bottom hand range of motion, to watching him take BP yesterday, it’s day and night,” Rojas said. “He’s swinging the bat really good.”
Dellin Betances (right shoulder impingement) has remained with the team as he continues to receive treatment from the medical staff. Rojas said he’s dealing with “minor pain and soreness,” but does not have a timetable for his return.
PETE LOVES CHEERS, AND JEERS
Pete Alonso is thankful to have fans back in the stands cheering him on at Citi Field. The Mets first baseman said the crowd energy brings a liveliness to the game that he deeply missed in last year’s 60game season. But it’s not just the positive reinforcement he enjoys. Alonso, a true competitor, also loved the jeers he received from Phillies fans during the Mets’ last road trip.
“Also being booed at Philly, it was awesome,” Alonso said. “I know it seems crazy, but because of the pandemic and this and that, I missed the boos. … Seeing people genuinely happy to go to baseball games, it’s so pure and it’s so enjoyable to have people back. There’s really something special about getting a hit or making a play on defense and making a ton of people smile, whether it be on TV or in person.
“Hopefully we keep getting more and more people in the stands as this year goes on, but I’m really happy with how people are back in the stadium and I’ve had a blast.”