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Baseball can be weird. There are unusual plays, crazy history-making moments, breathtaking catches and record-breaking home runs.
This past Friday, though, there was a truly bizarre moment during the Mets game. Mid-game Francisco Lindor and Jeff McNeil went into the Mets dugout tunnel and a few moments later a fracas of some kind caused several other members of the team.
Whatever actually happened will remain between Lindor and McNeil, but they both insist it was actually an argument about a mysterious animal that they couldn’t agree on being a rat or a raccoon (just how big are rats in New York City?!)
It was an absolutely bonkers explanation that sounds completely made up, but if it is the truth, it’s a perfect case of the truth being stranger than fiction.
- Lindor explains the unique exchange.
"We were going back and forth debating if it was a rat or a racoon"
— SNY (@SNYtv) May 8, 2021
SOUND UP to hear about what happened in the tunnel between Francisco Lindor and Jeff McNeil from Francisco himself pic.twitter.com/REn66S6nf3
- Brittany Ghiroli breaks more bad baseball news, as Nationals broadcaster F.P. Santangelo is accused of sexual misconduct. (The Athletic subscription required.)
- Devan Fink wants to know what the heck happened to all the home runs?
- Jay Jaffee reflects on the parting of the ways between Albert Pujols and the Angels.
- Tom Verducci also looks at the long career of Pujols and what might come next.
- Michael Clair takes a Mother’s Day look at the connection between Casey Candaele and his mother.
- ESPN brings us classic moments between baseball players and their mothers.
- Ubaldo Jimenez never forgot a promise he made to his mother that he would get an education, reports James Wagner.
- Willians Astudillo and Hanser Alberto are swinging a hot bat and Matthew Roberson looks at how the pair are beating the deadball odds.
- Max Scherzer is on his way to history.
With his 14 K today, Max Scherzer now has 2,845 for his career. To reach 3,000 this season while maintaining his current rate (11.85 K/9) would require only another 118 innings (18 starts at his current rate).
— Jay Jaffe (@jay_jaffe) May 8, 2021
He'll be the 19th pitcher to reach 3,000 K.
- Michael Clair and Dan Cichalski have your summer all planned now that we can travel again, with baseball road trip destinations in all 50 states.
- Will Leitch brings us one player on every team who needs to get back in their groove.
- Bradford Doolittle has one good (and one bad) thing for every MLB team so far.
- Ben Clemens looks at how wild relievers have been out of the pen this year.
- The NL East is a hot mess and not living up to expectations. David Schoenfield investigates what’s going on with the division.
- Meanwhile Claire McNear looks at how the Giants (and specifically Buster Posey) became the team to beat in the NL West.
- Jayson Stark doesn’t need no stinkin’ DH in the NL thank you very much. (The Athletic subscription required.)
- C. Trent Rosencrans reflects on Wade Miley’s no-hitter and its place in Reds history. (The Athletic subscription required.)
- Big Leaguer in the making.
This Little Leaguer is logging some serious miles. @LittleLeague
— Play Ball (@PlayBall) May 9, 2021
(via ashd131/TikTok) pic.twitter.com/MnZfVv18W8
And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster. Make it so.