Ten days. Ten days from real baseball. It’s a glorious time. Ten days until Jacob deGrom takes the hill against the Nationals. For Mets fans in New York, April 8 — 17 days away — is on the radar. Fans will be back in the building at Citi Field for the first time since 2019. It may only be 8,400 people, but that is a whole lot better than none. Excitement is in the air in Metsland.
To get into the return of the fans, a couple of potential contract extensions before the season starts and everything else going on with the orange and blue, it’s time for a new episode of the “Amazin’ But True” podcast with Nelson Figueroa and me, including a riveting interview with former Mets pitching coach Rick Peterson.
Amazin’ But True Podcast Opening Segment with Jake and Figgie:
- FATASS JAKE: Mom calls me to say “you look a little big” in that sweater. Mom keeping it real with me. Do I need to stop eating like a monster?
- FANS BACK AT CITI FIELD: Twenty percent capacity, around 8,400 fans in the building beginning for the home opener April 8. How much money would Figgie pay to go to Opening Day? Prices are high at moment. Can you make a lot of noise with a mask on? How will fans impact the players?
- LINDOR/CONFORTO EXTENSIONS: Mets give Francisco Lindor and Michael Conforto offers. Lindor blasting homers this past week in spring training. There will be some negotiating. Lindor will likely end up getting more than $300 million. Better off if Mets can lock both guys up before the season starts.
- CARLOS CARRASCO OUT: May not be back until June. Who takes his spot in the rotation? Joey Lucchesi? Jordan Yamamoto? Is David Peterson a lock now for the No. 4 spot? Carrasco and potentially Noah Syndergaard will give them a huge boost in June.
SUBSCRIBE ON:
Nelson Figueroa Spanish Academy: Figgie teaches me how to say “eat a lot” aka fatass, which was a theme of the show and “backstabber.”
Rick Peterson Interview: Former Mets pitching coach (2004-2008)
- SYNDERGAARD: How can he become a more complete pitcher when he comes back? It’s not about how hard you throw. It’s about executing pitches.
- GETTING FIRED IN 2008: Gives the entire story of what happened and how relieved he was when he was fired. “I couldn’t believe the backstabbing and dishonesty.” It went sideways and was a toxic place to be. They were going through a renovation. He left for the Jersey Shore.
- VICTOR ZAMBRANO: Gives the entire story of the Mets trading for Zambrano when he was there. He also never said he could fix Zambrano in 10 minutes. Confronted Tim Kurkjian about it. His UCL was damaged. Zambrano cried to him in pain and hugged him after he was pulled from start when he got hurt.
Catch up on all episodes of “Amazin’ But True,” a New York Mets podcast, by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow Jake Brown on Twitter and Instagram @JakeBrownRadio and Nelson Figueroa @FiggieNY. New episodes are released every Monday during spring training and Mondays and Thursdays once the season begins.
