FLUSHING, NY — The last weekend at Citi Field in a lost season for the New York Mets though the opposing Phillies were still vying for the postseason on a National League Wild Card spot.
The Mets continued to evaluate who would be a fit for their roster and Francisco Lindor failed to hit a milestone career 300th home run.
Interim manager Andy Green will perhaps be back in the Mets’ front office if and when the 2027 season commences again at Citi Field. Representatives of team owners and the MLBPA continue to talk in hopes of averting a lockout of the game prior to the current collective bargaining agreement that expires on December 1st.
Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto during Sunday afternoon’s series finale between the Phillies (86-70) and Mets (71-85) at Citi Field – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
It concludes another baseball marathon for me and fellow colleagues at Citi Field. Next up is the postseason which will be played across town at Yankee Stadium and other ballparks with teams chasing a World Series title.
Meanwhile the Mets continued to play out the string Sunday afternoon with persistent rain falling on their heads, the Phillies winning 7-2 and splitting the four-game series.
The Mets finished the season 36-45 at Citi Field, with Sunday’s announced crowd of 33,611 not all in their seats or even in attendance.
The Mets drew approximately 3,184,570 fans to Citi Field last season and 2,712,120 for this year – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
The Mets failed to draw three million fans in a lost season at Citi Field though did reach the mark in 2025.
A Final Homestand of Honors
A final homestand of honors took place as the Mets celebrated Carlos Beltrán and his Hall of Fame induction Saturday and on Sunday, the retirement ceremony for Howie Rose was cancelled due to inclement weather and rescheduled during Opening week at Citi Field in 2027.
Here are some insights as the Mets departed to Arlington, Texas (Rangers) and Washington D.C. (Nationals) to conclude their season next Sunday. These ballgames are of limited significance for the orange and blue because they have to play the entire 162 game schedule and are already out of it.
HOWIE ROSE: From a young Mets fan to an established broadcaster, Howie Rose has been the radio voice of the Mets for more than four decades in the booth. Television side to the radio booth, a transition where he always painted the picture.
Howie Rose, the radio voice of the Mets, put it in the books this weekend at Citi Field, capping off a legendary career in the booth – Image Credit: George Napolitano/Latino Sports
On Saturday a preliminary celebration was had for Rose with rain forecasted for Sunday. The Mets and Rose consented to cancel the on field retirement ceremonies Sunday. Saturday would have been his last broadcast, but mother nature prompted to provide all with one last day for Howie.
One final day of hearing that voice and his passion. Another day of reminiscing, providing Mets history, and thanking fans who became a part of his extended family. The lovefest on Citi Field’s scoreboard, and fans chanting “Howie, Howie, Howie” as the final innings approached. His face on the famed home run apple in center field though in the finale it didn’t rise for the occasion, just for Bo Bichette who hit his 17th HR of 2026.
Bo Bichette hit his 17th home run of 2026 in the Mets’ 7-2 loss Sunday to the Phillies – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
Though Rose could not use his signature phrase of “Put It In The Books” and will no longer be in the radio booth, Rose is an everlasting part of the Mets family and will return to be a part of special days at Citi Field. Such as a new inductee to the franchise’s Hall of Fame, a retirement of another number, and perhaps fill in when two young prodigies Keith Radd or Pat McCarthy need a day off.
His passion is the Mets, their fans, and others who are a part of the Mets organization including security personnel, media dining room employees, managers, coaches, and the players. Also the NHL’s New York Rangers thanks to his iconic call of “Matteau! Matteau! Matteau!”
He needed to regain his composure when “Hello Goodbye” by his favorite group The Beatles played on Citi Field’s PA system.
Mets players in tribute exited the dugout after the final out, they looked up at the Audacy radio booth and tipped their caps to Rose. After putting his headset down for the final time, it was the fans showing their love to Rose and cheered below section 318.
“As one of them,” he said when asked how fans should remember him. “Next year when we do this, whenever we do, it’s going to be a party. It’s going to have such a positive feel to it. I always wanted to be a local guy, especially here in New York.”
The popularity caught the attention of Green, his usual pre game meeting with the media preceded Rose and securing a seat was a task.
“He’s an absolute pro,” Green said, “Biggest crowd I’ve had since I’ve been down here that’s for sure.”
Hats off to the Mets for a tremendous weekend in honoring legends of the franchise Carlos Beltrán and Howie Rose – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
That comment got some chuckles in the room and then it was the turn for Howie Rose. Former Mets Cleon Jones and Mookie Wilson, a part of his history, were in attendance as Rose worked the room and went for handshakes, and hugs.
You meet and work with the pros in this business, Rose is one of them. And next year that celebration and honor at Citi Field for him? Sunday was just the rehearsal.
BELTRÁN AND LINDOR: Carlos Beltrán had his special on field ceremony Saturday, becoming the ninth Mets player to have his number (15) retired. He cited the ups and downs of playing in New York, the seven years of five All-Star appearances, three Gold Glove Awards, 148 home runs with the Mets. Also, his appreciation to the owners Steve and Alex Cohen as well as the entirety of the Mets organization.
Carlos Beltrán, the sixth Puerto Rican to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum up in Cooperstown, NY, became the first Puerto Rican to enter the Mets Hall with his induction and number 15 retirement ceremony taking place this past Saturday at Citi Field – Image Credit: George Napolitano/Latino Sports
Lindor failed to achieve his milestone, going 0-for-5 with Mets fans anxiously awaiting the moment. He will have to take it now on the road, and when he does connect for No. 300, he’ll become just the seventh Puerto Rican player in MLB history to do it. Nevertheless, what was more important to him this weekend was witnessing Beltran have his day. Lindor commented in Saturday’s pregame how he leaned on Beltran for advice when he arrived and struggled as a Met in 2021.
Two fellow ballplayers from Puerto Rico, Lindor explained the connection and said the newest Mets HOF inductee Beltrán would be a nice fit as manager of the Mets if offered and accepted.
Green has indicated a return to his player management role in the organization.
Carlos Beltrán is a role model and idol of so many former and active ballplayers to make their way and set their own mark in Major League Baseball – Image Credit: George Napolitano/Latino Sports
Lindor mentioned the significance of their heritage, how Beltrán and others paved the way for others.
“It’s very inspiring. Someone that was close to me and to every Puerto Rican. Anybody that’s Puerto Rican that makes it big, us Puerto Ricans feel like we made it as well,” Lindor said. “To be on the biggest stages, playoffs, All-Star games and to see him come back to the island is very special. We always talk about guys like that, like the Beltráns, (Roberto) Alomar, (Carlos) Delgado, (Iván) Rodríguez. Guys that set the path for a guy like me today.”
Ever since growing up in Caguas, Puerto Rico as a young kid with a dream to make it to MLB, Francisco Lindor looked up to Carlos Beltrán – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
He said about his first year with the Mets, “When I first got traded here, I called him and I talked to him,” Lindor said. “I didn’t play well. I sucked in the beginning and having him there to comfort me and say, ‘Hey, this stuff is going to happen. It’s ok. You’re going to go through stuff like this, but you’re going to come out on the other side. Stay true to yourself and play the game the right way.’
“Stuff like that early on was huge for me today.”
PHILLIES GET THE SPLIT: Their postseason hopes still in the balance, the Phillies earned the four-game series split this weekend in Queens. Left-handed starter Cristopher Sánchez, a former National League LatinoMVP Pitcher of the Year (2025), and the rotation need to step up this final week with fellow 2023 LatinoMVP Award recipient Jesús Luzardo on the IL with shoulder inflammation.
Cristopher Sánchez is having a LatinoMVP Award winning caliber season this year, like the La Romana, Dominican Republic native did so in 2025 – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
Sánchez (18-6, 2.93 ERA) earned his 18th win (6.1 innings, 6 hits, 2 earned runs, 6 strikeouts, 1 HR allowed and 0 walks).
It wasn’t his best effort though a boost to keep the Phillies a game behind the Cubs and Padres for the first NL Wild Card spot.
Rich Mancuso is a senior writer and columnist at LatinoSports.com with coverage of MLB, boxing, and MLS – X:@Ring786, Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
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