NEW YORK, NY — After getting swept by the lowly Colorado Rockies over the weekend in Queens, the New York Mets now stand with an abysmal 2026 regular season record of 9-19. One of two MLB teams without 10 victories on the year, along with their NL East division rival Philadelphia Phillies, who are also 9-19.
There are two terms which will make Mets fans wince when they reflect upon the first month of the 2026 season: “losing streak” and “calf injuries.” As soon as Juan Soto returned to the Mets lineup last Wednesday from the calf injury he incurred in San Francisco three weeks earlier, the Mets proceeded to end their nightmarish twelve-game losing streak by beating the Minnesota Twins in a nail-biter, 3-2.
Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
That was the good news. The bad news was that in the same game, shortstop Francisco Lindor, who is known for his durability, injured a calf muscle running the bases trying to score. Lindor slid in safely, but that was probably the last memory we will see of him until the All-Star Game break, based on Mets manager Carlos Mendoza’s glum report to the media the following day.
Adding to the bad vibes, Lindor’s dormant bat was finally coming to life.
Image Credit: George Napolitano/Latino Sports
Lindor’s absence creates the first real opportunity for Ronny Mauricio to play every day. He has been labeled the Mets’ top position player prospect for years. Because the Mets have had a glut of infielders, he has only received sporadic playing time when he has been called up from the minors. He has not shown much in those cameo appearances. Mauricio is out of minor league options after the 2026 season, so it is finally put up or shut up time for him.
The media had a field day with the Mets’ losing streak and a lot of laughs were at the expense of New York City mayor, Zohran Mamdani. The start of the Mets bad fortunes coincided with a mayoral visit to Citi Field. He posed with a broad smile for a photo with the team’s mascots, Mr. and Mrs. Met.
That picture made WABC morning radio talk show host Sid Rosenberg declare he was switching his baseball fan allegiance from Queens to the Bronx, as he would now root for the Yankees.
Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
As soon as the Mets losses started mounting, the New York Post ran the photo on its front page under a headline which read “The Curse of the Mambino.” The conservative satirical digital publication, The Babylon Bee, posted a story about how Mayor Mamdani was ordering visiting teams to redistribute 40% of their runs to the Mets to remedy “run inequality.”
Even the Mets’ cable home, SNY, got in on the act. Team field reporter Steve Gelbs held a voodoo ceremony, complete with incense, to chase the bad spirits away last Tuesday before the Twins-Mets game. Not to be outdone, Gary Cohen and Ron Darling lit candles in the broadcast booth.
The SNY theatrics did not change the Mets’ luck immediately, as they lost that night, but the streak did end a day later, Way to go, guys!
Former MLB pitcher and MLBPA’s Miguel Batista stops by Citi Field
Miguel Batista was a journeyman pitcher who played for a dozen years in the majors, including parts of 2011 and 2012 with the Mets. He was at Citi Field last Thursday in his advisory role with the Major League Baseball Players Association.
Image Credit: NBC Sports
Batista is a renaissance man. Whereas many athletes seek careers in broadcasting, Batista has always enjoyed the written word. He has authored articles for ESPN in both English and Spanish as both an active and retired player. After he ended his playing career, Batista attended law school in his native Dominican Republic where he maintains a practice.
“I am the oldest pitcher in Mets history to toss a complete game shutout. I threw a two-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds on the last day of the 2011 season. Most people only remember that game because (Mets manager) Terry Collins removed José Reyes in the first inning after his bunt single to help ensure he would win the National League batting title,” he said with a smile.
“The big difference in baseball between when I played and today, is every pitcher can throw around 100 miles per hour. The emphasis on velocity, rather than command. That is not a good thing,” he told me.
That night, Christian Scott started his first game at Citi Field since 2024 after having missed the entire 2025 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. He threw around 97 mph on most pitches. Unfortunately, he walked five batters, hit another, and threw a wild pitch. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza had to remove him in the second inning despite the fact the Mets were winning 3-1 at the time.
Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
In his postgame press conference, Mendoza cited Scott’s lack of command as the reason for pulling him. The Mets demoted Scott back to their Syracuse AAA team the next day.
Sportscaster Joe Buck to host “ESPN Jeopardy!”
Sportscaster Joe Buck was one of the many celebrities who hosted “Jeopardy!” following the passing of Alex Trebek, but before Ken Jennings was named the permanent host.
Buck will be hosting “ESPN Jeopardy!” in either the fall of this year, or early 2027.
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Despite the show’s title, “ESPN Jeopardy!” will not air on the Worldwide Leader of Sports, but rather on Disney Corporation’s two streaming services, Hulu, and Disney Plus.
Sue Bird to play part in NBC’s WNBA coverage
WNBA legend, Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, and Christ the King alum Sue Bird will be part of NBC’s WNBA coverage.
And the Haggerty Awards go to St. John’s Zuby Ejiofor and Columbia University’ s Riley Weiss
St. John’s University star forward Zuby Ejiofor received the Haggerty Award last Thursday for being the best men’s college basketball player in the New York metropolitan area. Columbia University’ s Riley Weiss was named the best local college female player.
Jets and Giants thrilled with outcome of 2026 NFL Draft
The 2026 NFL Draft reminded us yet again how no one should take any of those ubiquitous mock drafts in newspapers or on social media seriously. Yes, they are an effective way of getting to know the names of the top college football players in the country but trying to guess which NFL teams are going to select those players is a fool’s errand.
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None of the mock drafts I saw had the Jets interested in Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq who was selected with the sixteenth pick in the draft, or the Giants taking University of Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa with the tenth pick.
Gang Green selected defensive end David Bailey out of the University of Texas, with the #2 pick in the draft, while Big Blue went with Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese with the #5 selection. Most analysts thought the Jets would tab Reese, and that Bailey would be chosen right after him by the Arizona Cardinals.
The Cardinals opted instead for Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, while the Tennessee Titans selected Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate at the fourth spot in the draft.
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Giants general manager Joe Schoen, and his head coach, John Harbaugh, must have been shocked Reese fell into their laps. Given the hype and the geography, expect Bailey and Reese to be compared for years to come.
Remembering and Paying Tribute to Dave Mason
Even though he was a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, I believe the late Dave Mason, who died last Thursday at the age of 79 was underrated. While he was best known for being a founding member of the British band Traffic, he was also a skilled songwriter, as evidenced by “Only You Know and I Know,” and “Feelin’ Alright,” which became a Joe Cocker staple, and an incredibly good singer. His “We Just Disagree” was a big hit in 1977. His 1978 cover of the Carole King-Gerry Goffin standard, “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?” with its catchy guitar riffs, background chorus, and Mason’s heartfelt vocals, is the best version I have heard.
Baldor Bite 2026 turns out to be a massive success at Manhattan’s Pier 36
One of the nation’s largest food distributors, Bronx-based Baldor Foods, held their biannual trade show, Baldor Bite, with their brands partners serving as exhibitors at Manhattan’s Pier 36 last Tuesday.
Image Credit: Baldor Bite
For epicureans, Baldor Bite rivals the annual Fancy Food Show held in the early summer at Javits Center.
All Types of Beverages at Baldor Bite 2026
While there were plenty of companies from all parts of the supermarket such as meats, pastas, fruits, and vegetables, I was most intrigued by the number of beverage companies who are competing against industry giants.
Health is on everyone’s mind, but so is taste. Health-Ade’s various kombucha flavors promote gut health and are an excellent alternative to soft drinks.
Red Jacket Orchards, located in the upstate New York town of Geneva, is best-known for their apple juice varieties, but they have branched into lemonade. Their Joe’s NY Lemonade has won food competition awards. They recently introduced Lemonade Zinger which has 20% less sugar than most lemonades.
Natalie’s Orchid Island Juices bottle only fresh squeezed, picked right off of the grove, fruit juices. After you have tried their orange juice, it is hard to go back to Tropicana or Minute Maid.
Image Credit: Natalie’s Orchid Island Juices
If you are looking for a different type of citrus juice chock full of Vitamin C, try the varieties from Los Angeles-based Yuzuco (theyuzu.co). The yuzu is a Japanese citrus fruit which is a cross between a lemon and a mandarin. You can use it as a salad dressing, or a cooking oil, or simply drink it straight.
Coconut water may be the fastest-growing beverage trend of the 21st century. Just as wine depends on the quality of grapes, soil, and atmospheric conditions, so does coconut water. Copra Coconuts’ Organic Young Thai Coconut Water is the Rolls-Royce of coconut water. It is pricier than Vita Coco or Zico, but it is well worth it.
When it comes to zero-calorie hydration, you can never go wrong with sparkling water. There is no shortage of seltzer/water brands. An excellent choice is Oper Water (drinkopenwater.com). It has electrolytes, and it uses light aluminum in its packaging instead of plastic, which is better for taste and for the environment.
More Beverages at Baldor Bite 2026
Another big growth area in the beverage industry is non-dairy milk. They have become popular for those who are lactose-intolerant or have dairy allergies. They are also a favorite of dietary-observant Jews who are prohibited from mixing meat and dairy during a meal.
Elmhurst Milked, which started out as Elmhurst Dairy in that Queens neighborhood in 1925, has a wide array of nut-based milks, including those from walnuts, cashews, and of course, almonds. Their oat nog is a holiday treat which tastes even better than eggnog.
Image Credit: Elmhurst Milked
Speaking of oats, Philadelphia-based Oatly has a wide assortment of oat-based milks and creamers for coffee drinkers.
Pistachios have long been one of the most popular nuts. There is a reason pistachio ice cream has long been the favorite dessert in Chinese restaurants. Tache touts itself as the originators of pistachio milk, and their website is appropriately pistachiomilk.com. Pistachios are full of antioxidants and vitamins. They are also beneficial for digestive health. And let’s not forget the fun part—they are very tasty.
You can read more of Lloyd Carroll’s columns posted weekly on The Queens Chronicle.
