NEW YORK — The final stretch of the Major League Baseball regular season has arrived with more than half of MLB franchises still in reach of postseason contention. With that, comes meaningful games in September for fan bases across the nation, hoping they get to witness their favorite team appear in October.
The Mets are playing meaningful games in September for the second time since Steve Cohen purchased the team from the Wilpon family. While most of the plaudits for the team’s better than expected season have rightfully gone to shortstop Francisco Lindor, the play of third baseman Mark Vientos also deserves recognition.
Mark Vientos, a major spark for Mets in 2024 season – Image Credit: George Napolitano/Latino Sports
Vientos was a highly regarded prospect in the Mets farm system, but it was an uneven transition to the big leagues for him, as he spent most of 2023 shuttling between Syracuse and Flushing. I joked with him about being JetBlue’s best customer, and life in central New York State.
After a subpar spring training, Vientos began the 2024 season with the Syracuse Mets before being called up to Citi Field six weeks into the season when Brett Baty struggled yet again. When he saw me in May he quipped, “I am back from central New York State, and I don’t intend on returning!”
As was evidenced with his two-homer game last Friday, which was punctuated by a tenth inning walk-off blast resulting in a 6-4 Mets win over the Reds, Vientos has shown consistent power, and an ability to come through in the clutch. While he still strikes out around once per game, he has improved his ability to make contact as reflected in his batting average which has been close to .300.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME MARK VIENTOS??? #MetsWin pic.twitter.com/tdrZsjrOew
— New York Mets (@Mets) September 7, 2024
While he will never be Brooks Robinson, Vientos has worked on his defense. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza has not felt the need to replace him late in games when the Mets have a lead.
It has not been just his on-field heroics which have made him a Citi Field favorite; it is his upbeat attitude and profound sense of humor. I remember asking him in Spanish if he felt had to be a savior for the Mets’ offense by using the term, “El Salvador,” he retorted, “My family is from Nicaragua,” without missing a beat. Vientos always makes time to speak with journalists from even the smallest outlets, as well as interacting with fans.
Lights, Camera, Action: Mark Vientos poses in celebration after his home run against Gerrit Cole in the Subway Series at Citi Field – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
An interesting factoid is Mark Vientos’s agent is former Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen.
Sticky Stuff Issues in MLB?
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza surprisingly defended the umpiring crew, led by Vic Caparazza, who tossed closer Edwin Diaz from a game against the Cubs in Chicago for allegedly having an illegal substance on his hands. That resulted in an eleven-game suspension for Diaz and had a harmful effect on the Mets won-loss record.
Edwin Díaz return from his suspension on July 6th – Image Credit: Simon Lindenblatt/Latino Sports
Two weeks ago, the same umpiring crew caught Cubs reliever Justin Steele with a foreign substance on his throwing hand. Instead of tossing Steele, which would have resulted in a suspension, the umpires allowed Steele to wash his hands without penalty. Mendoza admitted this double standard bothered him, but he stopped short of saying Major League Baseball should come up with a uniform rule for overseeing these situations.
Mets vs. Phillies at The Bank
Outside of their fans and Mets management, no one is as happy about the Mets’ playoff drive as the Philadelphia Phillies’ ticket sales department. Mets fans love to flock to South Philadelphia, especially for a weekend series such as the one coming up since the distance between Citi Field and Citizens Bank Park is 100 miles. The Phillies are helping to accommodate Mets fans making a day trip by hosting a 4:05 PM game on Saturday instead of the usual 7:05 start.
Fans at Citizens Bank Park – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports from 2023 NLDS (Braves vs. Phillies)
As is the case with Citi Field, Citizens Bank Park has plenty of top-notch food concessions. I expect Mets CEO Steve Cohen to be there, and for reasons other than cheering for his team, and enjoying the Phillies’ hospitality. As everyone knows, Cohen wants to build a casino and entertainment center adjacent to Citi Field. South Philadelphia has the Live Casino & Hotel a block west of Citizens Bank Park, and the Xfinity Live entertainment center a block south of CBP.
Critics of Cohen’s development plans want him to build green spaces at Citi Field. Franklin D. Roosevelt Park is located three blocks west of the Phillies home. Cohen and his staff would be wise to take a stroll through it to see if a smaller version of it can be built near the Mets home.
Emma Navarro appears in women’s US Open semifinal
American tennis player Emma Navarro, who made it to this year’s women’s US Open semifinal is the granddaughter of the late college football head coach Frank Navarro.
(Louis Armstrong Stadium) Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadow Park – Image Credit: US OPEN/IBM
She was asked about him by a reporter during a post-match press conference. “He coached at Princeton, Williams, and Wabash,” she replied. After the press conference I mentioned she omitted his head coaching tenure at Columbia from 1968 to 1973. “Oh gosh. I forgot Columbia. They were not very good teams,” she replied. “Little has changed over the years,” I responded.
ESPN brings back The Sports Reporters
ESPN has brought back “The Sports Reporters,” albeit only on its YouTube page instead of on one of its linear television channels. Jeremy Schaap is the host. On its return show, Schaap hosted NFL play-by-play voices Kevin Harlan, Joe Buck, and a pair of Queens natives, Mike Tirico, and Ian Eagle.
Each of the guys mentioned their alma mater when they introduced themselves. Ian Eagle proudly stated both Syracuse University and Forest Hills High School. “Go Rangers!” he added. Joe Buck, whose dad was legendary announcer Jack Buck, has always had the ability to laugh at himself. “I am Joe Buck. I got my job through nepotism!” he said with characteristic affability.
Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unsettled Beef
Image Credit: Netflix
On Labor Day, Joey Chestnut once again proved American exceptionalism by defeating his longtime rival, Japan’s Takeru Kobayashi, in a one-on-one hot dog eating contest. Chestnut consumed 83 wieners in ten minutes to Kobayashi’s 66 which was shown live on Netflix. The spectacle was humorously titled “Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unsettled Beef.”
The Netflix event has led IndiePix Films to rerelease its 2021 documentary on competitive eating, the cleverly titled “Scarf Face,” on its YouTube page. While Chestnut and Kobayashi are, of course, the stars of the documentary, Jamaica’s Eric “Badlands” Booker, a longtime participant in the July 4 Nathan’s Coney Island Hot Dog Eating Contest, gets screen time. “Scarf Face” also focuses on the man who created Major League Eating, showman extra ordinaire George Shea.
Food Events taking place in NYC
Gourmands will be going just across the RFK Bridge to Randall’s Island Park the next two Saturdays.
On September 14, the One Bite Pizza Festival, founded by Barstool Sports CEO Dave Portnoy, returns to the Big Apple. Last year it was held at the home of the Brooklyn Cyclones, Maimonides Park.
Image Credit: Medium Rare/Barstool Sports
The following Saturday, September 21, Chainfest, a celebration of popular national restaurant cuisine will take place. Among the well-known food purveyors taking part will be Cracker Barrel, White Castle, Red Robin, Chuck E. Cheese, Panda Express, and KFC.
Not to be outdone, on Saturday, September 28, Citi Field will pay tribute to a breakfast carbohydrate which is ingrained in New York culture, as Bagel Fest will take place.
Remembering and Paying Tribute to Sergio Mendes
I was saddened to learn of the passing of Sergio Mendes last Friday. It was Mendes who popularized Brazilian samba music in the US during the late 1960s with his ensemble, Brasil ‘66. Songs as “Mas Que Nada,” “Wave,” and “Pretty World” reflected the optimism of the time.
Mendes was also a huge fan of some Forest Hills High alumni. In 1968, Brasil ‘66 had a big hit with “The Look of Love,” co-written by Burt Bacharach. That year, Brasil ‘66 also had a hit with their cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Scarborough Fair.” Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel enjoyed his take on their tune.
You can read more of Lloyd Carroll’s columns posted weekly on The Queens Chronicle.
