Buck Showalter retrieves baseball after Mets set single-season record for most hit batters
Members of the New York Mets, including manager Buck Showalter, have been frustrated since the spring about the number of New York hitters plunked by pitches this season.
That situation never took a turn for the better, and the Amazins made some dubious history during Wednesday's 6-0 loss at the Milwaukee Brewers.
As noted by SNY's Alex Smith and the Associated Press (h/t ESPN), the Mets set a new modern MLB single-season record for most hit batters with 106 on Wednesday after outfielder Mark Canha was hit twice and infielder Luis Guillorme was beaned once in the defeat. The 2021 Cincinnati Reds held the previous mark for the category of 105.
Hilariously, Showalter asked for the record-setting baseball:
"I’d say it would be obscene to tell you what I was going to do with it," Showalter said of the club's newest souvenir after the loss. "No, I haven’t thought about it, to be honest with you. I gave it to the hitting coaches. They can do to it what they want."
Showalter indicated he understands opposing pitchers aren't maliciously targeting his players.
"And not one of them are intentional, it’s just obviously there’s an issue there somewhere. … Our guys just don’t give," Showalter continued during his comments. "It’s not something they’re doing, it’s just wild pitches. I mean you see them, they’re not close to the plate, they’re all the way across the batter’s boxes. It’s frustrating and I’ve got some personal feelings about why it happens so much, but I’m sure MLB doesn’t want to hear about it in this format."
Per Ryan Morik of Fox News, Showalter and Mets right-hander Chris Bassitt were among those associated with the team who complained about unsatisfactory grips on baseballs as far back as April.
Despite Wednesday's result, the 95-56 Mets will remain atop the National League East standings with a one-game lead over the second-place Atlanta Braves. The Braves fell to the Washington Nationals earlier in the day.
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