Mets will meet with MLB executive on Friday about baseball grip, hit-by-pitches

Enough is enough.

After voicing their concerns over baseball grips and getting hit by pitches at a staggering and dangerous rate so far this season, the Mets will speak with MLB’s executive vice president of baseball operations Morgan Sword on Friday.

Manager Buck Showalter said before the game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday, a day after three Mets players were hit, that he and GM Billy Eppler "have been talking to the league" because "it’s pretty obvious that it’s an issue."

That same day, J.D. Davis had to leave the game after getting hit in the foot/ankle by Genesis Cabrera. Then, all hell broke loose when Yoan Lopez threw a pitch up and in to Nolan Arenado.

Arenado started yelling and motioned toward Lopez before pushing Tomas Nido aside and charging toward the mound, resulting in a benches-clearing brawl.

He and Cardinals first base coach Stubby Clapp, who tackled Pete Alonso from behind in the skirmish, were ejected from the game, "Arenado for charging the mound, and then Stubby Clapp for his over aggressive actions in the melee there," said crew chief Mark Wegner.

"Getting domed up isn’t fun," Alonso said after Wednesday's game after getting hit in the head for the second time this season on Tuesday night. "It’s obviously not safe, it’s dangerous and there are consequences whether it’s on purpose or not, and we’re going to stand up for ourselves."

The tension had been brewing for the Mets, not just in that series, but since Game 1 of the regular season when the Mets were hit three times (Alonso’s first in the head) by the Washington Nationals. A day later, Francisco Lindor was also hit on the helmet.

“How long are we going to let this happen?" asked Chris Bassitt on Tuesday night. "It's extremely annoying to see your teammates constantly get hit, and if you get hit by certain pitches, it is what it is. But to get hit in the head the amount that we're getting hit is unbelievable."

The Mets have been hit 19 times this season, more than twice as much as the MLB average. And after the three hit-by-pitches suffered on Tuesday night, an MLB spokesman released a statement the following day:

"MLB is always concerned about keeping hitters safe from dangerous pitches. We closely analyze trends in the game and have active conversations with our players and coaches to address concerns. Through April 26, leaguewide statistics show hit-by-pitch rates and wild pitch rates are down relative to previous seasons. However, one Club has been hit more than twice as often as the league average so far in 2022, which is something we will continue to monitor."

Now, with a meeting in place, perhaps something will be done about the issue that has hurt the Mets in more ways than one.