The Mets don’t have much left to play for as their sell-off continues, but Joe Benigno wants the team to show some fight down the stretch of the season, specifically when they meet the rival Braves again.
The last time the two teams met, Pete Alonso was plunked on the wrist, and fell into a brutal slump afterward. It continued a narrative of Mets batters getting hit, which started after setting a league record last season. Joe is convinced Alonso was hit on purpose, and wants the Mets to return the favor when the two teams meet again.
“When Alonso got hit in the hand by Charlie Morton, and he hit him on purpose. I don’t want to hear the nonsense,” Joe said. “When the Mets play the Braves late in the season, somebody has to drill Ronald Acuna. They get hit all the time! I have never seen a team get hit by pitches as much as the Mets do. They’re good for 3-4 a game.
“There would be no problem if I saw a brawl with this team. Let’s go.”
Gio wants to just see the Mets manager take a stand, though Buck Showalter has told reporters that if the HBPs aren’t intentional, there is no reason to retaliate.
“He doesn’t stand up for these guys on the field ever,” Gio said. “Sometimes, someone has to pay for not being able to find the plate.”