A heady run for the Mets was abruptly interrupted by Wednesday's bombshell announcement that second baseman Robinson Cano has been suspended for violating MLB's PED policy -- for the second time in his decorated career.
The ban will cost the former Yankees and Mariners slugger 162 games -- the entirety of the 2021 season -- along with his princely $24M base salary.
Baseball fans and journalists took to social media to register their disbelief and offer some instant analysis on what the shocking revelation means for both Cano -- once on a Hall of Fame trajectory -- as well as the Mets, and the sport at large.
Mets-adjacent media had a wide range of responses to one of the team's first sour headlines since new owner Steve Cohen officially took over.
Longtime radio voice Howie Rose called the episode "shameful."
Some notable Mets and baseball observers agreed with Rose -- but others saw a silver lining for the team.
The wealthiest owner in baseball now has an extra $20 mil to put toward next year's payroll
— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) November 18, 2020
Others were keen to begin speculating how the Mets would respond in building their roster this offseason.
WFAN's Sweeny Murti looked at Cano's career downturn from the Yankees' perspective.
Others saw the staggering financial fallout of Cano's two bans.
ESPN investigative reporter TJ Quinn said Cano's drug of choice, stanozolol, is "insanely detectable."
Many fans -- and at least one reporter -- went the humorous route:
Exclusive look at Robinson Cano's daily breakfast pic.twitter.com/XaMoxdDQcw
— Mark (@TooGooden16) November 18, 2020
Robinson Cano really came back to hit .316 with 10 homers and thought we wouldn't notice
— josiah (@stack_janton99) November 18, 2020
