Mets rookies dress up as bride and bridal party

It was Rookie Dress Up Day for many MLB teams Sunday and, with LaTroy Hawkins in charge as the designated best man, the Mets rookies had to dress up as a bridal party in purple dresses for the trip to Cincinnati. Zack Wheeler earned the honor of being the bride.

Bridezillas beware.

The bride for #Mets 2013 Rookie dress up. @Wheelerpro45 pic.twitter.com/s5VohN8KOZ
— LaTroy Hawkins (@LaTroyHawkins32) September 22, 2013

Jerry Seinfeld joins Mets broadcast booth (VIDEO)

If you don't already get enough of "Seinfeld " reruns airing non-stop on television these days, maybe you were lucky enough to catch real-life Jerry calling the Mets game at Citi Field Tuesday night.

The star of the iconic TV sitcom and die-hard Mets fan joined old friend Keith "Pretty Boy" Hernandez, Ron Darling and Gary Cohen in the SNY broadcast booth during the game against the Giants.

The comedian brought his usual sense of of the absurd to the quartet and offered a few What's the deal with takes on things bothering Mets fans (maybe not) these days. Seinfeld suggested padding the outfield walls with sofa cushions to make them safer and getting complimentary surgery for mentioning Dr. James Andrews on the air. He even touched on Hernandez's make-out scene with Julia Louis-Dreyfus on the classic hour-long 1992 episode "The Boyfriend." Hernandez sounded joyful recalling they did the scene in "eight takes."

As hopefully expected, it was a broadcast segment about nothing. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Mets fan makes nice barehanded catch, then friend swipes ball (VIDEO)

A New York Mets fan made an impressive barehanded catch of a screaming line drive off the bat of Travis d'Araud and didn't even get to keep the ball.  After snagging the Citi Field souvenir — and saving a few people seated behind him — the dude's buddy yanked the ball from his blistered hands and put it in his pocket.

Bet that high-five hurt just a little too.

Yonder Alonso misses bag in strange play at first base (VIDEO)

Padres first baseman Yonder Alonso has trouble finding the bag after receiving the throw from Eric Stults, allowing Mets batter Juan Lagares to reach safely on Sunday.

The odd-looking play came after Alonso had already been called for being off the bag earlier in this series when he wasn't, but this time the first baseman looked like he was purposely stepping away from making the tag.

Mets announcer Keith Hernandez — a pretty good first baseman during his playing days — couldn't believe Alonso's sluggish gaffe.

"[His teammates should] have a cup of black coffee for him when he comes back [to the dugout]," he suggested. "It's ninety feet, not ninety-three."

LaTroy Hawkins takes comebacker to the... you know where

You think you had a bad day at work? Check out what happened to Mets reliever LaTroy Hawkins. That's right, it hit him exactly where you think it did. And to make matters worse, Hawkins gave up a game-tying, two-run homer after taking the “direct hit” on a comebacker to his groin.

The veteran righthander said he was not wearing a protective cup and said it felt like he was “kicked by a mule” when the Dodgers' Jerry Hairston Jr. one-hopped the ball to his boys. Three pitches later, pinch-hitter Andre Ethier hit an opposite-field blast to tie the game at 4.

Hawkins got out of the inning, but limped off the field and was in severe pain after the game.

At least the fans in the background felt his pain.

Young Dodgers fan tags out Juan Uribe during photo op

Juan Uribe has been taking a lot of ribbing since falling for the old hidden ball trick the other day against the Rays. After the third baseman got caught napping and called out for taking his foot off the bag, his teammates gave him a shoe taped to a base as a gag.

Last night even a young Dodgers fan got in on the action.

The kid was taking a photo with Uribe before Tuesday's game against the Mets when, before walking away, touches him on the arm with the ball to recreate Evan Longoria's tag during Uribe's embarrassing gaffe.

At first, an astonished Uribe glares at the boy before realizing his teammates put the little prankster up to the comical task.

It's pretty funny now but ... if they had lost.

Danny DeVito celebrates win with Dodgers' Nick Punto

Nick Punto gave Danny DeVito a small-sized Dodgers jersey with his name and No.7 on the back before Monday's game against the Mets. So what does The Shredder do — he goes out and hits his fifth home run of the season to help lead his team to a 4-2 victory over the visitors.

After his eighth-inning solo shot, Punto walked over to high-five his biggest fan next to the dugout.  DeVito looked a little like Louie DePalma behind his "Taxi" depot cage as he tried reach over for the double-handed shake.

After the game, the actor/producer/director walked over to Punto during an interview and showed more love to the shortstop with resounding cheers coming from the remaining fans in Dodger Stadium. 

They almost looked like Twins.

Only in LaLa Land.

Doc Gooden evicted from New Jersey mansion: Report

Dwight "Doc" Gooden's struggles in life keep on piling up after it was reported that the former Major League Baseball star is being evicted from the New Jersey mansion he was renting after allegedly falling months behind in his rent.

What makes the situation even sadder — Gooden's estranged wife was living in the home with their two young children — all who were all forced to leave in July, when officials enforced the eviction, reports TMZ.

According to court documents obtained by the gossip site, Gooden and his family moved in to the home back in  September 2011 — and agreed to pay $4,500 per month in rent. 

But things started going bad in March — after Dwight's wife got a restraining order against the former phenom following a domestic dispute — forcing Doc to move out. 

The homeowners claim Doc's family stayed in the home all of March, April, May and June -- but they never got a check from the Goodens for any of those months — adding up to a hefty debt in back rent.

Legal documents were filed against Gooden — demanding the back rent plus penalties, totaling more than $18,984. The homeowners also want legal fees. 

The court also granted the landlord's permission to evict the Goodens -- and on July 11, Gooden's family was forced out of the home. It's unclear where they're living now. Gooden didn't respond to TMZ's request to comment.

The one-time best pitcher in baseball recently penned a brutally honest book about his decades-long battle with drugs, rehabilitation and the downward spiral his life took after he won the '86 World Series Championship with the New York Mets. "Doc: A Memoir" hit the shelves in June.

Let's hope he can add a happy chapter after this sad development.

Loud noise causes J.J. Putz to throw into ground (VIDEO)

A loud noise from the Chase Field speakers caused Diamondbacks hurler J.J. Putz to throw into the ground while delivering a pitch to Justin Turner Saturday night.

In the ninth-inning of the Mets-D'Backs game, the putzes in the audio booth inadvertently played what sounded like the cranked-up opening riffs of Eddie Van Halen's guitar classic "Eruption" throughout the stadium startling Putz who was in the middle of his windup on the mound.

The sound techies took blame for the ear-shattering mishap and umpires ruled the muffed throw a no pitch.

Citi Field muscleman unable to open water bottle sets record straight

The Citi Field muscleman —who was hilariously unable to open a water bottle — is now flexing more than his biceps and wants to set the record straight on the full story of the stubborn bottle cap.

After becoming the target of ridicule by Mets announcers — and a YouTube video with over two million hits — for his inability to open a water bottle during last weekend’s game against the Kansas City Royals, the muscleman whose battle was captured for posterity has come forward to give his side to the embarrassing incident.

“First of all, it was not my water bottle,” Christopher, a 38-year-old lawyer in White Plains, N.Y., told The New York Daily News.

“It was handed to me by a security guard in the dugout area who was having trouble with it. The guy was much bigger than me, by the way.”

Chris, who did not want to share his last name out of privacy concerns expressed by his fiancée, told the Daily News that neither he, nor the security guard, managed to make the cap so much as budge.

Chris said cameras only captured a portion of the tag-team effort to open the bottle, making him the butt of jokes by announcers Keith Hernandez and Gary Cohen.

“All that working out and you can’t open a water bottle?” Cohen said of his rather bulging physique.

But Chris says that the camera may have made him look larger than his 5’8” and 190-pound frame.

“I tried as hard as I could,” Chris said.

After his turn with the water bottle, Chris tossed it back to the security guard, and only later realized that the episode had been captured forever.

“It wasn’t played on the Jumbotron,” Chris said. “I had no idea it was being filmed.”

Still, despite becoming the butt of more than a few jokes, Chris has maintained his sense of humor about the incident.

“I don’t blame anybody. It is pretty funny,” Chris said. “But a lot of things were presented incorrectly.”

So glad he cleared that up. Still wondering though, who opens his Muscle Milk?

12 year-old calls plays from Mets broadcast booth like an old pro (VIDEO)

If that voice you heard calling plays the New York Mets broadcast booth Wednesday night didn't sound like SNY regulars Keith Hernandez, Ron Darling or Gary Cohen — you are correct.

The new play-by-play announcer was no veteran but a "kidcaster" who had practiced in front of a basement TV in his Long Island home before his big moment.

Twelve-year-old Johnny Gadamowitz may have sounded like an old pro and knew Mets history, when he took the mic just as pitcher Matt Harvey came up to bat against the Colorado Rockies, but he was just filling in at Citi Field as a contest winner.

"I wish he could get in some more wins," he said of the starter Harvey. "He gets too many no decisions."

For five minutes during the bottom of the second inning, Johnny called the plays with the Mets' regular broadcasters and both Cohen and Hernandez were impressed the boy's memory and joked that he could take over for them.

 Young Johnny won the gig with an essay in the annual kidcaster contest held by SportsNet New York, the TV home of the Mets.

In a 100-word essay on what he most enjoyed about watching the Mets, Johnny said it was being with his grandfather — a Mets fan ever since the Dodgers left Brooklyn. It was in front of the television, many times with his grandfather, that Johnny decided he wanted to get into the sports and media field.

"When I was doing the play by play, it was a really fun experience," he said of his exhilarating stint in the broadcast booth, "but I was at the same time trying to think of stuff to say so there wasn't any dead space."

Ah, dead space — the bane of all broadcasts.

Tim Hudson's wife thanks Mets' Eric Young Jr. for 'playing the game the right way' after freak play

Tim Hudson was the one laid up in the hospital with a possible career-ending broken ankle Thursday but it was Eric Young Jr. — the Mets player who unintentionally stepped on Hudson's ankle Wednesday night — who also got some words of encouragement from the Braves pitcher's wife, Kim.

Young was beside himself with guilt after being party to the gruesome injury, but took to Twitter on Thursday to voice his appreciation for those who had supported him.

@EYJr: "Thank you all for the kind words. I sincerely appreciate it. Continued prayers for a speedy recovery for Tim. Thank you again. #praying4Tim."

Kim Hudson responded to Young's tweet with her own kind words absolving him of any blame: 

"@EYJr Thank you for playing the game the right way. You're obviously one of the good guys. We appreciate you," she tweeted.

@EYJr Thank you for playing the game the right way. You're obviously one of the good guys. We appreciate you.
— Kim Hudson (@kimberlybhudson) July 25, 2013

Earlier Thursday morning, Kim sent a similar tweet to the Mets.

"Cant say enough great things about the @Mets organization and the way they handled Tim's injury: players, medical team, security #grateful."

Ironically, Young was removed after the third inning of Thursday afternoon's game with pain in his right knee. Mets manager Terry Collins told reporters before the game that Young's leg had been "tweaked" after the freak play.

So he did need a little love.

Freddie Freeman's foul-tip breaks camera at Citi Field

It sounds like bats and ankles weren't the only things being broken Wednesday night at Citi Field after Freddie Freeman inadvertently proved to be an destructive guest — after his foul-tip sailed backwards and smashed into the expensive behind-the-plate camera.

The Braves first baseman's wayward foul in the second-inning shattered the camera's lens cover and even Freeman had to cringe at the result of his at-bat.

Mets seemingly take jab at A-Rod and Jeter's quad injuries via Twitter

It seems like someone posting at the New York Mets Twitter account poked a little fun at the New York Yankees' injury woes with a reminder to loosen up before their games.

A tweet from the team’s official account Monday night seemed to take a shot at their cross-town rivals by posting a picture of the Mets players stretching before Monday night’s game against the Braves, with the words:

"Don’t forget to stretch those quads before coming out to CitiField!"

The Mets claim it was an honest mistake, realized it was creating a stir and immediately deleted the tweet.

The big news surrounding the Yankees Monday was Alex Rodriguez’s expected return from the DL list being stalled by a recent quad injury. A-Rod, trying to return from offseason hip surgery, was diagnosed with a Grade 1 strain this weekend. A quad injury also shelved Derek Jeter for the second time this season after he played in just one one game.

The Mets said the tweet had nothing to do with the Yankees. "There was no ill will or intent," a Mets spokesman said. "The person who sent the tweet had no idea about the Yankees’ injuries."

Sure. And there's that bridge spanning the East River which is up for sale too.

Jason Heyward's diving catch saves game against Mets

Atlanta Braves center fielder Jason Heyward claims his ninth inning catch of Justin Turner's fly-out to seal the Braves 2-1 victory over the New York Mets Monday night was probably the best of his young career.

Heyward, playing center in his first game after an 11-day rehab from a hamstring strain, came from out of nowhere, racing over from the right-center gap to snag Turner's shot into left-center. He dove and fully extended his big body to catch the ball inches from the ground.

“I knew I had to dive, because I didn’t think it was in my reach,” he said. “As I got closer I thought, obviously you’re going to try to make the play here with two outs, the game on the line. If you don’t catch it, so be it. But fortunately, I was able to get a good enough jump.”

Heyward popped up to show he’d caught it, and teammates hugged Heyward as the stunned crowd at Citi Field raised their hands in astonishment.

Phillies fan grabs flying bat at Citi Field without spilling beer

It seems reasonable for a player to lose his grip on his bat considering the sweltering heat that has been cooking New York City and slicking up hands with sweat for the past two weeks. But to lose your handle on a cold beer while that bat flies right at you — no way!

This Phillies fan was able to concentrate on the free-flying bat off the hands of Anthony Recker after it bounces off the top of the dugout and almost clips a Mets fan in the face. Even though that sequence, the fan in red manages to snag the bat without spilling his cold, refreshing cup of beer.

No stickum necessary.

Robinson Cano leaves All-Star Game after getting hit by Matt Harvey pitch (VIDEO)

New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano exited Tuesday night's All-Star Game in the first inning after being hit in the right leg by a 97 mph Matt Harvey fastball. He stayed in to run the bases but left one batter later. Here's the pitch:

Cano went to the clubhouse with the trainer. X-rays were negative and early reports say the Yankees star was hit in the quadriceps and not his knee — and he should be fine.

Yankee fans said "Whew!" “@Ken_Rosenthal: Told Cano got hit more in the quadriceps than the knee - and that he should be fine.”
— Sweeny Murti (@YankeesWFAN) July 17, 2013

Harvey was just as upset as Yankees fans about seeing his cross-town rival leave the game.

"I obviously feel terrible about hitting him," the Mets pitcher said. "That's the last thing you want to do in a game like this."

Cano came into the All-Star Game after playing every one of the Yankees 95 games this season — hitting .302/.386/.531 (150 OPS+) with 21 home runs. He has been the one constant in their lineup as Derek Jeter (ankle), Alex Rodriguez (hip), Mark Teixeira (wrist) and Curtis Granderson (hand) have spent most of the year on the DL.

Fight breaks out in stands during Home Run Derby interview (VIDEO)

When you combine Mike Piazza, the Mets and big events — tempers just seem to flare.

That's what happened during the Home Run Derby at Citi Field Monday night after a wrestling match broke out in the stands while the former Mets catcher was being interviewed by ESPN. And no, Roger Clemens wasn't in the house.

Watch as these two fat guys tussle in the cheap seats behind the ESPN desk while their equally inept buddies try to pry them apart.

Live from New York ...  it's Monday Night Fights!

Valdespin called manager Collins a 'c---sucker' after demotion to minors: Report

It sounds like Jordany Valdespin wasn't to happy to hear that he will have to watch the All-Star Game from Las Vegas instead of New York this week and reportedly flipped out and called Mets manager Terry Collins a" c---sucker" when he got the news that he was being demoted to the minors.

After Collins informed Valdespin that the Mets had decided to option him to Triple-A Las Vegas Saturday night, the emotional ballplayer went off in the visitors clubhouse at PNC Park, yelling furiously while his startled teammates looked on, according to two people who witnessed the episode.

The witnesses requested anonymity to speak freely on the matter.

Bullpen coach Ricky Bones had to calm the 25-year-old down, according to one of the sources.

"He’s not helping himself," one person said of Valdespin. "Everyone gets upset when that happens, but you just need to shut up and pack your bags."

Valdespin had a similar incident last season as a rookie, when he became furious after teammates played a prank on him in San Francisco.

In May, the troublesome Valdespin attracted more negative attention when he flipped his bat and admired a home run he hit against the Pirates while the Mets were getting routed.

He was beaned by a pitch later in the series.

"He still doesn’t get it," another witness of Saturday night’s outburst said.

Valdespin, who was demoted to make room for reliever Scott Atchison, saw his playing time dwindle in recent weeks. When he did play, he struggled. He registered just two hits over his final 36 at-bats to drop his batting average to .188. His on-base-plus-slugging percentage stood at .566.

Valdespin’s demotion seemed inevitable: Collins said he expects Justin Turner to join the team Friday. Turner has been on the disabled list with an intercostal strain. He likely would’ve replaced Valdespin.

Collins said the opportunity to play every day should help Valdespin, who will report to Triple-A Las Vegas.

"We've talked about this many times: It's hard for a young player who has pretty much spent his whole career as an everyday player to come up and play, maybe, once a week and then come off the bench and hit," Collins said. "It's very difficult. So he's got to go get some playing time. He's got to go get his swing back -- certainly get back in the lineup. If he's going to come back, at least he's got to get some at-bats."

It sounds like he's got to take life like a man too.

Bearded Pirates fan dives for foul ball and gives it to young Mets fan

A bearded Pittsburgh Pirates fan went all out to grab a foul ball hit into the third base seats Friday night at PNC Park.  The Brett Keisel lookalike frantically dove over a railing to recover the ball, then gets up and just hands it over to a young Mets fan.

The guy looks a lot meaner than he is. If the beard was white, I'd believe he was Santa Claus.