Kansas City Royals Reportedly Plan to Get Revenge on Mets for Noah Syndergaard Pitch (Duh!)

Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard opened Game 3 of last fall’s World Series by throwing a pitch over Alcides Escobar’s head. He said it was an attempt to establish the inside corner. If that’s true, it’s certainly quite a coincidence.

He then went a step further, saying, “If they have a problem with me throwing inside,” he said, “then they can meet me 60 feet, six inches away. I’ve got no problem with that.”

And if you think a World Series title has diminished some of the Royals’ skepticism and furor, think again. Apparently there’s a plan in place to settle the score when the two teams play on Sunday night.

"Perhaps it is nothing more than mind games, a ploy for intimidation. But multiple industry sources told Newsday that the Royals have been signaling their intent to seek retribution against the Mets on Opening Night."

Baseball players have long memories. Old wounds scar at a glacial place. So no one should be surprised that a team is considering not letting perceived headhunting go unanswered.

Whether you think exacting revenge is warranted or not, reasonable minds can agree winning the World Series was more important to Kansas City at the time.  Getting even in the first of 162 games, on the other hand, is probably worth the cost of a free run.

Even if no such movement exists and the Royals pitching staff intends to keep it clean over the weekend, the defending champions should do all they can to fuel this story.

Keeping Mets batters on their toes waiting for a plunking that may or may not ever come is a good strategy.

Also, it’s important to point out to the anti-unwritten rules brigade that the Royals haven’t done anything yet. All that’s happened is a New York paper suggesting they might hit a Met.

…Not exactly the scoop of the century. That’s been a possibility worth speculating on since the schedule was announced.

Maybe save some of the outrage for when something tangible happens. If it ever does.

[Newsday]