El Bullpen: Alfonzo’s championship, Almora loses his locks, Abreu keeps producing

Championship season

The Brooklyn Cyclones, a Class-A affiliate of the Mets, won the New York-Penn League Championship this week. Manager Edgardo Alfonzo and coach Endy Chávez, both of whom played for the Mets at the major league level, enjoyed taking this trophy photo.

Less Cabbage for Almora

Cubs center fielder Albert Almora Jr. had a strong head of hair for most of the regular season. When he arrived at the ballpark on Friday most of it was missing.

Where did it go? We may have found the culprit.

Serious conversation

José Altuve can talk about golf now but we’re sure he doesn’t plan on spending quality time on the course until November.

Big Papi and his pups

David Ortiz was looking happy and healthy with his dogs.

Abreu on top

José Abreu stayed on top of the American League’s RBI leaderboard with this home run.

Top fashion prospect

He might not join Abreu in Chicago before the end of the season, but Luis Robert‘s fashion game is already at a big league level.

Pro Post of the Day

Yasmani Grandal shared one of life’s struggles: which bat to use?

Fan Post of the Day

This couple was living right: pretzels, hot dogs and a Mets game at Citi Field.

OTD

2017 – Francisco Lindor hit a game-tying double in the bottom of the ninth inning, and José Ramírez scored the winning run in the 10th to lead the Indians to a record-breaking 22nd consecutive win. Cleveland broke the record of 21 previously established by the 1935 Cubs.

2015 – The Tigres de Quintana Roo won their third Mexican League title in five years.

2008 – Carlos Zambrano pitched a no-hitter against the “home” Houston Astros at Milwaukee’s Miller Park. The game was moved from Houston to Milwaukee due to Hurricane Ike. It was the first no-hitter pitched on a neutral site in modern major league history.

2003 – Vladimir Guerrero hit for the cycle against the Mets at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium.

2002 – Miguel Olivo hit a three-run home run in his first major league at bat but the White Sox lost to the Yankees.

1997 – On the night the team retired Carlton Fisk’s number, the White Sox tied a major league record by using nine pitchers in the nine-inning game. Five of those pitchers were deployed in the eighth inning.

1940 – The United States, Hawaii, Cuba, Mexico, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico met in the 3rd annual World Amateur Baseball Championship. Cuba, the host country, won the tournament.

Happy birthday!

Andrew Vasquez (b. 1993)
Gregory Polanco (b. 1991)
Francisco Arcia (b. 1989)