http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseba...say-1.11630209
Sources: Royals seek payback for Noah Syndergaard pitch in World Series
Updated*March 29, 2016 11:12 AM
By*Marc Carig***
[email protected]
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — 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.
It has been five months since Mets fireballerNoah Syndergaard added some spice to the World Series, when he fired a fastball well over the head of pesky leadoff man Alcides Escobar to begin Game 3, the only contest won by the Mets.
But apparently, neither time nor a world championship has quelled the lingering anger over the pitch, which*Syndergaard maintained was part of a plan*to establish the inner half of the plate.
The Mets open the regular season on Sunday night in Kansas City against the Royals.
Even if the Royals’ rhetoric turns out to be empty talk, the message has reached Mets officials though had yet to filter into the clubhouse.
Of course, a plunking in the name of revenge wouldn’t be out of the ordinary in such situations, especially since Syndergaard has embraced the furor that came in its aftermath. For instance, Syndergaard allegedly told Salvador Perez and other Royals players during Game 3 that the pitch had simply gotten away from him.
“I don’t remember saying that,” Syndergaard said this week.
The Mets are expected on Tuesday to announce their starter for the second game of the season-opening series against the Royals. And Syndergaard is likely to get the ball.
*** Official 2016 Royals Offseason Repository ***
(https://chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=295826)