Meet at the Apple

MLB.com
  • 4.3 (123)
  • BASEBALL

Meet at the Apple with your hosts Vito Calise (@VitoFCalise) and Jonathan Baron (@JMB9191) every Monday and Thursday with exclusive access to the Mets! This is not your everyday baseball podcast; you can get the stats anywhere… Here you’ll get an inside look into the players you love to watch beyond the diamond highlighted by a weekly appearance by Mets manager, Carlos Mendoza!

  1. OCT 3

    Mets 2025 Season Recap: What Went Wrong… and Why 2026 Can Be Special

    We break down the Mets’ 2025 season: the spring-to-Fall injury cascade (Frankie Montas, Sean Manaea, Tylor Megill), short starts that gassed the bullpen, an offense that exploded on the wrong nights, and the knife-edge one-run record flip from 2024 to 2025. Then we pivot to why 2026 looks legit: Lindor + Soto (the 30-30 boys), Alvarez’s core-piece trajectory, Brett Baty’s step forward, and a wave of arms (Nolan McLean, Brandon Sproat, Jonah Tong) plus fast-rising names like Jonathan Santucci, Zach Thornton, Will Watson, and more. We also talk minor-league titles (Binghamton/High-A) and how the Mets’ pitching lab + development investments are starting to show up on the mound.Chapters below. Drop your biggest “if this one play went differently…” moment in the comments. 00:00 Cold open + 5-star ask / Offseason vibe00:40 “Frustrating” becomes the word of 202501:07 ’07 vs 2025: collapse vs slow burn02:13 Game 162 sting & what this episode will (and won’t) be03:16 Where it went wrong: injuries + short starts → bullpen strain05:10 Spring injuries: Montas, Manaea; build-up never right06:32 Megill’s underrated absence; rushing kids (Tong)07:59 Bullpen dings: Reed Garrett, A.J. Minter; Brooks steps up08:18 Offense paradox: big totals, wrong nights to go quiet09:31 The six “shoulda” games (Aug–Sept)11:37 0 walk-offs: ninth-inning almosts that never landed12:25 The agony of one game short13:49 Bring back Game 163? Why it matters16:40 One-run game regression: 2024 vs 202520:08 Which losses hurt more? Blown leads vs late surrenders20:51 Bad batted-ball luck examples (Alonso 162, etc.)24:15 We’re not doing scapegoats—big-picture path ahead26:10 Why 2026 can pop: Soto/Lindor locked, Alvarez core27:35 Prospect rocket fuel: McLean, Sproat, Tong, Jack Winokur, Santucci, more30:12 Winning in the minors (High-A & AA champs) → pipeline effects31:11 Syracuse in ’26 could be stacked (Williams, Clifford, Benge, Morabito, Ewing)36:04 Pitching silver linings: Clay Holmes stretch-out, David Peterson innings base38:07 Expecting a Manaea bounce-back with a full build38:30 Which kids break camp? McLean’s case, Sproat/Tong lessons43:32 Inside the lab: why stuff jumps (McLean’s fastball shape)46:16 Wrap: brutal year, but pieces are lining up49:05 Thank yous + offseason programming + PC Richard & Son read TimeStamps Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    54 min

  2. SEP 26

    Mets Make History at Wrigley | Lindor Joins 30–30, Diaz Dominates

    The Mets just made history at Wrigley: for the first time ever, three Mets hit 30+ HR in the same season—and Francisco Lindor joined the 30–30 club alongside Juan Soto. We break down the Top 5 moments from Mets–Cubs, including Edwin Díaz’s 6-out masterpiece, Nolan McLean’s strikeout clinic, Brett Baty’s “Cub killer” turn, and Francisco Álvarez’s biggest swing yet. Then we look ahead to a high-stakes trip to Miami and why no one wants to see this team in October. Hosted by Vito Calise & Jonathan Baron. Presented by PC Richard & Son.👉 If you’re rocking with us: Like, subscribe, and drop a 5-star review on Apple/Spotify—it helps us book bigger guests and get deeper access. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    47 min

  3. SEP 22

    How To Stay Positive After a Tough Mets Weekend w/ "Positive Tommy” Lugauer

    Welcome back to Meet at the Apple, presented by PC Richard & Son. WFAN’s Tommy Lugauer (aka Positive Tommy) joins Vito & Jonathan for a timely convo after a tough Nationals series: why staying positive matters, how Mets fans should read the playoff race, and why the organization’s process—from Stearns’ rotation strategy to the surging farm—sets up a long window. We also get into Soto, Yankees vs. Mets dynamics, Citi Field’s game-day experience, and some behind-the-scenes WFAN stories (group chats, callers, “always doing the show”). If you enjoy it, drop a like and comment “LGM” to push this out to more Mets fans. Guest: Tommy Lugauer — WFAN’s Evan & TikiPresented by: PC Richard & Son Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 6m

  4. SEP 19

    Mets Are Built for October: Padres Series Takeaways + Nats Preview

    The Mets take 2 of 3 from the Padres and head into the final home series vs. the Nationals with momentum. We hit the big takeaways: Jonah Tong’s bounce-back (8 K, 0 BB), the Clay Holmes–Sean Manaea piggyback “combo meal,” Nimmo’s game-breaking HR, and Pete Alonso’s heater. We also talk playoff DNA—aggressive baserunning, mixing/matching on the mound, and why this roster is a nightmare matchup in a short series. Plus: NL landscape, schedule vibes, and a quick Nats preview. Rate/review (5⭐ helps a ton!) and we’ll see you at Citi for the last home weekend. Presented by PC Richard & Son. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    38 min

  5. SEP 15

    Inside Mets Alumni Game w/ Ella Franco: Piazza Moonshots, deGrom Return & McLean Hype

    Mets legend John Franco’s daughter Ella Franco jumps on Meet at the Apple to unpack a special Alumni Day at Citi Field—Piazza’s BP moonshots, deGrom’s return weekend vibes, Beltrán dugout stories—and why Nolan McLean looks built for October. We also hit Brandon Sproat’s surge, Pete Alonso’s walk-off déjà vu, and why Ryne Stanek’s “get-back” outing matters down the stretch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    51 min

  6. SEP 10

    Why Mike Tyson Loved the ’86 Mets and Davey Johnson’s Gigantic Impact

    Live from PC Richard & Son in Astoria, Queens — Vito Calise & Jonathan Baron sit down with Mets Hall of Famer and longtime PR chief Jay Horwitz for an absolute masterclass in Mets lore. Jay goes deep on the brawl culture of the 1986 Mets (Eric Davis vs. Ray Knight!), why Mike Tyson loved that team, and why “nobody fights anymore.” He shares never-before-told David Wright clubhouse stories (cookies, pranks, leadership), the 2015 comeback, the emotional 2018 farewell, and what made Davey Johnson “analytics before analytics.” We also preview the alumni game (managers, competitiveness, and a “point spread”), remember the Mets-Phillies rivalry of ’07–’08, and talk about ownership honoring franchise history. Stick around for Jay’s takes on Brandon Nimmo’s leadership, scoreboard mishaps, classic card-pull stories (Howard Johnson, Terry Leach), and the enduring spirit of the Mets alumni family. Presented by PC Richard & Son. Chapters / Timestamps 00:00 The ’86 Mets “fight culture” & Eric Davis vs. Ray Knight01:06 Live from PC Richard & Son — intro & why Jay is the September voice01:28 Wright’s 2015 return HR & September memories02:44 Old-school brawls vs. Phillies; Craig Jefferies chaos03:37 “No punches at Citi Field” fact & Pete Alonso’s hockey take04:10 Game 6 ’86 World Series: Mookie, Carter, and the comeback04:43 Alumni game preview — star names, managers, competitiveness05:12 Endy Chávez catch + the outfield plaque06:29 Why this alumni game will get spicy; the “point spread”07:35 Vito’s Mike Pelfrey jersey story08:11 Jose Reyes moments & Asdrúbal Cabrera’s legendary bat flip08:36 The ’07–’08 Mets-Phillies heat; the collapse & Glavine start09:19 Marlins daggers & 162 scars10:11 Citizens Bank HR binges & franchise records10:27 David Wright’s cookies, uniform, and 2015 leadership13:04 2018 Wright night: foul pop story, walk-off wait, Austin Jackson GW hit14:03 Why Wright = Gary Carter DNA (community & class)15:00 Wright’s binoculars prank on Jay15:58 Spring training prank: stretcher, birdseed & ducks17:00 Brandon Nimmo’s media leadership and the “front of locker” rule18:24 Davey Johnson: bold tactics, relievers in the OF, analytics mindset20:07 The ’84–’90 win run; “should’ve won more” honesty20:49 Gooden & Strawberry redemption; ownership honoring history22:47 Card game: Howard Johnson stories & ’86 40th anniversary tease25:13 Terry Leach’s 11–1 season26:05 The Scioscia HR & ’88 pain27:08 Mike Tyson x Mets photo backstory28:14 Scoreboard oops + lessons learned28:59 1969 In Memoriam mix-up & the Wikipedia warning29:46 Jay’s alumni mission & keeping everyone in the Mets family31:09 Jay’s pod: Amazin’ Conversations & upcoming Davey episode Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    33 min

  7. SEP 4

    Mets Make a Statement in Detroit: Soto Slam, Pete’s Payback, McLean Mania | Jeff McNeil Interview

    The Mets took 2 of 3 from the Tigers and it felt BIG. We count down the Top 5 moments: Juan Soto’s thunderous grand slam, Luis Torrens’s game-changer, Pete Alonso vs. Chris Paddack, and the broadcast love-fest for Nolan McLean. Plus: Reds/Phillies look-ahead, “don’t-get-swept” math, and a full Jeff McNeil interview—clubhouse vibes, center-field reps, the Brett Baty hug, and his fantasy-football “front office. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    44 min

  8. SEP 2

    “We’ve Got Years of Winning Coming” Carlos Mendoza and Mark Vientos Talk Bright Mets Future

    Two big interviews this week: Mets manager Carlos Mendoza on the September stretch, clubhouse energy around the call-ups, and the hitting group’s impact — plus Mark Vientos on the Little League Classic homer, choosing his WBC team, routines, opposite-field power, and why Mets fans should be hyped for the young core (Jonah Tong, Nolan McLean, Jett Williams & more).We also plug our PC Richard & Son event in Astoria on Monday, Sept 8 @ 6 PM before Mets-Phillies — Mr. & Mrs. Met, tons of giveaways (signed hats/balls, bobbleheads), and fantasy league sign-ups! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    41 min
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4.3
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About

Meet at the Apple with your hosts Vito Calise (@VitoFCalise) and Jonathan Baron (@JMB9191) every Monday and Thursday with exclusive access to the Mets! This is not your everyday baseball podcast; you can get the stats anywhere… Here you’ll get an inside look into the players you love to watch beyond the diamond highlighted by a weekly appearance by Mets manager, Carlos Mendoza!

Information

  • Creator
    MLB.com
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    247
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024 MLB Advanced Media, LP. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Meet at the Apple

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