Yesterday afternoon, the Wilpon family lost a lawsuit in New York’s highest court. The Court of Appeals decided that the Wilpons may not replace Citi Field’s parking lot — which is technically New York City parkland — with a privately owned shopping mall. The Wilpons had argued that their proposed development on the other side of the stadium (replacing the auto body shops with new apartments and, purportedly, a public school) was of such great benefit to the city that the Wilpons met the spirit of the public trust law that gave the team its stadium land in 1961. The court didn’t buy the misdirection.

The ruling does not release the Wilpons from their obligation to construct the mixed-use residential/retail/school development on Willets Point, subject to a $35 million break-up fee if they back out. It’s a good thing the Mets signed Yoenis Cespedes in 2016, because you know the Wilpons will use this court decision to plead poverty this coming winter.

MEANWHILE… Jacob deGrom recreated a Dillon Gee lowlights reel, giving up 8 runs and 10 hits over just four innings. Rangers 10, Mets 7.

Punditry

As a rookie seven years ago, Dillon Gee posted a 2.18 ERA in five starts for the Mets. This came as a surprise insofar as Gee’s 4.96 ERA and 174 hits in 161 1/3 innings at Triple-A (remember, back then it was Buffalo, not Las Vegas) did not mark him as a future star. Indeed, Gee had never been a top-ten Mets prospect, though Baseball America said he had the best changeup in the system. Ominously, Gee walked 15 and struck out just 17 over 33 innings while producing that 2.18 ERA in his first five MLB starts.

Gee was a place-holding LAIM in New York. His first-year FIP of 4.20 was in line with the 4.25 FIP he pitched to over six Mets seasons, as well as the 4.40 FIP (and 4.09 ERA) he’s produced over his eight-year career. Gee’s last Mets appearance was a June 14, 2015, start against the Braves in which he gave up eight runs, 11 hits and a walk in 3.2 innings. His career ended in Flushing with a mediocre 40-37 record, 4.03 ERA, and 6.5 strikeouts per nine innings when the league’s starting pitchers were striking out 7.9 per nine. With Harvey, deGrom, Syndergaard, Colon, and Matz penciled in for the 2016 rotation, we danced with glee to see Gee flee.

After the Mets non-tendered Gee following the 2015 World Series, the hated Royals picked him up on a $2 million major-league deal. For their investment, Kansas City enjoyed the stock Dillon Gee performance so long as they could stand it: 33 games, 14 starts, 89 strikeouts, and 37 walks in 125 innings. A 4.68 ERA and 5.25 FIP. The Royals declined to tender Gee a contract for 2017.

Still only 31 years old, the Texas Rangers signed Gee to a minor-league deal before the 2017 season, though he could earn up to $3 million in salary and performance bonuses if he made the majors. The Rangers deal was a homecoming for Gee, who grew up in Cleburne, Texas, and matriculated at the University of Texas – Arlington. Say what you will about Gee, but the Mets could not have been scouting the stat line when they popped him in the 21st round of the 2007 amateur draft. His best college ERA was 4.67, with a Geely 96/22 K/BB ratio in 111 2/3 innings in the Southland Conference.

This being the darkest Mets timeline, Gee was decent for the Rangers’ Pacific Coast League affiliate — nine starts, 43 strikeouts and 13 walks in 51 innings. Gee’s 3.88 ERA in Round Rock was enough to get him promoted to the Rangers’ bullpen on May 27. From that day until Tuesday night, Gee pitched to a 0.00 ERA in 6.2 innings, striking out five and walking one. Like any ambulatory Triple-A veteran, he’d have been an improvement over Rafael Montero.

In other Darkest Mets Timeline news, Dillon Gee’s 2010 Mets teammate Mike Pelfrey has a 1.13 ERA and 15/3 K/BB ratio over his last three starts (16 IP) for the … White Sox. Where have you gone, John Maine?

**

Last night’s game started well. Michael Conforto led off with a double to right on Gee’s second pitch of the game. It seemed like the Mets would fall victim to another run of bad cluster luck when Asdrubal Cabrera struck out and Jay Bruce popped to third. But then Neil Walker worked a full count and drew a walk, bringing up the indomitable Lucas Duda, who singled to the same spot in right that Conforto explored four batters earlier. The Mets jumped out to a 1-0 lead.

Curtis Granderson walked to lead off the second. He was eliminated on a double play finely turned by the Rangers’ keystone pair. But then Juan Lagares hit a line drive to right-center that would have been an easy out at Citi Field but carried over the fence in Arlington. Cabrera hit a leadoff dinger in the third inning as well. Bruce hit one out to center in the next at-bat, but Jared Hoying lept up and brought it back. Then Walker hit one about 30 feet farther that Hoying could only watch.

Four runs in three innings feels like a solid start on offense, even when you leave seven runners on base in those innings. The hitting isn’t the problem: Every Met except Bruce and Conforto (who was 1-for-4 with two walks) had a multi-hit game, a home run or both. Against all odds, Conforto came up as the tying run with no outs in the top of the ninth. He walked. As we’ve come to expect, the Mets could not capitalize. Cabrera struck out and former Met savior Jay Bruce hit into a game-ending 3-6-1 double play.

But look: deGrom allowed runs in every inning he pitched, including two long home runs to Nomar Mazara. It was his second straight start of just four innings. When Jacob deGrom can’t outpitch Dillon Gee, little else matters.

Social Media

This is already the 7th time this season that the Mets have given up 10+ runs in a game. Only happened 6 times in 2016 and 4 times in 2015.

— Steve Gelbs (@SteveGelbs) June 7, 2017

GKR-isms

Forgive me: I’d never heard of Scott Braun until last night, when he was sitting in for Gary in the booth with Ron. According to this “poorly sourced” Wikipedia article, Braun has been with MLB Network since 2012, though no word on when Braun broadcasts began on SNY.

“Gary gets four full days off to rest his perfect pipes.” — Ron

“A little surprised that no one is up in the bullpen for the Texas Rangers considering the line drives that have been ringing off the Mets’ bats.” — Ron, as the Mets nearly went back-to-back-to-back off Dillon Gee in the third inning.

Forecast

Tonight’s pitching match-up is less favorable to the visiting team: Zack Wheeler faces Yu Darvish, as Asdrubal Cabrera is reportedly set to DH so Terry Collins can get the .190/.263/.307 slash line that is Jose Reyes into the lineup.

Photo Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

The Rangers have two former Mets on their active roster, and have one who has been traded for a former Met. The following is a list of some the Rangers’ most significant Mets connections:

Keone Kela: Kela played high school baseball about 15 miles from Michael Conforto in Seattle, and they both graduated in 2011. Unfortunately, though, it does not appear that their two teams faced each other during their time in high school.

Robinson Chirinos: Earlier in his career, the Rangers backstop was part of the 2011 trade that sent Chris Archer to the Rays and Matt Garza to the Cubs. Chirinos was sent along with Archer, while Fernando Perez went with Garza. Perez is a former member of the Mets organization, although he never appeared in a game after signing a contract with the club later in 2011.

Draft Connections: Infielder Pete Kozma was selected with the 18th pick in the 2007 first round by the Cardinals. Current Mets picked in the same round in 2007 are Josh Smoker (31-Nationals) and Travis d’Arnaud (37-Phillies), who were both selected in the supplemental portion.

Neil Walker (11-Pirates) and Matt Bush (1-Padres), were both chosen in the 2004 first round.

Hometown Connections: Santo Domingo has proven to be a hotspot for talent throughout this series, and there are three more players to add from the Dominican locale. Jeurys Familia is once again the Mets’ representative from Santo Domingo, while Texas has Adrian Beltre, Frank Francisco, and Nomar Mazara from the city.

Although he played high school ball in Seattle, Keone Kela was born in Los Angeles, which is also the birthplace of Mets first baseman Lucas Duda.

Former Mets: Frank Francisco and Dillon Gee

Photo credit:  Jim Cowsert – USA Today Sports

What wasn’t memorable about that night, though, was the team around Santana. The 2012 Mets were, well, not very good. There were a lot of bad players on that team. Now, a lot has happened in the five years since that day for both the Mets as a team, and all of these players who were on the team that night. And while we know what’s happened to the Mets since then, we might not know what has happened to all of the players who were on that team. So let’s check in with all the players who were on the Mets’ 25-man roster on June 1, 2012, and see how things have gone for them over the last 1,825 days.

Lucas Duda, Daniel Murphy, R.A. Dickey, and David Wright: These are the only four players left from that game who are still on MLB rosters right now. We don’t really need to catch up with these guys, because we know all about how they’re doing. Duda is now a Good first baseman, Murphy is a star on the Nationals, and Dickey’s having a rough time of it on the Braves. Let’s not talk about Wright.

Mike Baxter: Baxter famously destroyed his body to preserve the no-hitter, but that was pretty much his peak. After the 2013 season, he was claimed off waivers by the Dodgers, whom he played literally one MLB game for in 2014. In 2015, he signed on with the Cubs, and had a cup of coffee in the big leagues with them, but didn’t fare well. He spent last year in the Mariners’ minor league system, but did not sign back with them for 2017. He remains a free agent, and his baseball career may be all but over.

Kirk Nieuwenhuis: And here I thought I never had to spell that name again. The former high school football player has spent the last two seasons with the Brewers, and has done exactly how you think he has. Last year, he walked 14% of the time, played solid defense, posted a .176 ISO, and struck out 33.9% of the time. This year, he was designated for assignment and later sent to Triple-A after a 2-for-25 start with 15 strikeouts. He’s still Kirk Nieuwenhuis.

Ike Davis: The no-hitter occurred before the Ike Davis ship had completely sunk, but the iceberg had been struck and the lower levels were beginning to flood. The Mets correctly chose Lucas Duda over Davis in 2014, and since then Davis has been released by the Pirates, Athletics, Rangers, and Yankees. His last MLB stint came last year on the Yankees for eight games. He then signed with the Dodgers this offseason, where he is now buried on the first base depth chart behind Adrian Gonzalez, Cody Bellinger, and apparently Chase Utley.

Josh Thole: He put up a 29 wRC+ in 50 games last year with the Blue Jays, and is now in the Diamondbacks’ minor league system. He underwent surgery over the offseason to repair a torn hamstring and is estimated to be out until around August.

Omar Quintanilla: After his Mets career ended, Quintanilla had a two-game stint in the Rockies minor league system before heading off to the Mexican League. He’s spent the last two years getting very infrequent playing time for Toros de Tijuana, totaling only 27 PAs over these past two seasons.

Jon Niese: Niese is still in the Yankees system and has been working in extended spring training.

Dillon Gee: Gee is pitching for the Rangers Triple-A affiliate. He has a 3.88 ERA in nine starts in the PCL so far, and has made one appearance for the Rangers’ MLB team.

Bobby Parnell: Parnell was exiled from the Mets after his disastrous 2015, and hasn’t had much success since then. He went to the Tigers last season and pitched only 5.1 innings in the majors, and this season is pitching in Triple-A for the Royals. He owns a 4.71 ERA in 21 innings so far.

Vinny Rottino: Did you know Rottino played on the 2012 Mets? Well he did, and he was on the 25-man roster for the no-no. He’d floated around the minor leagues since 2012, and finally retired from baseball last September. Hopefully he can now start up a pizza roll business and call it Rottino’s Pizza Rolls.

…That was a funny joke and you should laugh at it.

Andres Torres: Torres retired from baseball after 2014 after playing his final season in 2013 for the Giants. Sadly, Torres lost his wife, Soannie, to cancer this past December at the age of 37. Torres is still heavily involved in the Bay Area community, and is doing what he can to inspire inner city kids.

Scott Hairston: Jerry’s younger brother spent time with the Cubs and the Nationals in the two years after his Mets tenure ended. He was signed by the White Sox before the 2016 season, but was released after spring training. He technically remains a free agent, though it certainly looks as if his playing days are over.

Mike Nickeas: The non-elite prospect played one MLB game for the Blue Jays in 2013 after the Mets traded him, and retired from baseball in 2015. He went back to Georgia Tech to complete his degree in business administration last year, and now serves as the volunteer bench coach on the Georgia Tech baseball team. He was also the bench coach for the Great Britain National Team in the WBC qualifiers last fall.

Jordany Valdespin: Released by the Mets because of numerous attitude issues, Vladespin spent time with the Marlins and Tigers before heading to the Mexican League this year. He was promptly released in April by Leones de Yucatan after just 14 games with them because they couldn’t stand him either. However, he signed on to play for Olmecas de Tabasco just two days later, and he’s hitting .371/.470/.556 in 34 games with them. So that’s good. Valdespin is also now immortalized on Mets pre-and-post-game shows with Nelson Figueroa’s daily “I’m the Man Right Now” segments.

What’s more, the awful music video for the terrible rap song about him was removed from YouTube for some reason, though the atrocity still exists in audio form. As of this writing, that video has 11 views, and at least three of them are from me.

Jeremy Hefner: After two Tommy John surgeries, Hefner decided to retire from professional baseball this past January at the age of 31. It’s a sad end for Hefner, who looked like he had some potential as a useful fifth starter/swingman, which the Mets could really use right about now. But Hefner is now serving as an advance scout for the Twins, and continues to keep a strong social media presence along with his wife, Sarah.

Jon Rauch: Arguably the Mets’ best reliever in 2012, Rauch and his neck tattoos last pitched for the Marlins in 2013. He’s retired now, and owns a car shop called Bullpen Garage in Tucson, Arizona. According to the shop’s site, it is dedicated to off-road and 4×4 vehicles.

Ramon Ramirez: You may remember Ramirez as the guy who pulled his hamstring running in from the bullpen in the celebration after the no-hitter. After an unsuccessful season with the Mets in 2012, he had minor league stints with the Giants, Mariners, Orioles, Angels, and the Mexican League from 2013-2016, though he’s not signed anywhere for this season. He also has the most detailed Wikipedia page I’ve ever seen for a journeyman reliever.

Elvin Ramirez, Frank Francisco, Jack Egbert: These were relievers on the 2012 Mets. They were on the 25-man roster on June 1, 2012. They are no longer in baseball. This is the most information I could find about any of them.

Tim Byrdak: Byrdak was also a victim of anterior capsule surgery. He went under the knife in 2012, and it basically ended his career. He was able to return to the Mets in 2013, but only for a handful of innings, and has not played baseball anywhere since then. He has dabbled in announcing, even calling a few Mets spring training games with Josh Lewin in 2014, but he’s since gone back to college and is currently attending Robert Morris University working towards a degree.

Johan Santana: Santana made only 10 more starts in his MLB career after his no-hitter. He had a second anterior capsule surgery in 2013, which many thought would end his career, but to his credit, has tried his best to make a comeback.

Santana signed with the Orioles in 2014 on a minor-league deal. On June 6 of that season, he tore his Achilles tendon and missed the rest of the season. In 2015, he attempted another comeback, but halted his comeback attempt once again due to a toe infection. He went unsigned in 2016, though his agent said he was still trying to comeback. Reports were that Santana was going to pitch in the Venezuelan Winter League over the offseason, though I was unable to confirm if he actually did.

Santana, now 38, has likely seen his playing career come to an end. Nobody can deny the valor he showed towards the end, gutting out a 134-pitch effort while not fully recovered from major surgery and continuously trying to fight his way back into baseball, but it never worked out for him. Santana was legitimately one of the best pitchers in baseball for a decade, and his Mets career outside of the no-hitter may forever go underappreciated as well, due to the way it ended and the amount of money he was owed.

***

This was a bad team. There were other players not mentioned here, because they were not on the 25-man roster on June 1, 2012, due to injury. Jason Bay, Ruben Tejada, Ronny Cedeno, and Miguel Batista are a few of the names left off this list, and it’s probably a good thing they were. The fact that Santana was able to throw his no-hitter with this cast of characters around him makes it all the more impressive.

Photo credit: Kate Feldman