Just as breaking news has become its own niche market in the sports world, dumping news teams would rather not talk about too much has really, truly evolved into an art form.
Anyone who has worked in a newsroom can tell you copious stories about the dread and horror of watching the clock strike 5 p.m. on a given Friday, not because it’s time to go sit in rush hour, but because more often than not you’re about to get hit with a press release on a relatively important story. A story that needs to get reported further despite the fact most sources have already left the office and the majority of readers are already enjoying their weekend, not scanning the latest headlines. Which is, of course, the whole point.
Some news dumps are less subtle than others. Tom Brady announcing his un-retirement on Selection Sunday last March comes to mind immediately. Some teams, like the New York Mets, however, understand the modern news dump requires an air of imagination. You’ve got to kick fans in the gut when they’re at their most susceptible, the most relaxed, preferably on a day when the team isn’t playing. But more than that, you’ve got to add a little misdirection. Make sure your entire fanbase is focused on the absolute best of the best before you sucker punch them.
You’ve got to wait until, say, the first pitch of the MLB All-Star Game between Clayton Kershaw and Shohei Ohtani at Dodger Stadium to really drop a bomb.
This obviously pushes deGrom's timeline back at least a bit. It's now difficult to see him returning for the upcoming Yankees series.
If the Mets decide, given this new information, that he needs another rehab start after the sim game, his return wouldn't happen until August.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) July 20, 2022
Kaboom.
Look at that time stamp. Two minutes before the first pitch was officially recorded on Tuesday night. Perfection. 10/10.
Nothing says “Our most valuable pitcher is fine” like burying news that his shoulder hurts and his rehab stint has been paused underneath an exhibition between the game’s biggest stars.
Here’s hoping Jacob deGrom returns soon, but you’ve really got to hand it to the Mets’ PR team, who understand the best way to present bad news is to make sure as few people notice it as possible.
Anyways, the American League defeated the National League, 3-2 on Tuesday. Giancarlo Stanton was named MVP after hitting a mammoth two-run homer in the third inning. No additional Mets were injured in the process.
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