On Tuesday, a report indicated that the Royals were planning some sort of payback against Mets starter Noah Syndergaard for a brushback pitch he threw to Alcides Escobar during Game 3 of last year’s World Series. Later, several Royals players deflected that report.
Maybe it’s much ado about nothing. Syndergaard doesn’t even know for what the Royals would be retaliating. Via ESPN’s Adam Rubin:
“I don’t think they’re too fond of me, but as far as retaliation goes, I really don’t know what they’re going to retaliate against,” Syndergaard said after his final Grapefruit League appearance for spring training. “All I did was establish the inner part of the plate. So I don’t know what this whole retaliation talk is all about. But it’s going to be an interesting time. ... I simply threw a pitch on the inside corner. Elevated. A purpose pitch. I don’t really see how any retaliation could be made.”
Syndergaard noted that Mets fans who ran into him during the offseason “really applauded that pitch”.
The Mets and Royals open up the season on the evening of April 3 in Kansas City.