Mets’ Senga to Injury List with Arm Fatigue

Only the Mets, right?

With baseball activities only just getting underway, bad news has arrived at the New York Mets doorstep, as staff ace Kodai Senga is expected to miss Opening Day due to what has been described as arm fatigue.

More specifically, according to Team President David Stearns, Senga is suffering from a mild strain of his posterior capsule in the back of his right shoulder. There is no time table for his return, yet the Mets executive stressed there is no need to worry; the Mets expect Senga to pitch significant innings this year.

"We don't expect Opening Day, but I do expect him to make a bunch of starts for us this year," Stearns explained to reporters down in Port St. Lucie. "This is not a surgical-type problem. This is something with rest and treatment -- potentially an injection -- that can move this forward."

The news is certainly going to make Mets fans groan. They are used to news like this. From Jacob deGrom's mysterious elbow injuries that left him on the injury list from months at a time, to Max Scherzer's injuries before he was dealt last season, fans have grown accustomed to hearing that a Mets starting pitcher will miss time in the rotation.

Without Segna, the Mets are really rolling the dice when it comes to hoping for consistent success and innings out of their starters. Jose Quintana, who has battled his own health issues last season would slot into the top rotation spot, followed by Tylor Megill, Luis Severino, Sean Manaea and Adrian Houser.

It's a risky rotation full of starters who have a lot to prove in 2024.

There are starters available in free agency like Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery, but the Mets don't seem willing to make a move at this point mainly because of cost and need. According to SNY's Andy Martino, the Mets would pay a 110 percent luxory tax on every dollar spent on a top free agent like Snell or Montgomery.

Obviously the Mets have no intention to go all out this season. That has been evident in the amount of small moves they made in the off-season as they try to trim payroll. Without Senga, the 2024 season only got tougher.

Although the Super Bowl is behind us, there are still plenty of football subjects to dive into. Of course, the combine, free agency, and the draft are all approaching. However, in addition, there are a few NFL teams who have hinted at wearing new uniforms next season.

Typically, a full unveiling of these fresh threads comes in late spring or summer once the schedule is out and new players are on the roster. Still, there are some things we already know. Part of this has to do with licensing agreements. The NFL and Nike (their official uniform partner) need to go through certain protocols in order for new uniforms to be allowed. At times, this can take a few years. So, in short, preparation for these expected uniform changes began long ago.

Present-day NFL allows for teams to have their typical home and away set and the alternate look. Often, this is a nod to a throwback uniform that was a fan-favorite years ago. For example, in 2023, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers brought back the special edition creamsicle uniform.

Before we take a look at the NFL teams that will be sporting a new uniform look in 2024, let's address a related topic.

Again, this is easier said than done, but here are a few suggestions for teams that can use an upgrade. First, the New York Giants should make their throwback look permanent. This sports the "Giants" logo on the helmet with the red and white striped jersey sleeve the team wore in the '80s and '90s. Bringing back the red alternate jersey then allows for the special look twice a year. The same argument can be made for the Philadelphia Eagles. When you have that sharp "Kelly Green" set, there is no reason not to wear them at any opportunity. As for a complete overhaul, let's suggest the Indianapolis Colts go back to the drawing board. The white horseshoe helmet works (just change the facemask to blue), but the jersey and pants are stale. Less can be more these days with uni designs, so how about adding a little life here? At least the jersey can be as exciting as the future franchise quarterback, Anthony Richardson.

Those three thoughts may be long shots. However, these are not. Here are the four teams we expect to rock new uniforms looks next season.

Let's call it Aaron Rodgers 2.0. It's definitely not a bad idea to try this experiment all over again. With Rodgers back from a gut-wrenching injury, 2024 could be what fans expected 2023 to be. Perhaps having extreme patience will make the wait worthwhile. The assumption is that the Jets new uniforms, which will be unveiled in April, will resemble the "Legacy" look.

With the offensive rookie of the year in C.J. Stroud being the face of the franchise, this feels like the perfect time for the Texans to change up their look. Aside from the red alternative helmet and jersey, their previous uniform set did fall victim to the Colts' disease of just too boring. Let's just hope they don't get too flashy. The Tennessee Titans twice wore their Houston Oilers throwbacks in 2023. It has been revealed that the Texans are now doing the right thing and incorporating this iconic H-Town Blue color into the new look.

This should fall into the category of adjustments instead of a completely new look. There has been a ton of speculation already. We do believe the orange jersey will sustain. The biggest challenge the team has had with their current look is the slash-style "stripe" on the pants that don't mix and match. So, 2024 will feature a new QB in Denver, sporting the updated look.

This one flies under the radar a bit. The Lions revealed the alternate blue helmets last year. Some wonder if the popular black jersey from the early 2000s will return. It would be unfortunate for the Lions to get too far away from their traditional blue, however a stronger color scheme might be just what the team needs to take that extra step. The black jersey option might also be a good match for Dan Campbell's MCDC Metallica fandom.

A spectacular Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium as the New York Rangers and Islanders tussled in the NHL Stadium Series.