Jose Quintana’s July 4 start a meaningful moment for Mets hurler
NY Post
WASHINGTON — Jose Quintana had pitched on the Fourth of July previously in his career, but never as a U.S. citizen.
The veteran left-hander, a Colombian who became a U.S. citizen this year during spring training, savored the day.
He also almost saved the day with a superb pitching performance in the Mets’ 1-0 loss to the Nationals.
“A lot of my teammates said ‘Congratulations’ and ‘I’m happy for you,’ ” Quintana said of his first Independence Day as a U.S. citizen. “It means a lot for me and my family.”
With an 11:05 a.m. first pitch, Quintana was forced to alter his routine of sleeping until 9 in the morning.
He said he was awake by 7 and ate breakfast by 7:30.
The Jets were quiet on Day 2 of free agency after adding a new quarterback Monday.
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Brett Berard has displayed both a fiery passion and an admirable patience in the last six months of his hockey career, which reached the NHL level for the first time at the end of November.
PORT ST. LUCIE — The baseball calendar says the Mets have about two weeks until Opening Day, but Francisco Lindor’s mind is on another timetable as these dog days of spring training pass.
The man with the best nickname on the team is one of the few Knicks who has made it this far relatively unscathed in the court of public opinion.
For a guy who seemingly is always headed out the door, Darius Slayton has a way of never leaving.
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — The Rangers stood by their defensive structure in the immediate aftermath of their Weekend of Missed Opportunities, in which they had two chances to capture the top wild-card spot in the East and failed to do so in such disappointing fashion.
PORT ST. LUCIE — Luis Torrens helped inject life into the Mets’ season last year but now faces even larger responsibilities with the team.
The Jets are having a Fields Day.
SACRAMENTO — P.J. Tucker understands his reputation as a hard-nosed player who is willing to vocalize displeasure.
The Yankees have insurance on Gerrit Cole, which is a positive thing in a very worrisome situation.
Could’ve, would’ve, should’ve, oh, the Rangers might’ve had a weekend if they had only buckled down after taking a 3-1 lead into the final 10 minutes in Ottawa on Saturday.
GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Dodgers’ last two steps to a championship were eliminating the New York teams last October, and it is hard to miss how much of a better February and March Los Angeles is having as well.
The Jets kicked off free agency by keeping one of their own.