PHILADELPHIA — Ron Darling’s surgery to remove a mass in his chest was successful, according to SNY broadcaster Gary Cohen, who made the announcement on the air during the Mets’ 14-3 loss to the Phillies on Tuesday night. Darling is expected to miss at least a month in the booth as he recovers.
Long games have become the norm for the Mets. They haven’t played a sub-three-hour game since their opener in Washington on March 28. One theory is the Mets’ situational hitting approach has led to extended at-bats and longer innings. On the flip side the Mets’ early-season pitching struggles have led to an extensive use of the bullpen, lengthening games.