Noah Syndergaard delivered ‘message’ pitch to Royals; MLB’s Joe Torre heard it too

REPORTING FROM NEW YORK —  Noah Syndergaard owned his purpose pitch on Friday, saying he had intended to throw high and tight to Alcides Escobar and inviting the Kansas City Royals to charge the mound if they objected.

Joe Torre, who oversees player discipline for the commissioner’s office, said Saturday he was well aware of Syndergaard’s comments.

“My feeling on that is, the game is played on the field and not in the press room,” Torre said. “It’s the World Series. Let’s enjoy the short time we have.”

Torre would not say whether Syndergaard might be subject to suspension, or whether he considered the matter closed. Any suspension now could significantly alter the course of the series, since Syndergaard would be the Mets’ Game 7 starter.

On Oct. 1, Mets pitcher Hansel Robles was suspended three games for “intentionally throwing a pitch in the head area” of an opponent, albeit with warnings already in place. No such warnings were in place Friday or Saturday.

The Royals were particularly upset by Syndergaard’s comments after the game, according to Manager Ned Yost, because Syndergaard told Kansas City catcher Salvador Perez during the game that the pitch was not intended to be up and in. Yost said the Royals would not retaliate by throwing at one of the Mets batters.

“But we’ve got a few tricks up our sleeves too,” Yost said.

Mets Manager Terry Collins said he was not concerned by Syndergaard’s comments.

“I don’t muzzle anybody,” Collins said. “You’ve got to be able to back it up. He backed it up.”

Syndergaard also invited the Royals to charge the mound if they were upset.

“If they have a problem with me throwing inside, they can meet me 60 feet 6 inches away,” Syndergaard said during a news conference after the game.

Commissioner Rob Manfred later told the New York Post that Syndergaard would not be disciplined.

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