Mets following footsteps of division rival, test calling pitches from the dugout

The Marlins raised some eyebrows around the league last September when they experimented with calling pitches from the dugout for the final nine games of the season — something they’re planning to continue as an organizational directive in 2026. The NL East-rival Mets are now following in their footsteps, at least a little bit, in 2026 Spring Training. According to ESPN, the Mets experimented with having catching coach J.P. Arencibia call pitches in Thursday’s 6-2 Grapefruit League win over the Astros. Catcher Francisco Alvarez would look toward the dugout to receive the sign before communicating with his pitcher via PitchCom.…