NEW YORK -- The scuffling New York Mets demoted a promising young player to the minors for the second straight day on Monday, sending utilityman Luisangel Acuña to Triple-A Syracuse ahead of their four-game series against his older brother Ronald and the Atlanta Braves.
The decision comes after catcher Francisco Alvarez, the team's primary starter behind the plate the last three seasons, was optioned to Syracuse on Sunday before the Mets fell to the Philadelphia Phillies for their eighth loss in nine games.
The reasoning for the moves, however, is different.