Mack's Apples - 11-1-17 - Nori Aoki, Korean Crowd Cheer, Univ. Utah,

Good morning.

Nori Aoki –

The Mets released outfielder Nori Aoki on Monday, saving the team around $6.3mil if the Mets would have picked up his option.

He hit .284, 5-RBI, 13-SB as a Met in September.

As of 10-31, BP has the current projected Mets team salary, before arbitration and Bobby Bonilla, at  $53mil. Only three players (Yoenes Cespedes: $29mil, David Wright: $15mil, Juan Lagares: $9mil) are under non-arbitration or team controlled pre-arbitration agreements.

The numbers don’t lie. This is a team in a rebuilding mold.

My guess is the Mets will go to camp with a starting outfield of Cespedes, Brandon Nimmo, and Lagares. Michael Conforto will continue to heal, so two positions are now open. Travis Taijeron is gone so your options are:

1.     Bring back Aoki with a smaller 1-year contract

2.     Fill one or two slots with secondary free agents

3.     Take some of the money on the shelves ad sign a chip like Jay Bruce.

 Korean Cheer Culture –

Drumbeats roar and electric music plays as people dressed in uniforms swing to the rhythm together. At first, it may seem like a rock concert, but this is actually what a South Korean baseball game is all about.

South Korean baseball's "cheer culture" is in many ways just as important as the game itself. Fans wear team uniforms and hit balloon sticks together to make some noise as cheerleaders dressed in shorts and tank tops show off their dance moves. In South Korea, cheerleaders are responsible for leading the crowd in between every inning, not just during halftime, like in basketball or football games.

You will never find more fun at a baseball game than in Korean cities… not even Houston!

University of Utah recommends suspension for baseball coach -

           

The University of Utah has self-reported a violation to the NCAA involving the baseball program and recommended a multi-game suspension for 15-year coach Bill Kinneberg.

Athletic director Chris Hill disclosed Monday that the school had reported the violation though he didn't give details. Utah is awaiting a response from the NCAA.

            We’ll follow this story for details.

            Venezuela's Baseball League Is Struggling Amid Country's Deep Economic Crisis -

          

Tickets cost less than a dollar, but many Venezuelans must now spend that money on food. Others stay home because they fear getting mugged as they leave ballparks late at night. League attendance has dropped by about half. Things are so bad that there was talk of canceling the season until the Venezuelan government stepped in with $10 million to underwrite the league. Juan Gutierrez, a relief pitcher for the Lions, says he can tell something's wrong simply by looking at the bleachers.

Orioles-Nationals dispute cancels Naval Academy Baseball Classic -

          

Athletic director Chet Gladchuk confirmed on Tuesday that a territorial dispute between the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals has brought a premature end to the Naval Academy Baseball Classic.

Gladchuk said the Nationals will not play exhibition games at Max Bishop Stadium on the Naval Academy campus as scheduled in 2018 and 2019.

This is one of the more stupid stories I have ever posted. Don’t miss this doozy.