Tom Brennan - WHAT AN OPENING SERIES

OK,OK. NO 162-0.  I'LL SETTLE FOR 161-1.

A sweep woulda been nice...real nice.

But the Mets could not quite hold on to sweep the Nats, despite dramatically  tying Sunday's game late. But there was so much to like:

A great opening start by Jake...thanks for the awesomeness.  And good starts by Thor and Zach.

Great hitting by Pete and Jeff, Cano, Ramos, Broxton, and others.

And Edwin Diaz being Edwin Diaz...yes, sir.

The Mets sure look tough.

So do the Nats of Turner, Soto, Robles, and Scherzer.

Ali-Frazier stuff! Wow!

Let's Go Mets!  Bring on the Marlins!

Columbia Fireflies 2019 OD Roster

MEDIA RELEASE

   

                                 

Five of Mets’ Top-10 Prospects Highlight Loaded 2019 Fireflies Roster

Record Seven Mets Prospects on Fireflies Opening-Day Roster

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Columbia Fireflies may have their most talented Opening Day roster ever. Five of New York’s top-ten prospects headline the Fireflies 2019 Opening Day roster, as released by the Mets on Sunday. Talented infielders Ronny Mauricio (No. 3), Mark Vientos (No. 4) andShervyen Newton (No. 7) and impressive pitchers Simeon Woods-Richardson (No. 8) and Thomas Szapucki (No. 10) all find themselves among the ten highest-rated Mets prospects entering this season, as ranked by Baseball America.

Vientos (2017) and Woods-Richardson (2018) are the Mets two most-recent 2^nd-round selections. Both performed brilliantly at the rookie-ball level in 2018. Vientos hit .287 with 11 home runs and 52 RBI in 60 games for the Kingsport Mets while Woods-Richardson finished the 2018 season with a 1.56 ERA in seven outings split between Kingsport and the Gulf Coast League Mets. The teenagers were both drafted out of high school (Vientos: American Heritage High-FL, Woods-Richardson: Kemper High-TX).

Pitchers Chris Viall – a 2018 Firefly – and Christian James are the remaining two Mets prospects on the roster. The seven prospects are the most for a Fireflies opening-day roster.

Joining Viall are five other former Fireflies: pitchers Luc Rennie – who set the Fireflies single-game strikeout record on July 22, 2018 – Darwin Ramos (2018) and Szapucki (2017), along with position players Jose Miguel Medina (2017) and Walter Rasquin (2018). The prospect Szapucki returns after missing the entire 2018 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

In a city that’s home to its own successful Southeastern Conference baseball program, Columbia’s 2019 roster features two former SEC players. PitcherAndrew Mitchell and infielder Brian Sharp starred at Auburn and Missouri respectively. Sharp played in the Palmetto State’s capital less than a year ago – the 26^th-round draft pick smashed a home run against the University of South Carolina in a series from May 11-13, 2018. The former Tiger finished that three-game set with five hits and three RBI.

Second-year Fireflies skipper Pedro Lopez – a two-time Eastern League (double-A) Manager of the Year – will be joined in the Fireflies dugout this season by pitching coach Royce Ring, hitting coach Luis Rivera and bench coach Gilbert Gomez. Athletic Trainer Daichi Arima, Strength and Conditioning Coach Sam Nickelson, Assistant Athletic Trainer Nicole Collins and Mental Skills Coach Dave Williams round out the coaching staff.

The Fireflies open the 2019 season on Thursday, April 4 against the Charleston RiverDogs (New York Yankees). The four-game series continues through April 7 before Columbia welcomes the Rome Braves (Atlanta Braves) to town for a three-game set from April 8-10.

2019 Roster Breakdown

Pitchers (13): Jose Butto, Christian James, Andrew Mitchell, Dedniel Nunez, Billy Oxford, Darwin Ramos, Luc Rennie, Thomas Szapucki, Willy Taveras, Chris Viall, Jaison Vilera, Simeon Woods-Richardson, Ezequiel Zabaleta

Catchers (2): Hayden Senger, Juan Uriarte

Infielders (6): Chase Chambers, Ronny Mauricio, Shervyen Newton, Walter Rasquin, Brian Sharp, Mark Vientos

Outfielders (4): Ranfy Adon, Anthony Dirocie, Wagner Lagrange, Jose Miguel Medina

Top-30 Mets Prospects (7):

3. Ronny Mauricio, SS

4. Mark Vientos, 3B

7. Shervyen Newton, 2B

8. Simeon Woods-Richardson, RHP

10. Thomas Szapucki, LHP

26. Chris Viall, RHP

27. Christian James, RHP

Sterling Award Winners (5):

Ronny Mauricio, SS (2018, Gulf Coast League Mets)

Jaison Vilera, RHP (2017, Gulf Coast League Mets)

Thomas Szapucki, LHP (2016, Kingsport Mets)

Wagner Lagrange, OF (2015, Dominican Summer League Mets)

Walter Rasquin, INF (2014, Dominican Summer League Mets)

Syracuse Mets Media Day Information and Credential Requests

SYRACUSE, NY – We are happy to announce that Syracuse Mets media day will take place at NBT Bank Stadium on Tuesday, April 2nd, beginning at 1:00 p.m. The team will be working out on the field (weather permitting). Players will be available for interviews on the field throughout the workout. Once the workout ends and player interviews are finished, Syracuse Mets manager Tony DeFrancesco will answer questions in a press conference setting.

Proper credentials will be necessary to access all parts of NBT Bank Stadium this season, including the press box, field access, and clubhouses. Please fill out the following form for all credential requests for the 2019 season. Each organization will only have to fill out the form once and can include everyone requesting a pass. Passes will be available for pickup during Syracuse Mets media day or before any home game at the main reception window in the front office. Please display your credential at all times at NBT Bank Stadium.

Credential Request Form: https://goo.gl/forms/wpGBZnp1zPIIlN8q1

If you have already requested credentials AND received a confirmation email from mtricarico@syracusemets.com, you do not need to use the above link.

You are receiving this email because you have been on the Syracuse baseball media email distribution list in the past or have expressed an interest in receiving emails and/or covering the 2019 Syracuse Mets. Thank you for your interest and we look forward to an outstanding 2019 season in Syracuse.

If you no longer would like to receive emails associated with the Syracuse Mets, including daily game notes and game recaps, as well as media alerts and press releases, please respond to this email and let us know to remove you from the mailing list. If there are additional email addresses you would like added to this media list, please indicate so in a response to this email.

If you have any questions, please email Michael Tricarico at mtricarico@syracusemets.com. 

Mack - From The Desk - Ryder Ryan, Thomas Farr, Mets Rotation, Tim Tebow, 1962

24. Ryder Ryan, RHP Video

Drafted: 30th Round, 2016 from North Mecklenburg HS (NC) (CLE)

Age     23.7    Height 6′ 2″    Weight            205     Bat / Thr         R / R    FV       35+

Ryan stood out as a prep sophomore for his big raw power and arm strength, both as a catcher and a pitcher in the low-90s on the mound. He peaked early in that regard, signing for $100,000 late in the 2016 draft when his catching and hitting didn’t progress and he was mostly just a mid-90s arm that occasionally showed command or a breaking ball. That projection has mostly held, as three years later Ryan has reached Double-A as a short reliever, but his breaking ball is consistently average to above and his command has improved, so there’s a clear path to becoming a middle reliever. The Mets acquired him in late 2017 in the Jay Bruce deal with Cleveland.

2019 MLB JUCO  Draft Targets –

            2. RHP Thomas Farr -

Thomas Farr might not be as talented as Stewart, but is still one of the top JUCO players in the country. The Peach State pitcher signed with the Northwest Florida Raiders straight out of high school. He is currently a sophomore at NFSC and is their top pitcher. In the 2019 season, Farr has a 2-1 record with a 1.38 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 13 innings pitched. Farr has also signed with the South Carolina Gamecocks.

The South Carolina signee has a fastball that sits in the low 90s and tops out at 96 mph. Farr has some really nice movement on his fastball and has a nice breaking pitch and changeup to go with it.

Farr could be an option for the Fish on Day 2 of the MLB Draft. He projects to be a back-end relief pitcher or starter at the professional level.

2019 Positional Power Rankings: Starting Rotation -

            Few teams can run out a top four like the Mets, with the reigning Cy Young winner in deGrom, a legitimate Cy Young candidate in Syndergaard, and two potential studs in Wheeler and Matz. Thor has yet to put up that elite 200-inning season, but he arguably has the best stuff in baseball and if he gets a fully healthy season, New York’s 1-2 punch will be absurd. Wheeler broke out last year on the heels of an elite fastball and the projections like him to hold most of those gains.

Matz quietly made a career-high 30 starts last year and finished really strongly after a quick stint on the DL for a strained flexor pronator. In his final nine starts, he posted a 3.11 ERA and 1.04 WHIP with a 28% strikeout rate. If he builds on that and maybe goes full Wheeler in 2019, the Mets could have four arms with a mid-3.00s ERA or better. Vargas is a perfectly cromulent fifth starter … or at least he has been throughout most of his career. His 5.77 ERA last year won’t fly again, but he did close with a useful 3.81 ERA in 54 innings down the stretch.

Tim Tebow   Talks Demi-Leigh Engagement and New CBS Show –

PC - Ed Delany

“It was a great opportunity,” Tebow says of his turn before the camera. “The more I heard about the show, the more epic I knew it was going to be. And it’s awesome. It’s great family entertainment where you watch world-class athletes as they compete.”

1962:  The Bumbling Beginning –

      

     The original Mets were created from the ashes of the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants, both of whom had deserted New York City after the 1957 season. Now, five years later, National League baseball was back, so to speak. For it was quickly apparent that the Mets’ roster, put together mostly from players left unprotected by the other National League teams, was a mess.

Left to do the best he could with it was baseball’s most colorful manager, Casey Stengel, who had won seven World Series with the Yankees but had been dismissed after the 1960 season, at the age of 70, because the Yankees felt he was too old. Now, he was even older, but on the Mets that hardly mattered because they had plenty of players past their prime.

Mack - From The Desk - Nick Meyer. Zack Wheeler, XRA. Marty Noble, Carter Stewart

23. Nick Meyer, C Video

Drafted: 6th Round, 2018 from Cal Poly (NYM)

Age     21.9    Height 6′ 2″    Weight            200     Bat / Thr         R / R    FV       35+

Meyer is a pretty straightforward prospect, easier to project with fewer unknowns that the teenage prospects in this area of the list. Meyer is an accomplished defender, with a plus arm and at least above average defensive ability. He has some pop (45 raw power, game power below that) and is a solid athlete, but there isn’t much impact with the bat. He leans more contact-oriented in his approach, but often won’t make consistent hard contact, with some timing, pitch recognition, and plate coverage shortcomings at present. He seems likely to reach the upper minors and with some improvement, would get on a 40-man roster and get at least some big league time. If he can improve a little more offensively, then he could carve out a solid career as a backup.

These 9 spring stat lines  https://www.mlb.com/news/standout-performances-from-spring-training   shouldn't be ignored –

            Zack Wheeler, Mets

Spring line: 2.25 ERA, .186 BA against, 0.83 WHIP across four starts

The entire Mets rotation is humming this spring, with Jacob deGrom (15 strikeouts in 12 innings, 1.08 WHIP) and Noah Syndergaard (19 strikeouts on 14 1/3 innings, 1.88 ERA) doing what you would expect. But if Wheeler really can solidify the form that produced   second-half 1.86 ERA (third-best among MLB starters), the Amazins’ rotation could jump back to its level from 2015. Wheeler’s last 9 1/3 innings have featured zero runs, seven strikeouts and no walks.

Who Wheeler is now is a confident righty with better mechanics and an out pitch in his slider that he wasn’t even 100 percent happy with in 2018. He also impressed none other than Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez last week. Workload will be a concern after Wheeler set a career high in innings last year, but the form he’s showing this spring looks like perhaps the best No. 3 starter in baseball.

Introducing XRA http://sixmanrotation.com/introducing-xra-a-new-pitching-metric/  : A New Pitching Metric –

            Welcome to the unveiling of XRA, a new ERA estimator that includes various xStats for a better, more realistic idea of how a pitcher’s average, batted ball results impacted his overall stat line.

This all started with a little conversation from a Twitter account that I enjoy interacting with, @ThatsaBadTake. He’s a Yankees’ fan, unfortunately, but he’s a smart guy and knows his stuff, so the interactions are always enjoyable, if not thought-provoking. We were discussing James Paxton and, more specifically, his 2018 season.

Former Newsday baseball writer Marty Noble https://www.newsday.com/long-island/obituaries/marty-noble-1.28935767   dies at 70 –

           Marty Noble, whose capacity to report on baseball and write artful prose about it was surpassed only by his love for the sport, died on Sunday evening in Florida at a ballgame, a family member said.

Noble was a mainstay on New York baseball coverage at Newsday for more than two decades and shaped the way the paper approached his favorite game. He was 70.

Noble grew up in the Bronx and was a college basketball player, but he was best known as a source of information and perspective on the baseball team in Queens. He chronicled the Mets’ rise in the 1980s and their ups and downs in the 1990s. He developed close relationships with players, front office executives and support people. Noble was on either a first-name or nickname basis with an A-list that included Tom Seaver, Whitey Ford, Keith Hernandez, Dwight Gooden, Darryl Strawberry and David Wright.

2019 MLB Draft Targets https://www.fishstripes.com/2019/2/26/18240018/marlins-2019-mlb-draft-targets-florida-junior-college-prospects-carter-stewart-braves   -

              1. RHP Carter Stewart

Carter Stewart is easily the top MLB Draft prospect out of the JUCO ranks. Stewart was taken eighth overall out of high school by the Atlanta Braves in the 2018 MLB Draft.

The in-state pitcher decided not to sign with the Braves, instead going to Eastern Florida State College for his 2019 season. Stewart originally committed to Mississippi State, but would have had to wait three seasons to be eligible for the draft again; at Eastern Florida State College, he can jump into this draft class.

Syracuse Mets Announce 2019 Opening Day Roster for Inaugural Season

Tim Tebow, Carlos Gómez, and Rajai Davis headline experienced 2019 Syracuse roster

SYRACUSE, NY – With the start of the 2019 season less than a week away, the Syracuse Mets are excited to announce their roster for Opening Day. The Mets begin their inaugural season at home on Thursday, April 4th against the Pawtucket Red Sox at NBT Bank Stadium with first pitch scheduled for 2:05 p.m.

Tim Tebow comes to Syracuse as one of the most highly-anticipated names on the Syracuse Mets’ Opening Day roster. The outfielder is in his third season in the Mets’ organization and his first with Syracuse. The 31-year-old was named an Eastern League Mid-Season All-Star last season with Double-A Binghamton. Tebow’s 2018 season was cut short because of an injury, but he hit .273 in 84 games last year with six home runs. The former NFL quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner is a two-time College Football National Champion with the Florida Gators and is a college football analyst on ESPN.

Led by manager Tony DeFrancesco, who has 24 years of managerial experience, including 15 seasons at the Triple-A level, the Syracuse Mets will have one of the most experienced teams in all of baseball. Of the 25 players on Syracuse’s Opening Day roster, 21 of them have played in the majors, combining for a total of 7,006 regular-season Major League games played in.

In the outfield, Syracuse has two-time All-Star Carlos Gómez, World Series runner-up Rajai Davis, and two-time World Series Champion Grégor Blanco. Gómez (1,427 games), Davis (1,419), and Blanco (1,060) have played more Major League games than anyone else on the roster. Rymer Liriano (59 games) and Tebow round out the Mets’ outfielders.

Four of the five Mets infielders on the Opening Day roster have MLB experience, led by Danny Espinosa (872 games), who played with Syracuse in 2010 and 2013 as a member of the Washington Nationals’ organization. Adeiny Hechavarría (811), Dilson Herrera (102), and Travis Taijeron(26) are the other infielders with experience in the majors, while David Thompson is in his fifth professional season and his second at the Triple-A level.

Behind the plate, catcher René Rivera (506 games) brings a wealth of experience. Rivera has played with eight MLB teams over parts of ten seasons, including with the New York Mets in 2016 and 2017. Colton Plaia joins Rivera as a Syracuse catcher. The 28-year-old was drafted by the Mets in 2013 and has moved up New York’s minor-league system, now entering his second season in Triple-A.

The Mets’ pitching staff features eight players on New York’s 40-man roster and 12 players with experience pitching in the majors. 2015 American League All-Star Héctor Santiago leads the way with 238 regular-season MLB appearances and 887 innings pitched.

The eight 40-man pitchers are: Tyler Bashlor, Chris Flexon, Drew Gagnon, Eric Hanhold, Corey Oswalt, Jacob Rhame, Paul Sewald, andDaniel Zamora. All eight pitchers on the New York Mets’ 40-man roster have also thrown in the majors. The other four pitchers for Syracuse with MLB appearances are Arquimedes Caminero, Casey Coleman, Ryan O’Rourke, and Santiago. Corey Taylor has not pitched in the majors, but the 26-year-old is in just his fifth professional season and his second year in Triple-A. In total, the 13-member pitching staff has 724 regular-season MLB appearances and has thrown 1,604 innings in the majors.

Tickets for 2019 Opening Day, as well as the other 69 home games at NBT Bank Stadium, are available for purchase at the Onondaga Coach Ticket Office at NBT Bank Stadium, over the phone during regular office hours (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), or online anytime at syracusemets.com.

Important Information for 2019 at Segra Park

MEDIA RELEASE

         Contact: Abby Naas

anaas@columbiafireflies.com

803-888-3007

Friday, March 29, 2019                                     

Important Information for 2019 at Segra Park

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Columbia Fireflies today announced the updated plan for ballpark access and parking, along with a Clear Bag policy for Segra Park in advance of the team’s home opener on Thursday, April 4, against the Charleston RiverDogs.

Following the exciting announcement this week that REI Co-op is coming to the Bull Street District, there are changes to the site parking and access plans for 2019.

Site Access and General Parking:

Site and parking access for General Parking lots and State lots are generally unchanged, with General Parking lots accessible from Colonial Drive. Gregg Street, which connects Calhoun Street to Colonial Drive, will be open for through traffic, making access to the field parking areas more convenient for our fans.

The State lots, located on the north side of Colonial Drive, will once again be a secondary General Parking Lot for Segra Park. Certain lots occupied during the day by the Department of Mental Health, Department of Health and Environmental Control and Department of Social Services will be accessible for Fireflies fans beginning at 5:30 p.m. and others will be open starting at 6:00 p.m. for weekday games. The are no time restrictions for Saturday and Sunday games.

Those who park in the General Parking lots and State lots will receive complimentary shuttle service to the main plaza outside of Segra Park. Cost for all General Parking will be $4.

As development in and around the Bull Street District continues, there is additional street parking along Gregg Street, Barnwell Street and Saunders Street for early-arriving fans. Street parking is free and is first come, first-served. A portion of the street parking on Gregg Street will be barricaded for all Fireworks nights to provide a safe zone for the pyrotechnical displays.

Permit Holders / Suite VIP Holders:

Permit holders will be able to park in specified lots accessible via the entrance to the site at the intersection of Bull Street and Elmwood Avenue. The lot is located adjacent to Pickens Street. Alternatively, Permit holders may enter at Calhoun and Talley Street to access the Permit lot.

ADA Parking:

ADA Parking will be located along the first-base side of the park and is accessible from the Calhoun Street entrance at Barnwell Street. The Fireflies will continue to offer complimentary ADA Valet parking service.

Both the team and the City of Columbia would also like to thank the South Carolina Department of Mental Health, DHEC and the Department of Administration for allowing the use of their lots.

“Segra Park has plenty of parking for the great crowds we expect on Opening Night and throughout the spring and summer,” said Fireflies President John Katz. “The process of getting to the ballpark is simple and convenient.  We will have attendants at and around each lot, as well as signage to direct fans to the best parking place at the time they arrive.  Fans in both the General Parking lots and the State lots will be shuttled by complimentary trolley service to the front plaza of Segra Park.”

Click for Parking Map

Catch the Comet for free transportation from Downtown:

The Soda Cap Connector operates for every Columbia Fireflies home game at Segra Park. Beginning one hour before first pitch, you can catch the Soda Cap Connector Route 3 from Main Street and Hampton Street for free. Busses run every 25 minutes and continue until one hour after the end of the game. The Soda Cap Connector network connects Segra Park to West Columbia and Cayce, The Vista and Main Street and Five Points / USC. See the link below to plan your free trip.

Click for Soda Cap Connector Map and Schedule

Clear Bag Policy:

The Columbia Fireflies and Segra Park are introducing a Clear Bag policy for all events beginning with Opening Night on April 4, 2019.

The new clear bag policy will provide a safer environment at events and should significantly expedite fan entry into Segra Park.

The new policy closely matches those already in place at all NFL stadiums and many NCAA sporting events. This policy also closely matches the policy in place for all Gamecock sporting events and concerts at Colonial Life Arena, with minor adjustments for families.

Under the new policy, each fan is allowed one clear bag (plus a clutch or small purse) into Segra Park that conform to the following restrictions:

• Clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags that do not exceed 12" x 6" x 12" -- A logo no larger than 4.5" x 3.4" can be displayed on one side of a permissible clear bag
• One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc bag or similar)
• Small clutch bags no larger than 4.5" x 6.5" -- approximately the size of a hand, with or without a handle or strap
• Medically necessary items (after proper inspection and tagging)
• Diaper Bags (after proper inspection and tagging)

Prohibited Bags include, but are not limited to:

• Briefcases
• Computer bags
• Binocular cases 
• Luggage of any kind
• Camera bags
• Backpacks, cinch/drawstring bags, and fanny packs that are not clear and/or exceed the size restriction. Stadium Giveaways are permitted on the night of the Giveaway only.

All bags will be subject to search upon arrival and any bags that exceed the permitted size will not be allowed in. 

"The safety of everyone attending events at Segra Park is paramount to us, and that's why we are implementing this new policy," said Katz. "These security measures have become standard fare at many sports and entertainment venues across the country and are quite comparable to policies already in place at venues in Columbia.”

The Fireflies will have a clear bag giveaway on Opening Night for the first 2,000 fans in attendance, and they will be available for purchase at the Mason Jar Team Store for just $6. 

Opening Day for the Columbia Fireflies is April 4 at 7:05p.m. against the Charleston RiverDogs (New York Yankees). Individual game tickets for the entire 2019 season are on sale now and can be purchased at the Fireflies box office, over the phone at 803-726-HITS, or online at FirefliesTickets.com.

Season ticket packages are available for the 2019 season. Reserve your seats by calling the Fireflies box office at 803-726-HITS or visiting ColumbiaFireflies.comfor more information. Plans start as low as $70 and include guaranteed giveaways for season ticket members.

Reese Kaplan -- The Healthy Roster Jigsaw Puzzle

After the first game victory against Max Scherzer and the Harperless Nationals, everyone is floating on cloud nine.  The BVW acquisitions of Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz both played a role in securing the victory.  Even the heretofore invisible first baseman, Dom Smith, played a hand in ensuring the second run came home by running at the crack of the bat with two men out, scoring from second.

Somewhat lost in all the feel-good stuff is the question no one really seems to want to answer.  What happens to the roster when the walking wounded are deemed ready to play? 

There’s one easy one – Travis d’Arnaud will surely displace Tomas Nido from the backup catcher role.  That one is a no-brainer as Nido still has not shown the ability to hit in the upper minors, let alone the majors. 

After that it gets quite a big harder.  Jed Lowrie is a BVW acquisition and of the two infielders currently out of action, he’s the one with the bigger upside.  The assumption is that third base belongs to him and thus Jeff McNeil will be either a supersub or stationed in left field, making Brandon Nimmo into a full time centerfielder.  While the addition of Lowrie’s offense and leadership is certainly preferable to what Juan Lagares provides in CF, the question remains who goes to make room for him?

Since Lowrie is a switch hitter, his right handed days will offset Juan Lagares’ contributions easily.  Keon Broxton is out of options, plus they made a multi-player trade to acquire him, so I would assume his job is secure.  J.D. Davis is somewhat redundant once Lowrie returns.  He is also a right handed bat.  Since he plays corner infield positions with limited exposure to corner outfield they seem fairly full in that regard.  Consequently Davis may be on the hot seat when it comes to the 25-man roster.

If both McNeil and J.D. Davis had more experience as outfielders, they might be tempted to do something with Juan Lagares.  His trade value is nil at his current $9 million salary, but they could either eat some of that costy to get someone to bite on him at say $3 million a year.  Then you’re out a pro-rated $6 million.  Or they could release him which would cost the full pro-rated $9 million (plus the $500K buyout for 2020).  Personally, I’d think the former approach is shrewder.  However, they can forestall that decision, awaiting another team’s misfortune due to injury, but demoting Davis for Lowrie. 

Picture -- Ed Delaney

However, round two approaches soon thereafter with Todd Frazier due back once his oblique injury heals.  In this case, it may be one of Dom Smith or Pete Alonso that gets the axe.  Once again the Mets have the opportunity to pay down the salary of Todd Frazier to try to entice someone to take a flyer on him at a discounted rate.  Or they could try to sell high, for example, on Dom Smith, whose hot spring may have reestablished some trade value.  Or they could go the Juan Lagares route, but that would leave them painfully thin in the outfield with just McNeil, Brandon Nimmo, Michael Conforto and Keon Broxton, unless you think there’s an outfield future once again for Smith. 

It seems that BVW will have his work cut out for him over the next 2-4 weeks figuring out how to fit these puzzle pieces together.

Fireflies Credential Pick-Up & Fan Fest / Media Day Schedule

MEDIA ADVISORY

NOT FOR RELEASE        

Contact: Kevin Fitzgerald

kfitzgerald@columbiafireflies.com

803-888-3040

Friday, March 29, 2019                                     

Fireflies Media Day and Opening Week Schedule

Please note the following schedule is subject to change. Contact Fireflies Broadcasting & Media Relations Director Kevin Fitzgerald with any questions by email, kfitzgerald@columbiafireflies.com, or by phone at (803) 888-3040. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to confirm details.

The Fireflies annual Fan Fest is scheduled for Sunday, March 31 from 2:00-5:00 p.m. at Segra Park. The 2019 Fireflies will work out on the field until 4:00 p.m. and will then sign autographs for fans on the concourse until 5:00 p.m. The event is open to the media but no interviews will be granted.

Media Day is scheduled for Tuesday, April 2 beginning at 2:00 p.m. Media are encouraged to attend to interview players and coaches before the team’s workout on the field shortly after 3:00 p.m.

Members of the Fireflies front office – including Team President John Katz and Vice President of Marketing Abby Naas – are available to be interviewed Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at Segra Park for morning and afternoons shows or newscasts.

Sunday, March 31

• Fan Fest begins at 2:00 p.m. (open to the public)
• Team work-out on the field, approximately 2:00-4:00 p.m.
• Players and coaches sign autographs for fans on concourse from 4:00-5:00 p.m.

Tuesday, April 2

• Media Day held from approximately 2:00-3:00 p.m. in the club lounge at Segra Park. Manager Pedro Lopez will be available from 2:00-2:15 p.m. Players will be available from 2:15-3:00 p.m.
• Team works out on field from approximately 3:15-5:00 p.m. (media are welcome to film and take photos of practice)

Wednesday, April 3

• Team workout on the field, approximately 2:30-4:30 p.m. (media are welcome to film and take photos of practice)

Thursday, April 4

• Opening night vs. Charleston RiverDogs – first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.