John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 12/29/2019

In the Puerto Rican Winter League last night:

Tomas Nido did not play for the Criollos de Caguas in an 11 inning 3-2 Criollos win (box).

FYI, in 7 games this winter, Tomas is 6 for 25 for a .240 Avg, 1 double, 3 RBIs, 5 Ks. 

In that game however two ex-minor league Mets saw action for Criollos opponent, Cangrejeros de Santurce.

Former Brooklyn Cyclone, Binghamton Mets, etc. Mike Antonini pitched one inning giving up one hit with two strikeouts.  In 5 games this winter, Mike has pitched 6 games this winter – 5 in the Dominican League and now one game in the Puerto Rican League and has not allowed any runs with 7 Ks in 5.1 innings.  In 2019 Mike pitched in the Mexican League where he was 0-1 in 26 games, 20.1 innings pitched, 11 walks, 19 Ks with a 4.87 ERA. 

Former 2018 Las Vegas 51, Bryce Brentz, went 0 for 4 with a strikeout and a bases loaded walk.  In 4 games and 16 at-bats this winter, Bryce is hitting .063.

No current Mets played last night in the Dominican but here are some notable ex-Mets and ex-minor league Mets that played:

Jordany Valdespin went 0 for 4 as his team Toros Del Este, lost 6-3 (box). 

In the other Dominican game last night, the Aguilas Cibaenas beat the Leones del Escogido 4-1 (box).  In that game -

Carlos Gomez went 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI. 

Cesar Puello went 0 for 3.

Joey Terdoslavich went 0 for 3 with a walk.

Gerson Bautista pitched 1.1 innings giving up no hits and no runs. 

Matt Pobereyko also pitched a scoreless inning giving up just one walk. 

There have been all sorts of decade and end of the year lists posted on various sites this month. 

The best has to be Faith and Fear in Flushing’s top 100 Mets of the 2010s.

Today we have more –

Faith and Fear in Flushing had the 2019 Oscar’s Cap awards. This is the “eighth annual survey of the Met year in popular culture”.

NBC Sports has been running a series of Top 25 Baseball Stories of the Decade.  Yesterday they posted #8: Biogenesis scandal. Some others: #9: Bullpens take over; #10: Rise of the young player; #11 Baseball goes from Dead Ball to Juiced Ball.

MiLB.com had the Minor League Ballparks of the Decade.  A Mets affiliate made the cut! “Segra Park (Columbia Fireflies, South Atlantic League) -- After playing their final season at Grayson Stadium in 2015, the Savannah Sand Gnats relocated to Segra Park [initially called Spirit Communications Park] and became the Fireflies. The facility, part of a larger development project, is located on the grounds of a former mental hospital.”

New York Mets Videos had the top ten Mets games of the decade.

The NY Post ranked the top 10 NY Sports moments of the decade. Of Mets note: #2: Santana’s No-Hitter, June 1, 2012; #7: Mets World Series Run, Oct. 2015. 

Metsmerized had the top 5 Mets draft picks of the decade. 5. Pete Alonso, 4. Seth Lugo, 3. Jeff McNeil, 2. Michael Conforto, 1. Jacob deGrom.

MLB.com had the trades that shaped the 2010s. No Mets trades.  I guess the fact that the Mets landed Yoenis Cespedes and he led them to a National League Championship was no big deal.    

Rising Apple had the 10 worst seasons by starting pitchers in the 2010s. #10 Chris Capuano, Dillon Gee, and Jon Niese in 2011; #9: Johan Santana in 2012; #8: Seth Lugo in 2017; #7: Matt Harvey in 2016…you get the idea but listed as #1 was Matt Harvey in 2017.

Pete Alonso is the NY Daily News Sports Person of the year.

Reflections on Baseball says keep everybody, fold the tent for now, strike again in July. I agree and just hope no more prospects get dealt.

Reflections on Baseball also had why the Miami Marlins hold the keys to the NL East.

Mets 360 looked had another look at the Mets projected 2020 26 man roster. 

Metsmerized says the Mets can’t afford to trade Stroman or Matz. “The removal of either would put the Mets in position to need Michael Wacha to become their fifth starter, which would, in turn, make Rick Porcello their fourth starter.”

Fangraphs.com had MLB teams projected WAR for 2020.  Based on this, the Mets currently have the highest in the NL East with 43.9; Nationals 41.0; Braves 40.0; Phillies 36.1; Marlins 20.4. 

Talk Nats.com had more on this. 

The San Francisco Chronicle had the story of a very dangerous trend: the failure to hire African American Managers.  “I told somebody about 10 years ago that I saw this coming, with the decline in African American players,” said Dusty Baker, who ranks 15th all-time with 1,863 victories. “I’ve lived long enough to see trends, and this is a very dangerous trend. Everybody talks about it, but who’s doing anything about it?”

Cleveland.com asked if the Reds can afford Francisco Lindor, why can’t the Indians.

The Marlins are to sign Corey Dickerson.

MLB Trade Rumors had the Braves plan for third base including Nolan Arenado. "The Braves are unlikely to “aggressively” pursue a Nolan Arenado trade as long as incumbent starter Josh Donaldson remains on the market, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported on Saturday citing unnamed sources (link)."

Mack’s Mets blast from the past comes from December 2009: Mack looked at Joe Torre, Joe Smith, and the New Stadium boom. 

UltimateMets has this date in Mets History:

Born on this date:

• Emil Brown (1974) Emil Brown played 3 games for the Mets in 2009.  He got one hit and one walk in 6 plate appearances.  Per Baseball Reference: On May 29, 2009: Sent to the New York Mets by the San Diego Padres as part of a conditional deal. On July 20, 2009: Released by the New York Mets.

Died on this date:

• Chris Cannizzaro (2016)

Transactions:

Texas Rangers signed Kenny Rogers of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 29, 1999.

Want more?  Check out https://sportspyder.com/mlb/new-york-mets/news. 

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