John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 12/7/2019

More Mets moves as we are just one day away from the start of the Winter meetings, the NY Times had tremendous profiles on the Wilpons and new owner Steve Cohen, and we have Daniel Zamora and Chris Mazza in action in the winter leagues. 

As we had yesterday on Mack’s Mets, the Mets resigned Brad Brach and designated Chris Flexen for assignment.

Metsmerized talked more and the Brach signing and the Chris Flexen DFA.

The NY Times profile had a very detailed profile on the Wilpons.  The article recapped a lot of the core problems the Mets have had operating the franchise sine the Wilpons became majority owners including the micro management, the insistence of players to play hurt for marketing reasons, the Bernie Madoff scandal, etc.  “People familiar with the team’s finances said the Mets have lost more than $60 million during each of the past two seasons, as the team struggled to attract fans, and they are at the limit of debt allowed by Major League Baseball rules.”  That explains recent lack of spending, but given that, it makes the Cano trade even more puzzling.  Also, as has been pointed out here on Mack’s Mets by writers and commenters: “Former executives said the team changed philosophies from year to year, and sometimes from month to month.”  This may be a painful read for Mets fans but well worth it. 

The NY times on Thursday had a profile on the prospective new owner, Steven Cohen.  The key quote in the article: “As Cohen is a raptor’s raptor, I would bet a large sum of money I don’t have that the Wilpons will quickly become potted plants.”

The Daily News says that Steve Cohen’s billions will not magically fix the Mets.

CBS Sports looks at how Steve Cohen could change the Mets.

Elite Sports NY says Steve Cohen will drastically alter the NY Baseball complexion.

The Mets Police wonders about Mets uniforms under Steve Cohen.

Faith and Fear in Flushing continued their top 100 Mets of the 2010’s.  #57: Jordany Valdespin.  #52 T.J. Rivera among others.

Metsmerized says the Mets should take a look at Dodgers free agent pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu.

Mets 360 Notes: Mets add Marisnick, lose Wheeler and what happens to SNY?

Mets.com looks at the Mets prepping for the winter meetings.

SNY.TV says has five big questions Brodie needs to answer this winter meetings. How might Steve Cohen becoming majority owner change things now and in the future? How do the Mets plan to catch up to and surpass their more aggressive NL East rivals? With the team close to the luxury tax threshold and a bunch of holes to fill, what's the plan? Did the team make an effort to retain Zack Wheeler? Has there been any dialogue about extensions with the team's young, under control players?

Speaking of Brodie, Reflections on Baseball notes how Coen didn’t hire Van Wegenen who didn’t hire Callaway – Result? “Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen will soon get a taste of the purgatory Mickey Callaway endured all of last season as Brodie’s Unwanted Man – the manager he didn’t hire and never wanted.” 

SNY.TV says that the Phillies are looking at both Rendon and Strasburg.

With the Modern Era Hall Of Fame Veterans Committee voting being announced tomorrow, Kevin Kernan discusses Thurman Munson’s case.  Keith and Rusty!  Keith and Rusty!

In the Dominican Republic last night, Daniel Zamora and Chris Mazza each saw action for Toros Del Este in a 13 inning 4-3 Toros win. 

Coming on in the top of the 6^th with men on first and second, no out, and the Toros up 3-1 Daniel Zamora pitched to one left handed batter, 2019 AAA Buffalo Bisons Outfielder Socrates Brito and struck him out. 

Chris Mazza then came in and recorded a strikeout and a ground out to end the inning.

The top of the 7^th did not go as well for Chris.  He struck out the first two batters and then came to face Ex-Met Anderson Hernandez.  Anderson had been locked in an 0 for 24 slump and was looking for his first hit of the winter.  He singled off Mazza and after 3 more singles, the game was tied and Chris Mazza’s night was over. 

Chris Mazza has appeared in 6 games for 12 innings this winter, 19 hits, 7 runs, 6 earned, 2 walks, 13 Ks, 4.50 ERA.

Daniel Zamora’s totals are 7 games for 4 innings, 5 hits, 1 un-earned run, 2 walks, 6 Ks, 0.00 ERA.

Ex-Met Minor Leaguer Matt Pobereyko also pitched in the game for Estrellas de Oriente going one inning and giving up one hit.  Matt has pitched well this winter going 4 and 1 in 25 games, 22.1 innings, 17 hits, 5 runs, 27 Ks, 10 walks, 2.01 ERA.

In Australia, the Auckland Tuatara won 4-2 Saturday night (16 hour time difference) but St. Lucie Mets Hansel Moreno did not play.

Hansel Moreno is hitting .222 in 9 games playing 8 at shortstop with 3 RBIs, 3 walks, 8Ks. 

The Mack’s Mets Blast from the Past from December 2010, Dave Rubin reacted to Jon Heyman’s comments on a trade that happened today in Mets history: Mike Antonini to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Chin-lung Hu.

Speaking of which -

UltimateMets has this date in Mets History:

Born on this date:

• Don Cardwell (1935)
• Mike Baxter (1984)
• Pete Alonso (1994)

Transactions:

New York Mets sold Chris Cannizzaro to the New York Yankees on December 7, 1966.

New York Mets purchased Tim Foli from the San Francisco Giants on December 7, 1977.

New York Mets traded Walt Terrell to the Detroit Tigers for Howard Johnson on December 7, 1984.

New York Mets traded Doug Sisk to the Baltimore Orioles for Blaine Beatty and Greg Talamantez on December 7, 1987.

Minnesota Twins signed Don Schulze of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 7, 1987.

New York Mets traded Wally Backman and Mike Santiago to the Minnesota Twins for Toby Nivens, Steve Gasser and Jeff Bumgarner on December 7, 1988.

Cleveland Indians signed Keith Hernandez of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 7, 1989.

Mets drafted Mike Draper from the New York Yankees on December 7, 1992.

New York Mets signed free agent Chris Jones of the Colorado Rockies on December 7, 1994.

Seattle Mariners signed John Olerud of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 7, 1999.

New York Mets traded Robin Ventura to the New York Yankees for David Justice on December 7, 2001.

New York Mets signed free agent D. J. Carrasco of the Arizona Diamondbacks on December 7, 2010.

New York Mets traded Mike Antonini to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Chin-lung Hu on December 7, 2010.

New York Mets signed free agent Ronny Paulino of the Florida Marlins on December 7, 2010.

Florida Marlins signed Jose Reyes of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 7, 2011.

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

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