John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 1/25/2020

The Mets introduced Luis Rojas as their new manager in a press conference broadcast on Twitter yesterday.

Luis Rojas told SNY.TV’s Steve Gelbs how he always dreamed on managing the Mets.

SNY.TV also had more quotes from the Press conference including this: "It's according to the players you have in your hands. If you have a team that can run, you run. If you have a team that can play that way, you play that way. It's according to what you have. We have a really good roster. We have really good starting pitching, we have a really good bullpen, and we can score some runs. So I feel really good about it."

Per SNY.TV Brodie Van Wagenen gave these reasons why Luis Rojas was chosen: "His communication not only to the players, but you'll learn his communication with you will be genuine," Van Wagenen said. "And certainly from a management standpoint, the ability to know that when we speak to Luis, it's gonna be the truth."; “When he speaks, he has impact.”; “He's just steady. He is unflappable.”

Kevin Kernan in the NY Post spoke to Omar Minaya about Luis Rojas: “He is the first manager to start in the Dominican Summer League, I know of, to manage a major league club… Luis has that special quality, he is just real. It’s a confidence. His connection to players is strong and I am talking about all players, Anglo players, Latin players, everybody just attached themselves to this guy.’’

Per Mike Puma of the NY Post: “Luis Rojas said he chose uniform No. 19 because his birthday is Sept. 1 and in Spanish the date leads with the day, followed by the month. Rojas noted his father, Felipe Alou, wore No. 17 and his brother, Moises Alou, wore No. 18.”

Per UltimateMets.com: Other Mets to wear the number 19 include - Ken MacKenzie; Tim Foli; Lenny Harris; Roger Cedeno; Jay Bruce; Sam Haggerty.

The NY Daily News had this quote from Brodie Van Wagenen on Luis Rojas: “The guy’s real.”

Per SNY.TV: Regarding additional trades or adding Starling Marte, Brodie Van Wagenen not looking to “disrupt what we have”.  "At this point we feel very confident in the group we have," said Van Wagenen. "We're excited about the guys that we have invited to camp. We're excited about the returning players that we'll have back on the roster, and we think we've added some key pieces from the outside that will help us this year.”

Per MLB Trade Rumors on this topic: “At the same time, Van Wagenen says he’s open-minded to changing the cast. “If there’s an opportunity to continue to improve our roster, we’ll explore it,” he says, “but our aggressiveness right now is focused on getting ready for Spring Training with the players we have.” It’s a bit unclear just what it means to aggressively prepare to open camp. What does seem evident from this comment is that the Mets (quite understandably) prefer to focus public energy on the existing roster … but aren’t ruling out further moves.”

Matt Netter of Mets 360.com says the “2020 Mets not yet ready for prime time”. “The projected starting rotation, lineup, bullpen, and bench all look good to very good, but there’s little room for injuries and not enough competition. The Mets have too many older and injury prone players to not add more insurance to the roster. Most of the names listed as “others in the mix” are uninspiring. Right now the roster is less than 30 legitimate players deep. It needs to be closer to 40.”

James Schapiro of Elite Sports NY explains “Why the New York Mets should stay far away from Nolan Arenado.”: “Arenado has an opt-out after the 2021 season. Either he’ll hit free agency in two years, or he’ll make the full $234 million left on his contract. Either way, it’s not worth emptying the farm system and assuming an enormous contract for someone only slightly better than Jeff McNeil.”  

Per CBS Sports.com: Rockies star Nolan Arenado pledges to stop discussing trade rumors days after saying he felt 'disrespected'.

Nicholas Kyriacou of Rising Apple has Three Marcus Stroman predictions for 2020:  1: Perfect third starter material; 2. Double-Digit wins, an ERA near 3.00; 3. Marcus Stroman saves Van Wagenen’s tarnished trade reputation. 

John Sheridan on Mets Minors/Metsmerized.com had Top Mets 30 Prospects 30-26: 30. Robert Dominguez, RHP; 29. Bryce Hutchinson, RHP; 28. Luis Carpio, INF; 27. Wilmer Reyes, INF; 26. Ryley Gilliam, RHP.

Amazing Avenue continued their countdown of the top 25 Mets Prospects for 2020 with #5: Mark Vientos.

213 Miles from Shea is looking how Baseball America’s 2019 Top 30 Prospects did last year.  Yesterday they looked at Tylor Megill. Tom will love this quote: “Personally, I’m always intrigued by pitchers with his height (6’8”) who can throw 96 mph.

Tim Boyle of Rising Apple thinks that Billy Wagner is not getting more Hall of Fame consideration due to the number of teams he played for.

Max’s Sporting studio looked at the fWAR (WAR calculated by Fangraphs.com) for all the National League East teams Position Players.  They stack up like this: Braves: 26.9; Nationals: 26.0; Mets: 23.5; Phillies: 20.8; Marlins: 2.6.

Reflections on Baseball asks “Tanking and sign stealing is cheating – why is tanking left untouched?”

Per Yahoo Sports: Dallas Keuchel apologizes for Astros' sign-stealing scandal, but isn't happy Mike Fiers spoke out.  Dallas Keuchel added: “not like every game we had it going on.”

ESPN.Com said the Astros Penalties are harsh enough despite calls for more. The writer, Bradford Doolittle, goes on to list many instances of cheating in Baseball History and how Houston’s penalty is “unprecedented”.  

David Wright told NBC Sports Boston that he is rooting for Dustin Pedroia to come back.

Per Mass Live.com: “In potential Mookie Betts-Padres deal, Boston has ‘expressed interest in’ Padres Catching Prospect Luis Campusano (report)”. Luis Campusano “batted .325 with a .396 on-base percentage, .509 slugging percentage, .906 OPS, 15 homers, 31 doubles, one triple and 81 RBIs in 110 games for High-A Lake Elsinore Storm during 2019.”

CBS Sports reported that Wil Myers may also be part of a Red Sox-Padres Mookie Betts deal.

Per MLB Trade Rumors:

Bartolo Colon Not Ready to Retire.

Blue Jays Sign Rafael Dolis.  “Rafael Dolis headed for Japan after his MLB chances dried up a few years ago, and it proved to be an excellent decision. The hard thrower posted a tremendous 2.49 ERA with 96 saves and 9.9 K/9 against 2.7 BB/9 over 206 innings with the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball from 2016-19.”

Nationals To Re-Sign Ryan Zimmerman.

Rockies Nearing Multi-Year Contract With Trevor Story.

Nationals to sign Wellington Castillo.

Astros to interview Brad Ausmus for Managerial Opening.

Last night in the Final Series in the Dominican Republic, the Toros Del Este beat the Tigres del Licey 3-1 (box).  The Toros Del Este now lead the series 3-1.

Jordany Valdespin played went 1 for 4 with a run scored.

Tim Peterson was the winning pitcher with two scoreless innings in relief allowing one hit and recording one strikeout.

Ramon E. Ramirez got the save with no hits, walks, or strikeouts in a scoreless inning.

Mack’s Blast From the Past comes from January 25, 2011: Mack Says “I may be wrong but…” as he talks about things Mets including Mets Manager Terry Collins. 

UltimateMets has the date in Mets History:

Born on this date:

• Vern Ruhle (1951)

Died on this date:

• Jane Jarvis (2010)
• Bill Monbouquette (2015)

Transactions:
New York Mets traded Damon Buford to the Texas Rangers for Terrell Lowery on January 25, 1996.

New York Mets sold Angel Pagan to the Chicago Cubs on January 25, 2006.

New York Mets signed free agent Aaron Sele of the Los Angeles Dodgers on January 25, 2007.

Also per National Pastime.com:

1980: The Mets' new owners are formally introduced to the local media at Shea Stadium's Diamond Club. Nelson Doubleday will be the new chairman of the board, replacing the outgoing Lorinda de Roulet, who will play no role in the future of the franchise, and Fred Wilpon is named the president and CEO of the club.

1999: After being aired on WOR, Channel 9 since the team's inception in 1962, Mets games this season will broadcast by WPIX, Channel 11. The Yankees games, which had aired for nearly 50 years on the Amazins' new station, will now be seen on Channel 5, a Fox affiliate.

2005: Carlos Delgado (.269, 32, 99) and Florida come to terms on a four-year, $52 million contract. The 32 year-old first baseman's deal stops the intense bidding war between the Marlins, Mets, Orioles, and the Rangers for the coveted free agent.

2007: Willie Randolph, who brought New York within one game of a World Series appearance, agrees to a $5.65 million, three-year deal to continue as the manager of the Mets through 2008. The skipper's new deal doubles his present salary from $700,000 to $1.4 million.

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