John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 1/29/2020

Phil Regan’s team wins a championship in the Dominican, Dusty Baker is the new manager in Houston, the DH may be coming to the National League, and three great all time Mets are headed to the Mets Hall of Fame.

Per SNY.TV: Ron Darling, Edgardo Alfonzo, and Jon Matlack will be inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame on Sunday, May 17, the team announced Tuesday.  In addition, Al Jackson, who passed away in August, will be honored with the Mets Hall of Fame Achievement Award.

Mike Puma of the NY Post reported that “Edgardo Alfonzo was thinking promotion just as Mets fired him”. Alfonzo said he never received a real explanation for his ouster from general manager Brodie Van Wagenen. “I talked to Jeff and he knows me,” Alfonzo said. “I am always going to be a Met. I like the Mets and I understand this is a business situation, but I am here and I really appreciate it and hopefully one day we can do some stuff together.” 

Brian Joura of Mets 360 had a 2020 projection for Noah Syndergaard.  Brian predicts: IP – 190.2 IP; ERA – 2.93; K’s – 197; BB – 42; HR – 15.

213 Miles from Shea continued to look at how Baseball America’s 2019 Top 30 Mets Prospect did last year with #28 Junior Santos. “You can’t teach height and he has good stuff. He just needs to work on controlling it, which makes sense. Santos will probably play in Brooklyn next year, maybe Kingsport again (I’ll be surprised if he gets bumped up to a full-season league at the onset). I also expect that by the end of next season, a lot more of us will be talking about him.”

Amazing Avenue continued their top 25 Mets 2020 Prospects with #3 Matthew Allan.

Andres Chavez of Empire Sports Media wrote about: Tomas Nido and the importance of defensive-minded backup catchers.  “Pitchers love a catcher with which they can establish a good communication. They also benefit from a “stolen” strike here or there thanks to good pitch framing. The ability to call a game is more important than it is perceived. Nido beats Ramos in all of those, and that itself buys him some playing time.” 

Michael Meyer of Metsmerized online interviewed Mets Catching Prospect Patrick Mazeika.  Patrick talked about working on his defensive skills, being more balanced swinging the bat, David Peterson‘s slider.

Empire Sports Media thinks the DH to the National League would benefit the Mets. “The Mets could solve their Jeff McNeil problem with this new rule by making him their everyday second baseman and batting Cano, who is under contract though 2023, at DH most games.”

SNY.TV’s Danny Abriano thinks the DH benefits the Mets by opening up Third Base for SS prospect Ronny Mauricio. 

SNY.TV’s Danny Abriano also looked at who would have made great DH’s in Mets history if the NL adopted the DH back in 1973.  For example, Dave Kingman, Rusty Staub, Todd Hundley, Eddie Murray, Mo Vaughn, Mike Piazza, David Wright, Yoenis Cespedes.

Bleacher Report thinks “Mookie Betts Trade Rumors: Red Sox 'More Serious Than Ever' in Talks for Star OF.” “Per MLB Network's Jon Heyman, there's a sense that the Red Sox are ‘more serious than ever’ about a trade, and rival teams ‘are starting to think’ the 2018 American League MVP will be dealt. Heyman noted there's no indication which team is the most likely destination.”

Per the Boston Globe: US Representative Lori Trahan (D-Mass.), along with three others, introduced a resolution to the House of Representatives Tuesday morning imploring Major League Baseball to abandon its proposal to strip major league affiliations from 42 minor league teams across the country.

Regarding Robot Umps this spring training the Joy Of Sox reported: “The umpires' union clarified that automated balls-and-strikes software (or an electronic strike zone) would be used behind the scenes during nine spring training games. The on-field umpires will make all rulings during the games as usual.”

Per Inside Hook.com: “Report: ESPN to Remove Jessica Mendoza From “Sunday Night Baseball”.”

Per 12 up.com: Reds Signing Nicholas Castellanos Could Increase Likelihood of Francisco Lindor Trade.

The Mets were not the only ones with a Fan Fest this past weekend.  The Braves held one as well and per AJC.com: “Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna spoke with the media at Chop Fest on Saturday at Truist Park.”

12 up.com also had: “Yankees Signing Red Sox Fan Favorite Brock Holt Would Be Ideal End to the Perfect Offseason.”

Per SNY.TV: Yankees reportedly agree to minor-league deal with former Mets catcher Josh Thole.

Per MLB Trade Rumors:

Astros Expected To Hire Dusty Baker as their new manager.

Royals, Greg Holland Agree To Minor League Deal.

Red Sox Reportedly Interested in Athletics quality control coach Mark Kotsay for manager.

Orioles To Sign veteran lefty Wade LeBlanc to a minor league contract.

Red Sox Re-Sign Mitch Moreland.

Cubs sign Steven Souza Jr.

Winter Ball:

Congratulations to Phil Regan’s Toros Del Este as they beat the Tigres del Licey 7-1 (box).  The Toros Del Este wins the best of 9 game series 5-3 to become Campeones Nationales.

The league champion now goes on to the Caribbean Series.

Tim Peterson gave up the only runs for the Toros going just a third of an inning allowing a run on 2 hits and a walk with one strikeout.  (On September 30, 2019 Tim was granted Free Agency.)

Jordany Valdespin went 0 for 4, with a walk and run scored. 

Historical Links:

Mack’s Blast From the Past comes from January 29, 2012: Mack looked at players in the upcoming 2012 June Draft, namely Marcus Stroman.

UltimateMets has the date in Mets History:

Born on this date:

• Sergio Ferrer (1951)
• Kevin Roberson (1968)

Transactions:
New York Mets signed free agent Shane Spencer on January 29, 2004.

New York Mets signed free agent Scott Atchison of the Boston Red Sox on January 29, 2013.

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