John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 1/4/2020

Winter ball updates below with lots of ex-Mets in action.

Also, more information about last year’s Yoenis Cespedes injury continue to emerge and the Syracuse Mets get a new Manager.

Everyone had the Yoenis Cespedes story, so let’s start with Brian Schneider becoming the new manager of the Syracuse Mets.

The Syracuse Mets website said “Schneider comes to Syracuse and the New York Mets' organization after spending the last six years as a coach in the Miami Marlins' system. The Florida native managed the Jupiter Hammerheads, the Advanced-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins, in 2014 and 2015 before becoming the catching coach on the major league staff for the Marlins from 2016-2019 alongside Marlins manager Don Mattingly. ‘I'm excited for this managerial opportunity with the Mets," Schneider said. "I look forward to seeing familiar faces again during training right around the corner.’"

Per Lindsay Kramer of Syracuse.com: “Schneider, 43, comes to the Mets from the Miami Marlins organization, where he spent the past four seasons as the team’s catching coach. Before that he managed two seasons at Single-A Jupiter (2014-15), combining for a 117-160 record.”

Metsmerized noted about Schneider: “Over the past four years (in Miami), he has been a catching coach for the Miami Marlins. In his role, he worked with J.T. Realmuto and Jorge Alfaro. Rich Donnelly will be the bench coach for Schneider. Donnelly was the rookie level Kingsport Mets’ manager in 2019.”

Newsday.com noted that “Schneider was the first Met to score a run at Citi Field in a 6-5 loss to the Padres on April 13, 2009.”

The NY Post reported that “Yoenis Cespedes’ ankle fracture came during incident with wild boar. According to multiple people who were informed of the incident, Cespedes has traps on his ranch for a variety of reasons, including to keep boars away from people. But one boar was removed from a trap — perhaps by Cespedes — and either charged toward Cespedes or startled him, causing Cespedes to step into a hole.”

The Comeback comments on this “The Yoenis Céspedes fractured ankle happened due to a wild boar, because of course it did. That story would be viewed as truly “unbelievable” for about 99.9% of people on the planet, but not Yoenis Céspedes.”

Baseball America listed the minor league moves for every club so far this off season.  For the Mets this included signing RHP Francisco Rios, LHP Chasen Shreve, 2B Max Moroff, OF Ryan Cordell, OF Jarrett Parker and releasing RHP Nelson Leon, RHP Ronald Taylor, C Zak Whalin, and SS Anderson Bohorquez.

Metsmerized had more on the Ryan Cordell signing: “Cordell, 27, hit .221/.290/.355 with eight doubles, seven home runs, 24 RBIs, and 69 strikeouts in 247 plate appearances for the White Sox last season. He played all three outfield spots, with 72 games in right, 19 in center, and two in right field.”

SNY.TV had video of Jeff McNeil hitting off a tee with the quote: “'Wrist and swing feeling great!'”

Rising Apple had the 5 books every Mets fan should read in 2020:  “I’m Keith Hernandez  by Keith Hernandez; Faith and Fear in Flushing  by Greg Prince; The Complete Game  by Ron Darling; Wherever I Wind Up  by R.A. Dickey; Game 7, 1986  by Ron Darling.”

Speaking of Faith and Fear in Flushing they wrote about Brodie’s Press Conference on Thursday in “The Best That You Can Do”.   He also talks about the recent passing of Don Larsen and Andy Hassler.

Empire Sports Media had the year in review for: Walker Lockett. 

MLB Trade Rumors reported that the Nationals have inked veteran reliever David Hernandez.

MLB Trade Rumors reported that the Nationals signed Starlin Castro.

The Giants signed veteran right handed pitcher Tyson Ross.

The Rockies signed infielder Chris Owings.

Last night in the Puerto Rican Winter League and in the Dominican League, no current Mets saw action.  Here are some notable ex-Mets that did:

In the Dominican:

The Leones del Escogido beat the Toros Del Este 3-2 (box).

Jordany Valdespin played right field and went 0-3 with a walk and a HBP.  He also had a stolen base and was caught stealing.

Former Binghamton Mets and Las Vegas 51 Cesar Puello went 1 for 2 with a walk and a strikeout.

Raul Valdes started for Toros Del Este, went 5 innings, up 2 runs, 3 hits, 1 HR, 6 walks, 3 strikeouts.

Tim Peterson also pitched for Toros Del Este.  In 1.1 innings, Tim gave up no runs or hits with one strikeout.

In the other game, the Tigres del Licey beat the Aguilas Cibaenas 2-0 (box). 

In that game -

2019 Syracuse Met Arismendy Alcantara went 1 for 4 with two strikeouts.

Carlos Gomez played center field and went 0 for 4. 

Matt Pobereyko pitched a scoreless inning, no hits, walks or strikeouts. 

Former Met Dario Alvarez went one inning with 3 strikeouts and a walk.  Maybe he could be a lefty bullpen option for Syracuse next year. 

In Puerto Rico:

The Gigantes de Carolina beat the Indios de Mayaguez 4-3 (box) in 12 innings.

Hector Santiago went 7 innings giving up 1 run on 5 hits, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts.

Former Binghamton Rumble Ponies Joshua Torres went 1.1 scoreless innings with a walk and two strikeouts.

In the other game, the Cangrejeros de Santurce beat the Atenienses de Manati 3-2 (box).

Mike Antonini pitched a two thirds of an inning with no hits and a strikeout. 

Mack’s Blast from the past comes from January 2011: Mack previewed players coming up in the 2011 draft.  Names include Anthony Rendon, Kolton Wong, and Matt Purke.

UltimateMets has the date in Mets History:

Born on this date:

• Bart Shirley (1940)
• Paul Gibson (1960)
• Daryl Boston (1963)

Died on this date:

• John Milner (2000)

Transactions:

Atlanta Braves signed Bill Pecota of the New York Mets as a free agent on January 4, 1993.

New York Mets signed free agent Mickey Weston on January 4, 1993.

New York Mets traded Jae Seo and Tim Hamulack to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Duaner Sanchez and Steve Schmoll on January 4, 2006.

New York Mets signed free agent Omar Quintanilla of the Baltimore Orioles on January 4, 2013.

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

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