John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 2/11/2020

Juan Lagares has found a home, the Mookie Betts trade is official, the pitchers and catchers report and MLB talks about a new Playoff format.  Let’s hit the links:

As Joel Sherman in the NY Post reported: “MLB plotting playoff expansion — with reality TV twist. MLB is seriously weighing a move from five to seven playoff teams in each league beginning in 2022, The Post has learned. In this concept, the team with the best record in each league would receive a bye to avoid the wild-card round and go directly to the Division Series. The two other division winners and the wild card with the next best record would each host all three games in a best-of-three wild-card round. So the bottom three wild cards would have no first-round home games…The plan is to have this all play out on a show on the Sunday night the regular season ends and have representatives picking teams on live TV — think the NCAA selection show, but just with the teams making the selections. The rights to that show is part of the enticement to potential TV partners.”

Per Yahoo Sports: “The selection show idea offers a 

predictable aftermath. Team A will choose to face Team B because they think Team B is an easier opponent. Team B would take it as a slight and talk about how they can use it to their advantage in the three-game series. Will that be entertaining? Sure, but it's an unnecessary quirk. Expand the postseason and keep a traditional seeding practice in place. That will more than suffice.”

From 12up.com: Trevor Bauer Tears Apart Proposed New Playoff Format With Direct Shot at Rob Manfred via Twitter: “No idea who made this new playoff format proposal, but Rob is responsible for releasing it, so I’ll direct this to you, Rob Manfred. Your proposal is absurd for too many reasons to type on twitter and proves you have absolutely no clue about baseball. You’re a joke.”

Also from 12up.com: “Didi Gregorius wondered aloud, on Twitter, why Manfred keeps changing the game so many love. ‘Why are we changing this loveable sport so much?’”

How’s this for an idea?  Skip the regular season.  All 30 teams make the playoffs in an epic 162 game format.  The 10 teams with the best records go on to the next round until finally, only two teams remain for a winner take all 7 game series.  I know, crazy.  It would never work.

Joel Sherman in the NY Post also said: “This is the Mets’ biggest obstacle to magical season… the Mets are good enough to win. What they need to avoid is the pathology that so often befalls them. They need to make the most out of this talented roster — imagine if they get close to the best from Edwin Diaz and even Yoenis Cespedes — and not have the players sidetracked by one silly sideshow followed by poorly thought-out pratfalls tied in a bow of missteps.”

Per SNY.TV Juan Lagares signs a minor league deal with the Padres.

Anthony DiComo of MLB.com broke down the Bullpens in the NL East.  He gave the #1 nod to the Braves.  About the Mets he said: “Ask general manager Brodie Van Wagenen, and he’ll say this is one of baseball’s best bullpens. Their ceiling appears to be high, with Edwin Díaz, Seth Lugo, Dellin Betances, Jeurys Familia and Justin Wilson all serving as late-inning options. But Lugo is the only one of those pitchers without obvious question marks.”

Dave Groveman of Mets 360 looked at Alexander Ramirez and the international signees of 2019:  About Ramirez he noted: “The Mets gave Alexander Ramirez a $2.05 Million dollar signing bonus, making him the third highest paid international signee in Mets history. Ranked 26th in the Top 30 international prospects, Ramirez is considered to be a possible “Franchise” center fielder.”

John Sheridan of Metsmerized looked at “2020 Top 30 Prospects: No. 17 Adrian Hernandez, CF”

Per SNY.TV: Dominic Smith will switch his Uniform Number to #2, Rick Porcello will now wear #22.

SNY.TV had a video tour of the Mets spring training facility in Port St. Lucie.

Per Yahoo Sports: “Mets won't let minor leaguers use clubhouse in new $57M facility, say they have to earn it” Chris Cwik goes on to say: “While investing in better clubhouses is a good thing, the team’s policy is needlessly evil. Most minor leaguers already have it rough. If you’re not a highly touted draft pick, you’re likely living paycheck to paycheck and making less than minimum wage.”

213 Miles from Shea said: “Get To Know a Non-Roster Invitee: Matt Blackham.” Elliot Teichman goes on to say: “Overall, the Mets have a lack of pitchers at the top levels of the minor leagues that can step in if something goes wrong this year. Matt Blackham could potentially be one of those pitchers. With the general shuffling of players on an off the 40 man as the year progresses, I expect to see Matt on the 40-man by the end of this year, possibly in Queens by September.”

Rising Apple had 3 2020 predictions for Mattew Allan.  These include appearing in the futures game and cracking the top 100 prospect list. 

MLB.com had Wilson Ramos saying he feels good.

Mike Puma of the NY Post had “Wilson Ramos’ Mets plan to avoid another Syndergaard debacle.”  The article included this quote: “It’s more about communication, because I already know how he likes to throw, how he throws,” Ramos said Monday at Clover Park on the reporting date for pitchers and catchers. “He likes a good target, so I will be working more with my low target to get him happier and comfortable on the mound.”

Per Metsmerized.com Rob Piersall noted that “(Wilson) Ramos vowed to work on his defense and framing this winter, and it seems that he did just so. Tim Britton of The Athletic reported Monday that Ramos “’changed his stance behind the plate, dropping his knee to the ground, to better catch pitches down in the zone.’”

Mike Puma of the NY Post had: “Jeff McNeil embracing his unofficial Mets reality…Jeff McNeil hasn’t officially been told he’s the Mets’ everyday third baseman, but he’s preparing toward that eventuality. ‘Just kind of knowing where you are going to be every single day, you’re going to be at third, you kind of know what it takes,’ McNeil said Monday. ‘[You] know how your body feels and we have a great training staff here to help me get through anything, so I am looking forward to it.’”

Per AP News: Former major league pitcher Mike Bolsinger sued the Houston Astros on Monday, claiming their sign-stealing scheme contributed to a poor relief appearance in August 2017 that essentially ended his big league career.

Also Per AP News: “‘Pine Tar Game’ items headed to auction later this month - The highlight will be the jersey worn by Brett and expected to fetch more than $100,000, but nearly every other significant piece from that game — except the bat, which is at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York — is on the auction block with the sale set to end the weekend of Feb. 22.”

CBS Sports had their Power Rankings of all 30 teams.  They had the Yankees at #1, Mets at #13.

From Faith and Fear in Flushing: “The Oscars were handed out Sunday night. Thus, per Monday morning-after tradition, the Academy pauses to remember those Mets who have, in the baseball sense, left us in the past year.”  So many Mets came and went last year, but Greg Prince details them all.

Call to the pen says: “Boston Red Sox are the laughingstock of the offseason.”

Southsideshowdown says the White Sox should “jump in Joc Pederson sweepstakes.”

Southsideshowdown also had: “Chicago White Sox: Addressing the Nolan Arenado rumors.”

Reflections on Baseball said: “Mets wisely reject Lindor deal keeping payroll options open thru 2024.”

Per MLB Trade Rumors:

Red Sox officially trade Mookie Betts and David Price.

Twins officially acquire Kenta Maeda.

The Rays are finishing up a minor league contract with veteran left-handed reliever Aaron Loup.

The Diamondbacks sign extension with shortstop Nick Ahmed. Ahmed, a guaranteed $32.5MM over four years.

Taijuan Walker Auditioning For Cubs.

Mack’s Blast From the Past comes from February 11, 2012 – “I May be wrong but…” Mack had an interesting take on what might happen to Sandy Alderson on Twitter.

Per Ultimatemets.com:

Born on this date:

• Tom Veryzer (1953)
• Steve Springer (1961)
• Brian Daubach (1972)

Transactions:
New York Mets traded Stan Hough and Randy Rogers to the Houston Astros for Bruce Bochy on February 11, 1981.

New York Mets signed free agent Jay Bell on February 11, 2003.

New York Mets signed free agent Ricky Bottalico on February 11, 2004.

New York Mets signed free agent Tony Armas of the Pittsburgh Pirates on February 11, 2008.

New York Mets signed free agent Hisanori Takahashi on February 11, 2010.

New York Mets signed free agent Mike Jacobs on February 11, 2010.

Pittsburgh Pirates signed Eric O'Flaherty of the New York Mets as a free agent on February 11, 2016.

National Pastime.com had this date in Mets history:

1962

Before the start of spring training, Don Zimmer and right-hander Bob Miller, both who reside in the St. Pete area, become the first players to don a Mets jersey when they model the club's away uniform tops for a photoshoot at Huggins Field. The expansion team's inaugural third baseman, who will be traded to the Reds in May for southpaw Bob Miller, poses with his nine year-old son Tommy on his shoulders.

1987

After turning down the Mets' $800,000 one-year offer and being granted free agency by the team, World Series MVP Ray Knight signs a two-year deal with the Orioles for $600,000. The 34 year-old third baseman, who won the 1986 NL Comeback Player of the Year Award, will play one season in Baltimore before being traded to the Tigers for Mark Thurmond.

2005

The Mets announce their former slugging All-Star Darryl Strawberry, will rejoin the team as an outfield instructor during spring training. The often-troubled Rookie of the Year will also join former 1986 World Champion teammates Gary Carter, Lenny Dykstra, Howard Johnson, and Tim Teufel at Shea Stadium on Feb. 27 when single-game tickets go on sale.

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

Want something else tracked here each day?  Please leave a comment below.