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2/13/20

John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 2/13/2020


Lots to get to, let’s hit the links:

Today is the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the Negro Leagues.  Here is a historical article on the founding of the league from the National Baseball Hall of Fame. 

Per AP News: The Kansas City Star reports that the Negro Leagues Museum has announced the festivities will begin Feb. 13, 2020. That’s the anniversary of a meeting of interested owners that was led by Andrew “Rube” Foster at the Paseo YMCA.

Per Kansas City.com: “The anniversary celebration opens on Feb. 13, 2020 with a centennial art exhibition, a visual history of the Negro Leagues.”


Per MLB.com: This may be the best club ever … and it’ll shock you. The story of the 1931 Homestead Grays.

Joel Sherman of the NY Post detailed the Mets pursuit of Mookie Betts and Francisco Lindor.  In regards to Betts, apparently the Red Sox wanted Jeff McNeil.  “The Mets offered packages centered around Brandon Nimmo or J.D. Davis and one of their top infield prospects, Andres Gimenez or Ronny Mauricio. But that did not muster enough traction, especially because to make any deal work the Mets were going to have to counteract Betts’ $27 million 2020 salary by likely including Yoenis Cespedes and Jed Lowrie.” 

Per the NY Post: Mets’ Drew Smith on comeback trail from Tommy John surgery.

Per Mike Puma in the NY Post: Mets’ Luis Rojas: Dominic Smith already making strides in left.

SNY.TV had the video from Luis Rojas’ Press conference on Wednesday.

SNY.TV had video of Jacob deGrom discussing desire for a third Cy Young award.

Joel Sherman in the NY Post also said: Mets are desperate for Edwin Diaz resurrection.


Per John Sheridan in Metsmerized.com: “Mets Farm System Ranked 25th in MLB by Baseball America”.  Thanks to Reese for sending the link.

Per USA Today: “Entering another spring training with Mets, Tim Tebow 'won't give up' on baseball dream.”

Yahoo Sports said: “MLB's postseason ideas should aim to improve the 162 games that come first.”

Per NBC Sports Philadelphia: Phillies reliever David Robertson blasts cheating Houston Astros.


Mets.com broke down all the rule changes for the 2020 season.  Three batter minimum, 26 man roster, etc.




Metstradamus weighed in on the new facilities in St. Lucie: “I hope that the city of Port St. Lucie realizes that part of the money they were squeezed out of was used to construct a major league class clubhouse that will only be used six weeks out of the year so that the team can play mind games with its minor league players who they can’t pay a decent living wage to. Oh, but Brodie can get a locker so that he can pretend he’s a player just like Jeffy does.”

213 Miles from Shea said: “Get To Know A Non-Roster Invitee: Stephen Nogosek.”












Mack’s Blast From the Past comes from February 13, 2012 – Mack looked at the Mets first spring training, and had a prospect report on Jordany Valdespin.


Born on this date:
Transactions:
New York Mets signed free agent David Cone on February 13, 2003.

Atlanta Braves signed Eric Young of the New York Mets as a free agent on February 13, 2015.


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

10 comments:

  1. Hobie and I went to a few Negro League games back in the day.

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    Replies
    1. Hobie even commented on your blast from 2012. Would have loved to read your blogs from the negro leagues.

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  2. John:

    From the comments yesterday, I didn't see anyone steal first in the Atlantic League games I went to last year. Don't know if they will keep the same rules.

    I didn't notice the mound being moved back. The larger bases were noticeable. The automated strike zone was pretty seamless too. You wouldn't know the home plate umpire was using it if you didn't know they had it.

    The only thing I saw that I didn't like was starting an extra inning with a runner at second. It becomes a matter of which team can lay down a sac bunt with their first batter. Kind of a letdown after you watch a hard fought nine innings.

    Bob

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  3. Bob, saw the man on second rule in the minors and, believe it or not, liked it. It forced teams to play small ball for once. I think it will be in MLB in a few years.

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  4. Mack and Hobie met Josh Gibson personally, just as Josh was starting out.

    I think the man-on-second rule is wrong. I would leave it alone for the 10th inning, giving both teams one more inning to duke it out, and then do the man on 2nd in the 11th.

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  5. Mack,

    While I cannot claim to have seen Josh Gibson in his prime, my dad did. He traveled the midwest as a hosiery wholesaler (buyer, actually) before enlisting in the Navy (1942) and saw many a Negro League game (the Homestead Grays played any number of games at Forbes Field when the Pirates were away evidently).

    He also told of watching barnstorming black teams play against local white teams in some of the smaller midwestern towns. I wish I had pumped more of those stories out of him. I do remember him saying that some places had segregated seating but not all.

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  6. John, put this at the top of your report tomorrow. Beltran deserves to not be left on an island, like he was a ogre that forced everyone to want to win.

    https://elitesportsny.com/2020/02/13/new-york-mets-video-carlos-correa-calls-bs-on-carlos-beltran-bullying/

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