John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 2/18/2020

Good morning.  Lots to get to this morning.  Let's hit the links.

Per SNY.TV: Luis Rojas addressed the Media.  He said Jed Lowrie is working out with the team with no limitations.  Regarding Yoenis Cespedes he said: “This is a big day for him, just joining the team, and being able to go through the day.”

SNY.TV also posted video of Cespedes taking batting practice.  Looked like he hit a couple of good shots against Michael Wacha.  Same post had video of the full squad taking part in drills. 

Per the NY Post: When asked by the media if he had a few minutes to talk Cespedes responded: “Not today, not tomorrow, not at all year this year.”

Kevin Kernan NY Post: ‘Boar Man’ Yoenis Cespedes needs bat to do his talking.

Speaking of Cespedeses, CalltothePen.com had “Yoelkis Cespedes: A player on the rise…Yoelkis Cespedes is the younger half brother of the Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes and mirrors his brother in his ability to play the game. If there is any chink in Céspedes’s armor it’s his inability to hit the breaking pitch and this was exposed by Japan in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.”

Mike Puma of the NY Post: Luis Rojas quickly shows Mets he isn’t messing around.

Tatiana Snedeker from Rising Apple had “Three Mets we are counting on to have a much better 2020: Amed Rosario, Dellin Betances, and Yoenis Cespedes.

Matt Musico of Metsmerized had: Four Mets Players Looking to Avoid a Slow Start to 2020. He listed Noah Syndergaard, Brandon Nimmo, Wilson Ramos, and Jeurys Familia.

Joe Vasile on Mets 360.com discussed: “Non-Roster Invitee pitchers with a chance to impress the Mets this spring.”  He discussed David Peterson, Nick Rumbelow, Stephen Nogosek, Matt Blackham, Pedro Payano, and Chasen Shreve.

213 Miles from Shea had Get to Know a Non-Roster Invitee: Nick Rumblelow.

Mojo Hill of Metsmerized also discussed “Mets’ Non-Roster Invitees to Watch in 2020.”  He included Patrick Mazieka, Ryley Gilliam, and Tim Tebow. 

213 Miles from Shea also did a 2020 Mets Conglomerate Projections: Robinson Canó The average of 5 projections from other sites has Robinson at 15HR, 264 BA, 405 At Bats.

Michael Rosen in Metsmerized had: Luis Guillorme’s Case for Making the Opening Day Roster.

Amazing Avenue: Wilson Ramos is going to have to hit to be valuable in 2020.

Per NJ.com: 4 reasons ex-Yankee Alex Rodriguez would be perfect Mets owner. 1. Love of the game; 2. Yankees-Mets rivalry would be spiced up; 3. Sign me up for Derek Jeter vs. Alex Rodriguez for years to come; 4. Redemption story would be complete.

  

After ranking each team’s minor league system for Position Players (which the Mets Ranked #17), MiLB ranked each teams minor league system for Pitchers.  The Mets made the 30-21 grouping with a #25 ranking.

  

Sign Stealing:

Joel Sherman of the NY Post has some ideas on How Rob Manfred can punish the Astros in badly needed mulligan.  His suggestions: “1. A three-year ban for any 2017 Astro — hitter or pitcher — from appearing in the All-Star Game.; 2. No member of the 2017 Astros should ever receive a postseason share again.; 3. For 2020 and 2021, in their 81 home games, the Astros have to bat in the top of all innings, rather than the bottom.; 4. No home playoff games for the next three seasons.; 5. Houston does not get to host the All-Star Game for the next 15 years.; 6. No international signings for 2021 and 2022. It is too late for this year.; 7. Suspend Crane for two years.

Hannah Keyser in Yahoo Sports: “Rob Manfred basically admits MLB can’t be trusted to police cheating.” She makes these great points: “Perhaps the most significant revelation…other teams suspected them of illegal sign stealing long before Mike Fiers spoke to The Athletic…And…they complained to the league about the Astros.  This begs two questions. First: How could anyone in Houston (looking at you, Jim Crane) credibly claim that they had not even an inkling of anything nefarious until last November? (They’re lying, probably.) And even more importantly: Why didn’t Major League Baseball figure out what was happening and put a stop to it sooner? Did they even bother to look into the Astros’ then-alleged cheating prior to this offseason?”

Per NJ.com: “How Astros sign-stealing scandal ruined Rob Manfred’s commissioner tenure.”

NY Post: Gleyber Torres thinks Astros also cheated in 2019.

NY Post: Responding to “Manfred calling the World Series trophy as “a piece of metal” on Sunday. Ex-Met Justin Turner said: “I don’t know if the commissioner has ever won anything in his life…Maybe he hasn’t. But the reason every guy’s in this room, the reason every guy is working out all offseason, and showing up to camp early and putting in all the time and effort is specifically for that trophy, which, by the way, is called the commissioner’s trophy.”

NBC Sports Washington: Nationals closer Sean Doolittle "hated" MLB commissioner Robert Manfred's comparison of the trophy awarded for winning the World Series to a "piece of metal."

Per USA Today: MLB commissioner Rob Manfred spit in the face of all baseball fans on Sunday

Mike Vaccaro in the NY Post: Jose Altuve will have to wear this forever

Other MLB News:

Per NBC Sports Philadelphia: Joe Girardi asks Phillies players to give him their hearts — and their trots.

CBS Philly: ‘I Don’t Have Any Limitations’: Andrew McCutchen Expects To Be Ready For Phillies’ Opening Day After Tearing ACL In June.

NBC Sports Philadelphia: J.T. Realmuto feeling 'blessed' as he heads into arbitration showdown with Phillies

ATL All Day: Atlanta Braves Extend Manager Brian Snitker, GM Alex Anthopoulos

MLB.com: Freeman on '20: 'World Series or nothing'

MLB.com: Notes: Jonathan Villar to get shot in center

12UP.com: “Indians President’s Latest Comments Suggest Francisco Lindor Won’t Be Around Long Term”

NBC Sports Boston: Former Red Sox reliever Daniel Bard attempting MLB comeback

NBC Poston: Why 2019 Nationals shouldn't be used to justify Red Sox' Mookie Betts trade

Per Cincinnati.com: Comedian and actor Jerry Seinfeld tweeted late Friday that he loves Reds Pitcher Trevor Bauer for speaking out in opposition of Manfred's "proposed changes," which Seinfeld sees as "reckless and disrespectful."

Triblive.com: Kevin Gorman: Making the majors a tall order for 6’7” Pirates shortstop prospect Oneil Cruz

Per MLB Trade Rumors:

Brewers To Sign Brock Holt.

Astros Righty Francis Martes Suspended Full Season For PED.

Mariners Sign Right Hander Cody Anderson

Red Sox Ownership Downplays Role Of Luxury Tax In Mookie Betts Trade.

Mack’s Blast From the Past comes from February 18, 2012: Mack looked at Frank Francisco, Michael Fulmer, Gary Carter, Matt Harvey.

Per Ultimatemets.com:

Born on this date:

• Lou Gorman (1929)
• Dal Maxvill (1939)
• Bob Miller (1939)
• Jerry Morales (1949)
• Jeff McKnight (1963)
• Kevin Tapani (1964)
• John Valentin (1967)
• Shawn Estes (1973)
• Nick Meyer (1997)
• Brain Sharp (1997)

Transactions:
Montreal Expos signed Ray Burris of the New York Mets as a free agent on February 18, 1981.

New York Mets traded Joe Dellicarri to the Detroit Tigers for Kevin Morgan on February 18, 1994.

Minnesota Twins signed Luis Ayala of the New York Mets as a free agent on February 18, 2009.

New York Mets signed free agent Buddy Carlyle on February 18, 2014.

New York Mets signed free agent Jason Vargas of the Kansas City Royals on February 18, 2018.

From National Pastime.com:

2009

The demolishment of the last remaining piece of Shea Stadium, the ramp to section 5, occurs at 11:25 a.m., marking the end of the New York venue where the Mets played for 44 years. The footprint of the old ballpark will become a parking lot for the team's new home, the $800-million Citi Field, which will open in April. Link to You Tube video of the demolition.

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

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