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2/19/20

John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 2/19/2020


Lots of Mets links including Seth Lugo with a broken toe, more on the Sign Stealing Scandal including thoughts from Michael Conforto, other MLB News and Edgardo Alfonzo signing in 1991 on this date in Mets History.


Per MLB.com: Seth Lugo fractured his left pinkie toe of which Luis Rojas said: “No major concern…It’s going to take like three days probably off throwing, and obviously, we’ll ramp him up from there.” SNY.TV had video of Luis talking about it. 

Per NY Post: Edwin Diaz’s first live batting practice session brought rave reviews. “Just electric stuff,” Rojas said. “I thought he was maybe falling off a little bit, but the stuff was unbelievable, just ride and run and sail on his fastball.


SNY.TV had video of Brandon Nimmo saying: "I don't really care too much where I'm at in the lineup."

SNY.TV: Brodie Van Wagenen details what's ailing Jed Lowrie, says it's 'too early to tell' if he can play with brace on… "The left knee injury that he had coming into spring training last year has just continued to give him problems…The brace has allowed him to do his rehab, it's allowed him to do strength work, it's allowed him to do baseball activities.” Also Brodie talking about Yoenis Cespedes and Edwin Diaz.

Faith And Fear in Flushing says “Yo, Speak up.”

SNY.TV posted a one on one with Dominic Smith who is excited about the upcoming season: “So we're very excited especially the young guys because everybody is coming into 2020 healthy and we're just excited to showcase our ability and talents and show the league what we can do.”

Per Newsday: Mets' top prospect Andres Gimenez shares a bond with shortstop Amed Rosario. “He’s always been someone I can lean on,” Gimenez, who is likely to begin the season with Triple-A Syracuse, said through an interpreter. “Rosario has always given me the confidence and the wisdom and encouragement to continue on going. The one thing he does tell me to always do is remain positive, because that’s an important thing.”

Brian Joura of Mets 360 had Comparing the offenses of the Mets, Nats & Braves.  Brian, as always, had a detailed look at the offenses of these teams and their off season changes.  Looking at the data he found this surprise: “Perhaps the most surprising thing to me is that after years of running a ‘health deficit,’ the Mets actually lead the three teams in PA from their top nine guys.”

213 Miles from Shea did a 2020 Mets Conglomerate Projections: Yoenis Cespedes – 222 Plate Appearances, 165.5 At Bats, 10 HR, .256 BA.


Ernest Dove of Metsmerized.com had: “MMO 2020 Top 30 Mets Prospects: No. 15 Carlos Cortes, 2B.” About Carlos Ernest says: “There is still a potential breakout year in his bat. I would expect an assignment in Double-A Binghamton for 2020 with potential to move up to Syracuse. He has good power that is brought by above average bat speed and a swing with an upward plane. In addition to his power, he struck out only 16.8% of the time in 2019.”

Amazing Avenue: Jeurys Familia is looking to bounce back in 2020.


Yehuda Schwartz of Prime Time Sports talk interviewed Andrés Giménez. About the Arizona Fall League Andres said: “For me, the fall league was a great experience and was fun with all my teammates. I was mainly working on the second base. The players were great guys, teammates, and great players.”

Per Micheal Mayer in Mets Minors.net: Rich Donnelly will manager St. Lucie Mets in 2020. “Donnelly, 73, was set to be the bench coach for Schneider in Syracuse. He’s entering his sixth season in the Mets organization. The former minor league catcher managed the rookie level Kingsport Mets in 2019.”

Syracuse.com had details on the Syracuse Mets open house on March 7th, 9AM-1PM.  The event is free. “The open house will give fans the first opportunity to see the new renovations that the stadium has been undergoing during the offseason. Also, fans can hit in the batting cages, audition for the National Anthem, audition to be Mets mascot Scooch and grab new gear at the team store.” 


Sign Stealing:

Per Yahoo Sports: “Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred apologized Tuesday for calling the championship trophy a ‘piece of metal’ but defended his decision not to strip the Houston Astros of their 2017 World Series crown.”

Also per Yahoo Sports: “As players rage, Rob Manfred says union warded off punishment for Astros.”

Yahoo Sports: The MLBPA fired back later on Tuesday, releasing a statement saying “Any suggestion that the Association failed to cooperate with the Commissioner’s investigation, obstructed the investigation, or otherwise took positions which led to a stalemate in the investigation is completely untrue.” They added how they are working with MLB to change the current rules: “Over the last two weeks, the Association and MLB have had regular dialogue on potential rule changes affecting sign stealing…and enforcement – including the potential for player discipline.”

12UP.com: Rob Manfred Shifting Blame to MLBPA Proves He’s Not a Capable Commissioner.

12UP.com: Astros Season Ticket Holders Sue Team Over 'Overvalued Tickets' Due to Sign-Stealing Scheme.

Per NY Post: Michael Conforto: Mets have too much integrity to cheat like Astros.

Yahoo Sports: “Nick Markakis on cheating Astros: 'I feel like every single guy over there needs a beating.'”

Aaron Judge in the NY Post: “It’s tough to say when everyone’s going to move on from this,” said Judge, who by the way is battling right shoulder soreness. “But I think …Guys talking about it, getting it off, getting their frustration out of the way, is a start. And all you can do is just go from there, I guess.”

Per AP News: Lebron James weighed in on the controversy: “Listen here baseball commissioner listen to your..... players speaking today about how disgusted, mad, hurt, broken, etc etc about this. Literally the ball is in your court(or should I say field) and you need to fix this for the sake of Sports!”

Craig Calcaterra NBC Sports/Yahoo Sports: “I’m struck by the notion that for seven years the Astros and their fans have insisted that the Astros do everything better, earlier, faster, and more efficiently than the rest of the league. Then, the moment they get busted for something that their better and faster front office innovated — Codebreaker — they insist that they were merely doing what everyone else was doing across the league.”

12UP.com: MLB Sending Memo to Dissuade Teams From Beaning Players is Curious Timing With Astros Scandal.

NJ.com: “MLB commissioner Rob Manfred plans to take serious measures to ensure that Fiers, a 15-game winner last season, stays safe. ‘We will take every possible step to protect Mike Fiers wherever he’s playing, whether it’s in Houston or somewhere else.’”

Other MLB News:

Per the Washington Times: Nationals prospect Carter Kieboom to step into void left by Rendon.

Per the Philadelphia Inquirer: “How a Phillies pitcher with a 100 mph fastball kept his career alive with a YouTube video. Robert Stock’s baseball dream seemed to be over before he went viral.”

Per MLB.com: Braves honored Hank Aaron with street dedication.

Tomahawk Take: Braves add John Gibbons as a national scout.

Per MLB.com: Marlins Righty Jordon Yamamoto will 'do whatever it takes' to claim spot in rotation.  Yamamoto takes the mound for the Marlins in their Grapefruit League opener on Saturday against the Mets.

Per CBS Sports: Padres, Red Sox talking Wil Myers as prelude to blockbuster.

NBC Sports Boston says the Red Sox getting Wil Myers makes sense because: “the Red Sox would also receive a package of prospects likely built around right-hander Cal Quantrill (son of former big leaguer Paul), as well as slugging catcher Luis Campusano.”

Also NBC Sports Boston: The Red Sox contacted "a bunch of social media influencers" in the Boston area in the hopes they would promote the team.

Per MLB.com New Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo to don No. 99, in nod to Manny Ramirez who wore 99 after he went from Boston to the Dodgers.






Mack’s Blast From the Past comes from February 19, 2012: Mack looked at Zack Wheeler, Scott Kazmir, Daniel Murphy, and David Wright.


Born on this date:
Died on this date:
Transactions:
New York Mets signed free agent Edgardo Alfonzo on February 19, 1991.

New York Mets signed free agent Sandy Alomar on February 19, 2007.

Detroit Tigers signed Bobby Parnell of the New York Mets as a free agent on February 19, 2016.

Atlanta Braves signed Carlos Torres of the New York Mets as a free agent on February 19, 2016.


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1 comment:

  1. I have no problem with Lowrie wearing a brace in practice. As long as it helps him when he has to pinch hit. I need nothing more out of him in 2020.

    Maybe he could also loan it out to place on Lugo's toe.

    ReplyDelete