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

Who needs Super Bowl Sunday?  The Caribbean Baseball series opened yesterday in Puerto Rico with three more games today.  Ex-Mets, Hector Santiago, Tim Peterson and Jordany Valdespin were in action yesterday.  We’ve got that and much more. 

Jacob deGrom was named by MLB Network as the top starting pitcher in baseball right now.  The other pitchers listed were: 2) Justin Verlander, HOU; 3) Gerrit Cole, NYY; 4) Max Scherzer, WSH; 5) Hyun-Jin Ryu, TOR; 6) Zack Greinke, HOU; 7) Jack Flaherty, STL; 8) Patrick Corbin, WSH; 9) Mike Clevinger, CLE; 10) Walker Buehler, LAD.

MLB Network also had the Top Ten Shortstops.  Amed Rosario did not make the list.  Here are the players that did: 1) Trevor Story, COL; 2) Francisco Lindor, CLE; 3) Javier Báez, CHC; 4) Marcus Semien, OAK; 5) Xander Bogaerts, BOS; 6) Fernando Tatis Jr., SD; 7) Gleyber Torres, NYY; 8) Jorge Polanco, MIN; 9) Carlos Correa, HOU; 10) Paul DeJong, STL.

213 Miles from Shea continued reviewing Baseball America’s 2019 Top 30 Mets Prospects with #24 Daniel Zamora. For 2020 Elliot Teichman says: “Zamora is not a critical piece of the puzzle for next season. If he becomes a critical piece then one of two things happened: 1) He really takes a step forward. Not crazy likely, not unheard of for his type of role anyway. 2) Something really goes wrong with the Mets bullpen. This is a believable situation which is why I’m glad he got to spend some more time with Phil this off-season.”

Last Word On Baseball had a review of the Mets Offseason moves and offered this outlook: “This offseason the Mets saw all of their division rivals make more moves to improve their teams. Most importantly those teams do not have the circus-like atmosphere the Mets seem to attract. On paper assuming the Mets players have the type of seasons they are capable of, this is a team that can win the division. But the same can be said for the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies, and the defending champion Washington Nationals.”

Metsmerized looked at some potential depth pieces for the Mets that are still available: Catcher Russel Martin; Utility Player Brock Holt; Pitcher Collin McHugh; Ex-Met Wilmer Flores. 

Metsmerized also interviewed Recently Re-Signed Mets Pitcher, Rob Whalen.

Tim Ryder of Metsmerized says the Mets should be all in on Kris Bryant.  Tim quotes a potential trade floated by “Jim Bowden of The Athletic…2019 third-round right-hander Matthew Allan, 21-year-old shortstop Andres Gimenez, and “another mid-level prospect” as a possible return”.  Sounds like a lot to give up for a two year rental of a Scott Boras client who will more than likely not sign an extension.

Reflections on Baseball asks if this is the year that Noah Syndergaard breaks through the Fog?

Mets 360 discussed the recent Matt Adams signing by the Mets: “He’s not a good defensive player and he’s an even worse baserunner. All of his value is tied up in his bat. If the Mets were going to use the new 26th roster spot on a hitter, he’s the type of guy who would make some sense. But smart money has that spot going to a relief pitcher, which means Adams will be enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of Syracuse.”  A certain blogger from Albany will be enjoying the “sights, sounds and smells of Syracuse“ too.  

Lindsay Kramer of Syracuse.com sees Matt Adams “as potential piece of Syracuse lineup” as well. 

In memory of the late Nick Cafardo, the Boston Globe had a ranking of baseball’s managers.  1-6 ranked 1. Terry Francona (Indians); 2. Rocco Baldelli (Twins); 3. Dusty Baker (Astros); 4. Bob Melvin (Athletics); 5. Dave Roberts (Dodgers); 6. Aaron Boone (Yankees).  Luis Rojas?  He was ranked #29 only ahead of the vacant Red Sox job.  This is a very subjective ranking.  Therefore in my subjective ranking Luis is higher. At the very least, Luis Rojas should be higher than the 21^st ranked Gabe Kapler. 

MLB.com had the best defenders for every team ranked by OAA (Outs above Average).  For the Mets it was Jake Marisnick. “He hasn't played an out for the Mets yet, but he instantly becomes a strong right-handed-hitting defensive complement in center field to Brandon Nimmo. Marisnick recorded +8 outs above average last season, coming off a +13-OAA season in 2018.”

The Denver Post says Daniel Murphy remains one of the Rockies biggest question marks.  Concerning Murphy’s defense it says: “Hall of Fame writer Roger Angell once wrote the following about original Mets catcher Choo Choo Coleman: ‘He handles outside curveballs like a man fighting bees.’ That’s how Murphy looked around the bag last season.”

Kevin Davidoff of the NY Post discussed the new the three-batter minimum rule which will go into effect for the 2020 season: “…we shouldn’t ignore the lack of enthusiasm, throughout the industry, surrounding its imminent implementation… So give it a shot. Then don’t hesitate to scrap it in time for the postseason if it creates more headaches than it cures.”  He also notes: “Why focus on this while avoiding the time-suck that is the current instant-replay challenge system?”

In an Article that Mack’s Mets Dave Rubin sent me, Kevin Davidoff also shared statistical evidence that looked at how sign stealing helped the 2017 Astros and the 2018 Red Sox.  Among other things he points out: “The ’18 Red Sox, like the ’17 Astros (and the ’18 Astros, too) hit tremendously well with runners in scoring position, interesting since the public allegations are that the ’18 Bosox’s scheme operated only with runners on base. As per the Elias Sports Bureau, with runners in scoring position, the ’18 Red Sox slashed .300/.385/.524 at home and .274/.372/.453 on the road. In the same situations, the ’17 Red Sox recorded a .287/.375/.430 slash line at home and .266/.354/.442 on the road.”

Per Yahoo Sports and the Associated Press Francisco Lindor spoke about his status on Saturday: ''I'm not money-driven. I'm championship-driven,'' Lindor said during a break at Tribefest, the Indians' annual winter warm-up for fans. ''That's what I want. I want to win. Wherever I go, I want to win. I want to bring a championship to the city of Cleveland. This is what I want to do…It has nothing to do with the money. It has nothing to do with the years. It has nothing to do with who I like or who I don't like. It has to do with championships. The front office tries to put a team together to win, not to save money. They're supposed to try to put a team together to win. I'm here to try to win.”

TMZ.com had Cody Bellinger’s reponse to Justin Verlander’s joke at the Baseball Writers' Association of America: Verlander made a comment about how his Houston squad was "technologically and analytically advanced." Bellinger said he was feeling the same way as CC Sabathia - "It ain't funny to me and it wasn't funny to CC."

Forbs.com discussed a new book about Rocky Colavito saying he is “The Hero Modern Baseball Desperately Needs.”

Jays Journal says that Bo Bichette arguably the most important player in 2020.

Last Word on Baseball looked at prospects # 90-81 of MLB’s Top 100 prospects.   

From the NY Post David Ortiz had this to say about Mookie Betts and the Red Sox: “My boy Mookie is at the stage of his career where he has to get what he deserves. The Red Sox, we have a very high payroll and I don’t think our owner wants to go past that. I trade him. I will get young talent [and] you will get whatever you want with Mookie. Unfortunately, that’s the baseball business.”

12up.com had a map originally posted on Twitter with the most hated baseball team in each state. “The New York Yankees are plastered across the map, standing out as the most hated team in a whopping 28 states.”  The Yankees are hated so much because the win so much.  The New York Mets made the map as well as most hated in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. 

Per Yahoo Sports Ex-Met Tony Fernandez is in critical condition. “His former Blue Jays teammate Jesse Barfield offered an update via a text from Juan Guzman on Ferandez’s status on Saturday morning via twitter. ‘He is currently on ECMO to get the oxygen flowing to his blood and his organs. Unfortunately they still haven’t found the cause of the infection. Last night they had to open up his leg because they found a clot. Thankfully the results this morning from the leg operation are positive and he is responding well. He is still critical tho but we are faithful.’” Our prayers are with you Tony and your family.

Per MLB Trade Rumors:

The Twins sign free-agent right-hander Jhoulys Chacin.

Winter Ball:

The Caribbean series is underway in Puerto Rico.  You can read a team by team preview here from MLB.com.  Here are the scores from yesterday:

Venezuela Beat Columbia 6-4 (box).

Ex-Met Alejandro De Aza is listed on the Venezuela Roster.

The Domincan Republic beat Mexico 2-1 (box).

In that game, Jordany Valdespin went 1 for 4. 

Tim Peterson threw a scoreless inning with one strikeout. 

Ramon E. Ramirez got the save despite giving up a run on two hits in the ninth.

2019 Syracuse Met Casey Coleman is listed on the Mexican Roster.

Puerto Rico beat Panama 4-3 in 10 innings (box).

Ex-Met Hector Santiago started for Puerto Rico throwing 5 shutout innings with 3 hits and 4 Ks. Hector was recently signed to a minor league deal by the Detroit Tigers. 

Recently signed Met Johneshwy Fargas is on the Puerto Rican roster for the series.  In addition, ex-Mets Ruben Gotay and Johnny Monell are on the Puerto Rican roster.  

Three more games today.  ESPN Desportes will broadcast most of the games, some may be on the ESPN App. 

Mack’s Blast From the Past comes from February 2, 2012:  Mack on Baseball - Moneyball.

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