John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 2/23/2020

The Mets played their first two Spring Training games yesterday and came away with two loses.

In the game broadcast on Channel 11 WPIX TV in NYC and CW 15 in Albany, the Marlins beat the Mets 5-3 (Box). Video Highlights.  Rick Porcello started for the Mets followed by 7 other pitchers. 

It was nice to see pitchers like Ryley Gilliam, Kevin Smith, Ryder Ryan, and Adonis Uceta, in action in addition to Daniel Zamora, Corey Oswalt (only one to go two innings) and Chasen Shreve who already have MLB experience.

Rick Porcello gave up two hits and a run in his one inning of work that saw the Marlins Monte Harrison steal two bases.  Per Fox Sports: “Get out there first pitch with a runner on first (base), and he’s gone,” Porcello said. “I’ll start paying attention to that more and be prepared more for a change in style of play.”

Newsday talked to Porcello about how he is building his relationship with Ramos: “It’s been great and we have to continue to get better and get closer,” Porcello said. “We’re learning each other. He’s caught all my bullpens, he’s asking me questions, I’m asking him questions. We’re feeding off one another. We’ll keep building that relationship that is extremely important for both of us to have success out there.”

Mets starting catcher, Wilson Ramos, threw out a runner in the second. 

Wilson drove in two with the help of a wind blown double after the Mets loaded the bases on a Jeff McNeil single, Pete Alonso reaching on an error by Marlins CF Monte Harrison on a fly ball, and a Michael Conforto single.  Matt Adams drove in one on a sacrifice fly.  No further offense for the Mets after that.

After the Mets took the lead in the first 3-1, Chasen Shreve allowed two runs including a solo homer. 

The game was tied 3-3 until the eighth when the Marlins got a run off Adonis Uceta who was charged with the loss, Ryder Ryan gave up a homer in the ninth for the final run. 

Per SNY.TV: Luis Rojas liked what he saw from Rick Porcello and Wilson Ramos. "I thought it was a good inning," said Rojas. "Establishing his fastball down, mixing his curveball…I like Ramos with a knee down trying to get Porcello's fast ball.”  Luis also mentioned how the Mets turned three double plays and that Andres Gimenez looked good at shortstop. 

More SNY.TV video from the game here. More on the game from SNY.TV here.

The Miami Herald posted a photo gallery of the game (most are Marlins pictures but Mets like Jake Marisnick and Michael Conforto are also included.)

In the other game the Cardinals Beat the Mets 2-0 (Box). Video Highlights.

Marcus Stroman pitched an inning and 2/3 giving up a solo homer in the second.  His highlight of the day had to be the back to back strikeouts to end the first of Yadier Molina and Paul Goldschmidt.

Marcus was followed by Stephen Villines, Stephen Gonsalves, Pedro Payano, Matt Blackham, and Yefry Ramírez.

Not much offense for the Mets who did have 7 hits.  Luis Guillorme made a nice play on a line drive that he tunred into a double play and Rene Rivera threw out a runner trying to steal off Stephen Villines in the second.

Per SNY.TV: About his outing Marcus Stroman said: “Felt great. Really excited with where I'm at, to be honest…Really excited with my body, my pitches, everything is coming out. Really spinning my four-seam pretty well.” More on the game from SNY.TV here.

12UP.com had VIDEO: Entire Cardinals Team Watches Jack Flaherty Warm up for Spring Debut in Awesome Gesture.

Per SNY.TV: The Mets will host the St. Louis Cardinals at Clover Park, today, Sunday, with first pitch set for 1:10PM. 

Lefty Steven Matz is scheduled to start for the Mets, while veteran Adam Wainwright will go for the Cardinals.

Other Mets Links:

Per NY Post: Mets’ Seth Lugo returns to mound after fracturing his toe.  Seth threw a bullpen session saying: “All the pitches were there, executing and locating...Real light and real simple right now, the further along we’ll start to do some tougher stuff.”

More on Seth Per Elite Sports NY: “It felt pretty good,” Lugo said, per Corey Hersch of SNY. “Pitches were coming out real good. I felt a little soreness when I got done but that’s to be expected. Hopefully tomorrow that’s gone.”

MLB Video: Mets Officially open new Clover Park.

Tim Healey in Newsday detailed all the new high tech gear that assistant general manager Adam Guttridge is using this year from Drones to TrackMan (a radar system that precisely records virtually every movement of a baseball) to multiple camera angels in the bullpens. 

Joel Sherman in the NY Post wrote: How Jacob deGrom can pull off daunting Hall of Fame challenge.  Noting his lack of wins Joel said “What would help deGrom is a third Cy Young.”

Rob Rogan of Mets 360 discussed Noah Syndergaard’s pitch-framing dependency.  His detailed analysis included Noah’s ERA with the following catchers: Travis d’Arnaud – 2 Games 8.10 ERA; Tomas Nido – 12 Games 2.88 ERA; Wilson Ramos 16 Games 5.20 ERA; Rene Rivera 2 Games 2.84 ERA.

213 Miles from Shea had Get to Know a Non-Roster Invitee: Patrick Mazeika.

213 Miles from Shea did a 2020 Mets Conglomerate Projections: Jed Lowrie – 300.75 Plate Appearances, 259.75 At Bats, 7.4 HR, .244 BA., .724 OPS.

Ryan Finkelstein of MetsMerized Online said: Tomas Nido Needs To Earn Spot on Opening Day Roster.

Tim Boyle of Rising Apple looked at Mets Extension Candidate: Michael Conforto, the $100 million player.

James Richards of Rising Apple: Mets reliever Edwin Diaz could have some challengers for the closer job.

Other MLB News:

12UP.com had video of Blue Jays Outfielder Anthony Alford stealing second, third, then home plate against the Yankees yesterday.

12UP.com: Felix Hernandez Dominated His First Inning in a Braves Uniform and it Felt Extremely Strange. Hernandez threw a perfect 1-2-3 inning, inducing two groundouts, and ending the frame with a swinging strikeout.

Per masnsports.com: Nats cheered, Astros booed during rained-out spring opener.

Per AP Sports: Fans heckling Astros spring opener get signs stolen.

Click here for the full list of Spring Training scores from 2-22-20.

Phil Mushnick in the NY Post said that “Oakland Athletics’ radio fiasco is MLB slap in the face.”  The A’s games will only be available in the Oakland area via an online app. 

Per MLB Trade Rumors:

Tony Clark: MLBPA’s ‘Strong Preference’ Rays Remain In Tampa Bay.  One consideration is that the Rays would split their games between Montreal and Tampa. 

Red Sox Hire Jerry Narron As Bench Coach.

White Sox Sign lefty reliever Aaron Bummer To Five-Year Extension.

White Sox Extend Leury Garcia’s Contract To Include 2021 Team Option.

Mack’s Blast From the Past comes from 2-23-12: Mack shared an e-mail from Erik Goeddel as well as other thoughts.

Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com:

Born on this date:

• Ron Hunt (1941)
• Don Shaw (1944)
• Ken Boswell (1946)
• Bobby Bonilla (1963)
• Chris Aguila (1979)

From National Pastime.com:

2013	Jason Bay, who mutually agreed to terminate his contract with the Mets in November after three years of futility in New York, clouts a two-run homer in his first at-bat of spring training in the Mariners' 8-6 exhibition victory over the Padres. The likable, but oft-injured outfielder signed with Seattle in the offseason for $1 million, a far cry from the four-year, $66-million free-agent deal he inked when he left Boston for the Big Apple in 2009.
2016	At a news conference at Borough Hall in Queens, the Mets announce the team will host an LGBT Pride Night on August 13 at Citi Field, featuring discounted seating for the game against the Padres and a free postgame concert. A portion of the proceeds from each ticket sold at Mets.com/pride for the event, which is expected to attract more than 5,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender fans, will benefit the LGBT Network, a non-profit organization, and its Safe Schools Initiative working to stop bullying in Long Island and Queens.

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