John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 2/27/2020

Mets faced the Astros Wednesday with Noah Syndergaard starting and Edwin Diaz in relief, J.D. Davis had an MRI on his injured left shoulder and Tim Tebow picks his World Baseball Classic team.

Mets lost to the Astros 4-2 in Port St. Lucie yesterday (Box). Video Highlights.   

Noah Syndergaard worked two innings allowing one hit while striking out two.  The SNY radar gun had Noah as high as 99 MPH on one fastball. 

SNY.TV had video of Noah saying that he felt comfortable with Wilson Ramos "Small sample size, just two innings. But we were on the same page, of course two innings, but just the rhythm and tempo we had was something to build off. Really encouraging."

Kevin Kernan in the NY Post noted that: “It was the work earlier in the week, though, that made all the difference.  Syndergaard went to the 10-pack pitching mounds several days to work on his balance with pitching coaches Jeremy Hefner and Jeremy Accardo. In these drills, observed by The Post, Syndergaard did not throw a pitch. The session was balance oriented. “I’m trying to lead with my hips to get some leverage and momentum down the mound,” Syndergaard told The Post of the drills. “There are different ways to attack it.’’

Per 12UP.com: Noah tweeted “’I missed pitching (not the boos)’…however, the crowd was shouting at…the Houston Astros.”

Edwin Diaz gave up 3 hits and 2 runs (each on RBI doubles).

Speaking to SNY.TV Diaz said he felt…"A little bit anxious because it was the first time being out there in a real game and facing real batters. But other than that I felt really good."

Per Mets.com: “I left a couple in the middle,” Diaz said, “and I want to be able to paint the corners with that fastball.”

Per Mets.com: “I thought he missed spots,” added manager Luis Rojas. “I thought he wanted to elevate and missed down. I thought the slider was really good. … He got swings and misses, got some chases. Those … come from the electric fastball.”

According to the radar gun on SNY, Diaz hit 98 MPH with at least one fastball. 

Mike Puma of the NY Post had more about Edwin Diaz’s Mets redemption tour off to ‘anxious’ start.

Justin Wilson, Chasen Shreve, Walker Lockett, Yefry Ramírez, Tyler Bashlor, and Stephen Villines also pitched. 

Chasen Shreve gave up a run in one inning and Stephen Villines gave up a home run in his one inning of work. 

Jeff McNeil, went 1 for 2, hitting the first pitch of the bottom of the first inning and looking good playing 3B.  McNeil is now hitting .429 so far this spring.  Pete Alonso, went 0 for 3 as he looks for his first base hit this spring (0 for 9 overall). 

Ryan Cordell hit an opposite field home run and also made a sliding catch in center with the bases loaded.

Dominic Smith drove in the other Mets run on a single to the opposite field. Dom was also thrown out trying to steal 3^rd Base.

Rene Rivera threw out the only Astros runner that tried to steal.

Blake Taylor, traded by the Mets for Jake Marisnick, pitched two scoreless innings for the Astros giving up one hit, a walk, and a strikeout of Tim Tebow.

Brandon Nimmo was a late scratch Wednesday.  Per SNY.TV: “The Mets said earlier Wednesday that Nimmo had been scratched in order to receive ‘additional cardiac screening.’ Mets manager Luis Rojas said after Wednesday's game that he isn't concerned.”

Per the NY Post: The Mets face the Marlins in Jupiter, Fla., with Rick Porcello on the mound for his second start of this exhibition season. Jeurys Familia and Robert Gsellman are among the Mets’ other scheduled pitchers.

Other Mets Links:

Per SNY.TV: Mets INF/OF J.D. Davis had an MRI on his injured left shoulder that did not reveal ‘a ton of inflammation’ or ‘new structural damage,’ and will begin rehabbing on Wednesday, GM Brodie Van Wagenen said. ‘It sounds like we're in a pretty good spot with it overall,’ Van Wagenen added, noting that the MRI did reveal what looked like an old labrum injury.”

Per MLB.com: Tim Tebow has agreed to play for the Philippines in 2021 World Baseball Classic qualifiers. Born in Manila to parents performing missionary work in the Philippines, Tebow remained in the country until just before his fifth birthday.

Leen Amin in Rising Apple said: New York Mets look good, but have a glaring defensive weakness. She noted: “The Mets haven’t been a decent defensive team in years, and it’s been getting worse. They have had a cumulative DRS of -93 since 2015, which is good for second-worst in all of MLB behind only the Baltimore Orioles’ -105.”

Bill Ladson in Mets.com had 9 Must See Mets Artifacts at the Baseball Hall of Fame.  These include the hat Tom Seaver wore when he struck out 19 Padres and the glove Tommie Agee used to make a pair of great catches in game 3 of the 1969 World Series.

SNY.TV had Mike Piazza speaking about Mets COO Jeff Wilpon: Piazza said he wants to turn the team over "to someone who's gonna care about the legacy of the team."

Per Elite Sports NY: “’I’m gonna have to go look in the mattress and the ashtray in my car and dig up [the money],’ Piazza responded when asked if he would be interested in buying the Mets.”

Metsmerized.com had MMO 2020 Top 30 Mets Prospects: No. 13 Jordan Humphreys, RHP.

Brian Joura at Mets 360.com compared the current Mets rotation plans for Steven Matz and Michael Wacha to Gil Hodges 1969 rotation juggling of Nolan Ryan, Jim McAndrew, and Don Cardwell. 

213 Miles from Shea had Get to Know a Non-Roster Invitee: Matt Adams

213 Miles from Shea did a 2020 Mets Conglomerate Projections: Wilson Ramos – 464.75 Plate Appearances, 431.5 At Bats, 15.4 HR, .271 BA./ .328 OBP/ .426 SLG.

To get ready for Baseball Fantasy drafts, MLB.com ranked every MLB player from 1-800.  The top 6 were: 1. Christian Yelich; 2. Ronald Acuña Jr.; 3. Mike Trout; 4. Cody Bellinger; 5. Nolan Arenado; 6. Mookie Betts.  Jacob deGrom was the highest ranked Met at #15.

Other MLB News:

The Marlins won again, 8-7 over the Cardinals (Box) with 4 runs in the top of the eighth.  The Fish are now 5-0 this Spring with the Mets up next. 

Marlin Maniac had more details in Another Day, Another Comeback Miami Marlins Win.

The Baltimore Orioles beat Atlanta 4-3 (Box). Eric Hanhold got the save with a scoreless ninth giving up one hit and two strikeouts.  Dilson Herrera played right field for the O’s and went 1 for 3 with a run scored and 2 Ks.

Tomahawk Take noted that Sean Newcomb struck out 4 in two innings in that game for the Braves.

Mariners 5 Reds 3 (Box). Justin Dunn started and went two innings giving up a run on 2 hits. Per MLB.com: the promising 24-year-old right-hander unleashed a 94-96 mph fastball while striking out two -- including Joey Votto -- in the first inning. Sam Haggerty played short and went 0 for 3.  Sam is hitting .571 so far this spring.

Per MyNorthwest.com: Dipoto: Top Mariners prospects Kelenic, Rodriguez impressing at camp. Kelenic has started the spring red hot, reaching base in four of his first six plate appearances.

Per NBC Sports Philadelphia: Joe Girardi impressed with Jean Segura, smitten with Phillies catching prospect Rafael Marchan.

Per Phillyvoice.com: Flyers Mascot Gritty comes to the defense of the Phillie Phanatic amid the mascot’s modified look.

CBS Philly.com had: ‘It’s Been A Big Life-Changer’: Former Phillies All-Star and recently retired Domonic Brown Trying To Help Kids Become Stars Themselves.

Yankees 8 Nationals 2 (Box). Per 12UP.com: Video of Victor Robles throwing over 3B and into the seats from pretty deep CF.

Per NBC Sports Washington: Max Scherzer not pleased with new playoff format proposal.

Per AP News: Bregman becomes 7th Astros player hit by pitch in 5 games.

AP News: MLB appoints 1st black umpire crew chief. Major League Baseball promoted Kerwin Danley to the position this week.

Yahoo Sports: Verlander scratched from Thursday start with groin tightness.

Yahoo Sports: Jimenez, making comeback with Rockies, solid in short outing.

Yahoo Sports: Japan’s baseball league closing off games to fans due to coronavirus.

Here are all the other MLB Scores for 2-26-20.

Per MLB Trade Rumors:

Giancarlo Stanton Questionable For Opening Day Following Calf Injury.

Red Sox, Padres Unlikely To Line Up On Myers Swap.

Marlins Outfielder Matt Kemp Hopes To Play At Least Four More Years.

Julio Teheran Dealing With Hamstring Tightness.

Diamondbacks, Outfielder Dalton Pompey Agree To Minor League Deal. Pompey was once considered to be among the game’s premier prospects. During the 2014-15 offseason, Baseball America rated him as high as 30th overall among minor leaguers.

Today in Mets History:

Mack’s Blast From the Past: Morning Report – 2-27-14 – John Loopy, Picture Day, Kevin Plawecki, Jenrry Mejia, Chats.

Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com:

Born on this date:

• Sammy Taylor (1933)
• Pete Smith (1966)
• Joander Suarez (2000)

Died on this date:

• Duke Snider (2011)

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