John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 2/28/2020

Don’t look now, the Marlins are 6-0 this spring as they beat the Mets last night in Jupiter, Florida, Pete Alonso got his first hit of the spring, and Mets Fans Venmo Money to GM Brodie Van Wagenen to try to get the Mets to spend.

Marlins 3 – Mets 1 (Box). Video Highlights.

   

Rick Porcello started for the Mets and went two scoreless innings with two strikeouts and two hits.

 

Rick was followed by Brad Brach,  Robert Gsellman, Corey Oswalt, Stephen Nogosek, Nick Rumbelow, and Francisco Rios.

Corey Oswalt gave up a run on 3 hits in 2 innings of work for the loss.

Stephen Nogosek gave up a home run to Lewis Brinson in one inning of work.

Nick Rumbelow gave up a run on three hits in 2/3 innings.  It could have been worse but Braxton Lee, playing left field at the time for the Mets, threw out Marlins 3B Christian Lopes trying to go first to third on a hit.  Francisco Rios finished the inning with a strikeout to stop any further damage.

Pete Alonso doubled in the first inning for his first of the spring.  He was then picked off second base by Marlins starting pitcher Robert Dugger. 

In the third, after Eduardo Núñez, had doubled with two outs and Michael Conforto, had singled, Marlins pitcher Brad Boxberger was brought in to strikeout Pete to end the threat.

Tomas Nido started at catcher and went 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts.

Edgardo Fermin singled in Will Toffey who had reached on an error in the eighth for the only Mets run. 

SNY.TV had takeaways from the game including: Michael Conforto, another regular in the Mets outfield who played on Thursday, flied out to center field in the first, but he lined a single to right field in his second at-bat of the game.

Conforto's night came to a close after his second at-bat, and he's now 2-for-10 at the plate during spring training.

90 Percent Mets reported that Matt Adams was removed from the lineup, just before the Mets took the field against the Miami Marlins. The Mets say that like Brandon Nimmo, Adams was scratched so that he could undergo cardiac testing.

Per SNY.TV: The Mets stay in Jupiter, Fla. for an afternoon affair with the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday. First pitch is set for 1:10 PM, with Marcus Stroman set to go for the Mets against Adam Wainwright.

Other Mets Links:

Per the NY Times: Frustrated Fans Ask the Mets: Can We Venmo You? In response to the thrifty team’s decision not to pursue costly players and coaches this off-season, fans bombarded the Mets’ general manager with small cash payments on the app.

Brian Joura at Mets 360.com thinks Luis Rojas’ spring training press conferences are a lot like the Black Knight from Monty Python’s Hold Grail.    

Kevin Kernan in the NY Post had: How Mets legend Dwight Gooden stopped sign stealing.

213 Miles from Shea had Get to Know a Non-Roster Invitee: Jake Hager. “Hager plays middle infield and third base…former first round pick by the Rays (32nd pick) in the 2011 draft…In three seasons in AA ball he’s hit .270/.323/.406 and in four seasons at AAA he’s hit .237/.286/.361.”

213 Miles from Shea did a 2020 Mets Conglomerate Projections: Amed Rosario – 611.25 Plate Appearances, 583.75 At Bats, 13.6 HR, .271 BA./ .314 OBP/ .412 SLG.

NY Post: Ron Darling opens up about return to Mets booth after beating cancer.

Faith and Fear in Flushing talked about seeing the number 5 on a Mets player besides David Wright.

NY Post: Mets’ flexible lineup provides managing test for Luis Rojas.

NY Post: Mets’ Pete Alonso leaning on Robinson Cano to reach Year 2 goal.

Anthony DiComo of Mets.com says Cookies were the secret to their 2019 turnaround.

SNY.TV: Following additional cardiac screening, Mets' Brandon Nimmo cleared to resume baseball activities.

Andres Chavez in Empire Sports Media: Could Ryan Cordell hit his way into the New York Mets’ plans?

The Mets posted video of Cano Mic’s up during spring workouts.

From Metsmerized.com: MMO 2020 Top 30 Prospects: No. 12 Franklyn Kilome, RHP.

From Metsmerized.com : One Area The Mets Must Continue Improving in 2020. Continue to increase winning percentage against winning teams.

Reflections on Baseball: It’s all a matter of timing and this team just feels right for the moment.

Other MLB News:

NBC Bay Area Sports: Gabe Kapler-Brandon Crawford 'misunderstanding' deemed 'bulls--t'

Giants 5, Mariners 4 (Box) Wilmer Flores started at 2B and went 0 for 3.

Orioles 13, Pirates 0 (Box) Ex-Met Tommy Milone went two scoreless for Baltimore with 3 Ks.

MLB.com: Madison Bumgarner made his D-backs spring debut Thursday afternoon against the Reds. He allowed just one hit -- a solo homer by Derek Dietrich -- while striking out four. He threw 24 pitches, 17 for strikes.

MLB.com: Max Scherzer threw three innings, allowing three hits, two runs (one earned), with two wild pitches and one walk -- all in the first frame. He also struck out five batters in Washington’s 5-5 tie with Houston.

Here are all the other MLB Scores for 2-27-20.

Yahoo Sports: No, the Astros' league-leading HBPs in spring training are not retaliation for their cheating.

Yahoo Sports: Report: MLB will crack down on pitchers using foreign substances on the ball in 2020.

MLB.com released their Top Prospect list for the American League East Teams.

AP News talked about the players over 30 this spring trying to extend careers. Jarrod Dyson in Pittsburgh; Matt Kemp in Miami; Cameron Maybin in Detroit; Hunter Pence and Pablo Sandoval back in San Francisco are discussed.

AP News: Nats closer Doolittle calmed by lavender oil on glove for the post season last year.

AP News: Lawmakers push for Curt Flood’s enshrinement in Hall of Fame.

AP News: David Ortiz selling baseball mementos, household items.

From MLB.com: 15 Negro Leagues locations you need to see.  This includes Hinchliffe Stadium - Paterson, N.J. Built in 1932, Hinchliffe Stadium soon became the full-time home for the New York Black Yankees. The New York Cubans also played their home games there for two seasons. Monte Irvin, Cool Papa Bell, Paterson native Larry Doby, all played there.

Per MLB Trade Rumors:

Mets, Others Have Shown Interest In Russell Martin.

Chris Sale To Open Season On Injured List.

Red Sox Still Open To Adding Rotation Depth.

Tatis: “Nothing Happening Out There Yet” On Contract Extension.

Korean, Japanese Baseball Leagues Change Schedules Due To Coronavirus: The Korea Baseball organization is responding by canceling its slate of planned pre-season games. Delaying Opening Day (March 28^th) is also a possibility.  Japan’s spring contests will take place in empty stadiums. There’s still hope of launching the regular season as scheduled on March 20th, but that decision has yet to be made.

Mack’s Blast From The Past comes from 2-28-12 – Mack on sabermetrics.

Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com:

Born on this date:

• Tom Spencer (1951)
• Brian Bannister (1981)

Died on this date:

• Tom Sturdivant (2009)

Transactions:
New York Mets purchased Dave Kingman from the San Francisco Giants on February 28, 1975.

New York Mets traded Steve Henderson to the Chicago Cubs for Dave Kingman on February 28, 1981.

New York Mets signed free agent Pedro Feliciano on February 28, 2006.

Cleveland Indians signed Juan Uribe of the New York Mets as a free agent on February 28, 2016.

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

Want something else tracked here each day?  Please leave a comment below.