John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 2/29/2020

Mets get a win on an eighth inning homer from Andres Gimenez, Brandon Nimmo was back on the field, and Robinson Cano played his first game of the Spring.

Mets beat the Cardinals 3-2 on Friday. (Box). Video Highlights.  

Marcus Stroman started for the Mets and went 2 innings, 1 walk, 1 K, 2 hits including a Home Run to Paul Goldschmidt.  12UP.com had the video of the Home Run.

NY Post: Brandon Nimmo was back in the lineup after being cleared to play.  He played center field, went 1 for 2 with a run scored.  

Nimmo is now hitting .429 this spring. SNY.TV video of Brandon talking about the heart scare and provided play by play on a “sun-ball double.”

Robinson Cano started his first game this spring at DH going 0 for 1 with a walk. Per the NY Post: He expects to remain in that DH spot for another game before playing second base on Tuesday.

SNY.TV also had video of Cano talking about about his offseason workout routine, being a mentor to younger players.

Jeff McNeil went 1 for 3 and is hitting.400 this spring.

Dominic Smith drove in the Mets first run with an RBI single, going 1 for 3 while playing first base.

Wilson Ramos went 1 for 3 and is hitting .400 so far this spring.

Amed Rosario started at SS and went 0 for 2 with 2 Ks.

Tim Tebow played the entire game in LF going 0 for 2 with 2 Ks.  He also fell down trying to catch a fly ball in the ninth.  12UP.com had video.

After Marcus Stroman, Matt Blackham, Jeurys Familia, Paul Sewald, and Daniel Zamora each followed with a scoreless inning.

Erasmo Ramírez pitched two innings giving up a home run.

Ryley Gilliam got the save with a scoreless ninth.

SNY.TV had video of the Andres Gimenez homerun as well as Dom Smith’s RBI base hit and more takeaways.

Per 213 Miles from Shea: Steven Matz makes his second start this spring. After Matz today is a prospect lover’s dream lineup. David Peterson, Franklyn Kilome and Jordan Humphreys are all scheduled to pitch today.

Other Mets Links:

SNY.TV: Speaking of Luis Rojas Brodie Van Wagenen says Mets 'wanted a guy that could clearly be a players- first manager'.

Matt Netter of Mets 360.com says 2020 Mets have a path to the pennant. Matt is optimistic on the Mets: “This Mets team is not perfect. Our defense is weak. We don’t have enough depth at the upper levels of our minors. We have a rookie manager and a bullpen with questions. However, we still have one of the better rotations in the league and our lineup may well be the best and deepest we’ve had since 2006 when we won 97 games.”

213 Miles from Shea had Get to Know a Non-Roster Invitee: Max Moroff. “Max Moroff hasn’t found much hitting success in AAA either hitting .231/.364/.394 across four seasons.”

213 Miles from Shea did a 2020 Mets Conglomerate Projections: Dominic Smith – 292 Plate Appearances, 332.75 At Bats, 12 HR, .244 BA./ .305 OBP/ .424 SLG.

NY Post: Marcus Stroman-Zack Wheeler saga adds intrigue to Mets-Phillies rivalry.

Metsmerized.com: Heyman: Mets Sale Could Come “Fairly Quick”.

Metsmerized.com: Van Wagenen Discusses Wide Variety of Topics in WFAN Interview.

James Schapiro of EliteSportsNY had: The unsung minor leaguers of spring training.  Great read including this: “Tuesday, Patrick Mazeika hit two doubles against the Cardinals. Mazeika, 26, was an eighth-round pick in 2015. Last season, in Binghamton, Mazeika put up a .738 OPS with 16 home runs.”

Tim Boyle of Rising Apple said these Mets may lose their roster spot: Tyler Bashlor, Jacob Rhame, and Paul Sewald.

Other MLB News:

Blue Jays 5 – Tigers 4 (Box). Anthony Kay threw two scoreless innings while striking out 3 while Joe Panik played SS and scored two runs. MLB.com had more about Kay here.

12UP.com: VIDEO: Mookie Betts Throws Out His First Runner at the Plate in Dodgers Uniform.

Greinke makes 1st outing after later arrival with Astros.

NBC Sports Bay Area: Watch Giant’s Prospect Heliot Ramos hit two-run homer in spring training game.

Here are all the other MLB Scores for 2-28-20.

Per Yahoo Sports: Poll: Nearly 50 percent of people think the Astros cheating investigation was a 'cover-up'.  Seton Hall University surveyed 700 people.  Other results included: 55% thought whistleblower Mike Fiers should have spoken up when he was still with the Astros in 2017. 57% of those polled said Pete Rose should be eligible for the Hall of Fame.

Per NBC Sports Bay Area: Wilmer Flores looks to add more power to Giants' lineup this season.

Yahoo Sports: Johnny Antonelli, pitcher on '54 WS champ Giants, dies at 89.

Yahoo Sports: Third baseman Rafael Devers likely to be even bigger part of Boston offense.

MLB.com continued each team’s top 30 prospect list with the AL Central. The NL East is scheduled to be released this Tuesday March 3. 

Per MLB Trade Rumors:

Andrew McCutchen To Open Season On Injured List.

A’s Outfielder Stephen Piscotty Questionable For Opening Day.

Brewers Extend Pitcher Freddy Peralta, $15.5MM over a five-year term.

Mack’s Blast From The Past comes from 2-29-12 – Mack and the Mack’s Mets writers talked about how Terry Collins was handling Ruben Tejada.  

Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com:

Born on this date:

• Terrence Long (1976)

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

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