John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 3/1/2020

Happy Birthday to Michael Conforto, Mets win 2-1 with a late rally against the Astros, Zack Wheeler makes his Spring Training debut for the Phillies, Dellin Betances thinks he will be ready for opening day, and Aaron Judge undergoes more tests on his right shoulder.

Mets beat the Astros 2-1. (Box). Video Highlights.  

Sharp pitching throughout for the Mets.

Steven Matz started throwing two innings with one hit and one strikeout.

Per Josh Finkelstein in Metsmerized online: “All in all, Matz needed 32 pitches (19 strikes) to get through two innings of work in which he allowed one hit and no walks.”

David Peterson followed allowing a run on three hits. 

NY Post:  Regarding David Peterson Luis Rojas said: “He’s working on his changeup definitely, but we see that the fastball is playing very well right now.”

Franklyn Kilomé, Stephen Gonsalves, Peter Tago, Jordan Humphreys, and Adonis Uceta all threw scoreless innings.

In a game where Brandon Nimmo, Pete Alonso, Michael Conforto, Wilson Ramos, Andres Gimenez, and Dominic Smith all started it was the late inning replacements that helped the Mets get the win.

Will Toffey walked and scored on a double by Jake Hager who later scored on a double by Max Moroff.

SNY.TV had takeaways from the game including that: “Pete Alonso's slow spring continued on Saturday. The second-year first baseman went 0-for-3 at the plate with two strikeouts. He's now batting just .067 this spring.”

SNY.TV: The Mets will play two split-squad games on Sunday. One group will be in Port St. Lucie hosting the Nationals at 1:10pm, with Jacob deGrom scheduled to go against Anibal Sanchez. Meanwhile, the other group will take on the Marlins in Jupiter, Fla., with ,  Michael Wacha facing Jose Urena.

Per the NY Post: Edwin Diaz and Justin Wilson are among the Mets’ other scheduled pitchers today.

Other Mets Links:

Brian Joura of Mets 360 had a 2020 Steven Matz projection: 165 innings, 3.50 ERA, 155 Ks, 48 Walks, 19 HR.

The NY Post had: Who’s better Jacob deGrom or Gerrit Cole? 32 MLB experts weigh in.

SNY.TV: Mets' Michael Conforto fine with flying under radar: 'I just want our team to win'.

SNY.TV: Mets' Dellin Betances indicates he'll be ready for Opening Day: "I think we're right on schedule to get seven or eight games," Betances said. "If I can get in that, it would be enough games to get ready. I think we've got enough time. We've got about four weeks, right? I think we'll be good.

NY Post: Mets’ Steven Matz calls following an opener an ‘intriguing’ idea.

NY Post: J.D. Davis’ left shoulder inflammation has been subsiding, according to manager Luis Rojas, allowing him to possibly soon resume baseball activities.

SNY.TV had video of Jeff McNeil explaining his aggressive approach early in counts.

213 Miles from Shea had Get to Know a Non-Roster Invitee: Eduardo Nunez. Elliot Teichman noted the recent regression in Eduardo’s performance: “2017: 491 PA, .313/.341/.460; 2018: 502 PA, .265/.289/.388; 2019: 174 PA, .228/.243/.305.“

213 Miles from Shea did a 2020 Mets Conglomerate Projections: Tomas Nido – 239.25 Plate Appearances, 203.5 At Bats, 5.8 HR, .216 BA./ .258 OBP/ .351 SLG.

NY Daily News: How the intensity of the Dominican Winter League prepared Luis Rojas for the pressure of managing the Mets.

Empire Sports Media: Andres Gimenez is eager to show he belongs.

Rising Apple: Mets bullpen needs to take the leap the optimists believe they can.

Rising Apple: Three Mets prospects who could make the leap to MLB this year: Andres Gimenez, David Peterson, and Kevin Smith.

Metsmerized online: Robinson Cano Focused on Staying Healthy in 2020.

Other MLB News:

Blue Jays 6 Phillies 5 (Box) Zack Wheeler made his spring training debut 2 innings, 2 runs, a walk and a home run. 

Anthony Swarzak also appeared in the game for the Phillies throwing a scoreless inning.

Per MLB.com: “I think [the Mets] did a good job of that last year,” said Wheeler, who allowed two runs in two innings in a 6-5 loss to the Blue Jays in his Grapefruit League debut. “They sort of got through to me and made me realize that my fastball plays up a lot better, maybe start throwing the curveball more -- that type of stuff.”

Per Marlin Maniac: Miami Marlins Doubled Up 12-6 by Orioles on Leap Day.

NBC Sports Washington: Nationals' No. 2 prospect Luis Garcia hits two-run home run in spring training loss.

Here are all the other MLB Scores for 2-29-20.

Yahoo Sports asks: About sign stealing - What did Joe Torre know and when did he know it?

Per Yahoo Sports: MLB reminds teams it can still punish players for marijuana use.

Yahoo Sports: Fan confronts Astros over sign-stealing scandal: 'You guys keeping the trophy?'

Yahoo Sports: The 2020 Olympics in Tokyo will feature players on MLB 40-man rosters who are not in the majors to play for Team USA.

Per MLB Trade Rumors:

Testing on Aaron Judge’s right shoulder—including an MRI—have come back negative thus far, but Judge will undergo further testing on Monday.

Dodgers Designate Yadier Alvarez For Assignment. The Dodgers awarded Alvarez with a $16MM bonus when he signed with the organization as an international amateur in July 2015.

Kenta Maeda Asked Out Of Los Angeles.

Mack’s Blast From The Past comes from 3-1-12 – Mike Freire had “What are Sabermetrics” Part Three.  FYI, here was part one and part two.

Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com:

Born on this date:

• Bing Devine (1916)
• Rich Rodriguez (1963)
• Tony Castillo (1963)
• Ramon Castro (1976)
• Michael Conforto (1993)
• Nelson Leon (1995)

Died on this date:

• Jeff McKnight (2015)

Transactions:

New York Mets signed free agent Jose Santiago on March 1, 2005.

New York Mets signed free agent Willie Collazo on March 1, 2006.

Per National Pastime.com:

1999

In the episode "Big Shots" of the Everybody Loves Raymond show, security kicks out fictional Newsday sports writer Ray Barone, played by Ray Romano, from an event honoring the Mets' 1969 World Series championship team. The Hall of Fame guards lose their patience when the title character, who insists on using his journalist's credentials to avoid the wait, refuses to get in line with the fans waiting to meet their heroes, including Tug McGraw and Art Shamsky.

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