John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 3/13/2020

MLB.com: Opening Day delayed at least 2 weeks; Spring Training games cancelled. “The decision was announced following a call with all 30 Clubs and after consultation with the Major League Baseball Players Association. Opening Day was originally scheduled for Thursday, March 26.

MLB said the action “is being taken in the interests of the safety and well-being of our players, Clubs and our millions of loyal fans.”

The league will continue to evaluate ongoing events leading up to the start of the season. Guidance related to daily operations and workouts will be relayed to Clubs in the coming days.”

MiLB.com: “In light of the current coronavirus outbreak, and after consultation with medical professionals and our partners at Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball will delay the start of the 2020 Championship Season. We will continue to monitor the developments and will announce additional information about the 2020 season at a later date. We will work with Major League Baseball and our community partners to resume play as soon as it is safe to do so. The health and safety of Minor League Baseball fans, players and executives is our top priority, and our thoughts are with those around the world who have been affected by this outbreak."

CBS Sports.com: Following Thursday's revelation that Utah Jazz star guard Donovan Mitchell had tested positive for the coronavirus, it was reported that Mitchell's father, Donovan Mitchell Sr., will also be tested for the virus. The elder Mitchell works in the New York Mets baseball operations department, acting as the Director of Player Relations and Community Engagement.

Pete Alonso Tweeted this: “First and foremost, I want to say I’m going to miss baseball.  God willing, it will only be a short hiatus from the best game in the world.  It’s a strange circumstance in a strange world. I hope everyone stays healthy and safe.  For the people who are affected by this virus, I wish them a speedy recovery.  The best things in life (baseball season) are worth waiting for. 

Secondly, thank you to everyone in the medical world trying to find a way to contain and suppress this disease.  Those people are working tirelessly to make sure this disease doesn’t turn into a massive international disaster.  It’s good to see all these precautions and measures taken to prevent something far more dangerous and deadly. 

Thirdly, we are all strong; every one of us.  It is our duty to protect people who are at high risk.  As much as we hate it not having sports, it’s our duty to protect others.

Lastly, LFGM”

Tim Brown Yahoo Sports: Coronavirus puts baseball, no matter how beloved, in proper perspective. 

“It was time to remember that “non-essential” probably meant your sport, too, and your love, and your escape, and maybe you hadn’t ever considered that before. With any luck, it will be temporary. And then we will have earned the right again to sit shoulder to shoulder with a complete stranger so there is someone to high five and someone to hug and someone with whom to share our nachos. Someone with whom to share our escape.

Until then, feel bad for the college and high school kids who won’t have another season to play for. Do something for the people who put those kids through college with jobs at the local ballpark or arena. And remember, try to remember, the reasons you started loving the games to begin with.”

Yahoo Sports: League stoppages have arena workers on edge, wondering when their next paycheck will be.

Elite Sports NY: NYC Mayor: Madison Square Garden, Barclays Center could be closed ‘for months’

Kevin Kernan NY Post: MLB will be making mistake if teams’ camps stay open.

Brian Joura of Mets 360: Terry Collins was right – It’s tough to play RF in Citi Field.

213 Miles from Shea 2020 Conglomerate Mets Projections: Corey Oswalt: 42 Innings pitched, 4.82 ERA; 1.33 WHIP; 7.37 K/9.

MLB Trade Rumors:

Matt Harvey Tried Out For Blue Jays.

Yasiel Puig Rumors: Marlins, Giants. “While the Marlins may have tried to sign Puig during the winter, it appears they’re out on him now after adding fellow veteran OFer Corey Dickerson. Nevertheless, all hope isn’t necessarily lost for Puig, whom some teams are still considering, John Heyman says. The Giants are among the clubs on the list, reports Heyman, who expects Puig to sign somewhere this month.”

  

Here’s all the Spring Training scores from 3-12-2020.

Yesterday at Mack’s Mets:

The Alternative 50 Mets Prospects, #3 Wilmer Reyes.

Blast From The Past - R.I.P. - Whitey Lockman.

Blast From The Past - A Memo To Omar... Catcher.

COLUMBIA FIREFLIES: Minor League Baseball Statement.

Mack’s Blast From The Past comes from 3-13-12 – Mack had The Keepers - #17 - 3B - Wilmer Flores.

Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com:

Born on this date:

• Al Luplow (1939)
• Gary Kolb (1940)
• Terry Leach (1954)
• Luis Aguayo (1959)
• Jorge Fabregas (1970)
• Johan Santana (1979)
• Gerson Molina (1996)
• Christian Tripp (1997)

Died on this date:

• Leroy Stanton (2019)

Transactions:

New York Mets traded Mardie Cornejo to the Detroit Tigers for Ed Glynn on March 13, 1979.

Detroit Tigers claimed Shane Halter of the New York Mets on waivers on March 13, 2000.

National Pastime.com:

1979	The Tigers and Mets swap relievers, with Detroit sending Ed Glynn to the Big Apple in exchange for Mardie Cornejo, who, after posting a 4-2 record as a rookie last season, will never play in another major league game. In contrast, the latest addition to the New York bullpen will make 84 appearances, compiling an ERA of 3.53 during the two years with his new club.
2001	Throwing 22 strikes out of 29 pitches over two innings of shutout ball in his surprise start against the Mets at Roger Dean Stadium, Rick Ankiel makes his first appearance since the 2000 playoffs, in which he lost his control, throwing seven wild pitches in three postseason appearances.

2006	Three pitches into the top of the seventh inning, the stadium lights at Tradition Field partially fail. With fifty percent of the lighting not functioning, the exhibition game ends, after a 15-minute delay, with the Mets leading the Nationals, 10-4.

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