John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 3/20/2020

MLB.com continues to post classic games on YouTube.  Here are the some games they list for the Mets: 1986 World Series, Game 6: Red Sox @ Mets; The 2015 Division clincher NYM AT CIN - September 26, 2015; Epic NLDS clincher in LA - October 16, 2015; Asdrubal’s bat flip for the ages PHI AT NYM - September 22, 2016;

The Mets also posted some of the unique and funny moments in Mets history.  Bobby Valentine’s dugout disguise; the sprinkler’s come on as Pedro Martinez tries to pitch; 50 Cent’s First Pitch mishap; Robin Ventura imitates Mike Piazza during a rain delay and more.

AP News: MLB to pay minor leaguers through April 8; salaries TBD. Minor leaguers will receive allowances of $400 per week from teams in a lump sum for the next three weeks — a significant bump from their usual spring per diems of $100-200 per week. Teams hope that will allow players to cover housing, food and other expenses through the previously scheduled end of spring training.

MLB Trade Rumors looked at Several Potential Effects Of Delayed Season. “So far, players’ service time is “the most contentious” issue MLB and the MLBPA are discussing… Under MLB’s current rules, [Mookie] Betts needs 102 more days of service to make it to the open market, though he and everyone else around the league may be fortunate to even rack up that many…Rather, in the event there is no 2020 season, the union has proposed for players who totaled a certain, unknown number of service days in 2019 to garner a full year.”

More on this from Joel Sherman NY Post: “Again consider the Betts case, that would mean the Dodgers traded for Betts, would receive zero games played and then would lose him to free agency. Conversely, James Paxton (five years, 151 days) and Marcus Stroman (five years, 148 days) are so close to free agency that to get zero credit would make them a year older and yet still having to play a full season to get to free agency.”

SNY.TV: The Mets' series against the Marlins that was to take place in Puerto Rico from April 28-30 has been canceled and will not be rescheduled.

AP News: The game between Arizona and San Diego on April 18 and 19 at Mexico City was cancelled as well.

Mets Police noted that the London Series, June 13-14, between the Cardinals and the Cubs has not yet been cancelled.

Reflections on Baseball asks about the status of other upcoming baseball events including the Draft, Hall Of Fame induction, and the London series saying: “Toss aside the London Series because the only one who seems to give a hoot about it is Rob Manfred, the Commissioner of Baseball.”

Yahoo Sports: After the shutdown, what will Baseball look like in 2020.

AP News: The Australian Football League — best known in the United States as an early staple of ESPN programming — eerily launched its season Thursday before an empty, 100,000-seat stadium.

Phil Mushnick of the NY Post had “An alternate coronavirus sports programming reality”: “I’m particularly excited by the new MLB program on Fox, “We Pick It Up In The Seventh,” which will show the endings of World Series games that ended far too late for most to have seen. Among the in-studio guests who never saw the ends will be Rob Manfred.”

SNY.TV: Mets legend and Italian national team manager Mike Piazza applauds 'selflessness' of healthcare workers during Covid-19 outbreak.

Danny Abriano of SNY.TV gives his 26 Man Mets Roster Prediction. Probably the only surprise in his list is Yoenis Cespedes making the roster as a bench player stating: “Potentially having Cespedes from Day 1 could be a boon for the Mets, who would have a pretty strong and versatile bench in that scenario -- Cespedes, two superb defenders (Jake Marisnick and Luis Guillorme), a strong hitter who can play first base and the outfield (Dominic Smith), and Tomas Nido over Rene Rivera.”

MLB.com: Marcus Stroman is recruiting stars for Team USA.  Pete Alonso, Trevor Bauer, Walker Buehler, and others all responded in the positive via twitter.

Faith and Fear in Flushing had Every Mets Opening Day Win Ranked: #1 – Gary Carter’s welcome to NY Home Run Vs. the Cardinals in 1985.

Rising Apple: Best Mets trades, signings, and other transactions pre-postseason trip. The Donn Clendenon trade leads the list.

Elite Sports NY: The New York Mets’ greatest forgotten players: C John Stearns.

Metsmerized Online: Mets All Decade Team: The 1960s. Ron Hunt makes the team along with the 1969 Roster.

Amazing Avenue is Polling Fans on Mets Killers in a March Madness type bracket.

Mets 360.com had: “Mets Song of the Month: ‘Willie Kneeling’.

The Binghamtom Rumble Ponies have been playing Spring Training baseball via MLB The Show20.  Yesterday they posted highlights from a 9-3 win over Harrisburg featuring Brett Baty.

MLB Trade Rumors:

Chris Sale To Undergo Tommy John Surgery. Per the article” “it could perhaps be some time before Sale actually goes under the knife, given how elective medical procedures are increasingly being canceled (both in the United States and all around the world) in order to give hospitals and doctors more time to focus on the coronavirus pandemic.”

Giants right-hander Tyler Beede to undergo Tommy John surgery.

Offseason In Review: Philadelphia Phillies.

Yesterday at Mack’s Mets:

John from Albany - The Alternative 50 Mets Prospects, #2 Kevin Smith.

Mack - The Virus: I have some questions.

Blast From The Past - 2010 Projection at Shortstop.

Mack’s Blast From The Past comes from 3-20-13 – Mack – The Puerto Rico Question.  Mack looked how adding Puerto Rico to the MLB draft contributed to the number of Puerto Rican players dropping from 53 in 2001 to 17 in 2012.

Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com:

Born on this date:

• George Altman (1933)
• Steve Dillon (1943)
• Rick Parker (1963)
• Blas Minor (1966)
• Manny Alexander (1971)
• Josh Hejka (1997)
• Federico Polanco (2001)

Died on this date:

• Luis Alvarado (2001)

Transactions:

New York Mets purchased Frank Lary from the Milwaukee Braves on March 20, 1965.

New York Mets signed free agent Octavio Dotel on March 20, 1993.

New York Mets traded Jason Phillips to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Kaz Ishii on March 20, 2005.

Baseball Reference:

1961 - The New York Yankees of the American League announce the team will oppose any plan that would enable the new National League expansion franchise in New York, NY to use Yankee Stadium. This decision leaves the old Polo Grounds as the only viable option for the NL's new team, the New York Mets, who will begin play in a year's time.

National Pastime.com:

1973 - In an exhibition game played in Puerto Rico, Willie Mays, subbing for manager Yogi Berra, pilots the Mets to an 8-3 win over the Pirates.

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