John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 3/31/2020

Good morning.  Happy Birthday Ryan Cordell, Pete sticks up for Noah, Luis Rojas talks about what he is doing and Darryl Strawberry talks to A-Rod.

NY Post: Pete Alonso defends Noah Syndergaard after surgery causes coronavirus backlash. “The Mets first baseman took issue with a Sports Illustrated story examining if pitchers should be getting Tommy John surgery while the nation’s health care system is strained by the coronavirus pandemic. ‘Who is to judge someone’s medical needs in order to perform their job?’ Alonso tweeted Monday in response to the story. ‘Noah’s surgery, or any other athlete’s surgery during this time shouldn’t be scrutinized considering it is done by orthopedic surgeons, not those on the frontlines battling this pandemic.’”

ESPN: MLB managers on how they're helping team, family deal with pandemic.  Luis Rojas Mets – “We use an application that all large organizations are using, called Teamworks. There we send group messages and information to the entire groups, communicate in general terms, with the whole group. We are also constantly making calls and sending personal texts to keep in touch. Lately we have been using Zoom video calls.”

SNY.TV had more on this including how Rojas is in contact with Brodie Van Wagenen and the front office every day.  They also had this quote from Luis: "I do believe we are going to have a season this year," Rojas said. "I hope we will. But knowing the timeline right now is very difficult. We certainly know that what is happening right now is much bigger than the game. Now we are following protocols, following everything to the letter to overcome this. But our mentality is that we will play baseball this year, at some point."

NY Post: Florida coronavirus order could further delay MLB 2020 season. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Monday he’s going to sign a “Safer At Home” executive order for southeast Florida. The order, if it goes into effect, would last through mid-April.

Mets.com: Marcus Stroman gets work in pitching to Dominic Smith in street.

Mike’s Mets had another good one yesterday talking the kind of owner he wants for the Mets in “And my rose goes to…”

SNY.TV: Darryl Strawberry explains how Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter impacted his game with Mets and more with A-Rod.  On Alex Rodriguez’ Instagram Live Darryl told how Gary Carter worked with Ron Darling, Sid Fernandez, and Doc Gooden, and how Keith Hernandez “taught us what it was like to play in big games and big situations."

ESPN:  The biggest one-hit wonders for every National League team. For the Mets it was Bernard Gilkey.  Stats: .317/.393/.562, 30 HRs, 117 RBIs, 8.1 WAR; Another notable the Atlanta Braves’ Buzz Capra.

Metsmerized Online: Mets One Year Wonders: Jose Valentin’s Underrated Resurgence.

SNY.TV: Video of some pretty nice Pool shots from Bartolo Colon.

Mets 360 had a Poll: What will be most important in a shortened MLB season? Starting Pitching, Relief Pitching, Depth, Other. Starting Pitching was in the lead at the time of this posting.

Rising Apple: Mets can get through the 2020 season without Noah Syndergaard.

Rising Apple: The all-time top five closers in franchise history. 5) Roger McDowell; 4) Billy Wagner; 3) Jesse Orosco; 2) Tug McGraw; 1) John Franco. 

Metsmerized Online: Remembering Mets Prospect Brian Cole.

Bleacher Report: Every MLB Team's Former Can't-Miss Prospect Who Missed.  For the Mets they have Lastings Milledge.

Metstradamus talked about the Mets-Phillies simulated game.

NY Post: Mike Francesa outraged by Knicks fans celebrating James Dolan’s coronavirus.

The Korea Herald: The South Korean baseball league is pondering shortening the 2020 regular season by as many as 36 games, with its start having been delayed by the coronavirus outbreak..with few, if any, signs that the virus has been tamed, the GMs on Tuesday discussed pushing the start date further back to May.

Baseball Mexico: The Mexican League is considering options for their 2020 schedule moving forward and the Mexican Pacific League's own 2020-21 season could potentially be affected. League president Horacio de la Vega said: "In the scenario in which we start on May 11, we'll plan to be playing 102 games per team and finishing at the start of the Pacific season, that is, around October 12 or 14..that is the current scenario."

MLB Trade Rumors:

College Baseball Players Granted Additional Year Of NCAA Eligibility.

Chris Sale Undergoes Tommy John Surgery.

Luxury Tax Status Will Not Reset If 2020 Season Is Cancelled.

Yesterday at Mack’s Mets:

Reese Kaplan -- The Wilpon Stench Is Fomenting.

Mack – FWIW – Daily Thoughts.

Rumble Ponies Season Postponed Until At Least May 10.

Mack’s Blast From The Past comes from 3-31-10 – Mack – A kink in the Armour.

Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com:

Born on this date:

• Bill Denehy (1946)
• Tom Hausman (1953)
• Ryan Cordell (1992)

Transactions:

New York Mets traded Ron Swoboda and Rich Hacker to the Montreal Expos for Don Hahn on March 31, 1971.

New York Mets signed free agent Ray Sadecki on March 31, 1977.

New York Mets traded Juan Berenguer to the Kansas City Royals for Marvell Wynne and John Skinner on March 31, 1981.

New York Mets traded Rusty Tillman to the San Diego Padres for Rick Lancellotti on March 31, 1985.

New York Mets traded Alan Zinter to the Detroit Tigers for Rico Brogna on March 31, 1994.

New York Mets traded Ryan Thompson and Reid Cornelius to the Cleveland Indians for Mark Clark on March 31, 1996.

New York Mets traded Tim Bogar to the Houston Astros for Luis Lopez on March 31, 1997.

New York Mets claimed Yorkis Perez on waivers from the Atlanta Braves on March 31, 1997.

New York Mets signed free agent Mike DiFelice on March 31, 2005.

New York Mets signed free agent Ricky Ledee on March 31, 2007.

New York Mets released Tony Armas on March 31, 2009.

New York Mets signed free agent Bobby Abreu on March 31, 2014.

National Pastime.com:

1994	The Mets trade hard-luck right-hander Anthony Young to the Cubs for shortstop Jose Vizcaino. A-Yo holds the major league record for the most consecutive losses by a pitcher.
1998	In the longest scoreless opener in National League history, pinch-hitter Alberto Castillo's single with two outs and the bases loaded gives the Mets a 1-0, 14-inning victory over the Phillies. The most extended Opening Day game in major league history occurred in 1926 when the Senators blanked the Philadelphia A's in 15 innings, 1-0.

2003	At Shea Stadium, the Mets Opening Day lineup includes the first regular starting double-play combination in major league history featuring natives from Puerto Rico. Second baseman Roberto Alomar and shortstop Rey Sanchez combine to make two twin killings as the Cubs drub New York, 15-2.

Baseball Reference:

2001 - After 31 years in Three Rivers Stadium, the Pittsburgh Pirates move into their new $262 million home at PNC Park, losing to the New York Mets, 4 - 3, in an exhibition game. The 38,000 seat stadium is nestled at the confluence of the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers with a spectacular view of the city.

2010: With spring training coming to an end, the disabled list is getting crowded. Among those who will miss the beginning of the season are Mets SS Jose Reyes, who missed most of 2009 with injuries and joins teammates Daniel Murphy, Carlos Beltran and Kelvim Escobar on the list;

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