John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 3/5/2020

The Mets had Mic'd up against the Cardinals yesterday on ESPN, Jed Lowrie says "talk to the organization" about his injury, and Jeff McNeil wants to win the Batting Crown.  Let's hit the links: 

The Mets beat the Cardinals 4-1 in Port St. Lucie yesterday (Box) (Video Highlights).

Marcus Stroman started and pitched 3 strong innings including striking out the side 1-2-3 in the second.  Overall he gave up just one hit, one walk, 1 HBP, and 4 strikeouts.

Per SNY.TV: "I'm not really worried about the numbers, to be honest with you," Stroman said when he met with reporters after his outing at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie, Fla. "It's just my body feels great, my mind's clear. I feel really strong, really stable and fluid.

After the first batter in the game for the Cardinals, Tommy Edman, reached base on a HBP, Rene Rivera, the starting catcher, threw him out trying to steal. 

After a Matt Carpenter walk, Andres Gimenez made a nice play at SS going into the hole for the ball to start a 6-4-3 DP.

The Mets starting lineup was once again filled with a number of projected regulars: 1. Jeff McNeil 2B; 2. Brandon Nimmo CF; 3. Pete Alonso 1B;  4. Michael Conforto RF; 5. Wilson Ramos DH;  6. Dominic Smith LF; 7. Eduardo Nunez, 3B; 8. Rene Rivera C; 9 Andres Gimenez SS.

The Mets scored two in the first on consecutive singles by McNeil, Nimmo, and Alonso.  Michael Conforto hit into a double play with Nimmo scoring on the play. 

Eduardo Nunez drove in the other 2 runs on a triple in the fourth and a bases loaded walk in the sixth.

Eduardo looked real good running on the triple.  I think there is a good chance he makes the team.

After Marcus Stroman Daniel Zamora pitched 1 inning, 1 walk, 1K;  Erasmo Ramírez 2 innings, 1 hit, 1 walk, 1K; Chasen Shreve, 1 inning, 1 walk; Stephen Nogosek, 1 inning, 1 K, 1 hit, 1 run on a HR and Francisco Rios 1 inning 2 hits, 1 K for the save.

SNY.TV had more takeaways from yesterday’s game including: Daniel Zamora, who has not allowed a run yet in spring training but could be on the outside looking in as far as a spot in the bullpen is concerned, tossed 1.0 scoreless inning while walking one and striking out one.

The big news on yesterday’s game was ESPN’s all access coverage that had the Mets mic’d up for the game.

SNY.TV had the Best Mets’ all-access broadcast vs. Cardinals: Pete Alonso re-capping Rene Rivera throwing out a runner: "The pitch, the relay, Rene Rivera -- cut down Tommy Edman," Alonso said in a higher-pitched voice while walking back to first. "Top of the first, one out."; Dom Smith poked fun at J.D. Davis, the former Astro: "J.D. has a ton of cheat sheets," Smith said as the others on the broadcast could be heard laughing. "You know what I'm saying?"

More Mic’d up clips from yesterday’s game on YouTube.

Per SNY.TV: Mets' Pete Alonso open to mic at Citi Field first base to 'try and grow the game'.

NY Post: In the works, according to [Alonso] the player and team, is a microphone that will be placed inside first base at Citi Field to capture conversations between Alonso and opposing players. Those chats would then be replayed to fans on various media platforms. Alonso said he was approached by MLB with the proposal.

Lohud thinks NY Mets' Pete Alonso could help baseball's marketing problem.

NY Post: The Mets face the Cardinals in Jupiter, Fla., with Rick Porcello on the mound. Edwin Diaz, Justin Wilson and David Peterson are also among the scheduled pitchers.

Other Mets Links:

Mets.com had the Mets players that have impressed the most this spring.  Justin Wilson, LHP: “Following an offseason of rest, Wilson demonstrated his health by striking out the side Sunday against the Nationals. All told, the lefty has fanned four of the six batters he’s faced this spring. He hasn’t allowed a baserunner.”; also Jeff McNeil, Johneshwy Fargas, Ryan Cordell, and Jacob deGrom.

Brian Joura Mets 360.com notes that one of the five players with the most at bats this spring for the Mets is Ryan Cordell saying “He’s nothing great offensively but he’s a pretty good defender capable of playing all three outfield positions. In an org not overflowing with defensive players able to hit their weight, Cordell is at least … interesting.”

NY Post: Mets’ former first-rounder David Peterson starting to turn heads. “A talent evaluator who watched Peterson in Arizona was impressed with the pitcher’s progress since the start of last season. “He knows what he is doing, he has got a feel for it,” the talent evaluator said. “We all want these [first-round] picks to zoom to the big leagues and it just doesn’t happen. I think Peterson is going to be a major league pitcher. Where he is going to fit in the rotation, I don’t know, but he is going to be an inning-eating guy.”

213 Miles from Shea had a 2020 Conglomerate Projections: Dellin Betances. 49.5 Games; 2.88 ERA; 1.1 WHIP; 12.3 K/9; 1.35 WAR.

213 Miles from Shea also had Get to know Non-Roster Invitee: Tim Tebow.

Rising Apple said: Time to end the Tim Tebow experiment.

Rising Apple had fans vote for the best lineup via twitter: 1. Brandon Nimmo; 2. Jeff McNeil; 3. Pete Alonso; 4. Michael Conforto; 5. J.D. Davis; 6. Robinson Cano; 7. Wilson Ramos; 8. Amed Rosario; 9. Pitcher.

SNY.TV: Mets' Michael Conforto on why he could make a Christian Yelich-like jump to superstardom. "I've been that player before, in 2017."

SNY.TV: Edwin Diaz told WFAN’s Marc Malusis and Maggie "I started working out in October. Every time when the season's done I get a month off with time with my family," Diaz said. "But right away when the season done I take the week off and I start working out. I feel ready for the season. I feel really, really good."

NY Post: On Wednesday, J.D. Davis took batting practice, grounders and fly balls for the first time since receiving the diagnosis of swelling in his left shoulder. During that MRI exam it was revealed Davis had a labrum tear that was believed to be an old injury.

SNY.TV Video: J.D. Davis thinks he will be ready for opening day: "Yeah, I feel like I'm ready enough to be ready for Opening Day and everything," Davis said. "I have no setbacks or anything right now. So feeling good, feeling strong. All the strength is there, all the range of motion is there. It's just easing it back in and I think the next thing is just live ABs, hit off the machine and maybe work on diving back to the bag and sliding. But, other than that, we're looking good right now."

SNY.TV: Mets' Jed Lowrie on whether he expects to play in spring training: 'I have to refer you to the organization'

Metsmerized.com: Jed Lowrie Looking into Using Transition Brace.

SNY.TV Brodie Van Wagenen gave these injury updates: "Jed, at this point, continues to be fully unrestricted with all baseball activities," said Van Wagenen. "He's effectively doing all the activities you would expect someone from playing a game while wearing the big brace."  Matt Adams took tests in New York, and all came back clean. Van Wagenen said he will be back in Port St. Lucie on Thursday and resume baseball activities this week.

Metsmerized.com: Matt Adams To Resume Baseball Activities Friday.

Per Larry Brown Sports: Maybe the Mets have told Lowrie not to talk, but he certainly doesn’t sound thrilled with where he’s at. It could just be frustration, too.

Steve Serby in the NY Post – “There’s no doubt in Jeff McNeil’s batting title quest”: “It was always kind of a goal of mine in the minor leagues. I always wanted to be the best hitter,” McNeil said. “I like to see my name at the top in average.”

MiLB completed their ranking of the top minor league systems with numbers 1-10: The tope three were the Rays at #1, Padres #2, Dodgers #3.  The Mets were listed in the 30-21 group at #24.  However MiLB noted that “Given their ages and potential for growth, the four in the back half (of MLB’s top 100 prospect list) certainly are capable of making those jumps in 2020, particularly (Ronnie) Mauricio and (Francisco) Alvarez. If they do, expect this group to climb out of the bottom 10 next year.”

Yahoo Sports had three to watch as they previewed the NL East. Bryce Harper, Nationals 3B prospect Carter Kieboom and new Mets Manager Luis Rojas.

SNY.TV’s Danny Abriano: With trade looking 'inevitable', here's why Rockies' Nolan Arenado is a near perfect Mets fit.

 

If you look at Nolan Arenado’s Home and Away splits, you may not agree.  Home: 129 HR, 446 RBI, .324/.380/.615 - .995 OPS; Away: 98 HR, 288 RBI, .265/.323/.476 - .799 OPS.  Resse will have more on this story tomorrow morning here on Mack's Mets.

Mets.Com: Yoenis Céspedes reunited with his brother Yoelkis as both prepare for MLB.

Metsmerized.com: MMO Mets Top 30 Prospects: No. 10 Josh Wolf, RHP.

Other MLB News:

Anthony Kay, started for the Blue Jays buy lasted just 1/3 of an inning. He allowed one hit but walked four.

Here’s all the Spring Training scores from 3-4-2020.

Mack’s Blast From The Past comes from 3-5-15 – Tom Brennan had 50 reasons why the Mets will win 90 (or more) in 2015.  

Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com:

Born on this date:

• Larry Elliot (1938)
• Les Rohr (1946)
• Kevin Brown (1966)
• Mike Hessman (1978)

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