John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 3/8/2020

Happy Birthday Jake Mangum, Steven Matz looks great in Spring Training game yesterday, Dellin Betances makes his first spring game appearance, and 3 more Mets are assigned to the minor league camp.

Nationals 5 Mets 0 (Box) (Video Highlights).

Steven Matz started and faced the minimum over three innings striking out three.  His Spring ERA is now 1.50.

Per the NY Post: “I felt really good, especially with my offspeed [stuff],’’ Matz said. “To have that curveball so early in the spring, that’s something that normally comes at the end. I feel really comfortable with it, so I’m happy.”

The fact that Dellin Betances returned to the mound was a good thing.  He walked Trea Turner and Victor Robles who produced a double steal.  He then struck out Starlin Castro before Ryan Zimmerman singled driving in two. 

SNY.TV: “Mets' Dellin Betances on spring debut: 'I came out healthy, which is the number one thing for me'”. The article noted – “Throughout his major-league career, Betances has been a flamethrower, easily reaching the mid to upper 90s with his fastball. On Saturday, though, his velocity was in the high 80s, though he did reach the 90mph mark as well.”

Kevin Davidoff in the NY Post speaking about Betances: “If you want to write off the walks, both with two strikes, as jitters after a long winter’s rehabilitation, go right ahead. Yet the velocity has to rank as at least a mild concern.”

Rob Whalen relieved Betances and allowed another run to score giving up a walk and 2 hits while getting the final two outs in the inning.

Jeurys Familia, had a mixed outing as well.  Jeurys gave up a home run to Emilio Bonifacio then three straight singles to load the bases before striking out the next two and getting a fly out to limit the damage to one run. 

Mets were held to 5 hits by the split squad Nationals pitchers none of whom were named Stephen Strasburg, Max Scherzer, or Patrick Corbin.

Brandon Nimmo was the offensive highlight going 2 for 3, both doubles.  He is now hitting .435 this spring.

NBC Sports: video Nationals 3B Carter Kieboom robs Mets’ Dom Smith of a hit with leaping catch.

Brad Brach looked good striking out 2 in a scoreless inning. 

Paul Sewald and Chasen Shreve also threw scoreless innings.  Daniel Zamora gave up 1 run on 2 hits while striking out the side.

SNY.TV had more Mets takeaways from yesterday’s game including: Robinson Cano went 0-for-3 at the plate with a strikeout and two runners left on the base. The Mets' second baseman is off to a slow start this spring, now hitting just .091.

The Mets play the Astros today in Port St. Lucie, Justin Verlander will start for the Astros, while Noah Syndergaard will start for the Mets.  Game will be televised on WPIX 11 in NYC with WCBS 880 radio coverage.

More Mets links:

Mets.com thinks 300K’s could be the next step for Jacob deGrom.

SNY.TV: Ryley Gilliam , Kevin Smith , and Adonis Uceta have all been re-assigned to minor league camp.

SNY.TV: Mets' J.D. Davis returning to lineup from shoulder injury Sunday against Astros.

Brian Joura in Mets 360 had Mets 2020 projections: Michael Conforto.  Here is Brian’s prediction: 590 PA; .270/.370/.505; 35 HR; 95 RBIs. 

213 Miles from Shea had 2020 Conglomerate Mets Projections: Edwin Diaz 61.86 innings; 3.27 ERA; 1.10 WHIP; 13.99 K/9;

NY Post: Mets’ Michael Wacha opens up: ‘A lot left to prove’.

Rising Apple: Is the dislike for Brandon Nimmo by Mets fans justified?

Rising Apple: Mets and Yankees are not ideal trade partners in a possible Steven Matz deal.

We will have more on this later but per Syracuse.com:  From ‘Top Gun Tebow’ to The Dragon: Syracuse Mets unveil 2020 promotions.

Other MLB News:

Rays 1 Orioles 0 (Box) Eric Hanhold with a scoreless inning, 0.00 ERA this spring. Dilson Herrera played 1B went 0 for 3, .231 BA this spring.

Talking Chop.com: Foltynewicz sharp as Braves tie Rays.

Section 215: Phillies’ Ranger Suarez should crack the rotation.

MLB.com: Slide of the spring so far: Vlad Jr.'s belly flop.

Indian’s Outfielder Anthony Gose's 100-mph gas fuels his move to mound.

Here’s all the Spring Training scores from 3-7-2020.

MLB.com: Are these 9 spring standouts the real deal? 1. Andrew Vaughn, 1B, White Sox; 2. Alec Bohm, 1B/3B, Phillies; 3. Angel Perdomo, LHP, Brewers plus more. No Mets included.

AP News: Virus may have US sports leagues cutting locker-room access.

AP News: Signed off: MLB limits spring autographs amid virus outbreak.

O’s: Mancini needs ‘non-baseball-related medical procedure’.

Phil Mushnick joked in the NY Post: “MLB and MLBPA are looking into a proposal to ban spring training. Too dangerous.”

MLB Trade Rumors:

The Cardinals placed infielder Yairo Munoz on unconditional release waivers. The move leaves an opening on the 40-man roster.  The St. Louis Post-Dispatch adds that Munoz “left the team, flew home” without notifying the Cardinals.

Yesterday at Mack’s Mets:

More Pics From the Mets Camp

Syracuse Mets to Host Second Annual Meet the Syracuse Mets Preseason Fundraiser

Tom Brennan - METS HITTERS AND THE SEEMINGLY IMPENETRABLE MENDOZA LINE

Tom Brennan - DIVE AT YOUR OWN RISK

Mack – Draft News – Victor Mederos, Sam Weatherly, Adam Seminaris, Spencer Torkelson

Reese Kaplan -- Who's Going to be in LF for the Mets?

Mack’s Blast From The Past comes from 3-8-12 – Mac said “I May Be Wrong, But… Jenrry Mejia, Jose Reyes, Zack Wheeler, C.J. Nitkowski. Mack noted “Reyes was never a dummy and all his slow rehabbing was to make sure he would be 100% in his contract year. It worked out exactly how he wanted it to be and anyone that thinks this is still a sport, and not a business, are years behind the times.”   

Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com:

Born on this date:

• Willard Hunter (1934)
• Jake Mangum (1996)
• Adrian Aybar (1998)

Transactions:

New York Mets released Gene Woodling on March 8, 1963.

New York Mets signed free agent Brian Daubach on March 8, 2005

National Pastime.com:

1966

Before an intrasquad contest in St. Petersburg in a pregame ceremony, the Mets announce the election of their former manager Casey Stengel to the Hall of Fame. The 75 year-old 'Old Perfessor' benefitted from a new rule by the Baseball Writers Committee on Veterans that makes any manager, umpire, or executive past the age of 65 eligible to be elected to the Hall of Fame six months after retiring, bypassing the traditional five-year wait rule for players.

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