4/30/20

Tom Brennan - MAKING THE HALL OF FAME IS REALLY HARD


Do you ever think about guys who, when they started out for the Mets, you watched them and thought to yourself:



“Now, THIS GUY could make the Hall of Fame someday?”


And then they didn’t.


Because it takes a whole lot of quantity to go with superior quality.


Let’s rattle off some guys I wrongly thought early on might make it:


Jerry Koosman - wins 36 games over his first two seasons. Long career, 222 career wins, but lousy offensive support throughout his career, so no HOF.


Rusty Staub - on base over 4,000 times, 1,466 RBIs, 6 time All Star.  Not enough very high quality, even if there was a lot of very laudable quality.


Darryl Strawberry - dubbed the black Ted Williams early on, he had several great seasons and a larger-than-life persona, but too few such seasons.  Nope.


Dwight Gooden - best pitcher through age 21 in baseball history, hands down, going 58-19...but like Darryl, did not stay great long enough. Hard to fathom.


David Cone - 20-3 in his first season as a Met, a Cy Young award, 194-126 career...perfect game ( no, not as a Met), fanned 19 in a game once, nearly 2,700 Ks...close, in mind, but not close at all in the writers’ minds, and hence no cigar.


Jose Reyes - base stealer extraordinare, batting title, but injured too much. Nope. Not even close.


David Wright - looked like a real possibility early, but then the Wilpons put him in the hitters’ graveyard known as Citifield and then his back betrayed him.  Everyone loves him, but love and his truncated career #’s won’t get him there.


Vince Coleman stole 99 bases in 235 Mets games. Before the Mets, he stole an astonishing 326 out of 387 tries in his first 3 seasons with the Cardinals, and an average of 75 per year in seasons 4-6. He ended up with an amazing 752 career steals, but only swiped 12 after age 33. Not long enough, and somehow only scored 849 career runs.


John Olerud - hit .354 or better twice, and had 500 doubles, 255 HRs, over 1,200 RBIs, and a dazzling .398 career OBP...but not sensational enough. Sorry.


Carlos Delgado - 473 HRs, 1,512 RBIs.  And not even close to making the HOF.  Puzzler.


Billy Wagner - a great, fireballing lefty reliever - but it seems some think he did not pitch long enough. 853 games, 903 innings, 1,196 Ks, 2.31 ERA, 47 wins, 422 saves, WHIP of 0.99.  I sure think he 100% deserves it, but I don’t get to vote.  He is still nowhere near to the required 75% of the vote.  Cuckoo.


Matt Harvey - man, for a short while, he pitched like a Hall of Famer, but injuries killed him far, far short of any possible HOF consideration.


Carlos Beltran might make it once he is eligible, but the sign stealing scandal that suddenly paled in importance to COVID might keep him out of the venerated Hall.




Current players who are future HOF possibilities: 



Jake deGrom and Pete Alonso...and if COVID gets the heck out of here, maybe even Jeff McNeil.





But getting there, as can be seen above, sure ain’t easy.







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John From Albany – Matthew Allan, Brett Baty, Andres Regnault, the Columbia Fireflies 2020 Roster Projection.


We did the projected Mets Roster, projected Syracuse roster, the projected Binghamton roster, St. Lucie, and now we move to Columbia.

The projection for the St. Lucie Mets was full of prospects.  I think the same will go for this year’s Columbia Fireflies, starting off with 

Catching: 

I put squad Francisco Alvarez on St. Lucie mostly because there were a number of good catching prospects in the lower levels last year.  This way they all get to play.

That leaves the catching trio of Andres Regnault, Wilfred Astudillo, and Endy Rodriguez in Columbia.

All three of these can hit.

At 21, Andres is the most experienced catcher of the group having caught 108 games and 869.1 innings, 29.9% caught stealing rate in his career, .292/.328/.489 (.817 OPS) last year in Kingsport.

Wilfred Astudillo, 20, 77 games and 651.2 innings with 37.5% caught stealing in his career, .267/.323/.408 (.731 OPS) last year in Kingsport.  Wilfred has also seen 41 games at first.

Endy Rodriquez, turning 20 in May, just 33 games, 239.2 innings caught so far with a 41.7% caught stealing in his career, .294/.411/.510 (.921 OPS) split between the DSL and GCL last year.  Endy has also played 13 games at first and 9 games in the OF.
 
Very possible one of these end up in Brooklyn with Brooklyn’s Jake Ortega ending up in Columbia. 

Pitching:

On the mound, again more prospects that I see the Mets wanting to get in as many games as possible. 

Matthew Allan, one of the big picks from last year’s draft will lead the starting staff.  

Matthew pitched 6 regular season games for a 1-0, 2.61 ERA, 10 innings, 10 hits, 3 Earned Runs, 14 K’s, 5 Walks.  In the playoffs for Brooklyn he threw 5 perfect innings in two different outings with 3 Ks. 


Nathan Jones, 5th round, 2019 Draft. In the regular season Nathan was 0-2 with a 6.59 ERA, 7 games, all starts, just 13.2 innings, 10 hits, 10 runs allowed, 3 HR allowed, 8 walks, and 14 Ks.  6 of those runs allowed came in one start where he went only 2/3rd of an inning.  In the playoffs, with Brooklyn down 1 game to none in the best of 3 series, Nathan Jones started and threw three scoreless innings with no hits and a walk, working around two errors.  Nathan also started Brooklyn’s Championship game giving up 2 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks.

Another Prospect and 2019 draftee, Josh Wolf.  Josh pitched just 5 games – 8 innings for the Gulf Coast Mets after getting drafted and was only scored on once.  His record was 0-1, 3.38 ERA, 9 hits, 3 Earned Runs, 1 walk, 12 strikeouts.

Michel Otanez, 4-3, 3.14 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 70 Ks, 28 BB, in 63 innings, 14 starts split between Brooklyn and Kingsport. 

Joander Suarez, 1-0, 1.79 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 47 Ks, 16 BB, in 40.1 innings, 11 Games/8 starts for the Gulf Coast League Mets. 

Matt Cleveland, 3-3, 3.78 ERA; 1.28 WHIP, 42 Ks, 32 BB, in 66.2 innings, 14 starts for the Brooklyn Cyclones. 
I think all six will get work as Allan, Wolf and Jones build up innings. 


In the bullpen, I am starting with NY Penn All-Star Mitch Ragan with his .86 WHIP, 3-2, 3.09 ERA, 15 games, 35 innings, 31 Ks, 3 BB. 

Justin Lasko, .92 WHIP, 4-5, 2.14 ERA, 21 games, 33.2 innings, 28 Ks, 6 BB split between Brooklyn and Columbia.


Matt Mullenbach, 19 relief outings last year for Brooklyn, 1 and 5, 2.84 ERA, 25.1 innings, 2 HR, 26 K’s, 13 walks, 1.07 WHIP.  On August 30th Matt struck out the side on nine pitches.

Josh Hejka, 1.08 WHIP, 2-0, 1.33 ERA, 22 games, 20.1 innings, 24 Ks, 5 BB split between Brooklyn and Kingsport.

Reyson Santos, 1.13 WHIP, 0-0, 2.25 ERA, 24 games, 24 innings, 33 Ks, 9 BB split between Brooklyn and Kingsport.

Franklin Parra, the Copaigue NY Lefty went 1-1, 2.57, 10 games, 8 starts, 21 innings, 29 Ks, 16 BB. 

The Infield

At first, Joe Genord.  Joe led the Brooklyn Cyclones team with 44 RBIs (third in league) and 9 HRs (tied for fifth in league).  Joe struggled getting hits at home, hitting just .140 in Brooklyn while .266 on the road for a .206 total average. 

           
2B, Luke Ritter, .245/.351/.371, 4 HRs, 36 RBIs, 5 Stolen Bases, 56 hits, 50 Ks.  “Ritter the hitter” was often the number four hitter in Brooklyn’s NY Penn Championship lineup.

3B, Brett Baty, the Mets 2019 #1 pick, 188 At-Bats last year hitting 7 HR, 33 RBIs, .234/.368/.452. 

At short Warren Saunders, .323/.397/.386 for the GCL Mets.

And Federico Polanco also at SS, Federico had one of the highest OPS in the Mets Organization while playing in the DSL 1 league with an OPS of .886, with a slash line of .331/.414/.472, 163 At Bats, 54 hits, 13 doubles, 5 triples, 23 walks, 23 Ks, 7 stolen bases.   

The Outfield:


Ranfy Adon RF; Ranfy was one of the fastest players on a fast Brooklyn team last year.  Ranfy stole 11 bases while playing all three outfield positions.  Ranfy had a big homerun and the walk-off double to give the Cyclones a 4-3 win in the deciding game against Hudson Valley in the first playoff round. In the regular season Ranfy hit .270, with two homers and 13 RBIs.  

Blaine McIntosh CF, .228/.311/.228.  24 games, 92 at bats, one of the Mets top CF prospects. 

Antoine Duplantis LF, Brooklyn’s lead-off hitter last year .237/.286/.294, 20 RBIs, 5 SBs, 46 hits, 12 walks, 31 Ks.  He has good speed and runs the bases well and is a good defender - 153 putouts, 16 assists, and just one error. 

Yoel Romero IF/OF, Yoel played all over the diamond for Brooklyn last year: 23 games at Shortstop, 7 games at Second Base, 25 games at Third Base (including all 6 playoff games), 1 game in Left Field, 4 games at DH.  He’ll back up Baty at 3B and play the outfield too.  His Brooklyn slash line was .251/.326/.377 with 4 HRs, 15 RBIs, 6 SBs.

Freddy Valdez RF, On the DSL Met 1 team he had a .790 OPS (one of the best in the Mets minor league system) with a slash line of .268/.358/.432, 5 HR, 36 RBI. He ended the season being called up to the Gulf Coast Mets where he went 4 for 10 in 3 games with a HR and 3 RBI.  


The top Mets prospects are moving up the ranks.  

Columbia will be the destination for many of them this year.  

Should be another great team to watch this season. 
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John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 4/30/2020



Good morning, Dr. Fauci says we need baseball for “mental health’, Pete Alonso wants to bring back black jerseys and one report says no 2020 minor league baseball.

Empire Sports Media: Report: 2020 minor-league season to be canceled. “Joe Doyle of SB Nation has reported that agents have been notified that there will not be a 2020 minor-league baseball season. Major League rosters will be expanded for the condensed season, and that there will be a developmental league based at spring training sites for minor leaguers. It’s unclear whether the developmental league will include all minor-leaguers or only those at higher levels of ball.”

Gwinnett Daily Post: Minor League Baseball denies report that season is canceled.  “The statement added, ‘No decision has been made as to when it will be safe to begin the 2020 season.’ Baseball America executive editor JJ Cooper and national writer Kyle Glaser, The Athletic baseball prospect writer Emily C. Waldon, and ESPN baseball writer Jeff Passan all refuted Doyle's report. After other journalists disputed the report, Doyle tweeted, ‘I stand by my sources and this story completely. I was contacted independently by an agency representing four minor leaguers at advanced levels. I did not go seeking this information, it was brought to my desk. I cross-checked this with another agency representing two players.’"

METS LINKS:

SNY.TV: Predicting the New York Mets' 2023 roster: Prospects, trades, free agents, and keepers.  Catcher: Francisco Alvarez; First Base: Pete Alonso; Second Base: Jeff McNeil; Shortstop: Ronny Mauricio; Third Base: Nolan Arenado; Left Field: Trevor Larnach; Center Field: Amed Rosario; Right Field: Michael Conforto.  Starting Rotation: 1. Jacob deGrom; 2. Jose Berrios; 3. Matthew Allan; 4. Josh Wolf; 5. David Peterson; Bullpen: Closer: Edwin Diaz; Setup: Keone Kela; RHP: Ryley Gilliam; RHP: Franklyn Kilome; RHP: Jacob Wallace; RHP: Dedniel Nunez; LHP: Thomas Szapucki; LHP: Kevin Smith; Catcher: Martin Maldonado; First Base/Third Base: Mark Vientos; Infield: Luis Guillorme; Infield/Outfield: Carlos Cortes; Outfield: Jake Mangum.

Tim Boyle Rising Apple: Best Mets player acquired via free agent at each position.  Starting Pitcher – Rick Reed; Relief Pitcher – Billy Wagner; Catcher – Wilson Ramos; First Baseman – Todd Zeile; Second Baseman – Jose Valentin; Third Baseman – Robin Ventura; Shortstop – Asdrubal Cabrera; Left Fielder – Cliff Floyd; Center Fielder – Carlos Beltran; Right Fielder – Curtis Granderson.

NY Post: Robinson Cano’s Mets future could be saved with universal DH.

Joel Sherman NY Post: Robinson Cano trade mirroring Mets’ Jim Fregosi debacle. Among other points Joel raises: “1. Structurally, the Mets would have worked better last year if Jeff McNeil was the second baseman, and that is probably true moving forward as well. 2. Financially…a contract that pays Cano $24 million per year through 2023…Bigger still if Cano does not perform well. Bigger yet when you consider the financial plight of the Wilpons and what kind of cuts may be necessitated if they are unable to sell the Mets. Having Cano will mean not having who else?”

MetsMInors.net: Amazin’ Minors Moments: R.A. Dickey Retires 27 Straight.

Empire Writes Back: Universal DH would be welcomed by Amazins.

Empire Sports Media: New York Mets: Sharing a Division With the Yankees?

Kyle Newman Elite Sports NY: New York Mets greatest forgotten players: SP Bret Saberhagen.  Here is a great quote from the post: “Teams should take the Mets’ actions with stars like Saberhagen as a cautionary tale. It’s important to know when to go star chasing. They can’t try and extend a closing window or open a closed window by going star chasing. It’s a recipe for wasting money and top talent.”

Mike Vaccaro NY Post: Bobby Valentine is stepping up again in the face of tragedy. “On Sunday, that meant spending an hour handing out baggies filled with five masks to passing motorists in his hometown of Stamford. Tuesday he was in downtown Hartford at the old civic center — now called the XL Center. Friday he hopes to be at Naugatuck Valley Community College in Waterbury, if his schedule allows.”

The Mets Police: Best Mets By Number: 30 Michael Conforto.

Faith and Fear in Flushing: Greg Prince looks back at the 1992 season in “Stolen Plate Appearance”.

Mike’s Mets continues to look at the practicality of the 2020 MLB season is “The Stolen Summer”.

Mets.com: Alonso says Mets 'need' to bring black unis back.

NJ.com: N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo taps Yankees’ Randy Levine, Knicks’ James Dolan, Mets’ Jeff Wilpon for coronavirus guidance.

12Up.com: VIDEO: Mets' Steven Matz Sends Emotional Message to Police Officer Hospitalized With Coronavirus.

YouTube: New York Mets Videos - Ramos’ Tropical Workout. 


MLB LINKS:

Yahoo Sports: Coronavirus: Dr. Anthony Fauci says he wants baseball back 'for the country's mental health'.

Yahoo Sports: The real question: Does MLB have a plan for playing amid continued coronavirus risk?

NJ.com: Sports business insider tells WFAN’s Mike Francesa MLB desperately needs to return from coronavirus.

NJ.com: Is fans’ lawsuit scaring MLB? Teams finally permitted to refund ticket money.

NJ.com: MLB rumors: 4 reasons to believe in baseball’s latest restart plan. Players could go home; The East would be must-watch television; Expanded playoffs; Less than a month from agreement to games.

NY Post: Andre Dawson’s second career as Funeral Home Operator has been greatly affected by coronavirus.

SNY.TV: Scott Boras says his clients are on board to 'return to play and get ready' for 2020 MLB season. 

Minor League links:

FANGRAPHS.com: The Sting of Contraction Is No Minor Matter.  “A sport with nearly $11 billion in annual revenue can certainly afford to pay minor leaguers a living wage without salting the earth in the communities that are growing the next generation of fans.” 

MLB Trade Rumors:

Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony Postponed Until 2021.

Nearly Half The Astros’ Starting Lineup Is Up For Free Agency This Winter: George Springer, Michael Brantley, Josh Reddick, and Yuli Gurriel.

A Battle Of NL East Superstars: the Braves’ Ronald Acuna Jr. and the Nationals’ Juan Soto. 

Yadier Molina Intends To Play Beyond 2020, Whether Or Not With Cardinals.

Latest On MLB Teams’ Cost-Cutting Efforts.

When The Cardinals Almost Traded Away An Ace. When the Cardinals were trying to acquire outfielder Giancarlo Stanton from the Marlins after the 2017 season…the Redbirds were open to dealing an “elite pitching prospect such as Sandy Alcantara or Jack Flaherty” to make the trade happen.

Manny Ramirez Pursuing Taiwan Comeback.

Asian Baseball:

Kyodo News: Baseball: Hawks' pitcher Carter Stewart eager to prove himself in Japan.

12Up.com: Complete Guide to KBO Baseball in Korea Ahead of May 5 Opening Day.

12Up.com: Manny Ramirez Planning a Comeback in Taiwan at 48 Years Old is Exactly What We Need Right Now.

CBS Sports: Two broadcasters put the CPBL and themselves in an American spotlight -- now they're making the most of it.

Yesterday in the CPBL

Ryan Carpenter and Rakuten Monkeys over the Fubon Guardians 5-3 (Line Score). 

Chinatrust Brothers 9 Uni Lions 8 (Line Score).

Today’s game starts at 6:30 AM which you can see here:



Yesterday at Mack’s Mets:

Reese Kaplan -- Finding the Needle in the Haystack.

Tom Brennan - DECISIONS, DECISIONS, DECISIONS.

Syracuse Mets Helping to Raise Money for the Food Bank of Central New York.

Mack’s Blast from the Past comes from 4/30/13 – Reese Kaplan - A Shake-Up SHOULD be Forthcoming, But Won’t.  Reese gave a rundown of the 2013 Mets and included this line: “Harvey and Niese, then watch winning cease.”

Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com:

Born on this date:
Died on this date:
Transactions:

New York Mets claimed Daryl Boston on waivers from the Chicago White Sox on April 30, 1990.

New York Mets signed free agent Val Pascucci on April 30, 2008.

National Pastime.com:

1988
Reds' manager Pete Rose will be suspended for thirty days and fined $10,000 for pushing David Pallone, after the umpire makes a delayed call that allows the eventual winning run to score in the team's 6-5 loss to the Mets at Riverfront Stadium. The Cincinnati skipper shoves the first base ump twice after claiming he was poked in the face, a charge the arbitrator denies, and one never substantiated by major league baseball.
1990
With Dale Murphy and Ernie Whitt on base, Mark Lemke grounds to second baseman Gregg Jefferies, who lobs the ball to David Cone covering first. The runner is called safe, which leads to the Mets starter having a complete meltdown, vehemently arguing the call with umpire Charlie Williams as the two Braves' runners cross the plate to score.
2002
Al Leiter becomes the first pitcher in baseball history to record wins over all thirty big league franchises that have been existence since 1901. The Mets southpaw earns the victory as New York routs the Diamondbacks at Bank One Ballpark, 10-1.

2005
With an enthusiastic RFK crowd chanting "Let's go, ground crew" the inexperienced group puts on quite a show of ineptitude when they struggle putting the tarp on a very soggy field during the second rain delay of the rain-shortened 5-3 victory over the Mets. New York files a protest after the game is called off in the bottom of the eighth, claiming the field became unplayable due to Washington's inability to cover the field during the 37-minute stoppage of play.
2008
Julio Franco, the oldest player to homer in the major leagues, announces his retirement from professional baseball, leaving the Quintana Roo Tigers of the Mexican League. The 49 year-old Dominican compiled a .298 average, collected 2,586 hits and hit 173 homers during his 23-year tenure with eight big league teams, which included the Phillies, Indians, Rangers, White Sox, Brewers, Rays, Braves, and Mets.

2012
When Brett Myers faces his first batter in the ninth inning, the Astros closer becomes the seventh different Houston pitcher to face seven consecutive Mets, a major league first. Houston manager Brad Mills wears out a path from the dugout to the mound when he pulls starter Bud Norris from the game and then proceeds to summon Wilton Lopez, Wesley Wright, Brandon Lyon, Fernando Abad, and Fernando Rodriguez, to face one batter each in the team's 4-3 victory at Citi Field.


2017 - Anthony Rendon has a game for the ages as he goes 6-for-6 with his first three homers of the year and drives in 10 runs to lead the Nationals to a 23 - 5 drubbing of the Mets. He joins Walker Cooper as the only two players ever to have 6 hits and 10 RBIs in one game. Bryce Harper scores 4 runs to give 32 in April, a new major league record, and Matt Wieters has a pair of homers among his three hits. It is the most runs in franchise history for Washington. Worse for New York, Noah Syndergaard leaves the game in the 2nd after experiencing arm pain.


Want something else tracked here each day?  Please leave a comment below.
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