John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 4/18/2020

Happy Birthday Rico Brogna and Doug Flynn, we have video highlights from Taiwan Baseball, and the Mets almost traded Zack Wheeler to the Yankees?

SNY.TV: Mets had agreed upon deal to send Zack Wheeler to Yankees at trade deadline. According to SNY's Andy Martino, the Mets and Yankees had a tentative agreement in place last July that would have sent Wheeler to the Bronx. However, concerns about the medicals of another player squashed the deal.

12up.com: Yankees and Mets Reportedly Discussed Jeurys Familia Trade Last Year for Some Sick Reason.

Brian Joura Mets 360.com: Forget running computer simulations, where are the player updates? Among other things Brian wants to know How’s Brandon Nimmo’s neck or Jeff McNeil’s wrist? They both played well in Grapefruit League action but neck injuries are no small matter and wrist injuries have a way of lingering longer than expected.

Mike’s Mets “Cry Me a River” Mike talked about the owners wanting players to take a pay cut to play in front of empty stadiums.

Centerfield Maz: Remembering Mets History (1970) Nolan Ryans Tosses A One Hitter April 18, 1970.

Centerfield Maz: Remembering Mets History: (1980) Doug Flynn Hits Three Triples In A Game.

Centerfield Maz: Doug Flynn: Former Mets Gold Glove Second Baseman (1977-1981).

Metsmerized Online: Armando Benitez: Good First Impressions And Diminishing Production.

Ken Davidoff NY Post: Where ‘the great’ Shea Stadium ranks among dead MLB ballparks.  Ken thinks #5: 1. Tiger Stadium; 2: Yankee Stadium; 3. Memorial Stadium in Baltimore; 4. Metrodome; 5. Shea Stadium.

Mets Merized Online: MMO Exclusive: Mets’ Shortstop Prospect Andres Gimenez.

CBS Sports: Handing out MLB Sophomore of the Year awards for the last five seasons -- and predicting 2020 winners.  Jacob deGrom’s 2015 season named one of the best sophomore seasons and Pete Alonso is listed as the current Top candidate to have a great sophomore year.

Empire Sports Media: Under Appreciated New York Mets: Fernando Tatis. Tatis played in 258 games over 3 seasons with New York, hitting .279 with 21 home runs.

Yahoo Sports: Boomer and Gio talk to Mookie Wilson.

Brent Axe Syracuse.com: Syracuse Mets Opening Day will have to wait due to coronavirus. “That is the strangest opening day ever for me," Syracuse Mets GM Jason Smorol said. "It’s unfortunate, but it’s the right thing to do as we all get through this together. That feeling at the ballpark when you open those gates. They come in and everybody is just so excited that baseball season is starting. Spring is coming, summer is coming and we’re out of that winter doldrum. Getting to see so many faces that you haven’t seen all winter long. That’s what I’m going to miss.”

You can see simulated Syracuse Mets games at https://www.twitch.tv/syracusemets/.

MLB News:

NY Post: Retired players being hurt by baseball’s coronavirus hiatus. “My living is baseball camps, clinics, appearances at the ballpark. Everything is baseball,” Dwight Gooden said. “Everything’s on hold. I’ve got seven kids, six grandkids and two ex-wives. They don’t want to hear that. They just want to know where their check is.”

USA Today: MLB draft's new limits could 'crush' baseball dreams — especially among minorities.

USA Today: Brandy Halladay responds to NTSB report of husband's fatal crash: 'No one is perfect'

AP News: ‘A League of Their Own’ inspired baseball pioneer Julie Croteau, one of the first female NCAA baseball players.

Yahoo Baseball Podcast discusses: Who had the worse failed baseball career: Michael Jordan or Tim Tebow?

Yahoo Sports: Yasiel Puig in no rush to sign, doesn't think MLB will return in 2020.

NY Post: Boys of Summer one of the best baseball books ever written.

MLB Trade Rumors:

Austin Jackson Open To MLB Return.  “Jackson struggled badly in his last action in the majors [2018], turning in a collective .245/.299/.326 output over 375 plate appearances with the Giants and Mets. But he was quite productive in 2017, when he slashed .318/.387/.482 for the Indians.”

Does Baseball Have Its Next Zobrist?  MLB Trade Rumors likes Jeff McNeil as the next “Swiss Army Knife.”

The Angels Found A Dominant Reliever On Waivers. More than half the league passed on Hansel Robles after the Mets designated the right-hander for assignment and ran him through waivers back in 2018.

2020-21 MLB Free Agent Class: Designated Hitters.

2020-21 Free Agent Class: Shortstops.

Asian Baseball:

Per Twitter: Strong #CPBL debut from the CTBC Brothers' Esmil Rogers last night (last pitched in MLB for the Yankees). Rogers gave up 1 earned run across 7 innings and struck out 11. Closer look at Esmil Rogers' 128kph changeup. The Brothers won 6-1.

You can see the full April 17 Broadcast of the #FubonGuardians vs #RakutenMonkeys at this link.  Twitter video of Right Fielder Malo Ipong makes an incredible diving catch!

Here is the link to see today’s games in English (going on right now at 6AM). #FubonGuardians vs #RakutenMonkeys.

From the Onion: Taiwanese Robot Baseball Fan Ejected For Yelling Slurs At Pitch Camera https://bit.ly/2ynfg53. “Look at this defunct, malware-infected piece of scrap. You call that a strike? You ought to be recycled.”

Yahoo Sports: Taiwanese President thanks baseball fans for watching CPBL.

ESPN: Japan's baseball league delayed again, no date set for start. Nippon Professional Baseball's season openers will not take place in May due to the coronavirus pandemic, with no firm date set for the start.

Yesterday at Mack’s Mets:

Syracuse Mets to Broadcast Virtual Video Games Played by New York Mets Catcher René Rivera.

Reese Kaplan -- Pandemic Making Us Look Forward to 2021.

Mack’s Blast From The Past: Mack Ade –4-18-12. “You Want Prime? We Got Prime” Mack looks at the projected Mets starting rotations 2013 – 2016.  Plus this great quote: “My pitching philosophy is simple - keep the ball away from the bat.” - Satchel Paige.

Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com:

Born on this date:

• Larry Foss (1936)
• Chuck Taylor (1942)
• Doug Flynn (1951)
• Rico Brogna (1970)
• Brady Clark (1973)

Transactions:

New York Mets traded Felix Perdomo and Steve Ray to the New York Yankees for Tucker Ashford on April 18, 1983.

New York Mets traded Ike Davis to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Zack Thornton and Blake Taylor on April 18, 2014.

National Pastime.com:

1970	Denny Doyle's first-inning single is the only hit allowed by Nolan Ryan when he blanks the Phillies at Shea Stadium, 7-0. The 23 year-old right-hander ties the Mets' mark established by Jerry Koosman in 1968 with 15 strikeouts, but Tom Seaver will break the short-lived record, whiffing 19 Padres later in the week.

Baseball Reference:

1970 - Nolan Ryan strikes out 15 batters and pitches a one-hitter as the New York Mets defeat the Philadelphia Phillies, 7 - 0, at Shea Stadium. It is the first shutout of Ryan's career.

2010: One day after playing a marathon 20-inning contest, the Cardinals' bullpen gets some rest as Adam Wainwright pitches a complete game for a 5 - 3 win over the Mets. Colby Rasmus and Ryan Ludwick's homers account for all of St. Louis's runs; Wainwright helps his own cause by doubling ahead of Ludwick's blast in the 8th. For their part, the Mets designate 1B Mike Jacobs for assignment before the game in order to call up P Tobi Stoner from AAA Buffalo. Jacobs has become redundant because of the rapid development of prospect Ike Davis, who will be called up to the majors tomorrow. Stoner is the losing pitcher in his only game of the season, in spite of giving up only one run in 2 1/3 innings of work with the Mets' bullpen also burnt out from yesterday's game.

2014: Aaron Harang pitches 7 no-hit innings for the Braves against the Mets, but has to leave the game after having thrown 121 pitches. David Wright hits a two-out single off Luis Avilan in the 8th for the Mets' only hit as three pitchers combine on a one-hitter in a 6 - 0 win.

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