John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 4/27/2020

Good morning, Happy Birthday J.D. Davis, David Wright is grateful to Matt Harvey for getting the Mets to the World Series, and Governor Coumo thinks we could see Baseball this Summer. 

AP News: The Latest: Cuomo can envision baseball in NYC this summer. “Be creative. Try to figure it out,” the Democrat said during his briefing Sunday. “But if players could get paid more than staying home and owners would get some revenue versus total shutdown, why not? I’d love to watch.”

Mets Links:

SNY.TV: “David Wright talks Matt Harvey's Mets rise and fall, choice to blow past innings limit for World Series run. 'I owe a great deal of gratitude for (him) doing what he did to carry us to a World Series'”

Mike Puma NY Post: Pete Alonso’s next big challenge toward Mets greatness. “Alonso doesn’t have to hit 50-plus homers over a full season to prove he’s worthy. Continued improvement in making contact and fielding his position can compensate for any expected drop-off in homers.”

SNY.TV: Dominic Smith tells this story about J.D. Davis that shows his commitment off the field. Dom and J.D. talked about practice routines off the field including taking “dry hacks in the shower”.

Brian Joura Mets 360.com: Revisiting the Frisella/Gentry for Millan/Stone deal.

Rob Rogan Mets 360.com: The Enigmatic Steven Matz.

SNY.TV: “David Wright talks Pete Alonso's Mets captain potential, what it takes to lead. 'I was gonna go out there and play the game hard, play the game the right way, prepare correctly, and hopefully guys followed that'”

Mike’s Mets talks about Mike Piazza’s last year as a Met in “The Year We Said Goodbye.”

Sal Manzo Metsmerized Online: Which Season Was Mike Piazza’s Best As A Met?  Sal likesthe 200 season the best as they went to the WS: Mike’s 2000 numbers – “.324 average, with 38 homers, 113 RBI, a bodacious .398 OBP, while slugging .614 with a monster 1.012 OPS.”

MLB.com: Building a 5-tool star, Part I: Hitting.  Jeff McNeil is one of the hitters cited with this stat: “81.4% career contact rate / .344 BABIP”.

Mike’s Mets: Stopping the Cheaters.

Centerfield Maz: J.D. Davis: Mets Third Baseman & Outfielder (2019-2020).

As we noted back in October: In 2019, JD Davis had the best year in Citi Field’s 11 year history hitting .354 with 16 HRs and 33 RBIs in 206 at bats.  Furthermore, while most Mets hit far better on the road, JD hit almost 100 points less on the road, .260 with 6 HRs and 24 RBIs. 

Centerfield Maz: Amos Otis: Another One That Got Away- 1970's All Star Player Who Began His Career With the Mets (1967-1969).

Centerfield Maz: Remembering Mets History (1988) Keith Hernandez Drives In Seven Runs, April 26, 1988.

Elite Sports NY: New York Mets should pursue J.T. Realmuto next offseason.

Rising Apple: New York Mets Milestone: Keith Hernandez drives in his 1000th RBI, 4/26/88.

The Mets Police: Best Mets By Number: 27, Craig Swan.

The Mets Police: Best Mets By Number: 26, Dave Kingman.

Metsmerized Online: Mets Video Vault: 1969 World Series Game 4.

Rising Apple: Mets Payroll: What a lost 2020 season means for this year and beyond.

Rising Apple: Mets: Where will Michael Conforto fit into the franchise’s history?

Deesha Thosar NY Daily News: Buy the Mets! Imagining life under A-Rod, J.Lo ownership.

Reflections On Baseball: Alex Rodriguez: On Why He Will Make A Great Team Owner.

Tim Ryder Metsmerized Online: Mets That Got Away: Melvin Mora.

Empire Sports Media: Under Appreciated New York Mets: Orlando Hernandez.

Empire Sports Media: Under Appreciated New York Mets: Pedro Martinez.

Ryan Finkelstein Metsmerized Online: Amazin’ Mistakes: Non-Tendering Justin Turner.

LoHud: Dellin Betances addition should bolster bullpen.

Rising Apple: Mets Trade Retrospective: 2018 Jeurys Familia deal with the Athletics.

Metsmerized Online: Top Five Shortstop Campaigns in Mets History.

Metsmerized Online: Top Five Third Basemen Campaigns in Mets History.

Mets You Tube Videos: Mets First Home Runs. Features Darryl Strawberry, David Wright, Michael Conforto, Pete Alonso and…Bartolo Colon.

MLB LINKS:

AP News: Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully home from hospital.

MLB.com: These are the best pitchers without no-hitters.  Roger Clemens, Pedro Martinez, Greg Maddux, Steve Carlton, Grover Alexander.

USA Today: Owners pledged to pay workers when sports shut down, but many are being overlooked.

ESPN.com: Indians to pay full-time employees through June 30, furlough others.

CBS Sports: MLB player salary an 'increasing concern' for league, union ahead of potential 2020 season, report says. 

Minor League links:

Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Coronavirus has sweeping impact on Minor League Baseball.

The Buffalo News: Minors have lost most of their leverage in talks for new agreement with big leagues.

Albany Times Union: ValleyCats' plans still up in the air. Team considers limiting number of fans in stadium if season is played. 

MLB Trade Rumors:

The Mark Grace Decade Award.  Mark Grace had the most hits in the 90’s decade.  The most hits 2010-2019? Robinson Cano with 1,695.

The Marlins Are Gambling On Tooled-Up Hitting Prospects.

When Trusting The Decline Phase Goes Wrong: The Reds’ Decision To Trade Frank Robinson.

Offseason In Review: Seattle Mariners.

Asian Baseball:

The Star: Baseball’s safest haven: Ex-Jay knuckleballer Ryan Feierabend plays on in Taiwan.  “Feierabend has lived through it all. Before entering the stadium for home games, players get their temperature checked. On the road, similar protocols are followed before anyone is allowed on the bus. Masks must be worn indoors, and infrared thermometers are used before anyone is allowed into restaurants, large malls or public transit. Hand sanitizer can be found just about everywhere.”

Wall Street Journal: Baseball Is Back in Taiwan—With Cardboard Cutouts Instead of Fans.

CPBL Stats: Mike Loree Injury Update, Bryan Woodall on Multi-Year Deal.

CPBL Stats: 2020 CPBL Foreign Players Tracker.

Yesterday in The CPBL –

Fubon Guardians 5 Chinatrust Monkeys 4 (Line Score); 

CPBL Stats via twitter: Fubon Guardians' Chiang Chih-Hsien) launched his 3rd home run of the season (video).

Uni Lions 12 Rakuten Monkeys 5 (Line Score).  CPBL Stats via twitter: Video of nice double play. 

This weekend at Mack’s Mets:

Reese Kaplan -- Sometimes You've Got to Leave NY.

Mack – Sunday Thoughts: A-Rod and J-Lo, Loss of 2 Teams, Prospect Projections, Jose Reyes, HS Draftees.

Mack – Draft News – Daniel Cabrera, Landon Knack, Clayton Beeter, Max Meyer, Jordan Walker.

Mack’s Blast From The Past April 27, 2014.  Reese Kaplan - Dwelling in Anonymity: Hidden Gems in Las Vegas.  Among others Reese notes: By now any die hard Mets fan is well aware of the exploits of, Jacob deGrom, clearly the 51s’ ace thus far while posting a 2-0 record in 4 starts with a tiny 1.57 ERA and a WHIP of less than 1 baserunner per inning pitched.   

Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com:

Born April 26:

• Amos Otis (1947)
• Mike Scott (1955)
• Lou Thornton (1963)
• Rick Trlicek (1969)
• Scott Strickland (1976)
• Luc Rennie (1994)

Died on April 26:

• Danny Napoleon (2003)

Born April 27:

• Rogers Hornsby (1896)
• Brian Giles (1960)
• Rob MacDonald (1965)
• Eric Hillman (1966)
• Frank Catalanotto (1974)
• Orber Moreno (1977)
• J.D. Davis (1993)

Transactions:
New York Mets signed free agent Yogi Berra on April 27, 1965.

New York Mets sold Luis Alvarado to the Detroit Tigers on April 27, 1977.

Transactions:
New York Mets purchased Harry Chiti from the Cleveland Indians on April 26, 1962.

New York Mets traded Bobby Gene Smith to the Chicago Cubs for Sammy Taylor on April 26, 1962.

New York Mets purchased Jack Lamabe from the Chicago White Sox on April 26, 1967.

New York Mets traded Rick Auerbach to the Texas Rangers for Lenny Randle on April 26, 1977.

New York Mets released Mike Matthews on April 26, 2005.

New York Mets signed free agent Michael Tucker on April 26, 2006.

National Pastime.com:

1973	Braves hurler Pat Dobson three-hits the Mets and beats Tom Seaver, who also gives up only three hits, 2-0. The Atlanta Fulton County Stadium contest takes one-hour and 37 minutes to complete, making it the quickest game ever played in Mets history.
2004	At Dodger Stadium, Mike Piazza ties Carlton Fisk for the most career homers by a catcher as he hits Hideo Nomo's sixth-inning pitch into the stands for his 351st round-tripper as a backstop. The homer, which was his 362nd overall, moves the Mets' star past Yankees' Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio on the all-time list.

2010	David Wright, with an RBI single to right field off Ramon Troncoso in the fifth inning of New York's 10-5 victory over L.A. at Citi Field, becomes the eighth and quickest player to accumulate 1,000 hits in a Mets uniform. The 27 year-old third baseman, who surpasses Mike Piazza's mark of 935 games to reach the milestone, accomplishes the feat in his 868th career contest with the club.
2010	The suddenly streaking Mets win their sixth consecutive game with a doubleheader sweep of the Dodgers, 4-0 and 10-5. The victories mark the first time since August 28, 1971 that the club has taken both ends of a twin bill from L.A.

2012

Mets left fielder Scott Hairston became the tenth player in franchise history to hit for the cycle with his sixth inning double, plating Rueben Tejada and David Wright. The outfielder's four hits, which drive in four runs, aren't enough when Colorado routs New York, scoring 11 times in the fifth, in the Coors Field's contest, 18-9.

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