John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 4/3/2020

Good morning on the anniversary of the day the Mets won the Tom Seaver lottery.  First, Japanese Baseball is going after US Amateur Baseball Players.

Jballallen.com: NPB to expand, rescue U.S. amateurs. “Upon learning MLB and its players’ union planned to make further inroads into their already barbaric treatment of amateur prospects and minor leaguers on account of the coronavirus pandemic, NPB announced a series of measures to save the reputation of Japan’s beloved game from MLB.

• Add four teams, two in each league, in Okayama, Nagoya, Shizuoka, and Niigata.
• Allow all 16 teams, starting in June to sign up to two international amateurs, who will not be counted against each club’s 70-man roster.
• Abolish the current limit of four imported players on each team’s active roster.”

Note: Jballallen later said this was an April Fools Joke on his part.

Yahoo Sports: Yankees create $1.4 million distress fund for employees impacted by coronavirus pandemic.

Yahoo Sports: Bryce Harper donates $500K to Philadelphia, Las Vegas organizations to '#CrushCovid'

NY Post: Yankees’ Gerrit Cole, wife pledge ‘significant’ help to coronavirus relief.

Syracuse.com: Rockies first baseman Daniel Murphy donated $100,000 to a partnership between More Than Baseball and Our Baseball Life as a way to help minor league families. Also, Rangers outfielder Shin-Soo Choo ($190,000) and Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright ($250,000) have donated money to help minor leaguers.

Andrew Marchand via Twitter: SNY stopped paying its freelance and production workers as of last Saturday. I'm told it is trying to figure out a way to help those people out.

Brian Joura Mets 360.com: Ranking Mets’ opponents with the B-R Play Index tool.  Brian looks at the players with the most Home Runs (Willie Stargell – 60); RBIs (Stargell 182) noting this: “It should come as no surprise that Pete Rose is the all-time leader against the Mets in Games (335), Games Started (327), PA (1,475), ABs (1312), Runs (207), Hits (396) and Doubles (64).”

Mets.com: A year ago today: deGrom ties Gibson, goes deep. Includes video of Jacob deGrom’s 14 strike out performance against the Marlins in 7 innings.  He also hits a homer.  With this game he ties Bob Gibson with his 26th consecutive quality start.

Mike Lupica Mets.com: Hernandez's unique view of 1986 WS Game 6. Keith talks about watching the comeback in the clubhouse. 

Mets.com: Mets' Top 5 first basemen. 1. Keith Hernandez; 2. Ed Kranepool; 3. John Olerud; 4. Carlos Delgado; 5. Pete Alonso.

Metsmerized Online: Top Five First Basemen Campaigns in Mets History. 5) Pete Alonso — 2019; 4) Carlos Delgado — 2006; 3) Keith Hernandez — 1986; 2) Keith Hernandez — 1984; 1) John Olerud — 1998.

MLB.com: Most hyped 1B prospects of the past 20 years for every team.  For the Mets they have Dominic Smith.

NY Post: Brodie Van Wagenen bullish on Mets’ rotation despite Noah Syndergaard loss. “As we know, a team can never have enough depth but we are fortunate to have a group of pitchers beyond the five who we believe can be successful starters, including Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman,’’ Van Wagenen said.

Metsmerized Online: Three Key Stats For Robert Gsellman in 2020. Matt cites these areas - More Consistency with Quality of Contact; Getting His Curveball Back on Track; and Performance at Home – in 2019 “24.1 innings pitched in Flushing, he posted an 8.51 ERA with a .374 wOBA against, compared to a 2.29 ERA and .290 wOBA against through 39.1 road innings.”

Metsmerized Online: Reliving The 2000 Mets: Opening Series. Benny Agbayani is featured here.

SNY.TV: No serious talks yet of Mets, Yankees playing home games in neutral sites. Yankees' Zack Britton said issue has been 'slightly discussed'.

Newsday: Will this be the year that Gil Hodges finally makes the Hall of Fame?

Rising Apple: Mets History: The one where we pay tribute to Gil Hodges.

Mets Police Best Mets By Number: 3 Bud Harrelson.

FanGraphs: Everything Is Terrible, Noah Syndergaard Edition.

Even though it is a simulated season, Metstradamus thinks the Nationals are annoying – Instead of raising the banner and giving out rings on Opening day Metstadamus listed the Nats Promo schedule which had 4/2: Opening Day/Banner Raising; 4/4: Ring presentation; 4/5: “Champions Day”, whatever that means; 4/6: “Champions Beads” 4/7: Davey Martinez World Series Trophy bobblehead. 4/8: “Champions Cinch Bag”

NY Post: Tim Tebow’s quarantine workout is different — and still insane.

CBS Sports: Why the Fourth of July could work best as MLB's target date for 2020 Opening Day.

ESPN.COM: From MLB's wildest day to the Astros' scandal: The most meme-worthy moments ever for all 30 teams.  Lots of history in this one including the parachute that landed in Shea Stadium Game 6 of the 1986 World Series.

CBS Sports: Everything to know about the Korea Baseball Organization, which hopes to start season by early May.  The Article mentioned how Aaron Altherr is playing this year in Korea for the NC Dinos.  It did not mention Drew Gagnon who is playing for the Kia Tigers or Chris Flexen who is playing for the Doosan Bears. 

MLB.com: Jim Edmonds confirms COVID-19, is symptom free.

Yahoo Sports: Cubs' Jason Kipnis sets up unique fundraiser for COVID-19 relief. Kipnis announced Thursday he's set up a Cameo account and will donate portions of the proceeds to coronavirus relief and medical workers. Cameo is a video-sharing platform where people can book personal shout-outs from celebrities, athletes, influencers and more.

MiLB.com: Minor Leaguer Adam Law swings for the fences against coronavirus. Former Minor Leaguer steps to the plate in fight against pandemic.

Eastern League: Harrisburg Senators offer vouchers, 'Senators Dollars' to donate to healthcare workers. Through April, all undated single-game vouchers purchased will be matched by a Senators sponsorship partner to provide a box seat voucher donation to a healthcare worker.

Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Coronavirus throws curveball to Minor League Baseball teams 'fighting for their lives'.

USA Today: Former Astros manager A.J. Hinch, GM Jeff Luhnow will fulfill suspensions in 2020 even if MLB season canceled.

Yahoo Sports: Angels release $14-million Cuban infielder Roberto Baldoquin after 5 poor seasons.

MLB Trade Rumors:

2020 Amateur Draft Pool Allocations. Here are the Mets’ allocations: 5 Round Draft - $7,101,200; Ten Round Draft - $8,057,500.

Phillies’ extension talks with star catcher J.T. Realmuto are on hold. The league mandated that extension talks be halted during MLB’s league-wide roster freeze, so the two sides can’t even talk about a potential long-term deal.

Giants Release Jerry Blevins, Brandon Guyer.

Rangers’ Lefty James Jones Out Until 2021 Due To Torn Patellar Tendon.

Mariners Release Righty Cody Anderson.

Yankees Release Righty David Hale.

Tigers Release, Re-Sign Jordy Mercer, Zack Godley.

Reds Release Junichi Tazawa, Chris Volstad, Felix Jorge.

NY Post: Mike Francesa and top WFAN hosts asked to take pay cut by Entercom.

NY Post: John Minko will give last WFAN update Friday after taking buyout.

NBC Sports: Today in Baseball History: A lie about how baseball was invented is born. The writer Craig Calcaterra claims the story that “Abner Doubleday invented baseball in Cooperstown, New York in 1839” was a lie created by Chicago Cubs president Albert Spalding and National League president Abraham G. Mills in the early 1900’s. 

Asian Baseball:

Kyodonews: Japanese pro baseball, football give up on April starts. NPB is now hoping to open its regular season in late May, but for the first time decided not to announce a date following a meeting of representatives from its 12 teams.

Korea Times: If the 2020 South Korean baseball postseason gets pushed to early winter by the coronavirus outbreak, then teams would be willing to play at a neutral, climate-controlled venue to ensure a warmer setting for players and fans, an informed source said Friday.

Yesterday at Mack’s Mets:

John From Albany - 2020 Syracuse Roster Projection.

Mack – FWIW – Coronavirus Edition - Daily Thoughts 4-2.

Mack’s Blast From The Past comes from April 3, 2009. Mets Stuff - Gil Hodges, Ron Darling, Andres Torres, Frank Francisco.

Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com:

Born on this date:

• Don Rowe (1936)
• Hawk Taylor (1939)
• Rod Gaspar (1946)
• Gary Pettis (1958)
• Quilvio Veras (1971)
• Geoff Goetz (1979)
• Jay Bruce (1987)
• Hayden Senger (1997)

Transactions:

New York Mets traded John Csefalvay to the Houston Astros for Gary Rajsich on April 3, 1981.

New York Mets traded Gary Matthews to the Baltimore Orioles for John Bale on April 3, 2002.

New York Mets claimed McKay Christensen on waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 3, 2002.

Detroit Tigers claimed Tyler Walker of the New York Mets on waivers on April 3, 2003.

New York Mets signed free agent Pedro Feliciano on April 3, 2003.

New York Mets traded Roger Cedeno to the St. Louis Cardinals for Wilson Delgado and Chris Widger on April 3, 2004.

National Pastime.com:

1966

Tom Seaver picks the Mets' name from a hat in a lottery, signing with the team for a reported $50,000 bonus. Tom's father had threatened a lawsuit, necessitating the special draft, after his son's contract with Atlanta was voided by Commissioner William Eckert because the right-hander's college team had played two exhibition games, but signing a pro contract also prevents the future Hall of Famer from playing on the collegiate level.

1985

The owners' proposal of expanding the League Championship Series to best-of-seven is agreed to by the Players' Association. The LCS started as a best-of-five games series in 1969 when the leagues divided into divisions, with both the Orioles and Mets sweeping their opponents in three games.

1989	The Mets win their 11th consecutive home opener, beating St. Louis at Shea Stadium, 8-4. The Amazins' have now won on Opening Day in 18 of the last 20 seasons.
2006	Sportsnet NY, the Mets' new team-owned network, broadcasts its first regular season baseball game. During the third inning of New York's 3-2 victory over the Nationals, SNY experiences technical difficulties which black out the telecast for nearly twenty minutes.
2009	The Mets, obligated only to pay the major league minimum of $400,000, sign Gary Sheffield (.225, 19, 57) in hopes of adding a much-needed right-handed bat to the lineup. The 40 year-old offensively challenged outfielder, who has 499 career home runs, was unexpectedly released by the Tigers earlier in the week despite having $14 million left on his contract.
2009	On a damp and chilly New York night, both the Mets and Yankees open their new stadiums with exhibition games. The double debut in the Big Apple sees each team come away with a victory when the Amazin's beat the Red Sox, 4-3, and the Bronx Bombers launch three homers to defeat the Cubs, 7-4.

Baseball Reference:

1964 - New York Mets pitcher Carl Willey suffers a broken jaw when he is hit by a line drive batted by Detroit Tigers outfielder Gates Brown during a spring training loss. Willey will be out until June 6th but his career will be effectively ended.

1966 - The New York Mets sign University of Southern California star Tom Seaver to his first contract, including a $50,000 bonus. Seaver had been selected by the Atlanta Braves in the January draft, but Commissioner Spike Eckert voided the deal when he signed a contract after USC's season had already begun. The Mets beat out the Cleveland Indians and Philadelphia Phillies in a lottery for Seaver's services.

1969 - First baseman Donn Clendenon ends his retirement and reports to the Montreal Expos. Clendenon, who had refused a trade to the Houston Astros, will eventually be traded to the New York Mets where he will hit 12 home runs and help them win the World Series.

1984: Arbitrator Richard Bloch rules that the Royals' Willie Wilson and the Mets' Jerry Martin can return to action on May 15th, the day their year-long suspensions for cocaine abuse are first due to be reviewed.

2016: In the nationally televised Sunday night game, a rematch of last year's World Series, Kansas City gets the better of the Mets, 4 - 3, as Edinson Volquez is the winner against Matt Harvey. For the Mets, LF Yoenis Cespedes drops a routine fly ball by Mike Moustakas in the 1st, leading to the Royals' first run.

2019 - Jacob deGrom, last year's Cy Young Award winner is back at it. He strikes out 14 Marlins in 7 innings and also hits a homer to lead the Mets to a 6 - 4 win. It is deGrom's 26th consecutive quality start, dating back to 2018, matching the major league record set by Hall of Famer Bob Gibson in 1967-1968.

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