John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 4/6/2020

Good morning.  Happy Birthday Mets Coach Phil Regan, the NY Post thinks the Mets will be the biggest COVID loser, and what if the Mets never got Tom Seaver or traded Scott Kazmir?

Joel Sherman NY Post: Mets might be MLB’s biggest loser in the coronavirus era. Joel cites the biggest losers to the virus as the Cubs, Reds and Mets.  About the Mets he notes” Michael Conforto, Steven Matz and Noah Syndergaard all will be free agents after next season, and the Mets are now losing shrinking time with them.” And he asks “will the lack of revenues this year (even with a partial season, and especially with none) force the Mets to take their 2021 payroll down toward $100 million (or less)?”

Brian Joura Mets 360: What if Tom Seaver stayed with the Braves and never joined the Mets?

Metsmerized Online: What Would the 2006 Mets Look Like with Scott Kazmir?

SNY.TV: Ron Darling on why Jacob deGrom is this generation's Pedro Martinez.

SNY.TV: Mets' Jeff McNeil and family thank healthcare workers amid coronavirus pandemic. 'We're all in this together, and let's go Mets!'

SNY.TV: Mets' Edwin Diaz breaks off vicious slider as he stays ready for 2020 MLB season.

Mets.com: Hard to beat Marcus Stroman's new bullpen setup on a dock.

Mets.com: Relive Lenny Dykstra's 1986 NLCS walk-off, video of the entire game.

Rob Piersall Metsmerized Online: Mets’ Starting Pitching Situation Doesn’t Hold Rosy Outlook. “Losing Wheeler and now Syndergaard means Stroman has some big shoes to fill as the team’s No. 2 starter, while Steven Matz has to be a No. 3 equal to what Stroman would have given them, and Porcello and Wacha need to be much better than advertised.”

Metsmerized Online: Mets Flashback: Gary Sheffield’s 500th Home Run.

Metsmerized Online: Ramón Martínez: Forgotten Mets Hero.

Metsmerized Online: Mets Video Vault: 1977 Old Timers Day. Duke Snider, Joe DiMaggio, Willie Mays, and Mickey Mantle.

Elite Sports NY: Are these SS rankings fair to Mets’ Amed Rosario, Yankees’ Gleyber Torres?

Elite Sports NY: The New York Mets need Rick Porcello to step up this season

Mike’s Mets: A Celebration of Mediocrity.  Mike looks back at the 2005 Mets.

MLB.com: Every club's player who dominated the '80s.  For the Mets?  Dwight Gooden. “Key fact: Went a combined 41-13 with a 2.00 ERA and 544 strikeouts in 494 2/3 innings from 1984-85, winning the NL Rookie of the Year Award in '84 and the Cy Young Award in '85”

CBS Sports: What Major League Baseball insiders think about draft changes and long-term ramifications. "This is just a generally f---ed-up situation that really puts a microscope on how not just owners but a lot of fans think," one scout said. "Everything is about major-league players, and little thought is given to the infrastructure that got them there."

Empire Sports Media: New York Mets: Fans care less about details, they just want some baseball, and sooner than later.

Yahoo Sports: Report: MLB considering opening season in empty spring training ballparks.

SNY.TV: 3 hurdles to MLB playing games in spring training parks with no fans. Baseball is reportedly considering playing in a location like Florida or Arizona, but here's why that may not work: Having 30 teams quarantined in one area could be a logistical nightmare; Baseball couldn't only quarantine the players and coaches -- it would also have to extend that to umpires, hotel workers, and basically anyone who would come into contact with those involved in the game; In order for this to start or work properly, MLB would need to conduct wide-ranging testing and be able to isolate and treat anyone who has coronavirus; this entire process could divert resources from the general population.

ESPN+: Buster Olney: MLB's potential return is way too complicated to rush. (Subscription required). 

NY Post: Ron Darling: MLB season looking more doubtful by the day. “The former Mets pitcher and current SNY analyst says his optimism has begun to wane that there will be a season, following his initial strong belief the shutdown from the COVID-19 outbreak would be manageable for the sports world.” 

Yahoo Sports: Dave Stewart explains how shortened MLB season could affect players. "In 1981, we went on strike, and we lost 60 games, so we played 102 games that year," Stewart said. "It actually worked out pretty well. We played the seasons in halves, it was a round-robin playoff, it worked well. Once you start looking at 100 [games] -- in that range, I think the season puts itself in jeopardy.”

AP News: Trump talks with US pro sports leaders to discuss virus.

NY Post: Trump says NFL season should start on time amid coronavirus crisis.

NY Post: Cuomo skeptical that sports could resume by August amid coronavirus crisis. “I would love to see sports back, [to] help with cabin fever,” said Cuomo in his now-daily Albany press briefing. “But this is not about hopes and dreams and aspirations and what you would like to see.”

Syracuse.com: When should professional sports restart? Cuomo says to let the experts decide.

NY Post: What New York-area sports owners have given to coronavirus fight.

Yahoo Sports: Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander has pledged to donate each paycheck received from Major League Baseball during the coronavirus shutdown to those impacted by COVID-19. 

MLB Trade Rumors.com:

Mets Notes: Harvey, Employee Fund, Matz. “A reunion between Matt Harvey and the Mets doesn’t seem likely, as MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo writes that the Amazins “weren’t interested” in Harvey over the offseason and he doesn’t believe the club has been in contact with the right-hander.”

The Obstacles Of Televising MLB Games Without Fans.

Three Diamondbacks Minority Owners Sue Managing General Partner.

Yankees Re-Sign David Hale.

This past weekend at Mack’s Mets:

Mack – FWIW – Coronavirus Edition - Daily Thoughts 4-5.

Mack – Draft News – Aca Lacy, Money To Be Lost, Top RHPs, Top HS OFers, Alex Santos.

Mack – FWIW – Coronavirus Edition - Daily Thoughts 4-4. The Mets released pitcher Luis Silva.

Reese Kaplan -- Mets History, Second Base Edition.

Mack’s Blast From The Past comes from 4-6-12 – Mack and Company on Opening Day 2012, a 1-0 Mets win over the Braves.

Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com:

Belated Birthdays for 4/5:

• Jimmie Schaffer (1936)
• Lastings Milledge (1985)

Died on this date:

• Sheriff Robinson (2002)

Transactions:

New York Mets purchased Butch Metzger from the St. Louis Cardinals on April 5, 1978.

New York Mets purchased Danny Boitano from the Milwaukee Brewers on April 5, 1981.

New York Mets released Mike Cubbage on April 5, 1982.

New York Mets sold Gary Rajsich to the St. Louis Cardinals on April 5, 1984.

New York Mets signed free agent Julio Machado on April 5, 1989.

New York Mets traded Bruce Chen, Dicky Gonzalez and Luis Figueroa to the Montreal Expos for Scott Strickland, Matt Watson and Philip Seibel on April 5, 2002.

New York Mets claimed Marco Scutaro on waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers on April 5, 2002.

New York Mets signed free agent Gary Sheffield of the Detroit Tigers on April 5, 2009.

New York Mets signed free agent Rene Rivera on April 5, 2016.

Born 4/6:

• Wayne Graham (1936)
• Phil Regan (1937)
• Tom Slater (1968)
• Andy Phillips (1977)

Transactions:

New York Mets traded Tim Foli, Mike Jorgensen and Ken Singleton to the Montreal Expos for Rusty Staub on April 6, 1972.

New York Mets released Rich Chiles on April 6, 1974.

New York Mets traded Ed Glynn to the Cleveland Indians for Dominick Bullinger on April 6, 1981.

New York Mets traded Mark Bomback to the Toronto Blue Jays for Charlie Puleo on April 6, 1981.

New York Mets sold Butch Benton to the Chicago Cubs on April 6, 1981.

National Pastime.com:

April 5^th:

1976	In a deal negotiated in the groundskeeper's office under the third base stands at Fort Lauderdale Stadium, 31 year-old right-hander Tom Seaver agrees to a three-year contract with the Mets. The pact makes 'Tom Terrific,' who posted a 25-9 record last season while leading the league in strikeouts with 243, the first hurler in baseball history to earn $200,000 annually.
1983	On Opening Day, Tom Seaver, making his first appearance with the Mets since 1977, combines with Doug Sisk to blank the Phillies at Shea Stadium, 2-0. 'Tom Terrific,' who will go on to extend the record to 16, ties Walter Johnson's major league mark with his 14th Opening Day assignment.

1993

At Shea Stadium, the Rockies lose their National League debut, dropping a 3-0 decision to the Mets and Dwight Gooden, who pitches a four-hit complete game for the victory. Right-hander David Nied starts the contest for Colorado, and Andres Galarraga collects the franchise's first hit with a second-inning single.

April 6^th:

1974	The Bronx Bombers begin their two year stint at Shea Stadium, where the team will compile a 172-150 (.534) record during the renovations to the Stadium, with a 6-1 victory over Cleveland. The 'other' NY fans cheer loudly when the scoreboard posts the Mets' 5-4 loss in Philadelphia.
1974	At Veterans Stadium, Phillies third baseman Mike Schmidt hits a ninth inning two-run home run off Tug McGraw to beat the Mets on Opening Day, 5-4. The walk-off homer is the first of the league-leading 36 dingers the third baseman will hit this season.

2015

The Mets start 41 year-old Bartolo Colon on Opening Day, much to the chagrin of the fan base who hoped one of their young guns, Matt Harvey and Jacob deGrom, would get the coveted assignment. The oldest pitcher ever to get the nod on Opening Day in franchise history doesn't disappoint when he gives up one run on three hits, besting Washington's $210 million ace Max Scherzer in the team's 3-1 victory at Nationals Park.

Baseball Reference:

April 5^th:

1972: For the first time in Major League Baseball history, the regular season fails to open due to the player strike which started on April 1st. 86 games will be lost before the labor dispute is settled.

The New York Mets acquire OF Rusty Staub from the Montreal Expos for a package of three young players: OF Ken Singleton, SS Tim Foli, and 1B Mike Jorgensen. Staub will help the Mets to the National League pennant in 1973.

1983 - On Opening Day at Shea Stadium, pitcher Tom Seaver makes his first appearance for the Mets since his trade to Cincinnati in 1977, as he combines with Doug Sisk to shut out the Phillies, 2 - 0, on five hits. For Seaver, it's his 14th Opening Day assignment, tying the record set by Walter Johnson with the Washington Senators.

1993: The expansion Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins play their first games ever. After Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio throws out the first ball at Joe Robbie Stadium, the Marlins defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 6 - 3. Jeff Conine goes 4 for 4 while Charlie Hough gets the win. In the meantime, the Rockies lose to Dwight Gooden and the Mets, 3 - 0, at Shea Stadium.

2011: Chris Young becomes the first pitcher in New York Mets history to collect two hits in an inning as he defeats the Phillies, 7 - 1, in his first start for his new team. His hitting binge comes in the 3rd inning, which he leads off with a single; he scores the game's first run, then has a two-out RBI single to bring the score to 6 - 0 and chase losing pitcher Cole Hamels. For good measure, he adds a third single in the 5th. David Wright also partakes in the fun with 4 hits, 2 runs scored and 2 RBI.

April 6^th:

1971: The Mets win their first opener ever at Shea Stadium‚ beating the Expos‚ 4 - 2‚ in 5 innings. Heavy rain and wind cuts the contest short. Tom Seaver is the winner over Carl Morton.

1974: The New York Yankees defeat the Cleveland Indians, 6 - 1, at Shea Stadium. This is the Yanks' first game of a two-year period at Shea while Yankee Stadium is being rebuilt. 12-year-old Teddy Kennedy‚ Jr.‚ flanked by his father and Mayor Abe Beame‚ tosses out the first ball. Missing from the ceremony is George Steinbrenner‚ indicted two days earlier for illegal campaign contributions. Graig Nettles' two-run homer in the 4th off the Indians' Gaylord Perry opens the scoring and the Yanks score 4 more times to win. Charlie Spikes scores the only Cleveland run in the 9th following a triple off starter and winner Mel Stottlemyre. Perry‚ who is warned once for an illegal pitch‚ is the loser today‚ but he will win his next 15 decisions.

Mike Schmidt, batting 8th in the lineup, hits a two-run homer off Tug McGraw in the 9th inning to give the Philadelphia Phillies a 5 - 4 win over the New York Mets at Veterans Stadium. It is the Mets' only Opening Day loss of the 1970s.

1992: Mets reliever Jeff Innis is credited with the win over the Cardinals in New York's 4 - 2 Opening Day victory. In 1991‚ Innis became the only pitcher in baseball history to appear in at least 60 games with neither a win nor a save.

2002: The Mets score 9 runs in the 9th inning - 8 off John Smoltz - to break a 2 - 2 tie and defeat the Braves‚ 11 - 2. Rey Ordonez's bases-loaded double is the big blow as the Mets have 15 at bats in the 9th. It is the most runs they've ever scored in the frame.

2004: The Mets open their season with a 7 - 2 win over the Braves. SS Kazuo Matsui, making his American baseball debut, opens the game with a home run on the first pitch from Russ Ortiz‚ becoming only the 20th player in baseball history to homer on the first major league pitch he sees. Matsui adds a pair of doubles and two walks in his debut. He is the third player in Met history to homer in his first at bat‚ joining Mike Fitzgerald and Benny Ayala.

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