John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 6/17/2020

Good Morning.  Today is the Anniversary that Willie Randolph flew to Anaheim to be fired, Dr. Fauci doesn’t want MLB Games past September, and Mike Francesa think’s Rob Manfred is the owner’s “Fall Guy”.

Section Links: Mets Links, MLB Links, Minor League Links, Asian Baseball Links, and This Day in Mets History.

Mets Links:

Faith and Fear in Flushing: Greg Prince continues to say There’s a Met for All Seasons. For 1995, there’s Jason Isringhausen.

Elite Sports NY: ESNY Exclusive Interview: New York Mets top prospect Matt Allan. Regarding the Mets and analytical data Matthew Allan said: “I definitely feel that the Mets have helped me understand my analytical data so well. I took that from the GCL season to Brooklyn and into the offseason. I looked at the data and said okay what did I well in high school, what helped me succeed in the GCL and in Brooklyn, and how can I apply that to getting better this offseason.”

Steve Cohen is still interested in the #Mets despite reports to the contrary He will formalize deal terms when the teams are back playing. He isn't interested in reviving the terms of the failed deal. He wants more immediate control and/or SNY. I verified his interest again today

— Laura Goldman (@laurasgoldman) June 16, 2020

AM NY.com: EXCLUSIVE: As Mets sale struggles during pandemic, return of Steve Cohen unlikely for now. “In conversations I’ve had with those familiar with the situation, there is doubt that Cohen would ever lead a charge toward Mets ownership again — especially if the Wilpons’ terms of retaining the SNY TV station and control of the team for five years remain.”

NY Post: Wilpons trying to buy time on Mets sale with $250 million maneuver. A $250 million loan led by JPMorgan Chase & Co. is scheduled to expire at the end of July, according to the report, and the Mets — owned by Fred and Jeff Wilpon and Saul Katz — would like to delay that by a full year.  One banker familiar with baseball agrees, saying, “This tells me that the Wilpons are not expecting a sale anytime soon. Harris and Blitzer are bottom feeders and would happily let this sale go to an auction. That’s the last thing the Wilpons want, so they’re buying time.”

NY Post: Jennifer Lopez, Alex Rodriguez get another backer for Mets bid. The Galatioto Sports Partners investment bank is working with two investors who are considering investing up to a combined $250 million with A-Rod and J.Lo for their Mets bid, a source close to the situation said.

Mets.com: Mets' Top 5 managers: DiComo's take. 1) Gil Hodges; 2) Davey Johnson; 3) Bobby Valentine; 4) Terry Collins; 5) Casey Stengel; Honorable Mentions: Joe Torre, Yogi Berra, Willie Randolph.

Mike’s Mets: Rob Manfred Is Feeling the Heat.

SNY.TV (MetsBlog): RHP Austin Faith signs with team.  The 6-foot-6, 200-pound right-hander The junior made just three appearances with Lamar University.  Prior to this season, Faith pitched for Navarro Junior College, where he had a 15-4 record in 28 career starts with a 3.84 ERA and 143 strikeouts in 138.1 innings.  Mack will have more on this later today.

MLB Trade Rumors: Undrafted Free Agent Signings: 6/16/20.

Deesha Thosar NY Daily News: Marcus Stroman offers to coach young athletes in Tampa area while MLB season still stalled.

Last Word On Baseball - New York Mets 2020 Draft Recap. “Van Wagenen seems to have had another successful draft with some promising young talent. It will be up to the coaching staff in the minor leagues to help develop these kids into big-league players, but if they pan out the way they should, this could be a great 2020 draft.”

Elizabeth Muratore Rising Apple: Mets and Cardinals rivalry goes back much further than 2006. “The St. Louis Cardinals are perhaps the most worthy contender for “longest-standing Mets rival.” They hosted the very first game in Mets history when the Mets began their existence at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.”

SNY.TV (MetsBlog): SNY's Mets booth ranked No. 1 in MLB. Gary, Keith, Ron, and Steve were No. 1 in a survey of readers of The Athletic.

June 17, 1962: @Mets 1B Marv Throneberry's 1st inning triple becomes an out on an appeal play for missing second base in an 8-7 loss to the Cubs at the Polo Grounds. Casey Stengel argues and is told by the umpire, "Don't bother arguing, Casey, he missed first base, too." pic.twitter.com/UuDTLMo47u

— Mets Rewind (@metsrewind) June 17, 2020

Row 1, Ebbets-Rare look at the IF/OF and nice turn by Jackie-from the Flagstaff Films Baseball home movie archive pic.twitter.com/tXrVKZCDbv

— Flagstaff Films (@flagstafffilms) June 16, 2020

YouTube: New York Mets Videos - Exclusive: Howie Rose Chats with Pete Alonso.

MLB LINKS:

The New York Times: As Baseball Teeters, Rob Manfred’s Words Ring Hollow “It’s just a disaster for our game,” the commissioner said of the lack of trust between M.L.B. and its union. But much of the blame lies with him.

Bob Nightengale: USA Today: Things look bleak, but there will be a Major League Baseball season. “There will be a season. It will start between July 20 to July 27, lasting at least 65 games, with a zany postseason that gives everyone a shot for a World Series title in a season that will be forever remembered, COVID-19 be damned. I guarantee it.”

NY Post: Anthony Fauci: MLB shouldn’t play any games after September. “I would try to keep it in the core summer months and end it not with the way we play the World Series, until the end of October when it’s cold. I would avoid that.”

Yahoo Sports: At least six owners reportedly don't want an MLB season — here's why that could be a big problem. “Manfred needs 75 percent of owners to approve the [re-start} plan. What’s 75 percent of 30? That would be 22.5 — so there’s a big difference between six owners not wanting a season and eight owners not wanting a season.”

NJ.com: WFAN’s Mike Francesa: Rob Manfred is MLB owners’ fall guy for failed negotiations. ““Why’d he back off? Because the owners told him to back off. ... Never lose sight that Manfred is the owners’ employee. That’s it. And there are a bunch of owners who don’t want any part of this. There are owners who are upset with the players’ take, and there are owners who know they are going to do nothing but lose money in the regular season, and they don’t have an appetite for it. ... The big markets, they always want to play -- the Yankees, the Dodgers, the Cubs, the Red Sox. They always want to play. But the guys who are in the middle, they don’t want to play -- a lot of them don’t want to play, more than you think. ... “So when you hear Manfred telling you that every owner is dying to play, they’re 100 percent ready to play -- he’s lying through his teeth. He’s just trying to send a message. He’s just trying to get [the players] to the table.”

AP News: Yankees president Levine calls for MLB talks to resume.

AP News: MLB delays start of new international signings period.

AP News: Former Cy Young winner Mike McCormick dies at age 81.

AP News: MLB letter obtained by The Associated Press says several players and staff have tested positive for COVID-19.

Yahoo Sports: Report: MLB teams are exploiting 12-year-olds in Latin America, according to whistleblower.

Minor League Baseball:

Syracuse.com: Upgraded lighting system gives Syracuse Mets’ NBT Bank Stadium a new glow.  “The field can be bathed in Mets colors of blue and orange during player introductions, for instance, or pink for breast cancer awareness night. Syracuse can also flicker and flash combinations after a home run or before post-game fireworks. Individual performers, such as national anthem singers, can also get their own personalized backdrops.”

Pensacola News Journal: Blue Wahoos to host baseball movie weekend to celebrate Father's Day.

Asian Baseball:

The Korea Herald: Seeking KBO return, embattled ex-MLB player Kang Jung-ho to hold presser next Tuesday.

The Korea Herald: More relaxed and confident, NC Dinos' Aaron Altherr emerges from slump as lethal force in bottom of lineup. “In 22 games since May 21, Aaron Altherr has batted either seventh or eighth. In that time, Altherr leads the KBO with 31 RBIs, while seven home runs and a 1.202 on-base plus slugging percentage put him in second place.”

Kia Tigers 7  NC Dinos 4 Aaron Altherr 1 for 4 with a run scored. (Box Score).

Aaron is back in CF today, hitting cleanup (Box Score).

Chris Flexen is also back on the mound today as the Doosan Bears take on the Samsung Lions (Box Score).

Here is KBO’s Scoreboard.

The rookie flashing some leather! 😎😎😎

Getting his second straight start, rookie second baseman #23 Chin-Hao Yang made a sensational diving play to rob a base hit to start the top of the third inning! Did he already book himself in the #CPBLTop5Plays this week?#ItsTime pic.twitter.com/H9rebtKb06

— Fubon Guardians (@FubonGuardians) June 16, 2020

Yesterday at Mack’s Mets:

Tom Brennan - WHICH PITCHER WHO AT SOME POINT PITCHED FOR THE METS WAS THE BEST CAREER PITCHER OF THEM ALL?

Tony Plate - No Potential Mets Buyer for Now.

NDFA Sign - RHP Drake Nightengale South Alabama.   

NDFA Sign - RHP Dylan Hall University of Central Oklahoma.     

Mike's Mets - Going Down With the Ship.      

Mack’s Blast from Past: 6/17/2013: Six Top Mets Prospects On Cyclones Roster. “Gavin Cecchini…L.J. Mazzilli…Kansas State outfielder Jared King (fifth round), Oklahoma first baseman Matthew Oberste (seventh) and speedy Michigan outfielder Patrick Biondi (ninth) are three more promising collegians on the way to join catching prospect Tomas Nido.”

Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com:

Born on this date:

• Brian Ostrosser (1949)
• Mickey Brantley (1961)

Died on this date:

• Nelson Doubleday (2015)
• Phil Hennigan (2016)

Transactions:

New York Mets traded Kevin Kobel to the Kansas City Royals for Randy McGilberry on June 17, 1980.

New York Mets traded Dave Weathers and Jeremy Griffiths to the Houston Astros for Richard Hidalgo on June 17, 2004.

National Pastime.com: 

1962	In a play that is indicative of the struggling Mets, first baseman Marv Throneberry's apparent first-inning triple becomes an out on an appeal play for missing second base in an 8-7 loss to the Cubs at the Polo Grounds. When New York manager Casey Stengel questions the call, he is told by the umpire, according to legend, "Don't bother arguing, Casey, he missed first base, too."
1962	Gene Woodling becomes the first major leaguer to play for both the Yankees and the Mets. In his National League debut, the 38 year-old outfielder goes 2-for-4, scoring two runs for the new expansion team in an 8-7 loss to the Cubs at the Polo Grounds.

1974	After completing the first 1000 games in franchise history with a winning percentage of .332, the Mets compile a 517-482-1 record in their next thousand contests. During the span, that includes Tom Seaver winning 12% of the team's victories, New York wins two National League pennants and a World championship.
1976	At Shea Stadium, Dave Kingman hits a walk-off homer to give the Mets a 1-0 victory over the Dodgers. Sky King's game-ending blast comes off Charlie Hough in the 14th inning.

2003	Mets starter Jae Seo and two relief pitchers, David Weathers and Armando Benitez, combine to one-hit Florida, 5-0. The contest is the third consecutive one-hitter the team has played; Steve Trachsel limited the Angels to one single two days ago, and last night, Dontrelle Willis beat New York, 1-0, yielding just one safety.
2005	In a 13-6 loss to Cleveland, the Diamondbacks become the first team since 1969 to allow ten runs in an inning in consecutive games. The eventual 1969 World Champion Mets accomplished the dubious feat in just one day when Houston swept a doubleheader at Shea Stadium.

2008

After a 9-6 victory against the Angels in the first game of a West Coast road trip, the Mets fire manager Willie Randolph, pitching coach Rick Peterson, and first-base coach Tom Nieto, shortly after 3 a.m. Eastern time. The team's 18th manager, who compiled a 302-253 record in 3+ seasons with New York, will be replaced by bench coach Jerry Manuel on an interim basis until the end of the season.

Baseball Reference:

1962 - Chicago Cubs outfielder Lou Brock hits a home run into the right-center field bleachers at the Polo Grounds, 460 feet from home plate, in the first game of a Chicago doubleheader sweep over the New York Mets, 8 - 7 and 4 - 3. Known more for his speed than his power, Brock becomes the second player to reach that section of seats. Joe Adcock was the first.

2005: Former Red Sox Brian Daubach starts at first base for the Mets, drawing three walks and scoring two runs one day after being called up from Triple-A Norfolk. Daubach was drafted by the Mets in the 17th round way back in 1990, but this is his first big league game for the club.

2009: Matt Wieters of the Baltimore Orioles, the 2008 Minor League Player of the Year, hits the first home run of his career in the O's 6 - 4 win over the New York Mets.

You Tube:

6/17/97: Mo picks up his first Subway Series save.

Mets 8, Yankees 7 6/17/01: Mike Piazza's two-run home run caps off the Mets' six-run 8th to give them an 8-7 lead over the Yankees.

Mets 6 Indians 2; Mets Acquire Richard Hildago From The Astros - 6/17/2004.

6/17/14: Wacha, two-out hits help Cardinals down Mets.

6/17/15: Blue Jays scored five in the 8th in win.

Nimmo's go-ahead HR in 9th leads Mets to win: 6/17/18.

Amazing Avenue: This Date in Mets History: June 17 — Omar ends the Willie/won't he speculation by firing manager Randolph.

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