John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 6/29/2020

Good Morning.  The Mets announce the initial 45 of their 60 man player pool. Aaron Altherr’s NC Dinos faced Chris Flexen and the Doosan Bears in Korea, and Yankee Fans want to compare Aaron Judge to Pete Alonso.

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

Mets Links:

Mets.com: Top prospects Andres Gimenez and David Peterson were among 45 names the Mets submitted to Major League Baseball on Sunday as part of their 60-man player pool for the upcoming season. Although only 30 will make the club's Opening Day roster, the Mets can draw on anyone in the pool over the course of the season.

Here is the full list of the first 45: Pitchers (22): Tyler Bashlor; Dellin Betances; Brad Brach; Jacob deGrom; Edwin Diaz; Jeurys Familia; Robert Gsellman; Walker Lockett; Seth Lugo; Steven Matz; Corey Oswalt; David Peterson; Rick Porcello; Jacob Rhame; Paul Sewald; Chasen Shreve; Drew Smith; Kevin Smith; Marcus Stroman; Michael Wacha; Justin Wilson; Daniel Zamora;

Catchers (5): Tomás Nido; Patrick Mazeika; Wilson Ramos; Ali Sanchez; Rene Rivera;

Infielders (12): Matt Adams; Pete Alonso; Robinson Canó; J.D. Davis; Andres Gimenez; Luis Guillorme; Jed Lowrie; Jeff McNeil; Max Moroff; Eduardo Nunez; Amed Rosario; Dominic Smith;

Outfielders (6): Yoenis Céspedes; Michael Conforto; Johneshwy Fargas; Jake Marisnick; Brandon Nimmo; Jarrett Parker.

I am thinking that players like Jordan Humphreys, Franklyn Kilomé, and Thomas Szapucki, who are on the 40 man roster will be added later.

Mike Puma NY Post: Tim Tebow left off Mets’ veteran-filled summer roster.

Newsday: Mets leave extra space on their 60-man player pool. “They put only 45 players on the first version of the roster that will congregate at Citi Field this week as baseball attempts to restart its season. All of those players already were in major-league camp this year. With 15 spots to spare, the Mets left themselves lots of room to add freely as camp and the season progress. Teams had to submit their initial player pool to MLB by Sunday afternoon but are allowed to change it as needed. Players will report to camp Wednesday, when they will be tested for COVID-19, and the first formal team workout is set for Friday after the results of that first round of tests come back. Players will be tested every other day all season.”

Kevin Kernan Ballnine.com interviews Turk Wendell who says: “I Should Have Been a Farmer”.

Yanks Go Yard.com: 3 Reasons Aaron Judge is Better Than Pete Alonso.  3. Aaron Judge’s Arm; 2. Aaron Judge’s OBP; 1. Aaron Judge’s WAR and Defense.

Mets Daddy: “Instead of Yankees fans comparing Alonso to Judge, they should really be concerned about whether Judge can play again. The Yankees will certainly need him in this shortened season which will feature far too many AL/NL East matchups.”

Brian Joura Mets 360.com: Brodie Van Wagenen and the Seth Lugo dilemma. “The Mets’ choice is now this – Would they rather gamble on a return to form by Wacha or gamble that the bullpen can survive without Lugo?”

Mike’s Mets sees “More Opportunity for Platoons in 2020”.

Elite Sports NY: New York Mets prospect Ali Sanchez could spend a significant amount of time in MLB this season. “While Sanchez won’t offer much offensive upside for the Mets this season, he could provide them with quality defense. If needed, he could be inserted into the lineup and instantly make an impact.”

Rising Apple: Mets catcher Wilson Ramos has been excellent the last two Augusts.

Rising Apple: Mets pitcher Marcus Stroman and his Amazin’ off-the-field work in 2020.

Last Word on Baseball: New York Mets Ugly Eleven Losses # 10. The Expos sweep a two game series against the Mets knocking them out of the playoffs in 1998. September 22nd & 23rd vs the Montreal Expos at Shea Stadium.

Reflections on Baseball: Yoenis Cespedes Hasn’t Earned It But MLB Gives Him With A Last Chance.

Newsday: Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen unconcerned with his job security (subscription may be required).

You Tube: Conforto’s Italian Sunday Dinner.

You Tube: Nimmo Shares Crazy Ranch Story.

**Top Request** BIG SHEA-from the Flagstaff Films Baseball home movie archive pic.twitter.com/AVECNsMwHk

— Flagstaff Films (@flagstafffilms) June 29, 2020

June 28, 1975: Casey Stengel made his final Shea Stadium appearance. Stengel returned for Old Timers Day. He arrived through Shea's center field gate on a Roman chariot pulled by two white horses. #LGM #MetsRewind pic.twitter.com/7X1X7TpwAi

— Mets Rewind (@metsrewind) June 28, 2020

6/28/2011 Jason Bay hits the Mets first grand slam in 299 games. The next inning Carlos Beltrán follows suit with a grand slam of his own, marking the second time in franchise history where the Mets hit two grand slams in the same game. pic.twitter.com/qiJLvmtcng

— This Day in Mets History (@NYMhistory) June 28, 2020

Thanks to Jeff McNeil & Matt Sauer for facing each other to show what is expected for the Wahoos Indoor Baseball League that begins on July 6 at the baseball facility in Santa Maria, CA!

To register, go to https://t.co/fsdPF8RkQ6@JeffMcNeil805 @redsauers @JBaileySMSports pic.twitter.com/CdhY7MZ33V

— Wahoos Indoor Baseball League (@WahoosIndoor) June 26, 2020

MLB LINKS:

MLB Trade Rumors: Mariners Announce Initial 60-Man Player Pool. Justin Dunn and Jarred Kelenic are included.

MLB Trade Rumors: Blue Jays Announce Initial 60-Man Player Pool. Simeon Woods Richardson and Anthony Kay are on the list.

MLB Trade Rumors: Astros Announce Initial 60-Man Player Pool. Blake Taylor is included.

MLB Trade Rumors: Mariners Release Carlos Gonzalez, Wei-Yin Chen.

NY Post: Ex-Yankee Mike Stanton: Offense will suffer in MLB’s short season.

MLB Trade Rumors: Pirates’ Edgar Santana Issued 80-Game PED Suspension.

ESPN.com: MLB now faces its biggest challenge of 2020: playing during the pandemic.

ESPN.com: Rays' Wander Franco one of many top prospects picked for 60-man player pools.

USA Today: Will MLB be able to complete abbreviated 60-game season as coronavirus cases rise?

Minor League Baseball:

Swinging a big bat. 💥⚾️ (via @pattayymaz10’s Instagram) pic.twitter.com/4cII6zY28f

— Mets Farm Report (@MetsFarmReport) June 28, 2020

MLB Trade Rumors: Nashville Sounds Exploring Possibility Of Hosting Free-Agent League.

Baseball Mexico Blog: WILL LMP PLAY IN FIVE CITIES, MEXICAN PLAYERS ONLY? Also JORGE CANTU'S LMP RIGHTS ACQUIRED BY MONTERREY.

Asian Baseball:

Yesterday in Japan:

Yomiuri Giants 12 Yakult Swallows 0 Nori Aoki 1 for 3 with a walk (Box Score). Gabriel Ynoa is scheduled to start for Yakult tomorrow.

Here is the Japan Baseball Scoreboard.

Yonhap News: Embattled ex-MLB player Kang Jung-ho abandons KBO comeback bid.

ESPN.com: Korea Baseball Organization prepping for fans in stands as soon as Friday.

Yesterday in the KBO:

NC Dinos 5 Doosan Bears 0.  Aaron Altherr 2 for 4, an RBI and a run scored. Chris Flexen  5 innings, 7 hits, 3 runs, 7 Ks, 1 BB in the loss (Box Score).

Here is KBO’s Scoreboard.

This past weekend at Mack’s Mets:

Reese Kaplan -- How to Construct the 2020 Active Roster.

OPEN THREAD - Who Should Be On The Roster?

Mike's Mets - Baseball: Bruised, But Back.

Mack – Do’s and Don’ts Of The 2020 Season.

Mack – 10 More Names to Watch For in the 2021 Draft.

Mike's Mets - The Six Week Superstar.

Mack’s Blast from the Past Mets Minor League Report – June 29, 2013: Las Vegas (42-38) topples Tacoma (48-35) 4-1. A gem by starter Jacob deGrom: 7.0 IP, 1 R, 3 H, BB, 4 K. Rome (39-40) throttles Savannah (47-31) 6-2. Steven Matz (L, 2-4) pitched 8.0 solid innings, (3 R, 2 ER, 4 H, BB, 5 K) but still took the loss.

Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com:

Born on this date:

• Bob Shaw (1933)
• Larry Stahl (1941)

Died on this date:

• Billy Baldwin (2011)

Transactions:

New York Mets selected Mike Jorgensen in fourth round of free agent draft on June 29, 1966.

New York Mets purchased Hal Reniff from the New York Yankees on June 29, 1967.

New York Mets signed free agent Lino Urdaneta on June 29, 2005.

National Pastime.com: 

1969	Tom Seaver becomes the Mets' all-time leader in victories, going the distance in the team's 7-3 win over Pittsburgh at Shea Stadium. The 24 year-old right-hander surpasses the mark set by lefty Al Jackson, an original Met who won 43 games for the new New York franchise between 1962 and 1965.
1986	The White Sox trade veteran right-hander Tom Seaver to the Red Sox for Steve Lyons. 'Tom Terrific' will finish his Hall of Fame career this season in Boston, but he will not pitch in the World Series against the Mets, his first major league team that still refers to him as 'The Franchise.'

2000

With more than 700 police officers on hand at the ballpark instead of the usual 60, John Rocker makes his much-awaited return to Shea Stadium. Before the game, the Braves reliever, who pitches a perfect eighth inning in front of 46,998 booing fans, had apologized to Mets fans for his inappropriate comments about New Yorkers, which appeared in the offseason in Sports Illustrated

Baseball Reference:

1971: Tom Seaver strikes out 13 batters in a 3 - 0 Mets win over the Phillies.

1992 - Pittsfield Mets P James Popoff fans 19 Batavia Clippers in a 5 - 3 victory in the New York-Penn League. It is Popoff's first professional victory.

1997: John Olerud hits two homers and Butch Huskey, Matt Franco and Todd Hundley also homer during a nine-run Mets comeback over the last three innings as they edge the Pirates, 10 - 8. For Franco, his home run is his 6th straight successful pinch-hit. Kevin Young is 4 for 5, including a homer, for the Bucs. John Franco picks up his 19th save, and the 342nd of his career, putting him in 4th place on the all-time save list.

2009: In Milwaukee, 3B Casey McGehee plays both the goat and the hero. In the top of the 6th, his drop of a routine pop fly leads to two New York runs; in the bottom of the inning, he hits his first career grand slam; in the 7th, he takes his time fielding a ground ball off the bat of Gary Sheffield, leading to an infield hit and another run; he is then removed in a double switch. Still, the Brewers bang out 19 hits, including 4 by J.J. Hardy and 3 by Jason Kendall, for a 10 - 6 win. With the loss, the Mets fall below .500.

2011: Suddenly, the Mets are scoring at a record pace, even with a topsy turvy line-up that features C Ronny Paulino batting clean-up. They pound the Tigers, 16 - 9, to set a team record with 52 runs over their last four games. Paulino and Angel Pagan have four hits apiece, and Scott Hairston hits a bases-loaded triple. Utility player Don Kelly gets the final out of the game, the only Tiger hurler not to give up a run in the game. The Bengals hit five homers - two by Miguel Cabrera - to no avail.

2012: R.A. Dickey continues his dominance, pitching 8 shutout innings and striking out 10 in beating the Dodgers, 9 - 0. The Mets' ace is now 12-1.

Centerfield Maz: Remembering Mets History: (6/28/2015) Steve Matz's Incredible Big League Debut.

Centerfield Maz: Remembering Mets History: (6/29/1974) Jon Matlack Tosses His Second Career One Hitter.

You tube:

6/29/17: Lugo, offense help Mets down Marlins, 6-3. T.J. Rivera and Jay Bruce led the offense with two RBIs each, while Seth Lugo turned in a quality start for a 6-3 Mets win.

6/29/13: Mets benefit from errors to back solid Gee.

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