John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 7/15/2020

Good Morning. Happy Birthday to Donn Clendenon, the lefty Bob Miller, and Stephen Villines.  Jacob deGrom leaves Intrasquad game with Back Tightness, and 4 Mets Bidders move to the second round.

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

Mets Links:

NY Post: Jacob deGrom exits Mets scrimmage early with back issue. “Jacob deGrom left Tuesday’s intrasquad game at Citi Field after just one inning with back tightness. No further information was provided…DeGrom didn’t show any obvious signs of discomfort during his lone inning Tuesday. He gave up a single and a walk in the scoreless frame, but didn’t come out for the second inning and was replaced by left-hander Justin Wilson.”

Ken Davidoff NY Post: Mets in sudden danger following Jacob deGrom injury scare.

Mets.com: deGrom did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

MLB Trade Rumors: “It’s not yet clear whether this issue will jeopardize deGrom’s chances of taking the ball for the Mets when their season opens July 24. As Tim Britton of The Athletic points out, though, back tightness did prevent deGrom from making an Opening Day start in 2018.”

NY Post: Robinson Cano returns to Mets camp after undisclosed absence.

Mets.com: “Mets officials did not give a reason for Canó’s absence, only to say repeatedly that they will not discuss the statuses of absent players. Robinson Cano is expected to speak to the media later this week. ‘We’ll go day by day,’ manager Luis Rojas said. ‘He looks great.’”

Some shots of Robinson Canó back at Citi Field this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/BXdjV158K9

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) July 14, 2020

NY Post: Mets’ Jarred Kelenic nightmare keeps getting worse. Jarred Kelenic, the Mets’ first-round pick (sixth overall) in the 2018 draft, blasted a pair of home runs in a Mariners intrasquad game on Monday, opening eyes out in Seattle.

BREAKING: Steve Cohen, Josh Harris, @AROD and unidentified bid group advance to second round of @Mets bidding, sources tell @Sportico:https://t.co/TTk5WDBQBm #SportsBiz pic.twitter.com/Xea3ONZrJD

— Scott Soshnick (@soshnick) July 14, 2020

Sports Illustrated: Report: Alex Rodriguez, Steve Cohen and Josh Harris Advance to Second Round of Mets Sale.

NY Post: Mets sale rumblings: Dubious mystery bidder, Steve Cohen buzz. “Whispers of a fourth mystery buyer persist, but insiders tell The Post that the notion of a person or group with the ability to pony up $2 billion or more going unknown at this point seems farfetched. ‘Maybe there is another mystery bidder,’ one source involved in the process told The Post. ‘But it’s more likely that this is just an attempt to keep Steve Cohen on his toes.’”

NY Post: Dominic Smith wants to ‘pressure’ Mets into tough decision.

Mets.com: Dom Smith on BLM movement, speaking out.  “Since opening his heart to the world, Smith has been floored by the response he has seen from those near and far. ‘It just showed their outpouring of love and support for me, for my community, for the things that I’ve gone through, for the things that we’ve gone through,’ Dominic Smith said. ‘I can’t even put some of those things in words.’”

Ken Davidoff NY Post: Mets have come together to regain spring training momentum. “On the field we’re having fun,” Luis Rojas said, accurately. “They’re yelling at each other. They’re getting on each other. They get excited when one of them does something great out there.”

Mike Vaccaro NY Post: Joe Torre’s surprising Mets know closest thing to 60-game sprint.

NY Post: Ex-Mets pitcher Turk Wendell got death threats with Phillies. “After the Mets traded Wendell to the Phillies during the 2001 MLB season, Wendell struggled mightily. He had a 7.47 ERA over 21 appearance for the Phillies that year while making roughly $3 million.”

Mike’s Mets: If You Have to Ask, You Can't Afford It.


Mets360.com: The Mets have depth to spare…at DH.

Faith and Fear in Flushing looks back at one of the all time great Mets: Tommie Agee. 

Metstradamus: The Alternate Universe: A.L. at N.L. 7-14-2020. Metstradamus keeps up the rundown of the sim season that sees Jeff McNeil as the MVP of the 2020 All-Star Game.

The following players in the Mets' 60-man pool have been moved from Citi Field to the team's alternate Brooklyn site:

Ryley Gilliam
David Peterson
Kevin Smith
Walker Lockett
Corey Oswalt
Tyler Bashlor
Daniel Zamora
Drew Smith
Ali Sanchez
Johneshwy Fargas
Patrick Mazeika

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) July 14, 2020

"We have great trust in him," Luis Rojas said of David Peterson.

Mets view him as a starter, Rojas said. They're stretching him out, like they did in the first camp. Rojas said Mets feel Peterson can deliver if needed for a start.

— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) July 14, 2020

July 14, 1969: Bill Hands shuts out the @Mets and Tom Seaver 1-0 at Wrigley Field. After the game's last out, Ron Santo clicks his heels. #LGM #MetsRewind pic.twitter.com/VGxZJ6IOq3

— Mets Rewind (@metsrewind) July 14, 2020

MLB LINKS: 

MLB.com: Here are the top 10 bullpens for 2020. Using ERA+ to find best relief corps out there. #1 Yankees; #2 Padres; #3 Brewers; #4 Rays; #5 Twins; #6 Braves; #7 Mets; #8 A’s; #9 Astros; #10 Dodgers.

MLB.com: Role call: Every team’s biggest 2020 addition. For the Mets - Rick Porcello.

NY Post: 11 MLB umpires opt out of 2020 season over coronavirus concerns.  The loss equates to 12.2% of the current umpire roster, according to MLB.com, which features the bios of 90 umpires.

Yahoo Sports: 'I want to make it work': How one MLB umpire is preparing to call games during the pandemic.

USA Today: 10 days to Opening Day: Astros and MLB hope COVID-related 'fire drills' come to an end.

AP News: With empty new stadium, Rangers furlough about 60 employees.

AP News: Puig picks Braves, Glasnow makes strong return to Rays.

USA Today: MLB players have been wearing masks on the field – and that could extend into actual games.

MLB Trade Rumors: Robinson Chirinos Questionable For Opening Day.

MLB Trade Rumors: Full List Of Players Opting Out Of The 2020 Season.

CBS Sports: MLB's statistical benchmarks in 60-game season: Why 15 homers and 40 RBI could be MVP numbers.

Yahoo Sports: All 11 LA pro sports teams unite as 'The Alliance' to use sport for social justice.

Asian Baseball:

The Hanshin Tigers 6 Yakult Swallows 3 Nori Aoki 1 for 3, with a run and a walk (Box Score).

Nori Aoki is in LF and Gabriel Ynoa is on the mound today for the Yakult Swallows (Box Score).

Here is the Japan Baseball Scoreboard.

Kiwoom Heros 6 NC Dinos 1 Aaron Altherr 0 for 4 (Box Score).

Aaron Altherr is in CF again today for the NC Dinos (Box Score).

Drew Gagnon back on the mound today for the Kia Tigers (Box Score).

2020/7/14 THE WINNING K by #JoséDePaula
Congrats to @CTBC_Brothers for clinching the 2020 #CPBL first half-season CHAMP!! @CPBL pic.twitter.com/jHZA8upZfB

— ELEVEN SPORTS TAIWAN (@ElevenSportsTW) July 14, 2020

Here is KBO’s Scoreboard.

Yesterday at Mack’s Mets:

Tom Brennan - AMAZIN' 1969 METS STATS.

Tony Plate: A-Rod Adds Players to The Mix.

Mike's Mets - What The Future Might Bring.

Mets360 - Mets Minors: Thomas Szapucki and short season squad.

Mack’s Blast from the Past: Mets Minor League Report – July 15, 2014: Taijeron Named League Player of the Week.  Binghamton Mets outfielder Travis Taijeron highlighted his stellar week with an outpouring of run production in a four-game series against the Portland Sea Dogs. He pounded out a half-dozen hits and collected nine RBI, including a pair of four-RBI games.

Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com:

Born on this date:

• Donn Clendenon (1935)
• Bob Miller (1935)
• Don Bosch (1942)
• James Baldwin (1971)
• Wilson Delgado (1972)
• Fernando Nieve (1982)
• Stephen Villines (1005)

Transactions:

New York Mets traded Ron Darling and Mike Thomas to the Montreal Expos for Tim Burke on July 15, 1991.

New York Mets signed free agent Vic Darensbourg on July 15, 2004.

National Pastime.com: 

2013	NL manager Bruce Bochy names Matt Harvey as the National League's starter. The 24 year-old rookie right-hander, who becomes the first Mets pitcher to start an All-Star Game since Dwight Gooden got the nod in 1988, will be the sixth hurler to start the Midsummer Classic in his home ballpark when he faces the American League lineup tomorrow at Citi Field.

Baseball Reference:

1969: The New York Mets rough up Fergie Jenkins for three home runs, including Al Weis's second in two days, to beat the Chicago Cubs, 9 - 5. The Cubs now lead New York by 3 1/2 games. At the end of the game Tom Seaver jumps out of the dugout and clicks his heels several times, mocking Ron Santo's gesture of the day before. The Mets will win tomorrow as well.

1975 - The National League rallies for three runs in the 9th inning to win the All-Star Game at Milwaukee, 6 - 3. The Chicago Cubs' Bill Madlock and the New York Mets' Jon Matlack share the game's MVP award.

1978: Pete Rose collects a hit in his 28th straight game, setting a Cincinnati Reds club record (post-1900) as the Reds beat the New York Mets, 7 - 5. His hit comes off Craig Swan. On the 18th, he'll hit in his 31st straight game to top the all-time Reds record set by Elmer Smith in 1898.

1991: The New York Mets trade pitcher Ron Darling and minor league P Mike Thomas to the Montreal Expos in exchange for pitcher Tim Burke.

1994: In the second game of a doubleheader against the San Diego Padres, the New York Mets' Bret Saberhagen goes 10 innings, striking out 11, giving up five hits and allowing no runs. Consistent with his record-setting season, he walks none.

2001: Behind Mike Piazza's three hits and three RBIs, the Mets win, 5 - 2, over Toronto as both teams celebrate Negro League Tribute Day by wearing old Negro League uniforms. The Mets wear that of the NY Cubans, 1947 Negro National League champs, while the Blue Jays are in the uniforms of the Chatham All-Stars.

2010: Unused in the All-Star Game, Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum starts his team's first game after the break and pitches a shutout over the Mets for his 50th career win, 2 - 0. R.A. Dickey is the loser in spite of a solid effort of his own.

2012: Ben Sheets makes a successful return to the big leagues, a few days short of two years since his last game before undergoing Tommy John surgery. He keeps the Mets scoreless over 6 innings as the Braves win, 6 - 1. The game features the ejection of Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen, who starts arguing with home plate umpire C.B. Bucknor during a 6th-inning mound visit; the Braves score all their runs in that inning, highlighted by Freddie Freeman's three-run homer off Johan Santana.

Centerfield Maz: Donn Clendenon (Part One): 1969 World Series MVP- The Pre Mets Years.

Centerfield Maz: Donn Clendenon (Part Two) 1969 World Series MVP: The Mets Years (1969-1971).

You tube:

7/15/16: Walker's home run lifts Mets in 5-3 win.

7/15/17: Mets homer three times in win over Rockies.

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