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

Good Morning. Happy Birthday Tim Teufel and John Buck, the Mets 2020 schedule is out and Steve Cohen may be back in it to buy the Mets.

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

Mets Links:

Mets.com: Mets open 2020 season July 24 vs. Braves. Season-ending four-game series vs. Nats in DC could be crucial.

SNY.TV (no longer MetsBlog): The Mets’ 13-game stretch to open the season will be difficult, coming against the Braves, Boston Red Sox, and Washington Nationals.

👀 2020 60-Game #Mets Schedule 👀 #LGM

🔶🔷 @campingworld 🔶🔷 pic.twitter.com/bEHNlUlqjy

— New York Mets (@Mets) July 6, 2020

Mets 360.com: Mets’ playoff outlook based on their first-60-game record in the last five years. Chris Flanders notes: “In the 5-year stretch from 2015 through 2019, the Mets have never been in first place after 60 games.”

SNY.TV: Steve Cohen expected to send in another bid for Mets ownership: reports.

amNewYork: Initial bids for Mets ‘weak’ at under $2 billion.

Bleacher Report: Mets Bids 'Appear Weak, Likely Below $2B'; Wilpons 'Unlikely to Sell'.

Elite Sports NY: Low opening bids open door for Steve Cohen.

Mets.com: Third Cy Young 'definitely still a goal' for Jacob deGrom.

Mike Puma NY Post: Jacob deGrom: Winning third Cy Young wouldn’t feel the same.

SNY.TV: Mets' Jacob deGrom has high hopes for Steven Matz in 2020: 'I think the upside is unbelievable'.

You Tube: Jacob deGrom Full Summer Camp Press Conference.

SNY.TV: Brandon Nimmo confident Mets will complete season amid coronavirus: 'I have 100 percent conviction'.

NY Post: “That was my biggest concern coming into this thing, was the number of at-bats and we started [Sunday],” Brandon Nimmo said following his workout on Monday. “Honestly, we’re starting with a little less than 20 days [before Opening Day], so there’s a lot of time to get at-bats.”

Elite Sports NY: New York Mets top-10 prospects: Post 2020 MLB Draft edition.  1. Ronny Mauricio; 2. Francisco Alvarez; 3. Matthew Allan; 4. Brett Baty; 5. Andres Gimenez; 6. Pete Crow Armstrong; 7.  J.T. Ginn; 8. Mark Vientos; 9. David Peterson; 10. Isaiah Greene.

Mike's Mets: When Trying Your Best Just Isn't Good Enough. Mike talks about the MLB testing problems.

NY Daily News: Mets feeling good about handling of coronavirus protocols at Citi Field. “We’ve been very fortunate to get the tests back on time and to have this thing running as smoothly as it is,” said Brandon Nimmo. “Everything’s gone well with us. Hopefully, it’ll smooth out throughout the league.”

Mike Puma NY Post: Jed Lowrie’s bad contract is far from team’s worst. Mike cites the “four-year contract for $66 million the Mets gave Jason Bay”, “Yoenis Cespedes received a four-year contract worth $110 million”, and the “three-year deal worth $36 million the Mets gave Oliver Perez”.

Rising Apple: Three underrated players crucial to success in 2020. Elizabeth Muratore thinks Justin Wilson, Drew Smith, and Rene Rivera will be key.

All in a day’s work. pic.twitter.com/mGWv4rRY4U

— New York Mets (@Mets) July 6, 2020

Hearing that Mets bench coach Hensley Meulens will likely arrive in camp this week. Tim Teufel has been here as a potential replacement coach if the Mets need to fill a spot on the staff at any point. Hitting coach Chili Davis, as previously reported, is working remotely.

— Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets) July 6, 2020

Bring in Todd Hundley as an outfield coach and get it over with. https://t.co/6fa2bWAuak

— Metstradamus (@Metstradamus) July 6, 2020

“When I came to the major leagues, we had the nucleus of a dynasty, with our pitching and defense, we went from the best baseball city in the country to an absolute joke.” - Jon Matlack from Great Arms, Sour Days at Shea: https://t.co/ugbpnrZYA0 #LGM #MetsRewind pic.twitter.com/DidIzS7IcH

— Mets Rewind (@metsrewind) July 6, 2020

MLB LINKS:

MLB.com: MLB's 60-game schedule for 2020 unveiled.

CBS Sports: Eight most intriguing series on 2020 MLB schedule: Astros-Dodgers, Giants-Diamondbacks and more.

USA Today: Nationals, Astros, Cards cancel workouts as COVID-19 testing failures affect at least six MLB teams.

Joel Sherman NY Post: MLB season threatened by coronavirus testing mess.

MLB Trade Rumors: Rob Manfred Reportedly “Jumped On” Mike Rizzo Over COVID Testing Comments. “Without accurate and timely testing it is simply not safe for us to continue with Summer Camp,” Rizzo said, in part. “Major League Baseball needs to work quickly to resolve issues with their process and their lab. Otherwise, Summer Camp and the 2020 Season are at risk.”

MLB Trade Rumors: MLB, MLBPA Seeking Additional Medical Lab Site For COVID Testing.

MLB Trade Rumors: MLB Issues Statement On Testing Delays. “While several teams are presently missing or delaying workouts owing to testing delays, MLB claims that ‘more than 95% of the tests under the Intake Screening period have been conducted, analyzed, and shared.’ That leaves a not-inconsequential number of players and others that still haven’t passed the initial gate.”

MLB Trade Rumors: Joey Gallo Tests Positive For COVID-19.

MLB Trade Rumors: Nick Markakis Opts Out Of 2020 Season.

NY Post: Zack Wheeler’s uneasy Phillies commitment with baby due this month.

MLB Trade Rumors: Dombrowski, La Russa, Stewart Join Nashville Franchise Effort.

MLB Trade Rumors: Aaron Judge Says He’ll Be Ready For Opening Day.

CBS Sports: Andrew McCutchen criticizes Yankees' hair policy: 'It takes away from our individualism'.

AP Sports: Red Sox dogged by claims of racism, sexual abuse. Attorney seeking settlements in Red Sox sexual abuse cases.

AP Sports: Giants manager Kapler: Pablo Sandoval’s weight not an issue.

AP Sports: Betts: Baseball didn’t do good job with response to Floyd.

Yahoo Sports: One season from free agency, Mookie Betts wades into uncertain tenure with Dodgers.

Minor League Baseball:

Take a peek into a day in the life of a catcher at @Mets #SummerCamp. Watch as @Alisanchez2020 and @pattayymaz10 give you a closer look. #LGM pic.twitter.com/kV9XHgFRVW

— Mets Farm Report (@MetsFarmReport) July 6, 2020

🎯 @tnido24 pic.twitter.com/HwnQrQRo9x

— Mets Farm Report (@MetsFarmReport) July 6, 2020

Asian Baseball:

Amazing Avenue: NPB Update, June 28 to July 04: Middle of the pack.

Here is how some ex-Mets are doing in the Japan:

Nori Aoki Through 14 games .292/.382/.542 - .923 OPS, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 2 K, 6 BB.

Gabriel Ynoa 2 games, 0-1, 9.00 ERA, 8 innings, 15 hits, 8 earned runs, 2 BB, 5 Ks.

Ryota Igarashi 0-0, 1 game, 1 inning, 1 hit, no runs.

Nori Aoki is back in LF for today’s game (Box Score).

Here is the Japan Baseball Scoreboard.

Yonhap News: Former NL All-Star Addison Russell due in S. Korea on Wednesday to begin KBO stint.

(Yonhap Interview) Meet Mel Rojas Jr.: KBO's top slugger and a man with a plan.

Amazing Avenue: KBO Update, June 28 to July 04: LOLTwins.

Here is how the ex-Mets are doing in the KBO:

Aaron Altherr Through 52 games Aaron’s stats were .307/.380/.615 - .995 OPS, 14 HR, 48 RBI, 50K, 15BB.

Chris Flexen: In 10 games this year Chris is 3-3, 4.18 ERA, 56 innings, 57 hits, 26 earned runs, 17 BB, 51 Ks.

Drew Gagnon: 10 games this year Drew is 5-3, 3.77 ERA, 57.1 innings, 53 hits, 24 earned runs, 17 BB, 57 Ks.

Aaron Altherr is back in CF today (Box Score).

Here is KBO’s Scoreboard.

Amazing Avenue: CPBL Update, June 28 to July 04: Sababoy wuz robbed!

Yesterday at Mack’s Mets:

Reese Kaplan -- 2020 Is Not Normal Baseball Preparation.

Tom Brennan - YEAH, IT'S EARLY, BUT YOENIS CESPEDES LOOKS SCARY.

Mack – COVID Testing.

Mike's Mets - No Offense Required.

Metstradamus - The Alternate Universe: Padres at Mets 7-5-2020.

Mack’s Blast from the Past: 7/7/12: Here comes Zach Lutz. Zach Lutz went 1-for-3 and drove in three runs and the St. Lucie Mets held of the Jupiter Hammerheads 6-5 on Friday at Digital Domain Park for their second consecutive win. Cory Vaughn ripped his 15th home run of the season and finished 2-for-4 with an RBI. T.J. Rivera went 1-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Alonzo Harris had two hits and a run scored while Travis Taijeron finished 1-for-3 with a run scored. Erik Goeddel tossed 4 1/3 innings and allowed three runs and eight hits with five walks and three strikeouts.

Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com:

Born on this date:

• Bob Gallagher (1948)
• Tommy Moore (1948)
• Tim Teufel (1958)
• Andy Green (1977)
• John Buck (1980)

 National Pastime.com: 

1964	In the only All-Star Game ever played at Shea Stadium, the National League evens the all-time series at 18 victories for each circuit by beating the AL, 7-4, with a dramatic ninth-inning rally which includes a three-run homer by Phillies slugger Johnny Callison. Home team second baseman Ron Hunt becomes the first Mets player selected as a starter in the Midsummer Classic.
2008	After taking a nine-run lead into the sixth inning, the Mets hold on to beat the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, 10-9. The game is eerily similar to a 1992 contest, also played in Philadelphia, that caused Hall of Fame announcer Bob Murphy to remark after the final out, "they win the damn thing by a score of 10 to 9!"

2012

Bryce Harper becomes the youngest position player to make an All-Star team when he is named to replace Miami's Giancarlo Stanton, who is unable to participate because of an injury. The 19 year-old Nationals outfielder, who is older than hurlers Dwight Gooden (Mets) and Bob Feller (Indians) when they played in their first Midsummer Classics, surpasses backstop Butch Wynegar (Twins) as the youngest non-pitcher to be selected.

Baseball Reference:

1993: Mets P Bret Saberhagen throws a firecracker under a table near reporters at Shea Stadium, but no one is hurt.

Centerfield Maz: Remembering Mets History: (7/7/1973) The Brutal George "Stork" Theodore / Don Hahn Outfield Collision.

Centerfield Maz: John Buck: Former Mets Catcher Who Also Came Over In the Noah Syndergaard /Travis dArnaud Deal (2013).

Centerfield Maz: Tim Teufel: 1986 World Champion Mets Infielder (1986-1991) 2015 NL Champion Mets Coach (2012-2016).

You tube:

7/7/13: Hefner keeps up top form as Mets edge Brewers.

7/7/16: Mets outslug Nationals in 9-7 win. The Mets hammered four homers and 15 hits against the Nationals and hung on for the win in a wild 9-7 finish.

Want more?  Check out https://sportspyder.com/mlb/new-york-mets/news. 

Want something else tracked here each day?  Please leave a comment below.