8/20/20

John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 8/20/2020


Good Morning. The Mets 5 Marlins 3 as Michael Conforto hits a clutch 2 run 9th inning HR, Matt Harvey Pitches in KC and Seth Lugo will start today.


Mets Links:

Mets 5 Marlins 3 Jacob deGrom 6 innings, 4 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 7K, 91 pitches – 67 strikes; Jeurys Familia, 1/3 inning, 1 hit, 1 walk, 1 run, 1 earned run; Justin Wilson, 2/3 inning, 0 hits, 0 BBs, 1 K; Dellin Betances 2/3 inning, 2 hits, 2 runs, 2 earned runs,  1 walk; 1 K; Edwin Diaz (W, 1-0) (BS, 2) 1.1 innings, 1 BB, 4 K;  Michael Conforto 1 for 4, 2 run HR, 2 runs scored, 2 RBIs; Luis Guillorme 2 for 4, 1 RBI; Dominic Smith 2 for 4, 1 RBI, 1 run scored; Pete Alonso 1 for 3, 1 walk, 1 run scored; Wilson Ramos 1 for 3, 1 RBI, 1 walk; Brandon Nimmo 2 for 5, 1 run scored, 1 RBI; Robinson Cano 0 for 3; Amed Rosario 0 for 4. (Box Score).


Mike Puma NY Post: Michael Conforto turns Mets implosion into magical moment. “Betances, working for a second straight day, was entrusted a 3-1 lead in the eighth and couldn’t protect it. After Betances drilled Eddy Alvarez with the bases loaded to force in a run, Diaz entered and walked Logan Forsythe on five pitches to tie it.”

Tim Healey Newsday: “The Mets might not have a closer, but Michael Conforto got the save Wednesday.”

NJ.com: After Mets bullpen collapses, Michael Conforto's homer saves day. “Luckily for them, Michael Conforto launched a baseball 425 feet to center field for a go-ahead, two-run home run in the ninth inning. Conforto saved the day after Brandon Nimmo hit a two-out single to keep the inning alive.”


Amazing Avenue: Despite bullpen blunders, the Mets rack up their third straight win over the Marlins. “Diaz came back out for the ninth inning, and mowed down the side, securing the Mets win and capping off a dramatic win, a series victory, and the Mets’ first three-game winning streak of the season.”

Gianna Arantes Metsmerized Online: “Campaigning for his third straight Cy Young Award, Jacob deGrom lowered his ERA to 1.93 with a stellar six shutout innings. Edwin Diaz got the win after striking out four straight batters to close out the game.”

Brian Joura Mets360.com: “The Mets didn’t use Seth Lugo in this game, meaning it’s likely he’s going to start – finally! – on Thursday. Gary Cohen was crucifying that decision in the late innings, saying how this was a must-win game, despite there being 34 games left on the schedule after this particular one. If you had a dollar for every time Cohen and birthday boy Ron Darling mentioned about how big this game was, you could have purchased a shot of top-shelf liquor at your poshest Manhattan saloon.”


Deesha Thosar NY Daily News: “The Mets improved to a 12-14 record following their first three-game winning streak of the year. New York will go for a four-game sweep of the Fish in Thursday night’s finale as the team tries to climb up the standings with the halfway point of the season quickly approaching on Sunday.”



SNY.TV: Mets' Seth Lugo to join starting rotation on Thursday vs. Marlins; Steven Matz moved to bullpen. Move bolsters rotation but also takes key element out of bullpen.

Deehsa Thosar NY Daily News: “Seth has been a starter for us in the past and with his ability to navigate through the lineup, with his repertoire and command, we’re going to see what he can do,” Rojas said. “We’re going to start stretching him out. With him already at a point where he was throwing multiple innings in outings, he can probably give us a little bit of length with the pitch count.”





Metstradamus: “Now, things get interesting. I mean, Seth Lugo is now officially slated to start tomorrow, with Rick Porcello going on Friday against the Yankees. With Matz in Le Chateau Bow Wow for the time being, it could be Robert Gsellman, Corey Oswalt, Drew Smith, Jared Hughes… hell, I’d believe that Matt Allan, who was just activated to the Brooklyn site, could make a start or two before this season is over.”

SNY.TV: Putting the Mets' rotation back together: The payroll situation, free agency, and prospects on the way. “Of the available free agent starting pitchers after this season, the ones who stick out are Trevor Bauer, James Paxton, and [Marcus] Stroman…Beyond [David] Peterson, the Mets have pitchers such as Kevin Smith and Thomas Szapucki who are potential options for the rotation in the near-term... Matthew Allan, Josh Wolf, and J.T. Ginn, a trio of arms who have tremendous stuff and top-of-the-rotation potential, but whose debuts probably won't come until 2023 or late in the 2022 season.

SNY.TV: MRI on Mets' David Peterson reveals no structural damage to pitching shoulder. Lefty says he's dealing with 'some minor inflammation'.





MLB Links:

Red Sox 6 Phillies 3 (Box Score).


SNY.TV: Former Mets ace Matt Harvey goes three innings, allows back-to-back home runs in Royals debut. Harvey pitched two scoreless innings before Reds got to him in the third. Matt’s pitching line – 3 innings, 4 hits, 3 runs, 3 earned runs, 2 walks, 4 Ks, 2 HRs. Reds 5 Royals 0 (Box Score).

Mets Police: “Royals fans got the full experience.  He looks OK and then the wheels come off and the HRs go over the fence.  This will be 90% of his starts Royals fans, with the occasional 6 innings 1 run start that gives you hope.”





Manny Machado hits walk off Grand Slam off Rafael Montero. MLB.com: After Tatis’ audacious 3-0 salami on Monday and Wil Myers’ bases-loaded bomb in the first inning on Tuesday, the Padres have hit grand slams in three straight games for the first time in franchise history. They’re the first team to do so since the White Sox pulled off the feat from June 23-25, 2006, and the fifth in Major League history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The last National League team to do so? The Cleveland Spiders, who did it against the Boston Beaneaters from June 15-17, 1895. Padres 6 Rangers 3 (Box Score).


Mariners 6 Dodgers 4 (Box Score).




Born on this date:
Died on this date:
Transactions:

New York Mets purchased Bill Connors from the Chicago Cubs on August 20, 1967.

New York Mets purchased Ray Burris from the New York Yankees on August 20, 1979.

New York Mets signed free agent Larry Bowa on August 20, 1985.

New York Mets traded Sean Henry and Jose Castro to the Cincinnati Reds for Jeff Conine on August 20, 2007.

New York Mets released Livan Hernandez on August 20, 2009.


1963
In his first major league start, Grover Powell blanks the Phillies in the Mets' 4-0 victory at Connie Mack Stadium. The shutout will be the only big league win for the 21 year-old right-hander, who after pitching four more scoreless innings in his next appearance will appear to lose his effectiveness when he is struck in the face by a line drive hit by Pittsburgh first baseman Donn Clendenon.
1985
Dwight Gooden, going the distance in the Mets' 3-0 victory over San Francisco at Shea Stadium en route to his 13th consecutive win, whiffs 16 batters to become the first National League pitcher to strike out 200 or more batters in each of his first two seasons. The 20 year-old sophomore, who improves his record to 19-3 with his sixth shutout of the year, matches the feat accomplished by Herb Score of the Indians in the American League in 1955 and 1956.

1989
It's a busy day on the trading block for the Mets as they send popular outfielder Mookie Wilson to the Blue Jays for pitcher Jeff Musselman and minor leaguer Michael Brady. New York also gets Frank Viola from the Twins for pitchers Rick Aguilera, David West, and Kevin Tapani and two minor leaguers.
1998
At Shea Stadium, Cardinal first baseman Mark McGwire becomes the first player in major league history to hit fifty home runs in three consecutive seasons. Mac's seventh-inning solo shot, the second of back-to-back round-trippers off Willie Blair, helps to defeat the Mets, 2-0.

1973 - In New York, the Reds score five runs in the 16th to beat the Mets, 8 - 3. Each team scores in the 13th.

1978 - At Shea Stadium, Dodger Blue becomes black and blue as pitcher Don Sutton and first baseman Steve Garvey begin fighting in the clubhouse prior to their 5 - 4 victory over the Mets.

1980: The Giants beat the Mets, 2 - 1, but lose Jack Clark for a month after a Mark Bomback pitch breaks a bone in his left hand.

1982: In Atlanta, the Braves top the Mets, 6 - 4, as Brett Butler makes his debut for the Braves. Butler has a single and RBI.

1989: Howard Johnson hits his 30th home run of the season in the Mets' 5 - 4 loss to the Dodgers and joins Bobby Bonds and Willie Mays as the only players to achieve 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in two different seasons.




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2 comments:

Tom Brennan said...

Tatis Jr is another super freak prospect turned star. I wish we'd get one of those just once.

Betances was not good - he HAS to be better for this team to succeed.

I like the Lugo to the rotation, Matz to pen shift - Matz cannot give up 23 runs in 23 innings and stay in the rotation. Get in the pen and throw 98. Maybe a new lease on life - it worked for Familia, who stunk in the minors as a starter.

Mack Ade said...

John

I removed your dated prospect list from the right column of the lead page.