John From Albany – Mets News and Breakfast Links 8/27/2020

Good Morning. Happy Birthday to Mike Maddux and Brian McRae.  The Mets 5 Marlins 4 - deGrom Amazing – Ramos gets GW RBI, and the Mets release a free online 2020 yearbook.

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

Mets Links:

Mets 5 Marlins 4. Jacob deGrom 7 innings, 2 hits, 1 run, 1 earned run, 2 walks, 14K, 104 pitches – 67 strikes; Justin Wilson, 1/3 inning, 3 runs, 3 earned runs, 3 hits, 0 walks; Edwin Diaz 1/3 inning, 0 runs, 1 hit, 2 walks, 1K;  Brad Brach (W, 1-0) (BS, 1) 1.1 innings, 0 runs 0 hits, 1 walk, 1 K; Michael Conforto 2 for 2, 3 runs scored, 1 RBI, 1 HR (5^th), 2 walks - now hitting .324;   Robinson Cano 3 for 4, 1 RBI, - now hitting .382;  Brandon Nimmo 1 for 4, 1 HR (5^th), 1 run scored, 1 RBI; Amed Rosario 0 for 4 - now hitting .202;    Pete Alonso 0 for 3, 1 walk - now hitting .225;  Wilson Ramos 1 for 3, 1 RBI (GW-RBI), 1 walk. (Box Score).

SNY.TV: The Mets and Marlins finish their four-game set on Thursday at 7:10 p.m. The Mets haven't announced their starter just yet, but top prospect Sixto Sanchez will start for Miami.

You Tube: Marlins-Mets Game Highlights 8/26/20.

Brian Joura Mets360.com: “Jacob deGrom started for the Mets and was his usual terrific self. He threw 104 pitches in seven innings, allowed just one run and struck out 14. He fanned six of the final nine batters he faced and was in complete control. The only run he gave up came on a bloop double and two weak ground outs.”

Metstradamus: “The Mets took the bounty that Jacob deGrom gave them … a seven inning 14 strikeout game which only grew one run (or as my friend messaged me tonight: “one bulls***t run”), and stomped it into the ground in the 8th, making me wish that Rob Manfred would have made every game seven innings.”

SNY.TV: “Justin Wilson pitched the eighth inning for the Mets…allowed a pair of singles…and Jon Berti later blooped a single to load the bases. With one out in the eighth, manager Luis Rojas went with Edwin Diaz…Diaz made quick work of Jesus Sanchez with a strikeout, but then allowed an RBI single to Jesus Aguilar…He then walked Corey Dickerson to make it a 4-3 game. Diaz then seemed to land awkwardly on a 1-1 pitch to Brian Anderson, and after a visit from coaches and the team trainer, came out of the game. Brad Brach then completed the walk to Anderson, tying the game 4-4.

NY Post: “Fortunately for the Mets, they found a way to not the blow game itself, thanks to Wilson Ramos’ clutch RBI single that plated pinch-runner Billy Hamilton in the eighth inning, providing a 5-4 margin.”

Mets.com: Mets: 'We trust our guys' late in close games. deGrom handed no-decision after bullpen loses lead in eighth in win.

Jason Fry Faith and fear in Flushing: “The Mets had somehow won, but it sure didn’t feel like they had. Certainly they hadn’t deserved to. I still felt like booing. The best thing to do, probably, is draw a curtain across this one and never think of it again. It didn’t make any sense, and your insisting it should have won’t make any difference. It’s just baseball, it’ll drive you crazy if you let it, and 2020’s already got that more than covered.”

This is the 14th time the last three seasons that Jacob deGrom has thrown at least seven innings, allowed one or zero runs and not gotten a win. That's TWICE as many times as the next-closest MLB pitcher on the list.

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) August 27, 2020

Never.
Never.
Never.
Take out.
Jacob.
deGrom.

— Greg Prince (@greg_prince) August 27, 2020

SNY.TV: Mets still mulling over starter options for games vs. Yankees this weekend. Two doubleheaders are set for Friday and Sunday with a single game on Saturday.

NY Post: Mets’ rotation is completely up in the air.

Newsday: Luis Rojas' message to Mets' J.D. Davis: Watch the Berti. “Davis said Rojas pulled him aside after the Mets’ Game 2 loss and told him he needed to pay more attention to Berti so that the speedy runner would have had to have headed back to third after the pitch was thrown.”

Andy Martino SNY.TV: Why the Mets have been quiet on the trade front, and might remain that way. “With Marcus Stroman and Noah Syndergaard out and Steven Matz ineffective, the rotation might not be ready for prime time. With Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil and Amed Rosario struggling, the offense isn’t igniting as expected either. With five days to go, these are the reasons why it has been mostly quiet in Queens.”

SNY.TV: Mets' Dominic Smith discusses kneeling during national anthem: 'The most difficult part is to see that people still don't care' 'For this to continuously happen, it just shows just the hate in people's heart'.

For Dominic Smith, it's about so much more than taking a knee:https://t.co/qo3xSA7kmM

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) August 27, 2020

Good morning. I've mentioned before over the years Dom Smith since I started covering Mets in St Lucie 2015 hands down the most recognizable player/face in the crowd pre & post game & in spring not only signing autographs but having conversations with fans genuine person/heart

— Ernest Dove (@ernestdove) August 27, 2020

Joel Sherman NY Post: Dom Smith’s pain shows how far away US is from racial justice.

NY Post: Luis Rojas: Timing made Mets’ boycott discussion impossible.

Reflections on Baseball: Mets League Leading BA Masks The Awful Truth About This Erratic Team.

Mike’s Mets: You Can Dress Them Up, but You Can't Take Them Out. “Just about the point you're thinking that maybe they can actually make a push for the expanded playoff field, they will run off another stretch of almost unwatchable bad baseball. Lather, rinse, repeat.”

Rising Apple: Mets infielder Luis Guillorme has finally found his role with the team.

Rising Apple: Fernando Tatis Jr. is the reason to shop all upcoming free agents. “There isn’t a single pending free agent under the Mets’ control that looks guaranteed to return in 2021. Because of this, I would like to see BVW at least shop some of those guys.”

Amazing Avenue: Getting to know Patrick Mazeika.

Amazing Avenue: Getting to know Ali Sanchez.

Centerfield Maz: Choo Choo Coleman: A Popular Original Mets Player (1962-1963).

Centerfield Maz: Joel Youngblood: Late Seventies / Early Eighties Mets All Star (1977-1982).

Mets release online free yearbooks and program!  Link to Yearbook and Link to Program. Sorry, no free pencil.  Thanks to Mack’s Mets writer Dave Rubin for the links.

Michael Wacha (right shoulder soreness) was out throwing another bullpen session this afternoon at Citi Field. That's two in three days for Wacha, who has to be a realistic candidate to start later this week.

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) August 26, 2020

For now, tomorrow's Mets starter remains TBA, in what has become a trend for the team -- not announcing starters until day of game.

The team has been avoiding Steven Matz and Robert Gsellman out of the bullpen. They would appear to be the leading candidates to start Thursday.

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) August 26, 2020

8/27/92 Mets sweep the former tenant of the Polo Grounds pic.twitter.com/ERriHXWl9E

— Sports Sightings - 92 Mets Edition (@SportsSightings) August 27, 2020

MLB Links:

Welcome back, @ronaldacunajr24. pic.twitter.com/eJtIBMaEmz

— MLB (@MLB) August 26, 2020

Fox 5 Atlanta: Anderson dazzles in debut, Braves end Cole streak, top Yanks. Braves 5 Yankees 1 (Box Score).  

Talking Chop: Braves pull off yet another late-inning comeback and sweep doubleheader over Yankees; After Max Fried threw yet another great inning, Freddie Freeman delivered a big two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth to pull the Braves ahead for good. Braves 2 Yankees 1 (Box Score).

NBC Sports Philadelphia: Aaron Nola bounced back from the shortest outing of his career and Alec Bohm and Bryce Harper drove in big runs in the top of the seventh inning as the Phillies came from behind to beat the Washington Nationals. Phillies 3 Nationals 2 (Box Score).

MLB.com: Cards cap wild rally with walk-off walk in 9^th.  Cardinals 6 Royals 5 (Box Score).

Here is the full MLB Scoreboard from yesterday. 

AP News: 3 MLB games postponed, players decide after Kenosha shooting.

MLB.com: Players united in message: 'Have to step up'.

AP News: Unusual season creates uncertainty as trade deadline nears.

What the All-Star Game could've been. Who would win?

Full teams: https://t.co/SCyzptIfhg pic.twitter.com/4H9dzd1kQc

— MLB (@MLB) August 26, 2020

AP News: A baseball life: Scully auctions items from 67-year career.

CBS Sports: Yankees lose two games and possibly Aaron Judge to the IL, again, in doubleheader vs. Braves.

MLB Trade Rumors: Aaron Judge Exits With Calf Issue.

MLB Trade Rumors: Giants Trade Catcher Rob Brantly To Yankees.

MLB Trade Rumors: Nationals Option Carter Kieboom, Activate Sean Doolittle.

MLB Trade Rumors: Reds Designate Pedro Strop, Select Jose Garcia.

MLB Trade Rumors: Cubs Release Kelvin Herrera.

MLB Trade Rumors: Indians Recall Mike Clevinger.

MLB Trade Rumors: Red Sox Outright Stephen Gonsalves, Mike Shawaryn; R.J. Alvarez Released.

NL East farm system rankings:

7. Atlanta Braves
9. Miami Marlins
20. New York Mets
26. Philadelphia Phillies
28. Washington Nationals

See 1-30 here: https://t.co/Z3ebe9fEu2 pic.twitter.com/KPHIeQ9Y4Y

— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) August 26, 2020

The elimination of short-season ball.

The addition of a third Triple-A league.

How about something called the Mid-Atlantic League?

Several potentially dramatic changes could come to the minors next year. We explain: https://t.co/pna91ZOZ8N

— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) August 26, 2020

Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com:

Born on this date:

• Mike Maddux (1961)
• Brian McRae (1967)

Transactions:

New York Mets signed free agent Jerry Koosman on August 27, 1964.

New York Mets traded David Cone to the Toronto Blue Jays for Jeff Kent and Ryan Thompson on August 27, 1992.

New York Mets traded Dan Wheeler to the Houston Astros for Adam Seuss on August 27, 2004.

National Pastime.com:

1974

At Shea Stadium, Benny Ayala becomes the first National Leaguer in 13 years to hit a home run in his first major league at-bat. The Mets rookie goes deep off Astros' hurler Tom Griffin in New York's 4-2 win.

1986

With one out in the bottom of the eleventh inning and the visiting Mets ahead of the Padres, 6-5, Lenny Dykstra's throw nails Gary Templeton at the plate when he tries to score from second base on Tim Flannery's single to center field. Knocked on his back by the runner, catcher John Gibbons, from a prone position, throws a strike to Howard Johnson, who tags out Flannery, trying to get to third base, to end the game with an unusual 8-2-5 double play.

2013

Marlon Byrd is traded by the Mets, along with John Buck and cash, to the Pirates for a player to be named later (Vic Black) and minor leaguer Dilson Herrera. Although the outfielder is no longer on the roster, the team follows through on its planned promotion, giving away Marlon Byrd T-shirts before tonight's game.

Baseball Reference:

1969: New York's 4 - 1 win at San Diego, its 74th of the year, sets a club record; Chicago loses for the 7th time in the last eight games, a 6 - 3 loss to the Reds' Tony Cloninger. Ken Holtzman is the loser. Chicago is now just two games ahead of the Amazing Mets.

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