John From Albany – Mets News and Breakfast Links 8/28/2020

Good Morning. Happy Birthday to Mike Torrez and Joel Youngblood.  Mets, Marlins stage walkout protest after 42-second moment of silence, and the Mets Play the Yankees today on MLB’s Jackie Robinson Day.

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

Mets Links:

You Tube Mets Video: Mets-Marlins Stand United.

NY Post: Mets, Marlins stage walkout protest after moment of silence.

Michael Conforto said the idea for a 42-second moment of silence came from Miguel Rojas, the Marlins' de facto captain.

— Tim Healey (@timbhealey) August 27, 2020

In a powerful show of protest, the Mets and Marlins walked out on their game tonight at Citi Field:https://t.co/iJhnaFKdQa

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) August 27, 2020

Yahoo Sports: The Mets heard Dom Smith's message, and found a striking way to support their teammate.

Joel Sherman NY Post: Dom Smith’s raw honesty led to powerful Mets moment.

The Score: Mets' Smith: 'Being a Black man in America is not easy'.

Michael Conforto on Dom Smith's raw emotion:

"When you love a guy like him the way that his teammates do, it's a pretty powerful thing" pic.twitter.com/coyc483qQy

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 27, 2020

Jason Fry Faith and Fear in Flushing: “It was a powerful moment, covered with care and, yes, grace by SNY. Afterwards, Michael Conforto, Dominic Smith, Robinson Cano and Dellin Betances addressed the media, masks on as per COVID necessity…The Mets being the Mets, there had to be a sideshow.”

Here's video of Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen discussing a plan in which he says MLB wanted the Mets to take the field, leave it and return an hour later. Van Wagenen is critical of the idea and commissioner Rob Manfred, saying: "He just doesn’t get it." (Video via @NickCocco18) pic.twitter.com/46Z9neVkJt

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 27, 2020

NY Post: Fred and Jeff Wilpon rip Brodie Van Wagenen for hot-mic comments.

The Score: Mets ownership: Van Wagenen's misunderstanding is 'inexcusable'.

Mets Police: Wilpons throw Wags under the bus. Mets: Police: I think Wags “accidentally” let this leak out on a hot mic, in front of a camera, on a stage with Mets signage, and on the Mets website to defend his players. And I think he’s now taking bullets on everyone else’s behalf.   He may have won over his own players.  So what if the commissioner is mad at him, what does he care?

NY Post: Rob Manfred indirectly responds to Brodie Van Wagenen’s comments. “I have not attempted in any way to prevent players from expressing themselves by not playing, nor have I suggested any alternative form of protest to any Club personnel or player. Any suggestion to the contrary is wrong.”

NY Times: Mets G.M. Rebukes Commissioner but Apologizes, Citing Misunderstanding.

NY Post: How Brodie Van Wagenen-Rob Manfred video went viral.

Mack’s Mets: Statement From Mets General Manager Brodie Van Wagenen.  “My frustration with the Commissioner was wrong and unfounded. I apologize to the Commissioner for my disrespectful comments and poor judgement in inaccurately describing the contents of his private conversation with Jeff Wilpon.”

Before his video leaked... Brodie joined the show pic.twitter.com/JhaOcx0BhN

— Evan Roberts (@EvanRobertsWFAN) August 27, 2020

NY Post: Yankees vs. Mets: Breaking down Subway Series matchups.  Different areas are either “Even” or Advantage Yankees.

Start times for this weekend's five-game series against the Yankees:

Friday Game 1: 4:05 p.m. ET
Friday Game 2: 30-45 minutes after the final out of Game 1.

Saturday: 1:05 p.m. ET

Sunday Game 1: 1:05 p.m. ET
Sunday Game 2: 30-45 minutes after the final out of Game 1.

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) August 26, 2020

NY Post: Mets and Yankees slugger Darryl Strawberry in stands for Trump RNC speech.

Mike’s Mets: The Mets Tradition of Not Supporting Pitchers.

Amazing Avenue: Deconstructing the Draft: 2011.

Rising Apple: Mets: We overrated the starting rotationheading into 2020.

Newsday: Jennifer Lopez says it'd be 'amazing' to have a woman as an MLB owner.

Harris/Blitzer are trying to screw #Philadelphia and #Sixers fans. He's asking for huge tax breaks from the city which he won't get so he has an excuse to move the #Sixers to Camden where the tax benefits are plentiful. How does the #NewJersey #Mets sound to all of you? https://t.co/op5XFIRrco

— Laura Goldman (@laurasgoldman) August 27, 2020

#Mets starting pitcher K rate (min. 1000 IP)

Jacob deGrom 28.9%
David Cone 23.4%
Sid Fernandez 22.4%
Tom Seaver 21.5%
Dwight Gooden 21.1%
Al Leiter 19.2%
Jon Niese 18%
Jon Matlack 17.2%
Jerry Koosman 17.2%
Ron Darling 16.9%

— Michael Baron (@michaelgbaron) August 27, 2020

MLB Links:

ESPN.com: Red Sox-Blue Jays, Phillies-Nationals among 7 MLB games postponed.

Fernando Tatis Jr. - San Diego Padres (13) Solo. pic.twitter.com/2TMgGSqxKv

— MLB HR Tracker (@hr_mlb) August 27, 2020

Larry Brown Sports: Fernando Tatis Jr. achieves rare feat with home run on top of building. Padres 10 Mariners 7 (Box Score). Mariners 8 Padres 3 (Box Score).

Here is the full MLB Scoreboard from yesterday. 

MLB.com: Jackie 'has to be remembered every year'.

MLB.com: The Players Alliance to donate salaries. “Members of The Players Alliance, a group of current and former Black players focused on issues of equality in Major League Baseball and the community, announced that they are donating their salaries from Thursday and Friday (Jackie Robinson Day) to, in the words of an official statement from organization, “combat racial inequality and aid Black families and communities deeply affected in the wake of recent events.”

Mariners getting back a player to be named, source says. https://t.co/xlxelphaH9

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 27, 2020

August 28, 1988: At Veterans Stadium, the Phillie Phanatic makes fun of @TommyLasorda and Lasorda goes after him. pic.twitter.com/98DPNDD6CN

— This Day In Sports Clips (@TDISportsClips) August 28, 2020

Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com:

Born on this date:

• Billy Cowan (1938)
• Mike Torrez (1946)
• Joel Youngblood (1951)

Transactions:

New York Mets traded Gerald Young, Mitch Cook and Manny Lee to the Houston Astros for Ray Knight on August 28, 1984.

New York Mets traded Alejandro Pena to the Atlanta Braves for Tony Castillo and Joe Roa on August 28, 1991.

National Pastime.com:

1884	New York Gotham pitcher Mickey Welch strikes out the first nine Cleveland Blues hitters to come to the plate, establishing a major league record. The mark will last until 1970 when Mets right-hander Tom Seaver strikes out the last ten San Diego he faces in a Shea Stadium contest.
1962	Al Jackson limits the opposing batters to three hits, going the distance in the Mets’ 2-0 victory over the Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium. The 26 year-old left-hander’s effort marks the fourth time he has blanked the opponents, accounting for all of the expansion team’s shutouts the entire season.

2003

Jose Reyes becomes the youngest player in major league history to hit a home run from each side of the plate. The 20 year-old shortstop accounts for all the Mets runs, hitting a solo shot from the right side of the dish off southpaw Mike Hampton in the fifth inning, and then, batting as left-handed hitter in the ninth, a two-run dinger off right-hander Trey Hodges in the team's 3-1 victory over Atlanta at Turner Field.

Baseball Reference:

1989: Frank Viola and the Mets outduel Orel Hershiser and the Dodgers 1 - 0 in the first-ever regular-season matchup of defending Cy Young Award winners.

1993:The Mets sign P Kirk Presley, their top pick in this year's amateur draft, for $960,000. The pitcher is a distant cousin of Elvis Presley. In 1999, Gerry Hunsicker will recall his decision to draft Presley: "I didn't make one of the brightest decisions of my career when I passed on a young pitcher out of Ferrum College (Billy Wagner) and chose another who never got out of A ball."

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