John From Albany – Mets News and Breakfast Links 9/24/2020

 

Good Morning. Happy Birthday Hubie Brooks, Bernard Gilkey, Hunter Strickland, and Drew Smith.  Rays 8 Mets 5 as playoff hopes fade, plus Michael Conforto talks extension.

 

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

Mets Links:

Rays 8 Mets 5 Michael Wacha (L,1-4) 6 innings, 6 hits, 2 HR, 4 runs, 4 earned runs, 0 walks, 4 Ks -  66 pitches – 45 strikes; Miguel Castro 1 inning, 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 walks, 2 Ks; Chasen Shreve 1/3 inning, 3 runs, 3 earned runs, 2 Hits, 1 HR, 1 walk, 1 K; Jeurys Familia 2/3 inning, 0 runs, 1 hit, 2 walks, 1 K; Steven Matz 1 inning, 1 hits, 1 HR, 1 run, 1 earned run, 0 walks, 2Ks; Andres Gimenez 1 for 4 (HR #10), 1 run scored, 1 RBI; Todd Frazier 2 for 4 (HR #4), 1 run scored, 2 RBIs; Dominic Smith 1 for 4 (HR #3), 1 run scored, 1 RBI, 3 Ks; Pete Alonso 1 for 4, 1 run scored, 3 Ks; Jeff McNeil 1 for 3, 1 run scored, 1 walk; Robinson Cano 0 for 4, 1 RBI; Michael Conforto 0 for 4, 3 Ks; (Box Score).

SNY.TV: What’s Next: The Mets (25-31) hit the road for their final series of the season, a four-game set against the Washington Nationals (23-33) at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. Mets LHP David Peterson (5-2, 3.80 ERA) is projected to face Nationals LHP Patrick Corbin (2-6, 4.76 ERA) at 6:05 p.m.

NY Daily News: Michael Wacha, in what was very likely his last start as a Met, surrendered four earned runs (two home runs) across six innings in the Mets' 8-5 loss to the Rays on Wednesday. The Mets lineup only managed to put two base runners on against Tampa Bay righthander Tyler Glasnow. Dominic Smith and Andres Gimenez hit solo shots off the righty, though.

Andres Gimenez - New York Mets (3) Solo. pic.twitter.com/YLCnEqlAM7

— MLB HR Tracker (@hr_mlb) September 24, 2020

Dominic Smith - New York Mets (10) Solo. pic.twitter.com/v2fm3DPJdl

— MLB HR Tracker (@hr_mlb) September 24, 2020

Todd Frazier - New York Mets (4) 2-run. pic.twitter.com/eEwTezUCOB

— MLB HR Tracker (@hr_mlb) September 24, 2020

Newsday: Randy Arozarena’s two-run homer in the sixth off Michael Wacha snapped a 2-2 tie. Brandon Lowe’s two-run homer in the eighth off Chasen Shreve gave the Rays a four-run cushion, which later became a six-run cushion after Arozarena went deep again off Steven Matz in the ninth.

SNY.TV: Mets Takeaways from Wednesday's 8-5 loss to Rays, including late pitching collapse.

Brian Joura Mets360: “Wacha is not going to be a New York Met in 2021…Why he was given a start over anyone who had a whiff of a hint of a long shot of a chance of being on next year’s team is simply inexplicable and inexcusable.”

Metstradamus:  Look, I’m just glad the Mets didn’t blow a 9-1 lead. Maybe that’s still coming.

Mets.com: Technically, the Mets are not mathematically eliminated, though that can occur as soon as Thursday. The Mets’ most direct remaining path to the playoffs involves them winning four straight games in Washington this weekend and having the Phillies and Marlins both lose all their remaining games. It is mathematically possible, but exceedingly unlikely.

Mike Puma NY Post: Mets exposed as playoff dream is all but over. “The starting rotation and bullpen aren’t deep enough, and on too many recent nights this often potent lineup hasn’t shown up, or at least not until too late.”

Mike Vaccaro NY Post: Mets missing playoffs is one of biggest failures in team history. “But in a year when eight out of 15 National League teams would qualify for the playoffs, they absolutely should have figured out a way to make the postseason tournament. That they won’t is among the most abject failures in the team’s history, and that particular list isn’t exactly a short one.”

SNY.TV: Mets' Dominic Smith, Luis Rojas react to playoff window narrowing after loss to Rays.

Mets.com: Conforto returns, talks future: 'I love it here'.

Newsday: Will Michael Conforto get long-term deal from prospective Mets owner Steve Cohen?

Mike Puma NY Post: Michael Conforto’s Mets future may hinge on Steve Cohen.

MLB Trade Rumors: Michael Conforto Remains Open To Extension Talks.

My off season plan would be to shelve any move on Rialmuto and sign Bauer, Springer, and 2 quality relievers that are available as FAs.

— Mack (@JohnMackinAde) September 24, 2020

SNY.TV: Mets activate Dellin Betances, option Corey Oswalt.

SNY.TV: 2020 NL Cy Young Watch for Jacob deGrom: Trevor Bauer dominates, Max Fried exits early.

NJ.com: If Steve Cohen makes big offer, here are 5 reasons why Brian Cashman should bolt Yankees for Mets. These include “New challenge”; “Doesn’t need Yankees resources any longer”; “Punch the Hall-of-Fame ticket”.

"I know, nothing stays the same, but if you're willing to play the game, you'll be comin' around again..."

📝 @jordancohn2 https://t.co/hFUJTFX6ZV

— WFAN Sports Radio (@WFAN660) September 24, 2020

MLB Links:

Dominant. pic.twitter.com/09WH73AHhv

— MLB (@MLB) September 24, 2020

MLB.com: Bauer dominates, says 'gimme dat' Cy. Trevor Bauer: Allowed one run on four hits through eight innings, striking out 12 and walking one Reds 6 Brewers 1 (Box Score).

MLB.com: Fried hurts left ankle, to be evaluated Thurs. Once a left ankle injury forced Max Fried to exit after the first inning of a 9-4 win over the Marlins on Wednesday night, the obvious question was whether he might be ready to start Game 1 of next week’s Wild Card Series. Braves 9 Marlins 4 (Box Score).

MLB.com: Eflin's 'got that inside him' to propel Phillies. Phillies 12 Nationals 3 (Box Score).

Here is the full MLB Scoreboard from yesterday.

Yahoo Sports: MLB award watch: Which MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year races are too close to call?

Bob Nightengale USA Today: MLB's strange 2020 season gives players freedom to be themselves.

Yahoo Sports: Rob Manfred says MLB plans to allow fans to attend NLCS and World Series in 2020.

Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com:

Born on this date:

• Hubie Brooks (1956)
• Bernard Gilkey (1966)
• Hunter Strickland (1988)
• Drew Smith (1993)

Centerfield Maz: Remembering Mets History: (9/25/1973) Willie Mays Night At Shea.

Centerfield Maz: Remembering Mets History (9/24/1969) The Amazing Mets Clinch the NL Eastern Title.

National Pastime.com:

1968	Mets manager Gil Hodges, during a game against the Braves in Atlanta, suffers a mild heart attack. The New York skipper, who will die of a massive coronary in 1972, is hospitalized until October 20, when doctors give him a clean bill of health, but warned him about the continued risks of stress and smoking.
1969	In the inaugural season of divisional play, the Mets clinch the first-ever National League East title. Gary Gentry fires a four-hitter, blanking the Cardinals, 6-0, in front of a frenzied Shea Stadium crowd, which spills onto the field en masse after the game to celebrate their team's amazing accomplishment.

 

1991

With his 37th homer of the season, Howard Johnson establishes a new NL record for round-trippers by a switch-hitter when he goes deep off Bob Walk in the Mets' 10-8 loss to Pittsburgh at Shea Stadium. HoJo, who will extend the mark, finishing the season with 38 home runs, had set the previous mark in 1987.

 

2011	Dillon Gee becomes the first Mets rookie to win 13 games in a season in 27 years when New York defeats Washington, 6-3. In 1984, Dwight Gooden compiled a 17-9 record as a freshman in 31 starts for the team.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baseball Reference:

1971: Honored in pregame ceremonies at Shea Stadium by New York Congressman Herman Badillo and Puerto Rican Senate President Rafael Hernandez Colon, Roberto Clemente responds by driving in the first and last runs in the Pirates' 3 - 2 win over New York. Willie Stargell provides the second run with his 47th homer, tying him with Atlanta's Hank Aaron for the league lead. Centerfielder Mike Jorgensen is the Mets' offense, answering Clemente's 1st-inning RBI single with one of his own and Stargell's 6th-inning solo shot with his own bases-empty blast in the bottom of the 7th. Immediately thereafter, however, Clemente doubles in the go-ahead run. This time, the Bucs wise up; when they walk Jorgensen in the 9th, the Mets cannot capitalize.

1975 - Tom Seaver's bid for a no-hitter is again spoiled in the 9th by a little-known Cub batter. This time it is Joe Wallis who lines a two-out single in the 9th for Chicago's first hit. Seaver retires the next hitter, but there is no score through nine innings. The Cubs tally two more hits in the 10th, but fail to score. When Skip Lockwood relieves Seaver in the 11th, Chicago finally scores to win, 1 - 0.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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