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9/29/20

John From Albany – Mets News and Breakfast Links 9/29/2020

 

Good Morning. Happy Birthday Heath Bell.  Pete Alonso releases his final Mic’d up show, some 2020 Mets Grades are in, and the AL Playoffs start today. 


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


Mets Links:



Newsday: Mets offseason: Who is a free agent? Who isn't? Who might leave? “About to be free agents: Marcus Stroman, Yoenis Cespedes, Jed Lowrie, Rick Porcello, Justin Wilson, Jake Marisnick, Michael Wacha, Erasmo Ramírez, Jared Hughes, Eduardo Nunez, Rene Rivera.  Might be free agents: Dellin Betances, Wilson Ramos, Robinson Chirinos, Todd Frazier, Brad Brach, Steven Matz. Ramos, Chirinos and Frazier have team options;  Betances, Brad Brach — player options…Matz is probably the Mets’ biggest nontender possibility.”


Empire Sports Media: Dellin Betances undecided about his future.



Baseball America: Preliminary Estimated 2021 MLB Draft Order. If draft order is compiled in the normal fashion, the Mets will pick #10.


SNY.TV: Mets 2020 season grades for every key group, Luis Rojas, and Brodie Van Wagenen. There were some big hits and misses during a disappointing year. Offense got a B-; Defense got a D; Starting Pitching a D; Bullpen got a C; Luis Rojas got a B; BVW a D.



CBS Sports: MLB report card: Handing out grades for every team in the abbreviated 2020 regular season.  The Mets came in last and got a C?


SNY.TV: Ranking the three best and worst moves Brodie Van Wagenen has made as Mets GM. The Jarred Kelenic trade and the Jacob deGrom extension highlight the list.


SNY.TV: David Wright says Steve Cohen can build a 'perennial winner'. Wright said he does not see himself in a full-time role with team.


Greg Prince Faith and Fear in Flushing: Disposable Seasonette.


Amazing Avenue: 2020 Mets takeaways: The bullpen.  Believe it or not, Mets relievers were closer to middle of the pack than the worst in baseball this year.


Reflections on Baseball: Mets New Era: No Time For Reflection On 2020 – Only Time To Move On.


Rising Apple: Three pleasant surprises from the 2020 season.  David Peterson, Andrés Giménez, and Erasmo Ramírez.


Baseball America: Appalachian League To Operate As Summer Wood-Bat League. 


MLB Links:


MLB.com: Picks are in: Experts predict the postseason. 9 of the 12 writers pick the Dodgers to win it all, 2 pick the Rays, and 1 the Indians.


ESPN.com: Expert picks for the 2020 MLB playoffs. 16 ESPN Writers pick the Dodgers to win the WS followed by the Rays: 6; Twins: 2; Padres: 1; A's: 1; Indians: 1; White Sox: 1; Yankees: 1.



ESPN.com: MLB playoffs preview: Everything you need to know about the 16-team postseason.


AP News: Lots of unfamiliar territory in 2020 baseball playoffs.


AP News: Playoffs begin, Bieber vs Cole in prime matchup.


AP News: Yanks to start C Higashioka, sit Sánchez in wild-card opener.


AP News: Hall of Famer Larkin’s postseason bat labels promote healing.


Yahoo Sports: Former Dodgers fan favorite Jay Johnstone dies at 74 after COVID-19 battle.


MLB Trade Rumors: Blue Jays Outright Wilmer Font.



MLB Trade Rumors: Previewing The 2020-21 Free Agent Class: Shortstops. The A’s Marcus Semien, Phillies’ Didi Gregorius, and Angels’ Andrelton Simmons lead the list.


MLB Trade Rumors: Previewing The 2020-21 Free Agent Class: First Basemen. C.J. Cron and Yuli Gurriel are the top two names listed. 


Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com:

Born on this date:

Died on this date:

Transactions:
New York Mets released Jeff McKnight on September 29, 1989.

New York Mets released Mike Draper on September 29, 1993.

Brady Clark granted free agency on September 29, 2008.

Chris Aguila granted free agency on September 29, 2008.




Centerfield Maz: Remembering Mets History: (9/28/2008) The Closing Ceromonies At Shea Stadium.



National Pastime.com:

1963

On the final day of the season, John Paciorek, brother of Tom and Jim, goes 3-for-3, driving in three runs and scoring four times in his big league debut as Houston routs the Mets at Colt Stadium, 13-4. Due to severe back problems, the 18 year-old Colt .45's right fielder, who also makes two outstanding defensive catches, will never again play in a big-league game.

1964

At a press conference, the Mets announce Casey Stengel, the only skipper the franchise has ever known, will continue to manage next season. Although the expansion team has finished last in all three years of its existence, the 'Old Perfessor' is given a raise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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


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

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18 comments:

  1. UnknownSeptember 29, 2020 at 7:53 AM

    Now I do what I do just about every year at this time. Start rooting against the Yankees. Go tribe!!

    Bob W

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mack AdeSeptember 29, 2020 at 8:53 AM

    I walk away from baseball at this time of the year.

    Haven't watched a playoff game since Carlos Beltran took a third strike.

    ReplyDelete
  3. John From AlbanySeptember 29, 2020 at 9:14 AM

    You missed all of 2015 and 2016? 2015 was pretty good until the Royals exposed the bad defense.

    ReplyDelete
  4. RawSeptember 29, 2020 at 9:15 AM

    Do you think we will find out which Mets prospects will be sent to instructional camp? Do you think they will play games against other teams in Florida? If so! Will we find out the results?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Mack AdeSeptember 29, 2020 at 9:49 AM

    Raw

    I have asked around but the list is pretty locked up as of now.

    I expect no results.

    ReplyDelete
  6. DallasSeptember 29, 2020 at 11:26 AM

    That Dom Smith walk off still gives me chills...we watched Hechavarria single handedly smack us around that day with glee (similar to all ex-Mets d'Arnaud, Murphy, Cabrera etc that are cut or not signed and go to another team). It was nice to wipe the smile off his face.

    I really hoped this would be our year...Dom continued being Dom but man did the SP really killed us. Matz going from a solid 2 WAR starter to a -1 WAR (over only 30 IP) and Stroman opting out were such killers. You have to wonder if Hefner survives the offseason.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Tom BrennanSeptember 29, 2020 at 11:59 AM

    Mets fans now contemplate lots of bad things, rather than play playoff games. Typical.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Tom BrennanSeptember 29, 2020 at 12:00 PM

    I watched a little of Predator last night. Much to Cespedes’ delight, one of the elite team stabs a wild boar to death.

    ReplyDelete
  9. TexasGusCCSeptember 29, 2020 at 12:24 PM

    I listened to that Herman link with his interview of Rob Manfred, and just a few opinions:

    I love hearing baseball on the radio and interviews, but that piece made me wish I never bothered listening. He should have asked a follow up question on Cohen. He accepted Manfred’s ‘I’m not giving you an answer’ answer with no problems. So, why bother asking the question?

    He never asked Manfred where he gets his info from that so many of these changes were well received. I didn’t see any polls on any sites or broadcast over the Mets games, so who determines how they were received?

    Lastly, Hayman asks about the robot umps for the strike zone and Manfred tells him that 17 regular umps had opted out and the ratings for this year were only 0.5% less than ratings last year. Well Freddie, if you’re using instant replay to “get every call correct” and also you said that last year you weren’t happy with the strike zone umpiring and wanted to improve it, how can you be content with less quality when your players are sacrificing their health to do this? Don’t you care? How do players feel that are actually trying to put the product out there, as opposed to those that don’t care because the money is guaranteed, for you to say that it was within half a percentage point of last year? Tell that to the Giants!!!

    Manfred is tone deaf to the fan and Heyman sucks as an interviewer. He wants to create something for subscription, but doesn’t ask a follow up question to get something out of the person there but just accepts shitty answers.

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousSeptember 30, 2020 at 10:51 AM

    Nothing about Nothing

    1. Relief Pitching:

    I'd prefer maybe just Castro, Lugo, Diaz, Gsellman, and Familia back. Add dos mas.

    2. Catching:

    Just get a good young strong catcher to platoon with Tomas Nido. Someone with upside that can hit and catch. Forget the geriatric fail approach. It barely ever works for very long.

    3. Starting Pitching:

    deGrom, Syndergaard, new guy via a trade (see below), Peterson, and Groome or Szapucki via a ST competition like the old days.

    4. Centerfield:

    Call me crazy, but why not the odd man out right now with a lot of pure athletic and baseball ability. A .300+ batter. Jeff McNeil. Fungos all off season for Jeff (ten hours a day) and a CF mentor. He comes to camp ready to play CF. If anyone can do this here, it's Jeff McNeil and he does deserves his own position. Problem solved!

    5. New Starting Outfield:

    LF Nimmo CF McNeil RF Conforto Bench: Marisnick on a possible re-sign, and Heredia.

    6. Infield:

    1B Smith/Alonso 2b Cano SS Rosario 3b Davis LF Nimmo CF McNeil RF Conforto C Nido DH: Alonso/Smith

    7. How to Attain a Top-Three Starter: Simple, Steven Matz and Paul Seward.

    Actually the Mets have "some trade bait" available to them right now, the guys not mentioned above in the 1-6 "Nothings" ideas. Also here, you could sign and trade SP Marcus Stroman. His perception is still good enough. This would give you the trade depth you will need to make the good move here for a better third starter that this team will need in 2021.

    8. New Bench Coach

    Todd Frazier as the new bench coach. Why not? He brings the energy, can coach, can lead still, can talk with players who will listen. Meulens goes to batting instructor with "Chili Remote" man.

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousSeptember 30, 2020 at 10:54 AM

    NYY

    Glad to see them enjoy what could be their last win against the Indians.

    Because now, who can the NYY pitch that is better than their Cleveland counterpart?

    Hmm.

    ReplyDelete
  12. AnonymousSeptember 30, 2020 at 10:58 AM

    On 2015 Royal You Know What Too

    Terry's fail also.

    Repeat of the 2014 WS Champion SF Giants use of (MVP) Madison Bumgarner in a relief role. Terry could have taken a page from that with Noah Syndergaard being used in relief once and a while.

    But it didn't cross his mind, evidently.

    ReplyDelete
  13. AnonymousSeptember 30, 2020 at 11:00 AM

    Time Machine Question

    If you could go back in time to when Justin Turner and Daniel Murphy came up, and could keep only one player as a NY Met, which one?

    ReplyDelete
  14. AnonymousSeptember 30, 2020 at 11:28 AM

    What one more starting pitcher (for the third spot in the rotation) would you want most here in 2021? Try to make it a trade that is reasonable for both teams.

    Me?

    Jesus Luzardo from Oakland's AAA.

    Then get Jay Groome for the five slot competition with Thomas Szapucki.

    This would allow Lugo to get back to the pen.

    ReplyDelete
  15. AnonymousSeptember 30, 2020 at 11:58 AM

    Time Machine 2

    Matz or Harvey to stay? Pick one nd then why.

    Career:

    Harvey 44-52 / 4.14 ERA / 1.24 WHIP (this has HOF all over it people)

    Matz 31-41 / 4.35 ERA / 1.32 WHIP

    or...

    Craig Swan 59-72 / 3.74 ERA / 1.26 WHIP

    I'll go with Swan. He turns 69 in two months. He played MLB for 11 seasons.

    ReplyDelete
  16. AnonymousSeptember 30, 2020 at 12:06 PM

    AAA Players

    Deserving a shot in ST '21:

    Bull Pen

    Ryder Ryan
    Adonis Uceta
    Joe Zanghi

    Starter

    Harold Gonzales

    ReplyDelete
  17. AnonymousSeptember 30, 2020 at 12:15 PM

    Synopsis from the Cyclopsis

    1. The Mets have some MiLB players (mainly arms) who could help them in '21.

    2. They need to get serious about a new third starter, because what would happen here (2021) if say Noah got re-injured after coming back?

    3. The CF solution may be here already in the form of Jeff McNeil. I'd bet it.

    4. For trade depth, the Mets could possibly sign and trade Marcus Stroman to get that really good third starter they will need. I personally don't think Stroman is a true third starter. But you could add someone else in this trade package from the Mets, or use Stroman to get like a Jesus Luzardo, or a Jay Groome. Even a Tanner Houck. Just not a Stroman fan really.

    5. Catcher fix is just a younger solid frame catcher with HR capability, to share position with Mets own Tomas Nido. Why complicate this? JT isn't worth what he gets, although good. And he's over 30 now too. Over 30 is a jinx here for any player.

    6. If he wants it, Todd Frazier to bench coach. Who knows these guys better really than him?


    ReplyDelete
  18. AnonymousSeptember 30, 2020 at 4:45 PM

    A Few Comments & Such Because I am Bored

    1. If we summarize what the team needs defensively according to some and then me, it might look like this.

    1b The Pete and Dom Show (The DH may become permanent now, which makes this even better a combo. Salt and Pepper.)

    2b Cano (He's older, but so is LeBron. Leave him on second base for goodness sakes, he smashes the ball like a kid does. He's found the fountain. Get the address of for me please!)

    SS Neither Amed or Andres will hurt your team. Both can play, both can star.

    You can argue a little better here for one, a little better there for the other. But it really won't kill this team's chances a corn kernel in 2021 who starts, because both can play this game and well.

    The "bigger question" here is simply this one.

    Q: Which one of the two will fetch more via a trade since really only one good shortstop is needed here? That's the bigger issue here. The Mets need "that one" to trade and get back more of what they need at other things. Like what you ask? Like a third starter, that's what. (see below)

    3b Me and Mack like JD.

    We think he'll get smoother in the field and we like his football mentality playing for this team. And his 2019 stats are no lie. Right Mack? I concur sir.

    LF Brandon Nimmo. He's more than fine in left field or right, and he hits easily for average and some with serious smooth power too. Plus, he can run and steal. Mets may benefit from more bases being stolen in 2021.

    Look, we have had some klunkers in left field over the Mets' history. Brandon is not one of them. Plus, he's still developing his game being that he is still quite young. He stays.

    CF I still like my idea (a lot) to try Jeff McNeil in center on a game to game basis. He's played second, third, left, right and did rather well overall doing so I thought. Why not centerfield then? He just needs to be allowed to concentrate on one position daily I think. The guy is a natural athlete, he can do this and juggle sodas I swear.

    RF Michael Conforto. You cannot ask a player for more than what he did this abbreviated season. Except stay healthy. He will. He's Rocky Jr. for goodness sakes. Women still have his "shirtless video" from last season.

    C I already addressed this ample before.

    One more starting pitcher of third starter high quality H2O.

    Trevor Bauer topic.

    His stats are not star level, go look again. 2017 was his big season. Sure he did not play on the greatest teams. True. But the downside to Trevor are maybe two things.

    A. His contract demands at Zach Wheeler type level.

    B. He has that sort of celebrity thing about him, like we have seen here before, not so long ago. This is an outstanding team chemistry here now. No one is bigger than the next guy and they all play together exceptionally well. Hollywood celebrities we do not need so much added in. It's not in our history, except with Casey.

    The Mets will need someone to scour the entire MiLB to maybe find this guy. The "cannot miss starter" at the next level. Some teams may be willing to chance trading that pitcher for a wider return. It can happen.

    Szapucki looks good, but his numbers are kind of thin due to the lack of his playing time from injury. He's an unknown. I like my idea of getting Jay Groome from Boston. But he too has this same exact thing, lack of playing time due to injury. So he too is a question mark right now. But I like this kid, and I would take this smaller scale gamble on him if Boston is willing to trade him.

    Boston has some younger pitchers coming along. They have Tanner Houck there already starting. His playing video is impressive. So maybe they would part with Jay or Tanner there.

    But to me, the key here is looking over all the best starting pitching out there on AAA other teams.

    ReplyDelete