John From Albany – Mets News and Breakfast Links 10/3/2020

Good Morning. RIP Baseball Legend Bob Gibson. Mets end COVID salary cuts and Andres Gimenez is named top Statcast Rookie Infield defender.

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

Mets Links:

John Harper SNY.TV: Sources evaluate Luis Rojas' first season as Mets manager. Rojas managed to make a very favorable impression on several evaluators both within and outside of the Mets’ organization. One scout said: “In the dugout it was clear he knows how to run a game. You don’t have to agree with every move he made. The bottom line is I can’t blame him for Rick Porcello or Michael Wacha, or the pitching problems in general. I blame the front office for the Mets’ record.”

Scott Soshnick Sportico: Mets end COVID-related salary cuts as Steve Cohen nears purchase. The Mets on June 1 instituted pay cuts of 5-30%, with higher-paid employees taking a bigger hit. The salary cuts affected full-time employees. It isn’t known if the salary boost is retroactive.

Last Word on Sports: Brodie Van Wagenen: An Amazing Error. “No one should blame Van Wagenen for the mess he created. He was never qualified to do the job. Blame the owners who he sold on his ability to get the job done.”

Faith and Fear in Flushing has the 2019 Mets for All Seasons in the Power Broker: Pete Alonso.

MLB.com: 5 key questions for Mets this offseason. I think Anthony DiComo’s #1 Question said it all: 1. How quickly will Steve Cohen take control?

MLB.com: Top rookie Statcast performers of 2020. Best defensive infielder: Andres Gimenez -- 5 OAA.

Reflections on Baseball: Putting Names On The Exposed And Disposables For 2021. “As you further peruse the Mets active roster, you come across players like Brad Brach, Miguel Castro, Ariel Jurado, Franklyn Kilome, Erasmo Ramirez, Thomas Szapucki, Robinson Chirinos, Patrick Mazeika, Ali Sánchez, Ryan Cordell, and Guillermo Heredia – and you have to do a double check wondering if this is the best the Mets can do concerning the overall depth of their team.”

Mike Phillips The Sports Daily: New York Mets 2020 Season in Review: Bullpen.

Mike’s Mets: Playoff Cash Shouldn't Disincentive Greatness.

Empire Sports Media: David Peterson is now expected to be a fixture in the rotation for years to come.

Metsmerized Online: Brandon Nimmo: Not a Fourth Outfielder. “Offensively, it almost feels obligatory to start by noting Nimmo’s most obvious skill, getting on base. Since the start of 2018, Nimmo’s .397 on-base percentage ranks fourth among all qualified National League hitters. The three guys ahead of him? 2018 MVP Christian Yelich, Nationals’ wunderkind Juan Soto, and 2020 MVP favorite Freddie Freeman.”

Amazing Avenue: 2020 Mets takeaways: The catchers. Catching is the team’s biggest issue heading into 2021.

Rising Apple: Signing Jackie Bradley Jr. can fill the void in center field.

Rising Apple: Mets backup catcher options for the 2021 season already with the organization.

Rising Apple: Desi Relaford and his one season in the Big Apple hitting .302.

Gus Livaditis Mets360: Fast-tracking the Mets’ rebuild with their 2021 roster.  Gus does an amazingly creative job to re-work the Mets roster for 2021.  Will you agree with everything he does?  Mets fans agree?  Worth the read even if you disagree with some of the suggested moves.

Our 2020 All-Rookie team is HERE.

This is the pitching rotation.

See the full team + writeups here: https://t.co/mqPMgx3mbW pic.twitter.com/lDqLUm8W6y

— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) October 2, 2020

Sorry to hear this. I really enjoyed your art.

Way to grow the game Mr. Manfred.

Not sure all the art at the Hall of Fame is licensed. Watch out Hall of Fame, Manfred may be coming for you next. https://t.co/7IYAOlPRRM

— John From Albany (@AlbanyFrom) October 3, 2020

MLB Links:

Straight 🧀 from Sixto!

6 Ks in 5 shutout frames

27 pitches at 99+. Only one pitcher had more in a single game this year (deGrom on 9/26). pic.twitter.com/03sGtC6EQn

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) October 2, 2020

A perfect throw. 😳 pic.twitter.com/lCcLJSeg8X

— MLB (@MLB) October 2, 2020

Coop does a loop around the bases. pic.twitter.com/bCXFeIspZ8

— MLB (@MLB) October 2, 2020

MLB.com: To NLDS: Hungry Sixto leads Miami's shutout. Marlins 2 Cubs 0 (Box Score).

Only one shortstop makes this play. pic.twitter.com/gggdmvSRga

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) October 3, 2020

Jake Cronenworth shows off some glove work for the #Padres. pic.twitter.com/4s3TsuQyBQ

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) October 3, 2020

San Diego is on the board. #Postseason pic.twitter.com/0LxW4XR52q

— MLB (@MLB) October 3, 2020

A 4-2-6 double play. 😱 pic.twitter.com/sTS4H7lJTg

— MLB (@MLB) October 3, 2020

Tatis!

The @Padres are 3 outs away. 👀 #Postseason pic.twitter.com/wj1byhDEwg

— MLB (@MLB) October 3, 2020

Watch Jake Cronenworth drive this ball 407 feet out to center 👀 pic.twitter.com/FaByW7Zs2H

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) October 3, 2020

Jayce Tingler on #Padres' bat flips: "It's weird that it's a conversation, honestly. Nobody's showing anyone up. It's energy. It's raw. It's real....We play the game right., we play it with energy. We have a ton of fun. We play it with passion. These are all plus-plus qualities.'

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 2, 2020

MLB.com: SD uses record 9 pitchers in shutout clinch. Padres 4 Cardinals 0 (Box Score).

The ALDS gets under way Monday Astros Vs. A’s at 4:07 (Preview); Yankees Vs. Rays at 8:07 (Preview).

AP News: Bob Gibson, fierce Hall of Fame ace for Cards, dies at 84.

We mourn the passing of Bob Gibson, a Hall of Famer and two-time World Series champion. He was 84. https://t.co/E1DZgr7GtL pic.twitter.com/N4edJmbje3

— MLB (@MLB) October 3, 2020

Bob Gibson: one hell of an “attitude coach,” joining the Mets at old pal Joe Torre’s request in 1981. What we really needed was the Bob Gibson who shut down National League lineups for the Cardinals from 1959 to 1975 en route to the Hall of Fame, but they made only one of those. pic.twitter.com/mFv7p6M7i3

— Greg Prince (@greg_prince) October 3, 2020

52 years ago yesterday, Bob Gibson set a #WorldSeries record with 17 strikeouts. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/e1HtIcB6Op

— MLB Vault (@MLBVault) October 3, 2020

MLB.com: Bob Costas reflects on Bob Gibson.

MLB.com: Flaherty, Molina, Shildt remember Gibson.

BREAKING: The BBWAA members have voted to remove Judge Landis’ name from the MVP awards. The vote was 89% in favor of removal and 11% against. A total of 313 votes were cast. The awards will be nameless in 2020. Debate on renaming will occur in 2021. Yes, I voted in favor.

— Maury Brown (@BizballMaury) October 2, 2020

 

Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com:

Born on this date:

• Jack Lamabe (1936)

Died on this date:

• Bob Mandt (2010)

Transactions:
New York Mets released Hal Reniff on October 3, 1967.

New York Mets released Manny Hernandez on October 3, 1989.

National Pastime.com:

2004	At the site of the franchise's first National League game in 1969, the Expos, who are scheduled to move to Washington, D.C. next season, play their last game in their 36-year history, losing to the Mets at Shea Stadium, 8-1. Their finale, which turns out to be the rubber match of the franchise series with New York, gives the Amazin's a 299-298 advantage in the 597 contests played since 1969.
2008	Jerry Manuel, who replaced Willie Randolph in June, inks a two-year deal to manage the Mets. The likable 54 year-old skipper, who compiled a 55-38 record in his interim role, built a three-and-a-half game division lead over Philadelphia in September, but like his predecessor, could not stop the team from collapsing at the end of the season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baseball Reference:

2019: The Mets fire manager Mickey Callaway after two rocky seasons at the helm which were more akin to a soap opera than the workings of a contending team.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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