John From Albany – Mets News and Breakfast Links 11/16/2020

 

Good Morning.  Happy Birthday Don Hahn, Dwight Gooden and Juan Centeno. The Dominican Winter League gets under way, Mets talk to Charlie Morton, and Trevor Bauer praises Steve Cohen on You-Tube.

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

Mets Links:

NY Daily News: Dom Smith is giving young baseball players in South LA something more precious than money or gear. “’We’re here to inspire, we’re here to support, we’re here to teach. And just try to give these kids the best opportunity and resources, just to be successful at the next level,’ said Dominic Smith.”

Trevor Baurer Posts You Tube video discussing “Steve Cohen's BRILLIANT Start | Trevor Bauer Weighs In”. 

Rising Apple: Is Trevor Bauer and Sandy Alderson a match made in heaven?

CBS Sports: Trevor Bauer landing spots: Ranking 10 best free-agent fits for 2020 NL Cy Young winner.  Angels rank #1, Padres #2, Mets are ranked #3 – of course this was written before Trevor’s video.

SNY.TV: Mets have been in contact with RHP Charlie Morton's agent. Mets likely going to check into each free agent starter's market.

Rising Apple: Charlie Morton seems like a real possibility for the 2021 staff. “Coming off a down year where he posted a 4.74 ERA for the American League Champion Tampa Bay Rays, Morton is available…The big question about Morton has been where he’s willing to pitch next season. The East Coast and Florida are thought to be the best two matches.”

The Score: Report: Blue Jays, Mets among 4 teams interested in Odorizzi.

NJ.com: This underrated trade candidate would be ideal for Yankees or Mets rotation. “Joe Musgrove posted a 3.86 ERA, 3.42 FIP, 3.44 SO/BB, 12.5 SO/9 and 7.5 H/9 season in 2020.”

amNY: Would long-time Yankee Masahiro Tanaka really be a fit for the Mets? “Tanaka would be a proven option as a No. 4 starter but there are underlying concerns. A partially torn UCL suffered in 2014 has long been viewed as a ticking timebomb that would sideline the right-hander for the long-term…There are also numerous other starters available on the starting-pitching market that could provide similar numbers while also being had for less money. Options include Charlie Morton, Jake Odorizzi, and Jose Quintana.”

Mets Junkies: Shaping the Mets Bullpen.  Mets Fan From Holland notes: "The current Mets bullpen has a lot of arms set for a spot already. Edwin Diaz is our closer, Seth Lugo, Jeurys Familia, Dellin Betances, Brad Brach and Miguel Castro are close to locks in the pen…In all likehood they can add one on a mlb deal and add more on milb deals. IMO it should be Brad Hand or Justin Wilson".

Rising Apple: What can we expect from reliever Miguel Castro in 2021? “In nine innings with the New York Mets, relief pitcher Miguel Castro allowed four earned runs, walked eight, struck out 14…career…8-18 with a 4.29 ERA through 283 big league innings”

Mets Junkies: International Free Agency Preview: A Tale of Two Cubans – Part 1: Yoenis Céspedes’ Younger Brother Yoelqui Cespedes and Oscar Luis Colas, aka the “Cuban” Ohtani.

Rising Apple: Mets should consider signing South Korean star Kim Ha-seong. “Over the course of 138 games in 2020, Kim clobbered 30 home runs, delivered 109 RBIs, stole 23 bases, and posted a wRC+ of 142…Although he played mostly at shortstop, Kim has spent time at third base (55 games) and has also played sparingly at second base.”

MLB.com: Here are 7 potential Lindor trade proposals. The Mets trade proposal? “Mets get: SS Francisco Lindor, C Austin Hedges.  Indians get: SS Andres Gimenez, 2B/OF Jeff McNeil, OF Pete Crow-Armstrong (Mets' No. 5 prospect), RHP Ryley Gilliam (Mets' No. 25 prospect)…Who says No? The Mets.”   They better.

Rising Apple: Mets ace Jacob deGrom is a role model for all younger pitchers. “Jacob deGrom’s own teammate, Noah Syndergaard, is among his most vocal supporters in the media and has spoken to his positive influence on many occasions.”

Reflections on Baseball: Noah Syndergaard: Are The Mets Aware Their Stud Has Left The Barn. “At first glance, there’s a ray of hope and optimism – “Good, we need him in that number two slot behind Jacob deGrom – go, Noah!” Looking again, though, don’t we need to wonder where the Met’s training and rehab staff is, not to mention if team doctors have given the okay for Syndergaard to be throwing at a good clip a full five months before he is scheduled to rejoin the team?”

Brian Joura Mets360.com: Jeff McNeil and the trouble with small sample conclusions. Brian takes about how “In 75 innings at the hot corner in 2020, McNeil committed five errors…” Brain also had this note from Fangraphs that better positioning may help: “In 2019, they shifted their infield just 14.1% of the time, the third-fewest infield shifts in baseball. They were a little more shifty in 2020, increasing their rate by seven points up to 21.4%.”

Jacob Resnick Metsmerized Online: Rule 5 Deadline Likely to be Quiet for Mets. Jacob agrees with my assessment from last week with no Mets prospect additions to the 40 Man.  He also lists one of my favorite prospects as a dark horse candidate to be added to the roster: Wilmer Reyes who he notes: “Reyes, one of the top performers in October’s Mets instructional league with four home runs, owns a unique power/defense skillset up the middle.”

MiLB: Toolshed: Top 2016 picks meet Rule 5 protection.  No Mets included in rundown.

Mets You Tube Channel: Peterson’s Strong Rookie Season. 

ICYMI Yesterday At Mack’s Mets:

Mack – Weekly Draft News.

Mack - 2021 Top Draft Targets - Gavin Williams, Alex Ulloa, Marcelo Mayer, Hunter Dobbins, James Wood.

John From Albany – Winter Ball Update.

Mack - Scouting Report - SS - Brady House.

Mack - Scouting Report - SS - Jordan Lawler.

MLB Links:

AP News: Hall of Fame Dodgers manager Lasorda hospitalized in ICU.

CBS Sports: Baseball Hall of Fame: Seven things to know about 2021 ballot, which includes weak class of newcomers. Some other points: Billy Wagner is listed under “Names to watch for continued momentum”; “Is it Schilling's year?; Last ride for Bonds and Clemens is near.”

MLB Trade Rumors: Transaction Retrospection: The Mike Yastrzemski Trade. “In March 2019, San Francisco picked up Yastrzemski [from the Orioles] in exchange for right-hander Tyler Herb…Over his first 636 MLB plate appearances, Yastrzemski has put up a fantastic .281/.357/.535 slash (135 wRC+) and hit 31 home runs…Herb, on the other hand…elected minor-league free agency earlier this month.”

MLB Trade Rumors: Cubs Open “To Move Almost Any Veteran” In Trades.

Mel Ott hits a HR in Game 1 of the ‘33 World Series. pic.twitter.com/WavrMDWbFx

— Stirrups Now! (@uniformcritic) November 15, 2020

Winter Baseball:

The Dominican League had their opening day yesterday.

The game featuring Mets Pitcher Ariel Jurado was called on account of Wet Grounds.  Estrellas Orientales and Toros Del Este will try to start their seasons again today. 

Tigres del Licey 8 Leones del Escogido 3.  Former Syracuse Met Ervin Santana 3.1 innings, 6 hits, 1 Earned Run, 2 walks, 6 Ks.  Hansel Robles 1 inning no hits 2 Ks. (Box Score).

Ervin with the K. #SMELLBASEBALL @smellbaseball @ErvinSantana_54 @SyracuseMets @JohnMackinAde https://t.co/upFM0Ip1eN

— John From Albany (@AlbanyFrom) November 16, 2020

Gigantes del Cibao 8 Aguilas Cibaenas 5 (Box Score). For Aguilas in the loss Juan Lagares 1 for 5 with and RBI; Melky Cabrera 1 for 4 with and RBI; Arismendy Alcantara 0 for 2. Dario Alvarez, 2 innings, 3 hits, 1 run, 2 walks, 3 Ks.

Here is yesterday’s Dominican Scoreboard.

Asian Baseball:

Yonhap News: Rival right-handers to face each other to open S. Korean baseball championship series.  Right-hander Drew Rucinski will take the mound for the Dinos, the regular season champions who earned a bye to the Korean Series. The Bears will counter with right-hander Raul Alcantara.

The Korean Championship Series starts tomorrow with Chris Flexen’s Doosan Bears taking on Aaron Altherr and the NC Dinos.

Here is KBO’s Scoreboard.   

Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com:

Born on this date:

• Harry Chiti (1932)
• Don Hahn (1948)
• Leon Brown (1949)
• Dwight Gooden (1964)
• Mark Corey (1974)
• Juan Centeno (1989)
• Mitch Hickey (1995)

Died on this date:

• Tommy Moore (2017)

Transactions:

New York Mets signed free agent Kevin Mitchell on November 16, 1980.

Cincinnati Reds signed Junior Noboa of the New York Mets as a free agent on November 16, 1992.

New York Mets signed free agent Don Florence of the Boston Red Sox on November 16, 1994.

New York Mets signed free agent Damion Easley of the Arizona Diamondbacks on November 16, 2006.

Oakland Athletics signed Jason Pridie of the New York Mets as a free agent on November 16, 2011.

New York Mets signed free agent Vinny Rottino of the Florida Marlins on November 16, 2011.

New York Yankees signed Michael O'Connor of the New York Mets as a free agent on November 16, 2011.

New York Mets signed free agent Scott Rice on November 16, 2012.

Centerfield Maz: Dwight Gooden (Part Two) After The Championship (1987-1994).

National Pastime.com:

1961	Using blue and orange, the team colors of the departed Dodgers and Giants, the Mets unveil the franchise's logo selected from over 500 entries submitted in the expansion team's $1000 design contest. Sports cartoonist Ray Gatto's winning entry is a display of a skyline representing all five boroughs with various iconic symbols of the Big Apple.
2004	Receiving 21 of the 28 first-place votes, Vladimir Guerrero (.337, 39, 126) wins the 2004 American League's MVP Award. The 28 year-old former Expo outfielder signed as a free agent with the Angels after the Mets refused to guarantee his salary based on advice from their medical staff.

 

2006	The Nationals name Manny Acta as the team's new manager, replacing 71 year-old Frank Robinson, the oldest pilot in baseball. The 37 year-old Dominican, who served as the Mets' third-base coach for the past two seasons, is now the youngest skipper in the majors.
2007	After a five-year departure to play for the Mets, Tom Glavine returns to the Braves, agreeing to an $8 million, one year deal. The 41 year-old southpaw, a two-time Cy Young winner with the team, left Atlanta in 2002 after negotiations as a free agent became acrimonious with team president Stan Kasten.

 

2009

Wally Backman is hired by the Mets to manage the Brooklyn Cyclones, their farm team in the New York-Penn League. The team's new skipper, who played a vital role with the 1986 World Series championship club, was hired and fired to be Diamondbacks' skipper in 2004, shortly after the New York Times revealed the former second baseman had been arrested twice and had financial difficulties.

 

Baseball Reference:

1998: The New York Mets reinstate general manager Steve Phillips, who will continue to undergo counseling. The threatened sexual harassment suit will be settled out of court.

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