12/18/20

John From Albany – Mets News and Breakfast Links 12/18/2020




Good Morning.  Happy Birthday Willie Blair and Jeremy Accardo. James McCann talks to the Press, Newsday talks to Steve Cohhen’s Childhood Friends, and more early morning baseball from Australia. 

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

Mets Links:

As we had yesterday on Mack’s Mets, James McCann met with the Press. 

Mets.com: McCann drawn to Mets 'from the first minute'.


SNY.TV: Takeaways from Mets news conference with James McCann, Sandy Alderson, and Jared Porter. “I’m going to always pride my game on my defense," McCann said; Why he chose the Mets: “…really just the direction the New York Mets are headed"; “What we have confidence in is James’ work ethic," Alderson said.; “I already trained with a couple of guys, Steven Matz and Brad Brach. So I’ve actually been catching their bullpens for the last two or three offseason," McCann said.

SNY.TV: Mets catcher James McCann explains how this adjustment led to his 2020 success behind the plate. Fixing his setup led to career highs in frame rates last season.

SNY.TV: BNNY: James McCann excited to work with Jacob deGrom, thinks he can help Steven Matz reach his potential.

Ken Davidoff NY Post: Why Mets’ James McCann signing is good news for Steven Matz. “The native Long Islander Matz and the native Southern Californian both make their offseason homes in the Nashville, Tenn., area and work out together as part of a group of ballplayers that also includes Mets reliever Brad Brach.”



NY Post: Sandy Alderson not ruling out Mets making blockbuster trade. “I think the focus is still on free agency,’’ Alderson said. “There are a lot of really good players out there that don’t require prospects in return. On the other hand, there are some interesting players on the trade market, too. I think what we have to do at this point is make sure we’re actively engaged in both areas.”


Tim Healey Newsday: Steve Cohen: His rise from Great Neck, to Wall Street, to owner of the Mets. Very in-depth article.  Steve Cohen declined to be interviewed as part of it.  Tim interviewed people from Steve’s Glen Cove neighborhood and included how poker helped him succeed in the Stock Market.  Plus this interesting takeaway – “Multiple childhood friends, though, remember him being more of a Yankees fan. Could both be true? In the first nine Octobers of Cohen’s life, the Yankees were in the World Series eight times…The Mets didn’t have so much as a winning record until '69, when they, of course, won it all, seemingly solidifying a 13-year-old Cohen’s fandom.”


MLB Trade Rumors: Offseason Outlook: New York Mets. They list all of the projected salaries for 2021 and look at all the team’s current makeup with this takeaway: “Whatever the Mets do for the remainder of the offseason, the Cohen-led organization isn’t going to make moves that hamper their goal of building a perennial winner…’You build champions, you don’t buy them,’ Cohen stated during his introduction.”

NY Post: Pete Alonso ‘working my ass off’ as Mets anticipation builds.


Mets.com: Díaz training in P.R. 'to be the closer' for Mets. As part of his preparation for the 2021 season, Mets’ reliever Edwin Diaz is seeking permission from the club to pitch in his native Puerto Rico this winter…Given that he pitched only 25 2/3 innings for the Mets in 2020, he’s hoping to log a few innings in January with the Criollos de Caguas of the Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League.”



Mike’s Mets: When Will the 2021 Season Begin?

Brian Joura Mets360: On Nolan Arenado and the value of away splits for Rockies hitters. Brian does a very thorough analysis of multiple top Rockies hitters looking at their home and way splits and concludes it should not factor in the Metes decision regarding Arenado but notes this - “Trading for Arenado would give the Mets a two-way player at third base, improving both their offense and defense at the position. But it’s an awful lot of money and there’s concern about his 2020 numbers.”


MLB Links:

MLB.com: The greatest Draft pick in each club's history. For the Mets - Mets: Nolan Ryan, RHP (12th round, No. 295 overall, 1965)

MLB.com: 2 star infielders. 1 giant Hot Stove dilemma. MLB.com roundtable: What should Rox do with Arenado, Story?

MLB Trade Rumors: Cubs To Sign Jonathan Holder.

MLB Trade Rumors: Twins Sign Eight Players To Minor League Deals.  Former Met infielder/outfielder Rob Refsnyder was included in the group.

Winter Baseball:

In Australia,  Melbourne Aces 4 Sydney Blue Sox 2, in a game that just ended this morning (Box Score).  Carlos Cortes at 2B, 1 for 4, 2 Ks (3 for 7 so far in first two games), Carlos also made an error; and Manny Rodriquez at SS, 1 for 4 with a double. Run scored, and 3 Ks (1 for 9 so far in first two games); Andrew Mitchell, 1 scoreless inning, 1 K in his Australian debut.


In the Dominican Republic:

No Games Thursday in the Dominican Republic.

In Venezuela:

Bravos de Margarita 12 Aguilas del Zulia 10 (Box Score). For Los Bravos David Rodriguez DH 1 for 3, 1 double, 2 runs scored, 2 walks, 2 Ks, now with a .400 average. 

Here is the full scoreboard from Venezuela.

In Puerto Rico the Liga de Beisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente:

Criollos de Caguas 8 Indios de Mayaguez 1 (Box Score). For Crillos, Johneshwy Fargas 1 for 5, 3 run HR (3rd of winter),  with 3 RBIs, 1 run scored, and 2 Ks, now hitting .389 this winter; for Indios T.J. Rivera 1B, 0 for 4 with a K, .278 Batting Average.


In the Mexican Pacific League:

Venados de Mazatlan 9 Caneros de los Mochis 2 (Box Score). Juan Uriarte played LF, 0 for 4, .204 Avg.; Francisco Rios (W, 6-2) 5 innings, 2 hits, 1 run, 1 earned run, 4 walks, 7 Ks, 3.12 ERA.

Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com:

Born on this date:

Transactions:

New York Mets signed free agent Joe Orsulak on December 18, 1992.

New York Mets signed free agent Brian Bohanon on December 18, 1996.

New York Mets traded Fletcher Bates and Scott Comer to the Florida Marlins for Dennis Cook on December 18, 1997.

Pittsburgh Pirates signed Steve Bieser of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 18, 1997.

Colorado Rockies signed Jim Tatum of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 18, 1998.

New York Mets signed free agent Mike Cameron of the Seattle Mariners on December 18, 2003.

New York Mets signed free agent Matt Wise of the Milwaukee Brewers on December 18, 2007.

New York Mets signed free agent Andy Green on December 18, 2009.

New York Mets traded Jefry Marte to the Oakland Athletics for Collin Cowgill on December 18, 2012.

New York Mets signed free agent Wilson Ramos of the Philadelphia Phillies on December 18, 2018.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baseball Reference:

1992: The Mets sign free agent OF Joe Orsulak.

Breakfast Links One year ago today - 12/18/2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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