Mack's Mets: John From Albany – Mets News and Breakfast Links 12/26/2020

Good Morning. Born Today Ray Sadecki and Happy Birthday former Mets hitting coach Chris Chambliss. Michael Conforto and J.D. Davis get a “Pop” Quiz, and Ex Met and Syracuse Met Adeiny Hechavarria heads to Japan.

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

Mets Links:

Happy Holidays to all . Bring on Mets baseball in 2021
— Steven Cohen (@StevenACohen2) December 24, 2020

We tested Michael Conforto and J.D. Davis on their pop culture knowledge.

Michael had fun. J.D., maybe not so much. 😂 pic.twitter.com/YC6ZRtGXDq
— SNY (@SNYtv) December 25, 2020

Mike’s Mets: Talked about the recent hire of Zack Scott in “Celebrating the New Culture”. He had this quote from Bill James who “felt that the Mets consistently failed to field good teams because they ignored the ground-level stuff… The ground-level work isn’t one thing; it’s a million things...It’s hiring young scouts who have the energy to drive 6 hours to watch a baseball game, and hiring old scouts who can teach them how to do their jobs, and hiring the RIGHT ONES of each, and then co-ordinating them so that you have the complete and redundant coverage that you need.”

SNY.TV: Counting down the Top 10 NY sports stories of 2020: No. 7 - Carlos Beltran out, Luis Rojas in. Beltran was the third manager who lost his job due to the sign-stealing scandal.

Matt Netter Mets360: Here’s how the Mets could outsmart and outpitch the league. ”If you give merit to the Verducci effect, pitchers are far more susceptible to arm injuries when there is a significant increase in innings pitched from one season to the next…The smartest and boldest move of all would be to implement a six-man rotation.”

Brian Joura Mets360: J.D. Davis and a Mets lineup to challenge for 1,000 runs scored. Brian notes how getting George Springer would help improve the defense in CF and LF (with Brandon Nimmo) and might let the Mets keep J.D. Davis at 3B.

🎄 METS HOLIDAY WISH LIST ✨

#1: George Springer Signs with the Mets https://t.co/U6oW0Kd3qL pic.twitter.com/DmXTBZDKSM
— SNY (@SNYtv) December 25, 2020

Curious what a Sugano contract would look like. 3-4 year range perhaps? https://t.co/GrekBII40t
— GENY Mets Report (@genymets) December 25, 2020

Talkin Mets with Mike Silva: Mike is joined by Bill Madden, author of the new book "Tom Seaver: A Terrific Life", to give a new look at the man affectionately known as "The Franchise".

“The whole season went this way for the Mets. Take any day, any town, any inning. With the Mets nothing changed, only the pages on the calendar.” - Jimmy Breslin on the 1962 @Mets #LGM #MetsRewind pic.twitter.com/bMbFn9P7ng
— Mets Rewind (@metsrewind) December 26, 2020

Greg Prince Faith and Fear in Flushing: Flashback Friday: 2015. “Honestly, though, despite the presence of a few living, breathing participants from the 2015 Mets in Mets seasons of the future, it hasn’t been a whole lot like 2015 for the Mets since 2015.”

Metsmerized Online: Pete Alonso Excited For Chili Davis’ Return To Dugout In 2021.

MLB Links:

MLB Network 'Icons Lost' (Tonight, 8 ET).

Speed, power, and intelligence.

Remember @Cardinals legend Lou Brock in Icons Lost, tomorrow at 8pm ET. @baseballhall pic.twitter.com/dsJo9uY75i
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) December 25, 2020

MLB.com: The best landing spots for top free agents. Trevor Bauer and the Mets and George Springer and the Blue Jays.

MLB.com: 1 holiday wish for all 30 MLB teams. For the Mets they have: “Unchecked enthusiasm: The excitement of Mets fans has been refreshing this winter. Eventually, Mets fans will be sad because that's what history dictates. But in the meantime, let the good times roll as long as they can.”

There’s no better gift for a pitcher than getting a call outside the zone! #MLBNHotStove pic.twitter.com/LP4ywgRn3N
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) December 26, 2020

Yahoo Sports: Finding a fit for Nolan Arenado: Who could swing a trade for the Rockies' star third baseman? Dodgers, Blue Jays, Nationals, Braves, Giants are the teams mentioned.

MLB.com: Best fits for LeMahieu? Not just NY. “The Athletic's MLB reporters list the Dodgers, Blue Jays, Red Sox and Rockies as the strongest fits besides the Yankees and Mets.”

MLB.com: These 5 teams could be Ozuna's best fits. “The Athletic's MLB reporters came up with a list of five -- the Braves, Mets, Blue Jays, Giants and Rockies.”

MLB Trade Rumors: Adeiny Hechavarria Signs With NPB’s Chiba Lotte Marines .

MLB Trade Rumors: Rangers To Sign Kohei Arihara. Arihara, 28, has spent the past six seasons with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball. In 836 career innings at Japan’s highest level, Arihara compiled a 3.74 ERA with 6.7 K/9 against 2.1 BB/9.

MLB Trade Rumors: Pirates Trade Josh Bell To Nationals. “In an out-of-the-blue Christmas Eve swap, Washington has acquired Josh Bell from the Pirates in exchange for right-handed pitchers Wil Crowe and Eddy Yean, according to announcements from both clubs.”

NBC Sports Washington: Acquiring Josh Bell gives Nationals room to spend for a power bat. “The big play could come in left field. This is where Michael Brantley could show up.”

MLB.com: The weirdest baseball uniforms ever worn.

MLB.com: Baseball in Hawaii? As cool as it sounds. Boogie boards, turtle encounters and the enduring spirit of 'Aloha'.

MLB Trade Rumors: Right-hander Raúl Alcántara is joining the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball, per a team announcement. The 28-year-old will be making his first trip to Japan’s highest level; he has spent the past two seasons in the Korea Baseball Organization.

Winter Baseball:

No games these last two days due to the Christmas Holiday. Games resume today in Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and Mexico.

Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com :

Born on 12/25: