John From Albany – Mets News and Breakfast Links 12/27/2020

 

Good Morning.  Happy Birthday Raul Gonzalez, David Aardsma and Addison Reed. Robinson Cano starts Winter Ball Today and Steve Serby Q&A’s Steve Cohen,

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

Mets Links:

Steve Cohen in this week’s Serby Q&A: “If you’re going to be an owner and you don’t want to win, why be in sports?” https://t.co/ldNlNvA4Bx via @nypostsports

— Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets) December 26, 2020

Steve Serby of the NY Post had a Q&A with Steve Cohen, here are some takeaways:

Surpassing the Luxury Tax threshold: “I think at some point we will, but maybe not this season. I’m not afraid to go over it, but you want to have flexibility on our payroll. Long-term contracts can limit a team’s ability going forward.”

The Yankees: “You know what I’d love? To play them in the Series again. The whole city would be on fire. But this time, we win.”

Management style: “I hire good people, smart people, people like (team president) Sandy Alderson and (GM) Jared Porter, and then I set our goals and hold people accountable. I don’t micromanage, and I let people have the runway to do their jobs.”

Steve Cohen, in the Serby Q&A, indicated he’s not in talks for SNY.

— Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets) December 26, 2020

SNY.TV: Mets reportedly interested in KBO infielder Ha-Seong Kim. 25-year-old slashed .306/.397/.523 with 30 home runs and 109 RBIs last season.

SNY.TV: Mets' Robinson Cano to join Estrellas Orientales of Dominican Winter League. Robinson Cano will join Padres superstar Fernando Tatis Jr. as Estrellas Orientales a three-game playoff series today.

Mike Lupica NY Daily News: Future looks Amazin’ again: Steve Cohen wins 2020 by making the Mets a team to watch again. “Will Mets fans love Steve Cohen in May as they do in December? We’ll find out. But for now there is one thing completely official about the official new owner of the Mets: The guy who feels like the biggest player in town these days isn’t even a player.”

Reflections On Baseball: Steve Cohen Says It Again: Mets Fans – This Is Not A One And Done Deal. “You’re thinking like a fan, you know you want to win yesterday,” Cohen said while answering fan questions Wednesday on “One-on-One” with Howie Rose. “But in trying to win, you also want to create sustainable winning, which means you’ve got to sort of plan, not just this year, but multiple years.”

Rob Rogan Mets360: Sandy Alderson and the remnants of austerity. “Much to the delight of Mets fans, Cohen appears to be wasting little time in shoring up the organizational shortcomings that were a perverse mainstay of the Wilpon era… Restoring a bit of order, however, likely means the freewheeling spending of Cohen’s coffers some fans dreamed of might not come to fruition.”

Mike’s Mets: 2021 Can't Be Another Lost Year for Mets Prospects. “I think that it's of utmost importance for the Mets to figure out how to get the development train back on track this season, regardless of whatever disruption the pandemic continues to cause minor league baseball.”

Sam McWilliams Talked to Mets Junkies and is “he’s very happy to be apart of the new Mets era.”

Metsmerized Online: Guillermo Heredia Slated to Serve As Fourth Outfielder In 2021. “Despite spending just 43.0 innings in center field with the Mets, Heredia displayed some promising signs over his limited playing time, posting a 1 OAA…he featured a career 14 OAA heading in 2020 – and there’s a solid chance his impressive results will return if provided with more playing time moving forward.”

Rising Apple: Mets catcher James McCann is a great upgrade over Wilson Ramos.

Rising Apple: Can Tomas Nido handle backup catcher duties in 2021? It is worth noting that the team’s other options for backup catcher may be limited. With McCann now off the market, the free agency pool is considerably thin. Veteran players such as Tyler Flowers, Jason Castro, Curt Casali, and Yadier Molina headline a list of low-cost alternatives.

 

 

 

MLB Links:

Yahoo.com: Baseball Is No Longer America's Favorite Pastime. “Based on Vivid Seats ticket sales in each state, Myprotein found that 19 states' residents would rather spend their money on an NFL game than any other sport's game, and 12 states are die-hard NCAA fans, a.k.a. college football… Ten states have kept America's original fascination with baseball over the last few decades, choosing to go to a baseball game before a football, hockey, or basketball one.”

MLB.com: Bucs' Polanco breaks right wrist in DR. Veteran outfielder saw action in 21 games with Leones del Escogido. MLB Trade Rumors: “Polanco is expected to be out for four to six weeks. Polanco should be ready in time for spring training, so this injury shouldn’t affect his 2021 season.”

MLB Trade Rumors: Padres, Cubs Have Discussed Yu Darvish Trade.

MLB Trade Rumors: Red Sox Interested In Enrique Hernandez.

MLB Trade Rumors: Managers & Top Front Office Executives On Expiring Contracts. “The winds of change have swept through the Mets organization this winter, yet Luis Rojas wasn’t affected, as team president Sandy Alderson announced that Rojas will remain in the dugout for 2021.”

MLB.com: Longest HR? Best throw? 2020 Plays to remember.  “The least likely home run of the year: Out in 1/30 ballparks J.D. Davis, July 28 - This one is also "the shortest non-inside-the-park" dinger of the year, at all of a projected 328 feet.”

TCBmag.com: Inside The Twins-Saints Baseball Deal. Saints owner Marv Goldklang describes what drove the Saints to leave independent baseball to become the Twins AAA affiliate.

MLB.com: 9 rookie hitters who made big impressions.

MLB.com: Wood you believe it? Kid gets bat, goes nuts.

And with the first pick in the 2030 MLB draft ...

(via @RickyCumby) pic.twitter.com/lrTssusW0F

— MLB (@MLB) December 26, 2020

MLB.com: Who's better for Dodgers, Arenado or DJ?

MLB.com: How will Arihara signing impact Sugano?

Kyodo News: Reformers look to fix Japan's damaging youth baseball culture. Hampered by excessive, old-fashioned training methods, a win-at-all-costs mentality and the heavy burden placed on parents, participation rates in Japanese youth baseball have been tumbling at a rapid pace.

Winter Baseball:

In Puerto Rico:

Criollos de Caguas 7 Atenienses de Manati 4 (Box Score). Johneshwy Fargas RF, 1 for 5, HR, 1 RBI, 1 Run Scored, 1 K, batting average falls from .412 to .393

In Venezuela:

Navegantes del Magallanes 5 Bravos de Margarita 3 (Box Score). David Rodriguez 1B 2 for 4 with a run scored, a double, 1 RBI, 1K. now with a .379 average.

Here is the full scoreboard from Venezuela.

In the Mexican Pacific League:

Caneros de los Mochis 7 Mayos de Navojoa 3 (Box Score). Juan Uriarte caught and went 2 for 3, a run scored, 220 batting average this winter

Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com:

UltimateMets has this date in Mets History:

Born on this date:

• Bobby Klaus (1937)
• Pat Roessler (1959)
• Raul Gonzalez (1973)
• Dave Davalillo (1974)
• Jeff D'Amico (1975)
• David Aardsma (1981)
• Addison Reed (1988)
• Danny Hrbek (1994)
• Hector Rodriguez (1997)

Transactions:
New York Mets traded Kevin Appier to the Anaheim Angels for Mo Vaughn on December 27, 2001.

New York Mets signed free agent Rey Sanchez of the Boston Red Sox on December 27, 2002.

New York Mets signed free agent Aaron Laffey of the Toronto Blue Jays on December 27, 2012.

Centerfield Maz: Ray Sadecki: 1973 N.L. Champion Mets Pitcher (1970-1974 /1977).

Centerfield Maz: Jack Hamilton: Mid Sixties Mets Pitcher (1965-1967).

National Pastime.com:

1967	Johnny Murphy becomes the Mets' third general manager in franchise history when he replaces Bing Devine. During his tenure, the team benefits from a talented farm system, especially its young pitching prospects, which include Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, Nolan Ryan, and Gary Gentry, all who will play a major role in the club's World Championship in 1969.
2001	The Mets continue to stay busy this offseason, acquiring first baseman Mo Vaughn for 13-year veteran right-hander Kevin Appier (11-10, 3.57) and cash. The 1995 American League MVP will join Roberto Alomar, Roger Cedeno, and Shawn Estes as the newest members of the Shea Squad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baseball Reference:

2010: The Mets acquire IF Chin-lung Hu from the Dodgers in return for P Michael Antonini.

Breakfast Links One year ago today - 12/27/2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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