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2/22/21

John From Albany - Mets News and Breakfast Links 2/22/2021

 



Good Morning.  Happy Birthday J.J. Putz, Kelly Johnson, and Tim Peterson. Tomas Nido and Jordan Yamamoto talk to the press, Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso arrive at Spring Training and Kevin Pillar is officially signed. 

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

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SNY.TV: Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso make their debut at Mets camp.


Mets You Tube Video of Lindor and Alonso.







YouTube Mets Channel: Tomas Nido talks improved offense, meshing with McCann, reuniting with Lindor. 



NY Post: Jordan Yamamoto out to earn Mets rotation spot, special uniform number. “Jordan Yamamoto grew up in Hawaii, which also produced Sid Fernandez — a key starting pitcher for the Mets’ last World Series winning team in 1986…Fernandez and another Hawaiian player of note, Benny Agbayani, both wore No. 50 for the Mets, representative of the 50th state. But the right-hander Yamamoto, who arrived in a trade with the Marlins this offseason, has been issued No. 45 in spring training. Miguel Castro is No. 50. Yamamoto noted that as a newcomer to the Mets he will have to earn the number.”









Mets.com: Dom Smith talks shop with idol Barry Bonds. “The two talked about issues ranging from baseball -- Smith was particularly curious about what it was like for Bonds to be intentionally walked with the bases loaded -- to life…Smith and Bonds also hit on the topic of trying to grow interest in baseball from younger Black players…’It’s going to take the past players, current players, it’s going to take some help from MLB, it’s going to take some help from a lot of different avenues,’ Smith said. ‘Because it’s not an easy job. It’s not something that’s going to be fixed overnight.’”









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Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com: 

Born on this date:

Died on this date:

Transactions:
New York Mets traded Bobby Klaus, Wayne Graham and Jimmie Schaffer to the Philadelphia Phillies for Dick Stuart on February 22, 1966.

New York Mets signed free agent Juan Berenguer on February 22, 1975.

New York Mets released Mark Bradley on February 22, 1984.

New York Mets signed free agent Mark Johnson on February 22, 2000.

Montreal Expos claimed Endy Chavez of the New York Mets on waivers on February 22, 2002.

Los Angeles Angels signed Jason Isringhausen of the New York Mets as a free agent on February 22, 2012.

From National Pastime.com:

1966

The Mets trade Wayne Graham, Bobby Klaus, and Jimmie Schaffer to the Phillies for first baseman Dick Stuart, who will join the Dodgers after being released by the team in June. During his brief tenure with the Amazins,' Dr. Strangelove plays in 31 games, hitting .231 while committing six errors.

2008

The Mets, who had not gone to arbitration with a player in 16 years, come out on the short end of the hearing when southpaw Oliver Perez (15-10, 3.56) gets a favorable decision in his case from arbitrators Steven Wolf, Robert Bailey, and Elizabeth Neumeier. The southpaw is awarded $6.5 million for this year, rather than the club's offer of $4,725,000.

Centerfield Maz:


Mack’s Blast From the Past comes from 2-22-13: Mack had a great report from 2013 Spring Training and talked about Prospect Camp with players like Jacob deGrom, Zack Wheeler, Hansel Robles and more.

Want more?  Check out https://sportspyder.com/mlb/new-york-mets/news. 

Want something else tracked here each day?  Please leave a comment below.
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12 comments:

  1. Tom BrennanFebruary 22, 2021 at 7:08 AM

    A day closer to games. Yay.

    Barry Bonds looked young enough to make a comeback. Why not? He'd probably still have a .400 OBP.

    Mauricio had to have added some beef to that skinny frame. That's what 18 months since prior games will do for you.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tom BrennanFebruary 22, 2021 at 7:25 AM

    Nido to me did not sound like he was oozing hitting confidence. More cautiously hopeful. Hopefully, his bat will speak louder than his body language.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Tom BrennanFebruary 22, 2021 at 7:30 AM

    Mack's 2013 Blast from the Past about guys in Prospect Camp - as it turns out, about a half dozen pitchers who have thrown an awful lot in the big leagues, including one Cy Young 2 time winner. And just one hitter (Nimmo). Plawecki was 2nd best. That was some dry season on the farm for hitters.

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  4. TexasGusCCFebruary 22, 2021 at 8:12 AM

    Tom, I didn’t get that when I heard his interview. Tome it sounded like quiet confidence, which I prefer.

    Saw that Bonds/Smith interview last night, it was so much fun. Smith seemed to stutter early on, as he was nervous, but it flowed great as they talked about many topics that just allowed Binds to open up about his upbringing and his baseball career.

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  5. TexasGusCCFebruary 22, 2021 at 8:14 AM

    *Tomas sounded like quiet confidence, which I prefer.

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  6. Tom BrennanFebruary 22, 2021 at 9:59 AM

    Gus, I just hope Nido shows he has discovered a hit tool. That's really all he needs to be a solid # 2.

    I'd take .225/.300/.380 from him.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousFebruary 22, 2021 at 11:19 AM

    Yesterday I watched the entire clip -- ten minutes in all -- of Jordan Yamamoto.

    Loved it, liked him a lot. Smart, articulate, dedicated, extremely appealing young man who will be easy to root for. Comments about Sid Fernandez, learning from Stroman, etc. All good and on point.

    But here's the thing:

    He's not a very good pitcher.

    I mean, maybe it works out for him. But I'm not betting on it. And this is the "depth" we keep hearing about, ad nauseam. Our #7 pitcher. Praise the Lord!

    Ideally, he's forced to give us a few starts along the way -- somebody goes on a 15-day DL, whatever -- and I think Yamamoto could conceivably be a credible guy out there for a brief period. He's very likely not better than Sean Gilmartin or Walter Lockett. I suspect he's worse. That's baseball. Those are the guys you can get to fill AAA rosters in the chance you might need a spot start here or there.

    Yamamoto doesn't have a fastball or a changeup. And he struggles with control. I wish him luck with that.

    Could it work out for him? Hey, he's 24. Maybe. But how many RHP are there who do well hitting 90 on the radar? Not many. And not for long.

    Here's a clue: the Marlins gave up on him. Or, that is, traded him away in exchange for Federico Polanco.

    Who? Exactly.

    But main point: Seems like an absolutely terrific kid. I'll be rooting, but not exactly hoping. "Depth" sounds good . . . until you actually have to put these guys on the mound in a game that counts.

    Stay healthy, Mets! Because if lose half the starters like last year, we're fuct.

    Jimmy


    ReplyDelete
  8. TexasGusCCFebruary 22, 2021 at 1:33 PM

    Depth chart:
    The King
    The Cookie
    The Loudmouth
    The other Loudmouth that’s hurt now
    Walker
    Peterson
    Lucchesi
    McWilliams
    Lugo
    Gaellman
    Yamamoto

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousFebruary 22, 2021 at 3:41 PM

    Yes, exactly my point! Thanks, Gus.

    Don't forget Eikhoff and Oswalt.

    For new depth, the Mets have added Lucchesi (mildly hopeful about him), McWilliams, 25, has never pitched in MLB (wild card, spin rate king, could be good), and Yamamoto.

    Lugo is hurt and slated for pen.

    Gsellman, sigh. 9.64 ERA last year, -0.5 WAR. He started 4 games: 2 IP/3 Runs; 1.2 IP/1 Run; 4 IP, 1 Run; 1.2 IP, 4 Runs. If we start handing him the ball as a starter . . . DUCK.

    I think it's overall not terrible. That's "depth" in today's MLB. But to pretend that this is some amazing achievement in acquiring depth is ridiculous and that's THE NARRATIVE. I thought the Rays did well to pick up Wacha for $3 million. For the Mets, the injuries forced us to use him too much. He needed to be a reliever, spot starter, and got thrust into a role he couldn't handle.

    I actually think the pen is in worse shape. I like our starting rotation a lot.

    Jimmy

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  10. Tom BrennanFebruary 22, 2021 at 6:25 PM

    I will add one more name to starter depth...Tylor Megill.

    The guy who pitched in 2019 was good. He's had 18 months to improve.

    I just have this sneaking suspicion he opens some eyes this spring, especially if he is hitting 98, like McWilliams.

    More likely Megill is a future pen arm, but what the heck. Maybe there is a starter in there.

    And there is always Tom Szapucki.

    Wacha - if the Rays signed him, he probably has merit for 2021. The Mets just had to get rid of the 2-16 Porcello/Wacha/Matz trio. Just for a clean start and break from failure, for the Mets AND those pitchers (in that order),

    The rest of the team's pitchers went a solid 24-18 (.571) last year. The Mets need their entire staff to go better than .571 this season.

    Part of the debris they found from that jet engine that came apart the other day was actually not the plane at all. It was a Pete Alonso-launched baseball. He'll be back with a vengeance this season.

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  11. TexasGusCCFebruary 22, 2021 at 11:24 PM

    Tom, any truth to what is being reported that a batting practice shit of Alonso’s hit that engine so hard that it blew up?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Tom BrennanFebruary 23, 2021 at 7:54 AM

    Gus, there is intense speculation in that regard and authorities are analyzing the DNA of some pieces of fecal matter at the debris site and are attempting to confer with Pete. His attorneys are urging him not to cooperate. That's all I know so far.

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