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4/8/21

Mets News and Breakfast Links 4/8/2021

 



Good Morning.  Happy Birthday Timo Pérez, Eddie Kunz, and Jeff McNeil.  Tough start for David Peterson as the Phillies beat the Mets 8-2, J.D. Davis is Day-to-Day and the games from last weekend are re-scheduled.

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

Mets Links: 

Phillies 8 Mets 2 (Box Score): Brandon Nimmo CF 2 for 4, 1 walk, 1 run scored; Francisco Lindor SS 1 for 3 with a walk; Michael Conforto RF 0 for 5, 2Ks; Pete Alonso 1B 1 for 5, 1 RBI; Dominic Smith LF 1 for 5 2Ks; Jonathan Villar 2B 3 for 5, 1 K; James McCann C 1 for 4 2Ks; Luis Guillorme 3B 2 for 3, 1 walk; David Peterson 4 innings, 7 hits, 6 runs – all earned, 2 walks, 5 Ks, 2 HR; Jacob Barnes 1 inning, 2 hit, 1 run – earned – HR, 1 K; Dellin Betances 1 inning, no hits, 1 run – earned, 1 walk, 1 K; Joey Lucchesi 2 innings, 1 hit, no runs, 3 Ks.

Dave Lennon Newsday: “The Mets didn’t really build on all that winter excitement during their three-day stay in Philly, a deflating visit filled with puzzling managerial decisions, shoddy bullpen performances and surprising offensive lapses capped by Wednesday’s 8-2 loss.”

SNY.TV: “Peterson had a rough first inning, as Phillies 1B Rhys Hoskins hit a solo home run with one out for a 1-0 lead. Bryce Harper came up next and doubled off the wall, then J.T. Realmuto drew a walk before Peterson let up a three-run homer from Alec Bohm, making it 4-0 Phillies.”

Mike Puma NY Post: “On Wednesday, they finished 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position. Conforto went hitless in five at-bats and left nine runners on base. Over the three games he left 16 runners on base. The Mets are 6-for-29 (.207) with runners in scoring position in the three-game series.”

Anthony DiComo Mets.com: Conforto has tough day as Mets drop series. “Conforto’s 2020 batting average: .322, 8th in MLB; With runners in scoring position: .277, 85th in MLB; With runners in scoring position and two outs: .240, 161st in MLB.”

Brian Joura Mets 360: “We saw the season debut for three relievers. Jacob Barnes grooved his first pitch as a Met and J.T. Realmuto promptly hit a homer. Next was Dellin Betances, who looked no different than last year. Joey Lucchesi, who warmed up in the first inning but didn’t get in the game until the seventh,” (Subscription required).

Brooklyn Trolley Blogger: If you follow me, you're familiar with one of my rules of thumb: once is an event, twice is a coincidence, and three times is a trend. Therefore, with great angst, I say the Mets will go as far as their bullpen carries them.  I'm not breaking new ground here.  That is just the modern condition of baseball.  

Metstradamus: “Oh well, The Mets are 1-2 with the Marlins coming up for the home opener. The 1986 Mets started 2-3 with everybody panicking, asking “What’s wrong with the Mets?” …I don’t know what this team has in store from us, but I know enough to know that this team, and this regime, deserves the benefit of our doubt.”










WFAN.com: Taijuan Walker ready to make Mets debut in home opener.

SNY.TV: Mets' J.D. Davis remains day-to-day, additional X-rays on left hand negative.


SNY.TV: “Luis Rojas explains Mets' reasoning for sitting Jeff McNeil for Jonathan Villar on Wednesday "Everything's well with McNeil," Rojas told reporters via Zoom. "We're just giving a chance to Jonathan Villar to get in there and have a start and play some second for us.”




SportSpyder Mets Links: 

MLB and SportSpyder NL East and MLB Links:

Some of yesterday's MLB Game Highlights:



Here is yesterday's MLB Scoreboard.


MLB.com:

MLB Trade Rumors:

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ESPN:

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CBS Sports:

SportsSpyder:

Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com: 

Born on this date:

Transactions:
New York Mets traded Chris DeWitt to the Chicago Cubs for Matt Franco on April 8, 1996.

Cleveland Indians claimed Jason Anderson of the New York Mets on waivers on April 8, 2004.

National Pastime.com:

1984

A pitch thrown by Mike Torrez, in the Mets' 3-1 victory over Houston at the Astrodome, damages Dickie Thon's face, compromising the promising 25 year-old shortstop's career. The orbital bone around the left eye is broken by the remorseful right-hander's fastball, ending the infielder's season and impacting his future as a major leaguer due to problems with depth perception as a result of the injury.

1988

Gary Carter, celebrating his 34th birthday with a 3-for-3 day including a home run, is doubled off second base after Howard Johnson lines out to right field to end the game on a bizarre play. Shortstop Juan Samuel, who had started to throw the relay from outfielder Chris James back to the mound, tags the Mets' catcher straying off the bag for the final out in the Phillies' 5-1 victory at Veterans Stadium.

 

2000

Blue Jay southpaw David Wells' nine-hit complete game 4-0 shutout against Texas at The Ballpark in Arlington snaps Kenny Rogers' 19-game home winning streak. 'The Gambler's' accomplishment, compiled while hurling for the Yankees, A's, Mets, and Rangers, is the third-longest in major league history.

2005

Jimmy Carter, who was not invited by the current administration to be part of the American delegation for today's funeral of Pope John Paul, attends the home opener at Turner Field. The former president and his wife Roslyn, who both stayed for the entire game, enjoy watching the Braves beat the Mets, 3-1.

 

2008

In the last home opener at Shea Stadium, the Mets are beaten by a pitcher who is older than their ballpark. Jamie Moyer pitches six strong innings, giving the 46 year-old the victory in the 45 year-old stadium when the Phillies rally to beat the Mets, 5-2.

Baseball Reference:

1969: Four expansion teams make their debuts. The Kansas City Royals, Seattle Pilots, Montreal Expos and San Diego Padres all win their inaugural games. At Shea Stadium, the Expos defeat the New York Mets, 11 - 10, to keep the Mets winless for openers. Pitcher Dan McGinn hits the Expos' first home run as the key hit, a three-run home run by Coco Laboy, is given up by Canadian-born Mets reliever Ron Taylor.

2008: Chase Utley ties a major league record by being hit by pitch three times in a game as the Phillies top the Mets, 5 - 2. Utley is hit by an Oliver Perez pitch in the 1st inning and is again plunked by Perez in the 4th. In the 7th, he is hit by Scott Schoeneweis to tie the record.

Mack’s Blast From The Past talks about the Binghamton Mets beating the Erie Sea Wolves 7-2 on April 8, 2013.  Jack Leathersich, Danny Muno, Cesar Puello, and Erik Goeddel are featured.

Centerfield Maz:

Click here for the full list of Mack's MLB Draft Scouting Reports.         

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12 comments:

  1. Tom BrennanApril 8, 2021 at 6:11 AM

    Not a lot of positives. Lucchesi was strong.

    Hey, forget extending Conforto, let’s extend Villar instead. At least the latter can hit. Seriously, though, I’d prefer to extend Nimmo, if I could only extend one.

    ReplyDelete
  2. John From AlbanyApril 8, 2021 at 6:46 AM

    Anthony DiComo's stat on Michael Conforto was very telling. Even in his best year, 2020, he did not hit with runners in scoring position or runners in scoring position with 2 outs.

    Hitters go through slumps. That is the nature of the game. That is why you need to build your offense on speed and the ability to manufacture runs.

    Fonzie and Endy did that in Brooklyn, won a championship in 2019 using that formula, and are now nowhere to be found.

    What do they call it when you do the same thing each day but expect different results? Insanity!

    ReplyDelete
  3. bill metsiacApril 8, 2021 at 7:18 AM

    Endy is the bench coach at St. Lucie rhis year.
    Fonzie is apparently in the Witness Protection Program,using another name. 🤔

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousApril 8, 2021 at 7:32 AM

    LOB-ster Fest is back! Unfortunately, this does not involve a restaurant.

    Bob W

    ReplyDelete
  5. Tom BrennanApril 8, 2021 at 8:21 AM

    John, fans know that with Conforto - when the going is tough, he gets beat a whole lot. Let the buyer beware. He has good doubles numbers, good HR numbers - but he only has 203 RBIs in 360 games 2018-20. At first blush, that doesn't look so bad - but he has had tons of guys on base over that period.

    I would certainly not extend him now - and perhaps not at all. Let him prove he deserves it where it counts most - in the clutch.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Tom BrennanApril 8, 2021 at 8:26 AM

    Bob W all too often, Mets' hitters hit like crustaceans with Men on Base. It makes me change the channel. I have enough aggravation.

    They do, though, say it is a game of inches. When they trailed 4-1, Lindor ripped a liner down the line that curves just foul. Instead of a 2 run double, to make it 4-3, he ended up with his HBP, and then Conforto's nap at the plate with the bags full to kill the game.

    ReplyDelete
  7. John From AlbanyApril 8, 2021 at 8:51 AM

    Bill,

    I hope you are correct. When the press release came out that listed the St. Lucie Coaches there was no mention of Endy. Also, if you click on the link at the top of our site for the St. Lucie Roster, he is not listed. I have not heard any word about his current employment with the team.

    ReplyDelete
  8. bill metsiacApril 8, 2021 at 9:00 AM

    I don't remember where I read it a week or so ago, but I Googled him this morning and under "career" the final item said "bench coach, St. Lucie".

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousApril 8, 2021 at 9:21 AM

    Conforto is a very good player who had a terrible game. One should not overreact.

    Personally, he is not a MUST SIGN NOW guy, especially if he's thinking along the lines of 8/$200. I think the Springer contract would be generous. He's coming off a career year, a true outlier, and I think it's smart to let 2021 play out.

    I've said this before: An extension should benefit the club to some degree, or else why bother?

    I've advocated extending Nimmo for that reason. I think you could give him a 4-year deal on good very terms, favorable to both the team and the player. If you wait, and wait, as he gets closer to free agency, then the price escalates dramatically.

    One piece I'd love to read would be a thoroughly research analysis of all leadoff hitters to see where Brandon falls. Judge him according to the roll he fills for the club.

    Back to Conforto: I said to my sign yesterday, before the game, that I would flip McNeil and Conforto in the lineup. Eventually. Conforto has all those strikeouts and can't hit LHP. Jeff is the better hitter.

    Before the Weird Covid Year of 2020, I had finally settled on the idea that Conforto was a 25/85 player. That's a good thing. But I am not breaking my bank for it. Not when we need pitching.

    I'm very high on Lucchesi, but I think he'd help the team most in the bullpen. We'll need David Peterson to get it together in order for that dream to come true.

    Jimmy




    ReplyDelete
  10. Remember1969April 8, 2021 at 9:45 AM

    I just ran Conforto's career numbers through the "Runs Produced Ratio" calcualtion that I developed about 3 or 4 weeks ago, and his numbers don't look good.

    Conforto: (full career - 2015 thru 2020) Has driven in 14.7% of all runners on base; Up to a still substandard 18.8% of all runners when there are runners in scoring postion and 24.3% when there is a runner on third base.

    By comparison:

    Dom Smith last year which is probably an outlier, but shows it can be done:

    Drove in 20.3% of all runners on base; 24.8% when there is at least one runner in scoring position, and a superstar like 31.1% of runners when there is a runner on third.

    Conforto's career numbers of his RPR are actually quite close (a touch better) than Francisco Lindor's (14.6%; 18.4% and 23.9%)

    Yesterday was certainly a bad day.

    ReplyDelete
  11. John From AlbanyApril 8, 2021 at 11:04 AM

    Tremendous 1969. That is an elite stat.

    Bill, Endy was the bench coach last year. That site might be outdtated.

    https://macksmets.blogspot.com/2020/01/chad-kreuter-returns-as-st-lucie-mets.html

    ReplyDelete
  12. TexasGusCCApril 8, 2021 at 1:55 PM

    I back John’s comment 1969, that’s a great stat and a very important one. Winning teams get those guys home. Teams that don’t win just wait til next time, and next time, and next time.

    ReplyDelete