10/29/17

Mack's Apples - 10-29-17 - T.J. Rivera, The Chiefs, Ray Knight, Wally Murphy., Supergiant,


Good morning.



Can T.J. Rivera Be the New York Mets’ Next Joe McEwing ?
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Versatile players like T.J. Rivera don’t grow on trees, but they are important to a team’s chances of success, especially the New York Mets.

The “super sub.” Players who are talented enough to start but versatile enough to and mentally capable of taking their starts all over the field. The role has become more and more prominent as teams begin to see the benefit of having deployable players.

Ben Zobrist of the Chicago Cubs is the most prominent example of this role, making starts at every position except for catcher and pitcher during his career. Despite not really having a player fill that role at the moment, it could be argued that Joe McEwing of the New York Mets was the first of this new wave of players.

It is my understanding that the Mets are going to kick the infield can down the road and renew Astrubel Cabrera’s contract for 2018.

An infield consists of six players… four basic starters and two utility players that can play two, three, or even four positions.

In my book, the four starters then would be Cabrera, Dominic Smith, Wilmer Flores, and Amed Rosario.

This leaves Rivera, Phillip Evans, Matt Reynolds, Jose Reyes, Gavin Cecchini. And (sic) David Wright to fight it out for the two last slots.

Scenario one would be if Wright returned as a starter. This would push Flores into one of the two utility roles.

Past that, your guess is as good as mine.


There seems to have been competition for the Syracuse Chiefs affiliate -

The process began in the summer of 2016, when Jeff Wilpon, COO of the Mets, contacted Robert Julian, chairman of the Chiefs board of directors. The cash-strapped Chiefs had long been pondering how to bring more capital into the team.

At roughly the same time, Julian received an inquiry from another major league team regarding possible purchase of the Chiefs. The proxy does not identify that second team. At a meeting on Aug. 24, 2016, the board agreed to pursue a deal with the Mets because members felt they were the more likely of the two suitors to keep the club in Syracuse.

You would like to think that the Mets won out because they shared coming from the same State.



Former Mets infielder Ray Knight was arrested at 4 a.m. Sunday after an altercation with a 33-year-old at his Virginia home, FOX5 DC reported.
Knight, 64, and the younger man both suffered visible injuries and were taken to a hospital. Knight was charged with assault and battery.

            Knight is currently a broadcaster for the Nationals.

                        LOL… wanna bet?


Seven Life Lessons From The World's Greatest Baseball Fan,  John J. Adams

In 44 years, John has only missed 44 games. Day in and day out, in the snow, sleet, rain and sunshine, Cleveland baseball fans can count on John to lead them in cheering on their favorite team. In that time, John has become the only fan to have a bobblehead created in his honor. And the locally-owned Great Lakes Brewery has even created a beer named after John, called Rally Drum Red Ale®.



We had a guy like this in Savannah named Wally Murphy. He used to write for Mack’s Mets and he never missed a home Sand Gnats game ever since they became a Mets affiliate in 2007. I think it actually went back further and continues now with the Savannah Bananas.




Baseball is no longer a supergiant -

                      
Baseball’s future will not be quite like its past, but it would be strange and worrying if it were. Before baseball can enjoy the renaissance that may indeed be just over the horizon, though, it will need to get right with what it actually means to be America’s National Pastime in 2017. There is an important truth in baseball’s understanding of itself as a chunk of prime Americana, but it’s not an easy one. In a real sense, baseball’s future tracks with America’s. In both cases, there’s some tough reckoning to be done.

                                   Reese will particularly like this one…

13 comments:

Tom Brennan said...

The last part of your article is why baseball players don't need to stupidly damage their business patrons like the NFL. Those players gamble that it will just blow over and that'll get paid like usual. Think twice. Damage can be permanent.

Baseball is smart to crack down on Gourriel for the same reason: racial tension involving the players can damage the brand. The brand is more fragile than they think. For instance, back in 1965, we has channels 2 thru 13...now there are a million more entertainment options for a would-be fan to distract himself with, or just surf the net. Players: be smart.

TJ Rivera - if he (or Wright) is ready opening day, great. Otherwise, it would be nice to get Phil Evans back as a utility guy.

Wally Murphy....not sure if icever read one 8f his articles. Any you can pull out of the archives, Mack?

Glad, however it happened, Mets are soon to be out of Vegas Hell into the Syracuse snow belt. Snow or not, Syracuse makes sense.

Bill Metsiac said...

Did JJ Adams have a job to pay for his tixx, or was he just an unemployed billionaire? 😅

Bill Metsiac said...

Wilmer may try his hand at multiple positions, but I still cringe when a ball is hit to him at any of them. Too bad we don't have a DH.

Play TJ, and trade Wilmer to an AL team.

Mack Ade said...

Bill -

Good idea on Wilmer but he probably needs another season to qualify as a ++ potential DH. He needs to hit 30+ home runs to get there.

Mack Ade said...

Tom -

here is a small box on the top right of the lead page of the site... says "Search My Site"... click on that, write in Wally's name, and you'll find a great Q and A with him.

Unknown said...

Scary that Houston fans cheered Gourriel and the wimpy MLB did what is too common today as no one is willing to say NO.....5 games suspension to start the season wow that's taking a stand. What is this once amazing country going to become?

Mack Ade said...

Gary -

I agree with you, but it's scary out there right now, all because one person was elected President. Not a Republican, but one man. Trust me, and I speak as a Republican, if the election was won by someone like Rubio, things would be much different out there.

IMO, the whole black/cops problems were cooling down until the comments were made about 8 ballplayers kneeling. THAT ignited the fires again.

It would help if our President would stop tweeting about broadway shows and get down to the job of running our country.

Tom Brennan said...

Wilmer may get a bunch of games at 1B against lefties - he ought to be able to handle that if he used to play SS.

Trump needs to let the sports friction die down now IMO.

Wonder how TJ's arm will be when he gets back. And when he'll really get back.

Unknown said...

Does Knight have a son ? I’m wondering if this was a domestic disturbance .. so if the Mets go “on the cheap” & renew Cabrera’s contract dies that mean we should expect the Mets to sign complimentary pieces (I.e middle relievers, utility players, 5th starter) ir can we expect at least one ticket free agent for the outfield or a middle of the rotation starting pitcher ?

Bill Metsiac said...

Personally, I think that if everyone is healthy the team is fine as is. But of course, there's no way to know if they will be healthy.

In any case, even if only for PR and Box Office reasons, I'm sure they'll bring in a big name, whether by FA or trade.

Tom Brennan said...

Ed, if they are smart, after re-upping with Cabrera, they should get a strong SP, RP, and hopefully at least one other player in the FA market. Give Callaway a real team - after all, we lost Reed, Grandy, Bruce, Duda, and Walker. That has to be made up for.

Or bow at the Yankee's feet in 2018.

Tom Brennan said...

Can't make this stuff up:

Oakland Athletics catcher Bruce Maxwell has been arrested after a female food delivery person alleged he pointed a gun at her.

Maxwell was the only player in Major League Baseball this year to take a knee during the national anthem to protest racial injustice.

Scottsdale police said officers went to Maxwell’s home Saturday night after getting a call about a person with a gun. Maxwell was booked on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and disorderly conduct.

Reese Kaplan said...

I particularly liked the author's characterization of this point in the nation's history. Good wording.