John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 12/8/2019 with Winter Ball re-cap

Full Winter League Recap as the Dominican League was on an all-star break. Chris Flexen has a new home as the Winter Meetings start today.

More stories about the Mets Ownership change.

The NY Post’s Phil Mushnick has his own unique take. “Call me a party pooper, but this Steve Cohen-to-the-rescue angle comes stuck to a familiar, familial stench, the kind the Mets’ ownership regularly emits. Is Steve Cohen a hedge fund boss or a hedgehog?... That the Wilpons even still own the Mets to sell to Cohen is both troubling and characteristic of a business overseen by consecutive MLB commissioners who can’t seem to get their stories straight.”

The NY Post’s Mike Vaccaro however says that the Wilpons are not the worst Baseball ownership group (7^th out of 8 actually).

NY Posts also says that Mets fans can’t rejoice until the Wilpons are gone.

Beyond the Box score thinks that Steve Cohen is not going to save the Mets. Sheryl Ring ran down Steve Cohen’s troubles with the SEC and said: “In any event, Cohen’s acquisition of the Mets seems to be less about the team, and more the latest in a long line of swift-turnaround transactions made for the purpose of revenue generation.” Not sure I agree.  I think this purchase is more in line with his Art purchases and not something he will sell quick.  We will see.

Reflections on Baseball thinks Steve Cohen will be George Steinbrenner on Steroids.  He thinks the Mets will be his new toy “Cohen loves his extravagant toys.  Cohen spent a reported $8-12 million on a shark suspended in formaldehyde titled ‘The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living.’”

Metsmerized says “Yes Mets fans there is a Santa Claus” noting that Steve Cohen has the same initials.

Barstool sports hopes with the Wilpons gone, Redskins Dan Snyder will be next.

As the Winter Meetings start today MLB Trade Rumors talked how “the Winter Meetings are an important venue for discussion of an array of league issues.”  On Friday, “MLB met with minor league reps for the first of many sessions negotiating the proposed new structure for the minor league system… MLB cannot force the retraction, but the current contract runs out in September, by which time the two sides hope to have a new agreement in place – though that’s hardly a sure thing.”

Yahoo Sports has how Minor League Teams on the shutdown list are looking to rebrand.

SNY.TV says the Mets are looking at Rick Porcello.

SNY.TV also has 6 things for Mets fans to keep an eye on at the Winter Meetings. Pitching, the bullpen, What’s up with Cespedes and a Brodie Surprise? (Brodie – just say “NO”.)

As Mack said yesterday in his “Winter is Coming” thread: “DON'T SCREW UP. No long contracts to aging old stars. And no more trading of our chips.”

Mike Puma had three questions for the Mets at the Winter meetings:  Can they land an impact reliever? What about the back end of the rotation? Is Starling Marte still on the radar?

Elite Sports NY says the Bullpen is the biggest need this offseason. 

Metsmerized has the benefits of bringing back Brad Brach.  “…plugging a hole ahead of Monday’s Winter Meetings with a viable option while saving a few bucks is never a bad thing.”

MLB Trade Rumors also reports that Chris Flexen will sign with the Doosan Bears of the Korean Baseball Organization.  “The terms of the deal aren’t yet known, but Flexen will presumably take home significantly more with the Bears than he would’ve had he cleared waivers and remained in the Mets’ system.”   

Rising Apple looks at what the Mets had last offseason that they don’t have now. 

Reflections on Baseball thinks the asking price for Mookie Betts is high but worth it.

Mets 360 asks if Jacob deGrom is a Hall of Famer.

Metsmerized also had breakdown of the Mets 2019 International signings.

Mets Minors has a great piece on the all decade Mets Minor League team. You may want to disagree on a player here or there but a great read.

Speaking of decade lists, Faith and Fear in Flushing continues with the top 100 Mets of the decade with numbers 50-41. #42 – Francisco Rodriguez; # 41 - Pedro Feliciano.

Rising Apple had the Top 10 most amazing moments from the 2010’s.

MiLB had the full list of top 10 minor league games of 2019. #5 – “DSL Yanks set scoring record in 38-2 win.”  Unless you are a DSL Yankees fan, how is that a top game?        

No Games in the Dominican Republic last night due to the All-Star break.  The Alou All Stars will face the Marichal All-Stars today.

With that in mind, here is a recap of the Mets players and some ex-Mets that have appeared this winter. 

Pitching for Toros Del Este in the Dominican League where Phil Regan is the pitching coach:

Tyler Bashlor: 0-1; 1.80 ERA; 5 games; 5 innings; 4 hits, 1 runs, 1 earned, 1HR, 0 walks, 8 Ks.

Chris Mazza: 1-1; 4.50 ERA; 6 games; 12 innings; 19 hits, 7 runs, 6 earned, 2 walks, 13 Ks.

Daniel Zamora: 0-0; 0.00 ERA; 7 games, 4 innings, 5 hits, 1 un-earned run, 2 walks, 6 Ks.

Pitching for Gigantes del Cibao:

Harol Gonzalez: 0-2; 5.52 ERA; 6 Games; 14.2 innings, 25 hits, 11 runs, 9 earned, 7 walks, 12 Ks.  Harol is eligible for the Rule 5 draft this week as he was not added to the 40 man roster.  More about Harol here.

Pitching for Leones del Escogido:

St. Lucie’s Carlos Hernandez: 0-1; 18.00 ERA; 2 games; 2 innings; 6 hits; 4 runs (all earned); 2 walks, 1 K.

Adonis Uceta: 1-0; 0.00 ERA; 8 games; 6.1 innings; 2 hits; 2 unearned runs; 6 walks; 6 Ks.

Sam Haggerty also saw some action for Leones del Escogido. In 2 games Sam went 1 for 8 with a stolen base for a .125 average with 3 Ks.

Playing in the Mexican Pacific League, Mets minor league catcher Juan Uriarte is hitting .067 in 8 games, 15 at bats, 1 hit, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts.

Some notable ex-Mets include:

Wuilmer Becerra, once a big part of the R.A. Dickey trade from Toronto, is hitting .355 in 25 games Venezuela.  Good for 9^th highest in the league.

Former Mets and Angels infielder Wilfredo Tovar is also in the top 20 hitters in Venezuela hitting .319 in 24 games.

Jenrry Mejia: 1-1; 2.86 ERA; 7 games, 28.1 innings; 18 hits, 11 Runs, 9 Earned, 1 HR, 14 walks, 14 Ks.

Jonathan Niese, just one game where he pitched 4 shutout innings giving up 2 hits, 4 walks with 3 Ks.

2019 Syracuse Mets Arismendy Alcantara who is hitting .258 in 33 games in the Dominican. 

Juan Lagares is having a solid winter hitting .333 in 21 games.

Jordany Valdespin is hitting .338 (2^nd in league) in 35 games, 4 homers, 19 RBI’s. 

Anderson Hernandez, after getting his first hit of the winter off Chris Mazza the other night, he is now 1 for 27 in 18 games for a .037 Batting Average.

T.J. Rivera was playing in the Dominican league where he hit .200 in 19 games and now is doing better playing in Puerto Rico, .235 in 15 games.

UltimateMets has this date in Mets History:

Born on this date:

• Tim Foli (1950)
• Alex Torres (1987)

Transactions:

New York Mets purchased Richie Ashburn from the Chicago Cubs on December 8, 1961.

New York Mets traded Elio Chacon and Tracy Stallard to the St. Louis Cardinals for Johnny Lewis and Gordie Richardson on December 8, 1964.

New York Mets traded Jon Matlack and John Milner to the Texas Rangers for Willie Montanez, Ken Henderson and Tom Grieve on December 8, 1977.

New York Mets traded Jerry Koosman to the Minnesota Twins for Jesse Orosco and Greg Field on December 8, 1978.

New York Mets traded Bob Bailor and Carlos Diaz to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Sid Fernandez and Ross Jones on December 8, 1983.

Florida Marlins signed Dave Magadan of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 8, 1992.

Florida Marlins signed Al Leiter of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 8, 2004.

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

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