6/23/20

John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 6/23/2020


Good Morning.  Happy Birthday George Weiss.  The players reject the MLB’s proposal and Rob Manfred implements the season.  Alex and Jennifer get some new partners.  Plus, we have Gabriel Ynoa on the mound in Japan and Chris Flexen on the mound in Korea.


Mets Links:


NY Post: Alex Rodriguez, Jennifer Lopez Mets bid gets boost from Mike Repole. “Repole, whose net worth is estimated at just over $1 billion, has been here before. In 2011, Repole expressed interest in buying the Mets when the team was not that far from bankruptcy, sources told The Post at the time.”

Elite Sports NY: New York Mets sale: Vincent Viola in talks to join J-Rod’s bid (Report). “The 64-year-old earned his billions from the stock market. With a successful career on Wall Street, he moved into the sports business. He’s currently the primary owner of the Florida Panthers and owns St. Elias Stables.”

Mike’s Mets: Alex and Jennifer still in it: “Whether Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez are ultimately successful in their bid or not, I think any prospective owner would have to look into turning the area around the ballpark into something more than it's been for so many years. It's really been an opportunity lost for quite some time.”

SNY.TV (MetsBlog): Is Mets' Jeff McNeil the best hitter in the NL East? Jeff McNeil has the ability to lead the division in hits this season.

Mets 360.com: The top 10 Mets teams in defensive runs saved. 1969 World Champs lead the list at 53 defensive runs saved.

NY Post: Mike Puma answered questions on the Mets including one from a John From Albany: For the third straight year the Mets finished bottom five in the league in Defensive Runs Saved and bottom 10 in Ultimate Zone Rating per Fangraphs. How should the Mets fix this? — @AlbanyFrom. 

Mike’s answer – “Any improvement will have to come incrementally. For instance, Robinson Cano can become the Mets’ permanent DH after this season (or maybe even in 2020 if Yoenis Cespedes isn’t cleared to resume), allowing the team to shift Jeff McNeil to second and search for an upgrade at third, essentially strengthening two positions defensively. Does Andres Gimenez or Ronny Mauricio become the starting shortstop in 2021 or ’22, displacing Amed Rosario, for a potential defensive boost? Wilson Ramos is signed only through this season, but finding a defensive catcher who can bring anything offensively is like trying to unearth buried treasure.”

Mets 360.com: Jacob deGrom, Whitey Ford and the herdmentality.  Brian Joura looked at teams that Jacob deGrom and Whitey Ford pitched against and came up with this cool stat regarding deGrom – “Last year, NL pitchers had a 4.31 ERA in day games. Lifetime, deGrom is 25-11 with a 1.85 ERA in those contests.”  I say bring back day baseball – at least when deGrom pitches.


Rising Apple: Mets will need Edwin Diaz at the top of his game when baseball returns.



MLB LINKS:


SNY.tv (MetsBlog): Sources: Sides expected to agree on health and safety, MLB will return around July 24. PA must also let commissioner Manfred know that players can report by July 1.

  • Number of games: 60 games.
  • Opening Day: Around July 24.
  • Spring Training: July 1 -- MLB asked the MLBPA on Monday whether players will be able to report to training in their respective cities within seven days, by July 1.
  • Number of teams in playoffs: 10.
  • Salary structure: Full pro rata, which for 60 games means that players will earn around 37% of their full-season salary as long as the truncated schedule is completed.




Asian Baseball:


Today in Japan:

Yakult Swallows are taking on the Hanshin Tigers. Nori Aoki is back in LF (0 for 2 so far); Gabriel Ynoa is on the mound for Yakult. He settled down after giving up 3 runs in the 1st. 5 innings, 9 hits, 4 Runs, 2 Ks. (Box Score).






Today in the KBO.

Chris Flexen is back on the mound for the Doosan Bears and is off to a good start, 4 Ks in 2 innings (Box Score).

Aaron Altherr is back in CF for the NC Dinos (Box Score).









Born on this date:
Died on this date:
Transactions:

New York Mets signed free agent Jerry Morales on June 23, 1966.



1963
After taking Phillies right-hander Dallas Green deep, Jimmy Piersall runs around the bases in the correct order, but backward, to celebrate his 100th career home run. The Mets' outfielder, who thought of the stunt after being disappointed by the lack of attention Duke Snider's 400th round-tripper received, will be released two days later by manager Casey Stengel.
2006
The Mets, defeating the Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre, 6-1, set a club record, winning their ninth straight decision on the road. The team had won their eight decisions on a ten-game road trip, including stops in Los Angeles, Arizona, and Philadelphia.

2008
In an interleague contest against the Mets at Shea Stadium, Mariners' right-hander Felix Hernandez becomes the first pitcher in the 31-year history of the franchise to hit a home run. The round-tripper, which comes off fellow Venezuela ace Johan Santana, is also the first grand slam hit by an American League pitcher since Steve Dunning of the Indians homered off A's moundsman Diego Segui in 1971.



Baseball Reference:

2000
: The Mets roll over the Pirates, 12 - 2, scoring nine runs in the 3rd inning.

2019: Tensions boil over in the clubhouse of the struggling Mets after a 5 - 3 loss to the Cubs at Wrigley Field as manager Mickey Callaway accuses Newsday beat reporter Tim Healey of antagonizing people. The exchange quickly degenerates as P Jason Vargas also gets involved and threatens to knock out the journalist while Callaway shouts for him to leave the clubhouse, using choice profanities.


You Tube:










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5 comments:

Mack Ade said...

A Fernando Martino mention.

Who can forget F-Mart?

(I can)

John From Albany said...

If we had included Fernando Martinez in the Santana trade could they have gotten the Twins to throw in Joe Nathan?

John From Albany said...

Remember when much heralded Mets prospect Fernando Martinez came up to the Majors, hit a pop up near home plate that ended up landing in fair territory and he didn’t run? He was tagged out by the catcher.

In Syracuse this year I was at a game when the backup catcher, Colton Plaia, with men on second and third and one out, hit a pop up to the catcher that landed in fair territory. Colton did not run and was tagged out.

In the first Brooklyn playoff game, first baseman Joe Genord (not a speedster) hit a pop up to the infield that the Hudson Valley catcher did not handle and it landed in fair territory. When it did land, Genord was standing on second like he should have been. He later scored on a single.

bill metsiac said...

Only one of those played under Fonzie. His players did not get lazy.

I still can't figure out why he was fired.

John From Albany said...

And Colton Plaia's manager, Tony DeFrancisco is now the first base coach. In all fairness, Colton could have been hurt but if that was the case, he should have been on the DL.