10/12/20

John From Albany – Mets News and Breakfast Links 10/12/2020

 

Good Morning. Happy Birthday Sid Fernandez, Jose Valentin, and Columbia Pitcher Alec Kisena. J.T. Realmuto wants $200 million, and the Rays beat the Astros 2-1.


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


Mets Links:


SNY.TV: Potential Mets free agent target J.T. Realmuto looking for 'record-shattering contract' this offseason: report. Would Mets pay for something in '$200 million range' for Realmuto?


Deesha Thosar NY Daily News: Yankees and Mets could battle it out for J.T. Realmuto this offseason as both clubs need to fix catching woes. “In the race for Realmuto, hedge-fund billionaire Cohen could outbid the Yankees if both Big Apple teams decide to go for it.”



Brian Joura Mets360: Players weigh in on Dusty Baker, who the Mets could have hired two separate times last year.

 

Metsmerized Online: MMO Free Agent Profile: Trevor Bauer, Starting Pitcher. “In 11 [2020] starts, [Trevor] Bauer led the NL with an ERA of 1.73. He also allowed the least amount of hits per nine (5.1)…was second in the league with a 0.795 WHIP, and third in strikeouts (100).”


Metsmerized Online: Could Marcus Stroman Return To The Mets In 2021? “Well, the easiest way would be for him to sign a qualifying offer, which is slated to increase to $18.9 million this offseason.”        


Rising Apple: Mets trade candidate Lance Lynn is an affordable upgrade for a 2021 run.



Rising Apple: Mets fans are more than ready to embrace rooting for MLB’s villains. The arrival of Steve Cohen puts a target on the New York Mets and switches them into one of baseball’s biggest heels. Fans wouldn’t want it any other way.


Charlie Hangley Mets360: Spending Steve Cohen’s money wisely.  “the very first thing Cohen needs to do is rely on the people he brings in. He’s already off to a good start, pledging the return of Sandy Alderson as team president and CEO of baseball operations.”


Reflections on Baseball: The Mets Have A Chance To Take Over The Town As Yankees Falter. 


Rising Apple: A trio of bold predictions for Steve Cohen’s first offseason. The Mets make Trevor Bauer the highest-paid pitcher In baseball; The Mets Trade for Cleveland Indians Shortstop Francisco Lindor; The Mets retain current Manager Luis Rojas.


Rising Apple: Three important lessons the team had to learn in 2020.  “Starting Rotation Depth Is Important”; “Jacob deGrom’s Starts Cannot Be Wasted”; “Situational Hitting Is Key”.


Rising Apple: Kevin Pillar could fit in with the 2021 roster by standing out. “Pillar is best known for some spectacular defensive seasons he had with the Toronto Blue Jays…He’s coming off of a year which saw him hit .288/.336/.462. As with anything in 2020, it comes with an asterisk of playing in only 54 games split between the Boston Red Sox and Colorado Rockies.”


Metsmerized Online: Reliving The 2000 Mets: Unlikely Heroes Help Win NLDS.  Brian Wright talks about the contributions of John Franco, Benny Agbayani, Bobby Jones, and others.


 

Rising Apple: Mets pitcher Dellin Betances has a $3 million decision to make.  He has a player option for the 2021 season. If accepted, he’ll earn $6 million. If he turns it down, there’s a $3 million buyout.

 


MLB Links:


It sounds even better in Spanish.





MLB.com: What a relief! Rays escape Game 1 with win. Club's exceptional depth on display, capped by 5-out save from 'stud'. Rays 2 Astros 1 (Box Score).


Yahoo Sports: One pitch to decide Game 1: Inside the Rays' crucial ALCS bullpen decision.


Yahoo Sports: ALCS Game 1: Astros learn the hard way just how tough it is to beat the Rays.


USA Today: America's Team? Rays bandwagon may be expanding after they take Game 1 vs. Astros.


ESPN.com: Where MLB breakout postseason star Randy Arozarena came from. “Arozarena has said that he escaped Cuba under the cover of night on a boat, heading across the 120 or so miles from the westernmost point in Cuba to Mexico's Yucatan peninsula…From there, the St. Louis Cardinals scouted him and signed him for $1.25 million…he was traded along with Jose Martinez in January, a deal that sent highly regarded pitching prospect Matthew Liberatore and another minor leaguer to the Cardinals.


MLB.com: Preview Astros Vs. Rays 4:07 PM. 


MLB.com: Preview Braves Vs. Dodgers 8:08 PM. 


CBS Sports: Dodgers vs. Braves: Why first pitches could be X-factor that decides NLCS. The Braves are an aggressive first-pitch hitting team; the Dodgers throw the most first-pitch strikes.


AP News: Fans back as Braves, Dodgers open NLCS in Texas. “About 11,500 tickets were available, sold in groups of four with each of those pods separated by at least six feet. That’s about 28% of the 40,518 capacity at the new $1.2 billion home of the Texas Rangers.”


Yahoo Sports: The who, why and how of MLB’s decision to allow fans at the NLCS and World Series. “The Rangers, with their brand new ballpark and an amenable local government, had been among the most eager to admit fans. They were awarded the National League side of the postseason “bubble” and the World Series itself. The league was encouraged when the stadium staff there successfully hosted local high school graduations in front of spectators.”


ESPN.com: Los Angeles Dodgers to host NLCS drive-in viewing parties.


Bill Madden NY Daily News: Good riddance to the Padres' Johnny Wholestaff approach, and beware to anyone who lets Travis d’Arnaud leave. Bill makes great points about both topics  especially starting pitchers no longer going deep in games “The starting pitchers in this postseason are averaging just over 4 1/3 innings per start…Baseball wonders why attendance continues to decline and they can’t get a grip on the length of games. Thursday night, the Dodgers eliminated the Padres 12-3 in a game that took four hours and four minutes, largely because Padres manager Jayce Tingler set a major league record by using 11 pitchers.”


MLB Trade Rumors: More Changes To Nationals’ Coaching Staff.  Kevin Long will not be returning next season…Chip Hale will also be moving on.


Winter Baseball:


Aguilas.com.do: “After a 12-year absence, there is a great possibility that outfielder Melky Cabrera will be with the Águilas Cibaeñas, in the Dominican baseball season that begins on November 15.”


Asian Baseball:


SK Wyverns 9 Kia Tigers 5 Drew Gagnon 5 innings, 4 runs, 4 earned runs, 7 hits, 2 HR, 5 Ks, 3 walks. (Box Score).


Overall Drew Gagnon: is 10-6, 4:05 ERA, 25 games, 142.3 innings, 137 hits, 5 HR, 64 earned runs, 58 BB, 130 Ks.


LG Twins 7 NC Dinos 3 Aaron Altherr 1 for 1 with 3 walks and a run scored. (Box Score). For the year Aaron is hitting .278/.356/.902, 123 games, 29 HR, 100 RBI, 134K, 43BB.


Also in the KBO on the Doosan Bears, recently coming back from a foot injury, Chris Flexen, In 18 games, 6-4, 3.53 ERA, 97 innings, 88 hits, 38 earned runs, 6 HR, 28 BB, 103 Ks.


Here is KBO’s Scoreboard.


Here is how some ex-Mets are doing in Japan:


Nori Aoki Through 81 games .309/.411/.583 - .994 OPS, 17 HR, 44 RBI, 42 K, 45 BB.


Gabriel Ynoa 9 games, 0-2, 10.13 ERA, 24 innings, 45 hits, 8 HR, 27 earned runs, 10 BB, 15 Ks.


Ryota Igarashi (Japanese Eastern League – Minors) 1-0, 4.58 ERA, 20 games, 19.2 innings, 20 hits, 11 runs, 8 walks, 11 Ks.


Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com:

Born on this date:


Died on this date:

Transactions:


New York Mets released Mike Marshall on October 12, 1981.

New York Mets claimed Desi Relaford on waivers from the San Diego Padres on October 12, 2000.

New York Mets signed free agent Wilfredo Tovar on October 12, 2007.


Centerfield Maz: 10/12/1969 Mets: World Series Game #2: Koosman Takes No Hitter To The 7th Inning.


Centerfield Maz: 10/11/1969 Mets: World Series Game #1.


National Pastime.com:


1969

Al Weis' timely ninth-inning hit, combined with the two-hitter tossed by Jerry Koosman and Ron Taylor, enable the Mets to even the Fall Classic with the Orioles at one game apiece. New York will win the next three games, all played at Shea Stadium, to finish their amazing season with a World Championship.

 









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3 comments:

Tom Brennan said...

Rays have some danger pitching.

Gagnon, Altherr, and Flexen succeeding. Maybe the should stay in Asian ball.

Did you see the NBA finals? Me neither.

Tom Brennan said...

I wrote danged, it edited me.

John From Albany said...

Tom,

Always liked Chris Flexen. It is not easy going back and forth from Bullpen to Starter to Minors and Majors, Felt he just need an extended chance to pitch in one role, in one place. 103 K's in 97 innings this year in Korea, not bad.

Gagnon has been striking out a lot.