7/2/20

John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 7/2/2020


Good Morning.  Happy Birthday Angel Pagan and Cody Bohanek, Chili Davis will work remotely as the virus surges in Arizona, and Rob Manfred admits the MLB never intended to play more than 60 games.

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

Mets Links:

NY Post: Mets hitting coach Chili Davis will be working remotely. “The Mets hitting coach, according to sources, will work remotely – at least in the short term – amid COVID-19 concerns. The 60-year-old Davis resides in Arizona, where coronavirus cases have surged in recent weeks. Davis does not have the virus but will work remotely for precautionary reasons. Players were awaiting test results in New York on Wednesday for clearance to begin workouts. Any player or staff member testing positive must quarantine for two weeks.”

NY Post: MLB evaluators: New Met Rick Porcello ‘will help’ rotation. “It’s an every-other-year thing,” the first evaluator said of Rick Porcello, who won the 2016 American League Cy Young Award with the Red Sox. “I think part of his problem last year is he got caught up in trying to go the analytics route and pitch to the top of the strike zone with a four-seamer and he’s always been a sinker and two-seam guy.”

Danny Abriano SNY.TV (no longer MetsBlog): Mets 30-man roster prediction 2.0 for shortened 2020 MLB season. Besides the givens like Pete Alonso,  Michael Conforto, Jeff McNeil, and Jacob deGrom, and the rest of the names we know about he has Jared Hughes, Daniel Zamora, and Hunter Strickland in the pen and Rene Rivera and Melky Cabrera on the bench.

Danny Abriano SNY.TV (no longer MetsBlog): 4 questions Mets manager Luis Rojas needs to answer in first Summer Camp presser. What is your message to the team? How might you manage differently during a 60-game season? How do you plan to use Yoenis Céspedes? Is there a plan for how the 30-man roster will be structured?

Mike’s Mets: Questions Answered, Answers Still to Come.
Metstradamus: The Alternate Universe: Giants at Mets 7-1-2020.

MLB.com looked at the top homes hit by pitchers for every team.  For the Mets - Mets: Bartolo Colon -- May 7, 2016, at SD.  Honorable mention: Noah Syndergaard solo homer, shutout (5/2/19 vs. CIN).

CBS Sports: Mets roster for MLB restart: Four things to know as New York enters shortened season. Can Robinson Cano and Yoenis Céspedes bounce back? How will the rotation behind deGrom fare?

NY Post: Wilmer Flores’ emotional 48 hours culminated with the ultimate feel-good Mets win.

Metsmerized Online:  Five Free Agents the Mets Could Still Sign. Aaron Sanchez;  Andrew Cashner; Rajai Davis; Arodys Vizcaino; Russell Martin.

amNY: Bobby Bonilla Day for Mets leaves door open for ridicule, but good did come out of it. By deferring the money “they were able to afford left-handed pitcher Mike Hampton in a trade with the Houston Astros…as he opted to sign with the Colorado Rockies in 2001. While his move left a hole in the Mets’ rotation, the team received a compensatory draft pick, No. 38 overall in the 2001 draft…With that very pick, the Mets chose David Wright”.

Rising Apple: Mets: Let’s remember Mel Rojas, the pitcher traded to get Bobby Bonilla.


Amazing Avenue: Michael Conforto could be great in shortened 2020 season.

Rising Apple: Mets sign Melky Cabrera and put him on standby for a worst case scenario.

Newsday: Mets bullpen looking better since shutdown with a stronger Dellin Betances, addition of Jared Hughes.

Elite Sports NY: Steve Cohen plans to make another bid for the New York Mets (Report).

 Metsmerized Online: Short Season Will Test Mets’ Rotation Depth.

Mets.com: Will Betances be cleared for camp?  “The political answer would be for me to tell you we won’t know for sure until we see Betances pitch, given how slowly he was coming along back in March … but forget it. The Mets are hyping up Betances, so there’s reason to be excited.”



YouTube: New York Mets Videos - Mets 2020 Summer Camp Opens.



MLB LINKS:

Yahoo Sports: Rob Manfred admits MLB never intended to play more than 60 games.

SNY.TV (no longer MetsBlog): Andy Martino asks if during the Pandemic “Is it ethical to have an MLB trade deadline this year?”

Joel Sherman NY Post: The five biggest wild-card teams in shortened MLB season. Angels, Blue Jays, White Sox, Padres, Reds, White Sox.

Ken Davidoff NY Post: Small tweaks to improve MLB’s ‘robust’ coronavirus testing plan. One suggestion – “Testing players for antibodies once a week rather than once a month, to provide a check and balance in case the diagnostic/PCR tests (saliva or nasal swab) don’t pick up an asymptomatic carrier.”

NY Post: MLB spring training 2.0, without usual fun, will be unlike any other.

MLB.com looked at the top 10 minor league outfielders.  No Mets selected but Jarred Kelenic was rated #1.

NBC Sports: Cubs’ pitching coach Tommy Hottovy talks about his COVID-19 battle.

Minor League Baseball:

Baseball Prospectus: Too Far From Town: Kingsport Mets. Tales of Dwight Gooden in Kingsport and catchy tune = “Don’t meet the Mets” featuring the lyrics “Nobody’s coming to town.  They’re gonna leave Tennessee.”

Syracuse.com: Here’s how to get a refund on your 2020 Syracuse Mets tickets.

ESPN.com: Mexico cancels baseball season because of coronavirus pandemic.

Albany Times Union: ValleyCats mull plans for this year, think about possibilities for next year. Tri-City could end up with new affiliation, longer season.

Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Lost season for Minor League Baseball could have financial impact for 2-3 years.


Asian Baseball:

Yesterday in Japan:

Yakult Swallows 4 Hiroshima 3 Nori Aoki 0 for 4 with a run scored (Box Score).

In Today’s game Gabriel Ynoa is on mound and Nori Aoki back in LF (Box Score).

Here is the Japan Baseball Scoreboard.

Yesterday in the KBO:

NC Dinos 6 Lotte Giants 2 Aaron Altherr 0 for 4 (Box Score). 

Aaron Altherr is back in CF for today’s game (Box Score).

Here is KBO’s Scoreboard.

Yesterday at Mack’s Mets:

Reese Kaplan -- Four Are Sitting Out the 2020 Season.

OPEN THREAD - The DH.

Mike's Mets - Some Thoughts As Summer Training Looms.

Metstradamus - The Alternate Universe: Giants at Mets 6-30-20.

Mack’s Blast from the Past: Mack Ade – AM Report – 7-2-13. Discussing the July 2013 release of Jeff Francoeur from the KC Royals Mack said - It’s hard for me to believe that baseball has seen the end of Jeff Francoeur. Everyone always expected him to be the next Chipper Jones and it just didn’t happen which speaks volumes for this sport. You just don’t know what’s going to happen sometimes. I had the pleasure of being inside the Mets clubhouse when Francouer was on their team…There is no one that brings more positive energy to a group of teammates than Frenchey. I wish him well.

Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com:

Born on this date:
Transactions:

New York Mets selected Duffy Dyer in seventh round of free agent draft on July 2, 1966.

New York Mets signed free agent Fernando Martinez of the New York Yankees on July 2, 2005.

New York Mets signed free agent Andy Green on July 2, 2008.

New York Mets signed free agent Amed Rosario on July 2, 2012.

National Pastime.com: 

1967
After Chicago's 4-1 victory over Cincinnati at Wrigley Field, many of the 40,464 patrons stay in the ballpark awaiting the outcome of the Cards/Mets game that, thanks to a New York victory, results with the Cubs in first place by half of a game. The enthusiastic fans refuse to leave the 'Friendly Confines' until the flags above the scoreboard reflect the home team's current position at the top of the standings, a task usually done the next day.
1972
At Montreal’s Jarry Park, the Expos walk away with a 4-3 victory when Mets right-hander Bob Rauch issues his fourth free pass of the inning, forcing in Carl Morton the winning run from third base. The frustrating loss will be the 23 year-old rookie’s only decision during a brief 19-game major league career.

2000
At Shea Stadium, Gregory Sweeney is arrested and charged with reckless endangerment after he throws a ball which Braves reliever John Rocker had tossed into the stands back onto the field. In a few days later, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown exonerates the 26 year-old Brooklyn man when he concludes the Mets fan had no criminal intent and was doing nothing more than following a baseball tradition of returning an unsolicited and unwanted souvenir.


Baseball Reference:

1970: At Connie Mack Stadium, the Phils break their scoreless streak of 53 innings and sweep two from the Mets, 6 - 1 and 3 - 2. With successive pinch hits by Tony Taylor, Ron Stone and Byron Browne, the Phils score six in the 8th inning to win the opener for Jim Bunning, then again come from behind to win the nitecap for Chris Short. The opener is the 6,000th game played at the ancient stadium.

2011: The Mets' Jose Reyes, leading the major leagues with a .354 batting average, injures his hamstring in the 2nd inning of today's game with the Yankees and is headed for the disabled list at a time when trade rumors are swirling around the soon-to-be free agent. The Mets also lose the game, 5 - 2, as Bartolo Colon wins in his first start since returning from a hamstring injury of his own. Curtis Granderson homers for the Yanks.

2019 - The Yankees' record streak of consecutive games with at least one home run ends at 31 in a 4 - 2 loss to the Mets that coincides with 1B Luke Voit, one of the major contributors to the streak, going on the injured list with an abdominal strain. Michael Conforto is the hero for the Mets, with a go-ahead two-run double off Zack Britton in the 8th.



Centerfield Maz: Remembering Mets History: (7/2/1967) Bud Harrelson's Walk Off Winning Run.

Centerfield Maz: Remembering Mets History (July 1973): The Release of Jim Fregosi.

Centerfield Maz: Angel Pagan: Former Mets Outfielder (2008-2011).

Centerfield Maz: Remembering Mets History (7/1/1969) Donn Clendenon Drives In Twelve Runs In Five Games As Amazing Mets Get Closer To First Place.

You tube:

7/2/13: Mets hand Corbin first loss of season.



7/2/16: Walker, d'Arnaud lift the Mets to 4-3 victory.




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

Want something else tracked here each day?  Please leave a comment below.
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7/1/20

Metstradamus - The Alternate Universe: Giants at Mets 6-30-20


The Alternate Universe: Giants at Mets 6-30-20
By  | 

 We’ve all been depressed about what’s going on in the world regarding the COVID-19 outbreak, and baseball has become collateral damage. The 2020 baseball season is set to begin in late July. Until then, you can read this blog in the alternate: the one where global pandemics were a myth and baseball was around no matter what. We’re imagining the 2020 Mets season as if everything was normal. Enjoy these works of fiction.
Say what you want about Gabe Kapler, but it was a class move on his part to bat Flores third at Citi Field so the crowd could get another chance to cheer him so that Flores could tip his cap as one of the most popular players in Mets history. It’s really gone from player popularity to cultural mythology, this relationship between Flores and the Mets fan base. He’s two teams away from the Mets now, yet he remains this larger than life figure that might be more popular than half the current roster. The lesson, if you can pigeon-hole this into a teachable moment, is that showing that you care about a franchise by wearing your heart on your sleeve will get you a long way with a franchise.
Flores was probably the most stressful part of Jacob deGrom’s night, as there’s no doubt he didn’t want Wilmer to have fodder for another Instagram post in the off season. Thankfully for Jacob, Flores went 0-for-3 against him on Tuesday, and deGrom breezed through the rest of the lineup, only giving up one run on a sac fly to keep the Giants at arm’s length. Unfortunately, the Mets pulled out their 2018 playbook and didn’t get him any run support until he was already out of the game. Brandon Nimmo’s two out two run single in the 8th off Tony Watson gave the Mets a 2-1 lead, and that was quickly followed by a three run HR by Jeff McNeil which made it 5-1 and put the game out of reach and give Seth Lugo the victory.

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Mike's Mets - Some Thoughts As Summer Training Looms


Some Thoughts As Summer Training Looms


It's good to be back writing today. There's a lot to talk about with summer training starting this week. I think a good place to start is with Joel Sherman's article in the New York Post yesterday. Sherman voices a dilemma that I've been dealing with as a a startup becomes reality: while he believes that baseball should attempt to play a season, he still has doubts about it. I feel the same way. Baseball is by far and away the sport I care about. Any of my other sports allegiances are quite minor compared to how I feel about Major League Baseball and the Mets. I do want it back very much in 2020, but I do have some worries about the players and others involved in the sport.

The conventional wisdom seems to be that young, healthy athletes have little to fear from a COVID-19 infection. While they certainly have less reason to fear than a 61-year-old geezer like myself, the truth is that young, healthy individuals can die from the disease, or suffer debilitating lung damage. If this winds up happening to anyone in the game of baseball this year, I'm going to feel bad about it, and wonder if my entertainment was worth the price. Even knowing there's a real risk gives me pause.

One thing I won't do is hold it against any player that chooses not to play this season. So far it's been relatively minor players, but sooner or later it could be a very important player, even a star. As Sherman points out, MLB is not an essential business. You could only hope that they continue to monitor the risk involved and act accordingly. Dr. Faucci issued a rather stark warning that the daily increase of new cases in the country, currently around 40,000, could reach 100,000 if people don't take steps to limit the spread of coronavirus. If it does get really bad again, I don't know how MLB would justify continuing to play - particularly if infections within the game start increasing.

I'm going to think about and share my opinion on a lot of what's going on as the sport gears up to a season. I sincerely hope that I never lose site of the fact that the players, umpires, coaches and support personnel within the game are real people, and what happens to them matters more than the sport of baseball itself.

*************************

At the New York Times, Tyler Kepner has the details on a conference call Brodie Van Wagenen had with reporter. BVW is described as "optimistic", citing the club's 39-21 finish to last season and pointing out that a sprint like that over the 60-game 2020 season would put the Mets in the playoffs.

For myself, I couldn't help but think that if the Mets replicated some of the less stellar 60-game stretches from last season it could get very ugly very fast. Still, I do see the point behind emphasizing the positive. The Mets do have a pretty good team. Their schedule is quite difficult, but they should be able to at least contend. I think so much is going to depend on how fast the club gets off the first three weeks or so and, of course, whether they can keep the key players healthy.

Some other thoughts:
  • BVW is reportedly "optimistic" about Yoenis Céspedes, but apparently Céspedes is not quite ready at the onset of Summer Training. Given the short 3 weeks to get ready, I would hope to see Céspedes capable of running the bases freely, otherwise even the addition of the DH isn't going to make much difference there. It's been so long since Yoenis last played that I'll believe he's capable of contributing when I see it. Even if he's relatively healthy, 2 years of rust is a lot to shake off.

  • Jed Lowrie is reportedly ready to shed the massive leg brace soon. I'm not sure if BVW is "optimistic" about Lowrie, but I know for sure I'm not. Again, even if Lowrie manages to drag himself on the field and somehow stay there, can he still be productive after missing so much time? He'd be a valuable player if he could, but a 60-game season isn't going to allow much time for experimenting with him if he doesn't produce out of the gate.

  • Assuming that Céspedes will get a lot of DH at bats, it seems likely that Robinson Cano gets most of the starts at second base. If  he bounces back and hits like the classic Robbie Cano it's a no brainer. My question would be, what if he hits like last year? How long do the Mets take a hit on offense and defense to keep playing Cano? They still owe him a lot of money, and the Mets are somewhat infamous for being reluctant to sit someone that is making big bucks.

  • If Cano DHs or sits, do you put Jeff McNeil at second? If Lowrie can't play, and you don't want to take the defensive hit at 3B with J.D. Davis, you're better off defensively with McNeil at 3B and Luis Guillorme at 2B. Then the question is, does Guillorme hit enough?

  • How soon can the Mets starting pitchers ramp up their innings? I'm not confident that their bullpen is constructed to carry a heavy load. To that end, can Dellin Betances give them enough to be a dependable option out of the 'pen? Last we heard before spring training was shut down was that his velocity was still way down and the Mets were "taking it slow" with him.
Once camp gets underway, we should start getting answers to some of these questions.


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OPEN THREAD - The DH




The New York Post had an article this week on the designated hitter.

As you know, the National League is now using them in 2020 and could permanently use them starting next season.

Your thoughts on this?
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Reese Kaplan -- Four Are Sitting Out the 2020 Season


Sometimes you feel as if you have to pinch yourself to realize that baseball is indeed going to begin again this week with pre-training starting today and official kickoff to the camps on Friday.  Many of us had written off the 2020 season entirely.  Even with the weirdnesses that abound like extended roster size, taxi squads, DH, shortened extra inning games and the like, whatever it is represents a return to the sport we all love.  
On Monday, however, a fresh weirdness has entered the 2020 roster construction.  It’s a choice most of us never have to make (nor have the financial wherewithal to even have it as an option).  In many lines of work people are frantic about having to go to work every day when protection from the coronavirus pandemic is not really available, but they have bills to pay and really don’t have any other option.  
Baseball is a bit different in this regard.  Most star quality ballplayers have earned a decent living from their athletic skills.  Even the rookies who have no major league experience start their paychecks off at over $500K per year, money most of us will never sniff working “regular” jobs.  As such, the average ballplayer has some flexibility in deciding what to do to ensure that he and his family remain safe until there is a prevention and a cure developed for the COVID-19 virus.
Towards this end, four major league ballplayers made the decision on Monday to sit out the season rather than subject themselves and the people they love to possible health problems.  For some this decision was easier to make than for others.  

The Nationals’ Ryan Zimmerman has had a very successful career.  Yes, he’s had some health issues to address several times, but at age 35 he’s already earned $137 million playing for Washington’s team.  With ample money in the bank he opted to withdraw from playing for the 2020 season and certainly won’t go hungry in forfeiting his paycheck.  He’s a two-time All Star, a four-time candidate for MVP and a Gold Glove winner.  I’m not disputing his paycheck at all, but appreciate what his play has done for him financially offering up this flexibility.  

Mike Leake of the Arizona Diamondbacks is a back-of-the-rotation starting pitcher who has worked primarily for the Cincinnati Reds before moving to an assortment of teams over the next few years.  He was slated to earn $16 million this year as part of a roughly $95 million career in earnings.  He’s won a Gold Glove and holds a winning record with a career ERA of 4.05.  He decided to forego his big paycheck for 2020.

Another high priced player making that decision was the Rockies’ Ian Desmond.  The infielder/outfielder has had a nice career since 2009, earning two All Star berths and three Silver Slugger awards.  His combination of power and speed helped him thus far to earn over $91 million in his career.  His decision to forego the 2020 season was expounded in great depth on his online post, but suffice to say he realized that the things he faced as a young man coming up through the schoolyards and into pro ball have not changed as much as he would have liked.  He is taking this time to reflect and draw attention to the problems that he perceives still exist.

The most surprising player on the list is also a teammate of Ryan Zimmerman on the Nationals.  This one really caught people off guard.  Pitcher Joe Ross came up through the Padres system before breaking in with Washington and pitching for them first as a starter but lately mostly out of the pen.  He has no awards on his mantle and his paychecks are not astronomical by baseball player standards.  Thus far he’s earned $3.5 million in salary since breaking in during the 2016 season.  He’s walking away from his $1 million paycheck for safety.  By anyone’s standards that takes guts.
There may be more that surface as this trend continues to develop.  The Mets announced that one of their 40-man roster players tested positive for the virus but they’re protecting his identity.  That’s how easy it is for baseball players to come into contact with carriers.  Whether you think the aforementioned four players are doing the right thing or the wrong thing, applaud them for having the courage to voluntarily give up a big paycheck in the interest of preserving health. 
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John From Albany – Mets Breakfast Links 7/1/2020

Good Morning.  Happy Birthday Michael Wacha and Chris Flexen, Mets Summer Camp opens today, the Minor League Baseball season is officially cancelled, the Mets sign another veteran player and MLB approves 7 bidding groups for the Mets.
Section Links: Mets Links, MLB Links, Minor League Links, Asian Baseball Links, and This Day in Mets History.

Mets Links:

MLB Trade Rumors: MLB Pre-Approves 7 Bidding Groups For Mets.  

Sportico.com: A-ROD, J.LO GROUP ARE AMONG SEVEN MLB-APPROVED METS BIDDERS. “Billionaire Josh Harris and Blackstone executive David Blitzer, owners of the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils, are also exploring a bid for the money-losing franchise.”


Mets.com: Here are 5 Mets storylines heading into camp.  1. What can Yoenis Cespedes provide? 2. And what about Jed Lowrie? 3. Can Edwin Diaz hang onto the closer’s job? 4. What form will the rotation take? 5. How is Luis Rojas handling all this?

Mets.com: Mets agree to deal with reliever Hughes. "A veteran of nine seasons with the Pirates, Brewers, Reds and Phillies, Jared Hughes posted a 4.04 ERA last year over 72 appearances split between Cincinnati and Philadelphia. He is just two years removed from his best professional season in 2018, when he produced a 1.94 ERA and held opposing hitters to a .212 average over 78 2/3 innings. According to a source, Hughes will receive $700,000 pro-rated for 2020, which equates to about $260,000 over a 60-game season." 

MLB Trade Rumors:  “Last season was the first time Hughes was victimized by the home run ball over a large sample of work…Hughes’ ability to keep the ball out of the air has led to a 13.9 percent HR-to-FB rate and a quality 2.88 ERA, despite an underwhelming K/9 of 6.07.”

MLB Trade Rumors: The Mets are “extremely excited” about the progress reliever Dellin Betances has made, and they expect him to be a full participant in summer camp, according to general manager Brodie Van Wagenen (via Anthony DiComo of MLB.com).

NY Daily News: Mets lay off 25 employees, including some ticket-office workers with decade-plus of experience.

Faith and Fear in Flushing’s A Met for All seasons continues with Craig Swan in 1978.

Brian Joura Mets 360.com: Mets once again show their preference for washed-up veterans. While teenagers like Wander Franco and Jarred Kelenic were on the rosters for Tampa Bay and Seattle, Ronny Mauricio and Francisco Alvarez were nowhere to be seen on the Mets’ initial roster.


Mike’s Mets had “Some Thoughts As Summer Training Looms.”

NY Post: Mets doubled down on risky draft strategy that could pay off.

NY Post: Mets’ Brodie Van Wagenen bracing for positive coronavirus tests. “Mets players arriving ahead of Wednesday’s official report date already have begun getting tested. The wait time for the results is 48 hours. Any player testing positive will be quarantined for two weeks, leaving it unlikely that the infected party would be ready for the start of the 60-game season on July 23 or 24.”

Newsday: Mets' aggressive drafting helps restock farm system.

NY Post: ‘Who the f–k is Brad34?’: How Mets were rocked by sports world’s first internet scandal. How “Whartongate” got started 20 years ago.

Reflections On Baseball: Mets 2020 Schedule Is Exactly What’s Needed – Treacherous And Difficult.




MLB LINKS:

AP News: Teams not able to disclose who goes on IL due to virus.

NY Post: MLB, union still discussing whether to disclose players’ coronavirus cases. “In negotiations with MLB, the union has historically accentuated players’ right to privacy. Thus, it is possible that players who are on the COVID List will just be announced as being on the Injured List and it will be up to individual players whether to disclose the reason.”

MLB.com: The top Summer Camp storyline for every team.

MLB Trade Rumors: Athletics To Trade Jorge Mateo To Padres.

NY Post: Reggie Jackson seeing hope for change in baseball. ““Finally more are understanding what I’ve felt for the past 60 years. And they’re with me. Made me smile, gave me hope.”

AP News: Tigers give $8.4M deal to Torkelson, who joins player pool. “No. 1 overall draft pick Spencer Torkelson and the Detroit Tigers agreed to a minor league contract on Tuesday, and the team said the infielder will join its player pool for this abbreviated season.”

USA Today: 'A dark past': MLB stars say time to pull Kenesaw Mountain Landis name off plaques.

USA Today: 'He really needs help': Family seeks help for Dodgers outfielder Andrew Toles, who is homeless and hospitalized.

Yahoo Sports: Turn and face the strange: Why MLB's gimmicky extra-innings rule could be a good thing.

Yahoo Sports: Derek Jeter on MLB restart talks: 'There is no trust' between players, owners.

Yahoo Sports: Elliott: Dodgers, Angels ought to cultivate young fans by starting games earlier this season.

ESPN.com: Rockies GM supports Ian Desmond's decision to skip 2020 season.

ESPN.com: Shohei Ohtani returning to 2-way role with Los Angeles Angels this season.

NBC Bay Area: A's Fans Can Buy Cardboard Cutout of Themselves to Display at Games.

Minor League Baseball:

AP News: Baseball’s minor leagues cancel 2020 seasons.


Syracuse.com: Syracuse Mets should be OK despite loss of season, but minors overall need a ‘lifeline'. “Syracuse’s baseball franchise was purchased by the New York Mets in 2017, a development that [Syracuse Mets general manager Jason] Smorol said puts the team in much better shape to withstand the money pinch…’They’ve been fantastic to work with,’ Smorol said of the Mets. ‘We’re going to be OK. It’s tough for businesses to withstand. It’s going to be difficult for us. But we have the Mets to help us through this. We’re just in a much better economic position to withstand this.’”

Syracuse.com: Syracuse Mets, Auburn Doubledays seasons canceled amid coronavirus wreckage.

Binghamton Press and Sun Bulletin: Minor League Baseball cancels 2020 season, possibly ending Binghamton Rumble Ponies era.


Troy Record: ADIOS GATOS: Minor League Baseball cancels 2020 season; ValleyCats to not play this summer. “It would be extremely difficult to try and move forward with games without fans,” said [ValleyCats General Manager Matt] Callahan. “At the major league level, it’s a different animal given that there are TV rights, broadcast opportunities, and things like that. For us, at the minor league level, the experience and the business model is about having fans in the stands.”

Asian Baseball:

Yesterday in Japan:


The Yakult Swallows game was rained out. 

Nori Aoki is back in LF for today’s game (Box Score).


Yonhap News: Baseball fans required to sit apart, no outside food permitted when stadiums open.

Yesterday in the KBO:

Lotte Giants 10 NC Dinos 8  Aaron Altherr 2 for 4, 1BB, 2 runs, 2 RBIs (Box Score). 

In today’s game Aaron Altherr is back in CF and so far 0 for 1 (Box Score).

Here is KBO’s Scoreboard.

CPBL Stats: Uni-Lions to Part Ways With Ryan Feierabend. “According to the team, due to the coronavirus pandemic, Feierabend asked to be let go so he can return to the United States to be with his family. The 34-year-old left-hander will pitch out of the bullpen until the end of June.”

Yesterday at Mack’s Mets:

Tom Brennan - WOW, WHAT A 2020 METS LINEUP.

Tony Plate Tebow - Left Off 60 Man Summer Roster.

Mack’s Blast from the Past AM Report 7/1/13: Sunday starters –  Luis Cessa – Gnats – 6.2ip, 7h, 1r, 1er, 1-bb, 3k (3.14); Noah Syndergaard – B-Mets - 5.0ip, 4h, 1r, 1er, 2bb, 9k, (2.45); Robert Gsellman –Clones – 8.0ip, 4h, 0r, 0er, 0bb, 4k, (0.00); Chris Flexen – K-Port – 4.0ip, 7-h, 5r, 5er, 2bb, 3k (5.63); Matt Fox – Vegas – 6.0ip, 3h, 0r, 0er, 1bb, 6k, (4.68); Rainy Lara – Lucy – 5.0ip, 6h, 3r, 2er, 1bb, 4k (2.31).

Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com:

Born on this date:
Transactions:

 New York Mets traded Charlie Neal and Sammy Taylor to the Cincinnati Reds for Jesse Gonder on July 1, 1963.

New York Mets released Al Weis on July 1, 1971.

New York Mets signed free agent Alex Escobar on July 1, 1995.

New York Mets traded Roberto Alomar to the Chicago White Sox for Royce Ring, Edwin Almonte and Andrew Salvo on July 1, 2003.

National Pastime.com: 

1943
Although the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League will not have an official All-Star Game until 1946, two teams, one composed of South Bend Blue Sox and Rockford Peaches players and the other made up of players from the Kenosha Comets and Racine Belles, put on an exhibition game under the lights at Wrigley Field. The AAGPBL contest is the first night game ever played in the historic Chicago ballpark.
1966
Woody Fryman faces the minimum 27 batters in the Pirates' 12-0 rout of the Mets at Shea Stadium. New York leadoff hitter Ron Hunt singles to center to start the bottom of the first, but is tagged out trying to swipe second base.

2013
Before the game at Citi Field, the Mets and Diamondbacks honor the 19 firefighters killed while battling a wildfire in Yarnell, Arizona with a moment of silence. Additionally, each team hangs a jersey with the word Yarnell stitched on the back above the number 19 in their respective dugouts.




Baseball Reference:

1973: At Wrigley Field, the Mets edge the Cubs, 6 - 5, in the first game of a doubleheader. Then it is the Cubs' turn, as Randy Hundley bangs a 9th inning 3-run homer to give Chicago the 6 - 5 edge. Ron Santo has seven hits for the afternoon, five in the nitecap.

1998 - Trailing the Mets, 8 - 7, in the bottom of the 8th inning, Toronto comes up with eight runs. New York fights back with two in their half of the 9th, but the Blue Jays hold on for a 15 - 10 triumph.

2009: Is the era of high scoring over ? For the first time since September 1, 1976, three National League games end in 1 - 0 scores on the same day. All of the shutouts are combined efforts: Mike Pelfrey of the Mets beats Milwaukee, Johnny Cueto leads the Reds over Arizona, and the Dodgers defeat Colorado with an 8th-inning run.

Centerfield Maz: Remembering Mets History: (7/1/2000) Al Leiter Strikes Out 12 Braves

Centerfield Maz: Chris Flexen: Former Mets Pitcher (2017-2018).

You tube:

7/1/13: Josh Satin tied the game in the ninth inning, then Andrew Brown ripped a walk-off single in extras as the Mets win, 5-4.



7/1/15: Cubs break through in 11th to blank Mets.



7/1/16: Mets mash five homers in big win over Cubs.



7/1/17: Cabrera's two-run homer leads Mets to 7-6 win.



7/1/18: Matz, Cabrera propel the Mets to victory.



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