John From Albany – Mets News and Breakfast Links 12/5/2020

 

John From Albany – Mets News and Breakfast Links 12/5/2020

Good Morning.  Happy Birthday Cliff Floyd.  Mets Rumors swirl around Jake Ordorizzi, A’s Executive Billy Owens, and James McCann, Winter Ball results and MLB sues Insurance Companies for Pandemic Loses.

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

Mets Links:

Joel Sherman NY Post: Mets in mix for Jake Odorizzi as starting pitching market heats up. “…But the righty is believed to be much more engaged with other teams right now…[Ordorizzi] had his best season in 2019 as a Twin, when he went 15-7 with a 3.51 ERA and struck out 10.1 batters per nine innings…The Twins relationship between Hefner and Trevor May was a factor in fueling the Mets’ interest…Hefner is said to have an equally strong relationship with Odorizzi.”

Ken Davidoff NY Post: Billy Owens in mix to be next Mets GM. “Billy Owens, a longtime A’s executive who worked with Sandy Alderson the two prior years…While it’s not clear whether Owens, 49, has formally interviewed for the job, the Mets have held internal discussions about his candidacy, according to an industry source.” 

MLB,com looks at how J.T. Realmuto could fit on all 30 teams.  No Surprise, Mets are #1 on the list.  “We've heard the rumors that the Mets may be more interested in James McCann, but we're not putting too much into that. J.T. Realmuto is considerably better -- it's not close, really -- and if you're going to go give a catcher multiple years, it might as well be the best one.”

Mets Briefing had a great comparison of the two showing how McCann has really improved over the last two years. 

MetsJunkies a few days ago had a good one as well.

NY Post: James McCann gets ‘ultimate’ stamp of approval from Joe McEwing. “He’s the ultimate pro, on and off the field,’’ McEwing said by phone on Friday. “He’s a leader and runs the pitching staff like a second manager…He’s a simple guy, a family guy, and he has a lot of confidence. He can handle New York.”

Gus Livaditis Mets360: Potential Mets signings among the recent non-tendered players.  Gus looked at Archie Bradley, Hunter Renfroe, Jonathan Holder and more to see if there was a Mets fit.

Rising Apple like these Non-Tendered Players: LHP Carlos Rondon, LHP Alex Claudio; as well as Archie Bradley.

Mike’s Mets talked about how the Philly Tank Job did not work. 

90 Percent Mets implores Steve and Sandy: “Don’t Become The Phillies”.  The Dance Hall General added – “Picturing the biggest and best free agents on the market in our lineup is a dream come true. However, if you take the I-95 South to Philadelphia, that dream has become a nightmare…They have Bryce Harper signed through 2030 and a farm system which ranks in the bottom tenth of the league.”

Metsmerized Online: Three Ways Trevor May Immediately Helps Mets’ Bullpen. Walk Rate; Strand Rate; Controlling the Zone.

MLB Links:

AP News: MLB sues insurance providers, cites billions in virus losses. “The league claims to have lost billions of dollars on unsold tickets, hundreds of millions on concessions, tens of millions on parking and millions more on suites and luxury seat licenses, in-park merchandise sales and corporate sponsorships…It says all of those losses should be covered by their policies… Insurers in many cases have insisted that financial losses caused by the coronavirus do not constitute physical loss or property damage. MLB is claiming the virus has led to both.”

 

CBS Sports: Rangers name Chris Young new GM, Jon Daniels stays on as president of baseball operations. “Young, 41, was considered a rising star in the front office ranks even before his playing career ended in 2017. He recently interviewed with the Mets for their general manager job, but pulled himself out of the race because of family considerations. Young has three young children and his family lives in Dallas, his hometown, so he's joining the local club.”

 

MLB.com: Sources: Giants, Phillies in on Hendriks.

 

MLB.com: Need bullpen help? Here are top FA options.

 

MLB.com: These 11 free agents are better than you think.

 

MLB Trade Rumors: Phillies Sign Ronald Torreyes To Minor League Deal.

 

MLB Trade Rumors: Twins Interested In Joakim Soria.

 

Ballpark Digest.com: Hurry up and wait: MiLB reorg release delayed. “It now looks like an announcement regarding the future MiLB team lineup won’t come out until Dec. 8 at the earliest, as final touches are being applied to the overall plan.”

 

WNKY.com: Amid baseball uncertainty, Hot Rods will return to play in Bowling Greene in 2021.

 

AP News: Kim Ng’s crash course: She’s bullish on Marlins’ future.

 

Whypapers.com: 'The Seasons of Buffalo Baseball 1857-2020' now on sale. “The Seasons of Buffalo Baseball 1857-2020” is a 400-hundred-page, hardcover journey through the illustrious history of baseball in The Queen City. It is filled with more than 150 images, rare illustrations, cartoons, and page after page of baseball facts and follies – a true reflection of Buffalo’s 163-year love affair with the grand old game.”

 

Forbes.com: Baseball Teams And Fans Will Miss Winter Meetings, Latest Victim Of Covid-19 Pandemic.  A look at some of the unique happenings at past winter meetings which will be held via zoom this year.

 

Fansided.com: Cleveland baseball team still considering a name change.

 

CNN.com: One hundred years on: Remembering the forgotten Black heroes of baseball.

 

Seattlepi.com: Report: Seattle Mariners legend Ichiro Suzuki to coach HS baseball in native Japan.

 

MLB.com: The rare history of players batting Nos. 1-9.

 

MLB.com: Gio Urshela has elbow surgery to remove chip. Infielder expected to be sidelined up to 3 months.

 

Winter Baseball:

In the Dominican Republic:

Toros del Este 2 Tigres del Licey 1 (Box Score) Bruce Maxwell caught and went 0for 3 with a walk, .143 Avg. this Winter.  Big news is this game is that Gary Sanchez DH’d while Bruce caught.  Gary went 1 for 5 with an RBI and 3 Ks. 

Aguilas Cibaenas 2 Estrellas Orientales 1 (Box Score). For Aguilas Robel Garcia played 2B and went 2 for 4, 1 K, .211 Batting Average; Melky Cabrera 1 for 4, 1 RBI, .212 Avg.; Ex-Syracuse Met Arismendy Alcantara 0 f0r 4, .143 Avg.; Dario Alvarez 1.1 innings, no runs, no hits, no walks, 1.08 Winter ERA;  For Estrellas Nabil Crismatt 5 innings, 1 earned run, 4 hits, 5 Ks, 0.60 ERA this winter.

Here is the full Dominican Republic Scoreboard.

In Venezuela:

No Mets prospects in action last night.  Two ex-Mets, Wilfredo Tovar and Ronny Cedeno play just about every day for the Leones del Caracas.  Last night Wilfredo Tovar went 0 for 4 (.259 average) and Ronny Cedeno went 3 for 4 with a run scored (.321 average) as Leones lost to the  Tigres de Aragua 6-3 (Box Score).

Here is yesterday’s Venezuelan Scoreboard.

In the Mexican Pacific League:

Tomateros de Culiacan 9 Los Caneros de los Mochis 1 (Box Score). Juan Uriarte 0 for 3.  .221 this Winter. 

Here is the full Mexican Pacific League Scoreboard from yesterday.

Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com:

Born on this date:

• Al Moran (1938)
• Dave Hudgens (1956)
• Cliff Floyd (1972)

Transactions:

Seattle Mariners drafted Rick Baldwin from the Mets on December 5, 1977.

New York Mets traded Tom Grieve and Kim Seaman to the St. Louis Cardinals for Pete Falcone on December 5, 1978.

Mets drafted Mike Howard from the Los Angeles Dodgers on December 5, 1978.

New York Mets traded John Mitchell and Joaquin Contreras to the Baltimore Orioles for Keith Hughes and Cesar Mejia on December 5, 1989.

New York Mets signed free agent Vince Coleman of the St. Louis Cardinals on December 5, 1990.

Toronto Blue Jays signed Pat Tabler of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 5, 1990.

Mets drafted Kevin Lomon from the Atlanta Braves on December 5, 1994.

Mets drafted Shawn Hare from the San Diego Padres on December 5, 1994.

Mets drafted Jason Hardtke from the San Diego Padres on December 5, 1994.

Florida Marlins signed Joe Orsulak of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 5, 1995.

Los Angeles Dodgers signed Orel Hershiser of the New York Mets as a free agent on December 5, 1999.

New York Mets signed free agent Brett Hinchliffe on December 5, 2000.

New York Mets signed free agent Tom Glavine of the Atlanta Braves on December 5, 2002.

New York Mets traded Gaby Hernandez and Dante Brinkley to the Florida Marlins for Paul Lo Duca on December 5, 2005.

Centerfield Maz:

Centerfield Maz:

National Pastime.com:

1990

Hoping to fill the void created by Darryl Strawberry's departure to LA as a free agent, the Mets make their first move into the free-agent market in 10 years when they sign Vince Coleman to a 4-year contract just shy of $12 million. The former St. Louis outfielder, who will spend time on the disabled list on five occasions during the next two seasons, will be hampered by injuries to his ribs and hamstrings during his stay with New York.

2001

New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani announces he wants to complete new stadium deals for the Mets and Yankees before he leaves office at the end of the month. Before the September 11 attacks, which dramatically changed the city's financial stature, the mayor believed an arrangement in which the city, the state, and the owners agreed to pay one-third of the cost of the new stadiums might complete the negotiations with the teams.

 

2002

The Mets sign the much sought after free-agent Tom Glavine to a three-year deal worth $35 million, with an option for an additional year that could increase the value of the contract to $42.5 million. The 36 year-old southpaw, who has compiled a 242-143 record along with a 3.37 ERA, will notch his 300th career win with New York in 2007.

 

Breakfast Links One year ago today - 12/5/2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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