Mets News and Morning Links 2/14/2021

 

Good Morning. Happy Birthday Tyler Clippard, Joel Huertas , and Nick Conti.  Seth Lugo to undergo Elbow Surgery, Mets announce list of Non-Roster Spring Training Invitees and Pete Alonso is feeling Dangerous.

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Mack’s Mets:  A MRI has revealed that RHP Seth Lugo has a loose body in his right elbow and will undergo surgery on Tuesday February 16 at HSS Florida.

Greg Prince Faith and Fear in Flushing: “For Seth’s sake, let’s hope the body is no larger than Freddie Patek’s”.

90 Percent Mets: It’s Edwin Díaz Time. While stressing the need for Edwin Diaz to close out games in 2021 Dance Hall General has this observation regarding other Mets Bull Pen Arms: Dellin Betances: Question mark; Jeurys Familia: Question mark; Robert Gsellman: Question mark; Miguel Castro: Question mark; Drew Smith: Question mark.

Mike’s Mets: “Even as bad as Jeurys Familia and Dellin Betances were last year, I wonder if the Mets continue to try to move them now that Lugo is on the shelf. They're both guys you can at least hope for bounce backs to being relatively dependable late-inning relievers.”

NY Post: Mets’ offense has chance to be dynamic this season.  After adding another dynamic bat, Francisco Lindor, to a core that includes Michael Conforto, Brandon Nimmo, Dominic Smith, Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil and James McCann, it’s easy to project this lineup, on paper, as the most formidable in franchise history.

Steve Serby Interviewed Pete Alonso in the NY Post: “I can’t wait. I’m feeling dangerous. This is the best I’ve felt physically and mentally in my career. I’m ready to make history and ready to drive in 130 steaks.”

Tim Healey Newsday: Change characterizes 2021 Mets, from top to bottom.  While rehashing all the things that happed with the Mets since they played their last game Time notes that “The Mets turned over almost half of the 40-man roster…For the Mets, much of spring training will be about that: Getting to know each other after an offseason of immense change.”

Our full #SpringTraining roster. #Mets pic.twitter.com/34NrQ58x86

— New York Mets (@Mets) February 13, 2021

Mack’s Mets: Mets Announce Spring Training Invitees.  28 players in total including: RHP Matthew Allan, LHP Jerry Blevins, RHP Ryley Gilliam, RHP Harol Gonzalez, and RHP Tylor Megill; Catchers Francisco Alvarez and David Rodriguez; Infielders Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio, and Mark Vientos; Outfielders Pete Crow Armstrong, Johneshwy Fargas, Drew Ferguson, Mallex Smith, and Tim Tebow.

NY Post: Mets keep their Tim Tebow promise. “The move doesn’t come as a major surprise, since team president Sandy Alderson in November said he didn’t think Tebow, the former NFL quarterback and college football announcer, was done playing… Teams are limited to 75 roster spots this spring because of COVID protocols, so while the inclusion of Tebow wasn’t a surprise, it was not a foregone conclusion.”

Call to the Pen: New York Mets just can’t quit Tim Tebow.   “As he is currently 33 years old, and with 42 minor league teams having been eliminated, roster space is at a premium. Teams cannot afford to hold on to an aging non prospect who has never appeared at the major league level, no matter how famous he may be.”

The Sporting News: The Mets threw away a spring training roster spot when they invited Tim Tebow to camp. “Let's be direct: They wasted the invite. They should have assigned him to minor league camp instead. They should have used the roster spot on a free agent who's actually ready to play in the majors… he's 33 and he hasn't swung a bat in a competitive setting in a year and a half.”

Mets You Tube Channel: Brandon Nimmo, Jeff McNeil and James McCann take batting practice at the Mets Spring Training facility in Port St. Lucie FL.

Meet the new man behind the mask. @McCannon33 pic.twitter.com/VoV375tNps

— New York Mets (@Mets) February 13, 2021

.@docgooden16 opens up about what #BlackHistoryMonth means to him. pic.twitter.com/wusetRJ1gG

— New York Mets (@Mets) February 14, 2021

Miguel Castro's fastball needs to change. He throws it 98 with 96% of his nearly 2400 rpm's as active spin. It should dominate.

In 2020, it got knocked to the tune of .350 xwOBA and only had a 19% whiff rate.

What gives? ...

— Doug (@FTLO_Baseball) February 14, 2021

Castro has the velo and the active spin to pitch up for swinging strikes, and the outcomes suggest a change should be deployed.

Pitching up more and possibly reverting back to the FF grip could potentially turn Castro into an excellent pitch.

— Doug (@FTLO_Baseball) February 14, 2021

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Today in Mets History Per Ultimatemets.com: 

Born on this date:

• Kelly Stinnett (1970)
• Tyler Clippard (1985)
• Joel Huertas (1996)
• Nick Conti (1997)

Died on this date:

• Jim Fregosi (2014)

Transactions:
New York Mets signed free agent Jose Lima on February 14, 2006.

Baltimore Orioles signed Steve Trachsel of the New York Mets as a free agent on February 14, 2007.

New York Mets signed free agent Livan Hernandez of the Colorado Rockies on February 14, 2009.

Centerfield Maz: Tyler Clippard: 2015 NL Champion Mets Pitcher (2015).

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