Mets News and Morning Links 3/25/2021

Good Morning. Happy Birthday Lee Mazzilli and Tom Glavine. Cardinals 3 Mets 0 (Box Score). Mets send 4 to minors and MLB to crack down on substances on baseballs.

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Brandon Nimmo CF 0 for 4, 1 K; Francisco Lindor SS 1 for 3, 1 walk, 1 K; Michael Conforto RF 0 for 4, 1 K; Pete Alonso 1B 0 for 3; Dominic Smith LF 1 for 2; Jeff McNeil 2B 1 for 4, 1 K; J.D. Davis DH 0 for 2, 1 HBP, 1 K; James McCann C 1 for 3, 1 K; Luis Guillorme 3B 0 for 3; Corey Oswalt (L 0-1) 4 innings, 2 hits, 1 HR, 1 run - earned; Jeurys Familia 1 inning, no runs, 1 walk, 1 K; Dellin Betances 1 inning, no runs, 1 walk, 1 K; Miguel Castro 1 hit, no runs, no walks, 2 Ks; Jerry Blevins 1 inning, 2 hits, 2 runs – one earned, 1 walk.

Strong outing for Corey Oswalt. 💪 #LGM pic.twitter.com/wZP7XxXm7H
— New York Mets (@Mets) March 24, 2021

It doesn't appear Dellin Betances' velocity is coming back. He sat 90-91 mph today and maxed out at 92. That's down from where he was even earlier this spring.

He's talked about finding ways to be effective with lesser stuff. Today, Betances threw more off-speed than fastballs.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) March 24, 2021

"I'm going to try to see if I can kick it up another gear here in the next couple times I go out."

Here's Dellin Betances on his efforts to ramp things up with a week to go until Opening Day: pic.twitter.com/J7lEnK7RWF
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) March 24, 2021

Mike Puma NY Post: Dellin Betances will have to carve out Mets role using creativity. “Arm strength is down,” a scout said. “He uses his fastball as a show pitch to set up his offspeed, which is still good. I think he’s at the point in his career where he knows he’s going to have to make adjustments in order to survive.”

"At this point, you've got to say he's a part of our bullpen"

- Luis Rojas on Dellin Betances pic.twitter.com/anyFyI4Os2
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) March 24, 2021

Regarding speculation that Dellin Betances could possibly NOT make the Mets' roster, Luis Rojas pours some cold water: "You've got to say that he's part of our bullpen."

That said, Rojas wants a competition mindset from everyone. "We're staying open-minded," Rojas said.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) March 24, 2021

In better Mets bullpen news, Miguel Castro this spring:

5.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K.

Castro has hit 100 mph on the radar gun, making him the second hardest-throwing pitcher in camp behind Jacob deGrom.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) March 24, 2021

Miguel Castro has been FILTHY this spring.

🤮🤮🤮 | #LFGM pic.twitter.com/dY1Y6KQ6Tx
— GENY Mets Report (@genymets) March 24, 2021

Jeurys Familia walked the leadoff batter, and got that out of his system. He induced a 4-6-3 and got a scoreless inning out of it.

He has a 1.50 ERA on the spring. #Mets
— Michael Baron (@michaelgbaron) March 24, 2021

Tim Healey Newsday: Jacob Barnes, who is on the 40-man roster and cannot be optioned to the minors, has impressed Mets officials and has the ability to throw multiple innings, something the club values. Mike Montgomery could serve as a long reliever and a second lefthander (alongside Loup); he is able to opt-out of his contract to seek a major-league gig elsewhere if the Mets don’t add him to the roster by some point this weekend.

Two #Mets bullpen decisions that need to be resolved by this weekend:

• Mike Montgomery can opt out if not added to the roster by Sunday.
• Tommy Hunter is owed a $100K retention bonus if not added to the roster or released by Saturday.
— Jacob Resnick (@Jacob_Resnick) March 24, 2021

RHP Corey Oswalt, catcher Bruce Maxwell and infielder Brandon Drury have been reassigned. In addition, RHP Jordan Yamamoto has been optioned to the Triple-A roster. #Mets
— New York Mets (@Mets) March 24, 2021

"I believe in my stuff. I believe I'm a capable starter."

Here's Corey Oswalt, whom the Mets DFA'd last month and reassigned out of big league camp today, on his confidence moving forward: pic.twitter.com/1BLobEyevn
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) March 24, 2021

Mike Puma NY Post: Jordan Yamamoto and Corey Oswalt both departed major league camp…The shuffling leaves Joey Lucchesi in a strong position for the rotation job, but manager Luis Rojas has also indicated he might use an opener. If the Mets go that route, left-hander Mike Montgomery, who is competing for a job on a minor league contract, could be the choice.

Earlier this month, Mets pitcher Taijuan Walker became the first MLB player to make and sell a nonfungible token. Here is is explaining why he got into the ultra-popular NFT space: pic.twitter.com/cuvvK7fIlS
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) March 24, 2021

On BNNY presented by Tri-State @Cadillac, @Anthony_Recker explains his level of confidence in the projected Mets starting rotation https://t.co/xTand1TE9T pic.twitter.com/5SbEnSahk0
— SNY (@SNYtv) March 25, 2021

How will Francisco Lindor and Michael Conforto's roles within MLBPA impact their extension talks?@martinonyc & @DougWilliamsSNY break it down on Shea Anything: https://t.co/5CNyO8wFxp

SUBSCRIBE ✅
Apple Podcasts: https://t.co/CHf58k1use
Spotify: https://t.co/kNfSNOCuAP pic.twitter.com/3vw79BHayO
— SNY (@SNYtv) March 24, 2021

Today marks one year since the Mets announced Noah Syndergaard had a torn UCL and needed Tommy John surgery.

Friday is the anniversary of the operation.
— Tim Healey (@timbhealey) March 24, 2021

We are excited about the April issue of @BaseballAmerica, and we think you will be, too.

Prepare for the highly anticipated 2021 season the BA way with our MLB Preview.

On the cover: @Mets shortstop @Lindor12BC

Cover photo by the incomparable @tdfoto pic.twitter.com/hOi8bECM0R
— Matt Eddy (@MattEddyBA) March 24, 2021

Sign affixed to the side of the Polo Grounds, 1963. Oughta be replicated and adorn the exterior of Citi Field’s left field ramps. pic.twitter.com/Jte993qFyD
— Greg Prince (@greg_prince) March 24, 2021

SportSpyder Mets Links:

MLB and SportSpyder NL East and MLB Links:

Some of yesterday's Spring Training Highlights:

REMEMBER THIS NAME 👀@simeon_woods against the Yankees this spring: 8 IP, 8 Ks, ZERO runs 😤 pic.twitter.com/9LB13ja80E
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) March 24, 2021

4⃣ strikeouts over 3⃣ scoreless frames.

Simeon Woods-Richardson had everything working today. pic.twitter.com/l7nYYZUtLv
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 24, 2021

A couple of opBo tacos. 🌮 pic.twitter.com/xR8ryXOJAR
— MLB (@MLB) March 24, 2021

Hayes 1, Anderson 0 in today's matchup of NL Rookie of the Year favorites.

107.5 MPH off the bat of the @Pirates phenom. pic.twitter.com/jVso3ihoRL
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 24, 2021

Update: Kevin Newman is now hitting .714 (15-for-21) this spring. pic.twitter.com/E21qNbFd4R
— Pirates (@Pirates) March 24, 2021

Third-ranked Twins prospect Trevor Larnach clubs this one to center for his second homer in as many games. pic.twitter.com/PNHkoih4lK
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 24, 2021

It was opposite day for Joey Bart. pic.twitter.com/kNQOMnpeNz
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 25, 2021

Here is yesterday's Spring Training Scoreboard.

MLB's attempts to crack down on foreign substances are outlined in a memo obtained by ESPN. Among the plans:

- Increased monitoring by compliance officers
- Inspections of baseballs taken out of play that will use a third-party lab to check for substances
- Spin-rate analysis
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 24, 2021

Teams are warned that employees are not allowed to handle foreign substances, tell a pitcher how to mask them or interfere with the collection of game-used balls. MLB has said it wants to crack down. This is a broad-sounding effort whose efficacy will be interesting in practice.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 24, 2021

Joel Sherman NY Post: Much like survey steroid testing in 2003, MLB is using this as an educational tool to see how widespread a problem it has before becoming even stricter on the issue. MLB wants to determine what kind of sticky substances are being used and to what advantage. MLB would like to be armed with the information as it continues to work on a baseball that like the one used in Japan will have a tackier surface and, perhaps, discourage the need to cheat.

Mike’s Mets: Cracking Down on Sticky Stuff, Hefner's Positive Impact.

Sources: White Sox expected to sign Cuban OF Oscar Colas (22) for around $2.7 M when a new international signing period opens on January 15, 2022. Several MLB teams (Mets-Angels-Marlins) were in the race for Colas, who left Cuba in early January 2020 and was a FA last December.
— Francys Romero (@francysromero10) March 25, 2021

MLB.com: