Mets Morning News: 2020 MLB season clears its first major hurdle

Meet the Mets

The Mets will need a new catcher for 2021 and beyond, and J.T. Realmuto will be available during the offseason.

Mike Puma tried to argue that Jeff McNeil could get in the way of his own stardom.

Ex-Met Matt Harvey is on the comeback trail, trying desperately to fight off the baseball end that he fears.

Mets employees, as well as Yankees employees, were among the highest positive rates for COVID-19 antibodies among those in MLB.

Around the National League East

Nationals reliever and noted good guy Sean Doolittle composed a thoughtful thread on Twitter about the health concerns that come with baseball returning.

Yesterday marked the fourth anniversary of Max Scherzer’s 20-strikeout game against the Tigers.

NBC Sports Philadelphia explored the one pitch that could have cost Cliff Lee the Cy Young award in 2011.

Around Major League Baseball

Comedy legend Jerry Stiller passed away yesterday at the age of 92. Among his many side-splitting moments on screen, baseball fans remembered the time he yelled at fake George Steinbrenner about the Jay Buhner trade on Seinfeld.

(Trigger Warning: This excerpt contains graphic imagery that may be upsetting) An excerpt from Todd Zolecki’s upcoming book recounts Roy Halladay’s final words leading up to his tragic death.

MLB owners are set to vote on a new revenue-sharing plan where players will get a 48% cut during the proposed 80-game season.

The owners approved a proposal for the 2020 season. The proposal will now be sent to the players for their review.

The goal is to have postseason games in home stadiums in October, if possible, although fears of a second wave are causing some worries.

Among the key takeaways from the proposal is that the universal DH will be adopted for the 2020 season.

Despite a rush to formulate and agree upon a plan to bring back baseball in 2020, elected officials are preaching caution about rushing the sport back in the states.

California Governor Gavin Newsom would like to see games at California baseball stadiums, but made no guarantees following a discussion with Commissioner Rob Manfred.

Players with underlying health problems could be faced with a dangerous decision if MLB reaches an agreement to return. (Paywall alert)

Scott Boras encouraged players to reject the owners’ latest proposal.

Doolittle’s concerns should be on the minds of the Yankees as well.

After years of profits, MLB owners are asking players to subsidize potential losses for a potential 2020 season.

Reality could get in the way of MLB’s return this year.

A recent spike in coronavirus cases in South Korea has worried KBO officials. The league had hoped to get fans in for games by early June.

It appears the 2021 World Baseball Classic will be cancelled. It will be moved to 2023, pending approval from the tournament board.

A source from one foreign team said MLB did not share the plan to cancel the World Baseball Classic with the baseball programs.

Yankees’ catcher Kyle Higashioka spoke about his origins as a catcher and his optimism for the 2021 MLB season.

Local government officials are going to bat for the Staten Island Yankees, who are in trouble of losing their affiliation.

A recent episode of The Last Dance focused on Michael Jordan’s attempt to make it to the major leagues and shows that he was well on his way to making the roster.

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

From Complex To Queens premiered their newest episode, which focused primarily on the history of baseball in Korea.

Steve Sypa shared an update on the CPBL team and the KBO team that the From Complex to Queens crew has begun following.

This Date in Mets History

Carlos Beltran blasted three home runs against the Rockies on this date in 2011, making him the seventh Met to launch three long balls in one game.

Noah Syndergaard made his major league debut at Wrigley Field on this date in 2015. In defeat, he went 5.1 innings, allowed three earned runs, and struck out six Cubs.