Meet the Mets
Both the Mets and Yankees will hold spring training in New York in their home ballparks if there is a season.
Former Met R.A. Dickey spoke to Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News about the ongoing battle between MLB and the players. “I was part of the union for a long time, so I get it,” he said. “In this present day and age and in this climate that we’re in now, I think America needs a little bit of a boost, a lift, and sometimes we can escape into the world of baseball the way we can’t with other things. I hope for a lot more diplomacy. As a fan, I’m sad. My son and I and others are sad that there’s no baseball. I wish that they could figure out a way to do that. And the baseball part of me, the person that played for a long time and knows what goes on, I have more patience than the fan part of me for these things.”
The Mets have committed to paying their minor leaguers’ stipends through August.
Around the National League East
The Nationals signed Sammy Infante, who was the player the club took with their compensation pick they received for Anthony Rendon.
Meanwhile, the Braves signed their fifth round pick to an overslot deal, thus locking up their entire 2020 draft class.
And the Phillies have agreed to terms with their fourth and fifth round picks.
Around Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball informed the Players’ Association that it will not agree to a season longer than 60 games.
MLBPA is delaying voting on MLB’s latest proposal, due to the news of several coronavirus cases among MLB teams. And at this point, it may be coronavirus itself that does the 2020 MLB season in rather than labor negotiations.
The Angels are one of those teams; Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reported that two Angels players have tested positive for COVID-19.
Multiple Yankees employees have also tested positive for coronavirus.
As a result of coronavirus spikes in the states where spring training is normally held, every MLB club will have spring training in their home cities.
The fact that MLB and the players are still going back and forth, despite the coronavirus spike, makes baseball look “silly,” writes Ken Davidoff of the New York Post.
The union reportedly has agreed to allowing a runner on second to begin extra innings, but only for 2020. There is also discussion of 2020 games potentially ending in a tie.
Former Cubs shortstop Addison Russell, who was non-tendered after serving a 40-game domestic violence suspension, has been signed to a one year contract by the Kiwoon Heroes of the KBO.
Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue
As a pro-Pete Alonso website, we reminded everyone that LFGM merch is for sale via our friends at BreakingT.
Christian Romo covered the news that both the Mets and Yankees will be having their spring training at their home ballparks in New York.
This Date in Mets History
On this date in 2016, the Mets won a battle of the bullpens against the reigning World Champions they fell to the year before. After Bartolo Colon’s early exit, the Mets managed to squeak by to a 2-1 victory with Jeurys Familia earning the save and Hansel Robles earning the win for his 3 2⁄3 innings of work. Asdrubal Cabrera and Yoenis Cespedes each went deep off Ian Kennedy to account for the Mets’ only runs of the day.