Mets Morning News: Home sweet home

Meet the Mets

Despite players returning to camp at Citi Field, hitting coach Chili Davis won’t be joining them out of concern of the coronavirus. He will instead work remotely and Tom Slater will handle on-site hitting coach duties.

The Mets’ main weakness was their bullpen last season, and now with the extra recovery time given to Dellin Betances and the addition of Jared Hughes their bullpen is looking much more promising.

Their Opening Day lineup could be a fearsome one with the addition of a healthy Michael Conforto and Yoenis Cespedes.

MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo answered fan questions including questions about contracts, the bullpen, and playing in empty stadiums.

The Mets updated their ticket refund policy to include games that were scheduled for June.

David Wright was elected into the Appalachian League Hall of Fame.

Around the National League East

The cancellation of the minor league season could have lasting repercussions, and the staff over at Talking Chop discussed how it could affect the Braves.

Marlins’ owner Derek Jeter was not happy with how the negotiations played out between baseball and the players and he was embarrassed for the sport.

The Sim Phillies lost a sim doubleheader to the Sim Padres.

The Nationals had a busy day and signed nine undrafted free agents.

Sean Doolittle reported to camp for Washington but has some misgivings about playing considering his wife is considered high risk.

Around Major League Baseball

Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy talked about his struggle with COVID and how there are lasting affects that should be given serious consideration and not shrugged off when it comes to young athletes and their health.

Major League Baseball will not be releasing the names of players who have tested positive for COVID-19 but they will instead release the amount of positive tests and the number of tests conducted.

Commissioner Rob Manfred let it slip that Major League Baseball never intended to play more than a 60-game season despite months of negotiations with the players’ union on that topic.

Baseball is moving forward with the Field of Dreams game, but now the White Sox might be facing the Cardinals instead of the Yankees in that game.

The Rockies signing Matt Kemp was not an earth-shattering move on the ballclub’s part but it does highlight a larger problem that teams face while attempting to play baseball during a pandemic.

The rosters have had to be adapted given the current circumstances and Jay Jaffe of Fangraphs tries to sort all the new rules out.

Baseball has its own pace and schedule over the course of a full season, but now that rhythm is thrown off-kilter which is only adding to the fact that nothing is normal right now.

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

Chris McShane thinks Michael Conforto has the potential to be great in a shortened season.

This Date in Mets History

The 1969 Mets defeated the Cardinals in fourteen innings that jump started another winning streak that helped them on their way to the pennant.