Good morning, Mets fans!
Jeff Passan of ESPN wrote an article about how MLB’s lockdown negotiations have gone nowhere. A summarizing quotation from the article is: “Pitchers and catchers reporting in mid-February gets less likely by the minute, and after 36 days of silence since the lockout began, there remain no plans for the sides to talk about the core economic issues that cleave them.”
An anonymous person associated with Major League Baseball was also quoted in the article as saying, “what the f— are we doing (…) we’re in such a place as an industry that it’s kind of like politics.”
Hopefully, the two sides can come to an agreement soon, although that currently seems unlikely.
Now, it is time for the morning briefing.
Latest Mets News
Michael Mayer has the 2022 Mets minor league managers:
Mets full season minor league managers for the 2022 season per @timbhealey:
Triple-A Syracuse Kevin Boles
Double-A Binghamton Reid Brignac
High-A Brooklyn Luis Rivera
Low-A St. Lucie Robbie Robinson— Mike Mayer (@mikemayer22) January 6, 2022
Michael Mayer of Metsmerized has confirmed that Dave Jauss will not return to the Mets for the 2022 season.
Mike Puma of the New York Post reports that Edgardo Alfonzo has reached out to the Mets to request to seek a position on the Mets coaching or player development staffs.
Doug M. of MetsMinors.net wrote a detailed draft review of LHP Keyshawn Askew, noting how he was able to increase his maximum fastball velocity from 90 mph to 96 mph from Clemson to FCL.
Deesha Thosar of New York Daily News reports that the Mets are close to offering Joey Cora the third base coach job. Cora also is from the same town in Puerto Rico as Francisco Lindor which is a cool connection.
Latest MLB News
Ryan Thibodaux brings us the latest Baseball Hall of Fame voting update with 137 of the ballots factored into the percentages.
With 137 ballots revealed/~34.9% known:
Ortiz – 82.5%
Bonds – 81.0%
Clemens – 79.6%
—
Rolen – 72.3%
Schilling – 57.7%
Helton – 56.2%
Sheffield – 49.6%
Jones/Wagner – 48.9%
A-Rod- 46.0%
Ramírez – 41.6%
Kent/Sosa – 27.7%
Abreu – 12.4%
Pettitte/Rollins – 11.7%
Vizquel – 8.8%— Ryan Thibodaux (@NotMrTibbs) January 5, 2022
Currently, David Ortiz, Barry Bonds, and Roger Clemens would make up the Baseball Hall of Fame’s class of 2022.
Jeff Fletcher of Southern California News Group confirmed that the Angels are hiring Phil Nevin, Benji Gil, and Bill Hasselman as coaches, with an additional coaching position yet to be filled. Adam Eaton is a candidate for the final coaching position, but he is technically still a player so there is a delay with that hiring process.
The Houston Astros released a report on their coaching staff and payer development staff for the upcoming season. Highlights within the report include the hirings of assistant general managers Andrew Ball and Scott Powers and Sara Goodrum, the new Astros’ director of player development.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic compiled his list of MLB trades to watch for.
Andrew Marchand of the New York Post reports that Alex Rodriguez could get his own alternative ESPN Sunday night baseball broadcast similar to ESPN’s Monday night football “Manning-cast” program.
Latest on MMO
John Flanigan discusses the Mets bench coach search.
Nate Mendelson reveals the Mets title odds.
Nate Mendelson reports that the Mets are expected to hire Wayne Kirby as first base coach.
On This Date in Mets History
2010: The BBWAA announced the results of their voting for the hall of fame’s class of 2010. Andre Dawson was the only player that surpassed the threshold, and five former Mets were denied entry: Robin Ventura (seven votes), Kevin Appier (one vote), David Segui (1 vote), and Todd Zeile (zero votes). The fifth Met who was denied entry was Roberto Alomar, who only fell eight votes short of induction. However, Alomar joined the hall of fame as part of the class of 2011.
Let’s go Mets!
