Updated August 26th, 7:20 p.m.

The Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres agreed to postpone their game on Wednesday night, joining the Brewers and Reds in not playing after the NBA player’s boycott.

Original Post:

The Milwaukee Bucks were set to tip off against the Orlando Magic at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, but the players never made it out to the court. Instead the Bucks decided to put the focus back on the fight for social justice by boycotting their playoff game to protest the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Ever since the NBA restart began, the league has tried to make Black Live Matter a focal point of their broadcasts. The message is prominently featured on the court and players have messages for social justice on the back of their jerseys. Yet even with all of the attention the NBA has tried to give to these issues, the playoff games continued to overshadow that message.

That is until the Bucks stepped in by boycotting.

Players and coaches around the league have tried to push the narrative away from the games and back to the issues that matter whenever they speak to the media, but the focus still rests on basketball. By boycotting their playoff games, NBA players are trying to get control of the narrative again.

When George Floyd was murdered back in May, there were no sports to distract away from the injustice that took place. In the case of Blake, there was playoff basketball games, as well as countless other sports taking place to draw attention away from the shooting.

After the Bucks players boycotted their game, the players from the Houston Rockets and the Oklahoma City Thunder agreed to do the same with their game as well. Then the league quickly announced that they would postpone all games.

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported that all NBA players in the bubble have been invited to a meeting at 8:00 p.m. tonight to discuss how they will proceed after these boycotts.

In response to the Bucks boycott, the Milwaukee Brewers have also decided to not to play tonight against the Cincinnati Reds according to baseball insider Jared Diamond. ESPN’s Jeff Passan is reporting that some other teams may follow suit, with the Seattle Mariners being among those discussing the possibility of not playing.

We will continue to monitor this story and update this post as more news develops.

The post NBA Players Boycott Playoffs, Milwaukee Brewers Follow Suit appeared first on Metsmerized.

Good Morning, Mets fans! As you probably have seen already, schedules for all 30 teams were announced yesterday.

Latest Mets News

The Mets will open at home on Friday, July 24 against the Atlanta Braves at 4:10 p.m. ET.

New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom talked to reporters on Monday afternoon about safety protocols, winning awards, and about Steven Matz‘s performance earlier in the day.

Brandon Nimmo, speaking on Monday, said he feels on top of things despite having not seen live pitching since March.

Per Thomas McEnery of the New York Post, Steve Cohen is making another big push to buy the Mets.

According to Tim Healey of Newsday, adding an extra four months to finish rehabbing his Achilles tendon injury helped Dellin Betances find his fastball again.

Healy also reported that Mets assistant GM Adam Guttridge and bench coach Hensley Meulens have been absent from camp and the team has declined to say why.

Andrew Battifarano of MiLB.com wrote about Pete Crow-Armstrong finding his path to the majors with the Mets.

According to Adam Scheffer of ESPN, Chiefs, and former Met Pat Mahomes‘ son Patrick Mahomes II have agreed on a 10-year extension worth $450 million.

Latest MLB News

The MLB issued a statement about its COVID-19 testing program.

At 6:00 pm EST on Monday, MLB released its complete 2020 schedule.

According to Kyle Glaser of Baseball America, throughout the 2020 season, every team will have six off days (the four teams opening on July 23 will have an extra off day) and Jackie Robinson Day will be observed Aug. 28 (normally April 15).

The Texas Rangers confirmed that Joey Gallo has tested positive for COVID-19, per Levi Weaver of The Athletic.

The Dodgers announced that right-hander Jimmy Nelson will undergo surgery on his lower back, according to Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.

Member of the 2016 American League champion Cleveland Indians Brandon Guyer announced his retirement.

Jared Diamond of The Wall Street Journal wrote about Todd Frazier‘s newfound role of preaching responsibility to young players who might underestimate the virus.

James Wagner of The New York Times questions how long early signs of optimism towards having a 2020 baseball season will last.

According to Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic, Kris Bryant gave his full answer on COVID-19 testing issues being seen across the league right now.

The Houston Astros closed their camps on Monday as they await COVID-19 test results and the Oakland A’s have delayed the start of their camp since their test results haven’t been received.

Latest NL East News

According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Washington Nationals canceled workouts on Monday as a result of their Friday coronavirus tests still having not shown up.

Latest on MMO

Tim Ryder details the latest episode of Smily Amazin’: The Boys Are Back…Again.

Matt Musico believes that the timeline of the 2020 season is perfect for Jacob deGrom.

On This Day in Mets History

Birthdays: John Buck turns 40, Tim Teufel turns 62 and Bob Gallagher turns 73.

Let’s go Mets!

The post Morning Briefing: 2020 Schedules Are Out! appeared first on Metsmerized.

Good Morning, Mets fans! Welcome to “Summer Camp!” The Mets report to Citi Field for the beginning of training today.

Latest Mets News

The team announced the signing of Jarred Hughes to their 60-man Player Pool.

Steve Cohen will reportedly make another bid for the Mets, according to Laura Goldman.

According to Tim Healey of Newsday, the Mets fired 25 employees last week, but this will be the only round of layoffs according to Jeff Wilpon.

Latest MLB News

Shohei Ohtani will be ready to start the season as a two-way player following Tommy John surgery, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com.

The Tigers signed Spencer Torkelson to his rookie contract, at a thousand dollars over slot, per Jon Heyman of MLB Network.

The Padres traded for Jorge Matos from the A’s in exchange for a PTBNL, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.

The Rockies signed Matt Kemp, per USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.

The family of former Dodger Andrew Toles is calling for help, as the former outfielder has been in and out of mental facilities and has been homeless, writes Bob Nightengale.

Jared Diamond of the Wall Street Journal wrote about the luckiest fans in baseball.

The Long Island Ducks announced that they have canceled their season in a statement they released this morning.

Latest NL East News

The Mets, Nationals, and Phillies all committed to paying their minor league players through the end of the season, per Baseball America.

Latest on MMO

Michelle Ioannou defended Ian Desmond and all players who decide to opt out of the 2020 season.

Richard Sparago reflected on the joy that was Willie Montanez.

Tim Ryder‘s latest episode of Simply Amazin’ featured a Mets Summer Camp Primer.

On This Day In Mets History

Birthdays: Chris Flexen (26), Craig Anderson (82)

Let’s go Mets!

The post Morning Briefing: Welcome To Summer Camp appeared first on Metsmerized.

Justin Foscue

Good Morning, Mets fans!

Latest on MLB’s Negotiations with the MLBPA 

Yesterday, The MLBPA sent a counter-offer to Major-League Baseball, continuing a ugly weeks-long debate between the two sides. In their latest proposal, the MLBPA proposed a season consisting of 89 games, pro-rated salaries, and an expanded postseason for the 2020 and 2021 campaigns. In addition, players would agree to be mic’d-up mid-game. The season would start on July 10th and end on September 27th

However, for whatever reason, the owners consider that proposal non-starter and will only consider a season that’s 76 games in length. This refusal by the owners to act in “good faith” makes it extremely likely a season will continue to be delayed. After all, the owners have a ton of incentive to keep the negotiations ongoing; the longer it takes to sort out a season, the shorter a season will be. The lengthy negotiations have put plenty of bad PR press on both the players and the owners, which could threaten the short and long-term future of America’s favorite pastime.

Rob Manfred holds the nuclear option to start a season, regardless of the negotiations, but he’d prefer to settle with the players, a possibility that becomes even more important considering the current CBA will expire after the 2021 season.

In related news, Cardinals’s owner Bill DeWitt declared in an interview with Frank Cusumano of 590 The Fan, that it’s difficult to create a profit with the team. The rather brash statement by the owner came under much scrutiny, especially considering that he is worth 4 billion dollars, as of 2017.

In response to DeWitt’s claim, the infamous Eddie Gaedel set up a GoFundMe to help the DeWitts afford a free-agent.

Latest Mets News 

The MLB draft is here! Stay tuned to MMO for all draft-related content, which we’ll be posting throughout the day.

The Mets have one selection in Day 1 of the draft. Some names that have been linked to the club include Georgia RHP Cole Wilcox, prep OF Pete Crow-Armstrong, Mississippi IF Justin Foscue, and prep C/OF Tyler Soderstrom. That being said, with the uncertainty of the draft bigger than ever this year, the Mets could opt to pick a player that doesn’t consist of the aftermentioned quartet.

Jon Heyman of Fancred reports the both KBO and NPB teams are looking into signing Matt Harvey.

Former Met Ryan O’Rourke announced his retirement on Twitter.

Latest MLB News  

The MLBPA has advised Scott Boras that his intention to pay released minor-leaguers would violate the union’s rules. Instead, Boras will donate the funds to a Vote-Riders, a charity aimed to increase voting in the United States.

R.J. Anderson of CBS Sports tweeted out that a team with a top-10 pick is considering punting the draft all-together.

Jared Diamond of The Wall Street Journal is displeased with Major League Baseball’s negotiation attempts.

Daniel Brown of The Athletic wrote about Tiger King. Just not the one you’re thinking of.

Latest NL East News 

Tomahawk Take reflected on the Braves’ biggest draft busts of the last 20 years.

Latest on MMO

The MMN crew wrote on their preferred pick for the Mets at No.19.

John Jackson reflected on the Mets drafting Pete Alonso.

Marshall Field reminisced on the time Bobby Valentine snuck into the dugout.

Jordan Baron reviewed the Mets first-round picks.

Tim Ryder is a fan of David Blitzer owning the team.

On This Day In Mets History 

Birthdays: Ken Singleton (74)

Stay safe, everyone!

The post Morning Briefing: Players Send Counter-Proposal To MLB appeared first on Metsmerized.

According to Jared Diamond of the Wall Street Journal, a positive Covid-19 test would not shutdown Major League Baseball, under the current proposal.

Diamond also notes that the proposal from Major League Baseball to the Players Association would include all team personnel getting tested multiple times during a week with results within 24 hours.

The owners approved the proposal earlier this week and started negotiation with the Players Association on Tuesday about the 2020 season.

Part of the owners’ proposal includes an 82-game season, 30-man active rosters (with 20-player taxi squad), and 50-50 revenue split for players and owners.

One key sticking point in negotiations continues to be the owners wanting the players to take a pay reduction. The players and owners agreed to a prorated salary back in March.

The post MLB Proposal: Positive Covid-19 Test Would Not Stop Play appeared first on Metsmerized.

A first edition, uncorrected proof of Swing Kings by Jared Diamond. [Ryan Kolakowski]

By Jared Diamond. 336 pp. $28.99

In Swing Kings, Jared Diamond unearths chance encounters, unlikely coaches and stark technique changes responsible for transforming pedestrian batters into Major League Baseball’s elite sluggers. Diamond illustrates the precise moments when today’s power hitters — the likes of J.D. Martinez and Aaron Judge — discovered the need to deconstruct and rebuild their swings to succeed in a league with a short leash for failure. The Wall Street Journal’s national baseball writer provides readers with a personal view of the lightbulb moments that drove players to unconventional hitting instructors who led baseball’s home run revolution.

Diamond introduces Swing Kings with a story familiar to many baseball players. At 15 years old, he found the perfect swing for one game and launched three towering fly balls to right field, the first time he ever displayed such power. The next day, that majestic strength evaporated. Through the rest of his first book, Diamond explores how baseball’s best permanently unlock the perfect swing.

For Martinez, the need for change was sparked by a lackluster 2013 campaign and an improbable glimpse of Ryan Braun’s approach on a TV at Minute Maid Park. That moment led him to Craig Wallenbrock, the coach who mentored Braun, Michael Young and other big league stars. For Judge, a miserable 2016 skid led to private lessons with an obscure hitting guru. For Marlon Byrd, it was a 2012 PED suspension and a lucky meeting with Doug Latta, one of Wallenbrock’s colleagues, in a California parking lot.

The need for change led each player to baseball outsiders who broke with traditional coaching norms. Rather than teaching clients to “swing down,” these coaches preached baseball heresy, encouraging hitters to work under the ball and “finish high” with a David Ortiz-like follow-through.

Diamond, a former Mets beat reporter, takes only two dozen pages before introducing Justin Turner, the light-hitting utility-man in New York turned All Star third baseman in Los Angeles. Turner, 28 years old in 2013, never thought he could be a slugger, but his predestined role as a singles hitter started to fade when he began taking advice from a resurgent Marlon Byrd.

Byrd joined the Mets on a minor league deal after transforming his swing with Latta and finding success in the Mexican Pacific Winter League. He slugged 21 home runs and posted an .848 OPS over 117 games with New York, but coaches barred the outfielder from sharing his technique with other players.

“Byrd was all but banned from discussing hitting with his teammates, so he wouldn’t corrupt them with his radical new swing,” Diamond writes. “But as the season went on, Turner started asking Byrd questions.”

Turner declined to alter his swing until the Mets traded Byrd to Pittsburgh on August 27. On that date, Turner owned a .638 OPS with no home runs, so he made a change and followed Byrd’s advice. In 16 games from August 28 until the end of the 2013 season, Turner slashed .340/.365/.540 with four doubles and two home runs. That December, the Mets cut him.

In six years since, Turner owns an .887 OPS and 112 home runs with the Los Angeles Dodgers — concrete evidence of change.

Turner and Byrd are not the lone Mets in Diamond’s first book. The reporter devotes several pages to Daniel Murphy and his magical home run surge through the 2015 postseason. Murphy, too, made subtle changes and picked up on Byrd’s tendencies — with some help from Mets hitting coach Kevin Long — to add power to his game.

“In many ways,” Diamond writes, “the modern-day fly-ball revolution started because Byrd willed it into existence.”

Martinez, Judge, Byrd, Turner and Murphy all follow the same trend by bucking with conventional wisdom, according to Diamond. Swing Kings details how modern sluggers learned to imitate Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron and the great hitters of the past. Diamond shows readers how baseball’s home run revolution is not a change from what the game’s best have always done, but a widespread adoption of exemplary hitting technique – the unlocking of baseball’s perfect swing.

The post A Review Of Swing Kings By Jared Diamond appeared first on Metsmerized.

Well the Mets have two games today. Steven Matz and Corey Oswalt will start for the Mets in the two games. The first game will be on Facebook only, sorry MySpace fans.

Oswalt will start in the first game against the Phillies that begins at 4:05 p.m. and Matz will toss in the night cap which can be seen on SNY. Both games can be heard on 710 WOR.

Yesterday, The Mets offense erupted for 16 runs thanks to a historically bad Orioles pitching staff and a big performance from Brandon Nimmo.

Latest Mets News

Matt Ehalt of the Bergen Record reports that Ben Cherington and Tony LaCava are expected to interview for the Mets GM position. Both are executives in the Blue Jays front office. The team is also expected to interview Kim Ng per Ehalt.

Tim Britton of the Athletic writes about how the Mets drafted Jarred Kelenic.

Jay Bruce went 2-for-4 while playing seven innings at first base. David Wright went 0-for-3 while playing seven innings at third. He made this nice little play.

Latest MLB News

Jared Diamond of the Wall Street Journal writes about how the Athletics were virtually created in a lab.

Brandon McCarthy will retire after 2018 but will always be tweeting.

Francis Martes of the Astros underwent Tommy John Surgery.

Jon Morosi reports that Yusei Kikuchi will be posted after this season.

Aaron Judge still has some time before returning. The Yankees have sorely missed Judge’s bat and are fending off the A’s.

MVP Baseball could return as per the president of EA Sports.

The Reds are shaking up their front office per Bobby Nightengale.

Victor Martinez is likely retiring after this season.

Ben Badler of Baseball America writes about the New IFA rules.

Latest NL East News

Ronald Acuna Jr.’s x-rays came back negative and the Braves are awaiting the results of the CT Scan.

The Phillies got Wilson Ramos back. So that’s good for them.

The Washington Post reports that Stephen Strasburg could return soon.

Jose Urena has a 79 ERA+, so maybe he shouldn’t be the moral arbitrator of baseball.

Latest on MMO

John Sheridan writes about Ross Adolph.

This Day in Mets History

1999: Mets sign Jose Reyes, can we cut him on this day?

Birthdays: Roger Cedeno turns 44, Rick Reed turns 44, Mike Jorgensen turns 70

The post Morning Briefing: Lets Play Two! appeared first on Metsmerized.

Tonight I am joined by Jared Diamond of the Wall Street Journal and long-time baseball writer Bob Klapisch in a big show on the eve of pitchers and catchers reporting to Mets camp at Port St. Lucie.

Jared discusses the slow free agent market and why the economics of baseball may be broken and need of a fix. Is baseball anti-competitive as Scott Boras suggests? Hear our thoughts.

Bob Klapisch discusses his story about former Mets shortstop and manager Buddy Harrelson and his battle with Alzheimer’s. Bob also looks back into the time machine and tells me why this current free agent “freeze” is nothing compared to the late 80s collusion.

I also chat about the acquisition of Todd Frazier and why Lance Lynn and Alex Cobb are not the only quality free agents the Mets can chase. Hear who I think might be the best “value” pickup of the remaining veteran arms on the market.

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The post Talkin’ Mets: Free Agent Freeze, Buddy’s Battle with Diamond and Klapisch appeared first on Metsmerized.

Brian and Roger were joined by Jared Diamond of The Wall Street Journal! He talked about the possible lockout, what really goes on during the Winter Meetings and the Rule 5 draft, the excellent newsletter he writes with Mike Vorkunov, and what Yoenis Cespedes’ signing portends for the future of the rest of the Mets outfield.

Oh yeah, Cespedes signed with the Mets (pending a physical no jinx). Brian and Roger talked about that a bunch, as well as if the Yo signing means the Mets are now capable of spending like a big market team, if its legal to have two players on top of one another at one position, and who they would like to see play third, center, and right field.

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iTunes  –  Stitcher  –  Twitter

The post Good Fundies Episode 28: Four More Years of Yoenis Cespedes (with Jared Diamond) appeared first on Metsmerized.

I am at a loss of words for having to report this tragic news this morning:

Multiple reporters have confirmed this morning that Marlins ace Jose Fernandez has been killed in a tragic boating accident. There are no other details that has been released at this time. Please check back here for updates as more details become available.

The 24-year-old Fernandez was one of at least three people killed in the early morning collision. He announced on Instagram recently that he and his girlfriend were expecting a child, Local 10 reported.

“The Miami Marlins organization is devastated by the tragic loss of Jose Fernandez,” a team statement said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this very difficult time.”

Sunday’s game between the Marlins and the Atlanta Braves in Miami was cancelled.

The Mets are scheduled to start a three-game series with the Marlins tomorrow in Miami.

“All of baseball is shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. “He was one of our game’s great young stars who made a dramatic impact on and off the field since his debut in 2013. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, the Miami Marlins organization and all of the people he touched in his life.”

Jared Diamond of the WSJ shared an excerpt from a story detailing how Fernandez had once saved his mother who was swept overboard by a wave. Fernandez had tried to defect from Cuba three times. On the fourth try, his mother was swept overboard and he jumped in and saved her.

Quick Facts:

– Former 1st round pick in 2011 by the Miami Marlins
– Won Rookie-of-The-Year award in 2013
– 38-17 with a 2.58 ERA in 76 career games

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Jose Fernandez and the Marlins organization.

We are stunned and devastated by the tragic news that Jose Fernandez, 24, has died in a boating accident. https://t.co/QIBcnIYJ1i pic.twitter.com/SDZoL6NMEb

— MLB (@MLB) September 25, 2016

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