The Offseason Thread

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Yoenis Cespedes’ ankle fracture came during incident with wild boar

Wow!
Just Wow.





Crazy shit.
Dude might have a future career on the rodeo circuit.

 

[Nasty_Magician]

I was hoping the Mets would kick the tires on this dude. Hopefully he bottoms out and it's no big loss.

Cincinnati Reds sign Japanese outfielder Shogo Akiyama to a 3-year, $21 million contract

 

[Nasty_Magician]

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

I was hoping the Mets would kick the tires on this dude. Hopefully he bottoms out and it's no big loss.

Cincinnati Reds sign Japanese outfielder Shogo Akiyama to a 3-year, $21 million contract

Meh....I'm okay with passing on him.
Many of those Japanese players are unproven unknown entities when it comes to playing over here in the big leagues where the pitching and fielding is far superior, along with getting adjusted to a new culture, and the constant drudgery of longer travel for 6+ months during the season...and it takes a special kind of diamond in the rough player to make that transition work.

I'm sure he possesses the basic tool to succeed, but it's a crap shoot for the most part.
Once in a while you'll hit pay dirt, but that's pretty much been few and far between as history has shown over the last 15-25 yrs or so.

If he pans out for Cincy, then more power to them and him.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Just gonna leave this here..b/c Carlos Beltran was mentioned.


MLB comes down hard on Houston....and perhaps Boston.

Astros' Luhnow, Hinch fired after MLB gives ban

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Some aftermath follow ups...

Mets' Carlos Beltran named in MLB report but will not be suspended as part of Astros' sign-stealing scandal

https://nypost.com/2020/01/13/mets-carlos-beltran-avoids-discipline-in-astros-cheating-scandal/

Carlos Beltrán skated on the sign-stealing scandal . . . but just barely - HardballTalk | NBC Sports

^

When Manfred first announced his investigation, it was reported that people who obstruct or lie to investigators would be dealt with most harshly. That Beltrán was not blasted back to the Stone Age suggests to me that he recanted his spiel to the newspapers and spilled completely once Manfred called him in. He was wise to do so. That said, Manfred likely called him out in the report as a subtle way of flexing his muscle. People who remembered Beltrán’s initial denial can put 2-and-2 together and realize that Manfred broke him. As far as warnings go, it’s not an ineffective one.

Most significantly, I think, is that after the 2017 season Beltrán moved into positions of authority, first in the Yankees’ front office and now as the Mets’ manager. Manfred has much more leeway to talk to and punish management as opposed to players, and he can thus name a name and even do things to a guy who is a manager than he can’t do to a player. He may not have been able to punish Beltrán for things he did as a player, but he can single him out now. He can subject a guy over whom he has a lot of authority — and who no longer has the protection of the players’ union — to some public scrutiny.

That scrutiny will play out next month when spring training starts and Beltrán has to meet the press every day. I suspect that once people start caring more about Jacob deGrom‘s velocity and Pete Alonso‘s BP sessions that it will die down, but for the first few days after pitchers and catchers report, Beltrán will likely face a lot of questions from the press.

Manfred can’t punish players out of all of this, but he can make one of them uncomfortable, and that one is Carlos Beltrán. A guy who skated on the sign-stealing scandal, but just barely.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Cora is gone too.

Cora out as Red Sox manager following scandals

 

[Nasty_Magician]

Cora is gone too.

Cora out as Red Sox manager following scandals

If (and I don't think we should) we drop Beltran, what next? See if Perez is still available?

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

If (and I don't think we should) we drop Beltran, what next? See if Perez is still available?

I don't think it'll come to that drastic of a turn, but who knows.....we're living in very strange times right now.

Maybe some type of public apology with a show of contrition will do?

We'll see.

 

[Nasty_Magician]

Well, I'm disappointed. Let's see where we go from here. Wouldn't be shocked to see Terry come back but hope they have someone lined up.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Well, I'm disappointed. Let's see where we go from here. Wouldn't be shocked to see Terry come back but hope they have someone lined up.

Oh well...he and the front office decided to do what is right for the team by not becoming a distraction....and for the game of baseball, moving forward.

Why Carlos Beltran is out before his first game as Mets manager

Mets agree to part ways with manager Beltran

The Mets FO should consider going with hitting coach Chili Davis for the interim...imho.

Btw: Only 70 days to go until Opening Day.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Maybe Fonzi will get another look now??


Article from October:
Mets are not renewing contract of Brooklyn Cyclones manager Edgardo Alfonzo


*He's currently serving a role of team ambassador.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

I've forgotten about Luis Rojas (whom I wouldn't mind at all), but they also need to add a few names..ie: (E. Alfonzo & C. Davis ) to their internal list of candidates for mgr. possibilities imho....

Leading candidates in Mets manager search

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Meanwhile....some better news....life goes on.

How Mets' Opening Day roster is shaping up

Mets change spring address to honor Piazza

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Pretty much a given....lol....


Please...Just say no....sheeeesh.....




This is the way to go imho....




LGM!

 

[Nasty_Magician]

Luis Rojas it is. Everyone seems to like him, it doesn't do much for me one way or another, hopefully he's competent.

Also, not a bad depth piece to have around.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

• Mets hire 'respected' Rojas as new manager



• GM: Mets close to naming Rojas new manager

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Jake & Pete are ready.....

LGM!


Mets' deGrom, Alonso ready to roll with Rojas

 

[Nasty_Magician]