What Mets fans talk about when not talking about the actual games.
Did you enjoy the Least Interesting All Star Game ever?
I did like when Tatis was miked and came away liking him more.
Saw this nonsense in the LA Times: It really was about being able to harness their expertise in reaching younger audiences and in elevating sport, and in the power of the marketing brand that is Nike,” MLB chief revenue officer Noah Garden said.
And I annually do a post with pics of the Mets in the game. Here’s what I have, and it’s as unexciting as the event was.
Recognize him? Does that look like Pete Alonso to you? Looks more like a JFK with a tan bobblehead.
I’m sure the numbers are technically accurate, but does MLB actually think it is riding high on popularity?
The first half of the 2021 @MLB season has seen significant increases in media consumption compared to 2020. pic.twitter.com/24sd8Byehl
— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) July 12, 2021
Before we take a look at some of the Mets’ Front Office Promotions let’s take a look back at the Mets flying the Iverity Flag when that was the trendy thing to do.
With that box checked, let’s get to the news.
The Mets revealed a slew of promotions in an internal memo over the weekend, including the elevations of Bryn Alderson and Ian Levin to assistant general manager, sources told SNY. (via Yahoo)
That last name Alderson sounds familiar but let’s move on.
Yahoo reminds us that it’s not just guys like Alderson, Scott, Other Alderson and Levin that make the Mets so successful.
Even more than Bryn Alderson, the rank-and-file scouts deserve accolades for the Mets’ first place standing at the All-Star break. Among those scouts who earn praise internally for this work are assistant director Jeff Lebow, Jason Stein, David Keller, Joseph Kowal and Conor Brooks.
A diverse group if I ever saw one.
Meanwhile, yesterday Rob Manfred announced….
“Major League Baseball is thrilled to expand our commitment to the Players Alliance, which will include joint efforts to strengthen our sport’s engagement with Black communities. We believe in the mission of the Players Alliance and have been inspired by the passion and perspectives of the players who are leading this effort. We know that our sport is at its best when it is accessible to everyone. Together, we will make this a reality with innovative and collaborative programs.”
And Curtis Granderson said….
“Major League Baseball’s commitment to support the Players Alliance is a monumental turning point in the history of our game, establishing a pathway to progress for equity and access for the Black community, On behalf of our player members and allies, we’d like to thank Commissioner Manfred and all MLB Club owners for their unwavering support of our efforts to grow and diversify our sport, from the field to the front office, for generations to come.”
And for Star Trek fans, I think Spock said it best when he yelled, “The Women!”
Anyway, Pete hit some practice home runs and the Mets are diverse and stuff.
Acting Assistant to the Regional General Manager, Z. Michael Scott, who is not related to Sandy Alderson.
My friends over at the diverse Mets front office would like you to know..
METS SELECT NINE PLAYERS ON DAY TWO OF 2021 DRAFT
FLUSHING, N.Y., July 12, 2021 – The New York Mets today made nine selections in rounds 2-10 to complete day two of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft.
In the second round, with the 46th overall pick, the Mets selected Calvin Ziegler, a right-handed pitcher from TNXL Academy (FL). Ziegler, 18, hails from Ontario, Canada, but spent the 2021 season pitching stateside. He is the top Canadian prospect in this year’s draft class according to MLB Pipeline and has a fastball with velocity that has reached as high as 97 mph.
With their third-round pick, New York took Dominic Hamel, a right-handed pitcher from Dallas Baptist University (TX). Hamel, 22, was 13-2 with a 4.22 ERA in 18 games (16 starts) this season. The six-foot, two-inch Chandler, Arizona native ranked in the top 10 in the nation in strikeouts, whiffing 136 batters in 91.2 innings, good for a 13.35 K/9 rate.
In the fourth round, New York selected JT Schwartz, an infielder from UCLA. Schwartz, 21, won the Pac-12 batting title this season, slashing .396/.514/.628. In 59 career games with the Bruins, he collected 53 RBI and 25 extra-base hits, including eight home runs. He was named a 2021 All-American and was a member of the 2021 All Pac-12 Team. His .514 OBP during his redshirt sophomore season is the second-highest in UCLA program history.
The Mets’ fifth-round pick was Christian Scott, a right-handed pitcher from the University of Florida. Scott, 22, posted a 3.72 ERA during a three-year collegiate career, appearing in 55 games (five starts) for the Gators. In 2021, he struck out a career-high 51 batters in 54.0 innings pitched over 26 appearances. He was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll after the season.
Carson Seymour, a right-handed pitcher from Kansas State, was the Mets’ sixth-round choice. The 22-year-old from Temecula, California is a two-time member of the Academic All-Big 12 First Team (2020-2021). His fastball has been clocked at 99 mph and is complemented by his slider, which can hit 90 mph.
New York took infielder Kevin Kendall with their seventh-round selection. Kendall, 22, was the second UCLA player chosen by the Mets in this year’s draft. He was the Bruins’ primary shortstop from 2018-2019 before spending most of the 2021 season as their center fielder. Kendall also played 12 games at second base this year for UCLA, sharing the right side of the infield with fellow Mets draftee JT Schwartz, who manned first base all season.
In the eighth round, the Mets selected Mike Vasil, a right-handed pitcher from the University of Virginia. Vasil, 21, was ranked by Baseball America as the No. 114 prospect in this year’s draft. He went 11-11 with a 4.74 ERA in 34 appearances during a three-year career with the Cavaliers, including a 7-5 record with a 4.52 ERA (41 earned runs/81.2 innings) during the 2021 season.
With their ninth-round pick, New York chose Levi David, a right-handed pitcher from Northwestern State University (LA). David, 22, posted one of the highest strikeout rates in the country this season, fanning 104 in just 61.0 innings (15.34 K/9). He was a state champion swimmer in high school, winning the Texas title in the 50-meter freestyle representing Waxahachie HS.
The Mets’ final pick of day two of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft was Keyshawn Askew, a left-handed pitcher from Clemson University (SC). Askew, 21, has appeared as both a starter and a reliever for Clemson over the last three years. In 2021, he struck out 69 batters and walked just 11 in 57.0 innings covering 12 appearances (11 starts).
New York will conclude its draft tomorrow with 10 more selections in rounds 11-20.
