G-Fafif

The only WS-winning mgrs on the scene currently: Davey Martinez (2019; still w/Nats) Joe Maddon (2016; starting new gig in TB) Joe Girardi (2009; starting new gig in Philly) Terry Francona (2007 & 2004; continuing in Cleveland) Martinez is the only champion manager still managing the franchise he led to glory. Gotta be a first since 1979 when other than Lemon/Martin, hands had changed everywhere a ring had been won. OE: In 1980, Chuck Tanner managed the defending champion Bucs, while no WS skipper was at the helm elsewhere. And I forgot Earl Weaver stayed in place through ‘82, so we may be in rarer territory than I initially thought.

Mutual parting of the ways between Cora and Red Sox ahead of MLB action.

Carrasco threw at Ryan Braun after giving up a home run to Rickie Weeks, causing Terry Collins to remove David Wright, who loomed as a target from Carrasco's violation of the code. Wright was upset because he thought he should stand in and absorb whatever the Brewers might be throwing to get even, which wouldn't have been necessary had Carrasco controlled himself.

SunTrust Park is now Truist Park, which may or may not inspire a line of I'M STILL CALLING IT SUNTRUST t-shirts from Uni-Watch.

=41Forever post_id=29689 time=1579027759 user_id=69] Did the Astros name an interim yet?

The Cubs have traded Tony Kemp to the A's for Alfonso Rivas.

Perhaps Carrasco will be in the Mike Maddux mold of sucking as a Met reliever, enduring as a pitching sage.

D.J. Carrasco will be Schneider's pitching coach. As a Met reliever in 2011 and 2012, Carrasco was about as effective as Schneider was catching and hitting in 2008 and 2009. The Mets are building quite the “if you can't do, teach” staff at Syracuse.

Ivan Nova signs with Detroit.

Playing in Washington allowed Nationals to become very familiar with ethically ambiguous behavior.

Jim Crane has fired Hinch and Luhnow.

From the Athletic: The penalties, according to sources with knowledge of Manfred's decision, include: • A one-year suspension for general manager Jeff Luhnow. • A one-year suspension for manager A.J. Hinch. • The forfeitures of first- and second-round draft picks in both 2020 and '21. • A fine of $5 million, the maximum allowed under MLB's constitution. • The placement of former Astros assistant GM Brandon Taubman on baseball's ineligible list. On Nov. 12, The Athletic reported that the Astros stole signs during regular-season home games in 2017 with the aid of a center-field camera. The next day, The Athletic reported that Alex Cora, the team's bench coach at the time, was a mastermind of the team's sign-stealing scheme. Discipline for Cora will be determined after baseball completes its investigation of the Red Sox for separate sign-stealing allegations that occurred while Cora was the team's manager in 2018, as reported by The Athletic last week. No players were disciplined. MLB instead chose to issue penalties to those who were in positions of authority.

Hinch and Luhnow suspended for a year for their role in Houston's 2017 sign-stealing escapade. Cora to get something, too, for having coached the system in question. No players, including Beltran, will be hit, per ESPN's Jeff Passan.

The Mets are changing the name of their ST/FSL stadium from First Data Field to Clover Park for uninspiring corporate reasons, though maybe clover grows wild on the Florida Treasure Coast. Also, it appears the address of the joint will soon be 31 Piazza Way, commemorating the time Mike chased Guillermo Mota into traffic. Still think the Gary Carter Spring Training Complex would be a nice umbrella for the whole spread. http://www.faithandfearinflushing.com/2012/01/24/carter-a-name-not-a-number/http://www.faithandfearinflushing.com/2012/01/24/carter-a-name-not-a-number/

The Gyorko store called and said Milwaukee has signed Jedd.

Long, detailed, seemingly well-reported piece from Slate following up on the rape accusations leveled against Golden, Coleman and Boston 28 years ago (plus a smorgasbord of contemporary teammates' bad behavior). https://slate.com/culture/2020/01/mets-rape-accusation-spring-training-1991.htmlhttps://slate.com/culture/2020/01/mets-rape-accusation-spring-training-1991.html

Released on Wednesday, claimed off waivers by Seattle on Friday. Like the pinch-runner himself, that was fast. Sam did run a lot as a Met. He was inserted eight times for PR purposes in September, placing him second on the club in the role (Juan Lagares went in to run nine times). Never got a hit, though not for the lack of his teammates cheering him on. Compressed September rosters are going to squeeze out the speedy bench player and the flexibility he brings.

AL West is full of ex-Mets all of a sudden. Rangers sign Todd Frazier, Mariners claim Sam Haggerty off waivers.

Todd Frazier is now a Texas Ranger. He's from Toms River, originally. That three-run homer off Doolittle will fall a little short of legendary since it only tied a dramatic game in the ninth inning (and the Mets didn't make crazy hay off their crazy streak), but it was Todd's highlight. I liked him in all those promotional videos he did for the soft drink sponsor. Pretending he'd caught a ball in the crowd at Dodger Stadium that he didn't was heady, but admitting it before the season was out wrought bad karma. Like Granderson, made me forget he'd been MFY material. Good luck in the Lone Star State, Jersey guy.

=41Forever post_id=29584 time=1578844366 user_id=69] This from Ken Davidoff: Derek Jeter is perennially unheralded? Finally getting his due? I'm hoping he's being sarcastic and it just doesn't translate well. Because I can't think of a more over-praised New York baseball player than Derek Jeter.

The Mets have signed RHP Yefry Ramirez, previously of the Orioles and Pirates, to a minor league deal. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/ramirye01.shtmlhttps://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/ramirye01.shtml

Hal Smith, the Pirate catcher whose eighth-inning three run homer in Game Seven of the 1960 World Series set the stage for Bill Mazeroski an inning later, 89.

Regional covers for SI seem wrong, but regional covers for preseason magazines seem fine.

Endy Chavez will be bench coach at St. Lucie this season.