Monthly Archives: July 2020

2020 Mets Card Spr-ummer Preview

Posted by on 24 July 2020 1 comment

Baseball’s back, even though it probably shouldn’t be

So, um, right. Baseball! As a pandemic rages unchecked across the country and travel and gatherings of all kinds are frowned upon, MLB is back in action. Sure, there won’t be fans in the stands. And there may be complications along the way. But, in times like this, we need baseball to let us know that everything is fine and there’s nothing to worry about, even though it isn’t and there is. But, but, baseball!

What a wild ride it’s been through the first four months of the non-season. The growing animosity between owners and the MLBPA and the utter disdain for all things minor league were laid bare as negotiations to get the season started dragged on. In the end, nobody got anything they wanted, MLB declared that the season was happening under the rules agreed to in March, and a greater battle looms as the CBA is set to expire after next season. The fun never ends! Now on to the cards.
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2020 Mets Draft Class Autographs

Posted by on 23 July 2020 Comments Off on 2020 Mets Draft Class Autographs

A brief interlude before the midsummer night’s fling

Full list of 2020 Mets draft picks

In a normal year, the draft would be a background event largely overshadowed by emerging prospects and All-Star voting. This year, the draft was the first big baseball event since spring training ended prematurely due to the worst health crisis this nation has seen in over a century. In the interim, countless prospects and minor league free agents were released, team employees were furloughed, and the fate of dozens of minor league teams was looking grim. It was clear what the priority would be in this draft – saving the owners money.

The details (5 rounds max, deferred bonus money, limit on signing bonuses for undrafted players, etc.) were agreed to rather quickly, unlike the negotiations to start the season. And here we are, with six Mets picks and another six or so undrafted free agent signings. The Mets’ plan here was essentially unchanged from last year, though “grab anyone who will sign for peanuts after the big names are off the board” was practically written into the rules this time. Pete Crow-Armstrong was a perfectly reasonable pick (and he became an instant fan favorite) and J.T. Ginn was signed with money saved on the remaining picks. And there you go, that’s the draft.

Both Crow-Armstrong and Ginn have plenty of cardboard – autographs from Leaf Perfect game, autographs and memorabilia from Panini USA Baseball, etc. It’s pretty barren from there on down except for the Mets’ first undrafted free agent, Brandon McIlwain – he has autographs and memorabilia from 2015 Leaf Perfect Game. When your last cards are in an amateur product from five years ago, you’re just what this team is looking for. Drake Nightengale wins best name of this draft class and that’s all I’ve got. Let the games begin…

1 Pete Crow-Armstrong 2 J.T. Ginn 2 Isaiah Greene 3 Anthony Walters
4 Matthew Dyer 5 Eric Orze Brandon McIlwain (UFA) Drake Nightengale (UFA)
Joe Suozzi (UFA) Dylan Hall (UFA) Austin Faith (UFA) Kody Davidson (UFA)

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