The league’s investigation into the Braves for international signing violations is still ongoing, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports tweets. Indeed, MLB is sending out investigators to chat with club officials this week. It’s doubtful that any results will be released while the postseason is ongoing, but all eyes will be on commissioner Rob Manfred as things progress. The investigation has already resulted in the resignations of Atlanta GM John Coppolella and special assistant Gordon Blakely; at this point, it’s far from clear just where it could go and what kind of fallout might occur.
Here’s more from the NL East:
- Agent Scott Boras discussed the offseason challenges facing his client, Mets righty Matt Harvey, with Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Harvey will work through “a substantial throwing program” in which he’ll work on restoring his command and release point, says Boras. While the veteran player rep didn’t sugarcoat the situation, he did note that Harvey has at least already regained much of his velocity and will have a better opportunity to iron things out this offseason.
- The Mets have hired a new Triple-A manager. Per Jon Heyman of Fan Rag, via Twitter, the club has tapped Tony DeFrancesco to run the dugout at Las Vegas. He had held the same job at the Astros’ top affiliate for the last seven seasons, but a change was made at the end of the year. Of course, the Mets are still weighing a more significant managerial hire at the MLB level.
- In some oddly timed news, the Nationals announced just before tonight’s game that it has suspended assistant hitting coach Jacque Jones (as first reported, on Twitter, by Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post). Details are hazy, but as Janes writes, Jones and the team were named in a lawsuit in which an unidentified woman alleges that Jones wrongly distributed sexually explicit photographs of her. Just why the organization was included in the claim is not clear.
It’s odd that the woman would name the Nationals team in the lawsuit. Obviously, we don’t know the details, so we cannot fairly judge anything as of yet. Even so, naming the Nationals team, and I hate to say this about a victim, but it almost seems like an attempt to capitalize on the situation, from a monetary standpoint…
Then again, the team, as a whole or involving several of its members, could somehow be involved and at fault, so we don’t really know…It just definitely seems odd to me that she would also sue the Nationals team…
If Jones used a work computer or distributed photos to people in the Nationals then, well I don’t know about legal liabilities but naming the Nationals in a lawsuit would force the Nationals to confront a potential PR fallout.
That said I know nothing about this. S0 I reserve the right to plead ignorant on my opinions. Just saying the alternate to this being a shake down is suing the Nationals gets far more attention than suing their assistant hitting coach.
Deeper pockets?
Try not to speak.
Well my guess is pictures of her was most likely taken with their equipment or on their premises just guessing though
From what it looks like, she’s trying to bring the Nationals into the suit with Jones under vicarious liability, since Jones an employee of the team. So this is like what Start Wearing Purple was saying. If the situation involved, for example, Jones being in the clubhouse and distributing the photos to other players/coaches, the team itself could be brought in since Jones was “on the clock” acting as their employee and doing whatever it is he was doing. It would make it even worse if the Nationals knew about it and didn’t do anything about it, or if she was also was an employee of the team, but obviously we don’t know all of the details yet.
Also, Matt Harvey has definitely had a rough stretch of things the past 2 years, so I really wish him the best in his recovery and his attempt to battle back to his former dominant self.
Off the top of my head though, I can’t immediately recall any pitchers ever fully bouncing back after battling TOS… So, I’m not so sure the odds are in his favor; however, I am sure it has been a very eye opening experience and a humbling experience for Harvey.
Hopefully, he will embrace his second chance, and he can attack his opportunity with the sane success he once had attacking opposing offenses…It’s definitely a good sign his velocity has returned to form. Now, if he can maintain that level on a consistent basis, then that’s a huge step in the right direction
I can’t speak to other pitchers, but Alex Cobb had TOS back in 2011 and bounced back fine. Not saying Harvey will come back fully, but it does happen.
I like the hire for the Mets. Unfortunately, Mets fans will still complain because he’s not Wally Backman.
Mets fan who is glad to see Wally gone. Hope he never comes back. I hope we find something for Pedro Lopez, the former AAA manager, though. He was great as the AA manager and I think he still has a lot to offer.
So you do not know but you are indicating you is trying to extort the Nationals? You are withholding judgment but say how odd it is to sue the team?
Your are judging. Your position is clear. You feel she is a con lady and there is no way there is a reason she sued the team but I bet you have not read the complaint
Have you read the complaint?
No, he’s stating the two most likely situations. We assume all people are innocent until proven guilty. And yeah, it does look strange, but there may be a good reason. Like if she works for the team. Who knows? But no one should believe the victim over the accuser without a full set of facts. Let’s just be comfortable saying we don’t know. And it’s ok to speculate about circumstances that look odd like that.
*Accused
Jones is in big trouble. Definitely won’t ever coach again. Way too much of a distraction.
I still think u start Harvey through April. If he sucks u convert him to bullpen and see if he can become a Jason izzy type star. Look at Mariano too. No way comparing but even bad starters can become hall of fame closers. Harvey won’t like it but if he sucks and is pitching to an 0-4, 7.50 lone to start the season after these two past seasons, he really doesn’t have a leg to stand on. Unless that is the next wave of injuries, loss of leg.
Another absolute misstatement Frank. “Even bad starters become fall of fame closers”. Next you will give us, “the Mets only need one or two free agent pieces, combined with the starting staff all returning completely healthy and we will be back in the World Series again.”
Would be crazy if the mets non tender Harvey’s contract and he becomes a free agent.
I echo the sentiments of many Mets fans when I say, get rid of everyone who doesn’t produce and/or who is injured- but if they’re not allowed to do well elsewhere. Fire everyone in management and hire names I recognize from the 86 team. And spend lots of money. But it only counts if they perform. Only success will be acknowledged. And if ownership doesn’t do that- they’re cheap and should sell the team.