J.D. Davis’ And Jake Marisnick’s Sign Stealing Against Mets Pitchers
While Major League Baseball underwent an investigation, it was a Houston Astros fan who really did the research into the extent of the Astros sign stealing.
Tony Adams set up a website named Sign Stealing Scandal. On his website and on Twitter, he released the results of his investigation into the extent of the Astros sign stealing. It also detailed how often there was the now infamous banging sound during an Astros’ batter’s plate appearance:
Astros players trashcan bangs.
See all the data at https://t.co/kVtisgUo74. pic.twitter.com/n9qqapcIZD
— Tony Adams (@adams_at) January 29, 2020
Looking at the chart, there was a banging noise 22.8% of the time during Jake Marisnick‘s at-bats and 28.6% of the time when J.D. Davis batted. Both players are members of the New York Mets.
However, in 2017, they were Houston Astros, and they squared off against pitchers who are currently on the Mets pitching staff.
On September 2, 2017, Davis played in both ends of a doubleheader going 2-for-8 with a double, homer, and two RBI. Both of those hits came against Tommy Milone and Jamie Callahan, neither of whom are with the Mets.
On that day, the only pitcher he faced who is still with the Mets is Seth Lugo. While he went 0-for-2, he was in a lineup which handed Lugo the loss.
Lugo, who wants to be a starter, has only started five games after that losing effort.
Marisnick was not in the lineup for either game. It should also be noted Sign Stealing Scandal denotes there was no video from those games. As such, we are not 100% sure the Astros used the banging those days, but it’s reasonable to assume it happened.
It should be noted this wasn’t the only time Davis and Marisnick squared off against current Mets pitchers.
On June 3, 2018, Davis was 0-for-3 against Rick Porcello in a game Porcello picked up the win.
Essentially, Davis’ full extent of facing current Mets pitchers as a member of the Astros was those five at-bats against Lugo and Porcello.
Given his going hitless in those at-bats and how popular he appears among those players from last year’s Mets roster, it appears he may not have to do much, if anything, to smooth things over with his teammates.
Marisnick might be a different story.
In 2017, he was a combined 1-for-5 with a double against Marcus Stroman, Edwin Diaz, and Justin Wilson. The double came against Stroman in a game played at Minute Maid.
If we expand the time period to include 2018 and 2019, Marisnick has faced six of the pitchers currently on the Mets pitching staff. In addition to doubling off Stroman, he has also doubled against Porcello and Brad Brach. He didn’t record a hit against Diaz, Wilson, or Dellin Betances.
With respect to Stroman, he’s been very outspoken about what the Astros did, and like many, he isn’t happy about it.
Shit makes sense now. I remember wondering how these guys were laying off some of my nasty pitches. Relaying all my signs in live speed to the batter. Ruining the integrity of the game. These dudes were all about the camera and social media. Now, they’re all quiet! Lol ? https://t.co/DuknUCQaRb
— Marcus Stroman (@STR0) January 20, 2020
In that tweet, he specifically addresses the game Marisnick doubled off of him. Clearly, Stroman was baffled by this game, and he’s justifiably upset about the whole sign stealing scandal.
He’s not the only one. Andy Martino of SNY reports Jacob deGrom and Edwin Diaz suspected they were victims of sign stealing, and for his part, deGrom was angry about it.
The Mets were actually one of the more vocal teams about this last year. Kevin Kernan of the New York Post wrote about how much the Dodgers were on top of Diaz’s pitches. While cautioning they didn’t believe it to be illegal, Mickey Callaway and the Mets spoke about how they believed the Dodgers were stealing signs.
Callaway lost his job. We’ve also seen the Astros teeing off on Chris Flexen, who is now pitching in Korea.
Right now, we know Davis and Marisnick cheated, and we’re starting to learn the extent to which they cheated. We also know their cheating has affected Mets new and old. Finally, we know at least some of the Mets pitchers are upset about the Astros sign stealing.
What we don’t know is what, if any, impact Davis’ and Marisnick’s part in the sign stealing will have on the 2020 Mets.
One of the reasons Carlos Beltran was fired was the difficulty in carrying on his managerial duties after discovering his involvement in the scandal. That may or may not have included his ability to handle pitchers like Stroman who he cheated against.
Now, the conversation shifts to those same pitchers reactions to their teammates, how Davis and Marisnick respond, and ultimately how Luis Rojas can manage the situation.
Of course, that presupposes there is going to be an issue. Maybe there won’t be one at all.
In the end, all we know is Davis and Marisnick cheated against former and current Mets pitchers, and at least some of the Mets pitchers are upset about what happened in Houston. Where the Mets go from here could very well be a factor in how the Mets clubhouse holds together and the team performs in 2020.
“Now, the conversation shifts to those same pitchers reactions to their teammates, how Davis and Marisnick respond, and ultimately how Luis Rojas can manage the situation.”
—-Speaking of managerial acumen, I was appalled at Rojas’ inability to speak meaningfully–to speak in more than the most banal, cliched language–during his introductory presser, and would be genuinely interested as I was wrt Beltran, to learn of one *specific* talk, article, discussion, conversation, panel appearance… where Luis Rojas displays actual baseball acumen.
I’ve looked. I haven’t found an example. It would be nice to learn of one.
Show me the press conference where a new managerial hire does what you are criticizing Luis Rojas for not doing
@metsdaddy Why you believe your deflection does you or Luis Rojas any favors, will probably remain a mystery.
My being appalled was a honest and legitimate recoiling from Rojas’ statement, that I’ve already transcribed in your website, where he says:
“well uh I mention that’s one of the that’s one of the three uh most important things that’s one of the three uh that I want, uh, that I’m gonna be employing on a daily basis with the players of course we’re a front office and uh you know um um I, I, that’s my number one thing, communication. I think everyone everybody needs to know where they’re at I mean that makes things go easier, ah, you know, and uh and that’s something that I know we’re gonna we’re gonna have a strong one you know when it met when it when it’s when ah when you talk about players front office coaches uh, the media, you know we’re gonna have a really good communication.”
You’re certainly welcome to try and find another manager’s intro that is as inept and sad.
In the meantime I can only repeat, Wow, along with my original question, to which you appear to have no answer:
“…and [I] would be genuinely interested as I was wrt Beltran, to learn of one *specific* talk, article, discussion, conversation, panel appearance… where Luis Rojas displays actual baseball acumen.”
Just one example would be welcome. Very, very welcome.
I’ve cited examples in my pieces advocating for him including his work developing these players, what he did as the QC coach, his work with McNeil last year, and what the players have said about him.
In response you over focus on a very small segment of his press conference while deflecting on my question
Speaking of 2020, on learning that NL East teams spent around $722m thus far this offseason on FA contracts it occurred to me that the NYMets, who on average overperformed but still won only 86 games and finished 3rd, spent less than 4% of that total–and I was also reminded of the recent offseasons where the Mets did the least they could get away with doing (when their moves weren’t utterly misguided).
This offseason, the Wilpons and Van Wagenen added:
–the worst qualifying starter by ERA in MLB.
–a 5th OFer.
–a reliever who had one start last season and whose health and recovery are unknown.
–to the bullpen a swingman, whose ERA last year was 4.76 and whose FIP was 5.61
Van Wagenen also made a team that was older than the MLB average last season even older.
It’s hard to see this ending well.
This could be 2006 or 1992
This offseason the Mets added two All Stars, one Cy Young award winner, a speedster and superb defender, a bench coach with 3 World Series rings, a new manager that the Rays, under Chaim Bloom, coveted last offseason for their big league staff.
All of the 4 outside player acquisitions have postseason experience.
I’m excited about the upcoming season. So are the players.
Some people choose to be negative, amplifying negativity for it’s own sake.
Should this team remain relatively healthy, this looks to me like a 95 game winner or thereabouts. 93-98.
@LongTimeFan1 – Or in your case, resorting to insult and brainless positivity because you can’t handle simple facts.
Interesting, that I wasn’t addressing you in the least, but your sense of the world is so fragile you responded to my post like a six year old screeching after their ice cream cone falls on the sidewalk.
The team was healthier than most last year, won only 86, added only old and injured players, but You Go, Girl! 98!!
We’re raising a generation of dunces mesmerized by surfaces, so unable to look at the world as it is they have to get drunk on glitter drinks and salemen’s spittle.
You’re not a fan, you’re a mark.
Who peed in your cornflakes this morning?
Navigating the Jake Marisnik situation will be challenging but should be addressed when he comes into camp, and then more formally on the first day of position player mandatory reporting.
I suspect Mets have a plan for addressing this matter privately within the clubhouse, and publicly. And that Marisnik and his representatives have a plan as that includes communication with his new teammates as well as the public. These plans will almost certainly merge.
The Marisnik-Stroman work-through is likely to be the most consequential and noteworthy.
Their not having a previous personal relationship is the key difference between Marisnick and Davis
Just a correction. JD made his denial on Dec 4th.