Mets Might Have Found Their Punch Off The Bench

Matt Adams.

One thing the Mets lacked in 2019 was a pure power hitter off the bench that they could send late into games to deliver a big hit.

Red Bulls Transfer Lawrence To R.S.C. Anderlecht

Kemar Lawrence.

The Red Bulls announced on Friday that they have transferred Jamaica defender Kemar Lawrence to R.S.C. Anderlecht, ending a memorable five-year run in New York. Terms of the transfer were not disclosed.

Books: New Fiction For February

Photo by Jason Schott.

As February approaches, it might be a good time to focus on that New Year's Resolution to read more, as we are still in the heart of winter. There are plenty of exciting new works of fiction out this week that we will take a look at here: Losing You by Nicci French; Perfect Little Children, by Sophie Hannah; A Cold Trail, by Robert Dugoni; A Divided Loyalty, by Charles Todd; and Promises of the Heart, by Nan Rossiter.

Timmy Failure, Soon To Be On Disney+, Debuts At Sundance

The cast and producers of "Timmy Failure" at Sundance. Provided by Disney.

Disney’s “Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made,” an original movie based on the best-selling book of the same name, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival 2020 earlier today, delighting the audience with the hilarious exploits of an elementary school student who runs his own detective agency with a 1,500-pound polar bear. 

Red Bulls Notebook: January 30

Red Bull Arena. Photo by Jason Schott.

In this latest edition of the Red Bulls Notebook, let's take a look at the latest around the MLS team as the season is fast approaching.

Mets To Induct Darling, Matlack, Fonzie Into Team's Hall of Fame

Ron Darling. Picture credit: Turner Sports.

The Mets announced on Tuesday at Ron Darling, a top pitcher on the 1986 championship team; Jon Matlack, an anchor of their pitching staff when they went to the World Series in 1973; and Edgardo Alfonso, an infielder that led the Mets to the pennant in 2000, will be inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame on Sunday, May 17 at Citi Field prior to the 1:10 p.m. first pitch vs. the Pirates.

Books: "Marriage on Madison Avenue" By Lauren Layne

Marriage on Madison Avenue: The Central Park Pact Series
By Lauren Layne
Gallery Books; paperback, $16.99; E-book, $11.99; available today, Tuesday January 28

This is the final part of Lauren Layne's Central Park Pact series, in which she introduced readers to the unlikely friendship between three women - one man's wife and two mistresses. 

Books On World War II: "The Art Of Resistance" & "Indestructible"

The Art of Resistance: My Four Years in the French Underground: A Memoir
By Justus Rosenberg
William Morrow; 304 pages; hardcover, $28.99; eBook, $14.99; available Tuesday, January 28

In 1937, the Nazi party tightened its grip on the Free City of Danzig (now Gdansk, Poland) and Justus Rosenberg's parents made the heart-wrenching decision to send their son to Paris, where he would have the hope of finishing high school and then going to university securely. Justus was 16 years old, and he would not see his family for another 16 years. 

Tributes To Lakers Legend Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant talking to BrooklynFans.com and the rest of the media before his first game in Brooklyn against the Nets on February 5, 2013. Photo by Jason Schott.

One of the NBA's greatest players, Kobe Bryant, and his daughter, Gianna, passed away in a helicopter crash on Sunday afternoon in Calabasas, California. 

Books: "Profiles In Corruption" By Peter Schweizer

Profiles In Corruption: Abuse of Power by America's Progressive Elites
By Peter Schweizer
Harper; hardcover, 368 pages; $29.99

Peter Schweizer has become an authority on exposing corruption in our government, with books including Clinton Cash and the recent Secret Empires, one of the first deep looks into the business deals that former Vice President, and current presidential candidate, Joe Biden's son, Hunter, was making around the world.

At Fan Fest, Mets Show Support For Their New Manager

Mets first baseman Pete Alonso. Photo by Jason Schott.

The Mets held the first-ever Fan Fest at Citi Field on Saturday morning, with the hold team on hand greeting their dedicated fans.

Books: Bosh! Healthy Vegan

BOSH! Healthy Vegan: Easier - Tastier - Leaner
By Henry Firth & Ian Theasby
William Morrow Cookbooks; 240 pages; $24.99; eBook, $14.99; available Tuesday, January 28

Bosh! is the largest and fastest-growing plant-based food channel on the web and the brand behind the smash international bestselling cookbook. Their team has introduced readers around the world to fun, mouth-watering vegan recipes even meat eaters can love. 

Mets Turn To Luis Rojas To Provide Stability

@Mets.

The Mets made it official on Thursday night, as they announced that Luis Rojas will be their new manager.

Books: "The Survivors," A Search For Self-Discovery In A Family’s History

The Survivors: A Story of War, Inheritance, and Healing
By Adam P. Frankel
Harper; hardcover; $27.99

Adam P. Frankel was a senior speechwriter for President Barack Obama from the early days of the 2008 presidential campaign through his first term in the White House. Since then, he has served as an executive director of a national education nonprofit and worked in the private sector. Frankel is currently a senior advisor to Emerson Collective, a social change organization, and to Fenway Strategies, the communications firm founded by Jon Favreau and Tommy Vietor, who also served in the Obama administration.

Jeter Elected To Hall Of Fame: How Yankee Teammates & Officials Reacted

@Yankees.

Derek Jeter, the former Yankees Captain who led the team to five world championships as part of their most recent dynasty, was elected to the Hall of Fame on Tuesday night.

The Captain came within one vote of joining his teammate, Mariano Rivera, as unanimous selections for the Hall. The former Yankee closer was the first ever to get every single vote, and the assumption was Jeter would follow with that illustrious honor.

Jeter, the Yankees shortstop for 20 seasons, led the Yankees to the World Series title in his first full season, 1996 when he was Rookie of the Year. That was followed by three more titles soon after, from 1998, when they won 114 games, to 2000, when he was the World Series MVP in their win over the Mets, followed by one more in 2009.

Red Bulls Roster As They Open Training Camp

Red Bull Arena during a game last season. Photo by Jason Schott.

The Red Bulls opened the first of two preseason camps on Sunday in Bradenton, Florida, where they will train and play exhibition matches at the IMG Academy through February 1.

Books: New Novels Set Around The World

Photo by Jason Schott.

There are three new novels out that will take you all over the world, to Italy, the setting for Luca D'Andrea's Sanctuary, to Iceland, where The Sacrament by Olaf Olafsson takes place, and a little closer to home, Manhattan's Fifth Avenue for Cornelius Sky, by Timothy Brandoff.

Books: A Look At VP Mike Pence In "Piety & Power"

Piety & Power: Mike Pence and the Taking of the White House 
By Tom LoBianco
Dey St, an imprint of William Morrow; hardcover; $26.99

Tom LoBianco has a perspective on Vice President Mike Pence that few possess, as he has covered from the Indiana statehouse to the present day in the Trump White House for the Associated Press, CNN, and the Indianapolis Star.

For Mets, Time To Bring Back Terry Or Make It Wright

Mets General Manager Brodie Van Wagenen at a press conference last season. Photo by Jason Schott.

In the wake of being revealed as one of the ringleaders of the Houston Astros sign-stealing operation in their 2017 championship season, Carlos Beltran has stepped down as Mets manager before even managing a game.

Books: Tobin Smith On The Inner Workings Of The "Foxocracy"

Foxocracy: Inside the Network's Playbook of Tribal Warfare
By Tobin Smith
Diversion Books; hardcover, 272 pages; $26.99

Tobin Smith had a fourteen-year tenure as a host of Fox News's weekly weekend business program Bulls & Bears, appearing in more than 2,000 panel segments, and was a guest-host of more than 60 episodes.

Books: Richard III, The Self-Made King

Richard III: The Self-Made King
By Michael Hicks
Yale University Press; hardcover, 388 pages; $35.00

The reign of Richard III, who was the last Yorkist king and the final monarch of the Plantagenet dynasty, produced a turning point in British history. Despite leaving a lasting legacy, he only was on the throne for the final two years of his life. While great attention has been paid to his short reign, the period before his usurpation and kingship are not as well known.

NYCFC Signs Tajouri-Shradi to Multi-Year Deal

Ismael Tajouri-Shradi.

New York City Football Club has signed forward Ismael Tajouri-Shradi to a new multi-year contract.

Yankees Trade Tarpley to Miami For 3B Jimmy Nelson

Stephen Tarpley.

The Yankees acquired minor league third baseman Jimmy Nelson and cash considerations from the Miami Marlins for left-handed pitcher Stephen Tarpley, who at one time had a promising future.

Red Sox Fire Cora; Mets Should Follow Their Lead With Beltran

Alex Cora.

The Boston Red Sox wasted no time firing their manager, Alex Cora, after his role in the Houston Astros' sign-stealing operation during the 2017 season was revealed in a report from Major League Baseball.

Books: "All the Ways We Said Goodbye" By Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, Karen White

All the Ways We Said Goodbye
By Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, Karen White
William Morrow; hardcover; $27.99; available today, Tuesday, January 14

Beatriz Williams is the author of eight novels, including the New York Times bestsellers The Summer Wives, A Hundred Summers, The Secret Life of Violet Grant, A Certain Age, and The Golden Hour.

Yankees Announce New Player Health and Performance Staff

Giancarlo Stanton (walking by cage) missed most of the 2019 season due to injury. Photo by Jason Schott.

After a season in which they endured injuries to nearly every starting player, the Yankees knew they had to make changes to their training staff, and they announced those moves on Tuesday.

Books: "Disney's Land" On The Creation Of The Happiest Place On Earth

Disney's Land: Walt Disney and the Invention of the Amusement Park that Changed the World
By Richard Snow
Scribner; hardcover, 432 pages; $30 

"Walt Disney envisioned his park as an antidote to an edgy, restless, suspicious era, a concrete affirmation of the better angels of our national nature. Of course it was to be a place where people had fun and spent money, but he believed it could also, by drawing on the American past, give its visitors a faith in a safe and prosperous future," Richard Snow writes in the richly-detailed new book, Disney's Land.

MLB Releases Report On Astros Cheating; Mets Manager Beltran Implicated

Photo by Jason Schott.

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred released his report on the Houston Astros' cheating methods from the 2017 to 2019 seasons.

Books: "Many Rivers To Cross," The Latest In Inspector Banks Series

Many Rivers To Cross: A DCI Banks Novel
By Peter Robinson
William Morrow; hardcover; $28.99; available Tuesday, January 14

Peter Robinson has been captivating readers with the adventures of Inspector Banks for over 30 years, and Many Rivers To Cross is the 26th book of this acclaimed series.

Mets' Spring Training Home Gets New Name & Address

The Mets announced on Monday morning that the street address to their spring training home in Port St. Lucie, Florida, will be named after Mike Piazza, just as they renamed Citi Field's address to 41 Seaver Way last summer.

Books: "A Team Of Their Own" On Korean Hockey History At Olympics

A Team Of Their Own: How an International Sisterhood Made Olympic History
By Seth Berkman
Hanover Square Press; hardcover; $26.99

In January 2018, a short time before the Winter Olympic Games would be held in PyeongChang, North and South Korea made the momentous decision to merge their women's ice hockey teams into one.

Books: The Legacy Of The New York Rangers

The Big 50: New York Rangers - The Men and Moments that Made the New York Rangers
By Steve Zipay; foreword by Pete Stemkowski
Triumph Books; paperback, 288 pages; $16.95

The Broadway Blueshirts are one of New York's most captivating teams. While memories of 1994 still linger around Madison Square Garden, Henrik Lundqvist has shepherded the team through one of its greatest eras in the past decade.

Books: "You Were Born For This" By Chani Nicholas

You Were Born For This: Astrology for Radical Self-Acceptance
By Melinda Mullin
HarperOne; hardcover, $24.99; available Tuesday, January 7

Chani Nicholas is a Los-Angeles based, Webby award-winning astrologer with a community of over one million monthly readers. A counseling astrologer for over 20 years, she has guided people to discover and live out their life's purpose through understanding their birth chart. She has been featured on Netflix and in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and The Atlantic.

Books: "The Gimmicks" By Chris McCormick

The Gimmicks
By Chris McCormick
Harper; hardcover, 354 pages; $27.99; available Tuesday, January 7

The United States Congress recently gave long-overdue recognition and denunciation of the Armenian Genocide brings an urgency and a powerful resonance to Chris McCormick's debut novel, The Gimmicks, a story of history and violence denied.

Books: "Grace Is Gone" By Emily Elgar

Grace Is Gone
By Emily Elgar
Harper Paperbacks; paperback, $16.99; available Tuesday, January 7

Emily Elgar is originally from the Cotswolds, she studied at Edinburgh University, and then worked for a nonprofit organization providing support services for sex workers in the United Kingdom. She went on to Faber Academy to complete the novel writing course, and her first novel, If You Knew Her, became an international bestseller.

NYCFC Names Ronny Deila Its New Head Coach

@NYCFC.

New York City Football Club announced that Ronny Deila has been appointed as their new Head Coach, and he has signed a three-year contract.

Betances On Joining Mets: "Definitely a lot of things that I'm excited about"

Dellin Betances in his new pinstripes. Photo by Jason Schott.

The Mets introduced Dellin Betances, their new star reliever, on Thursday at Citi Field. 

BVW On Betances: "He's got size, he's got strength, and he's got swagger"

Mets General Manager Brodie Van Wagenen presents Dellin Betances with his new cap. Photo by Jason Schott.

On Thursday at Citi Field, the Mets introduced their new star relief pitcher, Dellin Betances, whom they recently signed to a one-year contract.

Yankees Pitcher Domingo German Suspended 81 Games

Domingo German.

Yankees pitcher Domingo German has been suspended 81 games for violating Major League Baseball's Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse Policy.

Yankees Legend Don Larsen Passes Away At 90

@Yankees.

Legendary Yankees pitcher Don Larsen, the only man to ever pitch a perfect game in the World Series, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 90.