Omar Quintanilla this evening will become the 39th player to suit up for the Mets in the No. 6 jersey and the first since Nick Evans wrestled it away from Ramon Martinez in 2008 and began four years of bobbing recalls and DFAs typical of classic Met sixers. Quintanilla replaces the roster slot of Justin Turner who went down with an ankle injury yesterday. As noted here often, No. 6 is the official address of the Met scrub, having been issued more times than any other jersey in team history. Back in 2009, I counted down the 10 greatest sixes in Mets history: A revised version would probably have to include Evans for sheer persistence in waiting around for another turn — and getting them — in the face of so many invitations to take a hike.
Also back tonight is Chris Schwinden, rapidly becoming Evans’ pitching equivalent. He’s up for Manny Acosta but likely just holding a spot in line for someone better. That they designated Acosta for assignment is less of a mystery than why Terry Collins chose to use him in a 1-run game the Mets still had a chance to win, but Manny, like so many of those who dared to wear No. 46 before him, is leaving the Mets in disgrace.
Submitted by Gordon Handler (not verified) on Tue, 05/29/2012 – 6:26pm.
We now have last names that start with 25 of the 26 letters. And there’s never been an MLB player with a last name that begins with X.
Submitted by Jon Springer on Tue, 05/29/2012 – 8:21pm.
Apologies to Hernandez, Harrelson and Strawberry…
Starting pitchers (5)
Gooden, SP
Koosman, SP
Leiter, SP
Seaver, SP
Viola, SP
Relievers (6)
Dotel
Franco
R. Hernandez
Innis
McGraw
Zachry
Catchers (2)
Carter
Piazza
Infielders (6)
Alfonzo, 2B-3B
Olerud, 1B
Quintanilla, SS-2B
Reyes, SS
Teufel, 2B
Wright, 3B
Outfielders (6)
Beltran
Everett
C. Jones
Nieuwenhuis
Unser
Younglood
Submitted by ShortyNJ on Tue, 05/29/2012 – 8:55pm.
Jeremy Hefner hit the first home run ever by a Met wearing #53.
Submitted by ShortyNJ on Tue, 05/29/2012 – 8:57pm.
The Mets’ first player for each letter of the alphabet:
A – Richie Ashburn, cf, 4/11/1962 (led off in the Mets’ first game)
B – Gus Bell, rf, 4/11/1962
C – Roger Craig, p, 4/11/1962 (starting pitcher in the Mets’ first game)
D – John DeMerit, pr, 4/13/1962
E – Larry Elliot, cf, 4/15/1964
F – Larry Foss, p, 9/10/1962
G – Joe Ginsberg, c, 4/13/1962
H – Gil Hodges, 1B, 4/11/1962
I – Jeff Innis, p, 5/16/1987
J – Sherman Jones, p, 4/13/1963
K – Rod Kanehl, ph, 4/15/1962
L – Hobie Landrith, c, 4/11/1962
M – Felix Mantilla, ss, 4/11/1962
N – Charlie Neal, 2B, 4/11/1962
O – Amos Otis, pr, 9/6/1967
P – Joe Pignatano, c, 7/14/1962
Q – Omar Quintanilla, ss, 5/29/2012
R – Don Rowe, p, 4/9/1963
S – Bobby Smith, ph, 4/13/1962
T – Frank Thomas, lf, 4/11/1962
U – Del Unser, cf, 4/8/1975
V – Mike Vail, ph, 8/18/1975
W – Gene Woodling, lf, 1962
X – none yet
Y – Joel Youngblood, 3B, 6/24/1977
Z – Don Zimmer, 3B, 4/11/1962
Submitted by Ranjrz5 on Tue, 05/29/2012 – 9:21pm.
How about Orosco or Oliver as a reliever and Hernandez at first base?
Submitted by Jon Springer on Tue, 05/29/2012 – 9:40pm.
Definitely, Orosco. I originally sat Hernandez for Harrelson then figured with Olerud in it was redundant. I’m also afraid Seaver might have to sit for Strawberry, since I need more power hitters.
Submitted by gored82 on Wed, 05/30/2012 – 11:08am.
We’ll have to bend the rule and use Xavier Nady (first Mets game 4/3/06) for X, especially since there’s never been a player in MLB history with a surname starting with that letter. There have only been 5 such guys in the minor leagues, 6 if you count one Zheng Xu with no stats.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/pl/player_search.cgi?search=x
Submitted by Ranjrz5 on Wed, 05/30/2012 – 2:45pm.
Zheng Xu is a pitcher in China, member of their ’06 Olympic team… never signed with an American team.
Submitted by gored82 on Thu, 05/31/2012 – 1:04pm.
I wonder why Xu popped up in the Baseball-Reference search.
Submitted by Dave Mackey (not verified) on Fri, 07/20/2012 – 7:23pm.
6 is available again! Quintanilla is gone.