Archive for Uncategorized

Handy Manny

April 21, 2010 Uncategorized One comment

36Ryota Igarashi went onto the disabled list today with injuries sustained when attacked by a Koyie Hill bunt last night, and the Mets summoned former Brave and spring training waiver claim Manny Acosta to take his place. Reports said Acosta will be suited up in No. 36, a number worn last year by Ken Takahashi and not by a Met of significance since, uh, Greg McMichael or, perhaps, Ed Lynch. I guess maybe Grant Roberts would count if only for the hype and front-page bong hits.

Acosta, you might remember, is one 10,000 men who’ve been the closer for the Atlanta Braves during the Bobby Cox Era and should, but probably won’t, serve as a reminder to the Mets that they’re still trying way too hard to capture this elusive 8th-inning thunder. If they weren’t, Igarashi might never have needed to take the mound last night in the first place.

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Psyike!

April 19, 2010 Uncategorized One comment

A brief update on the Ike Davis situation: Yes he’s been called up and may start this evening against the Cubs, while Tobi Stoner heads back to Buffalo with our thanks and a tough luck loss. Think Jerry’s a little obsessed with creating eighth inning magic? Jeez.

As for why you’re here: The mets.com roster lists Davis as wearing 29, which Stoner just surrendered. (Now I see the press release reportting same). Isn’t it my fate to campaign for a guy to get Keith Hernandez‘ number only to see them give up Dave Magadan‘s instead. I don’t much get into that number, 29. It’s Steve Trachsel. It’s Steve Bieser. It’s some guy named Steve.

At any rate, tonight we really don’t have to worry about it since Davis will be wearing No. 42, along with the rest of his Met teammates in Part II of Chuck Taylor Appreciation Night.

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And it Stoned Me

April 18, 2010 Uncategorized One comment

Well, as suspected below last night’s marathon prompted the Mets to bring up another pitcher tonight — and the offense just might get a jolt too.
Tobi Stoner, who made a few late-season appearances last season wearing No. 29, was recalled. The surprise was that rather than demoting a gassed arm, the Mets designated flailing first baseman Mike Jacobs for assignment in order to make room. That leads to speculation that an offensive player would be recalled once the Mets depart St. Louis, first base prospect Ike Davis being the most intriguing option.

Davis has been wearing No. 20 up in Buffalo but there’s some speculation he could end up in No. 49, which his dad, reliever Ron Davis, wore for at least some of his career.(As pointed out below, Ron Davis wore 53, 39, 34, 55 and 33 in his career). No. 20 currently belongs to coach Howard Johnson. We’ve argued here before for No. 17, which would properly honor another terrific Met first baseman but require that Fernando Tatis changes his shirt. Stay tuned!

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Now Drop and Give Me 20

April 18, 2010 Uncategorized No comments

Holy crap. I’d be surprised if the Mets, once they wake up, don’t make a few quick roster moves for relievers this afternoon after playing 20 innings last night. And though it’s more of a long shot, it’d be also nice to get a few hitters considering they were blanked for 18 innings and managed only to squeak out single runs despite facing position players on the mound for three innings thanks to Tony LaRussa and his seeming strategy to defeat the Mets by humiliating them. This after failing to hold a 1-0 lead on Friday night. Can’t wait till Jose Reyes gets back. What? Oh…

Anyway, it wasn’t a pretty game by any wild stretch but props to Alex Cora for a terrific catch and to Hisanori Takahashi, who became a vicious strikeout artist at the right moment to squelch a 2-on, no-out situation in the 14th. Jerry Manuel’s absurdly passive game plan reached new heights by ordering Luis Castillo to bunt in a plan that successfully resulted in a single run in the 19th but predictably was proven not enough. Mike Pelfrey with the save. Ridiculous!

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Saluting a True American Hero

April 15, 2010 Uncategorized One comment

42retiredToday all of baseball gathers to celebrate the groundbreaking career of legendary reserve catcher Ron Hodges, who bravely shattered the Scrubeenie Barrier by serving 12 years for the same team while hardly ever rising above third on depth charts at his position. His example of self-sacrifice, waiting his turn, and hitting lefthanded while being a catcher has been an inspiration for last-men-on-the-bench everywhere including Alberto “Bambi” Castillo, Tim Spehr, Ed Hearn and Barry Lyons.

To mark the historic occasion, every player in the Major Leagues today will be outfitted in the No. 42 jersey Ron made famous while rotting on the bench behind Grote and Dyer; then Grote and Stearns; and then Stearns and Grote; and then Stearns and Trevino; and then Trevino and Stearns; and then Stearns and Trevino again; and then Mike Fitzgerald. Relievers from Harry Parker to Wes Gardner found Hodges’ target while warming up in the bullpen; and managers from Berra to Frazier to Torre to Johnson called on his left-handed bat to pinch hit in crucial situations, provided they had already used Kranepool, Staub or Jorgensen.

It’s an extra special occasion for the Mets, whose new home stadium features a Rotunda dedicated to Ron’s exploits including a gigantic No. 42 statue to honor his contributions. Mets owner Fred Wilpon paid Hodges the ultimate compliment by implying he might have been good enough to warm up and perhaps pinch hit for his childhood chum Sandy Koufax, a hero of his beloved Dodgers.

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Weak 1 in Review

April 11, 2010 Uncategorized One comment

What a dreary opening homestand this turned into. And that was while we got adequate starts from the buttend of the rotation and solid work from a bullpen rumored to have sucked. No, it was the offense that couldn’t get unstuck: there are too many outmakers.

The unfairly beleaguered bullpen in the meantime today debuted a new lefty, Raul Valdes, who contributed two scoreless innings today wearing No. 22. No, it wasn’t Al Leiter.

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Back Here Where We Need You

April 10, 2010 Uncategorized One comment

Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back…

Thanks and good luck to Ruben Tejada, who we’ll hopefully see again soon.

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Sons of Bruce Boisclair

April 8, 2010 Uncategorized One comment

Invaluable longtime MBTN contributor Jason E. this morning noted that in making his (losing) Mets debut last night, Hisanori Takahashi became the 30th Met in team history to have made his debut in an extra inning game. Here’s his list, arranged by year and inning, ending of course with the immortal Bruce Boisclair whose debut appearance came during the 23rd inning of a marathon played between the Mets and Cardinals on Sept. 11, 1974 (Bruce pinch ran for Duffy Dyer in a game the Mets would lose 4-3 in the 25th inning as a result of a bad pickoff throw by Jerry CramHank Webb).

I like that this list includes a mix of younguns making their first arrivals on the way to a long career (Rick Aguilera, Edgardo Alfonzo) and guys I’d already forgotten were ever Mets (Ben Johnson). It knocked loose memories of that exciting trade deadline when Steve Phillips went out and traded for a half-dozen relievers (including Billy Taylor and Chuck McElroy) and when Jorge Julio was more trusted than Chad Bradford.

What memories does this stir in you? (And take it away, Jason):

10TH INNING DEBUTS (12):
9/20/70- Dean Chance
9/13/74- Rich Puig
6/11/80- Claudell Washington
4/11/85- Terry Blocker
6/12/85- Rick Aguilera
4/26/95- Edgardo Alfonzo
4/26/95- Blas Minor
8/1/99- Billy Taylor
4/5/06- Jorge Julio
4/5/06- Chad Bradford
5/29/07- Ben Johnson
4/7/10- Hisanori Takahashi

11TH INNING DEBUTS (8):
4/14/65- Dan Napoleon
9/1/70- Ron Herbel
5/20/78- Kevin Kobel
6/1/79-Ed Glynn
4/11/85- Roger McDowell
4/26/95- Ricky Otero
4/29/95- Dave Mlicki
8/1/99- Chuck McElroy

12TH INNING DEBUTS (5):
7/24/62- Bob G. Miller
4/23/72- Jim Beauchamp
9/12/81- Brian Giles
6/27/89- Phil Lombardi
3/31/98- Jim Tatum

13TH INNING DEBUT (1):
9/10/70- Leroy Stanton

14TH INNING DEBUT (1):
9/6/87- Gregg Jefferies

15TH INNING DEBUT (1):
4/7/97- Joe Crawford

16TH INNING DEBUT (0):
(NONE)

17TH INNING DEBUT (1):
9/29/93- Kenny Greer

18TH INNING DEBUT (0):
(NONE)

19TH INNING DEBUT (0):
(NONE)

20TH INNING DEBUT (0):
(NONE)

21ST INNING DEBUT (0):
(NONE)

22ND INNING DEBUT (0):
(NONE)

23RD INNING DEBUT (1):
9/11/74- Bruce Boisclair

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“Frank Calls All the Shots”

April 5, 2010 Uncategorized One comment

Bulletin from the opening-day locker room: Frank Catalanotto has indeed taken the opportunity to switch from the No. 2 jersey he was issued and pounce on Nelson Figueroa‘s abandoned No. 27 jersey. No. 2 — still unissued since 1995!

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Looks Like We Made It

April 2, 2010 Uncategorized One comment

I’m still having trouble believing that Jenrry Mejia, along with Ruben Tejada, apparently have made the Mets’ opening-day squad and along with the usual caution you should take with all 20-year-olds who’ve yet to play above Class AA, it should be exciting to see what these kids have to offer.

I’m also interested to see what they’ll be wearing. Mejia as discussed below was outfitted in No. 76 this spring and as outrageous as it’d be I’d be tempted to leave him in that jersey both as a reminder of his age and a symbol of his unique place within the Met family. Tejada has apparently won a job the old-fashioned way: He caught the ball better than his counterparts in a competition for a middle-infield job, as compromised as Jose Reyes‘s medical misadventaures made it. He hit pretty well too.

Tejada was wearing No. 79 this spring and will certainly have a new jersey by Monday. No. 3 was recently vacated by Chris Coste and makes perfect sense; 10 (issued to and taken from longshot Andy Green for the second straight spring) would be another strong possibility.

Other late cuts Friday included Kiko Calero, whom I thought would have been a lock if only for his pedigree; hapless punching bag Nelson Figueroa; Bobby Parnell, who had less going for him than Meija a year ago when he turned in two solid months of setup relief; veteran Elmer Dessens; infielder Russ Adams; and reserve hopeful Chris Carter who probably didn’t get a real fair shake at winning a job at first base. The winners along with Mejia and Tejada included utilityman Frank Catalanotto and one of either Sean Green or Raul Valdes. The latter came out of nowhere — he wore No. 96, the highest in camp — to challenge for a lefty specialist role. We’ll try to keep you updated on what the Easter Bunny leaves these guys. …

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