tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42259737092059769032024-03-12T18:52:31.743-04:00Studious MetsimusInsane in the METS brain. Insane in the brain!Ed Leyro (and Joey Beartran)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18392639274179350916noreply@blogger.comBlogger1195125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225973709205976903.post-19427717250258003882021-05-11T17:19:00.000-04:002021-05-11T17:19:24.866-04:0025 Years Ago: When Mark Grace Punched Me in the FaceTwenty-five years ago today, I decided to take in a Saturday matinee at Shea Stadium to see the Mets take on the Chicago Cubs. Although the 1996 squad had three offensive forces in center fielder Lance Johnson, left fielder Bernard Gilkey and catcher Todd Hundley, my favorite player on the team was first baseman Rico Brogna.<br />
<br />
Brogna was only a Met for parts of three seasons and never played for a winning Mets team, but in his short time with the club, he became a beloved figure with the fans. One of Brogna's many big moments with the team came on that particular Saturday - May 11, 1996 - when he delivered a walk-off home run to defeat the Chicago Cubs, 7-6, at Shea Stadium.<br />
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But the story of the game wasn't the Brogna blast that erased a four-run Cubs rally. It was the bench-clearing brawl in the fifth inning that started when Mets starting pitcher Pete Harnisch and Cubs catcher (and good friend) Scott Servais got into a heated argument at the plate. And before the 15-minute donnybrook was done, Mark Grace had punched me in the face. Here's the story - 25 years later - of how a great contact hitter made some unwanted contact with my left cheek.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/assets/images/3/5/8/42598358/cuts/markgrace640_1qjnv3kf_ovzjm02b.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="http://mlb.mlb.com/assets/images/3/5/8/42598358/cuts/markgrace640_1qjnv3kf_ovzjm02b.jpg" border="0" class="decoded" height="270" src="http://mlb.mlb.com/assets/images/3/5/8/42598358/cuts/markgrace640_1qjnv3kf_ovzjm02b.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is this what Mark Grace looked like before his fist came in the direction of my face?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><p>
<br />
The Mets were celebrating John Franco Day at Shea Stadium on <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN199605110.shtml">May 11, 1996,</a> to commemorate the reliever's 300th career save. But Franco was not around to notch a save in this game, thanks to the fisticuffs that took place in the fifth inning of the Mets' 7-6 victory.<br />
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The seeds to the battle royale were planted in the first inning, when Mets catcher Todd Hundley had to duck out the way of a errant pitch by Cubs starter Kevin Foster. When Foster came to bat for the first time in the second inning, Harnisch drilled him with his first pitch. No warnings were issued at the time by home plate umpire Greg Bonin.<br />
<br />
Harnisch expected retaliation by Foster when he came to bat, but fortunately for him, the Mets had two runners on base when he came up to the plate in the second inning and the bases loaded for his next at-bat in the third. Neither Foster nor relief pitcher Rodney Myers (who came in for Foster in the third) could hit Harnisch with a pitch because doing so would damage the Cubs' chances at a scoreless inning. Harnisch batted again in the fifth inning, but this time there were two outs and no one on base. Terry Adams was now on the mound for the Cubs. It didn't take long for the fracas to begin.<br />
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Adams threw his first pitch low and behind Harnisch. Cubs catcher Scott Servais then started jawing at Harnisch, which caused the Mets pitcher to throw a punch at Servais. Both benches and bullpens emptied and a violent brawl ensued. The fight then moved in the direction of the Cubs dugout. Guess where my seat was that day?</p><p>Now, you should know that I have always enjoyed taking photos at Mets games. And in 1996, the Mets had a promotion where they gave fans in attendance a disposable Kodak camera. It was a camera that had no zoom and could only be used for 24 photos before it had to be discarded. It was as primitive as you could get for a wannabe photographer. The Mets didn't draw well in 1996, so I was able to get a ticket three rows behind and slightly to the home plate side of the Cubs dugout. Because I was so close to the field, I figured I'd use the disposable camera since I wouldn't need a zoom feature from that distance.<br />
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Of course, as soon as I saw the mountains of men pushing, shoving and trying to decapitate each other near the Cubs dugout, I ran down to the front row and tried to take a super close-up photo of the action. That's when Cubs first baseman Mark Grace stepped in. And my face and my camera checked out.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><br />
</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">May 11, 1996: The <a href="https://twitter.com/Mets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Mets</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Cubs</a> celebrated “John Franco Day” at Shea Stadium with an all-out bench-clearing brawl: <a href="https://t.co/9DWIw76X2V">https://t.co/9DWIw76X2V</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LGM?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LGM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MetsRewind?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MetsRewind</a> <a href="https://t.co/zfSnjgTQ4G">pic.twitter.com/zfSnjgTQ4G</a></p>— @MetsRewind (@metsrewind) <a href="https://twitter.com/metsrewind/status/1392140615190814723?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2021</a></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><i>Video courtesy of MetsRewind</i> <br /></p><p> </p><p>In his effort to try to separate Mets players from his teammates, Grace accidentally (or at least I think it was unintentional) took a swipe in my direction, landing his fist on my face between my left cheek and left eye. I dropped the camera in shock, and of course, it broke upon impact with the field level concrete. The area between my cheek and eye ended up slightly swollen, and it had the appearance of a piece of skin that had just been ripped off with a piece of tape. Grace had as mean a left hook as he had a sweet lefty swing. I just had a mean bruise on my face and a broken camera.<br />
<br />
After the pugilists were sent back to their respective corners, nine players and coaches had been ejected, including the man who was celebrating his special day at Shea Stadium: John Franco.<br />
<br />
The Mets, who at one point had a 6-2 lead in the game, saw their lead whittled down to two runs in the ninth. With Franco stewing in the showers - he claimed he was unjustly ejected, saying <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1996/05/12/sports/baseball-last-licks-count-most-for-brogna-and-mets.html">"I'm too old to be doing that kind of stuff"</a> - the Mets used three pitchers in a failed attempt to protect a 6-4 lead in the ninth. A two-out, two-run single by Jose Hernandez off Doug Henry tied the game at six and put Rico Brogna in position to win it in the bottom of the ninth.<br />
<br />
With one out and no one on, Brogna delivered a high fly ball deep down the right field line. Right fielder Sammy Sosa climbed the fence right near the foul pole, but Brogna's blast just cleared the wall over Sosa's glove. With Sosa still dangling on the wall, Brogna ran gingerly around the bases, having injured himself during the fifth-inning fracas. It gave Brogna a four-hit, two-homer, four-RBI day and capped a thrilling 7-6 victory for the Mets.<br />
<br />
Of course, I have no photographic evidence of this home run because my camera was in pieces thanks to Mark Grace, but I'll always have clear memories of that free-for-all, Rico Brogna's amazing day at the plate, and the shape of Grace's left fist - all of which happened 25 years ago today on a Saturday afternoon at Shea.<br />
<br />
I guess I should be thankful Grace didn't sock me a few inches higher. My memories might not have been so clear then.</p><p style="text-align: center;">************************ <br /></p><p></p><p><i>Big thanks to MetsRewind for the video of the fight. I was standing near the dugout at the 0:49 mark of the video, but might have been bending over at the time picking up my damaged camera. At least I had a ringside seat.</i></p><p><i>Please check out <a href="http://metsrewind.com">metsrewind.com</a> for podcasts, blogs and much more amazin' Mets content. You can also find MetsRewind on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (@metsrewind, naturally).</i></p><p><i> </i></p><p><i> </i><br />
</p>Ed Leyro (and Joey Beartran)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18392639274179350916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225973709205976903.post-64186173828894028722021-04-08T19:49:00.001-04:002021-04-08T19:49:47.204-04:00Thirty Years of Opening Days<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0f2KBaZqmE/YG-VSUwcUiI/AAAAAAAAQCU/daCV8sdrniI2AGjhX4Da23b-4ln-6iZ2gCLcBGAsYHQ/s374/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-04-08%2Bat%2B7.41.50%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="334" data-original-width="374" height="352" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0f2KBaZqmE/YG-VSUwcUiI/AAAAAAAAQCU/daCV8sdrniI2AGjhX4Da23b-4ln-6iZ2gCLcBGAsYHQ/w394-h352/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-04-08%2Bat%2B7.41.50%2BPM.png" width="394" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home sweet home. (Photo by Ed Leyro/Studious Metsimus)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p>For the first time in over 18 months, Citi Field opened its gates today for baseball-starved fans. And just like they did on September 29, 2019, the Mets sent their fans home happy after walking off with a win. Back then, the celebration came on a three-run homer by Dominic Smith. Today, it was a combination of a Jeff McNeil game-tying birthday blast followed by a bizarre hit-by-pitch of Michael Conforto with the bases loaded. The Mets scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to defeat the Miami Marlins in the home opener by a score of 3-2.</p><p>Today's win marked the 30th consecutive Opening Day game that I attended in which fans were allowed in the building. And the victory came thirty years to the day of my first home opener.</p><p>I've had many memorable moments throughout those three decades of Opening Day affairs. I've seen a franchise's first game in 1993 when the Mets defeated the Colorado Rockies, 3-0. Two years later, I saw the Mets erase a five-run deficit when I wasn't watching <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1995/04/30/after-the-strike-baseballs-disgusted-fans-decide-to-strike-back/07c1f121-3de0-4887-8609-45c8c35d876e/">fans running on the field throwing dollar bills</a> at players in New York's first home game after the eight-month players' strike. I've also witnessed the fielding excellence of Rey Ordoñez in a 1996 Opening Day victory and saw Alberto Castillo's sole magical moment as a Met in a 1-0, 14-inning win two years later. Two National League pennants have been raised with me in attendance and a new ballpark opened its doors with yours truly cheering the Mets on.</p><p>But my first home opener took place on April 8, 1991, exactly 30 years ago today. And that one was special for more than just a Mets victory. You see, that trip to the ballpark was also my first date. And what better place to take someone special than Shea Stadium to see Mets legends Tommy Herr, Charlie O'Brien and new shortstop Howard Johnson taking the field against Von Hayes and the Philadelphia Phillies. In fact, that game was more than just a first date; it also began an Opening Day tradition that has continued to this day. </p><p> </p><p style="text-align: center;">******************************</p><p> </p><p>I love my wife. And I met her at a Mets game. True story. She was a blogger, as was I, and we were both going to <a href="http://metsmerizedonline.com/2009/08/pagans-slam-rattles-snakes-mets-win-9-6.html/">"Build-A-Bear Night" at Citi Field on August 1, 2009.</a> So we decided to meet up on the Promenade Level before the game. Of course, we had our new bears in tow, and I had a few other bears with me. We talked about bears and the Mets, then saw the game separately from our regular seats.<br /></p>
<br />
Later that month, we went to our first game together. Naturally, the bears were our chaperones. We met up a few more times during the season's final month. Then I asked her what she was doing during the off-season. Notice I didn't say "during the winter" because to a Mets fan, there are only two seasons - baseball season and the off-season. Well, that phrasing struck a chord with her. Needless to say, what we did during the off-season was spend more time together and fall in love. The following May, we got married, then waited two months to go on our honeymoon in San Francisco. Why the wait? Because the Mets weren't due to play the Giants on the road until July. Yup, I gave her a diamond AFTER we got married.<br />
<br />
I never said we were a conventional couple.<br />
<br />
Almost 20 years before I met the love of my life, I went on my first-ever date. The day was April 8, 1991, and my date's name was K.V. (I'm using her initials in case she's reading this and doesn't want to be associated with a bear-carrying Mets fanatic.) Most people go to the movies or dinner or a combination of the two on a first date. Not me. Where did I take K.V. on our date? Like you need to ask...<br />
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It was Opening Day. So we went to Shea Stadium.<br />
<br />
The temperature that day was an unseasonably hot 90º. At the time, it was <a href="http://thestarryeye.typepad.com/weather/2013/04/a-look-back-at-new-york-weather-april-8.html">the earliest date on the calendar</a> that New York had ever registered a 90º reading. We were both undergraduates at St. John's University, finishing up our sophomore years. Her mother worked in the school library, so I had already gotten that first meeting with her out of the way. We actually went to visit K.V.'s mother prior to leaving for Shea, at which time she told us to have a good time and stay out of the sun, if at all possible.<br />
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The Mets were fielding a brand-new team in 1991 as they embarked on what the team hoped would be its eighth consecutive winning season. But this would also be the first time since 1983 that Davey Johnson wouldn't come out of the dugout during the Opening Day introductions, as Buddy Harrelson had taken over for the former skipper during the previous season.<br />
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K.V. confessed to me that it was her first baseball game as we proceeded to sit in our Upper Deck seats on the first base side. I confessed to her that it was my first-ever date with anyone, to which she said, "Awww, and you chose me. I'm so honored."<br />
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As the game began, I noticed that four of the starting nine players on the Mets had not been with the team at the beginning of the previous campaign. Charlie O'Brien was calling the game behind the plate, while former Cardinal nemeses Tommy Herr and Vince Coleman were the Mets' new second
baseman and center fielder, respectively. Right field used to be where
Darryl Strawberry had his patch, but he had left for Los Angeles as a
free agent. In his stead was a player who was very special to long-time
Mets fans, including myself, but had not worn a Mets uniform since
1984. And this was how he was re-introduced.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>"Playing right field, No. 7. Welcome back, Huuuubie Brooooks." </b></i></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mN-TlJtl390/UxzBt2CnyrI/AAAAAAAAMAM/prImWbl6RK8/s1600/hubie+brooks+1991+mets.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mN-TlJtl390/UxzBt2CnyrI/AAAAAAAAMAM/prImWbl6RK8/s1600/hubie+brooks+1991+mets.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'd have bought one of these, but I chose to save the money for my date.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><p> </p><p>Hubie Brooks made a quick impression on me during his first stint in New York. It was Brooks who hit the first home run I ever saw in person. On June 15, 1983, <a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2014/03/a-best-on-worst-side-story-ten-year-old.html">I was at Shea Stadium with my Little League teammates</a> when Brooks took future Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins deep in the fourth inning. It was the <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/play-index/batter_vs_pitcher.cgi?batter=brookhu01&pitcher=jenkife01#gotresults&batter=brookhu01&pitcher=jenkife01&min_year_game=1982&max_year_game=1983&post=1&ajax=1&submitter=1&z=1">only home run Brooks would ever hit off Jenkins</a> in 18 career plate appearances, and one of only two hits he would muster off the pitching legend.<br />
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Eight years after I cheered Brooks as he touched home plate following his homer, I would cheer him again as he scored, although this time he touched the plate in a completely different way.<br />
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The Mets were leading the Phillies, 1-0, as the game headed into the bottom of the fourth. Hubie Brooks led off the inning by roping a double to right field - his first hit as a Met in seven years. Brooks then advanced to third on a fly ball by Howard Johnson. Left fielder Kevin McReynolds failed to bring him home when he grounded out weakly to third base. With two outs, Tommy Herr drew a walk to put runners on the corners. That brought up Charlie O'Brien, whose .209 career batting average entering the game was six points lower than <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mendoma01.shtml">Mario Mendoza's .215 lifetime mark.</a><br />
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You read that right. The namesake of the "Mendoza Line" was a better hitter than Charlie O'Brien.<br />
<br />
Clearly, if the Mets were going to extend their lead, manager Buddy Harrelson was going to have to try something different. So he did. On an 0-1 pitch, Harrelson had Herr steal second. When Phillies catcher Darren Daulton threw the ball to second in an attempt to nail Herr, Brooks darted for the plate, sliding home safely to give the Mets a 2-0 lead.<br />
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The unexpected play caused K.V. and I to simultaneously jump out of seats and embrace. Yup, it was our first hug, and Hubie Brooks made it happen. With the Mets now holding a two-run lead, we decided to get some refreshing ice cream to cool down on the sweltering day. By the time we got to the concession stand, John Kruk had homered off Dwight Gooden to cut the Mets' lead back to a single run.<br />
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Needless to say, we went back to our seats and didn't leave our section again until the final out was recorded.<br />
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In the seventh inning, as we were singing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame", K.V. accidentally bumped into my leg. So I bumped her back. We ended up doing what appeared to be a strange leg-bump dance for the duration of the song. It was then that I realized that I could do something other than calculate players' batting averages in my head. I could also flirt. Score one for me.<br />
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Speaking of scoring, there were no more runs scored after Kruk's fifth-inning homer. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN199104080.shtml">The Mets held on for a 2-1 victory,</a> making my first date - and my first-ever Opening Day game - a complete success.<br />
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After the game, K.V. and I walked back to Main Street in Flushing, where we had two additional ice cream cones (mint chocolate chip for both of us), then we took the bus back to her house. I was a gentleman, and didn't ask to go in, but she insisted. I didn't spend much time inside, but when I left, I did get a kiss goodbye.<br />
<br />
I scored more that day than the Phillies did.<br />
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HBozOObV-mc/UxzCUhSyRtI/AAAAAAAAMAU/bf9QQzZp6Kg/s1600/build_a_bear_mets.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="71" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HBozOObV-mc/UxzCUhSyRtI/AAAAAAAAMAU/bf9QQzZp6Kg/s1600/build_a_bear_mets.jpg" width="85" /></a></div><p>
K.V. and I continued to hang out during our remaining college years, but we never went to another Mets game. We also didn't really date much more after that hot April afternoon. Perhaps that's a good thing. After all, had something happened between us, I might never have met my wife on "Build-A-Bear Night" nearly two decades later.<br />
<br />
Hubie Brooks and I go way back. He was responsible for the first home run I ever witnessed at a ballgame, and he was responsible for the first (and to this date, only) double steal I've ever had the privilege to see in person. He may also have helped me get that special kiss at the end of my first date.<br />
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April 8, 1991 was most certainly a good day.</p><p> </p><p style="text-align: center;">******************************</p><p> </p><p>Just like April 8, 1991 was a memorable day at Shea Stadium that culminated with a one-run victory by the Mets, April 8, 2021 was also one to remember at Citi Field, and not just because of the Mets' 3-2 walk-off win. Today's game was the first in which fans were allowed to attend since before the pandemic caused daily fan attendance to be zero. It was also the 30th consecutive Opening Day I've been fortunate to attend and the eleventh I've been to with my wife.</p><p>Many things have changed in this world since 1991. Heck, mostly everything has changed just since the start of 2020. But the more things change, the more one thing remains the same. I'll always be present at a Mets home opener. And I'll always be there with my favorite date. There's no one else I'd rather open up a season with.<br />
</p>Ed Leyro (and Joey Beartran)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18392639274179350916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225973709205976903.post-64351775911810973572021-01-23T18:34:00.004-05:002021-01-23T18:34:53.520-05:00If Studious Metsimus Had a 2021 Hall of Fame Vote...<p>On Tuesday, January 26, the baseball world will know if any new inductees will be entering the Hall of Fame with the members of the Class of 2020, whose induction ceremony was postponed until this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p>Last year's class featured Ted Simmons, Marvin Miller, Larry Walker and a gift basket provider. This year's potential class does not have a first-ballot no-brainer on it, which means that Simmons, Miller, Walker and the other guy whose name escapes me at the moment might not have company on the stage, assuming they don't have to give their speeches via Zoom. (Although a Zoom speech would allow Larry Walker to give it while wearing his famous <a href="https://images.dailyhive.com/20200121192010/Larry-Walker-Shirt.jpg">Spongebob Squarepants shirt.</a>)</p><p>There are 25 players on this year's ballot, which includes 14 holdovers and 11 newcomers. Of those 25 nominees, six are former Mets, as Billy Wagner, Gary Sheffield, Jeff Kent and Bobby Abreu are still on the ballot, joining first-timers Michael Cuddyer and LaTroy Hawkins. Other notable players who are making their initial appearance on the ballot are two-time no-hitter thrower Mark Buehrle, nine-time Gold Glove winner Torii Hunter, one-million-word-per-minute talker Nick Swisher and the only player who has blocked the Studious Metsimus staff on Twitter, Shane Victorino. No, really. He doesn't like us.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OdMvUDR12LQ/YAyYQWc2U9I/AAAAAAAAQAc/U-HAATQDP447BLdbNYE81LcojqxNJR1bQCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-01-23%2Bat%2B4.32.53%2BPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="600" height="355" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OdMvUDR12LQ/YAyYQWc2U9I/AAAAAAAAQAc/U-HAATQDP447BLdbNYE81LcojqxNJR1bQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h355/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-01-23%2Bat%2B4.32.53%2BPM.png" width="400" /></a></div><p> </p><p>As usual, the Studious Metsimus staff isn't allowed to vote for this year's Hall of Fame class. (We were told it has nothing to do with Shane Victorino but everything to do with the fact that we're not actually writers.) But we aren't barred from sharing our opinion as to who should join Miller, Simmons, Walker and what's-his-face as new members of the Hall. So let's stop lamenting about Cryin' Hawaiians and start presenting our imaginary Hall of Fame vote!</p><p> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><b><i>Scott Rolen</i></b></u></span></p><p>Scott Rolen never led the league in any
category. Not one major category. Not one minor category. Nothing. In fact, the closest he came to finding his name atop the league leaderboard was in 2004 when his 124 RBI were second to Vinny Castilla's total of 131 ribbies. But his consistency at the plate and impeccable fielding throughout his
career helped him finish his 17-year tour of duty in the majors with an impressive 70.1
bWAR. <br />
<br />
Injuries cost Rolen hundreds of games, as he missed 20 or more contests
in a dozen different campaigns. But that didn't stop him from collecting
517 doubles, 316 homers, 1,287 RBI, 1,211 runs scored and 2,077 hits.
He was also the owner of a lifetime .855 OPS and 122 OPS+.<br />
<br />
Rolen won the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 1997 and his
eight Gold Gloves at third base were more than anyone not named Brooks
Robinson or Mike Schmidt, otherwise known as Hall of Famers Brooks Robinson and Mike Schmidt. The seven-time All-Star also produced in the
postseason, helping the Cardinals win their first N.L. pennant in 17
years by batting .310 with a 1.044 OPS in the 2004 NLCS. Two years
later, Rolen was a key contributor in St. Louis' first World Series
victory in 24 seasons, hitting .421 with a 1.213 OPS in the Fall
Classic.<br />
<br />
The injury bug that constantly sidelined Rolen during the second half of
his career more than likely kept him from reaching 1,000 extra-base
hits and 2,500 total hits, as well as 1,500 runs scored and 1,500 runs
batted in. But that's what WAR is good for. And because of it, we know
that Rolen was invaluable to the teams he played for.<br />
<br />
The next team he should be a part of is the one that calls Cooperstown home.</p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dqfxycYz2dk/XiPSeAwLbxI/AAAAAAAAP38/tIaTzoi_-Wk4aQ0Qgk9BzO-I1uOtGvBvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-01-18%2Bat%2B10.52.02%2BPM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Scott Rolen was booed in Philly as an opposing player. Or maybe he was booed because he was a person. (Sporting News)" border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="400" height="350" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dqfxycYz2dk/XiPSeAwLbxI/AAAAAAAAP38/tIaTzoi_-Wk4aQ0Qgk9BzO-I1uOtGvBvQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h350/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-01-18%2Bat%2B10.52.02%2BPM.png" title="Scott Rolen was booed in Philly as an opposing player. Or maybe he was booed because he was a person. (Sporting News)" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scott Rolen was booed in Philly as an opposing player. Or maybe he was just booed there because he was a person. (Photo by Sporting News)</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><i><b>Curt Schilling</b></i></u></span></p><p>If you thought Scott Rolen's 70.1 bWAR was high, you should see Curt
Schilling's. His 79.5 bWAR fully shows how valuable he was to his
teams. And by teams, I'm talking about the Philadelphia Phillies (who
won a pennant with Schilling in 1993), the Arizona Diamondbacks (who won
their first and only title in 2001 with World Series co-MVP Schilling
leading the way) and the Boston Red Sox (who ended an 86-year
championship drought with Schilling in 2004 and then repeated the feat
three years later in the right-hander's final active season).<br />
<br />
Schilling was nearly perfect in the postseason, going 11-2 with a 2.23
ERA, 0.968 WHIP and 120 strikeouts in 19 starts. As dominant as he was
in October, he was just as impressive in the regular season.<br />
<br />
Pitching in an era that doesn't require its starters to go deep into
games, Schilling recorded 83 complete games and 20 shutouts. He is also
one of only five pitchers in history with 3,000-plus strikeouts and
fewer than 1,000 walks. The other four are Hall of Famers Greg Maddux,
Ferguson Jenkins, Pedro Martinez and future Hall of Famer Justin
Verlander. But none of those four pitchers could boast the 4.38 K/BB
ratio that Schilling had over his twenty-year career.<br />
<br />
It's one thing to lead the league in a major category once. It's
another thing to be a league leader multiple times, which shows a
player's consistency and excellence. So how many different major
categories did Schilling lead the league in on more than one occasion?
Well, there's wins (2001, 2004), games started (1997, 1998, 2001),
complete games (1996, 1998, 2000, 2001) and innings pitched (1998,
2001).<br />
<br />
But wait, there's more!<br />
<br />
Schilling also led the league multiple times in strikeouts (1997, 1998),
WHIP (1992, 2002) and strikeouts per walk (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004,
2006).<br />
<br />
Somehow, Schilling never won a Cy Young Award. But he was a three-time
runner-up and finished fourth in another season. He also earned MVP
votes four times, which is rare for a pitcher in this or any other era.<br />
<br />
Curt Schilling may not be on your most-liked player list. But he should be on your Hall of Fame list. Schilling has waited long enough to finally have his day in Cooperstown. That wait should come to an end this year. </p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-89Gf_TBUGlc/XiPRZICHQ7I/AAAAAAAAP3w/QAbd7j5l40Ex38osc7aQwOAnvP0zZjqvACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-01-18%2Bat%2B10.47.31%2BPM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-89Gf_TBUGlc/XiPRZICHQ7I/AAAAAAAAP3w/QAbd7j5l40Ex38osc7aQwOAnvP0zZjqvACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-01-18%2Bat%2B10.47.31%2BPM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Don't like that I'm voting for Curt Schilling? Suture self. (Al Bello/Getty Images)</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><i><b>Billy Wagner</b></i></u></span></p><p>It's a shame Billy Wagner hasn't gotten more
recognition from the BBWAA voters, as he was far more dominant than 2018 Hall of Fame inductee
Trevor Hoffman and 2019 enshrinee Lee Smith ever were. Hoffman and
Smith
got the job done as effectively as any other closer who ever lived.
But Wagner would eat a hitter up and spit him out.</p><p>Injuries curtailed
Wagner's career, but any pitcher who averaged nearly 12 strikeouts per
nine innings, four whiffs per walk and finished his career with a WHIP
under 1.00 (Wagner's WHIP was 0.998, which was lower than all-time best
closer Mariano Rivera's 1.000 lifetime WHIP) deserves serious Hall of Fame
consideration.</p><p>Speaking of Rivera, he held opposing batters to a
.211/.262/.295 career slash line. How did hitters slash against
Wagner? They didn't. All they could manage was a .187/.262/.296
mark against the flame-throwing southpaw.</p><p>With all the praise we just
heaped on Wagner, we didn't even mention that he was a seven-time All Star, recorded 422 saves and put up a 2.31 ERA.
Okay, maybe we just did. </p><p> </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qDblUjdTSOI/YAygiLv7NQI/AAAAAAAAQAo/YA24Vmku42kmiUJkwP7CpvdRjZpxlIV6ACLcBGAsYHQ/s489/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-01-23%2Bat%2B5.17.25%2BPM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="335" data-original-width="489" height="274" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qDblUjdTSOI/YAygiLv7NQI/AAAAAAAAQAo/YA24Vmku42kmiUJkwP7CpvdRjZpxlIV6ACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h274/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-01-23%2Bat%2B5.17.25%2BPM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southpaw, Flamethrower, Hall of Famer. Billy Wagner should be all three. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i><u>Todd Helton</u></i></b></span></p><p>Like former teammate (and current Hall of Famer) Larry Walker, Helton's candidacy will be questioned
because of the Coors Field factor.</p><p>During his best
eight-year stretch (1998-2005), Helton averaged 46 doubles, 33 HR, 113
RBI and 114 runs scored, while striking out just 76 times and drawing 96
walks per season. That contributed to his absolutely off-the-charts .338/435/.610 slash line during the eight years.</p><p>Wanna know what his
average season from 1998 to 2005 looked like in road games, otherwise known as games not
played at Coors Field? While wearing road grays during those eight
seasons, Helton slashed .298/.398/.520 and produced 277 extra-base hits,
drove in 347 runs and scored 337 times. That's an average of 73
extra-base hits, 91 RBI and 89 runs scored per 162 road games. And for those who are mathematically challenged, Helton produced a .918 OPS in all road games from '98 to '05. In other
words, Helton was still up in the elite hitter stratosphere when he wasn't taking his hacks one mile above sea level.</p><p>Even with an assortment of nagging injuries
sapping his power in his later years, Helton still managed to finish in
the top 100 all-time in home runs, doubles,
extra-base hits, hits, RBI and runs scored.
There are over 100 hitters in the Hall of Fame and Helton ranks in the
top 100 in many major hitting categories. And he wasn't just a
one-dimensional player, as evidenced by his three Gold Gloves. You do
the math if he belongs
in the Hall or not. </p><p> </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HOqn40iDoIw/YAyqhhdyw3I/AAAAAAAAQBA/r1tVkLTo5UwjjnKsN0puj3YXfmbQtcHZACLcBGAsYHQ/s443/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-01-23%2Bat%2B5.59.00%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="443" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HOqn40iDoIw/YAyqhhdyw3I/AAAAAAAAQBA/r1tVkLTo5UwjjnKsN0puj3YXfmbQtcHZACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h266/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-01-23%2Bat%2B5.59.00%2BPM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's Helton fielding at Shea. You don't need a reminder of his .323/.413/.581 slash line there. (Rich Pilling/Getty Images)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <br /></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i><u>Jeff Kent's Mustache</u></i></b></span><br /></p><p>Jeff Kent was a very good player. His mustache, on the other hand, was the stuff of legend.</p><p>Sure, Kent had nearly 1,000 extra-base hits and had a .500 lifetime slugging percentage in the regular season and postseason. And yes, he had over 1,500 RBI, including eight seasons in which he reached triple digits in that category.</p><p>Kent also won the 2000 N.L. Most Valuable Player Award, received MVP votes in six other seasons and hit more home runs than any second baseman in history.</p><p>But all of those accomplishments take a backseat to his classic lip hair.</p><p>A clean shaven Kent might still have produced above-average offensive numbers, but would have left him with nothing else that set him apart from his ballplaying brethren. His 'stache allowed him to play a villain on a TV remake of <b><i>CHiPs</i></b> (that never made it past the writers' room) and a stunt double on the sequel to <b><i>Boogie Nights</i></b> (that was never filmed). </p><p>The only former player with a more recognizable mustache is Rollie Fingers and he's already in the Hall. That bodes well for Jeff Kent's mustache to finally get the recognition it deserves.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XzsusYp7ST4/YAym5rbn8UI/AAAAAAAAQA0/bEToWh0GhTwitv7GKiZ9lCT0Wmp79QZgwCLcBGAsYHQ/s228/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-01-23%2Bat%2B5.44.16%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="228" height="372" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XzsusYp7ST4/YAym5rbn8UI/AAAAAAAAQA0/bEToWh0GhTwitv7GKiZ9lCT0Wmp79QZgwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h372/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-01-23%2Bat%2B5.44.16%2BPM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A mustache like Kent's deserves its own black-and-white headshot. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>And that just about does it for our annual Hall of Fame ballot that no one takes seriously.</p><p>Actual voters are allowed to check off a maximum of ten players on
their Hall of Fame ballots. This year, the Studious Metsimus staff did not find that many players worthy of enshrinement, only voting for the four players and one body part listed above.</p><p>So if you're unhappy that we didn't vote for for players like Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Gary Sheffield, Andruw Jones and Omar Vizquel, you can take it up with Shane Victorino. He's already reached his blocking quota for the day anyway.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n9XaPYMvQDs/YAyyFNzdD6I/AAAAAAAAQBM/T9J2t8ekL2k9Li7NE8O-jjj66cV3GbjKwCLcBGAsYHQ/s438/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-01-23%2Bat%2B6.29.06%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="403" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n9XaPYMvQDs/YAyyFNzdD6I/AAAAAAAAQBM/T9J2t8ekL2k9Li7NE8O-jjj66cV3GbjKwCLcBGAsYHQ/w368-h400/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-01-23%2Bat%2B6.29.06%2BPM.png" width="368" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Ed Leyro (and Joey Beartran)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18392639274179350916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225973709205976903.post-51609573116194312122020-10-29T19:10:00.000-04:002020-10-29T19:10:02.170-04:00In Honor of My Grandfather, Who Taught Me About Love and BaseballMy grandparents moved to Puerto Rico when I was three years old. After they moved to San Juan, I only saw them for a few weeks at a time when my parents and I visited them during my summer vacation from school. Because those trips coincided with the middle of baseball season, my grandfather always wanted to talk to me about the game.<br />
<br />
When I was eight years old, I discovered that Abuelo (that's Spanish for "grandfather") was a Brooklyn Dodgers fan. He, my grandmother and their four children (one of which is my father) moved from the Island of Enchantment to New York in 1947, the same year Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball. Robinson wasn't the only reason Abuelo became a Dodger fan, as 1947 was also the year Gil Hodges and Duke Snider came up to the major leagues to stay. The Dodgers won the pennant in 1947, making only their second trip to the World Series since 1920. They would make many more over the next few decades. Abuelo was hooked for life.<br />
<br />
The summer of 1981 was special for both Abuelo and I. It was the year I became a Mets fan, but it was also the year of Fernandomania. That summer, when my parents and I went to visit my grandparents in Puerto Rico, the players' strike was nearing its conclusion. But just because there was no baseball to watch didn't mean there were no baseball stories to share. <br />
<br />
Any time I wanted to talk about Mookie Wilson, my grandfather would remind me that he wasn't as fast as Maury Wills. (Wills was the first major league player in the modern era to steal 100 bases in a season, swiping 104 bags for the Dodgers in 1962, which was 45 more than the entire Mets team stole in their inaugural season.) I knew better than to argue with him.<br />
<br />
After a few minutes, the conversation would always turn to Fernando Valenzuela, who had taken the country by storm during his rookie season. Abuelo would normally be in bed by 10 PM every night, but if Valenzuela was pitching and the game just happened to be broadcast on the local television channel, he'd always stay up to watch the game on a 13-inch black and white TV. He'd keep the volume low so as not to wake my grandmother, telling me that he didn't need to hear the game because Fernando's pitching would tell the story. In the summer of 1981, he was absolutely right.<br />
<br />
I'll always remember talking to him on the phone after the Mets won the World Series in 1986. He was thrilled that I was finally able to celebrate a championship, but he was also quick to remind me that despite the Mets boasting a pitching staff that included Dwight Gooden, Ron Darling, Bob Ojeda and Sid Fernandez, it was Fernando Valenzuela who led the National League in wins. (Valenzuela won 21 games for the Dodgers in 1986; his only 20-win campaign in 17 years in the big leagues.)<br />
<br />
Oh, Abuelo. He really loved his Dodgers.<br />
<br />
Two years after the Mets won the World Series, they played for the right to appear in another. But this time it was different. This time, the Mets were playing the Dodgers for the pennant. A member of the Leyro family was going to see his favorite team play in the World Series in 1988. But for that to happen, another member of the Leyro family was going to be disappointed that his team failed to reach the Fall Classic. It was about as awkward as it was ever going to get between me and Abuelo when it came to our shared love of the national pastime. In the end, it became one of the most important times in our relationship.<br />
<br />
The Dodgers defeated the Mets in the 1988 NLCS, upsetting them in seven games. The Mets weren't the only ones upset by that result. The day after Game Seven, the phone rang in our house. My mother picked it up, spoke for a few seconds, then called me over to the phone. It was for me, she said. It was Abuelo.<br />
<br />
I thought it was strange that Abuelo would call me. After all, any time I'd speak to him on the phone, it would be my grandmother who called us and then she'd pass the phone over to Abuelo. (The men in the Leyro family have never been known as "phone people".) But this time, my grandfather let his fingers do the walking and he called me directly. Over three decades have passed since this call was made, but I'll never forget that conversation.<br />
<br />
Not once did he mention the Dodgers while talking to me. Nor did he mention the Mets. Instead, he reminded me that there would be times in life when we'd question why things happened the way they did. He told me that he once went on a date with a girl when he was eighteen. She was his definition of "the perfect girl". She was smart, beautiful and came from a great family. He was sure after one date that he was going to marry her. Two dates later, she decided she didn't want to see him anymore. He was crushed.<br />
<br />
After two years of wondering where he went wrong, he made the acquaintance of another local girl. Abuelo admitted to me that he wasn't attracted to her at first, but she listened to his story of lost love and gave him words of encouragement. They continued to talk as friends for nearly a year until he realized something.<br />
<br />
He was falling in love. And this time, the girl he loved felt the same way about him.<br />
<br />
The year was 1933. In 1934, they were married.<br />
<br />
When Abuelo finished telling me the story of how he and Abuela met and fell in love, I thanked him for making me smile. I thought that was the reason he was sharing his story with me, because I was upset that my Mets had lost to his Dodgers and I would need some cheering up. But that wasn't why he told me the story. He then went back to the beginning of our conversation, the part where he said there would be times in life when we'd question why things happened the way they did.<br />
<br />
For two years, he wondered to himself why the love of his life didn't love him back. But without that unexpected breakup, he never would have met my grandmother, a woman he would be married to until she passed away in 2001. He then told me to think about his words and to "never stop believing" before hanging up.<br />
<br />
It took me until that evening, but as I was getting ready for bed, it finally hit me. Abuelo was using his story as an analogy. I was questioning how the Mets could lose to the Dodgers in the playoffs after defeating them 10 of 11 times during the regular season, just like he had questioned why the girl he loved couldn't reciprocate those feelings for him. He had to wait two years after suffering through a devastating heartbreak, but in the end, it netted him the love of his life. Therefore, what Abuelo was telling me was that he knew I was heartbroken because of the Mets' loss to the Dodgers, but before long, they'd be back and I'd love them more than ever.<br />
<br />
You know what? He was right.<br />
<br />
Sure, it took 11 years for the Mets to make it back to the postseason, but when they did, they went to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons and made their first trip to the World Series since 1986. And when they did win the pennant, Abuelo was the first person who called me to offer a congratulatory message.<br />
<br />
Abuelo didn't make it to see the next two Mets/Dodgers postseason matchups in 2006 and 2015, as he passed away five days after his 90th birthday in 2002. But when the Mets defeated the Dodgers to advance to the NLCS in both campaigns, the first person I thought of was him. What did I think of? That he didn't have to feel sad because the team he loved would be back. And they did, as the Dodgers have won eight consecutive division titles and three National League pennants in the last four years. Somewhere in Heaven, I knew Abuelo was smiling. And now he's probably smiling even more, as the Dodgers just won their first World Series championship since the year he called me to tell me a story about love and patience.<br />
<br />
There is a point to this personal story. You see, Abuelo was born on October 29, 1912. That means today would have been his 108th birthday. He and I never went to a Mets/Dodgers game together, but we didn't have to. The stories took us there.<br />
<br />
When I was eight years old, Abuelo shared his love of the Dodgers with me at the same time I was trying to share my love of the Mets with him. He never became a Mets fan, just as I never became a Dodgers fan. But we shared that love of baseball that no rivalry can break. That love brought us together and provided me with some of my most wonderful childhood memories - memories that I continue to cherish as an adult.<br />
<br />
Sometimes we question why things happen the way they do. I never have to question why I loved my grandfather. He was the most important man I've ever known.<br />
<br />
Happy 108th birthday, Abuelo. And thank you for always taking me out to the ballgame.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Dedicated to Horacio Leyro (October 29, 1912 - November 3, 2002)</i></b></span></div>
<br />
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<br />Ed Leyro (and Joey Beartran)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18392639274179350916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225973709205976903.post-42546443347700739982020-10-17T19:34:00.001-04:002020-10-19T19:32:55.656-04:00A Walking Tour of New York Baseball History<p>When a hitter takes a free pass, he walks - or runs, in the case of Brandon Nimmo - 90 feet to first base. When I decided to pass through the city freely, traveling on foot to various sites of former and current ballparks to raise money for the American Cancer Society, I walked 64 miles, or 337,920 feet.</p><p>This two-day journey through all five boroughs took me to major league stadiums (Citi Field and Yankee Stadium), minor league parks (MCU Park and Richmond County Bank Ballpark at St. George) and several sites where professional baseball used to be played. If you followed along on Facebook and Twitter while I was shuffling my feet, you saw me post short videos at each location. If you didn't, that's where this blog post comes in. Think of it as the Cliff's Notes to my walking tour of New York baseball history.</p><p> </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7QHzEU2aE_Q/X4s6CA3bj_I/AAAAAAAAP7U/9Fk_yMkgG8E8gK1AwQ8jfF4zZ0rNshwDACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/walk1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7QHzEU2aE_Q/X4s6CA3bj_I/AAAAAAAAP7U/9Fk_yMkgG8E8gK1AwQ8jfF4zZ0rNshwDACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/walk1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This place is a part of my past, present and future. (Photo by Ed Leyro/Studious Metsimus)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p>The walk began on Friday, October 9, at Heritage Field in the Bronx. This is where old Yankee Stadium used to stand from 1923 to 2008. The field, which has not been well maintained during the current global pandemic, is where Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and the recently departed Whitey Ford established themselves as baseball legends.</p><p>There is not much left from the original Yankee Stadium in this area other than the large bat that used to stand outside the House That Ruth Built and a piece of the iconic frieze, which was originally above the upper deck of the old ballpark. That frieze is now located by a running track located in the approximate area where the center field wall at the old Yankee Stadium once stood.</p><p> </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TIDNkQC0k-U/X4s98kgy0sI/AAAAAAAAP7o/uP4NiQuvNZQfBLPL3o_pu6GcvQszGLnPgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/walk5.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="2048" height="250" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TIDNkQC0k-U/X4s98kgy0sI/AAAAAAAAP7o/uP4NiQuvNZQfBLPL3o_pu6GcvQszGLnPgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h250/walk5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Batman vs. Mr. Freeze? No, it's just a bat and a frieze. (EL/SM)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p>From Heritage Field, I crossed E. 161 St. to the new Yankee Stadium, which opened for business in 2009. Despite it being the closest major league stadium to where I live, I have never set foot inside the new stadium, and I'm okay with that. Besides, I'd probably look just like this in all my photos if I ever entered the ballpark.</p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D6D8dNQyqnE/X4s7BoFcDJI/AAAAAAAAP7c/E-crg-MPakM4wetbEWSb30teCq0ZkZcPACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/walk2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="533" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D6D8dNQyqnE/X4s7BoFcDJI/AAAAAAAAP7c/E-crg-MPakM4wetbEWSb30teCq0ZkZcPACLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/walk2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doing my best Siskel & Ebert reviewing "Ishtar" pose. (EL/SM)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>The Yankees weren't always known by that moniker. In fact, they weren't always a New York team. In 1901 and 1902, the franchise played in Baltimore as the original Orioles, then they moved to Manhattan and became the New York Highlanders. The Highlanders took that name because they played their home games in American League Park, which was better known as Hilltop Park because it sat atop a hill in Washington Heights. That was the future Yankees' home for ten seasons (1903-12) before their lease expired. They then left the park and the Highlanders name to move to the Polo Grounds and play as the New York Yankees.</p><p>Hilltop Park was demolished in 1913, but over a century later, there is still one reminder that a ballpark once rose atop the hill.</p><p>After I crossed Macombs Dam Bridge into Manhattan, I made my way to Fort Washington Avenue between W. 165 St. and W. 168 St. This is the current location of the New York Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center. On the east side of Fort Washington Avenue, just north of W. 165 St. is a set of two gates that lead to a garden and chapel. These gates are usually locked from the outside, but as one person left the gate furthest away from W. 165 St., I took advantage and went in before the gate locked shut. Walking to the back of the garden across from the chapel, I found a plate-shaped plaque that was dedicated on the exact spot where Hilltop Park's home plate was once located. It's a shame that it's not easily accessible to the public, but as long as you don't mind sneaking in - the garden is technically a public space even though it's behind a locked gate - the Hilltop Park artifact is there for the viewing.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a8PwB-4lKNE/X4tGIHfq6HI/AAAAAAAAP70/NLgBA3exo3YYTWhbhxMuBWIjsf32r1t2gCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/walk6.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a8PwB-4lKNE/X4tGIHfq6HI/AAAAAAAAP70/NLgBA3exo3YYTWhbhxMuBWIjsf32r1t2gCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/walk6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Behind a locked gate, this home plate is definitely safe. (EL/SM)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>When the Highlanders moved to the Polo Grounds in 1913 and became the Yankees, they shared their new home with their National League counterparts, the New York Giants. The Giants had only been in existence for a little over a quarter century, but they already had quite a history with their home ballparks. In fact, their home in 1913 was the fourth such edifice known as the Polo Grounds.</p><p>The original Polo Grounds was built in 1876 and was located between Fifth and Sixth Avenues from 110th to 112th Streets, just north of Central Park. Polo was originally played there before the original New York Metropolitans called it home from 1880 to 1885. The Metropolitans, who played in the American Association, shared Polo Grounds I with the National League's New York Gothams, who began play in 1883. Two years later, the Gothams became the Giants.</p><p>In 1886, the Giants no longer had to share a stadium with the original "Mets", as the Metropolitans baseball club left polo for cricket, vacating the Polo Grounds to move into their new home in Staten Island at the St. George Cricket Grounds, where they played for two seasons until the team ceased operations. The Giants' residence at Polo Grounds I ended after the 1888 season, when the city of New York decided they wanted to extend the Manhattan street grid north of 110th St. Needing a new home, the Giants played two games at Oakland Park in Jersey City, NJ before temporarily moving to the St. George Cricket Grounds. While they played in Staten Island for two months, a new Polo Grounds was being erected under Coogan's Bluff in upper Manhattan. That ballpark opened in the summer of 1889.</p><p>Polo Grounds II was not the only park in the area. Just two blocks south was a ballpark that housed another baseball team known as the New York Giants. Those Giants were part of the Players' League and they played in Brotherhood Park in 1890. When the rival Players' League folded after just one season, the National League's New York Giants moved into Brotherhood Park in 1891 and renamed it - you guessed it - the Polo Grounds, the third such park with that name.</p><p>The third Polo Grounds was built out of wood, which as we all know is quite flammable. Sure enough, in April 1911, Polo Grounds III was destroyed by a fire, forcing the Giants to relocate to Hilltop Park for two months while a new Polo Grounds was being built on the same location as the burned down building. Learning from the past, Polo Grounds IV was built out of steel and concrete, allowing it to survive everything except a demolition ball, which was used after the second iteration of the Mets left for Shea Stadium in 1964.</p><p>In over half a century, Polo Grounds IV housed the Giants (1911-57), Yankees (1913-22) and Mets (1962-63). The site now houses the Polo Grounds Towers, an apartment complex that overlooks the Harlem River. There are still several reminders that baseball was once played there, including a new Polo Grounds Towers sign that's painted in the old New York Giants' colors and the John T. Brush Stairway, which used to lead fans down Coogan's Bluff into the Polo Grounds.<br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nP_m8xawsMk/X4tQxFf6Y9I/AAAAAAAAP8A/ncyN6fyQFjQVxd5lM5I2_Or1uek0j1sPACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/walk7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nP_m8xawsMk/X4tQxFf6Y9I/AAAAAAAAP8A/ncyN6fyQFjQVxd5lM5I2_Or1uek0j1sPACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/walk7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Q2EfCmMyLE/X4tQye-gDjI/AAAAAAAAP8E/BqevOfVa7wI9Quc0SDc-UousUDDj9T0kQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/walk8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="533" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Q2EfCmMyLE/X4tQye-gDjI/AAAAAAAAP8E/BqevOfVa7wI9Quc0SDc-UousUDDj9T0kQCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/walk8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hxP3ClzVfAk/X4tQzIzEmTI/AAAAAAAAP8I/0h_JRRHsjS4pT6_qeRCf-4-Qs7LfhbUbwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/walk9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="533" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hxP3ClzVfAk/X4tQzIzEmTI/AAAAAAAAP8I/0h_JRRHsjS4pT6_qeRCf-4-Qs7LfhbUbwCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/walk9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-62dxjPQMLB4/X4tQ0C4BiXI/AAAAAAAAP8M/2KV8R1DyuQcO9eZjeM-cgdpptoLtysTpQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/walk10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="533" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-62dxjPQMLB4/X4tQ0C4BiXI/AAAAAAAAP8M/2KV8R1DyuQcO9eZjeM-cgdpptoLtysTpQCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/walk10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gVM4sv6tOQ4/X4tQ1O0ztpI/AAAAAAAAP8Q/mNFx0WaEzwg0VZF5c4hUyUfR49NrvTDhwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/walk11.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gVM4sv6tOQ4/X4tQ1O0ztpI/AAAAAAAAP8Q/mNFx0WaEzwg0VZF5c4hUyUfR49NrvTDhwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/walk11.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Also the first home of the New York Mets. (EL/SM)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>The Yankees and Giants were just two of the three major league teams that called New York home prior to the formation of the Mets in 1962. Brooklyn once had a team as well, but they weren't always called the Dodgers.</p><p>From 1883 to 1891, the Brooklyn Atlantics, Brooklyn Grays, Brooklyn Bridegrooms and Brooklyn Grooms played at the first Washington Park in the neighborhood of Park Slope. This ballpark was located between Fourth and Fifth Avenues from 3rd to 5th Streets. Currently, a public park with that name can be found where Brooklyn's first National League team once played. After leaving Washington Park in 1892, the team moved to Eastern Park in Brownsville. But when fans failed to follow the team to their new digs in Brownsville, the club moved back to a new Washington Park after the 1897 season, located just a block away from the original ballpark.</p><p>This park, in the Gowanus neighborhood of Brooklyn, was home to the team with many names, as they were known as the Bridegrooms in 1898 and the Superbas from 1899 to 1910 before finally setting on the Dodgers in 1911 after the people who dodged the trolleys in the vicinity of Washington Park. Brooklyn played at this Washington Park for fifteen seasons (1898-1912) before moving to Ebbets Field in 1913.</p><p>Washington Park might not be standing anymore, but the building's wall still is. A short 12-mile walk from the Polo Grounds Towers, on the corner of Third Avenue and 1st St. in Gowanus, is a wall that looks exactly like what you'd expect a late 19th century/early 20th century ballpark wall to look like. The brick wall that was behind center field runs for part of 1st St., while the wall that stood behind the left field area of the park takes up all of Third Ave. from 1st St. to 3rd St. The photos below show what that exterior wall of Washington Park looked like.<br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KgrRP-PQy1g/X4tYcjs02mI/AAAAAAAAP8o/hNFaYe7F-uUbAAOJE7wxoOeEOQhAZgltQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/walk12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KgrRP-PQy1g/X4tYcjs02mI/AAAAAAAAP8o/hNFaYe7F-uUbAAOJE7wxoOeEOQhAZgltQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/walk12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xM8lfsDmz0A/X4tYeIuOwMI/AAAAAAAAP8s/mJH0XVaM02kpKKj9M4G0-hciXV9oGQuCACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/walk13.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xM8lfsDmz0A/X4tYeIuOwMI/AAAAAAAAP8s/mJH0XVaM02kpKKj9M4G0-hciXV9oGQuCACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/walk13.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Washington Park wall. (EL/SM)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Once the Dodgers left Washington Park for the new Ebbets Field in 1913, they became the Superbas once again before taking the new name of the Brooklyn Robins in 1914. That name stuck for nearly two decades until they finally settled on the Dodgers for good in 1932. The Dodgers played at Ebbets Field for another quarter century before failed attempts at a new ballpark in Brooklyn or Queens caused the team to move to Los Angeles, taking the Giants with them to the Golden State.</p><p>The location of Ebbets Field in Crown Heights (the area was part of Flatbush when the Dodgers called it home) is now covered with apartment buildings. Similar to the Polo Grounds Towers in Manhattan, the Ebbets Field Apartments (also known as the Jackie Robinson Apartments) rest on the location of a former major league ballpark. This apartment complex also remembers its history, with a cornerstone on Bedford Ave. that notes what used to stand there and a home plate marker just outside a laundromat within the complex, which can be seen by walking into a nondescript entrance on Sullivan Place. (The former address of Ebbets Field was 55 Sullivan Place.)</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3PICQaf_8jU/X4tfjkSA-kI/AAAAAAAAP9Q/HXhecBIqXBABubx_oqVujb-aBi_i8HxxACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/walk14.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3PICQaf_8jU/X4tfjkSA-kI/AAAAAAAAP9Q/HXhecBIqXBABubx_oqVujb-aBi_i8HxxACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/walk14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-18HAwOxggGs/X4tflKycLkI/AAAAAAAAP9Y/dcvu38xliBoJVuS2SoD46RsmHZZIb-cBgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/walk15.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="858" height="448" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-18HAwOxggGs/X4tflKycLkI/AAAAAAAAP9Y/dcvu38xliBoJVuS2SoD46RsmHZZIb-cBgCLcBGAsYHQ/w358-h400/walk15.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AhquQU3OcG0/X4tfmhFGTFI/AAAAAAAAP9c/M2io6pPC040Qg-mg0aeBhO0UhbopjxZxgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/walk16.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AhquQU3OcG0/X4tfmhFGTFI/AAAAAAAAP9c/M2io6pPC040Qg-mg0aeBhO0UhbopjxZxgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/walk16.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The site of the House That Jackie Built. (EL/SM)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Before the Dodgers settled on moving to the west coast, one of the areas they were looking at for a new stadium was in Queens. And seven years after Brooklyn got out of Dodge, Queens had its own team when Shea Stadium opened to Mets fans in 1964.</p><p>The Mets became New York's one and only National League team in 1962, setting up shop at Polo Grounds IV for two seasons while they waited for Shea Stadium to be completed. Once they moved to Flushing, the Mets stayed at Shea for 45 seasons - the same number of years Ebbets Field hosted the Dodgers/Superbas/Robins - before moving across the parking lot to Citi Field in 2009.</p><p>By the time I walked the ten miles from the site of Ebbets Field to the former home of Shea Stadium, the sun had set on my first day of walking, so I ran the Shea Stadium bases, which are conveniently marked in the current Citi Field parking lot, before taking one last photo with my Studious Metsimus colleagues outside the Jackie Robinson Rotunda entrance at Citi Field.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-75mSlwZWMNE/X4tj66a4RFI/AAAAAAAAP9w/XRLH2DO8wJwp5Y4pXXK1SwzRcNkafF22gCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/walk17.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-75mSlwZWMNE/X4tj66a4RFI/AAAAAAAAP9w/XRLH2DO8wJwp5Y4pXXK1SwzRcNkafF22gCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/walk17.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time for bed. There's still another day of walking to go! (EL/SM)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>Day two of my baseball walk (Saturday, October 10) began where the first day ended - at Citi Field. Although the sun had not officially risen when I got there, there was enough daylight to take photos of the area where Shea Stadium used to be and the special purple and back bunting above the Seaver Entrance, which was named after the late Tom Seaver.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RJjNhYSIb54/X4tltY_segI/AAAAAAAAP-A/Sv9loXhWt-Qm9vyKXeupOgdXDsc47J0SQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/walk18.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="533" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RJjNhYSIb54/X4tltY_segI/AAAAAAAAP-A/Sv9loXhWt-Qm9vyKXeupOgdXDsc47J0SQCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/walk18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jxm1F3xOHo0/X4tlurUGTVI/AAAAAAAAP-E/kdVyXd8Xy0g9tGREv6-z0ZP31cOYWyrwACLcBGAsYHQ/s1125/walk19.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="1125" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jxm1F3xOHo0/X4tlurUGTVI/AAAAAAAAP-E/kdVyXd8Xy0g9tGREv6-z0ZP31cOYWyrwACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/walk19.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vxXJA-Fsu9k/X4tlvx_W41I/AAAAAAAAP-I/x46jJzURWZAqc1gIiY1bhX0pDxgXCw5KQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/walk20.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="533" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vxXJA-Fsu9k/X4tlvx_W41I/AAAAAAAAP-I/x46jJzURWZAqc1gIiY1bhX0pDxgXCw5KQCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/walk20.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">May "The Franchise" rest in peace. (EL/SM)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><p>With the major league parks out of the way, it was now time to go back to the minors. From Queens, I walked over the Kosciuszko Bridge to Brooklyn, made my way through Greenpoint and Wiliamsburg, then scampered over the Williamsburg Bridge to Manhattan. Once in Manhattan, I made my way south through Chinatown and the Financial District before arriving at the Staten Island Ferry terminal. Since it's not possible to walk to Staten Island from another borough, I got on the ferry and walked around the boat as I made the 25-minute trip through New York Harbor. Once the ferry docked at the St. George terminal, I walked a short distance to the next stop: Richmond County Bank Ballpark at St. George, a.k.a. the home of the Staten Island Yankees.</p><p>The Staten Island Yankees have played in the New York-Penn League since 1999. In their first two seasons, they played their home games at the College of Staten Island Baseball Complex before moving into their current home in St. George. The parking lot of RCB Ballpark is also home to a bit of baseball history, as that was the former location of the St. George Cricket Grounds, where the original New York Metropolitans and New York Giants played in the 1880s.</p><p>The ballpark in Staten Island has several unique features, such as the likeness of the Verrazzano Bridge above the video board in left field, a panoramic view of the Lower Manhattan skyline, and a Wall of Fame dedicated not to former players, but to the baseball scouts who discovered some of the best players. If only that Wall of Fame wasn't located behind the first base stands, invisible to mostly everyone in the stadium.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ErsKp0soIek/X4tqhUNx1mI/AAAAAAAAP-c/FuuNOmt4MhwpMJ64mnNSq3w9LnLLVCWrACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/walk23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ErsKp0soIek/X4tqhUNx1mI/AAAAAAAAP-c/FuuNOmt4MhwpMJ64mnNSq3w9LnLLVCWrACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/walk23.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EyxHQ9HyXU4/X4tqi_jAAjI/AAAAAAAAP-g/ekgaJ1Ejd14lh7HFxQcXCQOmTJZBGFuXQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/walk24.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EyxHQ9HyXU4/X4tqi_jAAjI/AAAAAAAAP-g/ekgaJ1Ejd14lh7HFxQcXCQOmTJZBGFuXQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/walk24.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JnS1b8Iu3U0/X4tqkYW9ofI/AAAAAAAAP-k/3_PqNgqKO843-RqXWXo5D-hV1DSrppS3QCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/walk25.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JnS1b8Iu3U0/X4tqkYW9ofI/AAAAAAAAP-k/3_PqNgqKO843-RqXWXo5D-hV1DSrppS3QCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/walk25.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seriously, couldn't this have been located where it could be, you know, seen? (EL/SM)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>From Staten Island, it was back on the ferry to Manhattan, followed by a walk north to the Manhattan Bridge, which I crossed to get back into Brooklyn. On my way to the final destination of this two-day baseball trip, I made a stop at Barclays Center. Why did I stop at a place that was built for basketball, hockey and non-sports events? Because it is also the home of a piece of Brooklyn Dodgers history.</p><p>Outside the arena, on the corner of Atlantic Ave. and Flatbush Ave., is a lone flagpole. But this is not just any flagpole. No, my friends, this pole once flew at Ebbets Field and was brought to Barclays Center in 2012 to commemorate the return of professional, major league sports to Brooklyn. (The NBA's Nets have called Barclays Center home since 2012, while the NHL's Islanders played there from 2015-19.)</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e665vtv7BNk/X4tt-H2Bz9I/AAAAAAAAP-4/eEk5ugEmoKAtl1u1hqq80dEuS3IIr3BFQCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-17%2Bat%2B6.18.09%2BPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e665vtv7BNk/X4tt-H2Bz9I/AAAAAAAAP-4/eEk5ugEmoKAtl1u1hqq80dEuS3IIr3BFQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-17%2Bat%2B6.18.09%2BPM.png" width="400" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WH5DtqoghKo/X4tuBT-ykeI/AAAAAAAAP-8/bkp8Y5A_aagiURkw_d0DFNF0GQD99NmwgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/walk26.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="533" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WH5DtqoghKo/X4tuBT-ykeI/AAAAAAAAP-8/bkp8Y5A_aagiURkw_d0DFNF0GQD99NmwgCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/walk26.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">O say, does that Ebbets Field banner yet wave? Yes. Yes, it does. (EL/SM)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>I had already walked over 50 miles between the two days. I had visited two current MLB stadiums, the sites of several former major league parks and had even seen some artifacts from those current and former parks that are still standing. I had just one stop to go. And to do so, I had to walk as far south as I could go on foot in Brooklyn. I had to go to Coney Island.</p><p>By this time, I was walking at a Bartolo Colón home run trot pace. But I was determined to make it to my final destination. I walked eight miles through the neighborhoods of Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington, Borough Park, Midwood and Gravesend, with no other baseball sites to slow me down. And right before sunset, I finally made it to Coney Island. Once there, I passed by Luna Park. I also passed by Nathan's. I did not pass by MCU Park, which was the end of my journey.</p><p>Once the Brooklyn Dodgers left for California after the 1957 season, the borough of Kings was left without professional baseball for 44 years. It wasn't until the Cyclones came to town in 2001 that Brooklyn had a team again.</p><p>The Cyclones started in St. Catharines, Ontatrio, as a minor league affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. They played in Canada from 1986 to 1999, before moving to Queens in 2000 as the Queens Kings. Although they played in Mets country, they were still the New York-Penn League affiliate of the Blue Jays. Finally, in 2001, and nearly half a century after the Brooklyn Dodgers considered building a new home in Queens, the Kings moved from Queens to Brooklyn, setting up shop at KeySpan Park in Coney Island, which was renamed MCU Park in 2010.</p><p>Brooklyn had a professional baseball team again and this bum was done with his walk.</p><p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rnrCMQpklTg/X4t2a215UfI/AAAAAAAAP_M/VDkok5EZZSccCdsSvp1qdmhwCexKW6fyACLcBGAsYHQ/s1508/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-17%2Bat%2B6.53.52%2BPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1508" height="226" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rnrCMQpklTg/X4t2a215UfI/AAAAAAAAP_M/VDkok5EZZSccCdsSvp1qdmhwCexKW6fyACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h226/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-17%2Bat%2B6.53.52%2BPM.png" width="400" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PKlz5-w-ZtY/X4t2cjBxx2I/AAAAAAAAP_Q/YtMl5X0Pl5oZvNVu1SK-tRkhpOnPGWDnwCLcBGAsYHQ/s503/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-17%2Bat%2B6.55.02%2BPM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="474" height="425" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PKlz5-w-ZtY/X4t2cjBxx2I/AAAAAAAAP_Q/YtMl5X0Pl5oZvNVu1SK-tRkhpOnPGWDnwCLcBGAsYHQ/w378-h400/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-10-17%2Bat%2B6.55.02%2BPM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forgive the blurriness. It was late and I was tired. (EL/SM)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <p></p><p>In just two days, I covered 64 miles walking through all five boroughs and saw more New York baseball history than I ever thought I could. But most importantly, <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/striking-out-cancer-a-baseballthemed-walk?fbclid=IwAR0Dgm_Uj15Qb4IkIuSMLnwniZlF_jRslQ4D6OvwXPsb0jc32SsDxrif7xI">I helped raise $2,100.00 for the American Cancer Society.</a><br /></p><p>This was a 36-hour period I will never forget and one my feet will probably never forgive me for. But I certainly hope they'll get over it. After all, it was a baseball trip. And taking a walk is always good for the team.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OM48heJ7Bcc/X44hk7V_PCI/AAAAAAAAP_o/1Uv_7d4GIwkIzZgypNJcVx_QmJ2sKXY4gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/walk27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OM48heJ7Bcc/X44hk7V_PCI/AAAAAAAAP_o/1Uv_7d4GIwkIzZgypNJcVx_QmJ2sKXY4gCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/walk27.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A walk is as good as a hit. In this case, my walk was a hit. (EL/SM) <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p>Ed Leyro (and Joey Beartran)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18392639274179350916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225973709205976903.post-42018824367554134712020-06-15T18:25:00.001-04:002020-06-15T18:25:33.273-04:00June 15, 1983: My Ten-Year-Old Self Shares Memories of My First Mets GameThe Internet did not exist in 1983. Neither did winning baseball at Shea Stadium. As a ten-year-old Mets fan in '83, I knew as much about the World Series as I did the World Wide Web, as both were still years away from becoming a reality.<br />
<br />
So when my Little League team decided to attend a Mets game together on <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN198306150.shtml">Wednesday, June 15, 1983,</a> I was naturally excited but I didn't have a forum to document my experience. (My mother had discovered my diary just a weeks before the game and because of her find, I wasn't allowed to write in it anymore. Censorship at its overprotective motherly worst.)<br />
<br />
It's been exactly 37 years since I attended that game, so I thought now would be a perfect time to finally tell that story. To make this recap even more special, I have decided to allow my ten-year-old self access to my computer. I figured more people would be able to read the recap that way instead of trying to read it on my just-returned-to-me diary.<br />
<br />
Take it away, Eddie!<br />
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<i>Hi, everyone! My name is Eddie Leyro and I'm ten-and-a-half years old. I just got home from Shea Stadium where I saw my first-ever Mets game! I went to the game with my Little League team and some of the coaches and I had an awesome time. Well, it would have been better than awesome had the Mets actually won the game. But stupid Rusty Staub made a dumb error in the tenth inning that helped the Chicago Cubs win the game. I mean, seriously. Even <a href="http://www.bustatoons.com/blog_images/blog_orko_passes_sword_02.jpg">Orko from the "He-Man" cartoon</a> could've made that play and he floats in mid-air!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Anyway, the game started with Craig Swan sucking more than Madonna's music. (I mean, do you really think she's going to have a long career as a singer? She's no <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSfnopkT37I">Toni Basil!</a>) Swan was knocked out of the game in the second inning after giving up an RBI single to Bill Buckner in the first and allowing Jody Davis, Mel Hall and Ryne Sandberg to drive in runs in the second.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Once Swan hit the showers, I figured I'd hit the concession stand with my teammates, David and Robby. But I never got my hot dog because the coaches had to get off the line to break up a fight by our pitcher, Walter and our second baseman, Ricky in the bathroom. Walter was also the son of our manager, so you can imagine who got blamed for starting it. (Hint: Not Walter.) Needless to say, I never got my hot dog. The coaches made us all go back to our upper deck seats and no hot dog vendor came around. The only other time they allowed us to get out of our seats was when a few of the guys had to go to the bathroom. I didn't go because I don't like peeing in public. I'm as afraid of public restrooms as <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaJOeLuUD94">B.A. Baracus is of flying on a plane.</a></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Anyway, by the time we got back to our seats, the Mets had already scored a run to cut the Cubs' lead to 4-1 and I just managed to see my first major league home run, a shot by Hubie Brooks in the bottom of the third to make it 4-2. I didn't get why people were booing him until I was told that the fans were actually saying "HUUUUUUUUUU-bie". Baseball fans are very weird.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The fans also cheered a message that was posted on the DiamondVision about some guy named Keith Hernandez. Apparently, he was just traded to the Mets for a few pitchers. He can't be as bad as the guys already on the team, right?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Oh, I almost forgot! The Mets tied the game right after the DiamondVision announcement on an RBI double by Jose Oquendo and a run-scoring single by Danny Heep. But of course, Heep got greedy like Boss Hogg and got thrown out trying to get to second base. Had Heep not gotten thrown out, the Mets might have taken the lead in that inning. Instead, the game was just tied, 4-4, and stayed that way through nine innings.</i><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g8MqvHHfF-4/UxKDagc68uI/AAAAAAAAL9k/GgOgfYjnteg/s1600/danny+heep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g8MqvHHfF-4/UxKDagc68uI/AAAAAAAAL9k/GgOgfYjnteg/s1600/danny+heep.jpg" width="156" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maybe if Danny Heep didn't have such a big ear flap on his helmet, he'd have seen he was going to be out by a mile.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<i>Coach Walter, Sr., announced that we would stay for the tenth inning, but we'd have to go home if the game kept going. It was a Wednesday night and we had to go to school the next day. So I started praying for the Mets to hold the Cubs scoreless in the tenth and then maybe Hubie Brooks could hit another home run to win it in the bottom of the inning. But while I was alternating between one of my many Hail Marys and Our Fathers, the Cubs scored three runs, all because our first baseman, Rusty Staub, made a lousy error.</i><br />
<br />
<i>The Mets didn't score in the bottom of the tenth, as Hubie Brooks made an out and the skinny rookie, Darryl Strawberry, grounded into a double play to end the game. All I kept thinking as we walked down the Shea Stadium ramps was:</i><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>a) This Keith Hernandez better be a good first baseman so that this Rusty Staub guy isn't allowed to make more stupid errors.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>2) Why do we have to go down these long ramps when there are escalators all over the place?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>iii) Oh, snap! I never got my hot dog!</i></blockquote>
<br />
<i>So that's it. My first Shea Stadium experience. Craig Swan sucked. My teammates fought in the bathroom. And Rusty Staub should never play first base again. But at least the experience was more fun than having to sit through another rerun of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_GxXRbSFDg">"The Facts of Life",</a> which I would have done had I stayed home. (They should really move <a href="http://tomselleck.tv-website.com/images/pic_selleck.jpg">"Magnum P.I."</a> from Thursday to Wednesday. That would be, like, totally awesome.)</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>I hope you liked my recap. Maybe I should ask my mom to get me a Commodore 64. I'm sure it's a lot better to write on than my diary! </i><br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yDpkfJar5vc/UxKEZojdpGI/AAAAAAAAL9s/Na8uX90NNYE/s1600/i_adore_my_64.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yDpkfJar5vc/UxKEZojdpGI/AAAAAAAAL9s/Na8uX90NNYE/s1600/i_adore_my_64.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I certainly didn't adore my easily-read diary.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Ed Leyro (and Joey Beartran)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18392639274179350916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225973709205976903.post-35400671435295259892020-06-11T18:25:00.002-04:002020-06-11T18:25:14.101-04:00The Von Hayes Game Haunts Me to This Day<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2hG2G0chclc/XuKhX_0WX3I/AAAAAAAAP50/6jVySdLyWIoYoFG_JbLZCT6-fXMSyEpxQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/von%2Bhayes1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="235" data-original-width="275" height="436" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2hG2G0chclc/XuKhX_0WX3I/AAAAAAAAP50/6jVySdLyWIoYoFG_JbLZCT6-fXMSyEpxQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/von%2Bhayes1.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forget Freddy Krueger. This is the true man of my nightmares. (MLB.com)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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On June 11, 1985, the Mets took on the Philadelphia Phillies at Veterans
Stadium. New York entered the game with a 31-22 record, leaving them
just three games behind the first place Chicago Cubs. The Phillies, on
the other hand, were
already falling out of contention in the N.L. East with a 20-34 mark.
Only the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cleveland Indians had a worse record in the majors
than the phloundering Phils at the time.<br />
<br />
Starting for the Mets that night was Tom Gorman, who was making just his
seventh start in the big leagues but was entering the game with a solid
2.52 ERA. Philadelphia countered with Charles Hudson, who had lost
each of his previous four
starts, with the Phillies having scored a total of seven runs in those
four contests.<br />
<br />
Clearly, the Mets appeared to have an advantage coming in to the game. Then Von Hayes happened. And I haven’t recovered since.<br />
<br />
Without going into too much detail for fear that I’ll suffer a
post-traumatic Mets disorder breakdown, Gorman faced seven batters and
retired one of them. He couldn’t retire Von Hayes, who led off the game
with a home run. Gorman had already
been replaced by Calvin Schiraldi by the time Hayes batted for a second
time in the first frame, not like Hayes could tell the difference, as
he launched a grand slam off Schiraldi. An inning later, with Schiraldi
still in the game, Hayes singled and scored
a run.<br />
<br />
After two innings, the Mets were losing, 16-0. And then it got worse.<br />
<br />
Schiraldi allowed ten runs before manager Davey Johnson ended his
suffering. The Mets then scored seven unanswered runs to make it 16-7,
at which time Johnson summoned Joe Sambito from the bullpen to relieve
Doug Sisk, who had pitched
2<span class="st"><span class="st"><span class="st"></span><span class="st">⅓</span></span></span> scoreless innings. Clearly, Sambito decided he was going to pay
homage to Schiraldi’s performance, as he gave up ten runs of his own.
Included in the carnage was a bases loaded walk to Von Hayes, who later
came around to score his fourth run of the
game on a groundout.<br />
<br />
The final straw in what became <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHI/PHI198506110.shtml">a 26-7 loss</a> came during the WHN radio
post-game show when the turning point of the game was announced. Was it
Von Hayes’ leadoff homer or his grand slam? How about Sambito giving
up a ten-spot after the Mets
had cut the deficit to a “manageable” nine runs? Nope, it happened
well before either of those events took place, as fellow Von Hayes Game sufferer Vince Vincenzo can attest.<br />
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I can tell you exactly what I was doing during this game - Jr year of HS studying for a Regents exam the next morning I’m listening on the radio. In the post game they announced the answer for the turning point of the game contest for the next morning - the national anthem!</div>
— Vincent Vincenzo (@vvincenzo) <a href="https://twitter.com/vvincenzo/status/1271052084075470848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 11, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Oh say, can you see how much this game affected me. <br />
<br />
Things eventually got better for the Mets following their historic loss
to the Phillies, a game that forever put Von Hayes’ name in the minds of
Mets fans who obsess over every little thing about their team. (And by
“Mets fans who obsess
over every little thing about their team”, I mean me.)<br />
<br />
New York passed the first place Cubs in the standings and went on to win
98 games in 1985, just two victories shy of a franchise record. Yes,
they lost the division to the St. Louis Cardinals instead of the Cubs,
but they proved that the
1984 campaign - a year in which they won 90 games and finished above
.500 for the first time in eight years - was not a fluke. They
continued their climb in 1986, a season that culminated in the
franchise’s second World Series championship.<br />
<br />
Since winning it all just sixteen months and sixteen days after the Von
Hayes Game took place, the Mets have reached the playoffs six times,
including three division titles and two National League pennants. One
would think that success
would erase the events of June 11, 1985 from my mind. One would be
wrong.<br />
<br />
The truly Hayesian effort continues to haunt me to this day. Every time
the Mets fall behind by a significant number of runs early in a game, I
find myself saying aloud, “Who’s going to be Von Hayes in this game?”
Whenever a Mets reliever
comes into the game in a mop-up role, proceeds to get shelled and then
is left on the mound to take one for the team, the Schiraldi and Sambito
Wrecking Crew come to mind.<br />
<br />
Even while watching a Mets game that ends up well for the good guys, the Von Hayes Game is inevitably brought up.<br />
<br />
During the current pandemic, SNY has taken to showing classic Mets games
from years past. One contest that has been aired ad nauseam is Game
Seven of the 1986 World Series. As we all know, while Von Hayes and his
Phillies’ teammates were
watching this game at home, the Mets were putting together their second
straight comeback win against the Red Sox. With the score tied in the
seventh inning, Boston manager John McNamara brought in Calvin Schiraldi
to face Ray Knight, who had delivered a
key single against Schiraldi in the miraculous tenth inning comeback
just two nights before. Knight followed up his bloop in Game Six with a
blast in Game Seven, taking Schiraldi out of the park to give the Mets
the lead. But they weren’t done yet.<br />
<br />
After Knight circled the bases, Schiraldi allowed a hit to Lenny
Dykstra, uncorked a wild pitch on a pitchout to Rafael Santana, then
gave up another hit to Santana. After Roger McDowell moved Santana into
scoring position with a sacrifice
bunt, McNamara replaced Schiraldi with Joe Sambito, who continued to
add gas to the fire. Sambito issued two walks and allowed a sacrifice
fly to Keith Hernandez, which scored the sixth run of the game,
otherwise known as the run that was the difference in
the 8-5 championship-clinching win by the Mets.<br />
<br />
A normal fan would have just celebrated the rally by the Mets, praising
their clutch hitters coming up big in key late-inning situations. I
guess I’m not a normal fan. Because this is what I was doing while watching
that seventh inning (even though I mistakenly referred to it as happening in the sixth; I blame Von Hayes for my error).<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Friendly reminder that Calvin Schiraldi and Joe Sambito, who pitched in this pivotal sixth inning, combined to give up 20 runs in the Von Hayes Game just a year earlier as members of the Mets.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mets?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mets</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SNY?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SNY</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/1986WorldSeries?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#1986WorldSeries</a> <a href="https://t.co/fR69g6DW1D">pic.twitter.com/fR69g6DW1D</a></div>
— Ed Leyro (@Studi_Metsimus) <a href="https://twitter.com/Studi_Metsimus/status/1264712888884879365?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
<br />
<br />
We all have games that give us a kind of post-traumatic Mets disorder;
games that are forever associated with the opposing player responsible
for our pain. Whenever someone mentions the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN198709110.shtml">Terry Pendleton Game</a>, we
know what they’re referring
to. <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN198810090.shtml">The Mike Scioscia Game?</a> Don’t get me started. Some people even
can’t let go of the <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN200108230.shtml">Jason Jennings Game</a> (although I think those people
<a href="http://metstradamus.blogspot.com/2005/08/this-date-in-met-infamy.html">remember it more for Donne Wall</a> than for what Jennings did to the
Mets). Personally, I’m surprised that after his
devastating performance against the Marlins to close out the 2007
season, Tom Glavine didn’t say, “I’m disappointed, but at least it
wasn’t the Von Hayes Game.”<br />
<br />
See what I mean about PTMD and not being able to let things go?<br />
<br />
For me, I can’t seem to rid myself of the Von Hayes Game, which took
place 35 years ago today. It comes back to me during blowouts. It
comes back to me during World Series viewings. It comes back to me when
I flip the channel past VH-1
and think it stands for “Von Hayes Won”. Heck, I can’t even see the
Van Halen logo and not think of Von Hayes.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GBUESTjzE3w/XuKp1AvH7JI/AAAAAAAAP6A/lWX38PRj7REoDbMvRgZfzKVtk47FETYvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-06-11%2Bat%2B6.00.00%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="571" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GBUESTjzE3w/XuKp1AvH7JI/AAAAAAAAP6A/lWX38PRj7REoDbMvRgZfzKVtk47FETYvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-06-11%2Bat%2B6.00.00%2BPM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can't unsee it, can you?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
A third of a century after “The Von Hayes Game” became part of my
vocabulary, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHI/PHI201808161.shtml">the Mets defeated the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, 24-4.</a>
In that game, played on August 16, 2018, the Mets broke a 31-year
franchise record for runs scored
in a game. They pounded out 25 hits, of which 11 went for extra
bases. It got so bad for the home team that they used two position
players to pitch the final three innings. The Mets knocked them around
as well, crossing the plate nine times in those three
frames.<br />
<br />
I should have been ecstatic at the offensive outburst. I should have
been thrilled the Mets beat up on a division rival. I should have
celebrated a long standing franchise record being toppled. Instead, I
just said four words as the
game came to its conclusion.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>“TAKE THAT, VON HAYES!!”</b></i></span><br />
<br />
I guess it just goes to say that in good times and in bad, the man and the game that put his name in my brain will always find a way to haunt me. Anyone know the number of a good exorcist?<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--fO__q9K1mQ/XuKrXdCzSkI/AAAAAAAAP6M/e_w4bKaZZ1QUcBI42M7EkRFua4XtyJdxACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-06-11%2Bat%2B6.08.15%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="316" height="364" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--fO__q9K1mQ/XuKrXdCzSkI/AAAAAAAAP6M/e_w4bKaZZ1QUcBI42M7EkRFua4XtyJdxACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-06-11%2Bat%2B6.08.15%2BPM.png" width="370" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Call the Ghostbusters. I'm being haunted by Von Hayes. (Scott Halleran/Getty Images)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Ed Leyro (and Joey Beartran)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18392639274179350916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225973709205976903.post-70667779028947694082020-05-23T15:05:00.000-04:002020-05-23T15:05:13.588-04:00Jose Lima and the Final Destination of the 2006 Mets' Starting Pitchers<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5paIOSXcm_I/XsldCWGaPBI/AAAAAAAAP5E/KBEw2wQ1Ab0I7ch4tUvL_QztTK1MbZuYwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-05-23%2Bat%2B1.25.27%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="515" height="366" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5paIOSXcm_I/XsldCWGaPBI/AAAAAAAAP5E/KBEw2wQ1Ab0I7ch4tUvL_QztTK1MbZuYwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-05-23%2Bat%2B1.25.27%2BPM.png" width="515" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's to you, Mr. Lima. Hope you're able to pitch past the fifth inning in Heaven. (Victor Baldizon/Getty Images)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Ten years ago today, the baseball world lost one of its true characters in Jose Lima. The former Met, who had heart issues before his untimely death on May 23, 2010, finished his career with an 89-102 record and 5.26 ERA in 235 starts, which is <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/play-index/season_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=1&as=result_pitcher&offset=0&type=p&min_year_season=1871&max_year_season=2019&min_season=1&max_season=-1&min_age=0&max_age=99&lg_ID=lgAny&lgAL_team=tmAny&lgNL_team=tmAny&lgFL_team=tmAny&lgAA_team=tmAny&lgPL_team=tmAny&lgUA_team=tmAny&lgNA_team=tmAny&isActive=either&isHOF=either&isAllstar=either&throws=any&role=anyrole&games_started=60&games_relieved=80&qualifiersSeason=nomin&minIpValS=162&minDecValS=14&mingamesValS=40&qualifiersCareer=nomin&minIpValC=1000&minDecValC=100&mingamesValC=200&c1criteria=GS&c1gtlt=gt&c1val=235&c2criteria=earned_run_avg&c2gtlt=gt&c2val=5&c3gtlt=gt&c4gtlt=gt&c5gtlt=gt&c5val=1.0&location=pob&locationMatch=is&orderby=earned_run_avg&number_matched=1">the highest lifetime earned run average</a> in major league history for a pitcher who made that many starts. <br />
<br />
Lima was the second pitcher who started at least one game for the 2006 Mets to pass away, following the death of Geremi Gonzalez (who was then known by his hip-hop nom de plume, Jeremi Gonzalez) in 2008. Gonzalez was tragically killed at the age of 33 after being struck by lightning in Venezuela.<br />
<br />
Back in 2009, Studious Metsimus jokingly reported that after the Mets released Jose Lima in 2006, he put a hex on the franchise, lovingly referred to as "<a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2009/10/frightening-moments-in-mets-history.html">The Curse of Lima Time</a>". The whammy was supposedly the reason for the Mets' failure to reach the World Series in 2006, as well as their late-season collapses in 2007 and 2008.<br />
<br />
But is the curse real? Has it expanded beyond a Studious Metsimus story? A look at the thirteen starting pitchers who took the mound for the Mets in 2006 seems to suggest that it might have escaped the confines of this blog and gone searching for the Unlucky Thirteen.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>************* </b></span> </div>
<br />
<br />
<u><b>Tom Glavine (32 starts)</b></u> - Failed to get more than one out for the Mets in the 2007 season finale. Later went back to Atlanta where he picked up two wins and was released by the team in 2009. By co-inky-dink, he ended his career the way he began it, by going 2-4 with a 5.54 ERA for the Braves in 2008. He also went 2-4 with a 5.54 ERA for the Braves in his first season with the team back in 1987.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Steve Trachsel (30 starts)</b></u> - After leading the 2006 Mets with 16 wins, the Human Rain Delay II (with apologies to the original Human Rain Delay, Mike Hargrove) signed a free agent contract with the Baltimore Orioles in 2007. He was traded in August 2007 to the Chicago Cubs, then re-signed by the Orioles the following off-season, before being released by Baltimore in June 2008. His post-Mets stats for the 2007 and 2008 seasons featured an abysmal 9-16 won-loss record and a 5.60 ERA.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-2gf151WQ-A/Suoitw08AeI/AAAAAAAAAvg/NiaY5D4PMJQ/s1600-h/petey+blood.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="165" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398165272953356770" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-2gf151WQ-A/Suoitw08AeI/AAAAAAAAAvg/NiaY5D4PMJQ/s200/petey+blood.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="110" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(David Zalubowski/AP)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<u><b>Pedro Martinez (23 starts)</b></u> - Started off brilliantly in 2006, earning wins in each of his first five starts. Then he was placed on the disabled list after pitching horribly in his return to Fenway Park on June 28. After coming back from his injury exactly one month later, Martinez pitched poorly in the potential division clincher at PNC Park and was caught weeping in the dugout. In July 2009, Pedro signed a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies, but his affiliation with the Bloods (see photo, right) helped bring about his downfall. Facing the Yankees in the that year's Fall Classic also helped, as Pedro lost the two starts he made, including the game that gave the Yankees their sole championship of the last 19 seasons. Following his defeat in Game Six, the 37-year-old Martinez never pitched again in the major leagues.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Orlando Hernandez (20 starts)</b></u> - It looked as if the Curse of Lima Time was going to escape Orlando "The Dookie" Hernandez. After all, he was surprisingly effective for the Mets after being acquired in a trade from the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Dookie went 9-7 for the Mets and struck out nearly a batter per inning (112 Ks in 116.2 innings). However, The Dookie met The Curse right after he was named the starting pitcher for Game One of the 2006 NLDS. While running sprints in the outfield, the then-57 year old (give or take a few decades) tore a calf muscle and had to be removed from the postseason roster. Despite his AARP membership and injury history, the Mets signed Mr. Dookie to a two-year, $12 million contract that off-season. They were rewarded by getting 24 starts from His Dookness in 2007 and no starts in 2008. He then signed a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers in 2009, only to be released a month later. No longer in baseball, The Dookerino has apparently been offered three lucrative deals to be the spokesperson for Geritol, Metamucil and Depends undergarments.<br />
<br />
<u><b>John Maine (15 starts)</b></u> - Maine was originally the throw-in when the Mets unloaded Kris and Anna Benson to the Baltimore Orioles for Jorge Julio (who was then traded to Arizona for The Dookie). Maine impressed so much as a rookie for the Mets in 2006 that he earned a spot on the postseason roster. His victory in Game Six of the NLCS helped the Mets reach the do-or-die Game Seven against the Cardinals. Although Maine won 15 games in 2007, his ERA increased annually through 2010, when he won one game and posted a 6.13 ERA in nine starts. Maine never won a game in the majors after his 29th birthday and appeared in just four games as a thirty-something, all of them coming for the lowly Marlins in 2013. The scowl that once helped Maine get hitters out is now solely seen whenever someone utters Jerry Manuel's name.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-2gf151WQ-A/S_mhSuCK71I/AAAAAAAABoQ/wtyfHL_jIeM/s1600/jerry+manuel_maine.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="398" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474584165012402002" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-2gf151WQ-A/S_mhSuCK71I/AAAAAAAABoQ/wtyfHL_jIeM/s400/jerry+manuel_maine.jpg" style="display: block; height: 253px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 318px;" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The look of a man who just heard Jerry Manuel say "gangsta" for the umpteenth time. (AP Photo)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<u><b>Alay Soler (8 starts)</b></u> - Pitched a complete-game shutout against the Arizona Diamondbacks in his fourth major league start. Three starts later, he gave up eight runs to the Boston Red Sox. After that game, he was told to watch tapes of his outing against the Diamondbacks to prepare for his next start against the Yankees. The Curse of Lima Time struck again, as the tapes were misplaced and instead Soler watched the tapes from his Boston Massacre. He learned well, as he gave up another eight runs to the Yankees. So long, Soler. That marked the end of his short-lived major league career.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Oliver Perez (7 starts)</b></u> - When the Mets needed a reliever to replace Dominican food aficionado Duaner Sanchez, they traded Xavier Nady to the Pittsburgh Pirates for 41-year-old Roberto Hernandez and Oliver Perez. Perez did not pitch well for the Mets after his trade, going 1-3 with a 6.38 ERA. He did pitch in Game Seven of the NLCS and then went 25-17 over the next two seasons, fooling the Mets into giving him a three-year, $36 million contract after the 2008 campaign. Perez "rewarded" the Mets with three victories over the length of the contract. However, sales of antacids did increase exponentially in Flushing during his time with the team, which was good news if your name was Duane or Reade.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Brian Bannister (6 starts)</b></u> - The son of former major league pitcher Floyd Bannister was a respectable 2-0 with a 2.89 ERA for the 2006 Mets before the Curse of Lima Time found him on the bases at the ballpark formerly known as Pac Bell, SBC and AT&T Park. While trying to score a run, Bannister left his hamstring in San Francisco and missed the next four months of the season. Bannister was not himself after his return, going 0-1 with an 8.10 ERA. He was traded that off-season to the Kansas City Royals for future felon Ambiorix Burgos, proving that the Curse of Lima Time was contagious.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Victor Zambrano (5 starts)</b></u> - I won't waste your time. You already know his story. He was cursed before Lima could get to him.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Dave Williams (5 starts)</b></u> - Williams was never meant to make that many starts for the Mets, but the team's membership with the Injury of The Week Club forced him into action five times. Williams went 3-1 for the Mets in 2006, but the good record was due to excellent run support, as his ERA was a high 5.59. Williams was not as lucky in 2007, appearing in only two games for the Mets. Perhaps his 22.85 ERA had something to do with the lack of appearances. Although he was only 28 at the time, Williams never pitched in the major leagues again.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Mike Pelfrey (4 starts)</b></u> - Appeared to have been born with the antidote to the Curse of Lima Time in his blood. After his breakout 2008 season, Big Pelf struggled a bit in 2009, but was been the Mets' most dependable starting pitcher in 2010, going 15-9 with a 3.66 ERA while surpassing the 200-inning mark for the first time in his career. Pelfrey's success was short-lived, as he followed up his 2010 campaign by becoming one of the game's worst pitchers from 2011 until his final game in 2017. Over those seven seasons, Pelfrey went 25-62 with a 4.99 ERA and 1.56 WHIP pitching for the Mets, Twins, Tigers and White Sox. By age 33, the former ninth overall pick was out of the game.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-31nf6KcrPrU/Xslr7wbscTI/AAAAAAAAP5Q/4ENv-Yt4Kvg65hiS05edoe5KuYW7czdMwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-05-23%2Bat%2B2.30.56%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="188" height="170" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-31nf6KcrPrU/Xslr7wbscTI/AAAAAAAAP5Q/4ENv-Yt4Kvg65hiS05edoe5KuYW7czdMwCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-05-23%2Bat%2B2.30.56%2BPM.png" width="142" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The reason my wife drinks. (Reuters)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<u><b>Jose Lima (4 starts)</b></u> - Just like Lou Gehrig wasn't immune to the disease named after him, Jose Lima fell to the Curse that took his name. Lima never pitched again in the majors after his brief tour of duty with the Mets, a tour that included an 0-4 record, a 9.87 ERA and a grand slam allowed to opposing pitcher Dontrelle Willis (which my future wife didn't remember even though she was at the game because Lima's appearance on the mound caused her to become best friends with her section's beer vendor). Lima did, however, reach one milestone while in New York. On May 12, 2006, Lima was credited with his 100th career loss, earning the landmark defeat by allowing five runs in 4<span class="st"><span class="st"><span class="st">⅔ innings against the Milwaukee Brewers.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<u><b>Geremi Gonzalez (3 starts)</b></u> - Gonzalez started against Randy Johnson in the first game of the 2006 Subway Series at Shea Stadium and gave up four runs in the first inning. The Mets eventually won that game on David Wright's walk-off hit off Mariano Rivera in the bottom of the ninth inning, making Gonzalez the answer to the trivia question, "Who sucked so badly in Game One of the 2006 Subway Series that the Mets needed a walk-off hit by David Wright to win the game?" Unfortunately for Gonzalez, he made a better lightning rod than starting pitcher, as he was killed during a thunderstorm in his native Venezuela.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>*************</b></span> </div>
<br />
<br />
The starting pitchers for the 2006 Mets, otherwise known as the Unlucky Thirteen, have suffered professionally and personally since that 2006 campaign. The so-called Curse of Lima Time has claimed careers and lives, including the man for whom it was named.<br />
<br />
Although this blog was written as a humor piece, we do not mean to poke fun at the expense of Jose Lima, who passed away ten years ago today at the age of 37. Lima was a fun-loving man who had a respectable major league career, if you don't look at his ERA or X-Rays of my wife's liver. Lima was also a positive presence in the clubhouse and was loved by his teammates.<br />
<br />
Jose Lima will always be missed in the major league community and of course, in the blogging community. May he continue to rest in peace.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nDx8kGEc-ZM/XslvQiRFEkI/AAAAAAAAP5c/9h8nNMhqAUcqhvD4hG8rp44FP8Wqrh1wQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-05-23%2Bat%2B2.45.06%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nDx8kGEc-ZM/XslvQiRFEkI/AAAAAAAAP5c/9h8nNMhqAUcqhvD4hG8rp44FP8Wqrh1wQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-05-23%2Bat%2B2.45.06%2BPM.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how most Mets fans remember Jose Lima. (Howard Earl Simmons/NY Daily News)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<script src="http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Ed Leyro (and Joey Beartran)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18392639274179350916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225973709205976903.post-34921770684118611542020-01-19T10:00:00.000-05:002020-01-20T16:47:41.193-05:00If Studious Metsimus Had a 2020 Hall of Fame Vote...On Tuesday, January 21, the National Baseball Hall of Fame will be reaching out to its newest enshrinees to inform them that they should cancel all plans for the final weekend in July because they'll be going to Cooperstown instead. Those all-time greats of the game will be joining Ted Simmons and Marvin Miller, who were voted in by the Modern Baseball Era Committee, as the newest members of the hallowed Hall.<br />
<br />
Last year, six former players were inducted, including the first player ever to have his name checked off on 100% of the ballots (Mariano Rivera). In addition to Rivera, fellow pitchers Lee Smith, Mike Mussina and the late Roy Halladay received the game's greatest individual honor, as well as a pair of designated hitters (Harold Baines and Edgar Martinez).<br />
<br />
This year's class does not appear to be as crowded as last year's, if we're to believe <a href="https://onedrive.live.com/view.aspx?resid=F2E5D8FC5199DFAF!17003&ithint=file,xlsx&authkey=!ALD8BEbKmTajwcI">Ryan Thibodaux's Hall of Fame ballot tracker.</a> But that doesn't mean hotels in Cooperstown will be hanging vacancy signs outside their doors. On the contrary, one potential enshrinee might attract fans from California to Kalamazoo, while another could bring the entire population of Canada with him. And then there are those who would just show up to boo in the event a seven-time MVP and seven-time Cy Young Award recipient are inducted, not to mention an outspoken pitcher who contributed to two bitter postseason defeats of one of New York's baseball teams. (Spoiler alert: It's not the Mets.)<br />
<br />
There are seven former Mets on this year's ballot, but no one is expecting Billy Wagner, Gary Sheffield, Jeff Kent, J.J. Putz, Heath Bell, Bobby Abreu or the great Jose Valverde to give a speech on July 26. For them to get up on stage at the Clark Sports Center, they would each need approximately 309 votes, or 75% of the 412 ballots cast. Either that or they could channel their inner Kanye West and pretend one of the actual inductees is Taylor Swift.<br />
<br />
But we digress.<br />
<br />
The cast and crew of Studious Metsimus aren't eligible to vote for this year's Hall of Fame induction class. (We were told that it had something to do with the fact that we're not actual writers.) But we are eligible to submit an opinion as to who we'd like to see immortalized with a plaque in Cooperstown. Just like the BBWAA, we'll limit our selections to a maximum of ten deserving candidates. Or nine deserving players and a guy with balls on his face. Here's our imaginary vote!<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tBNy5Gp5hNc/XiN2ZiJB6gI/AAAAAAAAP3Q/ZQsSrs1KaJ8R89196TbeH4tnguaWAriSgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/derek%2Bjeter%2Bhas%2Bballs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="999" height="287" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tBNy5Gp5hNc/XiN2ZiJB6gI/AAAAAAAAP3Q/ZQsSrs1KaJ8R89196TbeH4tnguaWAriSgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/derek%2Bjeter%2Bhas%2Bballs.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is this the face of a Hall of Famer? (Photo courtesy of GQ Magazine)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><b><i>Larry Walker</i></b></u></span> </div>
<br />
The best everyday player to come out of Canada hasn't gotten as much support as he
should because of one nagging element - the Coors Field factor.<br />
<br />
Prior to becoming a member of the Colorado Rockies, Walker was already a good
hitter and complete player. In his final three years with his original team, the Montreal Expos,
Walker had a .294 batting average, .371 on-base percentage and .516
slugging percentage, averaging 33 doubles, 21 HR, 88 RBI and 21 SB. He
was also an All-Star, won a Silver Slugger Award and two Gold Gloves
while in Montreal. Although those numbers are not quite Hall of
Fame worthy, they were still very good. Then he signed with Colorado
and became one of the best players in the major leagues.<br />
<br />
In his first season with the Rockies (1995), Walker hit .306 with 36 HR and
101 RBI. His .607 slugging percentage was second in the league and he
helped lead the third-year Rockies to their first-ever playoff
appearance. Year two in Colorado was fraught with injuries, as Walker played in only 83 games but still managed 18 HR, 58 RBI and 18 SB in
approximately half a season's worth of games. Fully healthy in 1997, Walker's career
took off into the stratosphere. Walker's 1997 numbers (.366 batting
average, 46 doubles, 49 HR, 130 RBI, 143 runs scored, 33 SB, .452 OBP,
.720 SLG, 1.172 OPS) almost looked like they came straight from a video
game. But Walker wasn't done after his phenomenal '97 campaign. Over
the next five seasons, Walker won three batting titles (1998, 1999,
2001), finished second another year (2002) and had a combined .350
batting average over those five seasons. Basically, he was Tony Gwynn
with power and Gwynn was a first-ballot Hall of Famer.<br />
<br />
In ten years as a Rockie, Walker posted a .334 batting average, .426
on-base percentage, .618 slugging percentage and 1.044 OPS. Only 24
players in major league history finished with a higher career batting
average than what Walker put up in that ten-year span. Of those
24, the only three who finished with a higher on-base percentage,
slugging percentage and OPS were Ted Williams, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig,
all first ballot Hall of Famers and all legends of the sport.<br />
<br />
Larry Walker played 17 years in the major leagues. However, because of
injuries, he only had four seasons in which he played at least 140
games. From 1994-2005, Walker missed an average of 44 games per season,
failing to play more than 103 games in five of those 12 campaigns.
Despite his multiple trips to the disabled list, Walker finished his
career with 2,160 hits, including 471 doubles and 383 HR. He also stole
230 bases, scored 1,355 runs and drove in 1,311. His combined
averages (.313 BA, .400 OBP, .565 SLG) are among the highest career
marks of anyone not already in the Hall of Fame, as is his 72.7 bWAR. And he wasn't just a product of Coors Field.<br />
<br />
Walker played in 674 games for the Expos prior to his time in Colorado
and 144 games for the Cardinals after leaving the Rockies, which is
approximately five full 162-game seasons. In those 818 games in
non-Rockies uniforms, Walker posted an .851 OPS and 129 OPS+, averaging
63 extra-base hits and 21 steals per 162 games. And those numbers
weren't fueled by the thin air in Denver.<br />
<br />
All told, Walker was a five-time
All-Star, won seven Gold Gloves and three Silver Slugger Awards. He
also finished in the top 20 in the MVP vote seven times, winning the
1997 N.L. Most Valuable Player Award. Not all of his awards and accolades came as a member of
the Colorado Rockies, proving that Walker was an exceptional player
before and after his time in Colorado. Simply stated, Larry Walker has
earned the right to become the first player with a Rockies hat on his
Hall of Fame plaque.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lLnhg87NQbk/XiPQlopmX_I/AAAAAAAAP3o/WKAPgoxWB34zqwewE47B2b_YkXfrDbEQACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-01-18%2Bat%2B10.43.55%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="500" height="295" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lLnhg87NQbk/XiPQlopmX_I/AAAAAAAAP3o/WKAPgoxWB34zqwewE47B2b_YkXfrDbEQACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-01-18%2Bat%2B10.43.55%2BPM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Larry Walker waits to see if the tenth time is the charm. (Vincent Laforet/AllSport)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i><u>Curt Schilling</u></i></b></span></div>
<br />
If you thought Larry Walker's 72.7 bWAR was high, you should see Curt Schilling's. His 79.5 bWAR fully shows how valuable he was to his teams. And by teams, I'm talking about the Philadelphia Phillies (who won a pennant with Schilling in 1993), the Arizona Diamondbacks (who won their first and only title in 2001 with World Series co-MVP Schilling leading the way) and the Boston Red Sox (who ended an 86-year championship drought with Schilling in 2004 and then repeated the feat three years later in the right-hander's final active season).<br />
<br />
Schilling was nearly perfect in the postseason, going 11-2 with a 2.23 ERA, 0.968 WHIP and 120 strikeouts in 19 starts. As dominant as he was in October, he was just as impressive in the regular season.<br />
<br />
Pitching in an era that doesn't require its starters to go deep into games, Schilling recorded 83 complete games and 20 shutouts. He is also one of only five pitchers in history with 3,000-plus strikeouts and fewer than 1,000 walks. The other four are Hall of Famers Greg Maddux, Ferguson Jenkins, Pedro Martinez and future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander. But none of those four pitchers could boast the 4.38 K/BB ratio that Schilling had over his twenty-year career.<br />
<br />
It's one thing to lead the league in a major category once. It's another thing to be a league leader multiple times, which shows a player's consistency and excellence. So how many different major categories did Schilling lead the league in on more than one occasion? Well, there's wins (2001, 2004), games started (1997, 1998, 2001), complete games (1996, 1998, 2000, 2001) and innings pitched (1998, 2001).<br />
<br />
But wait, there's more!<br />
<br />
Schilling also led the league multiple times in strikeouts (1997, 1998), WHIP (1992, 2002) and strikeouts per walk (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006).<br />
<br />
Somehow, Schilling never won a Cy Young Award. But he was a three-time runner-up and finished fourth in another season. He also earned MVP votes four times, which is rare for a pitcher in this or any other era.<br />
<br />
Curt Schilling has waited long enough to finally have his day in Cooperstown. That wait should come to an end this year.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-89Gf_TBUGlc/XiPRZICHQ7I/AAAAAAAAP3w/QAbd7j5l40Ex38osc7aQwOAnvP0zZjqvACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-01-18%2Bat%2B10.47.31%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-89Gf_TBUGlc/XiPRZICHQ7I/AAAAAAAAP3w/QAbd7j5l40Ex38osc7aQwOAnvP0zZjqvACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-01-18%2Bat%2B10.47.31%2BPM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Don't like that I'm voting for Curt Schilling? Suture self. (Al Bello/Getty Images)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i><u>Scott Rolen</u></i></b></span></div>
<br />
Unlike Walker and Schilling, Scott Rolen never led the league in any category. Not one major category. Not one minor category. Nothing. But his consistency at the plate and impeccable fielding throughout his career helped him finish his 17-year stay in the majors with a 70.2 bWAR. <br />
<br />
Injuries cost Rolen hundreds of games, as he missed 20 or more contests in a dozen different seasons. But that didn't stop him from collecting 517 doubles, 316 homers, 1,287 RBI, 1,211 runs scored and 2,077 hits. He was also the owner of a lifetime .855 OPS and 122 OPS+.<br />
<br />
Rolen won the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 1997 and his eight Gold Gloves at third base were more than anyone not named Brooks Robinson or Mike Schmidt. The seven-time All-Star also produced in the postseason, helping the Cardinals win their first N.L. pennant in 17 years by batting .310 with a 1.044 OPS in the 2004 NLCS. Two years later, Rolen was a key contributor in St. Louis' first World Series victory in 24 seasons, hitting .421 with a 1.213 OPS in the Fall Classic.<br />
<br />
The injury bug that constantly sidelined Rolen during the second half of his career more than likely kept him from reaching 1,000 extra-base hits and 2,500 total hits, as well as 1,500 runs scored and 1,500 runs batted in. But that's what WAR is good for. And because of it, we know that Rolen was invaluable to the teams he played for.<br />
<br />
The next team he should be a part of is the one that calls Cooperstown home.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dqfxycYz2dk/XiPSeAwLbxI/AAAAAAAAP38/tIaTzoi_-Wk4aQ0Qgk9BzO-I1uOtGvBvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-01-18%2Bat%2B10.52.02%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="400" height="350" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dqfxycYz2dk/XiPSeAwLbxI/AAAAAAAAP38/tIaTzoi_-Wk4aQ0Qgk9BzO-I1uOtGvBvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-01-18%2Bat%2B10.52.02%2BPM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scott Rolen was booed in Philly as an opposing player. Or maybe he was booed because he was a person. (Sporting News)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Although voters are allowed to check off a maximum of ten players on their Hall of Fame ballots, there are only four other players we'd vote for if, you know, we were allowed to vote.<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><u><b>Todd Helton:</b></u> Like former teammate Larry Walker, Helton's candidacy will be questioned
because of the Coors Field factor. After all, during his best
eight-year stretch (1998-2005), Helton averaged 46 doubles, 33 HR, 113
RBI and 114 runs scored, while striking out just 76 times and drawing 96
walks per season. That's absolutely tremendous. Wanna know what his
average season was like in road games, otherwise known as games not
played at Coors Field? While wearing road grays during those eight
seasons, Helton slashed .298/.398/.520 and produced 277 extra-base hits,
drove in 347 runs and scored 337 times. That's an average of 73
extra-base hits, 91 RBI and 89 runs scored per 162 road games. In other
words, still up in the elite hitter stratosphere. Even with injuries
sapping his power in his later years, Helton still managed to finish in
the top 100 all-time in home runs, doubles,
extra-base hits, hits, RBI and runs scored.
There are over 100 hitters in the Hall of Fame and Helton ranks in the
top 100 in many major hitting categories. And he wasn't just a one-dimensional player, as evidenced by his three Gold Gloves. You do the math if he belongs
in the Hall or not. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><u><b>Jeff Kent:</b></u> Kent was more than just his 1970s porn star 'stache. He was
one of the best hitting second basemen of all-time. For a guy whose
career didn't take off until his age-29 season, Kent finished just 16
extra-base hits shy of 1,000. The pressures of playoff baseball didn't
faze him, as Kent posted an identical .500 career slugging percentage in
the regular season and postseason. And let's not forget his eight
seasons with 100+ RBI, the 1,518 runs he drove in for his career, his 2000 N.L. MVP Award and the
title of all-time leading home run hitter at the second base position. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><u><b>Billy Wagner:</b></u> It's a shame Wagner hasn't gotten more
recognition, as he was far more dominant than 2018 Hall of Fame inductee
Trevor Hoffman and 2019 enshrinee Lee Smith ever were. Hoffman and
Smith
got the job done as effectively as any other closer who ever lived.
But Wagner would eat a hitter up and spit him out. Injuries curtailed
Wagner's career, but any pitcher who averaged nearly 12 strikeouts per
nine innings, four whiffs per walk and finished his career with a WHIP
under 1.00 (Wagner's WHIP was 0.998, which was lower than all-time best closer Mariano Rivera's 1.000 lifetime WHIP) deserves Hall of Fame
consideration. And speaking of Rivera, he held opposing batters to a .211/.262/.295 career slash line. How did hitters slash against Wagner? They didn't. All they could manage was a .187/.262/.296 against the flamethrowing southpaw. And with all the praise we just heaped on Wagner, we didn't even mention his 422 saves and 2.31 ERA.
Okay, maybe we just did. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><u><b>Dirk Jitters:</b></u> Yes, we're changing the name of the former Yankee shortstop because we don't want anyone to think that we, as Mets fans, believe that he was an all-time great of the game. On the contrary, he was a liability on defense, as evidenced by his <a href="https://twitter.com/theaceofspaeder/status/1191836078744977409">-243.3 defensive runs saved</a> throughout his career. Jitters also produced a lifetime 115 OPS+. If that number looks familiar to you, it's because it's <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dudalu01.shtml">the same lifetime OPS+ as the one produced by Lucas Duda.</a> The however-many-times world champ struck out 1,840 times, which is an enormous amount of whiffs for a player who had over 11,000 plate appearances in the leadoff spot or No. 2 hole, otherwise known as the tablesetting positions in the lineup. But he's also responsible for getting rid of that <a href="https://news.artnet.com/art-world/derek-jeter-red-grooms-sculpture-1373434">eyesore of a home run sculpture</a> in Miami. That, and that alone, is why he deserves a plaque in Cooperstown.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
Those are our seven selections for this year's Hall of Fame class. Some of them might get voted in. Some of them might not. Heck, some of them might even wonder why Jeff Kent's mustache hasn't earned him an honorary AVN Award. But all of the candidates are worthy of at least being in the Hall of Fame conversation. Yes, even Dirk Jitters.<br />
<br />
So who will actually get the coveted call from the Hall? The answer will be revealed to all on January 21, or earlier if any Astros players intercept that information.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-00TvjovJFR4/XiPUCVF0C1I/AAAAAAAAP4M/wEBLNjCFu7o5lA2NlMIYfKLD30tzmISwwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/National%2BBaseball%2BHall%2BOf%2BFame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="319" data-original-width="294" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-00TvjovJFR4/XiPUCVF0C1I/AAAAAAAAP4M/wEBLNjCFu7o5lA2NlMIYfKLD30tzmISwwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/National%2BBaseball%2BHall%2BOf%2BFame.jpg" width="368" /></a></div>
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<br />Ed Leyro (and Joey Beartran)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18392639274179350916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225973709205976903.post-40706716171427087872019-10-21T20:00:00.000-04:002019-10-21T20:00:00.580-04:00Joey's Soapbox: My 2019 Not-At-All Biased World Series Pick<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PLZrtaDxHw0/XayEDERREeI/AAAAAAAAP2U/zCgu0x9t0T8yLkEJydlCcrxxIcD1qVp1wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/astros.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="840" height="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PLZrtaDxHw0/XayEDERREeI/AAAAAAAAP2U/zCgu0x9t0T8yLkEJydlCcrxxIcD1qVp1wCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/astros.png" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm either looking at the yummy food in Houston or I'm following the flight of Jose Altuve's home run.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
How is everyone doing? I'm Joey Beartran and like Tony the Tiger, I'm feeling GRRRRRRRREAT!! And I have Jose Altuve to thank for me being so upbeat.<br />
<br />
I had always been a fan of Altuve, mainly because he's the only major leaguer who's my height. But now, after hitting a walk-off, pennant-winning homer against the Yankees, I love him even more. His blast allowed me to go 2-for-2 in my League Championship Series predictions, and that's the only reason why I'm this excited today. Not because the Yankees lose, thaaaaaaaaaa Yankees loooooose. That would be biased of me, and I'm not at all biased.<br />
<br />
Thanks to Altuve's heroics, we now have a World Series that will be anything but boring, with intriguing pitching matchups in practically every game. The Fall Classic will also feature teams that had combined to win just two pennants prior to this year, which hadn't happened since 1980, when the Philadelphia Phillies (who had previously won pennants in 1915 and 1950) faced the Kansas City Royals (who had never won a pennant).<br />
<br />
Will the Washington Nationals win their first championship? Will the Houston Astros tie the Mets for most titles for teams that played their first game in 1962? Will the Yankees ever learn how to count past twenty-seven? The answers to the first two questions will be revealed below. The answer to third question is no, they will not.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uZXCQQt7NvY/XaySdwJW1NI/AAAAAAAAP2s/pFs6hezasX8JrTNpYRogvJJqLEWxUIuLACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-10-20%2Bat%2B12.59.23%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="755" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uZXCQQt7NvY/XaySdwJW1NI/AAAAAAAAP2s/pFs6hezasX8JrTNpYRogvJJqLEWxUIuLACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-10-20%2Bat%2B12.59.23%2BPM.png" width="371" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The people who made this shirt should be happy they never have to update it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>World Series</i></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Washington Nationals vs. Houston Astros</i></b></span><br />
<br />
For the opening act, we have Max Scherzer vs. Gerrit Cole. Then we have Stephen Strasburg vs. Justin Verlander in Game Two. And if that's not enough to whet your pitching appetite, it's Patrick Corbin vs. Zack Greinke in Game Three. How's that for must-see TV?<br />
<br />
The Astros batted just .179 against the Yankees in the ALCS, which doesn't bode well for them against the vaunted Nationals staff. That Nats staff didn't throw a single pitch in the NLCS with the team trailing, as Washington led throughout their four-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals. That might change in the World Series if Houston continues to jump on top early. Of the 22 runs scored by the Astros in the ALCS, ten of them crossed the plate in the first three innings.<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4225973709205976903" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
Washington is a very streaky team. During their current six-game winning streak, they've outscored the opposition, 33-10. They also scored 166 runs during a 21-game stretch in late August and early September. But the Nats can also go cold at the plate, as evidenced by the 61 times this year (58 regular season and three postseason games) they failed to score more than three runs in a game. By comparison, the Mets scored three runs or fewer in 54 games this season.<br />
<br />
If the Nationals could be held in check that many times this year when they didn't face past, present and future Cy Young Award winners every game, imagine what they'll look like against Cole, Verlander and Greinke.<br />
<br />
Then there's the case of the bullpens. Washington's bullpen is such a mess that manager Dave Martinez went with his starters in relief on various occasions to navigate through the playoffs. Meanwhile, Houston's bullpen was one of the team's many strengths, posting a 3.75 ERA during the regular season. That's nearly two full runs lower than the Washington's 5.68 ERA for its relievers. If a game comes down to Altuve and his brothers facing the Nats' relief corps, I'll put my lunch money on Mini-Me and the 'Stros.<br />
<br />
I think it's clear who I'm picking to win the World Series. But if it still isn't obvious to you, please think about this.<br />
<br />
The Washington Nationals play their home opener next year on April 2. Their opponent that day will be the New York Mets. Do you really want to see them rub their World Series rings in our faces? I think not. Let them raise their National League pennant against us in 2020. For this season, it'll be the Astros who will #TakeItBack.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Prediction:</u> Astros in 6.</b><br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_JpdqeYSWuc/XayQn0Rh-nI/AAAAAAAAP2g/OOMvpW1hHjMPIQPRg5Xxn6xT5m-M6aiyACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-10-20%2Bat%2B12.49.57%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="655" height="396" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_JpdqeYSWuc/XayQn0Rh-nI/AAAAAAAAP2g/OOMvpW1hHjMPIQPRg5Xxn6xT5m-M6aiyACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-10-20%2Bat%2B12.49.57%2BPM.png" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little man on paper. Big man on campus. (Photo by F. Carter Smith)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Ed Leyro (and Joey Beartran)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18392639274179350916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225973709205976903.post-45920662227244644352019-10-20T11:12:00.001-04:002019-10-20T11:12:42.874-04:00I'm Keith Hernandez! Where's My Birthday Cake?Hello, my friends. I'm Keith Hernandez. And today is a special day for me. You see, today is my birthday. That's right, all you kids out there. I'm now 66 years old.<br />
<br />
In honor of my 66th birthday, the cast and crew at Studious Metsimus asked me to give you a brief recap of my life. To be honest with you, I've never heard of Studious Metsimus, but the offer of unlimited Tootsie Pops was too much to refuse. Plus, they promised me there would be no traffic on the Long Island Expressway so I could make a quick getaway after writing this piece. How could I pass that up?<br />
<br />
Anyway, I was born in San Francisco on October 20, 1953. Contrary to popular
belief, I was not born with a mustache. The picture you see below is one
of my early photos. Yes, the ladies loved me even then. Can you
blame them? I mean, look at me! I'm Keith Hernandez!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OT29VIuub4o/UILHK7W4EOI/AAAAAAAAIko/ExsWzPrP-9U/s1600/keith+hernandez+mets+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OT29VIuub4o/UILHK7W4EOI/AAAAAAAAIko/ExsWzPrP-9U/s320/keith+hernandez+mets+1.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unfortunately, I failed in my petition to get my own name on my Little League jersey.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After my days as a Little League Lothario were done, I was drafted in the 42nd round by the St. Louis Cardinals
in 1971. (Yes, I did go to high school between my Little League days and my high school graduation, but that was an awkward time for me, so I'd rather not talk about it.) Clearly, the scouts back then were terrible judges of
talent if they waited that long to draft me. Unfortunately, I did nothing to earn that selection early on in
my minor league career until I was promoted to Triple-A Tulsa in 1973,
where I hit .333 and showed those other kids out there how a real baseball player
was supposed to play the game.<br />
<br />
In 1974, I hit .351 for Tulsa and was promoted to the big show on August 30 of that year against my hometown San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park. I reached base three times in my first big league game, drawing two walks before collecting my first big league hit and RBI in the ninth
inning off Giants' starter Mike Caldwell. Unfortunately, we lost that game 8-2, but I let it be known to my teammates and the rest of the league that I was here to stay.<br />
<br />
Once I settled in to the big leagues, I made my presence felt in the clubhouse and on the field. The Cardinals just had to keep me around. Therefore, they traded incumbent first baseman Joe Torre to the Mets after the 1974 season (more on first basemen being traded to the Mets a little later ... after a few more paragraphs and my first Tootsie Pop). I was a Cardinal now, and St. Louis was about to see what Keith Hernandez was all about.<br />
<br />
It was in St. Louis that I let my trademark mustache grow. The Gateway City was also where I earned my first Gold Glove in 1978 and my first MVP Award one year later. (Okay, so it was a co-MVP award that I shared with Willie Stargell. But in Strat-O-Matic, I kicked Willie's posterior.) In addition, St. Louis was the place where I claimed my first batting title (also in 1979), my first World Series championship (1982), my first line of... umm ... baseball cards (yeah, that's the ticket) and my first comparison to adult film thespian Ron Jeremy.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J7rbYtFdXnM/WAjNXLvk9mI/AAAAAAAAOK8/BHbxis0ejGMMCWBG5VWqqar8-yxH1IZCQCLcB/s1600/keith%2Band%2Bron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J7rbYtFdXnM/WAjNXLvk9mI/AAAAAAAAOK8/BHbxis0ejGMMCWBG5VWqqar8-yxH1IZCQCLcB/s400/keith%2Band%2Bron.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If my brother Gary were in this collage, you'd have the original Gary, Keith and Ron.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
If you ask me, I don't see the resemblance. He looks more like Mike Piazza than he does me. Also, my acting skills are far superior to his. Was he on "<b><i>Seinfeld</i></b>"? I don't think so. That was me. Why did they choose me over him? Because I'm Keith Hernandez!<br />
<br />
Anyway, less than eight months after bringing home St. Louis' first World Series championship since 1967, I experienced one of the saddest days of my life, or so it seemed at the time. On June 15, 1983, I was traded from the defending world champion Cardinals to the perennial cellar dweller New York Mets. Shockingly, I wasn't even traded for future Hall of Famers. I was shipped off to the Mets for Neil Allen, Rick Ownbey (who also <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/ownberi01.shtml">celebrates a birthday with me today,</a> but he's four years my junior) and a half-empty box of Tender Vittles. Even my beloved cat, Hadji, wouldn't be impressed with that transaction. <br />
<br />
It was already an insult to me that I was traded to the team known as "Pond Scum" and the "Stems" in St. Louis. But come on! Couldn't the Mets have offered some 9 Lives to the Cardinals instead of Tender Vittles? After all, Morris the Cat was all the rage back then. I mean, he was the O.G. (Original Grumpy cat). I would have accepted a trade for Allen, Ownbey and 9 Lives, not Allen, Ownbey and half-eaten Tender Vittles. Sheesh!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UMpkguEKBXE/UILpLDdSBbI/AAAAAAAAIow/-RyGTO-x2_s/s1600/morris+the+cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UMpkguEKBXE/UILpLDdSBbI/AAAAAAAAIow/-RyGTO-x2_s/s320/morris+the+cat.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I guess since the Cardinals already had the Clydesdale Horses, they didn't need another animal in the barn.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Anyway, the Mets didn't do too well after I got traded there. We finished 68-94 in 1983, but showed some signs of life. Old punching buddy Darryl Strawberry came up in May and future broadcast colleague R.J. (that's Ron Darling for all you casual Mets fans out there) was called up when rosters expanded in September. <br />
<br />
Big Brother didn't come around in 1984 like he was supposed to, but we had our own little Animal Farm at Shea Stadium. Top pitching prospect Dwight Gooden was called up in 1984 and Davey Johnson became the new Mets manager. The team responded by going 90-72 and giving the Cubs all they could handle in the N.L. East. As a result, I was no longer saddened by my trade to New York and only occasionally did I wonder if Whitey Herzog had finished what was left over in the box of Tender Vittles.<br />
<br />
After falling short in the N.L. East race again in 1985, we put it all together in 1986. That was the year I won my second World Series championship and helped bring the first title to Flushing since the Miracle Mets did the same in 1969. I also paired up with another Ronnie after bringing the trophy home in 1986.
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ka71xC2GjKM/UILsH56t-pI/AAAAAAAAIqw/V2aoUV2pKKY/s1600/keith+and+ronnie.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ka71xC2GjKM/UILsH56t-pI/AAAAAAAAIqw/V2aoUV2pKKY/s1600/keith+and+ronnie.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What? No Gary? Fine. Then we'll just have to make do with Keith and Ron instead.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Just as my tenure with the Mets was coming to an end, I decided I should give acting a try. I wasn't planning on telling you this, but the Tootsie Pop dangling in front of my face has convinced me to do so.<br />
<br />
Did you know that <b><i>"Seinfeld"</i></b> was not my first attempt at acting? Before TV immortality, I wanted to be a movie star. My time with former actor Ronald Reagan
in the White House showed me that if he could be President and a movie
star, then I could be a baseball legend and a matinee idol as well, so it
was off to Hollywood for me.<br />
<br />
I first gave acting a shot when I auditioned for the movie <b><i>"Major League".</i></b> However, it ended up being a bad dream and instead of playing for the Cleveland Indians
in the film alongside noted actors Charlie Sheen, Corbin Bernsen,
Dennis Haysbert and Wesley Snipes, I ended up playing for the <i><span style="font-weight: bold;">REAL</span></i> Cleveland Indians, who were not nearly as talented as their current counterparts. You know, the team that has averaged 95 wins over the last four seasons and hasn't had a losing record since 2012. Needless to say, it was not a good time to be Keith Hernandez. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a3XSw-1hrSs/UILtT8kKyPI/AAAAAAAAIq4/ZQUZ15MmDKk/s1600/Keith+Hernandez+Indians.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a3XSw-1hrSs/UILtT8kKyPI/AAAAAAAAIq4/ZQUZ15MmDKk/s1600/Keith+Hernandez+Indians.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's no way I would've let Roger Dorn get away with not diving for ground balls.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I was injured for most of my time in Cleveland.<span style="color: yellow;"><b> </b></span>Because of that, I only played in 45 games for the Indians, batting .200 with one HR and eight RBI. You know it wasn't a good season when my Studious Metsimus editor reminded me that I had to write out my home run and RBI totals in words (one and eight) instead of numbers (1 and 8). Needless to say, I retired after the 1990 season and went back home...<br />
<br />
...which didn't last long. In 1992, I appeared on Episode No. 34 of <b><i>"Seinfeld".</i></b> The special one-hour episode, named <i>"The Boyfriend",</i> featured me trying to date Elaine Benes, but not being able to get past first base because I used to smoke back then. Another subplot involved me being accused of spitting a magic loogie on Kramer and Newman, when in fact it was my former Met teammate, Roger McDowell, whose mouth shot the viscous projectile from the grassy knoll.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ilTgdzz3Y8/UIMrtQPYMsI/AAAAAAAAIs4/_EbaCFi91zw/s1600/magicloogie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ilTgdzz3Y8/UIMrtQPYMsI/AAAAAAAAIs4/_EbaCFi91zw/s400/magicloogie.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"That is one magic loogie."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
My appearance on <b><i>"Seinfeld"</i></b> in 1992 and my subsequent cameo in the series finale in 1998 parlayed into several broadcasting appearances for the Mets. When SNY debuted in 2006, I teamed up with former radio play-by-play man Gary Cohen and analyst/former teammate Ron Darling as the new broadcast team for the New York Mets. My boothmates and I are also part of Gary, Keith and Ron, or GKR for short. Together, we've raised money for our favorite charities, such as the Cobble Hill Health Center (for Alzheimer's care) and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (hoping to find a cure for Type 1 diabetes). In addition, we've also focused on helping victims of domestic abuse. And for all you kids out there, there's nothing funny about domestic abuse.<br />
<br />
Fans might know me for my baseball career. Others might know me for my excellent acting on <b><i>"Seinfeld".</i></b> Some of you might even know me for my <i>Just For Men</i> commercials with Walt "Clyde" Frazier. Current Met fans certainly know me for my unabashed analysis on SNY telecasts of Mets games. And in 2017, the rest of the country got reacquainted with me when I offered colorful commentary in the FOX Sports/FS1 studio for that network's pre-game and post-game shows during the postseason. (I'm too busy playing with Hadji now to be doing that job again.)<br />
<br />
Today, I'm the author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Im-Keith-Hernandez-Memoir/dp/0316395730">a memoir with a predictable title.</a> I'm also Hadji's agent and food provider, as well as a cool follow on Twitter. (Nearly 104,000 tweetsters who follow <a href="https://twitter.com/keithhernandez">@keithhernandez</a> can't be wrong.)<br />
<br />
I'm all of those people. And although I'm a year older today, I'm still
only 66 so I have plenty left to accomplish. Maybe I'll mass produce my Mex Burgers. You know, the ones that used to be sold at Citi Field before they took my burger stand away. Or perhaps I'll go from flashing the leather to wearing it on a broadcast. Hey, I might even create a fantasy league for Strat-O-Matic players. (Why haven't I thought of that before?) Who knows? One thing is for sure. No matter what job I have
or what position I fill, I'll always be around. Why wouldn't I be? After all, I'm Keith Hernandez!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qalBT4AnIUY/VibBzS5bypI/AAAAAAAANaQ/uxIhajIPJIU/s1600/keith%2Bhernandez%2Bleather%2Bcoat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qalBT4AnIUY/VibBzS5bypI/AAAAAAAANaQ/uxIhajIPJIU/s400/keith%2Bhernandez%2Bleather%2Bcoat.jpg" width="372" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's not easy being me, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
<br />Ed Leyro (and Joey Beartran)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18392639274179350916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225973709205976903.post-12077519185429752172019-10-10T22:45:00.000-04:002019-10-10T22:45:23.131-04:00Joey's Soapbox: My 2019 Not-At-All Biased LCS Picks<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HwyphGkBM1M/XZ-2cTCbNXI/AAAAAAAAP1w/tXqXWwHj3TE8mPAMfj5vNsv7ywVTdbIqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/joey%2Bwash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="540" height="520" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HwyphGkBM1M/XZ-2cTCbNXI/AAAAAAAAP1w/tXqXWwHj3TE8mPAMfj5vNsv7ywVTdbIqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/joey%2Bwash.jpg" width="390" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Please read my picks while I make a pit stop at Walgreens. (Ed Leyro/Studious Metsimus)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
What's good, kids? This is Joey Beartran and we've reached baseball's final four. And unfortunately, this year's pair of League Championship Series feature quite a few teams that I did not predict to advance this far. In fact, the only team that did make it to the LCS as I foretold was the Houston Astros.<br />
<br />
Batting .250 in the division series round means that I have some work to do to improve as a fearless forecaster. But at least I can make myself feel better by saying I had a better chance of picking a winner in the last round than Hall of Famer and franchise legend Gary Carter had of collecting a base hit as a member of the New York Mets. (He hit .249 while wearing the racing stripes and shooting Ivory Soap commercials.)<br />
<br />
This year's National and American League Championship Series feature intriguing matchups. In the Senior Circuit, we have the Washington Nationals, who are making their first NLCS appearance since moving to our nation's capital from Montreal and just the second final four appearance in the 51-year history of the Expos/Nationals franchise. Their opponent, the St. Louis Cardinals, have appeared in 14 League Championship Series since the Expos/Nats last played in one. The Redbirds are also making their 11th NLCS appearance in the last 24 seasons.<br />
<br />
Moving over to the A.L., we have the New York Yankees, who are playing in their 1,000th League Championship Series in club history, according to what their fans say. They'll be taking on the Houston Astros, a team which is appearing in its third consecutive ALCS. This is also a rematch of the 2017 battle for the American League pennant, a series won by Houston in seven games.<br />
<br />
Will the Cardinals win their 20th National League pennant or will the Nationals win their first? Can Houston make its third World Series appearance of the 21st century and second in three seasons? And how many times will Yankee fans remind us of their ringzzzzz?<br />
<br />
You can either watch these four-plus hour contests that feature starters pitching in relief and 20,000 or so home runs (by coincidence, that's the same number of division titles the Yankees have, which must be true because I was assured of that fact by a long-time Yankee fan who said he knows everything about the team since he became a fan in 1996) or you can just read my predictions below while pondering just how many words I can fit in one sentence. (Run-on sentence much?)<br />
<br />
I'd take the "read my predictions" option if I were you.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>National League Championship Series</i></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Washington Nationals vs. St. Louis Cardinals</i></b></span><br />
<br />
Although the Cardinals have home field advantage because they were a division champion, the Nationals actually finished with the better record (93-69, while the Cards were 91-71). However, it was St. Louis that won the season series in this matchup, taking five of seven against Washington.<br />
<br />
Nationals ace Max Scherzer was defeated twice by the Cardinals by identical 5-1 scores, while Washington's bats hit the snooze button in their regular season meetings with St. Louis, scoring just 17 runs in the seven games.<br />
<br />
But that was a different Nationals team. This group of Nats come back from two-run, eighth-inning deficits in wild card games instead of choking postseason advancement away as per the usual Washington script. This group of Nationals erase two-games-to-one deficits in a best-of-five series and take future Hall of Fame pitchers deep on back-to-back pitches in the late innings of do-or-die games. For everything this group of Washingtonians does now, there's one thing the team no longer does.<br />
<br />
They don't pay Bryce Harper's salary.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yLdmbieqkwc/XZ_o2b1Pw0I/AAAAAAAAP18/338Pr1YZ0_UvY6K1vXzmucezFFoD1JCMACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/harper%2Bchoke.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="419" data-original-width="630" height="156" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yLdmbieqkwc/XZ_o2b1Pw0I/AAAAAAAAP18/338Pr1YZ0_UvY6K1vXzmucezFFoD1JCMACLcBGAsYHQ/s200/harper%2Bchoke.jpeg" width="234" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These Nats don't choke. (Greg Fiume/Getty Images)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Harper's .211 lifetime postseason batting average in a Nationals uniform is long gone, as he is now helping the Philadelphia Phillies underachieve. But you know who is in Washington? Anthony Rendon and his .412 batting average and 1.219 OPS in the just-completed series against the Dodgers. So is Juan Soto and his 1.020 OPS in the same series.<br />
<br />
Basically, all the Nationals had to do was cut ties with the hair-flipping Papelbonian punching bag and they were destined to win a playoff series and perhaps two.<br />
<br />
The Nationals won't win this series because the pitching firm of Scherzer, Strasburg and Corbin will keep the Cardinals' already low .245 batting average in check. They also won't win because their relievers won't get the chance to blow leads if they're hardly ever used. Nope. All they need is the knowledge that Bryce Harper is busy playing golf and getting another one of his managers fired (the 2020 season will see Harper playing under his sixth different skipper in nine seasons) and that'll be enough to advance to the franchise's first World Series.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Prediction:</u> Nationals in 7.</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>American League Championship Series</i></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>New York Yankees vs. Houston Astros</b></i></span><br />
<br />
The Yankees can only win when they outslug you. It's true. When they scored five runs or fewer, their record was 31-53. We're not talking about being 22 games under .500 when they score no more than two runs. We're talking FIVE RUNS OR FEWER. And even when they scored half a dozen runs or more, they still managed to lose six times.<br />
<br />
Considering that New York will now be facing a dominant Houston pitching staff that held its opponents to four runs or fewer in 112 games (for all you kids out there, that's more than two-thirds of the games they played), it's going to be very difficult for the Yankees to keep up with the Astros.<br />
<br />
Oh, and since we're on the topic of pitching, allow me to remind you that the Yankees allowed five runs or more in nearly half of their games (72 out of 162) and will now be facing an Astros lineup that averaged 5.7 runs per contest.<br />
<br />
The Yankees have a great past. But it's the Astros who have a great present and future. And looking a week into the future, I see the Astros playing in the World Series.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Predictions:</u> Astros in 6.</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LnbgGNm0mI4/XZ_qwufyDLI/AAAAAAAAP2I/JuHtT877rqMDbPMSJ70M6n0QRmmoI_LvwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/si%2Bcover%2Bcole%2Bverlander.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="907" height="520" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LnbgGNm0mI4/XZ_qwufyDLI/AAAAAAAAP2I/JuHtT877rqMDbPMSJ70M6n0QRmmoI_LvwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/si%2Bcover%2Bcole%2Bverlander.jpg" width="391" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If S.I. says it, then it has to be true. (courtesy Sports Illustrated)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />Ed Leyro (and Joey Beartran)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18392639274179350916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225973709205976903.post-24320311796741740372019-10-02T23:44:00.001-04:002019-10-02T23:44:33.506-04:00Joey's Soapbox: My 2019 Not-At-All Biased Division Series Picks<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lGPNv09aITc/XZVbsyTYUwI/AAAAAAAAP0w/0z11K4rDJPM514QORsVmPyFtPaJQJa_pACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/tc18.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="375" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lGPNv09aITc/XZVbsyTYUwI/AAAAAAAAP0w/0z11K4rDJPM514QORsVmPyFtPaJQJa_pACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/tc18.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Minnesota hit the target (the outfield seats) a major-league record 307 times. (Ed Leyro/Studious Metsimus)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
<br />
Hey, everyone! This is Joey Beartran, and it's time to share my picks for the American and National League Division Series. As usual, none of these picks will be biased because I'd lose all my credibility if they were. You know, kinda like when the Wilpons lose their credibility as big-market owners every year during free agent signing season.<br />
<br />
All my picks will be based as endless data that I've pored over for days. I've considered pitching matchups, weather factors, if a stadium favors one team over another, and who's playing that team from the Bronx. All of that information has led me to pick four winners who will compete in the League Championship Series.<br />
<br />
Who will advance? Will Minnesota do what no Twins team has done before in October against the Yankees? Will the Nationals finally win a playoff series? (Don't you dare say they just did. They won the Wild Card Game, not the Wild Card Series.) Will Houston have a problem against Tampa Bay? And will I watch any games in the series featuring the last two teams to eliminate the Mets in the NLCS (Braves in 1999, Cardinals in 2006)?<br />
<br />
The time has come for me to share my Division Series picks.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>National League Division Series</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>St. Louis Cardinals vs. Atlanta Braves</b></i></span><br />
<br />
I'm only picking the winner of this series because I have to, not because I want to. Both teams have been a thorn in the Mets' side over the years, so I'm not particularly thrilled that one of them is going to play for the right to represent the National League in the World Series. But I'm a professional, so I'll actually pick a team to win for a reason other than a meteor striking the other team's dugout, frying every player on the roster to a crisp and causing a forfeit.<br />
<br />
The Cardinals made the playoffs as a division champion despite having the tenth-best record in the majors. Their team batting average was only .245 and they had the fourth-fewest homers in the National League. Their starting rotation is Jack Flaherty and the Mediocre Men. If you want to argue that Dakota Hudson had a 16-7 record, I'll respond by pointing at his 1.41 WHIP. Bring up Adam Wainwright and his Death-To-Beltran curveball and I'll show you his 4.19 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and .782 OPS against him. Plus, Yadier Molina is playing in his 20th postseason series. I've had enough of seeing him in October.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Atlanta earned their trip to the playoff party, winning 97 games and graciously allowing the Mets to sweep them at the end of the season so that New York could finish ten games above .500. Now that's southern hospitality right there.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2tSLE4MhskM/XZVdInIEmsI/AAAAAAAAP1A/KZhp0zyj6kgHVftbtt9UrYnIEmZrgY16gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-10-02%2Bat%2B10.28.59%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="550" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2tSLE4MhskM/XZVdInIEmsI/AAAAAAAAP1A/KZhp0zyj6kgHVftbtt9UrYnIEmZrgY16gCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-10-02%2Bat%2B10.28.59%2BPM.png" width="210" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Up, up and away. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Braves have Freddie Freeman, Ronald Acuña Jr, Ozzie Albies and Josh Donaldson leading the offense, while the rotation of Mike Soroka, Dallas Keuchel, Max Fried and Julio Teheran is among the best in the league. But those players aren't why I'm leaning towards picking Atlanta.<br />
<br />
#VoteMarkakis. It was cool in 2013. It's still cool now. And Nick Markakis - who's advanced to the League Championship Series just once in his 14-year career - is going to make the Cardinals buckle before him. You know, kinda like what Adam Wainwright did to that future Hall of Famer in 2006.<br />
<br />
I'm voting Braves in this series.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Prediction:</u> Braves in 4.</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Washington Nationals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers</b></i></span><br />
<br />
Let me begin by bringing up something I mentioned before. The Nationals have never won a postseason series. Ever. They won the Wild Card GAME, not the Wild Card SERIES. Plus, Wikipedia told me <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Nationals">they haven't won a playoff series,</a> and as we all know, if Wikipedia says so, then it must be true.<br />
<br />
That being said, the Dodgers have too many weapons for Washington to handle.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KmRC6GZjc7c/XZVsEfTCqiI/AAAAAAAAP1k/DlwQD6SFX8ggTn0OXSboQbytV-E2e4i2ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-10-02%2Bat%2B11.33.24%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="454" height="237" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KmRC6GZjc7c/XZVsEfTCqiI/AAAAAAAAP1k/DlwQD6SFX8ggTn0OXSboQbytV-E2e4i2ACLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-10-02%2Bat%2B11.33.24%2BPM.png" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whatever. (David Crane/LA Daily News)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Cody Bellinger led the Dodgers in hits, walks, home runs, RBI, runs scored, stolen bases and probably put on a vendor uniform and sold some Dodger Dogs between innings when no one was looking. He's that talented. And even when Bellinger had a rare bad night (like going 1-for-4 with a walk), his teammates were there to pick him up. Joc Pederson and Max Muncy combined for 71 homers. Corey Seager ripped 44 doubles and drove in 87 runs despite missing 28 games. And Justin Turner was magically delicious as always, batting .290 and tying a career high with 27 homers.<br />
<br />
The Nationals may have the three-headed pitching monster of Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin, but it was the Dodgers who led the league in ERA and WHIP. Los Angeles also allowed just 185 home runs, which was the fewest given up by any National League staff.<br />
<br />
If that's not enough for you to figure out who I'm picking in this series, consider this. In using Scherzer for five innings in the Wild Card Game (still not a series) and Strasburg for three frames, neither pitcher will be available to pitch in the first two games of the Division Series, with Scherzer due to start Game Three and Strasburg toiling in Game Four.<br />
<br />
In 2012, the Nationals famously shut down Strasburg before he got a chance to pitch in the Division Series. He's not pitching in this series either, but this time it'll be because the Dodgers are shutting down Strasburg's team.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Prediction:</u> Dodgers in 3.</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>American League Division Series</i></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Tampa Bay Rays vs. Houston Astros</i></b></span><br />
<br />
The Rays are a great story. On a budget that would make the Wilpons proud, they've managed to lead the American League in ERA and allowed the fewest long balls in the majors in a year when baseball went homer happy. They've continued to use an "opener" instead of a starting pitcher to great success, which allowed Tampa to limit its starters' innings to keep their arms fresh. (Only Charlie Morton worked more than 150 innings this season.)<br />
<br />
On the offensive side, the Rays got an incredible year from Austin Meadows, who launched 33 homers in 138 games after hitting just six in 59 games prior to the 2019 campaign. They also got Travis d'Arnaud to come out of his shell, as he finally reached his potential with the bat just months after he played his final game with the Mets.<br />
<br />
As I said, the Rays have been a fantastic story in 2019. But dude, they're playing the Houston Astros. And no one is beating a team that has Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole and Zack Greinke putting up zeroes and Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman and Yuli Gurriel blasting balls all over the field. Oh, and let's not forget shortstop Carlos Correa, who's been injured for most of the season, but still managed to hit 21 homers and put up a .926 OPS in 75 games. Correa is expected to be ready for Game One of the Division Series.<br />
<br />
It was fun while it lasted, Tampa. But the Astros are a team of destiny.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Prediction:</u> Astros in 4.</b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3OfsjdqLSfs/XZVn9F5HtrI/AAAAAAAAP1Q/rYNGYWcAIAsZinARTHJKnJ-nRtPqg_IrACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-10-02%2Bat%2B11.15.28%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="378" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3OfsjdqLSfs/XZVn9F5HtrI/AAAAAAAAP1Q/rYNGYWcAIAsZinARTHJKnJ-nRtPqg_IrACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-10-02%2Bat%2B11.15.28%2BPM.png" width="386" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is Jose Altuve trying to give Cody Bellinger a run for his money as part-time All-Star, part-time hot dog vendor?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankees</i></b></span><br />
<br />
I'll make this one quick and painless. The Yankees are 13-2 all-time against the Twins in the postseason. But they've never faced a Minnesota team that can beat them at their own game.<br />
<br />
The Yankees hit 306 home runs to shatter their major league home record, which was 267. Except that the Twins hit 307 to erase the Yankees from the record book.<br />
<br />
New York's starting pitchers don't miss bats, as evidenced by James Paxton's team-leading 186 strikeouts. With Domingo German out for the postseason, no other Yankee on the postseason roster reached 150 Ks. Pitching to contact against a team that makes powerful contact isn't a recipe for success for any team, no matter how many ringzzzzz they have.<br />
<br />
By the time this series is over, the Yankees will have lost five postseason games to the Twins all-time. Which will give them plenty of time to treat their necks for whiplash from watching all of Minnesota's home runs.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Prediction:</u> Twins in 5.</b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fvJtunVK6kI/XZVrIPbI_rI/AAAAAAAAP1c/2nPdABkBQZo12vlY-khj6iU6GZPkR0cpQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-10-02%2Bat%2B11.29.21%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="581" height="381" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fvJtunVK6kI/XZVrIPbI_rI/AAAAAAAAP1c/2nPdABkBQZo12vlY-khj6iU6GZPkR0cpQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-10-02%2Bat%2B11.29.21%2BPM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smile! The Twins are finally going to (boom) stick it to the Yankees. (Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />Ed Leyro (and Joey Beartran)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18392639274179350916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225973709205976903.post-7723368664440460072019-09-30T21:46:00.001-04:002019-09-30T21:46:38.536-04:00Joey's Soapbox: My 2019 Not-At-All Biased Wild Card Game Picks<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JKHB5Ng4fHI/XZKo-8MbZhI/AAAAAAAAP0E/EOV7go-nqEgjrQ9oUO2WJsy1_5NWj5eigCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/miller%2Bpark%2Bjoey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="375" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JKHB5Ng4fHI/XZKo-8MbZhI/AAAAAAAAP0E/EOV7go-nqEgjrQ9oUO2WJsy1_5NWj5eigCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/miller%2Bpark%2Bjoey.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's Miller Time! But are the Nationals going to shut down the Brew Crew's party? (Ed Leyro/Studious Metsimus)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
What's going on, everyone? This is your favorite fearless forecaster, Joey Beartran. And I don't know how effective I'll be picking other teams to win, especially since I'm still on a high from the Mets' season-ending walk-off victory.<br />
<br />
Finishing ten games over .500 wasn't good enough to get the Mets into the playoffs, as they finished three games behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the second wild card. But at least they're not the 93-win Cleveland Indians, <a href="https://twitter.com/Noahsyndergaard/status/1178509880304386053">who became a fringe playoff team themselves</a> when they allowed the small-market Tampa Bay Rays and Oakland Athletics to beat them to the postseason party.<br />
<br />
Speaking of fringe teams, the Philadelphia Phillies paid $330 million to Bryce Harper, who led them to the promised land of a .500 record. That's over $100 million more than <a href="https://twitter.com/PostSports/status/1178802032033091584">the Washington Nationals are offering Anthony Rendon,</a> otherwise known as the player who was the real offensive leader of the Nats all these years. And the player who could possibly be one of just 25 who can say they helped Washington advance in the postseason for the first time ever.<br />
<br />
But will Washington finally celebrate something other than a division title or wild card berth? Will Milwaukee continue to win one for the Yelich? How about the Rays, who are making their first playoff appearance with a skipper not named Joe Maddon? Or will the A's move on for the first time in five trips to the postseason under manager Bob Melvin?<br />
<br />
I guess it's time for me to put on my thinking cap (or the hood from my Mets hoodie, since that's the only article of clothing I wear) and share my predictions for the American and National League Wild Card games. And of course, there's no chance those picks will be biased. Not at all.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>National League Wild Card Game</i></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Milwaukee Brewers vs. Washington Nationals</i></b></span><br />
<br />
We all know the Nationals' history in the postseason. Four appearances, four quick exits. Meanwhile, every time the Brewers have qualified for the postseason since moving to the National League in 1998, they've won more playoff games than they did in their previous playoff appearance. Milwaukee won one postseason game in 2008, then followed that up with five playoff victories in 2011. Last year, the Brewers fell one win short of their second-ever trip to the World Series.<br />
<br />
Both teams are hungry. Milwaukee is hungry for a pennant, while Washington is hungry for their first-ever October champagne celebration (which is weird because how can a team be hungry for a liquid?)<br />
<br />
Let's look at the pitching matchup, because as we all know, pitching wins Wild Card Game championships.<br />
<br />
The Nationals will trot out Max Scherzer, whose seven-year, $210 million contract has produced zero postseason wins in three starts and one relief appearance. Scherzer will also be pitching on six days rest, which usually helps a pitcher. However, this season Scherzer made four starts on six or more days rest. He won none of them, producing a 3.28 ERA in those well-rested appearances, which was nearly half a run higher than the 2.86 ERA he put up in his other 23 starts.<br />
<br />
Milwaukee's starter will be Brandon Woodruff, who has a lifetime 1.46 ERA and 0.81 WHIP in four career postseason appearances. Those numbers look good on paper. You know what looks better on paper? His 0.96 ERA and 0.70 lifetime WHIP against the Nationals in four appearances. And I haven't even mentioned that he's struck out 23 Washingtonians while walking just two. (Okay, maybe I just did.)<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I-zvAkP2Jjo/XZKs7vwjnXI/AAAAAAAAP0g/OxdLi_Q0eBsjJfDuI7MogXNR576dOEwqwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-09-30%2Bat%2B9.33.14%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="334" data-original-width="192" height="280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I-zvAkP2Jjo/XZKs7vwjnXI/AAAAAAAAP0g/OxdLi_Q0eBsjJfDuI7MogXNR576dOEwqwCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-09-30%2Bat%2B9.33.14%2BPM.png" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The face of a philosopher. (Getty Images)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
And the pièce de résistance? The next extra-base hit a Nationals player collects against Woodruff will be the first. You read that right. In his four appearances against Washington, Woodruff has faced 68 batters and has yet to allow an extra-base hit to any of them.<br />
<br />
I believe it was the great former Mets shortstop Rafael Santana who once said, "Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it." (I also believe my Studious Metsimus colleague is passing me a note saying that it was actually George Santayana who said this. What does he know about famous quotes?) With or without Bryce Harper, the Nationals will always be doomed to repeat their postseason failures. Scherzer might be a future Hall of Famer, but 'Ol Blue Eye is not a future wild card game winner. At least not until he signs with another team.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Prediction:</u> Milwaukee will advance to the NLDS.</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>American League Wild Card Game</i></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Tampa Bay Rays vs. Oakland Athletics</i></b></span><br />
<br />
So remember what I said about pitching winning championships? Well, we're going to get some pitching in this game. Unless things change, Oakland will be going with Sean Manaea, who made just five starts this season, but posted a 1.21 ERA and 0.78 WHIP in his September to remember. Tampa will be going with All-Star Charlie Morton, who went 16-6 and struck out 240 batters in just 194.2 IP. And if you recognize his name, it's probably because you recall how great he was for the Houston Astros in the 2017 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, winning the seventh and deciding game to give Houston its first-ever championship. In other words, he's got what it takes to pitch in a win-or-go-home game.<br />
<br />
Manaea was great in September, but his last four starts were against the Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers (twice) and Seattle Mariners. Those three teams combined to finish 99 games under .500, meaning Jeurys Familia and Edwin Díaz could probably shut them down as well.<br />
<br />
In addition, Tampa's lineup is as consistent as they come. Nine players had 300 or more plate appearances. Eight of those players had between 14 and 21 home runs. (The one who didn't, Austin Meadows, hit 33 taters.) No one on the Rays had as many as 90 RBI, but eight players drove in over 50 runs. No player hit .300, but eight of the nine regulars hit over .250, and the one who didn't (Kevin Kiermaier) led the team in stolen bases. How consistent were the Rays throughout the season? They had 11 players with a bWAR of at least 2.0, but none with a WAR above 5.0. And who is the one player worth exactly 5.0 WAR? Why, it's wild card game starting pitcher Charlie Morton.<br />
<br />
The game is in Oakland, but Tampa had the second-best road record in the majors at 48-33. This team knows how to win on the road. And their starting pitcher knows how to pitch when the team's season is on the line.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XmwBwmvUr1Y/XZKqBQQcDGI/AAAAAAAAP0M/lpMktNUqOikvzZK06cyIQZ5pt9aqtwpLgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/travis%2Bdarnaud%2Brays.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1175" data-original-width="1600" height="146" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XmwBwmvUr1Y/XZKqBQQcDGI/AAAAAAAAP0M/lpMktNUqOikvzZK06cyIQZ5pt9aqtwpLgCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/travis%2Bdarnaud%2Brays.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Touch 'em all, Travis. (Scott Audette/AP)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Oh, and one more thing. Travis d'Arnaud is on the Rays and he just had that breakout campaign (16 HR, 67 RBI in 92 games with Tampa Bay) we were told he'd have one day as a member of the Mets. But in addition to his skills with the bat, d'Arnaud also made Charlie Morton better, as evidenced by the opponents' .202/.265/.361 slash line against Morton with d'Arnaud behind the plate.<br />
<br />
The Coliseum hasn't seen a playoff victory in six years. That streak isn't ending this year. Right, Travis?<br />
<br />
<b><u>Prediction:</u> Tampa Bay will advance to the ALDS.</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Ed Leyro (and Joey Beartran)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18392639274179350916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225973709205976903.post-19950712430705453822019-09-22T13:06:00.000-04:002019-09-22T13:28:38.381-04:00Joey's Small Bites: Crashing the MLB Food Fest II<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6p-I_izVUJ0/XYePsiYw45I/AAAAAAAAPxs/YIi8Ci44o8ApCwsj0gf1LQsLX3geQmq1QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/mlb1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="375" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6p-I_izVUJ0/XYePsiYw45I/AAAAAAAAPxs/YIi8Ci44o8ApCwsj0gf1LQsLX3geQmq1QCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/mlb1.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time to step up to the plate at the MLB Food Fest. (Ed Leyro/Studious Metsimus)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
What's cooking, everyone? I'm Joey Beartran, roving reporter and culinary expert for Studious Metsimus. And everything was cooking for me this weekend and the MLB Food Fest, which for the second straight year was held at Center 415 on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue.<br />
<br />
Most of the bugs from last year's inaugural food fest were fixed (and I'm not just talking about the toasted grasshoppers from Seattle; those were still there). There were 15-minute gaps between sessions so that everyone could enjoy their full two-hour window. Departing guests also didn't have to use the same staircase to leave the venue as the arriving eaters were using to enter it, which allowed for a smoother flow of traffic. The main difference from last year was that all guests could only sample a food item once. No going back for seconds here. Attendees were required to scan a bracelet before taking a food item which kept track of which food stands they visited. That kept lines moving and prevented large gatherings of people by the most popular food stands.<br />
<br />
As a culinary expert, I wanted to try as many foods as possible. Also, my colleague never got me breakfast before we left for Center 415 so I made him make up for his obvious oversight by going around from stand to stand collecting the best items from all 30 ballparks.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Pk5jYE1Dcw/XYeQUVx9LRI/AAAAAAAAPx0/-ccDFPX5XBEe2v6RcvtmPg7u3CjwQBQpwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/mlb2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="375" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Pk5jYE1Dcw/XYeQUVx9LRI/AAAAAAAAPx0/-ccDFPX5XBEe2v6RcvtmPg7u3CjwQBQpwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/mlb2.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lights, camera, snack-tion! (EL/SM)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Since it was lunchtime when our session began, I decided to lead off the eating game with a grilled cheese sandwich. But it wasn't just any grilled cheese, it was a beer braised short rib grilled cheese courtesy of the Tampa Bay Rays. Just like Brandon Nimmo or Jeff McNeil, this dish got things off to a flying start with its Budweiser braised short ribs, multiple cheeses, caramelized onions and horseradish cream. It's too bad the Four Hands Nachos offering from the St. Louis Cardinals grounded into a double play. Its diced chicken and typical nacho toppings were just meh.<br />
<br />
Next up were by the Mahi Mahi Tacos from the San Diego Padres and the Philly Cheesesteak from the team that made a clown move by signing Bryce Harper because his history of losing when it counts fits in perfectly with the team's history. Surprisingly, the tacos were nothing special and the cheesesteak was probably the best thing to come out of Philly since DJ Jazzy Jeff.<br />
<br />
After washing down my food with several cans of the well-stocked Coke product coolers (they had 12-ounce cans this year, which was an improvement over last year's eight-ouncers), I moved on to two American League Central specials. First, I tried the Fat Rooster from the Cleveland Indians and then I topped it off with the BBQ Burger from the barbecue-loving Kansas City Royals. The Fat Rooster was surprisingly very hot, but I guess when you top off a fried chicken breast with Frank's Hot Sauce, habañero powder, cajun seasoning, Lawry seasoning, white pepper and garlic, that's to be expected. The BBQ Burger had pulled pork on top of a steak burger patty, along with American cheese, world-famous Kansas City BBQ sauce and a large onion ring. Both were a meat lover's dream.<br />
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Speaking of meats and love, I loved the meaty offerings from the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs. The Reds' dish was a Bulgogi Beef Egg Roll, which had steak, rice, carrots, onions and scallions all drenched in Gochujang sauce, which is a Korean red chili paste. Meanwhile, the Cubs served up a Beer Can Chicken Sandwich, which was grilled beer-can chicken, bacon and dijonnaise on a brioche bun. Both were very different and both were very delicious.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NogxVfq-t8o/XYeQ09RX2gI/AAAAAAAAPyE/wHDXqxj3wMQTmJjbEVNruwvI2lVRO928wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/mlb12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="375" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NogxVfq-t8o/XYeQ09RX2gI/AAAAAAAAPyE/wHDXqxj3wMQTmJjbEVNruwvI2lVRO928wCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/mlb12.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clearly, this food fest was not made for vegans. (EL/SM)</td></tr>
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After eating all of the above meals, I had to take a break to get the food down. In other words, I had to make a run for the rest room. Since we only had two hours to eat everything we could get our paws on, I allowed my sisters, Gabby and Iggy, to try some of the delicacies I didn't think I would like. Since Gabby likes fried foods, she went for the Rocky Mountain Oysters from the Colorado Rockies, while Iggy sampled the Coney Egg Roll from the Detroit Tigers.<br />
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Gabby was intrigued by the breaded cowboy caviar and fries. However, when she found out that cowboy caviar was mostly veggies, she just ate the fries. Plus, the cowboy caviar was very tough to chew. Iggy's snack was supposed to have chili on it, but it looks like the server forgot that part. Despite the missing ingredient, she seemed to enjoy the hot dog and diced onions inside an egg roll.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yBEaOaakv-k/XYeZkjDPiuI/AAAAAAAAPys/A2R7m__DDbks4Wv_PbwfJ_BE8U8wEGVUQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/mlb7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="666" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yBEaOaakv-k/XYeZkjDPiuI/AAAAAAAAPys/A2R7m__DDbks4Wv_PbwfJ_BE8U8wEGVUQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/mlb7.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My pinch-hitters came through when I needed it most. (EL/SM)</td></tr>
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After I returned from what turned into an extended bathroom break (don't ask; what happens in the stall stays in the stall), I didn't think I looked very photogenic so I let my Studious Metsimus colleague take photos of several other items I ended up trying, some of which were amazin' like the 1969 Mets, and some of which were reminiscent of the 1962 Mets, meaning they sucked pretty bad.<br />
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First, let's talk about two items that were like the '69 Mets. The "See You Tater" Backyard BBQ Tots from the Washington Nationals and the Pulled Pork Pierogie Hoagie from the Pittsburgh Pirates were both <a href="data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAkGBxAQEBUQDw8QFhAVFRAVEBUVEBUVEBYVFRUWFxUWFRYYHSggGBolHRUVITEhJSorLi4uFx81ODMtNygvLisBCgoKDg0OGBAQFSsdFRotKy0rLSstLSstLS0rKystKy0tLSstLS0rLSsrLS0tKystLSstLS0tLSs3LSsrKy0rK//AABEIAKgBLAMBIgACEQEDEQH/xAAcAAACAgMBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIEAwUGBwj/xABREAABAwIEAgYFBwUMCAcAAAABAAIDBBEFEiExE0EGByJRYXEUgZGhsRUjMlKSwdEzdLPh8AgWJDQ1NkJTcpO08UNUYmNzorLiFyZkdYOj0v/EABkBAQEAAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMEBf/EACIRAQEAAgICAQUBAAAAAAAAAAABAhEDMRIhMgQTIkFhUf/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8A4+yLIumvScRppJoBK6LoRQVQr33Ib3fE/t71fK1D3XJPeboIpeq/gN01dw2pZcdluhFib5rnmtXLyTCNvFx3Otzh+ElrAXtGci+W57N9fbt7Fs6HDgXZS5oHw2upRSkgXPIfBZYpLa/t5rzcst3detjhJNROOiaP6RIIBtyFx+tZTENuWtvWoscSszWJGaGXTKbFp0IIuCPELheknRGMO4lO7K07x2JAP+zrt4Lu3tsVq8b/ACZ8xp7Vm154TKPJKmndG7K8WKxLe49Fc3vcgaHnpuFoirHHlNUJpJhViCkmUkAhCaBIQhAJpICIaSaSKEIQgEIQgaEIVAhCEHoATCiE16LjNNJNAIQhRWCtfZtu/T8Vrlar3XdbuHvP7BVigxTus0nwWLCpg57b7l37e5Zpm5mkd4K1VFUZXtubAEaer/Ncn1M6dX0109CdOB+3d/kssFXyPwWmpajM3XcXWxpmtP0guJ6Tb00+Y7i6vMlty/BaynjYHX8uasyVsTBd7wAO/v7h4+Ssqrszw7XLZafGvoOG1m3v3WIP3LDP0kjLsrGO5/TLW5ttgTf2rFU4k2xvHJmJDGs0LnFwdYAg2sQDrsBus9sa43En5nC7RmHMHQ+N1zZW8xBrmOMbg3M240OxHI948Vo3HVZRx8nZJpJqtYKSZSQCaSEAhCaAQhCIEk0kUIQhAIQhA0IQqgQUIKK78JpBSXoOMBNCEUITWGrdZh8dPxUGve65J7zdRKkVEqiK0dfTlrjbY6g+e4W8VesjzN8jf1c/gtfLj5YtnFdVegqxGL2BvqbG5BsLBw3vr7lVfiswd2Y9Dww3IHMF2xsYDYGxcQwE33JJ5rLhgDgxzuVm37uy3Xx2Pt8F0ENC13aAF9jY6aaA/rXm7kepJbO2lp8TqWycOVrr3sASC4HkM2gI3WxxrD5nSAF+RxZmj1uCM1nWNrX1Cx10XbGXdvj2S699PIXufHwXY1NOx7GB5sWgFjx9Jrtbkd99QRzCn7ZyXWrXIYZgGZpY9jXvLrmR17NaNuerlufkpsMjANS1r9TbMQcouT33NvUVbhjqGnsx0xGnaEr2NI5kx2Psv61Kpe7Nd7gXm1yG2AA2a0X2GvrKylJjp5/0mjy1TiBo5rSfMtt8Wrml1vS+YMlBtcltj9p3Nck46lbI4+TsBAQEBGsFJMpIBNJNAimkUwgE0IVQkk0lFCEIQNJNCAQhNVCQmkor0AJpBOy9ByGhCEDVOudqB3D3lXAtbK65J7ygxJFSIUSqIlIplIhFiFDUEueL2IIOw0NuXs963FNHG6xe3MfEkt+zt7ly1HUXkc4bkm3ly+5dDT1Ayl3cCT6h+peVyT8vT1OLPc9rOJ1boyC2Fz7Ddo7I7Xu2HtWxpcbqpWhscDG5cuYzOyiztrAanZcrUTOmDTJKGRnUAG77eQ57LODG9rGs9Ke4dktbEBceZ2/WpGy5bd5wyNQ4Edw5H8FWqDuSubbhE0bczRUMab3L5WFw00JaDss9DiEjhlmsSwX4g+i7WwB8fwRfJzvTCW82W/0WgfE/eufVzFpi+Vzje5JOu+vJU1tjizu6EIQjEJJpIGEICECTKE0CTQhVCSTSUUIQmgEIQgEITRCQU0kV6A1SUQpLvcoQhCCMzrNJ8Le3Ra5W6x2gHr9iqKoRUCplQKoiVgrpMsbj4WHmdFmkkDRdx0WoqKl8pytGl9Bz8yVrzzkn9Z442sVDoddBoL+Kv+lnLYc8wI5EHkqc8eUBo5e88yowOBOu3NcOUdeGWnTULHNjaGgB4yi/fbmr8fprrDOI26bAWPrK0ENVkta2+muvLdWpsZsS0E2Pj429th71r9unHOOsEJawmaUOJG9/aFy8lQR2dMjRlAPfbT4KFVjLnDS9rADvuAdbexVosz7Oy6XJ/wBnNfLb1k+4qyVM8tqc5a52mm3IfArAYhza0+q3wWeuZlfoNLC3q7PwAWNdPjpx2+2F1Kw949f4qBoxyd7R+CsEJXU1BTdSuG1j61hcwjcELZXQSp4m2sCFdkgaRoLH3FUljZpQhCagEIQqhJJpKKYQkmgEIQgaEk0QJJpIPQApJBNd7mCaSd0FGqddx8NFhKkTfVJURKxSyBvmnLLbZUpCtWfJr1GzHDfuq9W4vOvsCTvm2AN+k7c87dyDusEz7lc9rctzMDuSoSMLSr8b+yPILFM4HSwUFVr/AGoDnE76qXDHJbGkpmEXIN+f3pMd03TomAayNJBtY779/ctkJg+QNuBlF2jYucdCR32BKqzzCJotzIGvdqfuHtWadwdGdBtmBG4I1BB5FZ+OMq+Vs0q4qzY9xsfI/rAVEFXIZ+PE4H8oBY+e7T7QqLTcXWWV37YJFRTSKxDCaSFAr7KlO2zj7Vbfy8wsFUOalWK4TSCawUIQhVCSTSUU0IQgEIQgE0IVQJJpKK9BTSTXe5QoVDrNPjp7VkVesOw8z9w+9BVVd8wOgIVfFaotsxpsSLuPO2wHuKosqzs/Ue/2rVyZ69NuGH7q+4qDisYlFrg3HvUXSrS2iTVU3xm6tByG2TQdPES0ev4lTdA0b7rBPENMpI3vYnwWKMEbuJ8ySoM2UA6LJTPs7wKxApFZMWbFBmLRsRmt3E3/AO33p0Ezmsc42tdoIIOgJAJ8dE5Js0Vju0i/iCDr7VspYs1wBzaPUDr7ks3VUhCI7uaSXR2uLfSZv8NfMKjpcgG4vp5HUfFbhsWUDnlu12m7SdD6rrVTts61rWu0+o6ferehGyjZSQsURRdBUeaBSbj1/BRkF9PAqT9/akN7+pFUgmnI2ziElgBCEIEhNJRQEIQgEKQYbXsbd9jZRV0GhK6d0QJJ3SUV6EhCYXc5QqlS67vKwVwBa95ub95Ko5/GT88f7LfgqYd4K7jTPnb97W2+CpC4XJn8q6MemSKSyzX7lXU2OWLJlupKAKkFUJ50SCmFB2mvL4KhhNCFBF50PkfgughNxdaBbjD5bx25jQ/csoqytTi8dnB1tDb2jQ+4rbx8/JUsTjLo9N2kOHwPuPuWV6StSCmoAk6/gpXWsF1FSKggUh1RdKQ6pft+KDHOL692h9l1hVs7E+P3Kq4WNlKEhCFAFJMpKKFmo6p0TxIywcL2JaHWuLbHTmsKEHt0NNIWjtOAIB0lcNx3ZLKZo3/Xf9pp+LFfZGyw+hfTm3dT4be5nuXbOnFWodhrz/pn/YgPxjWN2FScpx64YP8A8reZG9zfcjhjub7k8YeVc4/Cqjk6A+dPCfuWF2F1P/o/XSR3+K6nhjuZ7k+GO5vuU8YvlXniEICyZFI6zSfD46KgVtsPw6WsqIaOB0bZJnSAOfmyDhxvkN8uuoZZdT/4PYl/rdD9mZY3kxl1WUwteS46CXttyb8SfwVAHvXqOH9U9dWtfK2ppGhktRAQRJq6CV8ZdtsS0keBXP8ATHq5r8MEb5zA+KWRsYkic4ta92weHNBF7O1FxoubPKW7b8ZqOPUgvR8S6naynkp43VVKTUSmFhAks0iKSW7tNrRkesKrUdVlWzEY8ONTTmWWF87X2kyBrSQQdL30WO1cITopNcu7i6rKk4g/DfS6UTNgbUAkSZHMc7IQNL3Bt7UsH6qKyc1V6injbSTSQyOeH5XZGh5c2w+jlc0696uxxCFd6O4PPX1EdLTBplkvYuOVga0Xc5xsbAD1r0Su6kK1kRdDV00srRcxZXMvps15J17rgDyTaPKx2f7PwUyup6DdAqvF85iLIoY3ZJZJAfp2uWNYNXOAIvcgC+6udM+rKrwyn9KEsVRTDLnewFr2ZjYEtNwW3LRcHntzTY4m6sUc+R47jofuK9CoepivngjmZVUYEkccjQ4SggPaHAEhp11WiqerquixGHDJnQtkqA90Uoc50DgxjnO5B1+za1uYTaqYSIB32Oh8l2EfVfiAqfQ/SaMvELZsxbLlLS8sttvdt1VwjoFW1VXVUbJ6Rr6Mwtkc4SlrzK0uGQDUWy81lMoPOHDK5ze4/wCfvugFegHqprpMRko+PTB7YGTuktJwy17ywNAte92u9ik/qirBWtovSqXiOgkqA60mQNZIyMtOl73kB9RWO4jz1yjdeqnqLr/9co/sy/gtdgPVBW1lLFVR1VK1srA9rXCS4vyJATY83kTbquu6Q9XFdR1VNTTuhIqpGxwzMc50QcXAEPu0OaRmB211texW5qOpysjqYaU1VNnmZUSNcBJlAgMQcDpueKLeRTavOCbnwCwSjXzXolP1V1bsQkw0VNPxI4Gzl9pMha5wblGl76rSu6EzfK3yQZYuNnDeJZ3CvweLfa+2nmmxySF6fjnUtWUlNNVPq6ZzYY5JHNaJMxDGkkC430U+jvUnV1NOyomqoYOK1ro4yxz5MrhdufUZXW5a+3RRHliCurxjq+r6bEY8NLWPnmsYHMd829vau65AtbK699reV+ym6hawREsraZ04aCY8rwzyD9+RsS0epRXkSnA27mgblzQPWV2/Q3qwq8S9IaJYoX00vClZIHZg8XuOyCNCCFsarqoq6Suo6c1NM6SofMYjlk4bTTs4pzi1yDa2iDqjRm57cm55xoNI7+sf/wDWs4wvEjiBw4toRL6OakSni8FzOI2PKBa+YOd7Fnwro9idSZgx2HN4M0kDriftOYGkuFuXaHsXV93Fy/ayUPRHf1r/AGMT9Ff/AFr/ALLVcx7BMRoYfSJzQPjEkDHNjEwk+dkbGCM2mhcD6liId9VnsP4rLHKZdMMsbj2r+jv/AKx/2Go4En13fYH4rPZ31GexyVnfUj/5llpi4dYZagDbdQqJ7aBUy5VtYq6qeHBzXua5ocWua5zXAkEaFpBGlwvcemVTI3oxHI2SQSGDC7vD3CTtPgDjmBvc3PtXgla6+byI9y9z6cvH71GWIvwMK/SU60c09xt4+qvdVMfEwItc+2d1eC9xJtmlkBc4k673JJWt62ZfRsIpKS0kt5KKPjhvzfzVjmc651dl0HiddFZ6sHj97rrkajEP+uRU+n0wb0Xpnb5WYWbc9OGVora7Dpd/GsM/PX/4SpWmxT+dNJ+YT/8AW9byVrMS9BrKSaN0MU5ncc17tNPNHlFh9MOkbcG1rHmLLlpsVhn6WQsika7g0UzJS0gtDy5zi2/eAW381Bpel+LeidLaWUmzHRU8MndlmMrNfAOLT6l1HWtVsw/Cax8dhJVvDO4l8rGRvPnw4nH1LmOu7okXP+VhUgBnokXB4ep+dtmz5tPp7W5LN+6Of/AqXX/Tuvr/ALt34oPNOqnpBDQYnFPUG0JbJE99r5M4FnEDlcC/gSvccew2tYZsTwKaCSSpbA6WORvEZKImFrHQSBwAJabWOhsNRrfwrqqkoxikIr2QOp3iRh4zGOiD3N7BcH6DUAX8V9FYNhIoJ6ubiQRYc9tO+CJto4YSxjhM+1g1od2Tcb21Qcz1MSOdg873iz3VFY54tl7RAvpy8lwp6y6A9H/kssqPSPRhFfht4WcbHNnvb1LuOqPHKeqirqeORoe6srZYmnRzoZjdjw06kb37tO9V+mbYsK6N+h1D4TVGnZAwN1L3kjMWXAJaBc3ty8UHVx4eKjC6JhmEdhhcgceZidC8MGo1dlyjz5rn+lNdn6S4VDwpBw21zs7m2jfxIHaMPO2TX+0Fdxpw+RqHUflMD5/7+nWv6ycVipcZweeZ4bE11cHuJ7LRIyOMFx5AF4uUHVN/ll35hH/iHrQ9BP5bxr/iUH6J66gUf8NNdxI+AaVsV83dI6TNfbLY73XF9V+JxVOK4xPC8OifLSZHA6ODWyszDwOW480HZxsYJTiGl5YKWIeHzjyPfMPYvI/3Q1XLFV0roZZGO9HlGZj3MdbiN0u07aD2LtGYuHYRSkO1NdRwb2PzeIsaR9mMrhP3R7h6VS/8CX9IEHXdfNXLFhcDopZGONVCCWPc1xBgnJBLTe2g9i2HRmg9J6MwwcYQ8SlDeKdmXP0tx8QtR+6BcDhVPYj+NwfoJ1lY4fvP3H8RKDN1p1lq3CKfhyfx6B/ELfm+yQ3Lm+t2r28F0uLfyxQfm+KfGjXM9cNeyCPDJ3nsR19M+Q7kNa1xcbDfS6699KKmrpK+GWJ1PHDWNzNdmzccwFjmEaEWidfXmEHPYf8Azpqf/bof0rVwjv56/wDzD/BLrOjOLw1XSetdC9ro46OOLOCCxzmyRl2U8wCSPNpWHFuh/A6QU2K+khwqKnh8Lh2LLUcuufNr+S7h9JBLrv6OzT07qxlc6KOCB/EgGa013c7OA521BW2wPEKbHMPp3U1Q1lTTmCXLYPMM8bS20kZsXs1cOVxsQtV1y9BvlBnpoqmx+i085ycPMX5QX2zZhl2tsVewDCKSrpKGswllHBK2SkkqHxRMZKY2j+EQPcxtyTqCDobX7ig0OCT4m7pNDHirYc8dPU8B8TCI5I3f0hcnncW0IVzpJ03pcJxyd9W2YiSkpGs4bWuILXyk3u4fWVjpX0oo4OkFA180YLI6uOd2YZYzMG8IPOzdWHfbMDsupGEtjxCoxGZ8Po76anYC4jsmN0jnOcT2Q2zm637/AFhzPVDi0VZPidVAHCKWpicwOADrGPmATre/NaGPo5NRdJaF8tc6obUSYlJGw5rQjgvOUXcfrgaW+it/1T4nFU1OKzwkcJ9W3hnYFoYWhwHcQL+taGj6C/JvSCkqzVNkFVUYg7IIsmS8Ez/pZjm+lbYIPV5MNa6rjqr9uOGeE+LZXwv18jF/zFeX4OC3pEC10gz1uIh7RK/huDaUlt475dDztfQLucHxkHFK2jc4dltJPHryfGGPt5FjPtLhsLP/AJgZ+fYn/hCrEqx07gE2LObIXuZHTUb2M4r2xh/FnOYsByuPZbuOQVN0Z8f7x34LYdLiPliX80o/0tSql108Xxc3L8lYxu73f3h/BLhP73f3n6lZJ8UvWVsa3lb33KiEIVjYoONyT33WEQNH9EexJCWSrtgrYhoQBe5v7lX4d+5CFy8s/Jvw6ZI87b5XOGYWdZxFx3G26x8FCFrZMjGDuF1CaIAaboQqItWQvJAaS4tGwLiWjyGyEKBh2viNjsfUVkLrnM4kk7kkk+0oQqEIm/VCiWgagDxTQgeY5cuZ2S98uY5L9+XZWaCNjjZ7QbjS45jl7PghCQbE0MRBHDbexG3hotRR0BmmiiaLGSwPhb6Rt5AoQrl0s916D8iUWTIYIw0N7TrfOC2/a3vpusP73qGmvK+IZbAjiPzN5Dba/mhC5fKu68eP+KeIYHQT2fE9sdxtHYAnyOnsXN41hEtIcoe50L7dppIaT3OaDuhCzxtaeXCa3I1jY+8KXDb3IQtzmLhjuCTpHM1Y5zb6EtJF/A2QhBXXVivwz0ZsTonF4iFzmnvxeE65aC/IDxAwXy2sTomhYjNXVuDAvMFKCCOwHmosLRTFuzwQTJwAdTpmt3rJD8jSOYyOMNcZaol0skjYw3LOYQ67gMl+B/SDuybnXUQg7luDYc6Jpjoad/5VzXZew7svEdu1ctJ4et/G6ty4TR8MRegxmNr3uDS3sDQ2sL89BvfVCF1TCactzu0qOgp4ARDTMYXN+ccyPLmN4yA3tbgcYAnvCzzEG4ay2rbuynYcQnI0vNr/ADQub7O20KELLwkY+e2TiRjXgk6SWAuOceW5zHUji+GoVaW5N8pGkYs1thcMaHbk37WbVJCsxNv/2Q==">truly scrumtrulescent.</a> The first dish had tater tots topped with some incredibly creamy mac and cheese, perfectly crispy onions and pulled pork shoulder covered in tangy BBQ sauce. The latter sandwich was a repeat offering from last year, but I'm glad it came back because it was <a href="https://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2018/04/joeys-small-bites-crashing-mlb-food-fest.html">my favorite thing to eat in last year's food fest.</a> Both items had pulled pork, but only Pittsburgh had the smarts to add a pierogi to it. Seriously, I could eat both of these all day.<br />
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Things I wouldn't eat all day included the Curveball Frites (Milwaukee Brewers), Shrimp Po' Boy (New York Yankees) and unfortunately, the Bases Loaded Dog (your New York Mets). Look at the photos below for the Curveball Frites and Shrimp Po' Boy. All I see is some tough-to-chew Andouille sausage from Milwaukee and pickles from the Bronx. Let someone else have those. And what about Citi Field's Bases Loaded Dog? Let's just say no one's coming around to score after having that one. Sorry, Mets. I still love the team, though.<br />
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Now look at the offering to the left of the Bases Loaded Dog in the next-to-last photo below. That's the Chicken and Bubble Waffle from the Miami Marlins. Clearly, Derek Jeter had nothing to do with that dish because it was absolutely delicious! The Marlins took a thick piece of breaded chicken, smothered it with maple aioli and stuffed it in a bubble waffle cone to create the best thing at Marlins Park.<br />
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Last, but not least, was the Smoked Pork Belly Bao Buns, courtesy of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The extreme close-up below perfectly shows off the candied pork belly, corn relish, sriracha aioli and spicy mayo nestled within a soft bao bun.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WJgAd0uA2_k/XYecMmKhsNI/AAAAAAAAPzI/cUYMl39Oh18uszUj02IGhz9YOh_Cy5qJACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/mlb14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="375" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WJgAd0uA2_k/XYecMmKhsNI/AAAAAAAAPzI/cUYMl39Oh18uszUj02IGhz9YOh_Cy5qJACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/mlb14.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In order, base hit, base hit, strikeout, strikeout, home run, strikeout, base hit. (EL/SM)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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There was plenty of food to be had at the MLB Food Fest, but for those with smaller stomachs than my own, there were plenty of other things to do to pass the time.<br />
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In one corner was a virtual reality home-run hitting game. There were also TVs everywhere showing all of the day's MLB action as well as a free soft serve ice cream stand (okay, so that still qualifies as food).<br />
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There were also larger-than-life sculptures of pretzels and cotton candy, which many people posed for photographs with. But my personal favorites were the French fry ball tank that I jumped into and the hot dog seesaw, which I hopped on with my siblings.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was fun for everyone at the MLB Food Fest (EL/SM)</td></tr>
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The Studious Metsimus staff had a wonderful time at this year's MLB Food Fest. The delicacies were plentiful and the portions were bigger this year than they were in 2018, which made it easier to accept the fact that I didn't have time to try about half of the items from all the ballparks. Sure, there were some things I could have done without (I probably wouldn't have tried what Gabby had), but I have faith that the teams that struck out this year will make up for it at next year's food fest. And there will be a food fest next year, right?<br />
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On that note, it's time to say goodbye from Center 415 in midtown Manhattan. I hope my report makes you want to visit some road stadiums in the near future. I know I want to go back to Miami, Pittsburgh and Kansas City, to name a few.<br />
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Now it's time for me to collect my M.V.E. Award. I was kind of expecting a trophy, but I'll take the napkin. Besides, I think I have some barbecue sauce on my chin. A trophy probably wouldn't do much good to clean up that mess. Happy eating, everyone!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I always love being recognized for my work. (EL/SM)</td></tr>
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<br />Ed Leyro (and Joey Beartran)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18392639274179350916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225973709205976903.post-87022665331661062602019-09-19T15:01:00.000-04:002019-09-19T15:10:39.397-04:00A Healing Win After a Terrible LossMy mother was only 15 years old and living in Puerto Rico when her mom passed away. Soon after, she met a man while she was finishing up high school and married him at age 18. That marriage lasted for nearly a decade, but when she and her husband couldn't conceive a child, the relationship fizzled and led to divorce. The year was 1967. And once again, my mother was alone. Her aunt, a rabid Yankees fan who lived in New York at the time, asked her to come visit for a few weeks to get away from the heartbreak and disappointment. My mother accepted the offer and her visit ended up lasting for decades.<br />
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You see, soon after my mother arrived in New York, she met a man who just happened to be from Cabo Rojo - the same town in Puerto Rico where she was born and raised. He had also been involved in a relationship that had recently ended and they found comfort in sharing those stories with each other. Eventually they shared more stories with each other, sometimes over ice cream on City Island or under the stars by the Hudson River. Less than nine months after they met for the first time, they were married. And five years later, I came along.<br />
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It. Had. Happened.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4qcKxcPjrF0/XYPKjqDvhZI/AAAAAAAAPxM/blg2QvOhgcEWKNFQQ49o2NBjNFGdGEraACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-09-19%2Bat%2B2.35.38%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="270" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4qcKxcPjrF0/XYPKjqDvhZI/AAAAAAAAPxM/blg2QvOhgcEWKNFQQ49o2NBjNFGdGEraACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-09-19%2Bat%2B2.35.38%2BPM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was one awkward looking kid. But I was the only one my mother had, and she loved me for it.</td></tr>
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After 15 years of trying, the long-desired title of "mother" had finally been earned. You can imagine how much Mamita (that's what I called her) loved me and spoiled me, especially after thinking that she would never have a child of her own.<br />
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When I was eight years old, I became a Mets fan. And when Mamita saw how much joy the team gave me - even if it was 1981 and the team rarely won - she became a Mets fan as well. Her aunt wasn't very pleased with Mamita's decision, but the 22 rings won by her team probably made it a lot easier for her to accept.<br />
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Since my father was not a big sports fan, it was Mamita who took me to my Little League games. She even worked at the field's hot dog stand just so she could be closer to me when I was playing. When I pitched my first and only Little League shutout, she was the one who served me and my teammates the celebratory frankfurters. They were probably the best dogs I ever had.<br />
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Once my Little League career had ended, my mother would take me to Mets games so we could continue to bond over our mutual love of baseball. I'd talk to her about Mookie Wilson and she'd tell me about seeing Linguine Lasorda (that's what Puerto Ricans playfully called the legend we know as Tommy) playing and managing in Puerto Rico. It made those pre-1986 losses much more tolerable to watch in person.<br />
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Ah, 1986. The year the Mets finally won the World Series. Mamita and I watched every postseason game together that October. And in the tenth inning of Game Six, she passed down an old Puerto Rican tradition to me, although it was completely by accident.<br />
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As you surely know, the Mets needed to win Game Six to force a seventh and deciding game. My mother had been holding a ceramic elephant for luck during the entire contest. Not only did she have to hold the elephant, but it had to be facing away from the TV and she could only grab the elephant by its tusk. It's only weird if it doesn't work, right?<br />
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Well, once Wally Backman and Keith Hernandez made the first two outs of the tenth with the Mets trailing by two runs, she tossed the elephant aside in disgust. Ya gotta believe that I picked up the elephant and held it backwards by its tusk once she let it go. This long-suffering Mets fan (of five whole years) was not about to give up on the team just yet even if things looked somewhat bleak.<br />
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With the elephant correctly positioned in my hand, my mother and I watched nervously as Gary Carter, Kevin Mitchell and Ray Knight singled. We were on the edge of our seats as Mookie Wilson tap-danced away from Bob Stanley's wayward pitch. And once Mookie's little roller up along first found its way behind the bag, I knew that I'd be holding elephants by their tusks for the rest of my life whenever I needed a little good fortune.<br />
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The Mets didn't make a return trip to the World Series until 2000. By then, my father had been retired for 11 years and my parents had moved back to Cabo Rojo to spend the rest of their lives in their hometown. Even though Mamita was now 1,576 miles away (according to what the frequent flyer miles said), she always made it back to New York for important Mets games.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shea Stadium will always be in my heart. As will my mother.</td></tr>
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She was with me at Shea Stadium when Mike Piazza played his final game as a Met in 2005. She was there when we saw the Mets clinch the N.L. East division title on September 18, 2006. (I don't think I apologized enough to her for injuring her shoulder when Cliff Floyd caught the final out of the game. I was a little excited and started jumping up and down while pressing down on her right shoulder repeatedly. Oops.) She even attended the last game played at Shea Stadium in 2008 and the first regular season game played at Citi Field in 2009.<br />
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The baseball-loving-woman-in-my-life torch was passed from my mother to my wife when we were married in 2010, but my mother always asked me about the Mets whenever we spoke on the phone during baseball season. Even when we couldn't find something else to talk about, there was always baseball. And it would be like that until her final days.<br />
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My mother passed away yesterday, exactly 13 years to the day after I got a little too excited after seeing the team clinch their first division title since 1988. And even in passing, she gave me one more happy Mets memory.<br />
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As my father informed me of her passing, the Mets were playing a day game in Colorado. Eighteen years ago, when I was told the news that my grandmother had passed away, the Mets were also playing a day game. On that day (May 20, 2001), <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN200105200.shtml">the Mets were trailing the Dodgers by two runs</a> as they came to bat in the eighth inning. New York scored in the eighth, then pushed across the winning run in the ninth inning. It was a happy moment on an otherwise awful day. So what do you think happened after I learned of my mother's passing? Yup, you guessed it.<br />
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Mets down by two as they bat in the eighth.<br />
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Mets score in the eighth.<br />
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They score again in the ninth, turning a potential defeat into <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/COL/COL201909180.shtml">a healing victory.</a><br />
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The funny thing is, once the game against the Rockies entered the eighth inning with the Mets trailing by a couple of runs, repeating the scenario from when my grandmother passed, there was no doubt in my mind that the team would come back to win. When it came to baseball, my mother had never let me down before and she wasn't about to begin now.<br />
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The Mets might not make the playoffs this season, but as far as I'm concerned, they already had their biggest win of the year yesterday. And in a way, Mamita got to experience that win with me.<br />
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As a child and young adult, baseball helped my mother escape from the difficulties that life presented her, whether it be losing a parent, a marriage, or even the place she called home. Now baseball will help heal me as I face my own challenge. And I will heal, just like my mother once did.<br />
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We believe in comebacks. And just like the Mets did yesterday, I'll come back from this loss.<br />
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My mother wouldn't have it any other way.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Dedicated to Juanny Leyro (Dec. 27, 1938 - Sept. 18, 2019)</b></i></span> </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mamita, you'll always be in my heart.</span></td></tr>
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<br />Ed Leyro (and Joey Beartran)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18392639274179350916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225973709205976903.post-48255597499902364052019-07-20T18:56:00.000-04:002019-07-20T18:56:56.742-04:00Joey's World Tour: A Twin Killing in Minnesota<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Twins Territory? Not when the Mets are in town! (Ed Leyro/Studious Metsimus)</td></tr>
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How's everything going, my fellow Mets fans? This is your favorite Studious Metsimus roving reporter/culinary expert, Joey Beartran, and I just returned from a trip to the land of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jucy_Lucy">Juicy Lucys</a> and Mary Tyler Moore. Ya, for sure. You betcha I'm talking about Minnesota.<br />
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Target Field is home to the Minnesota Twins, but you wouldn't think that after the Mets made themselves at home there for a couple of days. I only made it to the series opener, but unlike <a href="https://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2019/05/joeys-world-tour-im-going-back-to-cali.html">my trip to San Diego</a> a few months ago, my colleague didn't get tickets to the wrong game, mainly because the Mets swept the two-game set.<br />
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In addition to attending an actual Mets road victory for a change, I also toured the ballpark and sampled some local eats. Along the way, I found out that Prince is still really huge in the Gopher State, the Mets have employed a whole bunch of Twins Hall of Famers and tour guides are very friendly with their guests. Almost a little too friendly.<br />
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Are you ready to be taken for a ride? Then fasten your seat belts, 'cause we're about to blast off like a Pete Alonso home run.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Malls are so huge here, they have roller coasters for people who'd rather shop for thrills instead of scented candles. (EL/SM)</td></tr>
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Since our stay was going to be brief in Minneapolis, we decided to take the Target Field tour on the morning of the Mets' first game against the Twins. There were several tour guides there to accommodate the dozens of mostly Mets fans who showed up expecting the usual "here are our expensive suites and here is the one tiny place in the ballpark where we acknowledge that the team has some history" spiel. Oh wait, that's what they do at Citi Field tours. My bad.<br />
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At Target Field, they actually appreciate and celebrate their history. And it's not just Minnesota Twins history. Prior to 1961, the Twins played in our nation's capital as the original Washington Senators. Just because the Senators don't exist anymore doesn't mean they've been forgotten. Within the ballpark are homages to the three pennant-winning Senators teams. (Washington played in the World Series in 1924, 1925 and 1933.) In addition to these tributes, our octogenarian tour guide, Bob - who looked like he could have been an usher for the Senators at old Griffith Park in D.C. - showed us a wing dedicated to the franchise's super slugger and gentle giant, Harmon Killebrew. And since <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/killeha01.shtml">the first seven seasons of Killebrew's career</a> were spent in Washington, it was pleasing to see that he was equally depicted wearing Senators and Twins jerseys.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First in war, first in peace and last in the American League. But not last when it comes to producing superstars. (EL/SM)</td></tr>
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The Twins have had many great players in their fifty-plus seasons in Minnesota. And it seems like all of them have sections devoted to them in the ballpark. Hall of Famers such as Killebrew, Rod Carew and Kirby Puckett all have statues and gates named after their uniform numbers (Gates 3, 29 and 34, respectively.) But native Minnesotan Kent Hrbek also has a statue and gate, as well as three-time batting champion and 15-year member of the Twins, Tony Oliva. (Their statues are near Gates 14 and 6, naturally.) And if that's not enough in the statue department, they even have full-size bronze effigies of two-time World Series-winning manager Tom Kelly and mascot TC Bear.<br />
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Within the park are also display cases and walls dedicated to Paul Molitor, another Minnesota-born Hall of Famer, as well as <a href="https://thetranceofwaiting.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/bert_fart.jpg">fan of flatulence Bert Blyleven</a> and 21st century Twins legend Joe Mauer, whose number was retired by Minnesota just nine months after he played his final game for the team. (Let's see how long the Mets wait to retire David Wright's number. Hopefully before the team <a href="http://www.mbtn.net/?p=834">"accidentally" gives it to Kelvin Torve's son</a> or some other no-name Met.)<br />
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There's basically no part of the park in which you can't find a tribute to a great Twins player, as illustrated by the photos below. Even former Met Jerry Koosman got a mention because he was born in Minnesota and was a 20-game winner for the Twins in 1979.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5pnsdTp4VSY/XTNgRInh66I/AAAAAAAAPtM/S5yV_WYM7MsUh01L-_oymiU57pQX1E3vwCLcBGAs/s1600/tc15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="375" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5pnsdTp4VSY/XTNgRInh66I/AAAAAAAAPtM/S5yV_WYM7MsUh01L-_oymiU57pQX1E3vwCLcBGAs/s400/tc15.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kirby Puckett's statue was so excited, it almost punched me in the head! (EL/SM)</td></tr>
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Just look at all those beautiful statues. Meanwhile, all the Mets have is a Casey Stengel gnome tucked away near a window in the team's Hall of Fame and Museum and a not-yet-completed Tom Seaver statue that'll probably be put in the same area where <a href="https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/1929361_67999910899_1914775_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_oc=AQl7aBctdBdilaRoPLuDq_--Lpx3lj2JcaluXUwpIw0AHAbNQdwcIJvqw7YiTuhPDmxkg4lUGDLeewDrE0w_67Nf&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=7add2f7b8d504999ba104558abeafeaa&oe=5DAC04A7">the Home Run Apple</a> was relegated to in 2009. Because Mets.<br />
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But I digress.<br />
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Speaking of the Hall of Fame and Museum, the Twins even display their history outside the ballpark, with pennants depicting all of the members of their own Hall of Fame. And of course, all of them fared far better for the Twins than they did for the Mets.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jMhafgNXizA/XTNpZMpzOOI/AAAAAAAAPt0/VtSB0CIFNKAgrnXPpQiAyI4NA0k1cT92gCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-07-20%2Bat%2B3.19.17%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="417" data-original-width="417" height="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jMhafgNXizA/XTNpZMpzOOI/AAAAAAAAPt0/VtSB0CIFNKAgrnXPpQiAyI4NA0k1cT92gCLcBGAs/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-07-20%2Bat%2B3.19.17%2BPM.png" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But at least we got a no-hitter from Johan, right? (EL/SM collage)</td></tr>
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Seeing how the Twins honor their former greats made me want to take off my roving reporter hat and put on my culinary expert cap. So before heading out for some poutine (I was in a state that borders Canada, you know), I decided to check out what Target Field had to offer in the food department. And I'm happy to report that I wasn't let down.<br />
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In the Champions Club, you can get everything from street corn dogs to a steak mushroom Alfredo pizza. Had my colleague remembered to bring extra meal money, perhaps I could have sampled some of these delicacies. Instead, I had to eat food from the concourses. Fortunately, I did not consider this a downgrade, especially after I saw all the choices.<br />
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You can have Cuban sandwiches at Tony O's or the Italian fare at Frankie V's (named after Frank Viola, of course). Want a 24-inch long Boomstick frankfurter or some tasty bratwurst? They've got that. There's even soul food at Soul Bowl and Mexican delicacies at Señor Smoke's. (I had the last two for quality assurance purposes.)<br />
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Target Field has no shortage of food selections for hungry fans. In addition to these stands, Target Field has an area of rotating vendors near the Kirby Puckett gate. Clearly, they were speaking my language when they built the food stands at this ballpark.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NcTNdE5Igrk/XTNymd9ppmI/AAAAAAAAPvE/Q1c9CSun0ms8cGhyZqLGcy1fKESqxvdHwCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-07-20%2Bat%2B3.58.42%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="614" height="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NcTNdE5Igrk/XTNymd9ppmI/AAAAAAAAPvE/Q1c9CSun0ms8cGhyZqLGcy1fKESqxvdHwCLcBGAs/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-07-20%2Bat%2B3.58.42%2BPM.png" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mac n' cheese, collard greens and smoked mushrooms to the left; chicken burrito bowl on the right. (EL/SM)</td></tr>
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So far I've discussed Target Field's tour and food. Now it's time to talk about the ballpark and some interesting features that you won't see in many other stadiums.<br />
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Located in the Terrace Level behind home plate is 2 Gingers Pub. Sure, you can get an adult beverage there. But the main reason people go there is to chat with <a href="https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2012/07/12/howd-you-get-that-job-sue-twins-organist/">Twins organist Sue Nelson.</a> Throughout the game, Ms. Nelson plays her favorite instrument, which sounds so much better than the ear-shattering recorded music that we're normally subjected to at baseball games.<br />
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When Ms. Nelson is not playing, she's shmoozing with fans, who are allowed to go up to her throughout the game. And who wouldn't want to say hello to her, especially with that radiant smile greeting you when you enter the pub?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YXXQMeT1Xrg/XTOCwOAQ5GI/AAAAAAAAPvU/Lc4a_4GcVF8xWpLr7edK-YaYOTxDV1XeQCEwYBhgL/s1600/tc140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="414" height="773" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YXXQMeT1Xrg/XTOCwOAQ5GI/AAAAAAAAPvU/Lc4a_4GcVF8xWpLr7edK-YaYOTxDV1XeQCEwYBhgL/s640/tc140.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was calm when I met Sue Nelson because her bag told me to trust her. Who am I to question a bag? (EL/SM)</td></tr>
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In addition to Ms. Nelson's organ playing, other features that make Target Field a little different than most other ballparks include exit velocity and launch angle on the scoreboard (for all you nerdy kids out there), the classic logo of Minnie and Paul shaking hands over the Mississippi River, the flagpole from old Metropolitan Stadium (which was the Twins' original home when they moved to Minnesota in 1961), the MLB and Twins logo made entirely of wooden bats, a plethora of purple Prince products in the Twins clubhouse shop and the only mascot in the American League that's also a bear.<br />
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As you can imagine, my colleagues had to stand in line to meet TC Bear, even if it meant missing an inning or two of the Mets game.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YBp1tgVYtz4/XTOJQBUHPVI/AAAAAAAAPwM/MQhfbpWCsgMM81azulIXTlTsZYMe7YS9QCLcBGAs/s1600/tc159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="640" height="666" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YBp1tgVYtz4/XTOJQBUHPVI/AAAAAAAAPwM/MQhfbpWCsgMM81azulIXTlTsZYMe7YS9QCLcBGAs/s320/tc159.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My colleague was way too happy to meet TC Bear, who reminds me of what I would look like on steroids. (EL/SM)</td></tr>
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So that's all for my trip to the North Star state, a trip that featured two Mets victories against the Minnesota Twins. On this journey, I learned that the Washington Senators are gone, but not forgotten. I also learned that the Twins are proud of their homegrown players and anyone who has ever contributed positively to the franchise. They also specialize in a diverse assortment of ballpark cuisine and Irish pubs that are actually secret hiding places for smiling organists.<br />
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Oh, and remember when I mentioned Target Field's very friendly tour guides twenty paragraphs ago? (You can scroll up; I'll wait.) Yeah, they get very attached to their guests, especially when they consist of famous roving reporters and culinary experts.<br />
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Love you, Bob the Tour Guide. Thanks to you and the Mets' performance in Minneapolis, my stay in your state was one I'll remember for quite some time.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r6On2pBqQ0I/XTOQfR8Ii0I/AAAAAAAAPws/O2sT2vTOLVQCnkFq3W5jSTJ04h7S19GDwCLcBGAs/s1600/tc117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="640" height="666" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r6On2pBqQ0I/XTOQfR8Ii0I/AAAAAAAAPws/O2sT2vTOLVQCnkFq3W5jSTJ04h7S19GDwCLcBGAs/s400/tc117.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can we get some privacy, please? (EL/SM)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<i>For previous installments of Joey's World Tour, please click on the links below,
where you will be entertained by Joey's wit, photos and love of ballpark
cuisine:</i><br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2010/06/studious-metsimusmy-summer-family-world.html">World Tour Stop #1: Baltimore</a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2010/07/mr-beartran-goes-to-washington.html">World Tour Stop #2: Washington, DC</a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2010/08/pnc-park-house-that-sid-bream-built.html">World Tour Stop #3: Pittsburgh</a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2011/06/texas-two-step-part-ii-joey-does-dallas.html">World Tour Stop #4: Texas</a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2011/11/joeys-small-bites-dodgers-padres-bears.html">World Tour Stop #5: Los Angeles</a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2011/11/joeys-small-bites-dodgers-padres-bears_19.html">World Tour Stop #6: San Diego</a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2012/05/joeys-world-tour-weekend-in-toronto.html">World Tour Stop #7: Toronto</a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2012/09/on-road-with-joey-iggy-real-chicago.html">World Tour Stop #8: Chicago (NL)</a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2012/09/on-road-with-joey-iggy-weekend-at.html">World Tour Stop #9: Milwaukee</a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2012/11/joeys-world-tour-mr-beartran-goes-to.html">World Tour Stop #10: Seattle</a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2013/09/joeys-world-tour-cleveland-rocked.html">World Tour Stop #11: Cleveland</a> </i><br />
<a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2013/11/joeys-world-tour-these-used-to-be-our.html"><i>World Tour Stop #12: Brooklyn (Ebbets Field site) and Manhattan (Polo Grounds site)</i></a><br />
<a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2015/05/joeys-world-tour-back-to-camden-yards.html"><i>World Tour Stop #13: Baltimore (again) and Pittsburgh (part deux)</i></a><br />
<a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2015/09/joeys-world-tour-coronation-in-queen.html"><i>World Tour Stop #14: Cincinnati</i></a><br />
<a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2016/05/joeys-world-tour-mile-high-clubbed.html"><i>World Tour Stop #15: Colorado</i></a><br />
<a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2016/07/joeys-world-tour-wont-you-take-me-to.html"><i>World Tour Stop #16: Cooperstown (Baseball Hall of Fame)</i></a><br />
<a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2016/08/joeys-world-tour-motor-city-beartran.html"><i>World Tour Stop #17: Detroit</i></a><br />
<a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2017/09/joeys-world-tour-peaches-and-creamed.html"><i>World Tour Stop #18: Atlanta</i></a><br />
<a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2017/09/joeys-world-tour-peaches-and-creamed_21.html"><i>World Tour Stop #19: Miami</i></a><br />
<a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2018/05/joeys-world-tour-missouri-madness-part.html"><i>World Tour Stop #20: St. Louis</i></a><br />
<a href="https://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2018/05/joeys-world-tour-missouri-madness-part_3.html"><i>World Tour Stop #21: Kansas City</i></a><br />
<i><a href="https://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2019/05/joeys-world-tour-im-going-back-to-cali.html">World Tour Stop #22: Anaheim (and San Diego revisited)</a> </i><br />
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<br />Ed Leyro (and Joey Beartran)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18392639274179350916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225973709205976903.post-79317999847978597042019-05-13T20:03:00.000-04:002019-05-13T20:03:53.081-04:00Joey's World Tour: I'm Going Back To Cali, Cali, Cali<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mets could have used these bats when I went to see them in San Diego. (Ed Leyro/Studious Metsimus)</td></tr>
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Greetings and salutations, Mets fans! This is your favorite Studious Metsimus roving reporter and culinary expert, Joey Beartran. I just got back from the West Coast, where I fulfilled both of my duties as reporter and eater. On this trip, I visited Angel Stadium of Anaheim and then traveled south to see the Mets play in San Diego. Both stadiums were beautiful. The Mets, however, were not.<br />
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Most of the trip to Southern California was under the cover of clouds. But the blue sky did make an appearance when we were in Anaheim, just in time for our ballpark tour. The first stop on the tour was the area outside home plate. In addition to the gorgeous home plate entrance, which you can see in the photo above, the Angels have two large caps on either side of the plaza. How large are they? At size 649<span class="st">½, they might even be a little too big for <a href="https://aroundthefoghorn.com/2014/05/20/just-big-bruce-bochys-head/">Bruce Bochy's head.</a></span><br />
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<span class="st">Under one of the caps is a giant Mickey Mouse painted in Angels colors. In 2010, Anaheim hosted the All-Star Game, making a deal with Disney (Disneyland is only a hop, skip and jump away from the stadium, you know) to produce giant Mickey Mouses (Mickey Mice?) with each team's colors and logo featured prominently on them. The friendly rodents were then placed all around the city so that fans could find them. This is similar to what the Mets did when Citi Field hosted the Midsummer Classic in 2013.</span><br />
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<span class="st">The other item of note outside the Home Plate entrance was a built-to-scale baseball diamond made out of bricks. Our tour guide told us that this diamond is usually hard to spot on game days because of all the fans congregating in that area. But on this beautiful morning, it was as visible as Brandon Nimmo's smile after he hits a home run.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home is where the heart is, or in this case, where my sister, Iggy, is. (EL/SM)</td></tr>
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<span class="st">Once inside the ballpark, we saw reminders of the Angels' one and only World Series championship. Even though the Angels have won nine division titles, it was their only wild card-winning season in 2002 that produced their sole pennant and Fall Classic victory. Winning a single crown means that they only need one large display case to show off their hardware and other memorabilia from that magic campaign. But they have many interesting items in that case.</span><br />
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<span class="st">Included in the display are various newspaper headlines, the ball and glove used to secure the final out of the World Series, a cowboy hat worn by the late owner Gene Autry (who passed away four years before the Angels won it all), photos from the championship parade in nearby Disneyland and of course, the World Series trophy. I guess it isn't just Super Bowl MVPs that get to go to Disneyland after they win a ring.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trophies won in the 21st century look much shinier than ones that have been collecting dust since 1986. (EL/SM)</td></tr>
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From here, we were brought to the visitors clubhouse, which doesn't have the amenities the home team's players have. However, it was spacious and had its own video area where coaches can discuss flaws in swings, pitching mechanics, etc. The bathrooms were also equipped with every kind of toiletry you can imagine so that opponents don't have to worry about trying to sneak large bottles of hair gel past the TSA agents in the airport.<br />
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Near the home team clubhouse we were taken to a special press conference room for former Angels manager Mike Scioscia. The room was built at the request of the man who gave us post-traumatic Mets disorder in the 1988 NLCS so that he wouldn't have to trudge up a few levels to the regular press conference room to give post-game interviews. I guess running around the bases after homering off Doc Gooden in the ninth inning of Game Four tired him out so much that he ended up having difficulty going up a few flights of stairs a quarter century later just to talk to reporters.<br />
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One of the interesting features of Angel Stadium is the dugout suites. As you may know, all stadiums have suites for those who have large groups of people and a few thousand dollars burning a hole in their pockets. But most of those suites are above field level. The Angels have ten suites behind home plate that are a few feet below field level. This gives a unique perspective to what's going on in the game, assuming you're not back in the suite trying all the delicious food that is included in the deal. One unfortunate thing about these suites is that it's really hard to see fly balls from such a low vantage point. Also, the suites are really HOT, as in sweat-through-your-fur hot. I mean, I almost had to take off my Mets hoodie just to cool down, which probably would've made the tour experience less memorable for the other tourgoers in our group.<br />
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At least the dugout suites are close to - wait for it - the dugout! That means they're also close to the field. And why do we do ballpark tours in the first place? It's not to see memorabilia of other teams winning championships or custom-made press conference rooms for Met killers. It's also certainly not to visit suites we could never afford even if my colleague gave me a 100% raise. (Speaking of which, my direct deposit never hit my bank account this week. Just because I'm not human doesn't mean I can't complain to human resources about this.)<br />
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The reason we do these stadium tours is to sit in the dugout and walk on the field. And that's just what this roving reporter did. I came, I saw, I roved.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who needs to sit in a dugout suite when we can sit right here? (EL/SM)</td></tr>
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After the tour was complete, we decided to walk around the park to get a glimpse of some of the banners and of course, the "Big A".<br />
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For all you kids out there, the "Big A" is not just the nickname for Angel Stadium, it's a 230-foot tall structure situated in the parking lot that's shaped like the first letter of the alphabet. The "Big A" is topped by a halo that lights up after every Angels victory, which is perfect if you're a big fan of rubbernecking on the nearby freeway.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I give a big A-OK to the "Big A". (EL/SM)</td></tr>
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From Anaheim, we went down the coast to San Diego, where we attended two Mets games. Of course, the only game in the three-game series we didn't go to was the one game the Mets won. You can thank my colleague for buying tickets to the wrong games.<br />
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Anyhow, if you're a longtime reader of my World Tour series, you know that we visited Petco Park in 2011. (You can read about that trip by <a href="https://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2011/11/joeys-small-bites-dodgers-padres-bears_19.html">clicking here</a>.) But a lot has changed in those eight years.<br />
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For one thing, it's not all about Tony Gwynn anymore. There's a lot of Trevor Hoffman love in and around the ballpark now that the closer has a plaque in Cooperstown. And it's not just love for Gwynn and Hoffman. The Padres now have a wall dedicated to all players and coaches who wore the team's uniform, whether it was for the old San Diego Pacific Coast League team or the current major league club. There's even one for Mike Piazza, who played just one season in San Diego.<br />
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And the Padres Hall of Fame? Well, that's just a sight to behold. Within the 2,000-square-foot hall, we found photos and stories of the old PCL team, as well as newspaper clippings (including one of a game against the Mets in which a bad managerial decision may have cost the Padres a chance at their first no-hitter), bats, gloves, awards and videos of great moments in club history. The centerpiece of the hall is a section devoted to every member of the Padres Hall of Fame. But one particular Padre is missing.<br />
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Steve Garvey, whose No. 6 was retired by San Diego the year after he played his final game in the majors, is not in the Padres Hall of Fame. My colleague and I were intrigued by this and asked one of the employees working in the hall about it. The hall worker smiled and said that no one has any idea why that's the case. Indeed, after further research by my colleague, we found nothing on the subject. It's a mystery why Garvey's achievements as a member of the 1984 pennant-winning Padres led to his number being retired by the team, but the entirety of his five-year career in San Diego wasn't enough to warrant enshrinement into the club's Hall of Fame. Truly bizarre.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kF7CrVU18kQ/XNhO5_duE7I/AAAAAAAAPn4/IIY8wLvDdiIOZzs1rktA6zgDIg0s2jWXQCEwYBhgL/s1600/cali228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="640" height="666" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kF7CrVU18kQ/XNhO5_duE7I/AAAAAAAAPn4/IIY8wLvDdiIOZzs1rktA6zgDIg0s2jWXQCEwYBhgL/s400/cali228.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only way Steve Garvey will find himself in the Padres' Hall of Fame is if he buys a game ticket. (EL/SM)</td></tr>
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One place we had to visit when we were at Petco Park was an area that non-Mets fans wouldn't care to see. It's certainly an area former Padres pitcher James Shields isn't comfortable with.<br />
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On May 7, 2016, Bartolo Colón hit <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVFsq9FQBlc">the only home run</a> of his long career off Shields. The ball landed under the "Hit it Here" sign in front of the Western Metal Supply Co. building. To mark the event, the Padres gave what Gary Cohen called "one of the great moments in the history of baseball" the Steve Garvey treatment, meaning there's nothing to mark where the ball landed. But thanks to my colleague's calculations of exit velocities and launch angles, as well as me letting him know that he could've just watched Colón's clout on YouTube for research purposes, we were able to find the spot where the ball landed. And we took some photos in the area before Padres security gave us their own version of the Garvey treatment.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rEM_RsS1yCM/XNhW3XVoGxI/AAAAAAAAPoQ/yGla1ZVgUYIyl3sOucneaFQ6c_LOFIykwCLcBGAs/s1600/jc65.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="375" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rEM_RsS1yCM/XNhW3XVoGxI/AAAAAAAAPoQ/yGla1ZVgUYIyl3sOucneaFQ6c_LOFIykwCLcBGAs/s400/jc65.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm glad security didn't call the San Diego Zoo to have us removed. That's worse than the Garvey treatment. (EL/SM)</td></tr>
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The Mets won the game we didn't go to, erasing a three-run, seventh-inning deficit to eke out a 7-6 victory. The two games we did attend, the Mets scored a combined two runs and left runner after runner on base. Because the Mets didn't give us much to cheer about in the stands, our photographer spent a good chunk of each game taking photos of the players.<br />
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Speaking of which, I'm glad our budget allows us to spend an arm and a leg on tickets and then we end up spending all of our time at the games behind a camera instead of, you know, watching the games.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GiozQGQqc1s/XNhcC3OukOI/AAAAAAAAPqI/jk5YMw0X14oWkeeDGhbzfH_FoezN_-gOwCEwYBhgL/s1600/DSCN2902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1561" data-original-width="1600" height="487" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GiozQGQqc1s/XNhcC3OukOI/AAAAAAAAPqI/jk5YMw0X14oWkeeDGhbzfH_FoezN_-gOwCEwYBhgL/s400/DSCN2902.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They came, they played, they lost. Twice. (EL/SM)</td></tr>
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The tour in Anaheim didn't take us to any of the stadium's food stands. But the games in San Diego allowed us to pig out on a San Diego staple - burritos! And the ones served in and around Petco Park were some of the best and most unique we've ever had.<br />
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Before going to the park, we enjoyed a California breakfast burrito filled with scrambled eggs, bacon, cheddar cheese, home fries and avocado. That burrito was served with Mexican rice and refried beans. Then at the Lucha Libre Taco Shop inside the ballpark, we had a Fryer Cali Burrito, which was both a play on words on the Padres being Friars and also incredibly delicious. This burrito had steak, jack cheese, French fries, chipotle sauce and pico de gallo. Apparently, putting potatoes in burritos is a big thing in San Diego.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5sE4MzKNt2I/XNhfr1k_4YI/AAAAAAAAPq4/vZio8KQJ9CU_zKV-v9ks8QY1JeCe6XG1gCLcBGAs/s1600/cali143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="640" height="666" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5sE4MzKNt2I/XNhfr1k_4YI/AAAAAAAAPq4/vZio8KQJ9CU_zKV-v9ks8QY1JeCe6XG1gCLcBGAs/s400/cali143.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As Weird Al Yankovic would say, "Might as well face it, I'm addicted to spuds." (EL/SM)</td></tr>
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So that's it for our California trip, in which we visited Angel Stadium of Anaheim for the first time and revisited the fun and festivities at Petco Park in San Diego. On this trip, we learned that dugout suites are only good if you like searching in vain for fly balls while relaxing in a sauna. We also learned that Met killers get lazy with age and there are hats that are even too big for Bruce Bochy to wear.<br />
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In addition, we found out that the Padres embrace their history more than the Mets do, but still have a strange relationship with Steve Garvey. Also, Tony Gwynn isn't the only player who is celebrated in San Diego and oh yeah, they put taters in everything.<br />
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On behalf of the Studious Metsimus staff, I'd like to thank you for reading about our trip to Southern California and if you can find out why Steve Garvey isn't in the Padres Hall of Fame even though his number is retired, please let us know. You should probably let Garvey know as well.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o3MMDS3iXys/XNhiuMPeVcI/AAAAAAAAPrQ/F81CvH3q9H0XWHsbBQ-3OBjHcofxAe9sACLcBGAs/s1600/jc74.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="375" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o3MMDS3iXys/XNhiuMPeVcI/AAAAAAAAPrQ/F81CvH3q9H0XWHsbBQ-3OBjHcofxAe9sACLcBGAs/s400/jc74.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mets were washed out to sea on this trip. Good thing we weren't. (EL/SM)</td></tr>
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<i>For previous installments of Joey's World Tour, please click on the links below,
where you will be entertained by Joey's wit, photos and love of ballpark
cuisine:</i><br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2010/06/studious-metsimusmy-summer-family-world.html">World Tour Stop #1: Baltimore</a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2010/07/mr-beartran-goes-to-washington.html">World Tour Stop #2: Washington, DC</a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2010/08/pnc-park-house-that-sid-bream-built.html">World Tour Stop #3: Pittsburgh</a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2011/06/texas-two-step-part-ii-joey-does-dallas.html">World Tour Stop #4: Texas</a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2011/11/joeys-small-bites-dodgers-padres-bears.html">World Tour Stop #5: Los Angeles</a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2011/11/joeys-small-bites-dodgers-padres-bears_19.html">World Tour Stop #6: San Diego</a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2012/05/joeys-world-tour-weekend-in-toronto.html">World Tour Stop #7: Toronto</a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2012/09/on-road-with-joey-iggy-real-chicago.html">World Tour Stop #8: Chicago (NL)</a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2012/09/on-road-with-joey-iggy-weekend-at.html">World Tour Stop #9: Milwaukee</a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2012/11/joeys-world-tour-mr-beartran-goes-to.html">World Tour Stop #10: Seattle</a></i><br />
<i><a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2013/09/joeys-world-tour-cleveland-rocked.html">World Tour Stop #11: Cleveland</a> </i><br />
<a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2013/11/joeys-world-tour-these-used-to-be-our.html"><i>World Tour Stop #12: Brooklyn (Ebbets Field site) and Manhattan (Polo Grounds site)</i></a><br />
<a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2015/05/joeys-world-tour-back-to-camden-yards.html"><i>World Tour Stop #13: Baltimore (again) and Pittsburgh (part deux)</i></a><br />
<a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2015/09/joeys-world-tour-coronation-in-queen.html"><i>World Tour Stop #14: Cincinnati</i></a><br />
<a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2016/05/joeys-world-tour-mile-high-clubbed.html"><i>World Tour Stop #15: Colorado</i></a><br />
<a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2016/07/joeys-world-tour-wont-you-take-me-to.html"><i>World Tour Stop #16: Cooperstown (Baseball Hall of Fame)</i></a><br />
<a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2016/08/joeys-world-tour-motor-city-beartran.html"><i>World Tour Stop #17: Detroit</i></a><br />
<a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2017/09/joeys-world-tour-peaches-and-creamed.html"><i>World Tour Stop #18: Atlanta</i></a><br />
<a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2017/09/joeys-world-tour-peaches-and-creamed_21.html"><i>World Tour Stop #19: Miami</i></a><br />
<a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2018/05/joeys-world-tour-missouri-madness-part.html"><i>World Tour Stop #20: St. Louis</i></a><br />
<a href="https://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2018/05/joeys-world-tour-missouri-madness-part_3.html"><i>World Tour Stop #21: Kansas City</i></a><br />
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<i> </i>Ed Leyro (and Joey Beartran)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18392639274179350916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225973709205976903.post-20794457322779509272019-04-20T10:08:00.000-04:002019-04-20T10:36:22.386-04:00Pete Alonso's Torrid Start Has Room For Improvement<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eyAyyhEakF0/XLsRDB93ZKI/AAAAAAAAPiM/GkLrlgTi1I424GOVZRdiH7NTNh2_yPTfwCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-04-20%2Bat%2B8.29.45%2BAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="500" height="333" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eyAyyhEakF0/XLsRDB93ZKI/AAAAAAAAPiM/GkLrlgTi1I424GOVZRdiH7NTNh2_yPTfwCLcBGAs/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-04-20%2Bat%2B8.29.45%2BAM.png" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This should be a oft-repeated scene in the Mets dugout for years to come. (Rich von Biberstein/Getty Images)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Anyone who has been following the Mets in 2019 knows that Pete Alonso's big league career is off to an impressive start. Through 19 games, Alonso has produced a .333/.425/.739 slash line with seven doubles, seven homers and 18 RBI. He ranks in the league's top ten in a plethora of categories, including hits, extra-base hits, runs scored, runs batted in and wins above replacement.<br />
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Certainly, Alonso ranks among the top three rookies in the National League, along with the Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. and the Nationals' Victor Robles. But Alonso could separate himself from the rest of the rookie pack and become even more of a threat with the bat if he could just learn how to do one thing.<br />
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Alonso needs to adjust to the starting pitcher instead of allowing the starting pitcher to adjust to him.<br />
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Let's look at this tweet from a certain blogger after it was noticed that Alonso's splits against starting pitchers and relievers varied by quite a bit.<br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
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Pete Alonso's updated numbers against starting pitchers and relievers:<br />
vs. SP: .256/.347/.395, 0 HR, 3 RBI in 49 plate appearances<br />
vs. RP: .462/.548/1.308, 7 HR, 15 RBI in 31 plate appearances</div>
— Ed Leyro (@Studi_Metsimus) <a href="https://twitter.com/Studi_Metsimus/status/1119437911395569664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
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Alonso has smoked relief pitchers whenever they've faced him this season. All of his home runs have been hit against relievers and over 80% of the runs he's driven in have occurred after the opponent's starter has been removed from the game. And why is Alonso so dominant against relievers as opposed to the starting pitcher? Because the starter has learned how to pitch to Alonso after seeing him once in a game while the reliever doesn't get the opportunity to do so. Here's what I mean by that.<br />
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As shown in the chart below (generated by baseball-reference.com, of course), Alonso has a tough time hitting starting pitchers as the game moves along. His .313 batting average in his first at-bat against a starter is close to his overall batting average. But look at how his average falls once the starting pitcher faces him multiple times.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T8pl-HQyrYw/XLsVR7EbPHI/AAAAAAAAPiY/ejmQ7MSIyUUhJ_0GJgxxKcdQHlysUPg3QCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-04-20%2Bat%2B8.48.02%2BAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="85" data-original-width="332" height="101" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T8pl-HQyrYw/XLsVR7EbPHI/AAAAAAAAPiY/ejmQ7MSIyUUhJ_0GJgxxKcdQHlysUPg3QCLcBGAs/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-04-20%2Bat%2B8.48.02%2BAM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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By the time Alonso faces a starting pitcher for the third time in a game, he is almost an automatic out whenever he puts the ball in play. Alonso's double against Max Scherzer on April 7 is the only hit he's recorded in his third at-bat against a starter in 15 such plate appearances.<br />
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It is not usually the case that a hitter fares worse against a starting pitcher as the game progresses, as more often than not the starter becomes less effective as his pitch count rises. But Alonso doesn't appear to have received that memo yet, even if his some of his more experienced teammates have.<br />
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Robinson Canó, Wilson Ramos and Michael Conforto are the three most experienced hitters out of the Mets' everyday players, amassing nearly 13,000 career plate appearances between them. That experience, along with their baseball acumen, has allowed them to adjust to starting pitchers as the game moves on.<br />
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Here are the career splits put up by Canó, Ramos and Conforto in their first plate appearance against a starting pitcher compared with how they fare the third time they face a starter in a game.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b> <span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Robinson Canó</i></span></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dTcYvEdHzf8/XLsb5RVX08I/AAAAAAAAPik/DsgspJFQzYgM-bx2mPtc9afelD0EFJtsgCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-04-20%2Bat%2B9.16.52%2BAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="63" data-original-width="210" height="96" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dTcYvEdHzf8/XLsb5RVX08I/AAAAAAAAPik/DsgspJFQzYgM-bx2mPtc9afelD0EFJtsgCLcBGAs/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-04-20%2Bat%2B9.16.52%2BAM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Wilson Ramos</b></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UVWFJeIK1ng/XLsdmFpYh0I/AAAAAAAAPjM/tAcN-WFKFLYLhzh9YyF2MEHO_YMkSI6FgCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-04-20%2Bat%2B9.24.07%2BAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="64" data-original-width="212" height="96" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UVWFJeIK1ng/XLsdmFpYh0I/AAAAAAAAPjM/tAcN-WFKFLYLhzh9YyF2MEHO_YMkSI6FgCLcBGAs/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-04-20%2Bat%2B9.24.07%2BAM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Michael Conforto</b></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XzFZyFvNNbg/XLseTWojW5I/AAAAAAAAPjc/-aD9kNHPjoQLdbGCrddYQiLYhujgK4XAgCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-04-20%2Bat%2B9.27.18%2BAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="64" data-original-width="212" height="96" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XzFZyFvNNbg/XLseTWojW5I/AAAAAAAAPjc/-aD9kNHPjoQLdbGCrddYQiLYhujgK4XAgCLcBGAs/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-04-20%2Bat%2B9.27.18%2BAM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">As seen in the charts above, Canó and Conforto improve greatly against starting pitchers as those hurlers tire, while Ramos remains fairly consistent. The three veteran players have learned to make the proper adjustments needed to take advantage of the starters as they go deeper into the game.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Once Alonso learns how to make these adjustments himself, he will either become as steady a hitter as Ramos is or will perhaps jump to the levels Canó and Conforto have exhibited throughout their careers when they face starting pitchers multiple times in a game.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Alonso's first at-bat against a starting pitcher (.313 batting average, .738 OPS) is usually very good. The first and usually only time he bats against a reliever, his numbers are in the baseball stratosphere (.462 batting average, 1.856 OPS).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">His rookie season is already off to a splendid start. But just imagine what it could turn into if Alonso could learn how to adjust to starting pitchers the more times he faces them rather than the other way around. The Rookie of the Year Award could just be the beginning of the hardware Alonso will receive in his promising career.</span><br />
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<br />Ed Leyro (and Joey Beartran)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18392639274179350916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225973709205976903.post-25245704035263840312019-03-27T20:00:00.000-04:002019-03-27T20:00:20.425-04:00The Magic Fortune Cookie Predicts the 2019 Mets SeasonLast season, the Mets produced a Cy Young Award recipient in Jacob deGrom. They also saw Zack Wheeler finally turning the corner and Noah Syndergaard emerging victorious in 13 of his 17 decisions. And that's not to mention Michael Conforto setting career highs in home runs and RBI, Jeff McNeil continuing to rake at sea level after tearing up the Pacific Coast League and Brandon Nimmo reaching base in over 40% of his plate appearances, all while making a good case to play Guy Smiley in a live action Sesame Street movie.<br />
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What did all this individual success get them? Just a measly 77-85 record and a fourth place finish for the sixth time in the Citi Field era.<br />
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But new general manager Brodie Van Wagenen insists that this year's Mets will be different than the previous two seasons. This year's squad has All-Stars galore in new additions Robinson Canó, Edwin Díaz and Wilson Ramos. Throw in Jeurys Familia, Jed Lowrie (when his boo boo heals) and the greatest first baseman in Mets history who still hasn't played a game at the major league level, Pete Alonso, and the Mets should easily tack on a few wins to last year's total, especially if none of their games against Derek Jeter's Marlins are postponed and not made up.<br />
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Of course, I'm not an expert on anything. But I do know a good Mets prognosticator when I see one. That's why, back by popular demand, I give you our resident Studious Metsimus soothsayer. Please put your hands together for the one and only Magic Fortune Cookie.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zg59fjm26CU/XJqg8jKGJ0I/AAAAAAAAPdY/jebO9gS94rYbmHnNNww4gn12vOD7HjhWACLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B5.58.32%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zg59fjm26CU/XJqg8jKGJ0I/AAAAAAAAPdY/jebO9gS94rYbmHnNNww4gn12vOD7HjhWACLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B5.58.32%2BPM.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Why would you say that? I just paid you a compliment and if people want to applaud you for being good at what you do, you shouldn't tell them not to do so.</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d5Bmsm1wpXw/XJqj6VfEs2I/AAAAAAAAPdk/NB5SC_XxY2Q5h3A30_Sq3q8wCK7NBbHgwCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B6.12.23%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d5Bmsm1wpXw/XJqj6VfEs2I/AAAAAAAAPdk/NB5SC_XxY2Q5h3A30_Sq3q8wCK7NBbHgwCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B6.12.23%2BPM.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Because you're a fortune cookie. Got it. Well, I think you're great. Except when you're insulting me. Which I'm sure you won't be doing this time around, right?</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-juCPXDgEmg4/XJqkjRHFr7I/AAAAAAAAPds/Yy-0bsq1FtEEO45qmrG8qXzLzRKv-EKzgCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B6.15.16%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-juCPXDgEmg4/XJqkjRHFr7I/AAAAAAAAPds/Yy-0bsq1FtEEO45qmrG8qXzLzRKv-EKzgCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B6.15.16%2BPM.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'll try to not ask silly questions then. Let's begin. How do you feel about Jacob deGrom finally being given the contract extension that every big leaguer and their mothers were getting this off-season?</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JwLfcFA-vL8/XJqmPt8yRXI/AAAAAAAAPd4/KCql62YAXHAa-NCbpjm6VmILKTtbaJCQwCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B6.22.25%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JwLfcFA-vL8/XJqmPt8yRXI/AAAAAAAAPd4/KCql62YAXHAa-NCbpjm6VmILKTtbaJCQwCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B6.22.25%2BPM.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Wait, what? What kind of answer is that? That has nothing to do with my question.</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Stkmy_xVS68/XJqnaGpYzLI/AAAAAAAAPeE/7ZT3kBkyGdEMbfmSYKA6tN7XBVUkY143ACLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B6.27.33%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Stkmy_xVS68/XJqnaGpYzLI/AAAAAAAAPeE/7ZT3kBkyGdEMbfmSYKA6tN7XBVUkY143ACLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B6.27.33%2BPM.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well, you certainly did that. Now can you answer my question? And please leave the insults back at the restaurant.</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-87heTI6VxUI/XJqoPxuHnGI/AAAAAAAAPeM/FMq906x7p1sZB8dgVwSesUfV7lV8ypi8gCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B6.31.08%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-87heTI6VxUI/XJqoPxuHnGI/AAAAAAAAPeM/FMq906x7p1sZB8dgVwSesUfV7lV8ypi8gCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B6.31.08%2BPM.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you for your honest response. And why do you think it needed to be done? Were you afraid he'd take a dip in the free agent waters after the 2020 campaign without the extension?</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WWsgK1wJJCA/XJq6NZcVzvI/AAAAAAAAPeY/RI2fU4LI6qMe3_xlC_XAtRJdg38dizx3ACLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B7.47.40%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WWsgK1wJJCA/XJq6NZcVzvI/AAAAAAAAPeY/RI2fU4LI6qMe3_xlC_XAtRJdg38dizx3ACLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B7.47.40%2BPM.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Moving on to his fellow moundsman, do you feel Noah Syndergaard or Zack Wheeler will ever put up a season similar to the one deGrom completed last year? And if so, which one has the potential to parlay such a season into a similar nine-figure deal with the team?</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GC9XSHNdBxI/XJq6-1NxtrI/AAAAAAAAPeg/LV19-JxSLkgOCnM7PPgH16Ii0pustR8MgCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B7.50.59%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="400" height="385" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GC9XSHNdBxI/XJq6-1NxtrI/AAAAAAAAPeg/LV19-JxSLkgOCnM7PPgH16Ii0pustR8MgCLcBGAs/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B7.50.59%2BPM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And how can you be so certain it's Thor and not Wheeler who gets the big payday from the team?</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qKDJJQypS38/XJq73n-uRlI/AAAAAAAAPes/v38MAPFqJyQ7yfFNpaTndsBGeiWiE0VIACLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B7.54.46%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qKDJJQypS38/XJq73n-uRlI/AAAAAAAAPes/v38MAPFqJyQ7yfFNpaTndsBGeiWiE0VIACLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B7.54.46%2BPM.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It most certainly isn't. Moving on to the bullpen, is the one-two punch of Jeurys Familia and Edwin Díaz going to mean lights out for the opposition if the Mets have the lead through seven innings?</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OxBJ0E5enC4/XJq8qQVsZyI/AAAAAAAAPe0/Eet1d4vRGsAU3DZ_GQgwb5LohYLBEc1bQCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B7.58.09%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OxBJ0E5enC4/XJq8qQVsZyI/AAAAAAAAPe0/Eet1d4vRGsAU3DZ_GQgwb5LohYLBEc1bQCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B7.58.09%2BPM.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hate to break it to you, but the 2010 team wasn't very good. Not only that, but they didn't really have an eighth inning guy. I mean, nearly half of Fernando Nieve's relief appearances that year came in the eighth inning and his ERA was an even 6.00.</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v1XUci8EhQY/XJrIJY0dJVI/AAAAAAAAPfA/UAZG7pazxhYW_9O6U1Usv7PurGN3FiJwgCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B8.47.10%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v1XUci8EhQY/XJrIJY0dJVI/AAAAAAAAPfA/UAZG7pazxhYW_9O6U1Usv7PurGN3FiJwgCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B8.47.10%2BPM.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well, that was an unfortunate and embarrassing incident in club history. Speaking of unfortunate and embarrassing, what do you think about the Wilpons' decision to finally have a Tom Seaver statue at Citi Field, announcing the news after his family revealed that he was retiring from the public life and would not be able to join his 1969 teammates for their 50th anniversary reunion at the ballpark?</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-McUXTxztH1Y/XJrKXb5l0KI/AAAAAAAAPfM/eDfhzzrudcE2GiW-obvynhf0AHEwR03kACLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B8.56.35%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-McUXTxztH1Y/XJrKXb5l0KI/AAAAAAAAPfM/eDfhzzrudcE2GiW-obvynhf0AHEwR03kACLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B8.56.35%2BPM.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I can understand your feelings for Seaver, but why do you feel happy for the men who caught Seaver in 1969?</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5mp1DymJcmU/XJrLguxhsrI/AAAAAAAAPfg/k08IpwDFWXYEud6Qp9JbCfy9Y9450HdXwCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B9.01.32%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5mp1DymJcmU/XJrLguxhsrI/AAAAAAAAPfg/k08IpwDFWXYEud6Qp9JbCfy9Y9450HdXwCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B9.01.32%2BPM.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Travis d'Arnaud probably won't be pleased to find out that you believe a couple of septuagenarians and an octogenarian are currently better equipped to handle the team's backup catcher's position.</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOfrcdHAkQ8/XJrMw88rdfI/AAAAAAAAPfs/ILaLi8JpDlUUry_L_YQ1y_zpDJNmORLMACLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B9.06.52%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOfrcdHAkQ8/XJrMw88rdfI/AAAAAAAAPfs/ILaLi8JpDlUUry_L_YQ1y_zpDJNmORLMACLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B9.06.52%2BPM.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Fair point. Let's continue talking about up-the-middle players. Why do you think Fred Wilpon agreed to take on the contract of Robinson Canó? He's usually allergic to spending money. Why did he change his ways for Canó?</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oBS27MGIlSQ/XJrPl6TRkPI/AAAAAAAAPf4/0MHcILxTTqEIdUzMR4WDOsFlri8w-POGgCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B9.18.55%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oBS27MGIlSQ/XJrPl6TRkPI/AAAAAAAAPf4/0MHcILxTTqEIdUzMR4WDOsFlri8w-POGgCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B9.18.55%2BPM.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I don't get it.</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3z6Xeb3cKTc/XJrRCknyrhI/AAAAAAAAPgE/vrl9nxhhsIA3HuAVUTglgn71bCliZijZQCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B9.24.15%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="400" height="385" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3z6Xeb3cKTc/XJrRCknyrhI/AAAAAAAAPgE/vrl9nxhhsIA3HuAVUTglgn71bCliZijZQCLcBGAs/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B9.24.15%2BPM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Oh, now I get it. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fY9btkhnRjg/UR2XmAsaieI/AAAAAAAAJ8Q/0fdwtEiIP4A/s1600/fred+wilpon+papa+smirk.jpg">Papa Smirk</a> was a Brooklyn Dodgers fan growing up.</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tVnrm684mf0/XJrRryMZPdI/AAAAAAAAPgM/N85k9j6KiVc8FR24DFbyzPCU0-dCElBYACLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B9.27.54%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tVnrm684mf0/XJrRryMZPdI/AAAAAAAAPgM/N85k9j6KiVc8FR24DFbyzPCU0-dCElBYACLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B9.27.54%2BPM.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Har-de-har-har. Let's move on to the outfield. Michael Conforto and Brandon Nimmo had strong seasons in 2018. But teams need three outfielders. Who will see the bulk of the playing time as the team's third outfielder?</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1Lkh0Su_fIk/XJrTRVpHoeI/AAAAAAAAPgY/zw9rwXkr4wwd3OkptLFXtTfpYSDLoTuagCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B9.34.39%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1Lkh0Su_fIk/XJrTRVpHoeI/AAAAAAAAPgY/zw9rwXkr4wwd3OkptLFXtTfpYSDLoTuagCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B9.34.39%2BPM.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Uh, you do know that Céspedes will start the season on the injured list and may not play until very late in the season, if he plays at all, right?</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ocz6-jCfz7Q/XJrVYV4m9GI/AAAAAAAAPgk/RgGkBVlS5YYQUgt2VRbp7IERn60d3daqgCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B9.43.34%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ocz6-jCfz7Q/XJrVYV4m9GI/AAAAAAAAPgk/RgGkBVlS5YYQUgt2VRbp7IERn60d3daqgCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B9.43.34%2BPM.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I suppose that could happen. At least you didn't say Dominic Smith, so I can breathe a sigh of relief there. And while I'm on the topic of first basemen, what numbers do you think Pete Alonso will produce at the position?</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i4M1HJZOjM0/XJrWh7YfEuI/AAAAAAAAPgw/gLjFhlvMhQEEWdBlKy9M84opUpe5DJwPACLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B9.48.23%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i4M1HJZOjM0/XJrWh7YfEuI/AAAAAAAAPgw/gLjFhlvMhQEEWdBlKy9M84opUpe5DJwPACLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B9.48.23%2BPM.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">That's not very impressive. Loney and González combined for just 15 HR and 60 RBI during their time with the Mets. Pretty much any first baseman can produce those numbers over a full season.</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-23mEFMwkEVM/XJrXm87y2yI/AAAAAAAAPg4/DOqJrzCJz-gCgOhRS3P9ETZ0vFrm2p5UQCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B9.53.06%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-23mEFMwkEVM/XJrXm87y2yI/AAAAAAAAPg4/DOqJrzCJz-gCgOhRS3P9ETZ0vFrm2p5UQCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B9.53.06%2BPM.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">That's promising news indeed! Next-to-last question. Do you think new hitting coach Chili Davis will help the team improve their putrid .234 team batting average, which was the Mets' lowest mark since the 1972 campaign?</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O4pQ4vaOl2E/XJrZgVE_rSI/AAAAAAAAPhI/2Bi2SVuSyRwuDDPRfC9cBhIPJ4FeeWzkQCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B10.00.54%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="400" height="385" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O4pQ4vaOl2E/XJrZgVE_rSI/AAAAAAAAPhI/2Bi2SVuSyRwuDDPRfC9cBhIPJ4FeeWzkQCLcBGAs/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B10.00.54%2BPM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Wait, you're not a sportswriter. How does a fortune cookie have sources?</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-liAklT8IinE/XJraqkawpBI/AAAAAAAAPhU/kjp_LjpG1mEIwuQgUmd8g_btzFD3vvpzACLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B10.06.14%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-liAklT8IinE/XJraqkawpBI/AAAAAAAAPhU/kjp_LjpG1mEIwuQgUmd8g_btzFD3vvpzACLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B10.06.14%2BPM.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">That was awful.</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pmUPud0Y6FI/XJrbHVkvKcI/AAAAAAAAPhc/GWRILZFFH3I239AKm6ADNVH58Caw7HWBQCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B10.08.06%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pmUPud0Y6FI/XJrbHVkvKcI/AAAAAAAAPhc/GWRILZFFH3I239AKm6ADNVH58Caw7HWBQCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B10.08.06%2BPM.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Your predictions might be good, but your jokes - for a fortune cookie - are a little stale.</span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-idBYAijUtkA/XJrbghHPtKI/AAAAAAAAPhk/s_SoQAf6BD8yu35BMLu7n8XO3GESmwQygCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B10.09.50%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="400" height="385" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-idBYAijUtkA/XJrbghHPtKI/AAAAAAAAPhk/s_SoQAf6BD8yu35BMLu7n8XO3GESmwQygCLcBGAs/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B10.09.50%2BPM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Fine. Last question. What do you think the Mets' final record will be and where will they finish in the National League East?</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-moEKXpGXLxk/XJrcHCufa4I/AAAAAAAAPhw/az-k0GqMnTAPGkThcSvqmDZqxn_pcke6gCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B10.12.27%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-moEKXpGXLxk/XJrcHCufa4I/AAAAAAAAPhw/az-k0GqMnTAPGkThcSvqmDZqxn_pcke6gCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B10.12.27%2BPM.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And here I was, thinking the Mets had improved their team enough to make it into October.</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zXI7GEXJdmw/XJrcjnIIEQI/AAAAAAAAPh4/4Q5VRZ1COgseNYU4CjwN0q0QaMiv4Q9CQCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B10.14.16%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zXI7GEXJdmw/XJrcjnIIEQI/AAAAAAAAPh4/4Q5VRZ1COgseNYU4CjwN0q0QaMiv4Q9CQCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B10.14.16%2BPM.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well, I oughta...</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-24d8BuTSnhM/XJrc5iWnZHI/AAAAAAAAPiA/dOHjSWUkQAohIsBU1BLzEJVokRthqK8mwCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B10.15.42%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-24d8BuTSnhM/XJrc5iWnZHI/AAAAAAAAPiA/dOHjSWUkQAohIsBU1BLzEJVokRthqK8mwCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-26%2Bat%2B10.15.42%2BPM.png" /></a></div>
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On that note, I'd like to thank the Magic Fortune Cookie for doing the best it could at making difficult predictions about an unpredictable team. I'd also like to thank myself for exhibiting the self-control needed not to break open the fortune cookie every time it insulted me. There's only so much a non-sleep inducing blogger can take.<br />
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Until next time, I hope you enjoy Opening Day, the 1969 reunion weekend and the rest of the season. And remember, if the Mets purchase the contract of <a href="https://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/mets/kirk-nieuwenheis-ducks-1.28711088">Kirk Nieuwenhuis from the Long Island Ducks,</a> we're all in trouble.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>LET'S GO METS!!</i></b></span></div>
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<br />
<i>Hey, kids! Prior to last year's hiring of the Magic Fortune Cookie,
it was the Magic 8-Ball that was making predictions for Studious
Metsimus, doing its job every season since
2010, the year Jason Bay first soiled us with his presence. To see
what the Magic 8-Ball said prior to each of the eight seasons it was on the Studious Metsimus payroll from 2010 to 2017, and what the Magic Fortune Cookie said in its debut in 2018,
please click
on the links
below:</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-magic-fortune-cookie-predicts-2018.html"><b><i>2018 Magic Fortune Cookie Predictions</i></b></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-magic-8-ball-predicts-2017-mets.html">2017 Magic 8-Ball Predictions</a> </b></i><br />
<a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2016/04/the-magic-8-ball-predicts-2016-mets.html"><i><b>2016 Magic 8-Ball Predictions</b></i></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-magic-8-ball-predicts-2015-mets.html">2015 Magic 8-Ball Predictions</a> </i></b><br />
<b><i><a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-magic-8-ball-predicts-2014-mets.html">2014 Magic 8-Ball Predictions </a></i></b><br />
<b><i><a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-magic-8-ball-predicts-2013-mets.html">2013 Magic 8-Ball Predictions </a></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2012/04/magic-8-ball-predicts-2012-mets-season.html"><b><i>2012 Magic 8-Ball Predictions</i></b></a><b><i> </i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2011/03/magic-8-ball-predicts-2011-mets-season.html"><b><i>2011 Magic 8-Ball Predictions</i></b></a><b><i> </i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><a href="http://studiousmetsimus.blogspot.com/2010/03/magic-8-ball-predicts-2010-mets-season.html">2010 Magic 8-Ball Predictions</a></i></b></div>
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<br />Ed Leyro (and Joey Beartran)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18392639274179350916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225973709205976903.post-48206003926113143442019-03-22T21:22:00.000-04:002019-03-22T21:22:19.111-04:00Milestones Within Reach For Members of the 2019 MetsWe all want to reach a certain number when we set out to do things. Some people want to walk 10,000 steps in a day. Others want to consume no more than 2,000 calories on a daily basis. And a select few want a minimum of five engagement rings in a lifetime. (I may or may not be talking to you, J-Lo.)<br />
<br />
Our obsession with hitting a round number is no different than a major league baseball player's quest to do the same thing. The guys who will forever be known as members of the 2019 Mets are no exception, as several of the team's players could reach and - dare I say it - surpass various career milestones during the course of the season.<br />
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So which of the everyday players are going to reach a lofty numerical mark this season? Is there a member of the I-work-once-every-five-days fraternity who will look at his Baseball Reference page and see a nice round number next to one of his cumulative stats? And why does Jason Vargas look like he just attempted to rescue a struggling swimmer on the beach before he himself needed to be saved by the lifeguard on duty? At least two of those questions will be answered below. Enjoy!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EiSXOBhSK8E/XI4_kUZTgnI/AAAAAAAAPcg/KcQ_ya-UHkkB8jKJXTu5gjWxn0oD0zt2QCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-17%2Bat%2B8.35.38%2BAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="500" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EiSXOBhSK8E/XI4_kUZTgnI/AAAAAAAAPcg/KcQ_ya-UHkkB8jKJXTu5gjWxn0oD0zt2QCLcBGAs/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-17%2Bat%2B8.35.38%2BAM.png" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jason Vargas has nothing on David Hasselhoff or his hair stylist. (Matt Ehalt/Twitter)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><b><i>Attainable Individual Milestones (Position Players)</i></b></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b><i>Michael Conforto:</i></b></u></span><br />
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<ul>
<li>Needs 24 home runs to reach 100 for his career.</li>
<li>Needs 150 hits to reach 500 lifetime base knocks.</li>
<li>Needs 20 doubles to reach triple digits in that category.</li>
<li>Needs to strike out less. I mean, seriously, by the end of this season, he's going to be knocking on the door of the top ten whiffers in club history. Make more contact, dude!</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><u>Robinson Canó:</u></i></b></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Needs 30 hits for 2,500 in his career.</li>
<li>Needs 12 runs scored to reach 1,200.</li>
<li>Needs 93 RBI to become one of baseball's all-time top 100 run producers.</li>
<li>Needs to forget he's 36 and hit like he's 26. Oh, and we're going to need him to play solid up-the-middle defense as well. As the wise philosopher <a href="https://youtu.be/JFRa7Ovym8s">Bill Lumbergh</a> once said, "That would be great".</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><i><b>Todd Frazier:</b></i></u></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Needs seven home runs to reach 200.</li>
<li>Needs 93 hits to reach 1,000 for his career.</li>
<li>Needs 69 strikeouts to also reach a grand.</li>
<li>Needs to realize that no one is going to be lining up outside Citi Field two hours before the gates open to get his WWE bobblehead on Saturday, April 6. Except maybe those fans who mistakenly think the Jacob deGrom Cy Young Award bobblehead is going to be given out that day instead of the following afternoon.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b><i>Brandon Nimmo:</i></b></u></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Needs 26 RBI to reach 100 in his brief career. </li>
<li>Needs 81 walks for 200, a number attained by only three dozen Mets players. </li>
<li>Needs to get hit by 23 pitches to match Lucas Duda atop the Mets' all-time leaderboard. </li>
<li>Needs another solid year at the plate to become just the fifth player in Mets history to produce back-to-back seasons with a 5.0 oWAR or higher. I'm not kidding. Only Darryl Strawberry (1987-88), Edgardo Alfonzo (1999-2000), Mike Piazza (2000-01) and David Wright twice (2007-08, 2012-13) produced <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYM/leaders_bat_50.shtml">an offensive WAR of at least 5.0</a> in consecutive campaigns. Hernandez, HoJo and Beltrán never did it. I'm sure joining those franchise legends would finally give him a reason to smile.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><u>Yoenis Céspedes:</u></i></b></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Wait, he's still on the team? </li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><u>Pete Alonso:</u></i></b></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Needs 15 home runs to surpass the total Dominic Smith put up in parts of two seasons.</li>
<li>Needs to be on the Opening Day roster.</li>
<li>Needs to hit one up in the Budweiser Landing on May 25 since I'll be up there and I've never caught a home run ball (or foul ball for that matter) in the 700+ games I've attended in person. Do it for this beleaguered blogger, Pete!</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GVoy4liLuRk/XI5QGqpKTYI/AAAAAAAAPcs/EBogBjJ0ANcjeWPMnygbVCv5_m7i1rnrwCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-17%2Bat%2B9.47.10%2BAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="827" data-original-width="1371" height="301" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GVoy4liLuRk/XI5QGqpKTYI/AAAAAAAAPcs/EBogBjJ0ANcjeWPMnygbVCv5_m7i1rnrwCLcBGAs/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-17%2Bat%2B9.47.10%2BAM.png" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do me a solid and hit one solidly on May 25, Pete! (Photo by Gary Dunaier/Baseball Fever; Orange Text by Ed Leyro)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i><u>Attainable Individual Milestones (Pitchers)</u></i></b></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><u>Jacob deGrom:</u></i></b></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Needs 102<span class="st"><span class="st"><span class="st">⅓ innings pitched to reach 1,000 in his career. </span></span></span> </li>
<li>Needs 173 strikeouts to move into the Mets' all-time top five in whiffs.</li>
<li>Needs 12 wins to finally knock Steve Trachsel out of the team's top ten in that category. </li>
<li>Needs to get a bigger wallet 'cause the man's about to get paid. By someone. Hopefully by the Mets.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><i>Zack Wheeler:</i></u></b></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Needs five starts to reach 100.</li>
<li>Needs 184 strikeouts to be knocking on the door of the team's top ten lifetime fan artists.</li>
<li>Needs 163 innings to enter the Mets' all-time top 25, an impressive feat considering he missed two full seasons due to injuries and surgeries.</li>
<li>Needs to read the last attainable individual milestone I mentioned for Jacob deGrom and react accordingly. Especially if he continues to progress as he did last season and doesn't turn into another Matt Harvey.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><u>Noah Syndergaard:</u></i></b></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Needs 14 starts for 100 in his career.</li>
<li>Needs 256 strikeouts to become one of the Mets' all-time top ten whiffer snappers. </li>
<li>Needs 13 wins to reach 50, which would match Mike Pelfrey's total with the Mets and would continue to prove that wins are a meaningless stat for pitchers.</li>
<li>Needs to decide what he wants to do with his famously flowing locks. Man bun? Shaved on the side, longer in the back? What's next, a spiky hairdo a la Poindexter in <i><b>Revenge of the Nerds</b></i>? </li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OJ7Hapsk7XE/XI5aT9D3IyI/AAAAAAAAPc4/SXL3_aoxXXAvLH0vuUeyxivx-5U7Ab7IACLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-17%2Bat%2B10.31.11%2BAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="1083" height="285" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OJ7Hapsk7XE/XI5aT9D3IyI/AAAAAAAAPc4/SXL3_aoxXXAvLH0vuUeyxivx-5U7Ab7IACLcBGAs/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-17%2Bat%2B10.31.11%2BAM.png" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poindexter's hair looks like it had a date with Thor's hammer. (Revenge of the Nerds/20th Century Fox)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><u>Steven Matz:</u></i></b></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Needs 29 starts to reach triple digits.</li>
<li>Needs 137 strikeouts for 500 in his career.</li>
<li>Needs his grandpa to come out to more games. <a href="https://media2.giphy.com/media/q2IXtmjm8aORO/giphy.gif?cid=3640f6095c8e64c359754d702e39a85b">He's fun to watch.</a> </li>
<li>Needs to stop being so streaky and start being more consistent. The Mets haven't had many great southpaw starters in their history and right now he's closer to being Jon Niese than he is to being Jon Matlack. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><u>Jeurys Familia:</u></i></b></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Needs 60 appearances to enter the team's all-time top five in that category.</li>
<li>Needs two saves whenever Edwin Díaz needs a rest to reach 125 as a Met.</li>
<li>Needs 40 strikeouts to have more Ks than any Mets reliever not named John Franco, Tug McGraw, Jesse Orosco or Armando Benitez.</li>
<li>Needs to once again come into games with "Danza Kuduro" playing as his entrance music just so I can continue to use the <a href="https://twitter.com/Studi_Metsimus/status/1073234844589666306">Tony Danza GIF</a> on Twitter.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><u>Edwin Díaz:</u></i></b></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Needs 41 saves for 150 in his career.</li>
<li>Needs 99 strikeouts for 400 lifetime whiffs.</li>
<li>Needs to reproduce his 7.3 K/BB ratio from last year. No Mets reliever has ever had such a season. (Addison Reed's 7.0 ratio in 2016 - 91 K, 13 BB - is tops for Mets relievers.)</li>
<li>Needs 34 saves to enter the Mets' all-time top 15, which says pretty much all you need to know about how few great closers this team has had in their nearly 60-year history. I mean, Braden Looper and Doug Sisk are currently in the top 15, while Díaz has yet to throw a regular season pitch for the team. Enough said.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><u>Jason Vargas:</u></i></b></span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>No, seriously, what's up with that hair and why is he still a member of the team?</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yzsY0jxb_zM/XI5raLvRvxI/AAAAAAAAPdE/HQ62mjMVqAI8ke3RoEg9qX0yIAoPZGpAQCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-17%2Bat%2B11.43.25%2BAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="512" height="420" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yzsY0jxb_zM/XI5raLvRvxI/AAAAAAAAPdE/HQ62mjMVqAI8ke3RoEg9qX0yIAoPZGpAQCLcBGAs/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-17%2Bat%2B11.43.25%2BAM.png" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Borrowing Tim Teufel's old glasses isn't going to fool us, Vargas! (SNY screenshot)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />Ed Leyro (and Joey Beartran)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18392639274179350916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225973709205976903.post-30024893028308967812019-03-02T16:35:00.001-05:002019-03-02T16:35:13.567-05:00Pete Alonso Could Rewrite the Mets Rookie Record Book<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CldF2R8te0s/XHr2Wkt1hhI/AAAAAAAAPcU/NLEF2x3bAX4z3lW2GY1oOE51LpvBJ6g0QCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-02%2Bat%2B4.31.09%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="856" height="326" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CldF2R8te0s/XHr2Wkt1hhI/AAAAAAAAPcU/NLEF2x3bAX4z3lW2GY1oOE51LpvBJ6g0QCLcBGAs/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-03-02%2Bat%2B4.31.09%2BPM.png" width="520" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This could be a familiar sight at Citi Field very soon. (Michael Reeves/Getty Images)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Pete Alonso has dropped the "r" from his first name. If he plays the way we all think he's capable of, he might soon be dropping several well-known Mets first-year hitters down a spot in the team's rookie record books.<br />
<br />
As with most rookies in this era of baseball, Alonso stands a chance to not make the Opening Day roster. Instead, he would be called up by the team shortly after the start of the season to give the Mets an extra year of control before Alonso becomes eligible for free agency. That could hamper his ability to catch some of the Mets' best offensive neophytes in some categories. But then again, Alonso did manage eye-popping totals in just 132 games at the Double-A and Triple-A levels in 2018.<br />
<br />
Which players could Alonso supplant atop the Mets' rookie leaderboard if he continues to mash at the major league level? The names are among the best in franchise history.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Home Runs </i></b></span></div>
<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-insideh-themecolor: text1; mso-border-insideh: .5pt solid black; mso-border-insidev-themecolor: text1; mso-border-insidev: .5pt solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 191;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Player</b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-left: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Year</b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-left: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">HR </b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Darryl Strawberry</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">1983</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">26</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Ron Swoboda</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">1965</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">19</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Ike Davis</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">2010</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">19</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">John Milner</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">1972</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">17</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Jay Payton</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">2000</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">17</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Runs Batted In</i></b></span></div>
<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-insideh-themecolor: text1; mso-border-insideh: .5pt solid black; mso-border-insidev-themecolor: text1; mso-border-insidev: .5pt solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 191;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Player</b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-left: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Year</b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-left: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>RBI</b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Darryl Strawberry</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">1983</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">74</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Ty Wigginton</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">2003</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">71</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Ike Davis</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">2010</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">71</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Steve Henderson</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">1977</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">65</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Jay Payton</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">2000</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">62</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Runs Scored</i></b></span></div>
<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-insideh-themecolor: text1; mso-border-insideh: .5pt solid black; mso-border-insidev-themecolor: text1; mso-border-insidev: .5pt solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 191;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Player</b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-left: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Year</b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-left: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Runs</b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Cleon Jones</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">1966</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">74</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Ty Wigginton</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">2003</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">73</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Ike Davis</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">2010</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">73</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Gregg Jefferies</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">1989</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">72</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Steve Henderson</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">1977</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">67</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Base Hits</i></b></span></div>
<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-insideh-themecolor: text1; mso-border-insideh: .5pt solid black; mso-border-insidev-themecolor: text1; mso-border-insidev: .5pt solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 191;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Player</b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-left: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Year</b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-left: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hits</b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Ty Wigginton</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">2003</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">146</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Ron Hunt</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">1963</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">145</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Jay Payton</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">2000</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">142</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Ike Davis</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">2010</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">138</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Cleon Jones</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">1966</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">136</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i> Doubles</i></b></span></div>
<br />
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<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Player</b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-left: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Year</b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-left: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Doubles</b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Ty Wigginton</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">2003</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">36</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Ike Davis</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">2010</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">33</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Kaz Matsui</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">2004</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">32</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Justin Turner </span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">2011</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">30</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Ron Hunt </span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">1963 </span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">28 </span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Gregg Jefferies</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">1989</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">28</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>On-Base Percentage (Min. 350 PA)</i></b></span></div>
<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-insideh-themecolor: text1; mso-border-insideh: .5pt solid black; mso-border-insidev-themecolor: text1; mso-border-insidev: .5pt solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 191;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Player</b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-left: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Year</b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-left: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">OBP</b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Jason Phillips</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">2003</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">.373</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Steve Henderson</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">1977</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">.372</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Ike Davis</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">2010</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">.351</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Hubie Brooks</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">1981</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">.345</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Kevin Mitchell</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">1986</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">.344</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Slugging Percentage (Min. 350 PA)</i></b></span></div>
<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-insideh-themecolor: text1; mso-border-insideh: .5pt solid black; mso-border-insidev-themecolor: text1; mso-border-insidev: .5pt solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 191;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Player</b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-left: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Year</b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-left: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>SLG</b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Darryl Strawberry</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">1983</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">.512</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Steve Henderson</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">1977</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">.480</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Kevin Mitchell</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">1986</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">.466</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Jay Payton</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">2000</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">.447</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Jason Phillips</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">2003</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">.442</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>On-Base Plus Slugging Percentage (Min. 350 PA)</i></b></span></div>
<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-insideh-themecolor: text1; mso-border-insideh: .5pt solid black; mso-border-insidev-themecolor: text1; mso-border-insidev: .5pt solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 191;">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Player</b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-left: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Year</b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-left: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>OPS</b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Steve Henderson</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">1977</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">.852</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Darryl Strawberry</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">1983</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">.848</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Jason Phillips</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">2003</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">.815</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Kevin Mitchell</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">1986</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">.811</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Ike Davis</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">2010</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">.791</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Offensive Wins Above Replacement (Min. 350 PA) </i></b></span></div>
<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-insideh-themecolor: text1; mso-border-insideh: .5pt solid black; mso-border-insidev-themecolor: text1; mso-border-insidev: .5pt solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 191;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Player</b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-left: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Year</b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-left: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">oWAR </b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Ron Hunt </span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">1963</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">3.9</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Darryl Strawberry</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">1983</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">2.8</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Steve Henderson </span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">1977</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">2.6</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Gregg Jefferies </span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">1989</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">2.4</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">John Milner </span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">1972</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">2.2</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-top: none; border: 1.0pt; border: solid black; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 162.9pt;" valign="top" width="163"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">Hubie Brooks </span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="117"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">1981</span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #DBE5F1; border-bottom: 1.0pt; border-bottom: solid black; border-left: none; border-right: 1.0pt; border-right: solid black; border-top: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themetint: 51; mso-border-alt: .5pt; mso-border-alt: solid black; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid black; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-alt: .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid black; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 112.5pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #ff6600;">2.2</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Pete Alonso finished the 2018 campaign with 36 home runs and 119 RBI, scoring 92 runs in 132 games. He also produced 31 doubles out of his 136 hits, while reaching base at a .395 clip, slugging .579 and putting up a .975 OPS. Looking above at the numbers produced by the Mets' top hitting rookies in club history, Alonso has the potential to be the best neophyte of them all.<br />
<br />
One other thing about Mets rookies. The six guys listed above on the oWAR chart all placed in the top three in the National League Rookie of the Year vote, with Milner, Brooks and Jefferies finishing third in their respective rookie campaigns. Meanwhile, Hunt and Henderson were runners-up to baseball's all-time hits leader (Pete Rose) and a five-tool Hall of Famer (Andre Dawson), respectively. And then there's Strawberry, who won the Rookie of the Year Award in 1983.<br />
<br />
To this day, the Straw Man is the only everyday player to win the coveted award, as the other four Mets to take home the prize were all pitchers (Tom Seaver, Jon Matlack, Dwight Gooden, Jacob deGrom). That means Alonso could join a very exclusive club if he approaches the numbers he put up in the minors last year. Even without reaching those lofty figures, Alonso still has an excellent opportunity to become one of the best first-year hitters in club annals.<br />
<br />
All he needs is a chance and his bat. With those two things, the Mets rookie record books could soon be adding a new name.<br />
<br />
<br />Ed Leyro (and Joey Beartran)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18392639274179350916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225973709205976903.post-38098429477713227782019-01-21T09:30:00.000-05:002019-01-21T09:30:04.908-05:00If Studious Metsimus Had a 2019 Hall of Fame Vote...On Tuesday, January 22, the National Baseball Hall of Fame will be using its speed dial to inform several players and their families that they'll need to cancel any plans they have for the penultimate weekend in July because new plans have been made for them. Those players who receive 75% of the Hall of Fame vote will be joining Modern Baseball Era inductees Lee Smith and Harold Baines on stage at the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown, New York.<br />
<br />
Last year's class saw a starting pitcher, a closer, three infielders and an outfielder receive their plaques, as Jack Morris, Trevor Hoffman, Jim Thome, Alan Trammell, Chipper Jones and Vladimir Guerrero were immortalized as six of the game's all-time greats. Don't be surprised if a similar number of hotel rooms need to be booked for this year's inductees.<br />
<br />
Fifteen players returned to the ballot this year, after receiving the minimum five percent of the vote last year, but not quite the 75% needed for induction. Three former Mets (Jeff Kent, Billy Wagner, Gary Sheffield) are among them. In addition to the 15 returnees, there are 20 first-timers on the ballot, with three of them also wearing a Mets cap at some point in their career. Those three are lefty long-man Darren Oliver, the underachieving Jason Bay and the winner of the "Wait, He Was A Met?" award, Rick Ankiel, <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2000_NLCS.shtml#post_pitching_STL::none">who helped the Mets more as a member of 2000 Cardinals</a> than he did as a member of the Mets in 2013.<br />
<br />
According to <a href="https://onedrive.live.com/view.aspx?resid=F2E5D8FC5199DFAF!11134&ithint=file,xlsx&app=Excel&authkey=!ACeqm-knNxexBw8">Ryan Thibodaux and his helpful Hall of Fame ballot tracker,</a> there are 412 ballots out there, with 309 votes needed for induction. Players will be five-percented off the ballot if they do not receive a minimum of 21 votes. And by players, I mean Darren Oliver, Jason Bay and Rick Ankiel. Sorry, guys. At least you played long enough to get on the ballot.<br />
<br />
Had Studious Metsimus been honored with the right to vote, players would have needed 310 votes to be inducted, so if someone like Roger Clemens or Barry Bonds misses the cut by one vote this year, they can file a formal complaint to make my vote officially count instead of it just being a feeble attempt to get me a few dozen page views every January. Not that I would have voted for Clemens or Bonds anyway. I'm not a fan of bat-tossing misrememberers or people who try to compete with Bruce Bochy (<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYM/1982.shtml">another former Met!</a>) for the title of <a href="http://www.highheatstats.com/2012/02/how-barry-bonds-head-changed-from-1987-to-2007/">largest noggin in baseball.</a><br />
<br />
Here's what would have been Ballot No. 413, focusing on three players I would personally like to see in the Hall, followed by the other seven who would get the "X" mark next to their names on my imaginary ballot.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EwD9WwuS-uY/XENtbimubdI/AAAAAAAAPbA/P0VSo1801RU8I6nHJmBrQTmyg-XOEPSTgCLcBGAs/s1600/halloffameexterior.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="960" height="160" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EwD9WwuS-uY/XENtbimubdI/AAAAAAAAPbA/P0VSo1801RU8I6nHJmBrQTmyg-XOEPSTgCLcBGAs/s400/halloffameexterior.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baseball Mecca. (Photo courtesy of the <a href="http://www.thisiscooperstown.com/attractions/national-baseball-hall-fame-museum">Cooperstown/Otsego County</a> website)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Edgar Martinez</i></b></span></u></div>
<br />
Face it, the only reason Martinez is still on the ballot in his tenth and final year of eligibility is because he
played a significant portion of his career as a designated hitter. How
else can you explain a lifetime .312 hitter with a .933 OPS and OPS+
just short of 150 not having a plaque in Cooperstown yet?<br />
<br />
The voters of this generation who use the DH argument to foil the case
of Martinez are like the previous generation's voters who couldn't bear
to see relief pitchers making the Hall. "If they can't pitch more than a
few innings, I can't vote for them," those misinformed voters would
say. But relievers such as Rollie Fingers, Goose Gossage and Bruce
Sutter (all Hall of Famers) paved the way for the one-inning closer to
get recognition from the Hall. Dennis Eckersley has a plaque in
Cooperstown. John Smoltz's three-and-a-half year period as a dominant
closer also helped fuel his candidacy. Trevor Hoffman got his Hall call last year and Lee Smith just impressed the Modern Era voters. And who, pray tell, is going to keep Mariano
Rivera out of Cooperstown this year, other than <a href="https://www.telegram.com/news/20181222/bill-ballou-mariano-rivera-not-getting-this-writers-hall-of-fame-vote">Boston bloviator Bill Ballou?</a><br />
<br />
The same people who are now accepting one-inning closers as potential
Hall of Famers now need to focus their attention on players who left
their gloves at home. Frank Thomas, who started more than 100 games at
first base in just three of his 19 seasons and played in over 1,300
games exclusively as a designated hitter, was a first ballot Hall of
Famer. Why is his lifetime .301/.419/.555 slash line considered worthy
of enshrinement and Edgar's .312/.418/.515 isn't? Is it because Thomas
produced the sexy hits (521 HR) and Martinez didn't (309 HR)? It's true
Thomas had 11 seasons with 100+ RBI while Edgar had just six. But did
you know the great <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mantlmi01.shtml#batting_standard::none">Mickey Mantle only had four such seasons?</a>
No one used that argument against Mantle and no one should. But had he
played in the DH era, Mantle's knee injuries would have relegated him
to "leave your glove behind" status and then people would be questioning
what should have been obvious about him; that he is undoubtedly a Hall
of Famer.<br />
<br />
Martinez won two batting titles. He was also a league leader in runs
scored, RBI, OPS, OPS+ and finished first multiple times in doubles and
on-base percentage. For seven seasons (1995-2001), which coincided with
all of the Mariners' postseason trips in franchise history, Martinez's
averages per 162 games were mindboggling. He produced a .329/.446/.574
slash line. <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/martied01.shtml#1995-2001-sum:batting_standard">That's a 1.020 OPS in 1,020 games.</a>
And if that's not good enough, how about his 162-game average of 47
doubles, 32 homers, 123 RBI and 111 runs scored during the seven-year
stretch?<br />
<br />
There's a reason why the annual outstanding designated hitter award is
named after Edgar Martinez. That's because he was the best at what he
did. And those who are the best deserve to be with the best in
Cooperstown.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xTWPrw-v4UU/XENxM-ZcTiI/AAAAAAAAPbM/u_ysFym2BA0Mh_QTL_AbuQumRYH0LfTPACLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-01-19%2Bat%2B1.47.48%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="239" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xTWPrw-v4UU/XENxM-ZcTiI/AAAAAAAAPbM/u_ysFym2BA0Mh_QTL_AbuQumRYH0LfTPACLcBGAs/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-01-19%2Bat%2B1.47.48%2BPM.png" width="271" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This mustache should be on Edgar's plaque. It's Hall of Fame worthy by itself. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><i><b>Larry Walker </b></i></u></span></div>
<br />
Similar to Edgar Martinez, Walker hasn't gotten as much support as he
should because of one nagging element. Martinez has failed to get votes
because of the DH factor, while Walker has the Coors Field factor
looming over him.<br />
<br />
Prior to becoming a Colorado Rockie, Larry Walker was already a good
hitter and complete player. In his final three years in Montreal,
Walker had a .294 batting average, .371 on-base percentage and .516
slugging percentage, averaging 33 doubles, 21 HR, 88 RBI and 21 SB. He
was also an All-Star, won a Silver Slugger Award and two Gold Gloves
while in Montreal. Although those numbers are not quite Hall of
Fame worthy, they were still very good. Then he signed with Colorado
and became one of the best players in the major leagues.<br />
<br />
In his first season with the Rockies (1995), Walker hit .306 with 36 HR and
101 RBI. His .607 slugging percentage was second in the league and he
helped lead the third-year Rockies to their first-ever playoff
appearance. Year two in Colorado was fraught with injuries, as Walker
only played in 83 games but still managed 18 HR, 58 RBI and 18 SB in
half a season's worth of games. Fully healthy in 1997, Walker's career
took off into the stratosphere. Walker's 1997 numbers (.366 batting
average, 46 doubles, 49 HR, 130 RBI, 143 runs scored, 33 SB, .452 OBP,
.720 SLG, 1.172 OPS) almost looked like they came straight from a video
game. But Walker wasn't done after his phenomenal '97 campaign. Over
the next five seasons, Walker won three batting titles (1998, 1999,
2001), finished second another year (2002) and had a combined .350
batting average over those five seasons. Basically, he was Tony Gwynn
with power and Gwynn was a first-ballot Hall of Famer.<br />
<br />
In ten years as a Rockie, Walker posted a .334 batting average, .426
on-base percentage, .618 slugging percentage and 1.044 OPS. Only 24
players in major league history finished with a higher career batting
average than what Walker put up in that ten-year span. Of those
24, the only three who finished with a higher on-base percentage,
slugging percentage and OPS were Ted Williams, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig,
all first ballot Hall of Famers and all legends of the sport.<br />
<br />
Larry Walker played 17 years in the major leagues. However, because of
injuries, he only had four seasons in which he played at least 140
games. From 1994-2005, Walker missed an average of 44 games per season,
failing to play more than 103 games in five of those 12 campaigns.
Despite his multiple trips to the disabled list, Walker finished his
career with 2,160 hits, including 471 doubles and 383 HR. He also stole
230 bases, scored 1,355 runs and drove in 1,311 more. His combined
averages (.313 BA, .400 OBP, .565 SLG) are among the highest career
marks of anyone not already in the Hall of Fame, as is his 72.6 bWAR. And he wasn't just a product of Coors Field.<br />
<br />
Walker played in 674 games for the Expos prior to his time in Colorado
and 144 games for the Cardinals after leaving the Rockies, which is
approximately five full 162-game seasons. In those 818 games in
non-Rockies uniforms, Walker posted an .851 OPS and 129 OPS+, averaging
63 extra-base hits and 21 steals per 162 games. And those numbers
weren't fueled by the thin air in Denver.<br />
<br />
All told, Walker was a five-time
All-Star, won seven Gold Gloves and three Silver Slugger Awards. He
also finished in the top 20 in the MVP vote seven times, winning the
1997 N.L. Most Valuable Player Award. Not all of his awards and accolades came as a member of
the Colorado Rockies, proving that Walker was an exceptional player
before and after his time in Colorado. Simply stated, Larry Walker has
earned the right to become the first player with a Rockies hat on his
Hall of Fame plaque.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LVdQbQx0Cws/XENzRHbbxJI/AAAAAAAAPbY/2XuSYqXcs3Qhb2-tFwWJMJLrHt4IsZWbgCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-01-19%2Bat%2B1.57.38%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="227" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LVdQbQx0Cws/XENzRHbbxJI/AAAAAAAAPbY/2XuSYqXcs3Qhb2-tFwWJMJLrHt4IsZWbgCLcBGAs/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-01-19%2Bat%2B1.57.38%2BPM.png" width="261" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Larry Walker sticks out his tongue to all those who won't vote for him. (David Seelig/AllSport)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><u><i>Mariano Rivera</i></u></b></span></div>
<br />
He blew a save in the 1997 ALCS, which allowed the Cleveland Indians to stave off elimination and led to the Yankees' sole postseason series loss in a five-year period.<br />
<br />
He couldn't hold a lead in the ninth inning of Game Seven of the 2001 World Series, allowing the Arizona Diamondbacks to celebrate their first and only championship.<br />
<br />
He was credited with back-to-back blown saves in the 2004 ALCS, when converting any one of them would have resulted in a pennant for the Yankees instead of what became a curse-ending title run for the Boston Red Sox.<br />
<br />
He lost four games to the Mets and allowed runs in six of his final 11 appearances against his crosstown rivals, allowing players such as Matt Franco (1999), Timo Perez (2001), Raul Gonzalez (2003), Damion Easley (2007), Ike Davis (2010), Ronny Paulino (2011) and Lucas Duda (2013) to drive in runs against him.<br />
<br />
Clearly, after suffering so much in the postseason and failing repeatedly against the Mets, especially when facing less than legendary players, it's time to give Mariano Rivera a break. He gets my sympathy vote for the Hall.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yBZd29a-4XY/XEN7HuGVPSI/AAAAAAAAPbk/qMLmCaJJh40T2J_BGjpSItfi5CzyLlHdACLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-01-19%2Bat%2B2.30.59%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="217" data-original-width="337" height="309" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yBZd29a-4XY/XEN7HuGVPSI/AAAAAAAAPbk/qMLmCaJJh40T2J_BGjpSItfi5CzyLlHdACLcBGAs/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-01-19%2Bat%2B2.30.59%2BPM.png" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Down, but not out (of the Hall of Fame). (Keith Torrie/NY Daily News Archive/Getty Images)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
In addition to the marvelous Martinez, the wonderful Walker and the wretched Rivera, these are the other seven players I'd vote for Hall of Fame induction:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b><u>Roy Halladay:</u></b> Some people wonder if he'd have gotten as much support for the Hall had he not tragically passed away in 2017. Those people probably don't realize that for a ten-year period (2002-11), Halladay was arguably one of the top three pitchers in baseball. In that decade of excellence, Halladay earned a victory in nearly 70% of his decisions, had three 20-win seasons and posted a 2.97 ERA (148 ERA+) with a 1.11 WHIP. He also led the league in innings pitched and shutouts four times each and finished first in complete games an incredible seven times. That's Hall of Fame worthy, even if he's not here to accept the honor. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b><u>Todd Helton:</u></b> Like former teammate Larry Walker, Helton's candidacy will be questioned because of the Coors Field factor. After all, during his best eight-year stretch (1998-2005), Helton averaged 46 doubles, 33 HR, 113 RBI and 114 runs scored, while striking out just 76 times and drawing 96 walks per season. That's absolutely tremendous. Wanna know what his average season was like in road games, otherwise known as games not played at Coors Field? While wearing road grays during those eight seasons, Helton slashed .298/.398/.520 and produced 277 extra-base hits, drove in 347 runs and scored 337 times. That's an average of 73 extra-base hits, 91 RBI and 89 runs scored per 162 road games. In other words, still up in the elite hitter stratosphere. Even with injuries sapping his power in his later years, Helton still managed to finish in the top 100 all-time in home runs (80th all-time), doubles (19th), extra-base hits (40th), hits (97th), RBI (97th) and runs scored (96th). There are over 100 hitters in the Hall of Fame. Helton ranks in the top 100 in many major hitting categories. You do the math if he belongs in the Hall or not.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b><u>Fred McGriff:</u></b> I hadn't voted for him before, but now I see the error of my ways. The 1994-95 strike that cancelled the World Series also did a number on McGriff's Hall of Fame candidacy. Had the Crime Dog played in the 66 games that were cancelled, he likely would have collected the seven home runs he needed for 500 and the ten hits required to get to 2,500. He also might have approached 1,600 RBI, as he finished 50 short of that lofty total. A total of 17 players have collected 500 HR, 2,500 hits and 1,600 RBI. Four of them have steroid suspicions (Barry Bonds, Rafael Palmeiro, Manny Ramirez, Gary Sheffield) and two are not yet eligible for the Hall (Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols). The other 11 are already in Cooperstown. McGriff played clean, he played hard and he played consistently well. He gets my vote.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><u><b>Curt Schilling:</b></u> Like Hoffman, he posted an impressive
WHIP during an era known for its offense. From 1992 to 2004, Schilling
was the owner of a 1.091 WHIP, while averaging 202 strikeouts and just
44 walks per season. In fact, of all pitchers with at least 3,000
strikeouts, no one posted a better strikeout-to-walk ratio than
Schilling's 4.38 K/BB (3,116 K, 711 BB). And then there's this
posteason thing; the one with him going 11-2 with a 2.23 ERA and 0.968
WHIP in 19 starts. He's one of the all-time greats. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><u><b>Mike Mussina:</b></u> Schilling is considered one of the best
pitchers of his era. Modern metrics says Mussina was a better player,
as his 83.0 bWAR puts him ahead of Schilling's 79.9 bWAR. Mussina
finished in the top-six in Cy Young Award balloting nine times and won
seven Gold Glove Awards. And of all pitchers who made at least 500
starts, only Hall of Famers Christy Matthewson, Pete Alexander, Randy
Johnson and maybe-someday Hall of Famer Roger Clemens posted a higher
winning percentage than Mussina's .638 mark. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><u><b>Billy Wagner:</b></u> It's a shame Wagner hasn't gotten more
recognition, as he was far more dominant than 2018 Hall of Fame inductee Trevor Hoffman and 2019 enshrinee Lee Smith ever were. Hoffman and Smith
got the job done as effectively as any other closer who ever lived.
But Wagner would eat a hitter up and spit him out. Injuries curtailed
Wagner's career, but any pitcher who averaged nearly 12 strikeouts per
nine innings, four whiffs per walk and finished his career with a WHIP
under 1.00 (Wagner's WHIP was 0.998) deserves Hall of Fame
consideration. And I didn't even mention his 422 saves and 2.31 ERA.
Okay, maybe I just did. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><u><b>Jeff Kent:</b></u> Kent was more than just his 1970s porn star 'stache. He was
one of the best hitting second basemen of all-time. For a guy whose
career didn't take off until his age-29 season, Kent finished just 16
extra-base hits shy of 1,000. The pressures of playoff baseball didn't
faze him, as Kent posted an identical .500 career slugging percentage in
the regular season and postseason. And let's not forget his eight
seasons with 100+ RBI, the 1,518 runs he drove in for his career and the
title of all-time leading home run hitter at the second base position.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
Those are my ten Hall of Fame selections. Some will get in. Some
won't. And some will continue to wonder why they have to keep paying for a ticket to get in to see their contemporaries' plaques. (I'm talking to you, Clemens and Bonds.) As always, some candidates didn't make
my cut. But every player on the Hall of
Fame ballot in 2019 had an outstanding career and all of them had
qualities that at the very least put them in the Hall of Fame
conversation. Except Rick Ankiel, who needed 14 seasons to reach the ten-year minimum needed to qualify for Hall of Fame consideration.<br />
<br />
Who will get in? And who will be joining Ankiel by buying a
ticket for themselves? That will be revealed on January 22. Until
then, we'll just follow <a href="http://www.azquotes.com/picture-quotes/quote-people-ask-me-what-i-do-in-winter-when-there-s-no-baseball-i-ll-tell-you-what-i-do-i-rogers-hornsby-13-65-69.jpg">the advice of Hall of Famer Rogers Hornsby</a> and just stare out the window, waiting for spring to arrive.<br />
<br />
<br />
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Ed Leyro (and Joey Beartran)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18392639274179350916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225973709205976903.post-3303690072564479272018-12-30T12:44:00.000-05:002018-12-30T12:44:01.782-05:00Studious Metsimus Presents The Happy/Crappy Recap For 2018Another year is about to reach its conclusion, Mets fans. Ray Ramirez is still gone, the Wilpons are still reluctant to break open their piggy banks and the Mets are still a fourth place team - something they've been for six of Citi Field's ten seasons. In other words, the calendar may be changing, but the Mets haven't really followed suit. Or have they?<br />
<br />
Since Noah Syndergaard ended the 2018 campaign with a complete game shutout, some dead weight has been shown the door (Jay Bruce, Anthony Swarzak), some new blood has been added (Robinson Canó, Edwin Díaz, Wilson Ramos) and a "Familia" face has returned to his old haunts (the Danza Kuduro guy). We've shed one last tear of joy for Wilmer Flores, and exhaled because new Rockies infielder Daniel Murphy will only be making one annual trip to Flushing instead of three.<br />
<br />
There are still quite a few free agents available for the Mets to pass up on. Just as there are many American League teams who should show some good ol' Junior Circuit hospitality to Bryce Harper and Manny Machado in order to keep them away from the Phillies.<br />
<br />
But that's something for 2019. We're here to talk about 2018 for the final time. Optimistic Mets fans saw plenty of happy moments in the soon-to-be-over year, while the blue and orange pessimists (and there are plenty of you out there) thought the 2018 campaign was mostly manure. Let's see what was so happy and crappy about the dearly departed season, shall we?<br />
<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wghnb3keOH4/XCbVjhQZ7pI/AAAAAAAAPaQ/O6iN75TlvNYVekk6UZEp6m4EpleV5VgvgCLcBGAs/s1600/smiley-face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="317" data-original-width="313" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wghnb3keOH4/XCbVjhQZ7pI/AAAAAAAAPaQ/O6iN75TlvNYVekk6UZEp6m4EpleV5VgvgCLcBGAs/s400/smiley-face.jpg" width="394" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Two words. Jacob deGrom.<br />
<br />
You can't have a conversation about what made Mets fans happy in 2018 without mentioning deGrom's historic season. You know the numbers. 1.70 ERA. 269 strikeouts. And just ten wins in 32 starts. Some people have compared Jake's 2018 campaign to Bob Gibson's in 1968 and Doc Gooden's in 1985. DeGrom's season would have been better if it wasn't for those meddling wins.<br />
<br />
Both Gibson and Gooden struck out 268 batters in their historic years. DeGrom fanned one more.<br />
<br />
Gibby and Doc pitched to a 1.12 and 1.53 ERA, respectively, in their Cy Young seasons. The league average ERA in 1968 was 2.99 (or 1.87 higher than Gibson's record-setting mark), while the average N.L. pitcher in 1985 posted a 3.59 ERA (or 2.06 higher than Doctor K's figure). Jacob deGrom would like Gibson and Gooden to hold his beer, as his 1.70 ERA was 2.32 lower than the league average 4.02 ERA.<br />
<br />
Gibson allowed four runs or more in four of his starts in 1968, while Doc saw four men cross the plate in two of his outings in '85. Only once did deGrom give up more than three runs in a game in 2018, as he ended the year with 29 consecutive starts allowing three runs or fewer, which is a major league record that Gibson and Gooden failed to approach in their stellar campaigns.<br />
<br />
Sure, the Mets had breakout seasons from Brandon Nimmo (53 XBH, .404 OBP, .886 OPS) and Zack Wheeler (12-7, 3.31 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 179 Ks) and Michael Conforto returned from his gruesome shoulder injury to post career highs in home runs (28) and RBI (82), but come on. None of them brought Mets fans out to the ballpark as much as deGrom did.<br />
<br />
Every deGrom start was a must-see event, and unfortunately, once the Mets were eliminated from postseason contention (which, contrary to popular belief, was not during the National Anthem on Opening Day), Jacob's starts were the only things Mets fans were looking forward to.<br />
<br />
Which brings us to what was crappy about the 2018 campaign.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0s511BUvIRM/XCbd3M5IJcI/AAAAAAAAPac/R4XThprK1zQyGhSII-PYZ4vjYz-Lje75gCLcBGAs/s1600/orange%2Band%2Bblue%2Btoilet%2Bpaper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="137" data-original-width="405" height="135" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0s511BUvIRM/XCbd3M5IJcI/AAAAAAAAPac/R4XThprK1zQyGhSII-PYZ4vjYz-Lje75gCLcBGAs/s400/orange%2Band%2Bblue%2Btoilet%2Bpaper.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Two words. David Wright.<br />
<br />
Wright himself wasn't crappy. In fact, he's arguably the best homegrown position player in franchise history. But after playing in just 77 out of the Mets' 648 games from 2015 to 2018, Wright finally called it a career after making one final start for the only team he's ever known.<br />
<br />
Wright looked to be on his way to a Hall of Fame career before Ray Ramirez, I mean, spinal stenosis got in the way. One day, he will have a plaque on display in the Mets Hall of Fame and Museum. Maybe the Mets will even retire No. 5. But knowing the Mets, they'll probably just take the number out of circulation until Kelvin Torve Jr. is ready to be called up.<br />
<br />
"Hey, kid! Have we got the perfect uniform number for you!"<br />
<br />
Anyway, the really crappy guy here is Peter O'Brien, the Marlins' first baseman who caught Wright's foul pop-up near the first base stands rather than slipping on an imaginary banana peel in order to give Wright a chance to get one final hit in a Mets uniform. What is it about the Marlins playing the Mets in New York during the season's final three games that cause such crappy moments to happen?<br />
<br />
On that note, I hope someone got O'Brien a copy of "How to Catch Pop-Ups at Citi Field" by respected author Luis Castillo as a stocking stuffer.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
That's all she wrote for 2018, which means the 2019 season is just around the corner. But before you put up one of those new calendars that someone got you for the holidays because they had no idea what else to get you and they've never heard of gift cards, let's pause to give credit to those hardworking Mets bloggers who still find the time to write about their favorite team even though most people have switched over to doing podcasts.<br />
<br />
Respected and long-running blogs such as <a href="http://galforallseasons.com/">A Gal For All Seasons,</a> <a href="http://www.faithandfearinflushing.com/">Faith and Fear in Flushing,</a> <a href="http://metsmerizedonline.com/">Mets Merized Online,</a> <a href="http://metsminors.net/">MetsMinors.Net,</a> <a href="http://www.amazinavenue.com/">Amazin' Avenue,</a> <a href="http://metstradamusblog.com/">Metstradamus,</a> <a href="http://rememberingshea.blogspot.com/">Remembering Shea,</a> <a href="http://dailystache.net/">The Daily Stache,</a> <a href="http://mets360.com/">Mets360,</a> <a href="http://risingapple.com/">Rising Apple,</a> <a href="https://metsplus.com/">Mets Plus,</a> <a href="https://goodfundies.com/">Good Fundies,</a> <a href="http://metsilverman.com/">MetSilverman,</a> <a href="http://convertedmetsfan.blogspot.com/">Converted Mets Fan</a> and <a href="http://metsdaddy.com/">Mets Daddy,</a>
just to name a few (or 15, to be exact) always have interesting stories
to share, day or night. Check them out some time. I'd say "tell 'em Ed
sent you" but I'm not sure all of them know who I am.<br />
<br />
From all of us here at Studious Metsimus Headquarters, which is pretty much just a desk, a computer, a keyboard that needs a new battery and a guard cat (we couldn't afford a guard dog), we'd like to thank you for your continued support of this site and wish you all the best in 2019. And when I say "we", I'm talking about Ed Leyro (the guy at the desk), Joey Beartran (the roving reporter/culinary expert who would like his computer back so he can order dinner) and Taryn "The Coop" Cooper (who would invent new curse words if I asked her to get a battery for the keyboard instead of just getting it myself).<br />
<br />
And remember, Mets fans. Winning isn't everything. It's just the thing Jacob deGrom can't do whenever he pitches eight innings of one-run ball.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b>LET'S GO METS!!</b></i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9j0zkINOn3g/XCbqBWm_kZI/AAAAAAAAPa0/-RryMx6Qg9USZKxHYQ74Ql4ZP8z8B_QsgCLcBGAs/s1600/sk2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9j0zkINOn3g/XCbqBWm_kZI/AAAAAAAAPa0/-RryMx6Qg9USZKxHYQ74Ql4ZP8z8B_QsgCLcBGAs/s400/sk2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Studious Metsimus crew will be at a ballpark near you in 2019. (Ed Leyro/Studious Metsimus)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Ed Leyro (and Joey Beartran)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18392639274179350916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4225973709205976903.post-88719806837389868012018-12-07T19:31:00.000-05:002018-12-07T19:31:21.952-05:00Joey's Final Letter to Sandy Claus (2018)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cdRhizo6HGg/XArdCrWVwuI/AAAAAAAAPZg/NoR4TujKQiQU9EoNzyvNahVnAd0aaOZ-wCLcBGAs/s1600/sc5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="375" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cdRhizo6HGg/XArdCrWVwuI/AAAAAAAAPZg/NoR4TujKQiQU9EoNzyvNahVnAd0aaOZ-wCLcBGAs/s400/sc5.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In addition to what I ask for in this letter, I could also use a less drafty winter hat. I almost froze taking this photo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Dear Sandy Claus,<br />
<br />
It's me, Joey Beartran, with my annual letter to you about what I want for the holidays. Alas, this will be my final letter to you. It's not because I've found someone else to write to who has a better success rate at giving me what I ask for. It's also not because of the rumor I heard that you've been sick and had to pass along the keys to your sleigh to Brodie the Red-Nosed Reindeer. (Although my sources can confirm that this is not a rumor. Get well soon, you jolly old elf.)<br />
<br />
No, the real reason why this is my final letter to you is because I'm no longer a kid. I'm 14 years old! Plus, I saw my Studious Metsimus colleague actually putting the presents under the tree last year instead of you, so I put two and two together when I saw that. Don't worry. I didn't share that information with my younger siblings.<br />
<br />
Despite knowing the truth, I'm still a believer in tradition, so I'm penning one more wish list for you. If your red-nosed replacement wants to read it with you, please feel free to share it with him.<br />
<br />
This time around, the items I ask for won't be as impossible to find as they were in previous years. So I won't be asking for Travis d'Arnaud to play past the first week of the season or for Yoenis Céspedes to drink more water. Likewise, I won't demand for 30 pitchers to put on a Mets uniform in 2019 just to surpass last season's total of 29. I already know no amount of pitchers can hold a lead for Jacob deGrom anyway.<br />
<br />
No, my desires are reasonable this year. As reasonable as it is to expect that Noah Syndergaard won't be traded before Opening Day or that Wilmer Flores won't come back to deliver a walk-off hit against the Mets instead of for them. So grab one of those blue and orange cookies from the World's Fare Market that hardly anyone ever goes to and hear me out. It's the least you could do for making us put up with Jose Reyes being on the 25-man roster every single day last season.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IyGd7JFVpxg/XArdtTmBaGI/AAAAAAAAPZo/d5Kn-ttze2MA1zra5f_VNGO7KuHY4jtjgCLcBGAs/s1600/sc2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="375" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IyGd7JFVpxg/XArdtTmBaGI/AAAAAAAAPZo/d5Kn-ttze2MA1zra5f_VNGO7KuHY4jtjgCLcBGAs/s400/sc2.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm feeling melancholy knowing I won't see Wilmer Flores raise the apple anymore at Citi Field.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
I'd like a promise that all our prospects won't be traded away to land reclamation projects and players who aren't sure things. First, our top picks from the 2016 and 2018 drafts were dealt to Seattle for Robinson Canó and Edwin Díaz. Then, rumors have been swirling that Brandon Nimmo and/or Michael Conforto (a.k.a. the Mets' 2011 and 2014 first round picks, respectively) could be shipped off to Miami for J.T. Realmuto. It's a good thing Peter Alonso was a second round pick or else I'd be worried that he'd be on the trading block. You can't have a good future if the future is playing somewhere else.<br />
<br />
Speaking of Peter Alonso, I'd like to see him on the Mets' Opening Day roster in 2019. Between his time at Double-A, Triple-A and the Arizona Fall League, Alonso appeared in 159 games, or just about the equivalent of one full major league season. In those games, he collected 81 extra-base hits (38 doubles, one triple, 42 homers), crossed the plate 108 times and drove in 146 runs. For the record, no Met has ever produced more than 80 extra-base hits or surpassed 124 RBI in a single season. If the team wants to save money by not starting his countdown clock to free agency so soon, may I remind the powers-that-be that Alonso might make them a sleigh-load of money in the form of extra ticket sales, merchandising, etc. Your red-nosed friend won't be needed to light up the sky once Alonso starts to do that with his monster shots.<br />
<br />
I'd like you to make sure Zack Wheeler eats the same meals every day, sleeps on the same side of the bed every night and answers all of Steve Gelbs' questions the same way (okay, that last one won't be too hard). What I'm trying to say is, whatever Wheeler did last year, make sure he doesn't change a thing, especially after finally having his breakout season seven years after the Mets acquired him and five years after making his big league debut. It's funny that once the man he was traded for (Carlos Beltran) retired, Wheeler finally stayed healthy and became a productive player. Maybe all we need is for Michael Fulmer to call it a career in Detroit so that Yoenis Céspedes can finally earn that nine-figure salary.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pssst! Mr. Met! Can you run this letter over to Sandy Claus? And please don't pull a hamstring doing it.</td></tr>
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For the 2019 season, I'd like Jacob deGrom to finally get some run support. That means the Killer Cs (Canó, Céspedes, Conforto) have to hit the way we expect them to. The Mets went 14-18 in deGrom's starts in 2018. In eighteen of his 32 starts, deGrom allowed no more than one run. The Mets found a way to lose eight of those games. In approximately two-thirds of deGrom's appearances (21 of his 32 starts), the Mets failed to score more than three runs. Had the team averaged 4.3 runs per game like they did in games not started by deGrom, they would have gone 23-9 in his outings instead of 14-18. Those nine extra wins would have given the Mets an 86-76 record in 2018 and, more importantly, would have given the team meaningful games in September. But hey, maybe the team likes empty seats in September. I know I'm okay with the food lines being shorter when the team isn't playing well. But I'd be more okay if the hitters came through when deGrom was on the mound. On a related note, I'd like some Metropolitan Club seats next year so that food can be delivered to me at my seat.<br />
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I'd like Mickey Callaway to stop making the occasional bonehead decision or four. You could chalk up having players batting out of order, not having relievers warming up in the bullpen when they're needed and any other head-scratching moves to his inexperience as a team's skipper. But he now has a year under his belt. Those mistakes in judgment won't be so easy to forgive in 2019. He's not Jerry Manuel, so he can't depend on being gangsta to talk his way out of those errors this year.<br />
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Do you remember when we all blamed Ray Ramirez for the team's injuries? Well, Dr. Death wasn't employed by the Mets in 2018, but players still spent as much time at the Hospital For Special Surgery as they did in the clubhouse. It's almost getting to the point where they should just rename various wings of the hospital after the Mets players who find themselves constantly walking through the halls. That's assuming they're able to walk, of course. Therefore, I'd like to request that the team do whatever it can to help its players stay on the field. I'd rather buy tickets to see the players on the field, not in the hospital recovery room. Plus, hospital food is not an adequate replacement for the fare at Citi Field.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is it true that I get eight days and nights of presents if I light one of these up?</td></tr>
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Well, that's it for my final letter to you, Sandy Claus. To recap, I'd like the team to stop being allergic to keeping first round picks. I'd also like to see Peter Alonso in April without having to buy a plane ticket to Las Vegas. Please make sure Zack Wheeler's second verse is the same as the first. (And don't let Steve Gelbs show him video of the "churro dog incident". No need for Wheeler to change his eating habits now.) Take Harry Caray's advice and "let's get some runs" whenever the ace takes the hill. Tell Mickey Callaway to watch "<b><i>Moonstruck</i></b>", especially the scene where Cher slaps Nicolas Cage. (He'll know what I mean.) Also, schedule an exorcism to make sure the ghost of Ray Ramirez hasn't been hanging around Citi Field.<br />
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Do all that and my retirement as a letter writer to Sandy Claus will be as happy as the one I hope David Wright is having. (Miss you, Captain.) Oh, and make sure you don't allow anyone to wear Wright's No. 5. Willie Mays' previously out-of-circulation No. 24 was already handed to Robinson Canó. The last thing we want is for the number to go to a journeyman player who's played for four teams over the last seven seasons and can't outhit Mario Mendoza in his most recent campaign but still finds a way to appear in over 100 games in said season. Ask Jose Reyes what I'm talking about if you don't know what I mean.<br />
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Thanks so much for reading my letter, Sandy Claus. And you too, Brodie, for being such a nosy reindeer. (I know you were reading it over Sandy's shoulder.) I wish you both a happy holiday season and hope Sandy makes a full recovery. After all, I might not be writing any more letters after this one but every once in a while I might need to sit on a jolly old elf's lap to ask for a few things. Those moments never get old.<br />
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Love and Mex Burgers forever,<br />
Joey Beartran<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'll never forget you, Sandy Claus. I hope your lap is always available to me. You know, just in case.</td></tr>
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<br />Ed Leyro (and Joey Beartran)http://www.blogger.com/profile/18392639274179350916noreply@blogger.com1