While the Mets’ bullpen has hit its stride post All-Star break, one of the lone bright spots in the Mets’ ‘pen during the early part of the season could make his return very soon. Reed Garrett, who posted a 1.04 ERA in his first 26 innings of his 2024 season, was placed on the 15-day IL with right elbow inflammation on July 10. Garrett had a steep decline prior to being placed on the IL, climbing to a 3.64 ERA and 1.43 WHIP. 

The Mets are hoping to get the high-end reliever that they saw early in the season upon his return. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told the media that there is a “good chance” the 31-year-old RHP will return to the team during their upcoming weekend series in Seattle. Garrett struck out three in a scoreless frame during his second rehab appearance and looks to add to the backend of the Mets’ bullpen.

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The Mets tied up their series in Colorado on Wednesday night as they beat the Rockies by a score of 5-3. Paul Blackburn had another wonderful outing, only giving up two runs (one earned) on five hits in his second start as a Met. After scoring two runs in the first two innings, the Mets’ offense went quiet up until the ninth inning. However, with the bases loaded in a 2-2 game, Francisco Lindor came up clutch again with a two-RBI base hit and Jesse Winker added on an RBI single to hand the Mets a three-run lead. Despite giving up a run in the ninth, Edwin Díaz completed the Mets’ win with his 14th save of the season.

The Amazin’s, who are now only 0.5 GB of the Braves for the third Wild Card spot, will look to take the rubber game in Colorado on Thursday. David Peterson (5-1, 3.47 ERA) of the Mets is set to face Austin Gomber (3-7, 4.66 ERA) of the Rockies for a 3:10 p.m. ET start at Coors Field.

Latest Mets News

The Mets come in 10th in Baseball America‘s midseason farm system ranking.

Mets pitching prospect Brandon Sproat will make his Triple-A debut as he will pitch for the Syracuse Mets at 6:35 p.m. on Thursday.

Starling Marte singled in his first plate appearance with Low-A St. Lucie during his rehab assignment, and followed it up by stealing second base. For more on Marte’s rehab assignment, click here.

Luisangel Acuña hit his sixth home run of the season for Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday. It was his third consecutive at-bat with an extra-base hit.

Luisangel Acuña launched his sixth homer of the season for Triple-A Syracuse.

It was his third consecutive at-bat with an XBH.
pic.twitter.com/YK86e34Z7t

— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) August 7, 2024

Latest MLB News

Former Met J.D. Davis signed with the Baltimore Orioles, per Jon Heyman of The New York Post. Davis was most recently released by the Yankees and is hitting .218/.293/.338 on the season.

The Chicago Cubs signed former Mets pitcher Adrian Houser to a minor league deal, per MLB.com. Houser finished his short Mets tenure in the bullpen, posting a 5.84 combined ERA as a starter and reliever.

Free-agent pitcher Rich Hill is throwing for interested teams on Friday, August 9 in Waltham, Mass., per Robert Murray of FanSided. The Dodgers and Yankees are among the teams that have shown interest in the 44-year-old pitcher.

Brusdar Graterol, who seemed to have suffered a possible season-ending hamstring injury in his first outing of the season, might be able to return this season, per Dodger Insider. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the MRI showed it was a grade 1 hamstring strain and they are hopeful to have Graterol back this season.

The Baltimore Orioles placed OF Heston Kjerstad on the 10-day IL with a concussion, retroactive to August 1. The club also placed RHP Grayson Rodriguez on the 15-day IL with right lat/teres discomfort, retroactive to August 4.

The Boston Red Sox placed OF Tyler O’Neill on the 10-day IL, retroactive to August 4, with a left leg injection. They also called up INF/OF Enmanuel Valdez from Triple-A Worcester and recalled RHP Chris Martin from the 15-day IL.

With his home run in the Orioles’ 7-3 win over the Blue Jays on Wednesday night, Jackson Holliday became the youngest player in American League history to homer in three straight games.

Latest on MMO

The Mets’ deadline acquisitions have been put to the test early on. 

Luisangel Acuña delivers the walk-off knock for Syracuse.

Starling Marte returns to action in St. Lucie.

On This Date in Mets History

2014: Bartolo Colón records the 200th win of his career as he throws eight innings of one-run ball in a 5-4 Mets win against the Phillies. He joined Juan Marichal and Pedro Martínez as the only Dominican-born pitchers to reach the 200 win milestone.

2011: The Mets come back from a four-run deficit in the eight inning, scoring five runs in the final two innings to beat the Padres by a score of 9-8. Lucas Duda smacked a two-RBI walk-off single off Heath Bell to win the game. Jason Bay also hit his 200th career home run during this game.

1997: The Mets trade Lance Johnson, Mark Clark, and Manny Alexander to the Cubs for Turk Wendell, Mel Rojas and Brian McRae. Wendell would go on to be a big piece of their 1999 and 2000 playoff runs, posting a 2.84 ERA in the 13 postseason games he pitched in during those two runs. 

Birthdays: John Hudek (58)

The post Morning Briefing: ‘Good Chance’ Reed Garrett Returns Against Seattle appeared first on Metsmerized.

Contrary to previous reports, a source told Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News that the Mets are not actively talking about bringing back Bartolo Colon.

“You never know, things could change, but it’s not something I see happening,” one source said. “It’s not a name I’ve been hearing.”

Ervin Santana had said that the Mets had interest in Colon.

“I guess Bartolo is always an option, but not anyone has talked about (that) lately,” another source said. “A starting pitcher isn’t a priority right now.”

Original report – Jan. 21, 1 p.m.

Twins right-hander Ervin Santana appeared at Twinsfest yesterday and had some news to report regarding one of his former teammates as detailed in an article by Twincities.com

Santana mentioned that the Mets have interest in a reunion with Bartolo Colon.

Colon struggled last season with a 7-14 record to go along with a 6.48 ERA, 1.587 WHIP, 5.21 FIP, and 89 SO in 148 innings between the Atlanta Braves and Minnesota Twins.

After struggling with the Braves, 45-year old was released by the team with the Mets rumored to be interested in a reunion then as well.

However, he decided to go to the Twins because he feared the Mets would move him to the bullpen once the team’s starters returned from the DL. Of course, in hindsight Colon would have been able to keep his spot for the remainder of the season as the many of the Mets pitchers did not return later that season.

The reason for his discomfort with moving to the bullpen relies on a specific milestone he might achieve this season. Santana touches on it here:

“He just wants to win six more games and then he will retire.”

That is in reference Juan Marichal‘s win record of 243 for Dominican-born players which Colon currently trails with 237 wins.

Colon could prove to be a decently cheap signing for the Mets as Mike Puma hears that Colon has even given the indication he would take a minor-league deal to re-join the team.

“Big Sexy” is only a season removed from being a very effective starting pitcher as he went 15-8 with a 3.43 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 3.99 FIP, and 128 SO, in 191.2 innings in 2016 when he was still wearing orange-and-blue.

While there are certainly stronger options for the Mets to sign for depth in the rotation, considering the limited cost and his familiar presence in the clubhouse, it might be worthwhile for the Mets to bring back Colon for the 2018 season.

The post Mets Not Talking About Colon Reunion appeared first on Metsmerized.

MLB teams announced their bobblehead giveaways in celebration of National Bobblehead Day on Saturday. And wouldn’t you know it, the Atlanta Braves are planning a Bartolo Colon Bobblehead Night in 2017.

Friday, June 9 #BravesBobble: Bartolo Colon bobblehead night featuring his signature pitching motion! #NationalBobbleheadDay pic.twitter.com/zD9QNJDCXJ

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) January 7, 2017

On June 9th, the New York Mets begin a three game weekend series against the Atlanta Braves in their new digs – SunTrust Park.

The Mets actually open the season against the Braves with a three game set beginning on Opening Day – April 4th. So there’s a very good chance we’ll see Bartolo Colon in that season opening series.

Colon, 43, went 15-8 with a 1.21 WHIP and 3.43 ERA in 33 starts with the Mets last season. Colon also became the oldest player in MLB history to produce his first career home run when he took James Shields deep in San Diego on May 7.

The Braves signed Colon to a one year deal worth $12.5 million dollars. He needs 11 wins to eclipse Hall of Famer Juan Marichal (243 wins) for the most wins ever by a player born in the Dominican Republic.

The post Braves Schedule Bartolo Colon Bobblehead Night When Mets Come To Town appeared first on Metsmerized.

With the Mets 6-5 win in Friday night’s contest with the Cleveland Indians, RHP Bartolo Colon notched his 219^th career victory. He moves up the career wins list and is now tied for 77^th all-time.

Another achievement took place with win number 219 however, as Colon tied fellow Dominican native, former Met, and Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez for second all-time in wins by a Dominican-born pitcher. Hall of Famer Juan Marichal owns the record for wins by a Dominican-born player with 243, which he notched in 1974 while pitching for the Red Sox.

Colon pitched well for his second start of the season, going 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on eight hits, striking out five, and issuing his first walk on the year. Along with Noah Syndergaard, Colon has been a steady presence on the mound so far in the early start of the season.

Friday night’s win was also special for Colon because it took place in Cleveland, the organization that signed him as an amateur free agent in 1993. Colon pitched 5 ½ years with the Tribe, before being dealt to the then Montreal Expos along with Tim Drew for what turned out to be a king’s ransom in prospects Cliff, Lee, Grady Sizemore, Brandon Phillips, and journeyman Lee Stevens.

After the game, Colon spoke about the accomplishment of tying Martinez for second all-time in wins by a Dominican-born pitcher, and posting the win in the place where it all began for him some nineteen-years ago.

“It means a lot,” Colon said through an interpreter. “Pedro Martinez back in my homeland, the Dominican Republic, is a special person. And to do it here in Cleveland is something special for me. First and foremost, I want to thank the Cleveland Indians organization for the opportunity.” (ESPN)

The Mets re-signed Colon this offseason for one-year at $7.25 million. He’s serving as the team’s fifth starter until Zack Wheeler returns in July from his rehab after his Tommy John surgery.

Colon has posted double-digit wins for the Mets in his first two seasons with the club, and understands that he will both start and relieve for the team throughout the season. Colon serves as great insurance for the clubs young arms, in case of any long-term injuries and allowing the Mets to skip some of their prized arms to keep them fresh throughout the year.

Colon has become a fan favorite during his time with the Mets. He serves as inspiration for the “every-man” that dreams of playing professional baseball. The always-jovial Colon serves as comic relief for the club, and has wowed fans and spectators over the years with his behind the back flip to first, over the shoulder catch on the infield, and his always-entertaining at-bats.

Terry Collins remembers Colon’s time with the Tribe well, having seen him pitch in his prime while managing the Anaheim Angels. Colon faced Collins’ Angels nine times from 1997-99, going 4-2 against them.

“I’ve got a lot of recollections of it and it wasn’t very fun,” Collins said of facing the then-young Colon. “He was 98-97 (miles per hour) with a dynamic breaking ball, just pure power. He threw strikes, so he was one of those guys when you faced him, you better get your ‘A’ game bats out. He was tough to face, they had a really, really good young pitching staff back then and he is still a good pitcher.”

Colon has reinvented himself into a control and finesse pitcher, no longer relying on the days where he threw in the mid to upper nineties. With the decrease in velocity, Colon has learned to locate and limit the number of walks he allows. Colon was fifth in MLB with 30 walks allowed in 2014, and first in 2015 with only 24 free passes issued.

Collins recognizes how Colon has reinvented himself later in his career. He marvels at the way in which Colon was able to do so, and with the degree of success he’s had while adjusting.

“When you reincarnate yourself as a completely different kind of guy and are satisfied with it and settle into what you have to do to get guys out, it just shows how smart he is, how sharp he is,” Collins said. “He knew after some of the injuries to his arm he had to change it and did. It’s really one of the great stories, this guy at his age is still one of the most effective pitchers in this league.” (Daily News)

Unless Colon pitches beyond the 2016 season, he won’t pass Marichal for the wins record by a Dominican-born pitcher. He can move up the career wins ladder though. If Colon wins ten more games this year, he would be tied for 64^th all time with Sam Jones, Luis Tiant, and Will White for 229. That would see him pass All Stars Joe Niekro (221), Jerry Koosman (222), Tim Hudson (222), and Hall of Famers Catfish Hunter and Jim Bunning (224).

It has been great fun watching Colon pitch and be so animated during his tenure with the orange and blue. When it’s his turn on the mound, I find myself with little to no reservations or real worry, knowing that his craftiness and tremendous pitch location will often find him with great results. Congrats “Big Sexy” on your win accomplishment.

The post Bartolo Colon Notches A Special Victory appeared first on Metsmerized.

In midtown Manhattan, a 58 year old, African-American, mortgage insurance salesman walked out of an office building. He clutched his chest and collapsed onto the frozen sidewalk.

By the time the EMT workers arrived, the man was in cardiac arrest. Attempts to revive him on the way to Bellevue Hospital proved futile and the individual was pronounced dead at 1:05 PM. His name: Tommie Agee.

When we look back at critical plays at crucial moments throughout World Series history, many of them are related to 6 or 7 game Series. A bloop hit by Luis Gonzalez, a ground ball that ‘gets by Buckner,’ a missed third strike by Mickey Owen. It’s hard to imagine that one player could have such an impact in a short 5 game series. But that is exactly what Tommie Agee meant to the Mets in 1969. It’s very conceivable that had it not been for Agee, we would have just the one championship in 1986.

Tommie Lee Agee was born on August 9, 1942 in Magnolia, Alabama. He was a college star at Grambling and ultimately was signed by the Cleveland Indians. Although his first big league at-bat happened on Sept 14, 1962, it wasn’t until 1966 he became a full time player for the White Sox. Agee thrived in his everyday role and in his first full season walloped 22 Home Runs, knocked in 86 runs, slugged .447, scored 98 runs, and stole 44 bases on his way to winning the AL Rookie of the Year.

The following year, however, his productivity dropped substantially. He batted just .234, hit 14 homers, and struck out 129 times. The ChiSox wasted no time in casting off this ‘one year wonder’ and dealt him to the Mets along with Al Weis for Jack Fisher, Tommy Davis and a pair of minor leaguers.

The 1968 season started with hope for the Mets. We now had two former Rookie of the Year winners in Agee and Tom Seaver, and a young pitcher named Jerry Koosman was also showing promise. We also had a new manager in the much revered Gil Hodges. On Opening Day, the Mets jumped out to an early 4-0 lead against future Hall of Famer Juan Marichal. However, our bullpen failed., the Giants scored three in the bottom of the 9th, and it became clear from that day on that 1968 would be no different than the years prior. Agee had been beaned in Spring Training by Bob Gibson and never got on track. He started the season going 0-34, and things didn’t really improve much for him for the rest of the season. In 132 games, he batted a disappointing .217 with just five homers and an embarrassing 17 RBI.

When the 1969 season began, Mets fans, as we always do, hoped for the best but somewhat expected the worst. Gil Hodges saw something in his center fielder. Although Agee didn’t have the natural talent of a Seaver or Nolan Ryan, he worked hard and made the most of his skills. Teammates always described Number 20 as intelligent, hard working, and a real winner. Despite having a pitiful ’68 season, Hodges stood by Agee and he quickly rewarded his manager, his teammates and the Mets faithful.

On April 10, 1969, Tommie Agee put the NL on notice that he was back! He blasted a home run that would reach the upper deck at Shea. (Insert theme from The Natural.) Only 8,608 fans were on hand that day. The game was not televised so there is no footage.

On-deck hitter Rod Gaspar said, “I’ve never seen a ball hit like that.” Buddy Harrelson stated, “The ball was still climbing.” Although Shea was only six years old at the time, people assumed that eventually someone would probably hit a ball that far again. It never happened. That blast by Agee became the longest home run ever hit at Shea Stadium.

The Miracle of the 69 season quickly came into doubt during the Fall Classic. Tom Seaver, with a record of 25-7 and a 2.21 ERA started Game One. Don Buford welcomed the Mets into the World Series by hitting a lead-off HR. The Mets lost 4-1 and people wondered if the dream was over. The Miracle was in doubt. However, behind the masterful pitching of Jerry Koosman in Game 2, the Mets prevailed 2-1, splitting the two games in Baltimore and now returning home to Big Shea.

56,335 fans attended Game 3, the first World Series game ever played at Shea. It was Agee who stepped to the forefront. Leading off against future Hall of Famer Jim Palmer, Agee opened the game with a homer and quickly put the Mets on top. However, the best was yet to come.

The Mets led 3-0 in the top of the 4th. With runners on 1st and 3rd and two outs, Elrod Hendricks hit a shot deep into left center field. Agee ran as fast as his legs would carry him. Approaching the wall at full speed, Agee never slowed down. As he said years later, “I would have run right through that wall if I needed to.” Agee made a spectacular backhanded snow cone catch that saved at least two runs. As he trotted off the field, with the white of the ball still in the webbing, Shea erupted like never before. But he was not done yet.

In the 7th, the Mets were now leading 4-0, but Baltimore, winner of 109 games during the season, showed why they were the class of the AL. They refused to roll over. They loaded the bases. Paul Blair, the tying run, stepped to the plate and Hodges brought in Nolan Ryan from the bullpen. Blair greeted Ryan by hitting one deep into right-center field. Once again, Agee sped into the power alley. The possibility of him making TWO great catches seemed impossible and unlikely. But at the last minute, the wind grabbed hold of the ball. Agee extended, dove for the ball, snared the sinking liner, slid onto the warning track and rolled over. The ball was in his glove. Had he not made the catch, it most likely would have been an inside-the-park home run and tied the game at 4-4.

The Mets won the game 5-0, and would go on to win the series in five games. “The homer meant one run,” Agee said, “But the catches saved more than that.”

Agee’s catches also signified the dawning of a new age for the Mets. We would no longer be the laughing stock of baseball. The lovable losers were on their way to becoming Champions.

Sports Illustrated ranked Agee’s catches as among the best in World Series history along with Willie Mays in 1954, Sandy Amoros in 1955 and Al Gionfriddo in 1947. They also went on to claim that Agee’s performance in Game 3 was the best ever by a center fielder in World Series history. The point can be argued that if it was not for Tommie Agee in Game 3, the Orioles may have quite possibly won the game, salvaged at least one of the three in New York and forced the series to return to Baltimore. And who knows how things may have turned out if that would have happened. Thanks to Tommie Agee, none of that was necessary.

Agee led the team in home runs, RBI and runs scored that season and also won NL Comeback Player of the Year award. Although 1969 was his high point, Tommie continued to be a major part of the Mets the following season. In 1970 he put together a 20 game hitting streak, hit for the cycle one day in July and even stole home in the tenth inning to win a game. Mets management was so pleased with his performance, they increased his salary to $40,000. However, by 1974, he was out of baseball as injuries would cut short his career. After batting just .227 with 13 home runs in 1972, the Mets traded him to Houston for Rich Chiles and Buddy Harris. He played for Houston and St. Louis in 1973, then was traded to Los Angeles, but failed to make the team out of spring training and at age 30, our World Series hero retired.

He went on to open ‘The Outfielder’s Lounge’ close to Shea and ultimately worked for Stewart Title Insurance. He remained very active promoting the Mets around the city and spent his later years taking part in numerous charities and baseball clinics.

“He was such a good athlete and a real good friend.,” teammate Kenny Boswell said after Agee passed away. Right fielder and fellow champion Ron Swoboda added, “The way he conducted himself on and off the field, both during and after his career, was admirable. He was taken way too soon.”

Too soon indeed. Thanks for all the memories, Tommie.

The post Tell Them Tommie Agee Was Here appeared first on Metsmerized.

The Dominican Republic is part of the new wave of American Baseball and the largest import of talent out of the Caribbean and Latin America. In 2007, there were 99 players from the Dominican Republic on 25-man rosters on opening day and in 2013, there were around 89. Either way, the Dominican Republic boasts the largest amount of players from a foreign country by far. Because of the Dominican Influx into the minor leagues, many Americans confused other types of Latino players with Dominicans. Every player known to them from Latin America was considered a “Dominican” instead of Puerto Rican, Panamanian, Venezuelan, or Colombian according to a minor leaguer’s autobiography “Odd Man Out”.

Just like Venezuela, Cuba is the root of how baseball came to be in the Dominican Republic. While the English came to the Dominican Republic and taught many players how to play Cricket in the mid 1800’s, Cubans escaped their home country during the 1870’s in the midst of the ten years of war that raged on from 1868 to 1878, and they brought baseball along with them. Historians dispute which city in the Dominican the game first started, but everyone is convinced that it came from the Cubans. Cubans came to both sides of the Island, with their business enterprises.

In Santo Domingo, iron-maker brothers Pedro Ignacio and Ubaldo Aloma created two baseball clubs called the Rojos and the Azules (reds and blues) in 1890. These teams didn’t carry many Dominicans to start out, but instead a lot of Americans and Cubans. Later on, not too many played in Santo Domingo, especially because it was considered a game for the rich.

On the other side of the Island was San Pedro De Macroís, which was a large sugar town. Cuban sugar makers came in and bought fields and factories and introduced Dominicans to baseball. With the influence being from Cuba, Dominicans working in various jobs played baseball on the side during their breaks and such to keep their minds diverted from the long and difficult work days. Many Dominicans worked in sugar cane fields, cutting long stalks down,and only receiving money for the rows of cane they cut down, not individual stalks. It was a long and difficult process for the workers each sugar season (season also known as the zafra).

Sugar worker’s diversions quickly changed from cricket, which came from English-speaking islands, to baseball. Mill towns and companies started to become teams, and sugar leagues sprouted up. In a time ravaged by malaria and mosquitoes, leprosy, and very difficult manual labor conditions, baseball was a prime time for many players in San Pedro. But while mills started playing exemplary baseball (according to local folklore), the red and blue squads in Santo Domingo turned into Ozama and Nuevo clubs in the early 1900’s. These teams were the start of a new Dominican League, boasting uniforms and schedules.

Soon after, Nuevo became so good (mostly because of one pitcher with an unbelievable curveball nicknamed Indio Bravo) that a group of Dominican players came together to beat Nuevo, called Licey. Licey became one of the biggest and best teams, but still couldn’t beat Indio Bravo or his curveball to say the least. But, after a dispute with his team, Indio Bravo switched from Nuevo to Licey, and then Nuevo’s team fell apart.

By the 1920’s new teams started to spring up, including Escogido, another Santo Domingo team, and Santiago made a team called the Sandinos (in 1928, and then later Aguilas Cibaenas), to protest American Rule, naming it after the Nicaraguan freedom fighter, Cesar Agosto Sandino. During that time, American armies had taken over most of the Caribbean, such as Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Panama, so Latin resentment was high against the American occupants. Also added to their professional league was the Estrellas, from San Pedro De Macroís. These four teams gained so much money and fame that they started buying multiple new players for their teams from the Cuban, Puerto Rican, and Negro leagues to compete for the crown.

Dictator Rafael Trujillo came to power in 1930, and became the infamous dictator of legend from 1930 to 1961 when an underground team that was funded by the CIA killed him. Like every other Dominican enterprise during that time, Trujillo wanted to control the profits of baseball. His brother owned Licey, and while Trujillo did not really care about the sport itself, he wanted to see his brother happy and since he renamed Santo Domingo to Ciudad Trujillo, he condensed Licey and Escogido into the team “Ciudad Trujillo” and stocked it with the best players. In 1933, Trujillo bought Negro and Venezuelan League star Josh Gibson, as well as Cuban Star, Luis Tiant, (father of the legendary righthander, Luis Tiant Jr.), and Satchel Paige, the top right hander of the Negro Leagues.

To try to compete against Trujillo’s large bankroll, a judge named Federico Nina Santana gave money to San Pedro de Macroís. He didn’t care to lose money buying up players away from Ciudad Trujillo, and gave San Pedro a winning season in 1936. But when 1937 rolled around, every team in the league went broke. They bought up all the talent everywhere they could. To many, this was considered the best baseball in the world during that time period, better than anything the Major Leagues had to offer.

Ciudad Trujillo won in 1937, but the league became broke and dissolved until 1951 when they turned into a winter league, and like Mexico, tried to raid players from the American majors and bring professional baseball back to the Dominican Republic. Until then, it was only amateur teams playing, and the constant problems from the dictator, and no hope of players breaking into the Major Leagues because most of them had dark skin, until Minnie Minoso, and then Ozzie Virgil.

Ozvaldo “Ozzie” Virgil was a Dominican who moved to the Bronx and was discovered playing sandlot baseball in the Bronx. Alejandro Pompez, who owned two Negro League Franchises, became a scout for the Giants and found Virgil in the Bronx and brought him to the Major Leagues for the Giants.

While not many cared that he was Latino, they were more concerned about his skin color, and when he was traded to Detroit, that was the main focus. Detroit had never brought in a black player to that point, so instead of paving the way for Dominicans, it seemed as if Virgil was paving more of the way for Blacks, along with his Cuban predecessor, Minnie Minoso.

However small it seemed to be though, Juan Marichal, a now-Hall Of Fame pitcher, would not have considered even joining the major leagues had it not been for Ozzie Virgil. Even with Marichal’s endorsement, a large amount of present Dominican players do not know who Ozzie Virgil was, and what he had done for Domincan Baseball.

The post Lessons In Latin America: The Dominican Republic appeared first on Metsmerized.

These are good times in San Francisco sports history, and what sports fan doesn’t have a soft spot in their heart for the glory and goosebumps that accompany Candlestick Park? The Stick is part of our collective sports past. During Monday Night Football, potentially the final game in Candlestick history, ESPN reminded us of the greatness in name and performance that now represents the hallowed ground. But don’t be fooled by the drama and romance. The truth is, Candlestick Park has long been thought of as miserable.

Candlestick Park opened in 1960. According to Jonathan Fraser Light, author of the Cultural Encyclopedia of Baseball, the ballpark was named for the “tall trees and jagged rocks in the nearby area known as Candlestick Point.” The ballpark received rave reviews when it opened. Candlestick Park was touted as the first American stadium to be built entirely of reinforced concrete, and included state-of-the-art features. Fans would be treated to radiant heating under the seats and first modern baseball scoreboard.

“This will be one of the most beautiful baseball parks of all time,” said then vice president Richard Nixon, who made history throwing out the first pitch.

One year later Major League Baseball hosted the All-Star Game at Candlestick, an opportunity for the entire nation to experience Candlestick, warts and all. The game was marred by reports of heat prostration — or hear exhaustion — a condition brought on by intense or prolonged exposure to heat, characterized by profuse sweating with loss of fluids and salts, pale and damp skin, rapid pulse, nausea, and dizziness, progressing to collapse. Final score: National League – 5, American League – 4, Heat exhaustion – 95 cases.

Hey, take me out to the ballgame? Sounds like fun.

In 1962, San Francisco attorney Melvin Belli — the “King of Torts” — filed a lawsuit against the Giants in an attempt to get a refund of his season tickets claiming “breach-of-warranty” and “fraudulent misrepresentation.” He accused Giants owner Horace Stoneham of not turning on the radiant heating under the seats. During the trial Belli wore a winter parka and called an Abercrombie and Fitch salesperson to testify on “outfitting arctic groups with cold weather gear.” Belli eventually won his lawsuit and was awarded $1,886.59 for his pain and suffering. The Giants responded by putting a disclaimer in their game scorecards.

The Giants finally decided enough was enough, enclosing the stadium in 1971. Architects and team owners believed the modifications would serve to accommodate the 49ers while diminishing the powerful winds during the baseball season. To no avail.

Twenty five years after Nixon called Candlestick Park one of “the most beautiful baseball parks of all time,” the Sporting News labeled The Stick “baseball’s worst ball park.”

The Giants played their final game at The Stick in September 1999, losing 8-4 to the rival Los Angeles Dodgers; coincidentally, the final out was recorded at 4:35 p.m., the same minute the final out was record at the Polo Grounds.

“When we left Candlestick in 1999 for AT&T Park, it was very much a bittersweet feeling,” said San Francisco Giants owner Larry Baer. “There are memories there that will not leave. Willie Mays patrolling center field, Juan Marichal’s high leg kick on the mound. I think people are able to separate out the wind and the conditions from the memories.”

Really?

Try and convince former St. Louis Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog that. “Sitting in the dugout [at Candlestick Park] is like sitting in the bottom of a toilet,” he said. “All that tissues blows in, and no one flushes it.”

Or, Dwight Clark, who experienced his greatest professional moment at Candlestick Park. “It was a dump,” he said. “But it was our dump.”

The post The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Stick appeared first on Metsmerized.

100 pitches….Ha…Ha…Ha

There was some talk the past couple of days regarding Matt Harvey‘s pitch count, and an 210 innings limit that Sandy Alderson mentioned about a month ago. That innings cap would have Harvey’s season end approximately two weeks before the end of the regular season.

Joe D. also pointed out that it seems like Harvey’s effectiveness declines after he throws his 100th pitch.

We are seeing it more and more these days — as pitchers make higher and higher salaries as the years go by, they also throw less pitches.

Since the year 2000, the amount of games where the starting pitcher has thrown over 125 pitches has steadily declined. In 2007, there were only 14 games the entire season where a starting pitcher threw at least 125 pitches.

The game is suffering from pitch counts and so are the pitchers. It seems every year more and more teams try to protect their pitchers, yet every year we see star pitchers succumb to arm injuries.

Pitchers used to pitch until they couldn’t get anyone out anymore. In today’s game, you are more likely to see a starting pitcher that is pitching a shut out get pulled from the game with two outs left in the ninth inning, than complete that game.

Would Bob Gibson let his manager take him out of the game? How about Nolan Ryan? I don’t even think their managers would have the backbone to walk out of that dugout in the direction of the pitcher’s mound. You want to know why? They were warriors.

Pitchers these days have under-developed arms due to this idea that pitchers should only be allowed to throw 100 pitches in a game. By capping pitchers at 100 innings, what you are actually creating is a self-fulfilling prophecy. The reason why pitchers become ineffective after 100 pitches these days is all due to the belief that they will. Either that, or due to the fact that their arms are conditioned to only throw 100 pitches.

For hundreds of years, nobody ever thought that a human being could run a four-minute mile. Doctors theorized that the runner’s heart would explode under the stress. Roger Bannister finally debunked that myth when he ran a mile in under four minutes in 1954. His record lasted a mere 46 days before someone ran it even faster than he did when he set the record. Now it seems like a common occurrence.

Baseball is trending in the opposite direction. Pitchers used to throw well over 100 pitches regularly. Now there is this fear that something bad will happen to the pitcher who throws too many pitches. Nolan Ryan threw 142 pitches in a game when he was 42 years old. If that is not enough to prove that the pitcher’s arm won’t fall off than I don’t know what will. Juan Marichal is said to have thrown over 250 pitches in a game once — so why is the 100 pitch count number so important?

Johan Santana threw over 125 pitches during his no-hitter last season. He threw 134 pitches to be exact, and I was shocked to see his arm didn’t spontaneously fall off. I was waiting for it to happen…but it never did. Johan went over his 115 pitch count cap, and survived. Who would have thought it? Pitchers really can throw over 125 pitches and live to see another day. So again I ask, what is the point of a pitch count?

I have the confidence in major league managers and pitching coaches to recognize when a pitcher is getting tired, and make a decision to pull him from the game. Do they really need a pitch count to determine that? Why stick to this blanket 100 pitch count idea when every pitcher is different, and every decision should be made according to the situation that presents itself?

The problem is by creating the 100 pitch count myth, you now are forced to abide by it. Pitchers are no longer conditioned to pitch over 100 pitches in a game, and what you start to see is the pitchers becoming less effective after they throw the 100th pitch. The pitchers haven’t changed, the game has. Pitchers are just as capable physically to throw over 100 pitches in a game in 2013 as they were in 1913 — but the mentality has changed.

The game shouldn’t be impacted by a pitch count if the pitcher isn’t tired or still getting hitters out. Some managers obviously let their pitchers pitch past 100, but even those managers usually don’t let the pitchers go past 125. This is, in many baseball enthusiasts opinions, ruining the game.

History has proven that pitchers have gone well over 125 pitches in the past and lived to tell about it. There is no medical evidence that says a particular pitcher’s arm injury resulted as a result of pitching over 100 pitches, or throwing over 100 pitches on a consistent basis.

Please note, I am not a doctor, and have no medical evidence to support what I am about to say, but I have been around the game the majority of my life, and my experience with witnessing arm injuries is that they tend to occur earlier in games. This is most likely because the pitcher’s arm is still not loosened and not necessarily a result of throwing too many pitches.

I’m not really sure why teams have made this 100 pitch count so important. I’m sure it has something to do with protecting their multi-million dollar investments, but I haven’t seen many pitchers careers extended since adopting the pitch count, nor have I seen a decline in arm injuries.

So what’s the point?

There is something romantic about pitchers pitching complete games. This part of the game is steadily being phased out. Maybe the blue collar, American attitude of not having someone else finish your work is fading away. Maybe the baseball minds look at Henry Ford’s assembly line model said hey, let’s have pitchers with specialized roles in order to be more efficient.

The theory of bringing in relief pitchers seems sound — replace your tired pitcher with a pitcher who has a fresh arm in order to get the opposing hitters out. I mean, that is what the word relief means — to alleviate pain or distress — not to try and keep the mileage of the starting pitchers’ arms.

Let these starting pitchers start earning their paychecks and gain back their warrior image on the mound. Bring back some of the romanticism…the fans will be happy you did.

The post Pitch Counts: Are They Good For The Game? appeared first on Metsmerized.

The Mets’ “Franchise” wants you to know he’ll be up to the task of delivering that first pitch Tuesday night — the full 60 feet, six inches. But more than that, Seaver wants you to know he’s going to love just being here — being on the field again, taking it all in and, as he might say, being back on the baseball planet.

No need for me to tell longtime readers of MMO that Seaver is my all-time favorite Met. The one player who grabbed my attention as a kid and set me on my path to Mets fandom. You hear about “Harvey Day” a lot these days, but let me tell you first hand that nothing will ever beat “Seaver Day.”

There are not enough superlatives for describing the best pitcher I’ve ever seen. And the fact that he was a Met made it all the more special. Nothing was better than going to school and putting up with those ridiculous Yankees fans – always boasting about their damned rings – and silencing them all by saying these four words, “But we got Seaver.”

No Yankee pitcher could ever be put in the same class as Seaver. He was the best pitcher New York ever had.

And nothing ever hurt more than seeing that arrive in my family’s mailbox one day. The Midnight Massacre didn’t really hit home for me until I saw Seaver dressed like that. I had to flip it and lay it down on the table front-side down. 🙁

Rob Silverman wrote a fitting tribute to Tom Terrific when he became the first Met in our MMO Hall of Fame. I enjoyed reading this little snippet:

At the end of the twentieth century The Sporting News listed Seaver as the 11th best pitcher in Baseball history. ESPN took a poll of some of Tom’s contemporaries: Bob Gibson, Juan Marichal, Nolan Ryan, Steve Carlton, Bert Blyleven and Don Sutton all agreed that it was Seaver who was the best of their generation. Reggie Jackson once said of Seaver, “Blind men come to the park just to listen to him pitch.” In his first year of eligibility, 1992, Tom Seaver was elected to the Hall of Fame with 99.84%, the highest ever recorded.

Before his arrival the Mets were a joke, a doormat for the National League. With the coming of #41, the Mets had taken the first step to respectability. But as much of a positive impact as his arrival had, his departure brought with it the darkest time in team history.

Read the rest of this vintage MMO article here.

If I was the MLB commissioner, I would ban all pitchers from wearing No. 41.

— Metsmerized – Joe D (@MetsmerizedJoeD) July 9, 2013

It’ll be great to see No. 41 on a mound in Flushing again, next Tuesday. Seaver will still be the biggest and brightest All Star in Citi Field on that day. Some things, never change…

The post “The Franchise” To Throw The Ceremonial First Pitch At All Star Game appeared first on Metsmerized.

Mark Simon of ESPN New York had a great post on Sunday in which he ranked the Top 11 memorable Mets debuts over the team’s history. He included both pitching and hitting debuts. Check out his work and research here. (This is great for some of you younger Mets fans)

I pulled the pitchers out of his list to see where Zack Wheeler might rank on this list. Here are the top five.

1. Dick Rusteck (June 10, 1966 vs. Reds) – The only Mets pitcher to throw a shutout in his major league debut beat the Reds’ ace, Jim Maloney, in a swift two hours, six minutes. Rusteck struck out only four, but dominated. He did not face a runner in scoring position the entire night. Rusteck made only seven more appearances and two more major league starts. That win would be the only one of his major league career.
2. Collin McHugh (Aug. 23, 2012 vs. Rockies) – Against what was a lineup comprised mostly of minor leaguers, McHugh dominated, allowing two hits and striking out nine in seven scoreless innings. He’d get a no-decision because the Mets couldn’t score against five Rockies pitchers. McHugh is one of only five pitchers to allow no runs and two hits or fewer, with at least nine strikeouts, in a debut in the modern era, a list that begins with Hall of Famer Juan Marichal (1960).
3. Matt Harvey (July 26, 2012 vs. Diamondbacks) – This one wasn’t that long ago, so it should be fresh in the memory bank: Harvey piled up the pitch count early, limiting him to 5 1/3 scoreless innings, but he was very impressive, both on the mound (with 11 strikeouts) and at the plate (with a pair of base hits in a 3-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks). The Elias Sports Bureau tells us that Harvey is the first pitcher in the modern era (since 1900) to strike out 11 hitters and record two hits in his major league debut.
4. Dillon Gee (Sept. 7, 2010 vs. Nationals) – Gee opened his career with five no-hit innings before surrendering a homer to Mets scourge Willie Harris leading off the sixth. It would be the only run he would allow in seven two-hit frames in a 4-1 win. Gee’s five wins against the Nationals are his most against any major league team.
5. Gary Gentry (April 10, 1969 vs. Expos) – Gentry came within one out of a shutout in his first start against the expansion Expos. He’d settle for a 4-2 win, the first of many productive moments in a championship season, one in which he would start games in both the NLCS and World Series. The win was a big deal for the Mets in this regard: It made them 2-1, marking only the second time in eight years that they had a winning record through three games.

So where do we slot Zack Wheeler who certainly pitched worthy enough to make this list?

Certainly, Wheeler moves ahead of Gary “Baby Face” Gentry and Dillon Gee. No way he unseats Dick Rusteck, who still remains the standard bearer with his complete game shutout. And Collin McHugh, who was just ousted to Colorado, is probably safe as well.

It comes down to putting Wheeler’s debut either ahead or behind Matt Harvey. I asked the progenitor of the list, Mark Simon, last night. He puts Wheeler at No. 4 behind Matt Harvey citing the walks. Not a bad showing at all… The 4th best pitching debut in 51 years of Mets baseball.

You know what else is amazing here? That we have four pitchers on this list who debuted during 2010-2013. You would think you’d see names like Jon Matlack, Dwight Gooden, Tom Seaver and Jerry Koosman here.

The post Where Does Wheeler Rank Among Best Mets Pitching Debuts? appeared first on Metsmerized.