Memories of Wilmer Flores

Edgy MD · January 17, 2019

The early reports on him were all full of praise, but with one big caveat. Somebody, maybe more than one somebody, was giving him a 20 on footspeed. Seeing as scouts rank players on a scale of 20-80, that seemed like it had to be overstated. Mo Vaughn was a 20, but even he could get up a head of steam.

I figured that the Mets have had slowfooted shortstops before — Santana, Ordóñez — so if that report was indeed exaggerated, it could still work out. And hey, there's certainly precedent for keeping a guy at short but moving him as he reaches the majors. That's what they did with Jefferies. (I chose to overlook the fact that it didn't really work out with Jefferies.)

But damn, if that was an exaggeration, it wasn't by much. It was like there was no flexibility in his feet. He couldn't accelerate. He couldn't spring up for a line drive. He couldn't cut a base. He seemed winded by his third or fourth step. This was despite him being in good condition (injuries aside) for the something close to the entirety of his tenure with the Mets.

But fortunately, there's more than footspeed. He had terrific hands on offense and defense, a smile that made you forget the clouds in the sky (and that raised mole you're concerned about), and a flair for the late-inning drama. He leaves the Mets as possibly the all-time leader in games played at all four infield positions, and probably pretty high up on the hits and homerun rankings, though I can't confirm that because all sports sites are now blocked at work. The guy was fun.

It seems pretty clear that he has a season in front of him where he hits .325, leads his team into the post-season, does something cool there that gets him all sexy bloodied up, saves a puppy, and marries that gymnast from UCLA everybody is talking about.

Maybe not, but how can you wish him anything but the best?

Everybody say goodbye to Wilmer.

https://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/wilmer-flores.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=618&h=410&crop=1>

kcmets · January 17, 2019

He got robbed in the 2018 Tabloid Cover Derby!

seawolf17 · January 17, 2019

I will absolutely buy a FLORES 4 shirt when they go on clearance.

OH WAIT THEY NEVER MADE THEM because they don't understand the fan base at all. Good luck selling those clearance HARVEY 33 shirts, though, fellas.

Benjamin Grimm · January 17, 2019

He got robbed in the 2018 Tabloid Cover Derby!

He made it to the finals last year, but lost to GOD OF BLUNDER:

http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2017/20170404_NYP_02.jpg>

This year, he lost two consecutive bids for the Final Four:

http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2018/20180710_NYDN_02.jpg> http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2018/20180416_NSD_02.jpg>

And there were also these covers from 2018. Regrettably, MR. FREEZE didn't make out out of the first round:

http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2018/20180520_NYDN_02.jpg> http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2018/20180416_NYP_02.jpg> http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2018/20180416_NYDN_02.jpg>

86dreamer · January 17, 2019

This will always be my favorite memory of Wilmer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmL4rNYmJ9Uhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmL4rNYmJ9U

Thought from day 1 that he would become a 30 HR lineup staple. Doesn't matter - i still love him.

Centerfield · January 17, 2019

The walk off against Washington. Obviously. As well as all the others. Home grown kid. Love the guy.

On the flip side, I'll remember his knack of getting hurt at precisely the moment an everyday spot opened up for him. I remember wishing we had him to face Bumgarner in 2017.

I hope his arthritis is nothing big. I can see him catching on as a DH and playing for a while.

Johnny Lunchbucket · January 17, 2019

MR FREEZE is the one that got screwed, early in the competition.

I liked watching him, how easy his swing was. Never looked like he was trying to whallop the ball, just very fast wrists, so smooth.

Benjamin Grimm · January 17, 2019

ashie62 · January 17, 2019

One memory, the posed photo he did for Met Fairy

kcmets · January 17, 2019

That is a good picture, maybe someone can dig it up.

Wilmer Alejandro Flores Garcia is his full name accoding to his wiki-page.

seawolf17 · January 17, 2019

If you haven't listened to his interview on the Rain Delay Theater podcast, it's well worth the 45 minutes of your life to do so. Gelbs and Wayne challenge him to remember all ten of his walkoff hits, and he remembers every single one, including the pitcher, the pitch, the situation, the ballpark, everything, in order, and they're completely gobsmacked. It's AWESOME.

https://soundcloud.com/raindelaytheater/talking-with-good-friend-wilmer-floreshttps://soundcloud.com/raindelaytheater/talking-with-good-friend-wilmer-flores

Benjamin Grimm · January 17, 2019

Did an image search in Google on "wilmer flores the crane pool forum themetfairy" and found it!

https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3355/13023758034_a743bd51b6.jpg>

And I found these too!

http://leaptoad.com/mets/cards/WilmerFlores1972.jpg> http://leaptoad.com/mets/cards/WilmerFlores1972Action.jpg>

http://leaptoad.com/mets/cards/WilmerFlores1973.jpg> http://leaptoad.com/mets/cards/WilmerFlores1976.jpg>

whippoorwill · January 17, 2019

Absolutely would love to hug the stuffing out of him. Goodbye sweet one

kcmets · January 17, 2019

Benjamin Grimm wrote:
Did an image search in Google on "wilmer flores the crane pool forum themetfairy" and found it!

https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3355/13023758034_a743bd51b6.jpg>

Excellent!

MFS62 · January 17, 2019

I adopted him before he was on anybody's top 10 lists.

Still love him and wish him well.

We'll keep a spot of the table for you any time you want to return, kid.

Later

Lefty Specialist · January 17, 2019

This will always be my favorite memory of Wilmer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmL4rNYmJ9Uhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmL4rNYmJ9U

Thought from day 1 that he would become a 30 HR lineup staple. Doesn't matter - i still love him.

Still gives me chills. I hope he has a fantastic year against everyone but the Mets.

Benjamin Grimm · January 17, 2019

But wait! There's more!

http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2015/20150730_NSD_02.jpg> http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2015/20150730_NYDN_02.jpeg>

http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2015/20150730_NYP_02.jpg> http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2015/20150801_NSD_02.jpg>

http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2015/20150801_NYDN_02.jpeg> http://leaptoad.com/mets/covers/2015/20150801_NYP_02.jpg>

Johnny Lunchbucket · January 17, 2019

If you haven't listened to his interview on the Rain Delay Theater podcast, it's well worth the 45 minutes of your life to do so. Gelbs and Wayne challenge him to remember all ten of his walkoff hits, and he remembers every single one, including the pitcher, the pitch, the situation, the ballpark, everything, in order, and they're completely gobsmacked. It's AWESOME.

https://soundcloud.com/raindelaytheater/talking-with-good-friend-wilmer-floreshttps://soundcloud.com/raindelaytheater/talking-with-good-friend-wilmer-flores

enjoying this thanks!

dinosaur jesus · January 17, 2019

Love the guy. Good luck to him.

smg58 · January 17, 2019

This will always be my favorite memory of Wilmer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmL4rNYmJ9Uhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmL4rNYmJ9U

Thought from day 1 that he would become a 30 HR lineup staple. Doesn't matter - i still love him.

The turning point of the best season the Mets have had in 32 years.

Fman99 · January 17, 2019

In all of my adult years as a Mets fan, very possibly the easiest guy to root for, apologies to Benny Agbayani. All heart. Fwife's all time favorite Met.

Edgy MD · January 17, 2019

One of a very select few Mets to author a 6-for-6 game.

Suck it, Jon Lester.

http://leaptoad.com/mets/scorecard_graph.php?game=8785&font=1>

86dreamer · January 18, 2019

Not easy to win a game in which both Verrett and Bastardo pitched - just another reason to love Wilmer

G-Fafif · January 18, 2019

The most chanted name in Citi Field history.

whippoorwill · January 18, 2019

I want him back

LWFS · January 18, 2019

[Clapclapclapclap]

About as adorable as a grown baseball dude gets, without being three feet tall, panda-fat, and/or covered in fur.

G-Fafif · January 18, 2019

Hit just well enough to make you almost overlook his chronically inadequate fielding. Fielded just badly enough to make you almost overlook his periodically spectacular hitting. If he was a little worse at what he did best and a little better at what he did worst, he'd be an obviously average player. If he was a little better at either component, he'd still be here.

Molasses had a better chance of scoring from first on a double.

After July 31, 2015, I was never at a close game in a late inning when he came up where the ballpark didn't utter its anticipation. "Do that trick, Wilmer! Do that trick where you win the game on one swing!" That he did it as often as he did is more amazing than that he couldn't do it on demand was disappointing.

He will look wrong in another uniform.