Kuh-Wiz: Beloved Backup Catchers

[Gwreck]

There was a whole backstory, right?  There were deemed to be sorority sisters of the bride, one was a childhood friend, and one was the groom’s sister?

I can’t believe I remember this.

[Benjamin Grimm]

33 minutes ago, whippoorwill said:

I want to see it too just because I want to know what you guys are talking about!

Well, we can't find Squinty, but I can show you a picture of Big Ethel!

 

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Mike Nickeas was important to me even as a minor leaguer because for a time he represented the only hope that the Tim Bogar Trade Tree would continue to blossom and remarkably, he made it to the Mets (on a technicality as he was acquired in a trade but like like many minor league catchers, released and eventually resigned by the time he made it to the Mets). He even helped it sprout new leaves before they all died.

 

Bogar --> Luis Lopez--> Bill Pulsipher --> Lenny Harris --> Jeromy Burnitz --> Victor Diaz -->Mike Nickeas -->John Buck, Noah Syndergaard, Travis d'Arnaud.

Buck-->Dilson Hererra-->granted free agency

Buck-->Vic Black-->granted free agency

Syndergaard-->granted free agency

d'Arnaud-->released

 

 

[Edgy MD]

Him keeping one of the longest trade trees alive was going to be one of my clues, but I was afraid that that interrupting technicality would make that clue more confusing.

[Edgy MD]

17 minutes ago, Johnny Lunchbucket said:

Bogar --> Luis Lopez--> Bill Pulsipher --> Lenny Harris --> Jeromy Burnitz --> Victor Diaz -->Mike Nickeas -->John Buck, Noah Syndergaard, Travis d'Arnaud.

Buck-->Dilson Hererra-->granted free agency

Buck-->Vic Black-->granted free agency

Syndergaard-->granted free agency

d'Arnaud-->released

This trade tree is, in a very real sense, still alive, and even providing value (albeit negative value) to the 2026 Mets, as the team select Nick Morabito 75th overall in the 2022 amateur draft as compensation for losing Big Noah in free agency.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

The Trade Chain when I started researching them wasn't supposed to include compensation picks and such but I guess they should "count."

 

I couldn't tell you what the longest one is today. No idea

[Edgy MD]

21 minutes ago, Johnny Lunchbucket said:

I couldn't tell you what the longest one is today. No idea

In terms of years, I'm putting all my chips on the Koosman → Orosco Tree.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

what I was thinking about was who on the current team can claim the deepest roots in the org. 

Two candidates might be on the move again soon (players who get traded tend to get traded) but they only go back a few moves on the board

Eduardo Escobar --> Coleman Crow --> Tyrone Taylor

Max Scherzer-->Luisangel Acuna --> Luis Robert Jr.

 

[Benjamin Grimm]

It seems like the trend has been to more free agent signings and fewer trades.

[Chad ochoseis]

I'm going to guess that #1 was famed dildo-in-his-locker guy Kevin Plawecki.

[Edgy MD]

5 minutes ago, Chad ochoseis said:

I'm going to guess that #1 was famed dildo-in-his-locker guy Kevin Plawecki.

That would have been a great clue, but no, Kevin Plawecki has already been eliminated as an answer for #1.

1.  
2. Devin Mesoraco
3. Eli Marrero
4. Mike Nickeas
5. Brent Mayne
6. Luis Torrens
7.  
8. Jason Phillips
9. Henry Blanco
10. Mike Difelice

Incorrect Answers: Patrick Mazeika, Tomás Nido, Kevin Plawecki, Anthony Recker, Josh Thole (#1), Travis d'Arnaud, Sandy Alomar, Sr. (#2), York (#7), Paul Lo Duca (#10).

Scoring

• Cowtipper: 7
• DocTee: 3
• Frayed Knot: 3
• Gwreck: 3
• Johnny Lunchbucket: 2
• MFS62: 2
• Benjamin Grimm: -1
• whippoorwill
• smg58: -1
• metirish: -3

[Cowtipper]

My gut for a while has said the Naked Cowboy guy is Johnny Monell, but I'm pretty sure he was more "melanated" than the picture suggests. 

[Frayed Knot]

3 hours ago, Gwreck said:

There was a whole backstory, right?  There were deemed to be sorority sisters of the bride, one was a childhood friend, and one was the groom’s sister?

Well, that was the backstory we made up. Whether or not there was any truth to it is pure speculation.

I not only remembered the existence of that thread but I even remembered some of the posts, Vic's in particular. Considering the stuff I can't remember from day to day, it's amazing the stupid shit I retain from nearly two decades ago.

[Edgy MD]

25 minutes ago, Cowtipper said:

My gut for a while has said the Naked Cowboy guy is Johnny Monell, but I'm pretty sure he was more "melanated" than the picture suggests. 

Please stop with your melanin-inspired hand-wringing.  Of course this is Johnny Monell!  Who else could it be?!

Johnny Monell is the bum on my stoop
I gave him fifty cents to buy some soup
He knows the time, with the fresh Gucci watch
He's even more over than my mayor Ed Koch!

Washing windows on the Bowery at a quarter to four
'Cause he ain't gonna work on Maggie's farm no more
Livin' on borrowed time and borrowed money
Sleepin' on the street, there ain't a damn thing funny!!

With the hand-me-down food and hand-me-down clothes
A rockabilly past of which nobody knows
Makes his home all over the place
He goes to sleep by falling down on his face!

Sometimes known as the leader of the homeless
Sometimes drunk, man, the kid's always phoneless
Sleepin' on the street in a cardboard box
He's better off drinkin' than smokin' the rocks!

Johnny Monell!
Johnny Monell!
Kickin' uptown, kickin' downtown, kickin' crosstown
Johnny Monell!
Johnny Monell!

He drinks where he lies, he's covered with flies
He's got the hand me down Pumas and the tie dyes
Well, you go upstate and get your head together
Thunderbird is the word and you're light as a feather!

Detox at the flop house, no booze allowed
Remember the good old days with the rockabilly crowd
Memphis is where he's from (out in Tennessee)
He lives in the street but he's no bum
He's the rockabilly star from the days of old
He used to have teeth all filled with gold
He got platinum voice but only gold records
On the bass (was Boots), on the drums (was Checkers)

Louis Vuitton with the Gucci guitar
Johnny Monell ... who do you think you are?

Johnny Monell!
Johnny Monell!
Takin' the night train, drinkin' O.E
Johnny Monell!
Johnny Monell!

One, two, three, four ...

Donald Trump and Donald Tramp living in the men's shelter
Wonder Bread bag shoes and singing "Helter Skelter"
He asks for a dollar you know what it's for
Man, bottle after bottle he'll always need more!

He's no less important than you working class stiffs
He drinks a lot of liquor but he don't drink piss
He paid his dues playing the blues
He claims that he wrote the "Blue Suede Shoes"

Elvis shaved his head when he went into the army
That's right y'all, his name is "Johnny"

KICK IT!!
Johnny Monell!
Johnny Monell!

1. Johnny Monell
2. Devin Mesoraco
3. Eli Marrero
4. Mike Nickeas
5. Brent Mayne
6. Luis Torrens
7.  
8. Jason Phillips
9. Henry Blanco
10. Mike Difelice

Incorrect Answers: Patrick Mazeika, Tomás Nido, Kevin Plawecki, Anthony Recker, Josh Thole (#1), Travis d'Arnaud, Sandy Alomar, Sr. (#2), York (#7), Paul Lo Duca (#10).

Scoring

• Cowtipper: 10
• DocTee: 3
• Frayed Knot: 3
• Gwreck: 3
• Johnny Lunchbucket: 2
• MFS62: 2
• Benjamin Grimm: -1
• whippoorwill
• smg58: -1
• metirish: -3

[Cowtipper]

Well, he looks straight-up Irish in the picture. I thought he was mixed race, or had some Mediterranean in him. 

How do this and this look similar? The mouths look the same. Maybe he just tans well.

[Edgy MD]

Different hat.  Different beard.  Same exact dude.  The guy on the left and the guy on the right both drink a lot of liquor, but they don't drink piss.

[MFS62]

For# 7, someone wearing his name on both the front and back of his uniform had to be a spectacularly conceited mo-fo. So I immediately thought of Gary Carter. But he wasn’t a backup. So I’m still stumped. 
later

[whippoorwill]

2 hours ago, Edgy MD said:

Please stop with your melanin-inspired hand-wringing.  Of course this is Johnny Monell!  Who else could it be?!

Johnny Monell is the bum on my stoop
I gave him fifty cents to buy some soup
He knows the time, with the fresh Gucci watch
He's even more over than my mayor Ed Koch!

Washing windows on the Bowery at a quarter to four
'Cause he ain't gonna work on Maggie's farm no more
Livin' on borrowed time and borrowed money
Sleepin' on the street, there ain't a damn thing funny!!

With the hand-me-down food and hand-me-down clothes
A rockabilly past of which nobody knows
Makes his home all over the place
He goes to sleep by falling down on his face!

Sometimes known as the leader of the homeless
Sometimes drunk, man, the kid's always phoneless
Sleepin' on the street in a cardboard box
He's better off drinkin' than smokin' the rocks!

Johnny Monell!
Johnny Monell!
Kickin' uptown, kickin' downtown, kickin' crosstown
Johnny Monell!
Johnny Monell!

He drinks where he lies, he's covered with flies
He's got the hand me down Pumas and the tie dyes
Well, you go upstate and get your head together
Thunderbird is the word and you're light as a feather!

Detox at the flop house, no booze allowed
Remember the good old days with the rockabilly crowd
Memphis is where he's from (out in Tennessee)
He lives in the street but he's no bum
He's the rockabilly star from the days of old
He used to have teeth all filled with gold
He got platinum voice but only gold records
On the bass (was Boots), on the drums (was Checkers)

Louis Vuitton with the Gucci guitar
Johnny Monell ... who do you think you are?

Johnny Monell!
Johnny Monell!
Takin' the night train, drinkin' O.E
Johnny Monell!
Johnny Monell!

One, two, three, four ...

Donald Trump and Donald Tramp living in the men's shelter
Wonder Bread bag shoes and singing "Helter Skelter"
He asks for a dollar you know what it's for
Man, bottle after bottle he'll always need more!

He's no less important than you working class stiffs
He drinks a lot of liquor but he don't drink piss
He paid his dues playing the blues
He claims that he wrote the "Blue Suede Shoes"

Elvis shaved his head when he went into the army
That's right y'all, his name is "Johnny"

KICK IT!!
Johnny Monell!
Johnny Monell!

1. Johnny Monell
2. Devin Mesoraco
3. Eli Marrero
4. Mike Nickeas
5. Brent Mayne
6. Luis Torrens
7.  
8. Jason Phillips
9. Henry Blanco
10. Mike Difelice

Incorrect Answers: Patrick Mazeika, Tomás Nido, Kevin Plawecki, Anthony Recker, Josh Thole (#1), Travis d'Arnaud, Sandy Alomar, Sr. (#2), York (#7), Paul Lo Duca (#10).

Scoring

• Cowtipper: 10
• DocTee: 3
• Frayed Knot: 3
• Gwreck: 3
• Johnny Lunchbucket: 2
• MFS62: 2
• Benjamin Grimm: -1
• whippoorwill
• smg58: -1
• metirish: -3

You so need to get this post to him. Or better yet, post it somewhere thousands of people will see it. 

[stevejrogers]

10 hours ago, MFS62 said:

For# 7, someone wearing his name on both the front and back of his uniform had to be a spectacularly conceited mo-fo. So I immediately thought of Gary Carter. But he wasn’t a backup. So I’m still stumped. 
later

Oh, Butch METZgers.

Though was he here when the Mets had NOB of unis?

[Edgy MD]

Butch Metzger is neither the answer to #7 nor a beloved backup catcher, except possibly in the sense that ...

• if a relentless but localized parasitic infection ravaged the 1978 Mets dugout,
• in the first game of a double header,
• leaving only those safely ensconced in the bullpen disease free,
• and they had to form a lineup for Game Two comprised entirely of relievers,
  • because even the backup catchers left the bullpen to pinch-hit at some point,
  • passing through the dugout to grab a bat from the rack,
  • before they realized the danger that was upon them,
• and so somebody had to catch Game Two,
• and Metzger was of less value and therefore more worthy of risk than Dale Murray or Bobby Myrick or somebody.

... then sure, in that sense he can be called a "Beloved Backup Catcher," as he was probably beloved by somebody, even if that sort of logical stretch makes for a massive violation of the spirit of the question.

But no, that is not the answer.

1. Johnny Monell
2. Devin Mesoraco
3. Eli Marrero
4. Mike Nickeas
5. Brent Mayne
6. Luis Torrens
7.  
8. Jason Phillips
9. Henry Blanco
10. Mike Difelice

Incorrect Answers: Patrick Mazeika, Tomás Nido, Kevin Plawecki, Anthony Recker, Josh Thole (#1), Travis d'Arnaud, Sandy Alomar, Sr. (#2), Butch Metzger, York (#7), Paul Lo Duca (#10).

Scoring

• Cowtipper: 10
• DocTee: 3
• Frayed Knot: 3
• Gwreck: 3
• Johnny Lunchbucket: 2
• MFS62: 2
• Benjamin Grimm: -1
• whippoorwill: -1
• smg58: -1
• Steve J. Rogers: -1
• metirish: -3

[MFS62]

Carter( see above).

later

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'm thinking that our guy might have worn his name on the front of a minor league uniform. The Mets once had a farm team in Jackson, Mississippi, but I don't recall any backup catchers named Jackson.

I could make a wild guess, like "Melvin Tidewater" but I doubt that would be correct.

[Edgy MD]

24 minutes ago, MFS62 said:

Carter( see above).

later

Above you wrote that you wrote that you weren't guessing him, logically and correctly reasoning that he wasn't a backup, but hey, if you insist on losing a point, I can't stop you. 

HINT: Also, it is important to note that all of these guys have generously given of their time, stepping forward to describe themselves in the first person in the post atop this quiz, so as such, no deceased guys were available to participate.

13 minutes ago, Benjamin Grimm said:

I could make a wild guess, like "Melvin Tidewater" but I doubt that would be correct.

I congratulate you on being correct in believing Melvin Tidewater to be incorrect.  I will also help you out and rule out Kenny Kingsport and Julio Visalia.

HINT: The guy we are looking for is a current MLB coach.

1. Johnny Monell
2. Devin Mesoraco
3. Eli Marrero
4. Mike Nickeas
5. Brent Mayne
6. Luis Torrens
7.  
8. Jason Phillips
9. Henry Blanco
10. Mike Difelice

Incorrect Answers: Patrick Mazeika, Tomás Nido, Kevin Plawecki, Anthony Recker, Josh Thole (#1), Travis d'Arnaud, Sandy Alomar, Sr. (#2), Gary Carter, Butch Metzger, Melvin Tidewater, York (#7), Paul Lo Duca (#10).

Scoring

• Cowtipper: 10
• DocTee: 3
• Frayed Knot: 3
• Gwreck: 3
• Johnny Lunchbucket: 2
• MFS62: 1
• whippoorwill: -1
• smg58: -1
• Steve J. Rogers: -1
• Benjamin Grimm: -2
• metirish: -3

[stevejrogers]

John Buc(canneers, arrrggghhhh matey)k played in Pittsburgh!?

[Edgy MD]

33 minutes ago, stevejrogers said:

John Buc(canneers, arrrggghhhh matey)k played in Pittsburgh!?

This answer may actually make me cry.  No, number seven is not John Buck.

Read the hints, you unlettered trail-leavings.

1. Johnny Monell
2. Devin Mesoraco
3. Eli Marrero
4. Mike Nickeas
5. Brent Mayne
6. Luis Torrens
7.  
8. Jason Phillips
9. Henry Blanco
10. Mike Difelice

Incorrect Answers: Patrick Mazeika, Tomás Nido, Kevin Plawecki, Anthony Recker, Josh Thole (#1), Travis d'Arnaud, Sandy Alomar, Sr. (#2), Gary Carter, Butch Metzger, Melvin Tidewater, York (#7), Paul Lo Duca (#10).

Scoring

• Cowtipper: 10
• DocTee: 3
• Frayed Knot: 3
• Gwreck: 3
• Johnny Lunchbucket: 2
• MFS62: 1
• whippoorwill: -1
• smg58: -1
• Benjamin Grimm: -2
• Steve J. Rogers: -2
• metirish: -3

[Cowtipper]

Is it Tom Wilson? Wilson the sporting goods brand would be on the front, Wilson his last name would be on the back.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Could be Vance Wilson in that case

[Benjamin Grimm]

Vance more likely than Tom. Tom was too busy working on Ziggy.

[Edgy MD]

1 hour ago, Johnny Lunchbucket said:

Could be Vance Wilson in that case

And we have our last guy!!

Thank you for playing Beloved Backup Catchers.  Our winner is Cowtipper, but Johnny Lunchbucket has to be congratulated on a strong finish.  He might have pulled it out of he let Cowtipper lower his score with a few more bad guesses, but the 'Tipper was too close to grabbing the last guy.

Congratulations to Ben Grimm for coming up with Melvin Tidewater, simultaneously the best and worst of guesses.

1. Johnny Monell
2. Devin Mesoraco
3. Eli Marrero
4. Mike Nickeas
5. Brent Mayne
6. Luis Torrens
7. Vance Wilson
8. Jason Phillips
9. Henry Blanco
10. Mike Difelice

Incorrect Answers: Patrick Mazeika, Tomás Nido, Kevin Plawecki, Anthony Recker, Josh Thole (#1), Travis d'Arnaud, Sandy Alomar, Sr. (#2), Gary Carter, Butch Metzger, Melvin Tidewater, Tom Wilson, York (#7), Paul Lo Duca (#10).

Scoring

• Cowtipper: 9
• Johnny Lunchbucket: 5
• DocTee: 3
• Frayed Knot: 3
• Gwreck: 3
• MFS62: 1
• whippoorwill: -1
• smg58: -1
• Benjamin Grimm: -2
• Steve J. Rogers: -2
• metirish: -3

[whippoorwill]

This was fun. Do it again!