Memories of Brooks Raley

[Edgy MD]

He had two last names and not a lot of speed, but a soft sweeper set up by an up-and-in fastball got folks to chase over and over and over.

Really strong down the stretch in 2025, when not a lot of people in Mets uniforms could say the same.

It was a brief appearance, but he saved the season a week before the team lost it, when he came on with the bases loaded against Atlanta and got Eli White to ground out to second.  That was that crazy period when there were no roles and they were just throwing pitchers out there like they were spilling out of a piñata.

I suspect he'll pitch until he's 44.

[The Hot Corner]

Surprisingly effective and reliable for an aging soft tossing reliever.  He just knew how to pitch and get hitters out.

[Cowtipper]

Astoundingly, one of the Mets longest-tenured players when he was traded. A very good reliever who never had a bad season in New York. Was with the Mets for four seasons, but played only one full season with them. Had a 2.31 ERA and 181 ERA+ in his Mets career.

Very impressive guy, especially considering he didn't join the Mets until he was 35. 

[metirish]

Could really not have asked for more from him,  he was very good for the Mets 

[Edgy MD]

Brooks was their longest serving pitcher, I guess, apart from the absent Tylor Megill.

[Gwreck]

34 minutes ago, Edgy MD said:

Brooks was their longest serving pitcher, I guess, apart from the absent Tylor Megill.

By a couple of days.  Raley and Senga both were on the 2023 opening day roster;  Raley debuted in the first game of the season, Senga in the fifth.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Looks like he only made it to the back page twice, both on the same day, and not in a good way.

[Cowtipper]

Raley was a really good gamble. It's like being the lucky ones to have Wade Davis or Andrew Miller when they finally turned the corner and got good. 

[Centerfield]

2 hours ago, Benjamin Grimm said:

Looks like he only made it to the back page twice, both on the same day, and not in a good way.

I was at this game.  It was terrible.  At that point I was so sick of the Mets and their shitty losing.  Beatles night was fun, and the Mets took a lead.  But Helsley and Raley couldn't get anyone out.  Just awful.  And Citi was drowning them with boos.  Seattle tacked on more the next inning.  And for the only time I can ever remember, we left the game early.  Everyone was looking at me like "really"?  And I was like yeah.  Fuck these guys.  I can't stand to watch anymore.

We were in the car when Shortcenter says to me "it's 11-9".  So then we ended up turning on the radio just to hear them go down gutless in the 9th.  It's crazy how bad things have been these last two years.