I'm Rich Becker

[Centerfield]

We use the word "suck" around here quite a bit...Matsui, Beltran, Looper. These are pretty unfair characterizations if you ask me (at worst the most you could say about these guys is that they were "disappointing"). These days, I'm posting as Rich Becker...and before my time under this designation is up, I think it's important for us to take a second and remember Rich Becker, Truly Sucky Met.

Becker was acquired after the 1997 season from the Twins in exchange for disappointing minor leaguer Alex Ochoa. Reaction from Mets fans included:

"Rich who?"

"Wow, did Ochoa's trade value drop that much?"

and

"What the fuck? This guy struck out 130 times and hit only 10 HR's. What the hell is Phillips doing?"

As a Met, Rich hit .190 through 49 games, striking out an astonishing 42 times in 100 AB's. (If you project that over a full season, Rich Becker was on pace to strike out 5000 times in 1998). Rich failed to exhibit any real power either collecting only 9 extra base hits for a slugging percentage of .360. Rich did manage to collect 21 walks (Two intentional!! Who was hitting behind him? Jim the batboy?), but despite a decent OBP, Rich never did crack .700 territory in OPS (.691).

On June 16, 1998, Becker's short Mets career came to an end when he was picked up off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles.

Phillips had been hoping that Becker would bounce back and give us numbers like he posted in 1996 when he batted .291, reached base at a .372 clip and stole 19 bases. Some speculated he couldn't handle the pressure of playing in New York, but in the ensuing years, it became evident that pressure had nothing to do with it and that he just wasn't very good.

So here's to you Rich Becker...thank you for providing perspective in times of trouble. Thank you for allowing us to say "Well, things could be worse, we could have Rich Becker leading off." It's very possible you would want to forget your time here in New York, but know that here in the Crane Pool, we will always remember.

[Willets Point]

Rich Becker's career highlight as a Met was a walk-off homerun against I-don't-remember-which-team in May 1998 (I think?).

[Elster88]

How many times do I fucking have to tell you.

MATSUI SUCKS DAMMIT

[seawolf17]

I hated Rich Becker. Struck out every single time he came to the plate as a Met.

[Valadius]

I think I remember going to a game at Shea that season and Rich Becker doing something well, but my memory might be off.

[seawolf17]

Willets Point wrote: Rich Becker's career highlight as a Met was a walk-off homerun against I-don't-remember-which-team in May 1998 (I think?).

It was April 4.

[Guest mlbaseballtalk]

IIRC Becker had a very Minky way of leaving the Mets, pretty much dumping on Phillips and his lack of playing time

[Willets Point]

April, May - close enough.

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

I'm Roger McDowell. I'm going to give all of you Hot Foots.

[Guest Edgy DC]

They could not take his pride.

[Guest Iubitul]

I ran into Steve Phillips (almost literally) at the Danbury Fair Mall while Christmas shopping a few days after the trade, and complemented him on the nice little pick up....

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

Steve Phillips' run-ins with CPF members are a bit inconsistent, then.

[Guest OlerudOwned]

I find his full name to be quite hilarious. A different shortening of the first name, and changing the B in Becker to a P, and we have Dick Goodhard Pecker.

And then I got a life