Minor League data on UMDB

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

As I mentioned in another thread (I don't remember which) the UMDB is starting to gather minor league statistics. Some of it is already online:

Lastings Milledge

I have the last five years in electronic format, and I'm sorting through it now. I have one question, and hopefully somebody with media guides from a few years ago can assist:

It looks like the Mets may have had two recent minor leaguers named Mike Cox. My 2005 media guide lists a pitcher by that name, from Pasadena, Texas, born in 1978. My data, though, includes another Mike Cox, a third baseman born in Sarasota, Florida, in 1980. Does anyone know anything about him? Is he real? When did he play in the Mets system, and at which level?

If anyone knows, and can help, I'd appreciate it.

Once I get this data sorted out and online, I'll start working on 1962 through 2001. If anyone wants to assist with this project, I'd be glad to have the help. The goal is to have every player who ever played for a Mets farm team, and, perhaps, his (or her) stats in the database.

That would be cool, wouldn't it?

(You may wonder about the "or her." I learned today that the Mets have (or recently had) a catcher named Joan Martinez in their system. I'm sure he's male, because we would certainly have heard otherwise. But who names a boy "Joan"?

[Guest Edgy DC]

The Mir�s.

Write and let me know what you need. I've got media guides and a heart that loves arcana.

[seawolf17]

Probably pronounced "ho-ahn."

Helluva job. Best site on the Interweb.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Thanks, seawolf!

I found out that the "other" Mike Cox, the third base guy from Sarasota, was actually in the Seattle organization.

[MFS62]

Since we're in a UMDB state of mind, is there a way to get at Mets players by birth date?

Later

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Not currently. It's a request I've gotten in the past, though. To have the "this date in Mets history" available for all dates, not just the current date.

I'll probably get around to that at some point.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Great work.

One goofy request: When you list dates of games, could you add the day of the week also?

I don't know if everyone is the same, but I recall days of the week much better than dates as we fly into the future. For example, Ira points out a Cubs-Mets 9-26-04 game where Brazell bats 4th. Was I at that game? I know I went to a Cubs-Mets game on a Saturday in September. Turns out that was the Sunday game, but I couldn't tell at first glance.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Not such a goofy request. I'll put that on my mental to-do list. When looking at old games I've sometimes wondered about the day of the week as well.


Anyway, a few questions for anyone with old press guides or other reference materials. Edgy, I'm thinking of you here, but anyone else who might know please feel free to chime in.

There was a Jerry Robertson who played for the Tides in 1971 after coming to the Mets from a trade with the Tigers. Is he the same Jerry Robertson who played for the Expos in 1969?


The following questions concern members of the 1972 Tidewater Tides:

• Is James Kennedy the same player who was with the Cardinals in 1970?
• Is Dave McDonald the same player who was with the Expos in 1971?
• Is Pedro Ramos the same player who was with the Phillies in 1967 and the Reds in 1969?
• Is Scott Reid the same player who was with the Phillies in 1969 and 1970?

Any help would be appreciated! Thanks.

[Frayed Knot]

In 1966 the Mets played a double-header on July 4th against the Phillies.
It was a Monday, definitely a Monday.

[seawolf17]

Scott Reid was once a Mets draftee, so it would be logical if they'd found a way to get him back in their system.

Ramos was a long-time major leaguer; he would been 37 years old in 1972. Not that it's not possible, but that's what I found.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I think my media guides go back to 1972 striaght, plus an outlier I have from 1968.

OE: Nope. The outlier is from 1966.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

An additional question:

Tom Kelley pitched for the 1976 Tides. Is he the same Tom Kelley who pitched for Atlanta from 1971-1973?

Hopefully some of the guides from the mid-70's will list biographical information for either Kelley or some of the others I mentioned above.

I just need these five players and I'll have identified all of the Tides from 1969 through 1981.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I've got nothing.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

I've found that it's the same McDonald and Robertson.

Still have to figure out Ramos, Kennedy, Kelley, and Reid.

(I think Reid is probably the same guy, but I'd like a little more evidence.)

[Guest Edgy DC]

I have a Tides media guide on the way that includes an all-time roster. If that roster includes birthdays (one in three chance?), that could verify these guys.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Cool. I guess it's a recent publication?

[Guest Edgy DC]

Ought-six.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Another question to throw on the pile.

The Tides had a Mike Davis in 1985. Is he the same as this guy:

Played for the following teams:
Tidewater Tides, 1982
Traded by the New York Mets to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for Mike Torrez on January 13, 1983.

1982 Mike left the Mets organization in 1983. Had he returned to play for the Tides again in 1985?

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

paperofrecord.com helped me answer the Pedro Ramos question. I learned about that site from Johnny Dickshot a couple of years ago, but never signed up. I recently learned that it's no longer a paid site; you can sign up for free!

Over 120 years of The Sporting News is available for searching. It's an incredible resource.

Here's what I found regarding Pedro Ramos:

From The Sporting News, September 9, 1972

]RAMOS REJOINS TIDES Signed by Tidewater originally in March, veteran Pedro Ramos found employment with the Tides for the second time this season August 18. Ramos, who formerly hurled for the Senators, Twins, Indians, Yankees, Phillies, Reds, and Pirates, was released during spring training by Tidewater so he could join Puebla in the Mexican League. He rejoined the Tides as a free agent and was pressed into service the same night, serving up a bases loaded walk and a two-run single as Richmond, for whom he hurled briefly last seasons, scored a 4-2 victory.

We don't often (or ever?) see the verb "hurl" used to describe what pitchers do anymore, do we? It used to be pretty common.

[Frayed Knot]

]We don't often (or ever?) see the verb "hurl" used to describe what pitchers do anymore, do we?

[insert Victor Zambrano joke here]

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

I knew I was setting somebody up for a punchline, but I didn't know how it would play out.

Nicely done.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

]aperofrecord.com helped me answer the Pedro Ramos question. I learned about that site from Johnny Dickshot a couple of years ago, but never signed up. I recently learned that it's no longer a paid site; you can sign up for free!

It's great but those bastards owe me a refund! I'd just renewed for 2 years!

[Frayed Knot]

"I knew I was setting somebody up for a punchline, but I didn't know how it would play out."

One thing I picked up from watching Johnny Carson over the years was that when the set-up for the joke is real obvious often the most subtle response is the best road to take. He was the master at that.



BTW, I noticed that some players; Humber for instance, have their 2005 minor league stats in but not their 2006.
Is this an oversight or just a sign of a work still in progress?

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

I'm a fan of hurl.

I'd also like to bring back "twirl," which was a word for pitching that only appeared, to my knowledge, on the backs of bb cards. It's so fruity.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I'd like to bring back "pole" as a verb synonym for bat, as in "Medwick poled .323 to pace the Senior Circuit."

My Tide guide didn't have birthdays.

[MFS62]

I think the use of the word "hurl" when talking about pitchers declined when that picture was published in the newspapers of the pitcher who "swallowed his chaw" and then woofed his cookies all over the mound.

Later

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Frayed Knot wrote: BTW, I noticed that some players; Humber for instance, have their 2005 minor league stats in but not their 2006. Is this an oversight or just a sign of a work still in progress?

Work in progress. The stats I was able to get for 2006 didn't have CG or ShO. I've since gotten them and will probably post 2006 minor league stats for Humber, Pelfrey, Perez, Soler, and a few others later today.

You'll also be able to see names and sometimes stats for minor leaguers who never made it to the big leagues. I've been collecting the names, and I'll be slowly gathering the stats. When I reach a critical mass I'll raise the curtain and let it be seen by the public.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Edgy DC wrote: My Tide guide didn't have birthdays.

Oh well. I guess some guys will remain mysterious, unless I can find something on them in Paper of Record.