Sons of Rico: Mets in Retirement in 2010

[Guest Edgy DC]

Ex-Little Falls Met?

Sex-Little Falls Met!

Guy was a walking machine.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I guess this pretty much proves it's the same guy:

Graham-Potts broke off the affair with Siciliano, a former New York Mets minor league catcher, after he lost his temper and threw a water bottle at her, breaking her nose, Gygax said. He promised to destroy the sex tapes but never did, she said.

Nice guy. Too bad the Mets never gave him a chance.

[Fman99]

Once again, Jose "0-fer" Offerman is hitting umpires instead of baseballs, this time as a manager in the Dominican league. Story here.

[G-Fafif]

John Stearns, not such a Bad Dude.

[Guest Edgy DC]

John Stearns tackles Chief Noc-a-Homa = funny!

Randall Simon taps the costume head of a sausage with a bat = assault!

[Benjamin Grimm]

We've become much more enlightened about "mascot abuse."

[Fman99]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: We've become much more enlightened about "mascot abuse."

Having said that, it's never too late to go choke the (San Diego) chicken.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Once again, Jose "0-fer" Offerman is hitting umpires instead of baseballs, this time as a manager in the Dominican league. Story here.

Banned for life: http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/sports/Offerman-Blows-Up-in-2nd-On-Field-Assault-in-3-Years-81957657.html

[Benjamin Grimm]

I got an e-mail from someone who's working with Ed Hearn. I won't post her name here, since she didn't give me permission to do so, but here's what she's pitching:

Ed is leading the charge for Nephcure in the Chase Community Giving Facebook Contest. Nephcure is among 100 non-profit organizations with budgets of 10,000,000 dollars or less, who are competing for a 1 million dollar grant. Here is the youtube link to Ed�s video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoeuz2fVHGU Other relevant links are: http://www.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving http://www.nephcure.org Thanks so much for your time!

[stevejrogers]

Willie Mays doing press tour for bio on him due out in a couple of weeks.

[ashie62]

First line of Willies' book

"None of ya were half the player I was so the hell with ya!"

[Willets Point]

One ex-Met will participate in this weekend's Faith Bowl where they will say things like this:

�That's where we have to redirect our energy, to teach our young men, this is what a real man is, being a faithful husband, present father and as well as a provider. � Don�t live the life others want you to live. Live the life God wants you to live.�

[Guest Kong76]

Ash: "None of ya were half the player I was so the hell with ya!" <<<

He wouldn't be half wrong.

[Guest cooby]

This was today
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-dade/story/1463953.html

[G-Fafif]

Willie Mays in an enjoyable two-hour interview with Bob Costas on MLBN tonight (repeated at 11 PM and 2 AM Eastern and, I imagine, a lot from there). Willie remembers what Willie wants to remember the way Willie wants to remember it. Bob's sole Met question regarded the falling down in the '73 WS. Willie reconstructed the 12-inning, 10-7 victory that was full of miscues (including his own) into a Met laugher that they won 10-2, thanks to Willie -- who also helped them win the first game of the Series (which they didn't).

Old Baseball Player Exhibits Selective Memory would be the headline from this reminiscence.

Willie allowed he was doing the interview not so much to promote the authorized biography that's just been released but because Bob has always been fair to him and he wanted to help him out in his new job.

[stevejrogers]

From Crain's New York Business Mo Vaughn's home runs: Builds affordable-housing empire scooping up distressed properties.

[Fman99]

As per Rotoworld, Clifford the Big Red Floyd has taken a broadcasting job with Fox Sports Florida, I assume covering Marlins games in some format, while leaving an option open to come back and play if someone needs a "big lefty bat off the bench."

Good luck Cliff.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Tony the Tiger Clark goes to work for the MLBPA.

[MFS62]

Heard on the radio the other night that Scott Strickland has left Georgia Tech, where he was an assistant coach, to become the new head baseball coach at Kent State.
Later

[Met Hunter]

MFS62 wrote: Heard on the radio the other night that Scott Strickland has left Georgia Tech, where he was an assistant coach, to become the new head baseball coach at Kent State. Later

That's Scott Stricklin. A different player altogether from the bum we remember. I think the former Met is still hanging around the minors somewhere.

[metirish]

Scott Strickland is in the Marlins org somewhere , or was anyway.

looks like he's at Spring Training

http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=232994

[MFS62]

metirish wrote: Scott Strickland is in the Marlins org somewhere , or was anyway. looks like he's at Spring Training http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=232994

Oops. That's what happens when you hear stuff on the radio.
http://www.kentstatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=11400&ATCLID=605613

Easy mistake to make.

Later

[Guest Edgy DC]

Only one place to get your Mookie.

DJ Dozier, on the ballot.

OE: I can't access the page, but Bud Harrelson is apparently shopping a memoir.

[Gwreck]

Doc Gooden, unable to stay on the right side of the law, apparently.

Deadspin (I know, I hate linking to them too) reporting Doc charged with DUI (with a child passenger!!), among other things as a result of a traffic accident.

[G-Fafif]

Glendon Rusch, Chicago sports bar investor.

[MFS62]

Catcher Vance Wilson exercised an out clause in his contract and retired, reports Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star. Perhaps he'll move on to a coaching gig.

Wilson, 37, hit .270/.342/.461 in 229 Double A plate appearances for the Royals' affiliate last year after missing two years with a pair of elbow surgeries. He played eight seasons for the Mets and Tigers, earning about $4.9MM along the way.

37?
It seems only yesterday he was backing up Mike Piazza.

Later

[G-Fafif]

Benny Agbayani, per the Snooze, enjoying retirement in Hawaii.

Found this nugget intriguing:

He played in 119 games for the Mets' 2000 World Series team, batting .289 with 15 homers and 60 RBI. That season, Agbayani hit an 11th-inning grand slam to beat the Cubs in Tokyo in the second game of the year and he homered in the 13th inning of Game 3 of the division series against the Giants. He cherishes a photo of his teammates throwing him into the air afterward. He also helped the Mets to their lone win in the World Series, doubling in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning of Game 3. "I can't believe it's been 10 years already," says Agbayani, who adds that he'll be at Citi Field sometime this season with other members of the team that lost in five games to the Yankees. "The Subway Series, it couldn't get any better than that, just the intensity of the fans, the intensity of the atmosphere, of the games themselves. We had an unbelievable team - great atmosphere in the clubhouse."

Haven't seen any mention of a tenth anniversary commemoration, but that would be sweet (ending of 2000 postseason notwithstanding).

[stevejrogers]

Wouldn't surprise me. They always give the 1973ers their due on the 10s and 5s anniversary wise.

Speaking of which, the 2010 Mets Yearbook went and did a "Where Are They Now" page on that team:

Kurt Abbott:
Police Officer in Ft. Lauderdale

Benny Agbayani:
Retired in Oahu, HI

Edgardo Alfonzo:
Playing Winter Ball in Venezuela, and living in Short Hills

Armando Benitez:
They list "Active Player" and he is living in the Dominican

Derek Bell:
Retired in Tampa. No word if he is living on a boat.

Mike Bordick:
A Roving Instructor with the Orioles, residence is listed as Baltimore

Dennis Cook:
A "Full-Time Dad" in Austin, Texas

John Franco:
Mets "Club Ambassador"

Matt Franco:
Co-Owns an ATM Company out in Simi Valley, CA

Darryl Hamilton:
Working out of Houston as a Senior Specialist for On-Field Operations for the Commissioner's Office

Mike Hampton:
Retired, though some say he may have been retired for 10 years, in Paradise Valley, AZ

Lenny Harris:
Lives in Miami and is a coach in the Dodger organization

Bobby Jones
Living in Fresno, and owns his own BBQ sauce company, Sloppy Joe's

Al Leiter
YES and MLB commentator, resides in Summit, NJ

Joe McEwing
Manager for the White Sox' Single A team in Winston Salem, and lives in Yardley, PA

Jay Payton
Resides in Raleigh, VA and was a ST Invitee for the Rockies at the time of this printing

Timo Perez
Living in the Dominican and is said to have signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers

Mike Piazza
Living in Miami and is listed as "Consultant, Italian Baseball Foundation and father of two daughters"

Todd Pratt:
Living in Douglasville, GA and is the coach for the Bulls of Douglasville in the Sunbelt Collegiate Summer League

Rick Reed:
Full-Time Dad in Proctorville, OH

Glendon Rusch
Retired in La Canada, CA

Bubba Trammell:
Private Hitting Instructor in Knoxville, TN

Robin Ventura:
Living out in Santa Monica and a Broadcaster for ESPN's College World Series coverage and is listed as father of four

Turk Wendell
Full-time Dad and Hunting Guide out in Larksbur, CO

Rick White:
Pitching Coach at Wittenberg College out in Springfield, OH

Todd Zeile:
Living in Van Nuys, CA and is listed as a filmmaker, and co-owner of Aci-St. Luis Jet Center

Manager and Coaches
Bobby Valentine
ESPN Commentator and still living in Stamford, CT

Al Jackson:
Minor League Pitching Consultant with the Mets and residing in Port St. Luice

Tom Robson:
Retired and watches three grandkids play baseball in Sun Lakes, AZ

Cookie Rojas:
Living in Aventura, FL and is a Spanish TV broadcaster for the Marlins

John Stearns:
Also residing in Port St. Luice and is a Major League scout with the Mariners

Dave Wallace:
Lives in Vero Beach, FL and is the Minor League Pitching Coordinator for the Braves

Mookie Wilson:
Resides in Eastover, SC and is the Mets Roving Minor League Outfield and Base Running Coordinator

[stevejrogers]

Should also be noted that the Mets Program is doing a series on the highlights of 2000 running through out the season.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

W Bobby Jones Living in Fresno, and owns his own BBQ sauce company, Sloppy Joe's

I liked Bobby Jones. Drove me nuts finding more on this because the company is apparently Sloppy Jon's, not Joe's.

Here's a thing on it from Kevin Kernan at the Post. I'm pretty sure I'd have remembered if we did this already, but forgive me if it's a repeat.

Former Hurler More than One-Hit Wonder Bobby Jones served up one of the best postseason pitching performances in Mets history, one-hitting the Giants in the 2000 NLDS. Jones is one of just five pitchers in postseason history to pitch a shutout allowing one or no hits. The others are: Claude Passeau, perfect gamer Don Larsen, Jim Lonborg and Roger Clemens. Jones beat the Giants, 4-0, in the clinching Game 4. The one hit he surrendered was a fifth-inning double to Jeff Kent. Now the right-hander is serving up some pretty tasty barbecue back home in Fresno, Calif. He�s so good at manning the grill that he and a partner have their own little barbecue sauce, called Sloppy Jon�s. It�s a local product, there�s some fine-tuning to be done, but there are plans to make the sauce available on a larger scale. Jones was the Mets� first-round draft pick out of Fresno State in 1991. Two years later he was in the majors. Jones pitched for the Mets for eight seasons. He also cooked. �Me and Turk Wendell used to eat fried turkey in the bullpen a lot during batting practice,� Jones said with a laugh. �We didn�t really have a kitchen at Shea, but when I went to San Diego I cooked a lot.� Jones posted a 74-56 record for the Mets. The turning point came during the 2000 season, when he was sent to the minors. After he was hammered by the Yankees 13-5 on June 10, he agreed to go down to Triple-A Norfolk. �I had never been sent down. It was really a tough thing to swallow, but I knew that it was best for the team,� Jones said. �I worked on some things and came back up and then to have that game against the Giants was pretty special. �It was emotional for me because of the way the fans cheered me. It was the coolest thing ever. I went from the bottom of the barrel to the top.� Following the 2000 season, Jones signed with the Padres as a free agent. He retired after the 2002 season. Jones and his wife have three children, ages 13, 11 and 7. If there is a local fundraiser, you can find Jones behind the grill. Memphis, Kansas City or Texas style; his favorite is cooking ribs. �A close second is brisket,� Jones said. �Pork or beef, it just depends what you feel like that night,� Jones added. �I do a lot of whole pigs. That�s why ribs are little bit easier than doing a whole brisket � 4 hours vs. 24 hours. You�ve got to be constantly watching that fire. It�s really an art.� Low and slow. Jones said he hopes to run his own restaurant one day when the timing is right. �I�ve already designed a menu, but the restaurant business is so difficult, you have to be there, you can�t just open a place and forget about it,� he said. He wants to write a cookbook, too. For now, though, he is content competing in cook-offs and cooking for charity events. �When I first started cooking, there were plenty of times when it would go in the trash and the pizza man would show up,� Jones said. �It�s like anything else, sometimes failure makes you better.� He also gives pitching lessons and was the pitching coach at Fresno State in 2006. Two years later, Fresno State won the college World Series. �My freshmen were juniors,� he said. �It was as much of a thrill for me as it was for those kids.� Jones also is an avid wine collector and has started making different wines with friends. �We made six vintages this year that are in barrels now,� Jones said. �It�s not for sale. It�s our own little deal. �We purchased the grapes from wineries all over Napa Valley and did the whole process ourselves in a little facility we have here. When they�re done and bottled we distribute them amongst our group.� Family, friends, barbecue and wine, Bobby Jones has all the bases covered.