Adopted: John Church

[Edgy MD]

Was it his 2 2/3 of winning scoreless relief over Lexington last night that inspired me to gobble this guy up?

Not quite.

Is it his awsome Burnitz-like chin-and-sideburns combination?

No.

Do I have a soft spot for 23rd-round draft choices with an undistinguished debut season under their belts?

No I do not.

What moves my heart is that, playing in the Sally League, they have their shit so not together, that --- rather than keep their files carefully so they know which photo goes to which player --- they make the player hold up a name plate so as to make clear who he is for the team's press office and, when the player makes the news, the newspaper's photo editor. So when said photo editor is too lazy or disengaged to crop out that name plate, his parents see their son in the paper posing for what looks like a Mudville mugshot.

Anybody who endures that sort of indignity in pursuit of his dream is OK with me.

Let's go, Juan Iglesia.

[Edgy MD]

Just a freak with a goofy photo? NO!

Team	League	W	L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	GO/AO	AVG
SAV	SAL	3	0	1.03	14	0	0	0	1	26.1	17	3	3	0	5	24	1.04	0.191

[Edgy MD]

Photo editors feeling kinda stupid? I hope so.

Team	League	W	L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	GO/AO	AVG
SAV	SAL	5	0	1.01	25	3	0	0	1	53.1	37	7	6	0	17	45	1.6	.201

[Edgy MD]

Those three starts? They weren't fill-ins here and there. Those were his last three consecutive appearances, throwing four, seven, and six scoreless, respectively. He's thrown 23 2/3 consecutive without giving up a run.

[Edgy MD]

Johnny Churchmouse is off to a good start again, back in the pen again, giving up one run in his first four innings and walking away with a win at St. Lucie.

Clocking in at 6'3" and 235, he's as big as a church. Like Scott Hairston, he's got a footballer's neck.

[Edgy MD]

John Church is on shifting ground in St. Lucie, giving up 11 runs over four appearances totalling 5 2/3 innings. He looked to be straightening it all out with two scoreless appearances of two innings each, fanning five and walking one, and then kaboom, a six-run inning (three earned) on May 16.

John Church was born in Florida. John Church went to high school in Florida. John Church went to College in Florida. John Church probably went to church in Florida. I'm diagnosing him with an overdose of home cooking and Prescribing for him a trip to Brooklyn asap.

[Edgy MD]

Last week, the Jupiter Hammerheads shut out the St. Lucies over a doubleheader. Showing the resilient spirit of the parent club, the St. Mets paid the Jupes back in kind yesterday, sweeping two, 9-2 and 9-1

Getting the start in game two was Goodman John Church, who gave up a run in the first inning and shut them down the rest of the way. Seven innings pitched, one earnie, five hits, one walk, and no strikeouts.

How do you like them app... Hey, wait... no strikeouts? As in none? Just what are you teaching these kids, Mets?

[MFS62]

Edgy DC wrote: Like Scott Hairston, he's got a footballer's neck.

The Argonauts are the Toronto team in the Canadian Football League.

Later

[Edgy MD]

Churchmouse is a little old for AA, but more or less getting it done, with a 3.68 ERA in his first 7 1/3 innings. More useful is the nine-strikeout number, against three walks.

[Edgy MD]

He went 36 2/3 innings in for Bingo with a 3.44 ERA, striking out 41 and walking 13.

Then he went to Vegas and added 28 more innings with a 3.21 ERA, striking out 27 and walking another 13.

That's got to be good for a spring training invite, right? Right?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Caption on this twitter photo from Jeff Walters sez:

Congrats Mr & Mrs John Church! Great night w/ great people. @darin_gorski20 @LeatherRocket @JdeGrom19 @_RobbieShields

[fimg=700]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BeXz86WIAAAUHhf.jpg:large[/fimg]

[Edgy MD]

Just want to bounce this up to re-capture this splendid photo. We have deGrom in the fire helmet, Walters owning the sombrero, ... who else?

I recognize the young woman at 4:30 from the Wifey Watch.

[Edgy MD]

John Church, once the subject of the handsomest wedding photos, is an unsigned minor league free agent. And it's February 5.

It's feeling end-of-the-liney, good John. What now?