Too stupid not to post twice

[Benjamin Grimm]

Ultimate Mets Database Facebook page wrote: We haven't posted anything in a while because we were waiting until we had something important to say! In last night's game in Miami, we noticed that both teams' starting shortstops (Omar Quintanilla and Adeiny Hechavarria) had eleven letters in their last name! Yesterday was the fifth Mets-Marlins game that both players started. There have been no other similar examples where both shortstops had eleven-letter names. We had a similar situation in left field last year that somehow completely escaped our notice. On June 5 and June 6, 2012, the Mets had Kirk Nieuwenhuis in left field, while the Nationals had Steve Lombardozzi, both proud members of the Eleven-Letter-Last-Name Club. But the lengthiest matchup in Mets history occurred on May 29, 1996 at Shea Stadium, when the starting pitchers were Jason Isringhausen (12 letters) for the Mets, and Bill Van Landingham (13 letters; 14 if you count the space after the Van!) for the Giants. See? We told you it was important!

[Edgy MD]

I always thought Van Landingham was a William.

[nymr83]

Edgy MD wrote: I always thought VanLandingham was a William.

His name isnt long enough already??

[Theoldmole]

This is the kind of information I come here for.

[Benjamin Grimm]

This is perhaps a little less stupid than the previous item I posted here:

Ultimate Mets Database Facebook page wrote: Complete game shutouts have become a lot more infrequent than they used to be. But the Mets have had at least one complete game shutout in each of the 52 years of their existence. The first one of 2013 for the Mets came last night, when Matt Harvey shut down the Colorado Rockies, 5 to 0 in the 111th game of the season. Those of us (and you know who you are!) who don't want the Mets to be shut out of shutouts had reason to be nervous that this would be the first year without a shutout. But there have been a few seasons where we've been left waiting for even longer: 1995, Bobby Jones, game 122. 2008, Johan Santana, game 124. 2011, Chris Capuano, game 130. 1999, Kenny Rogers, game 138. 2009, Pat Misch, game 156. The fun fact about 2009 is that after waiting until game 156 for the first CG/ShO, the Mets got their second one of the season just seven days later, from Nelson Figueroa, in their 162nd and final game. The only time the Mets got a CG/ShO on the first game of the season was in 1993, with Dwight Gooden on the mound. Jerry Koosman performed the trick in the second game of the 1968 season, and Jon Matlack did the same in 1976. The last time the Mets got their first CG/ShO in April was in 2005, when Aaron Heilman shocked legions of Mets fans by pitching a one-hitter against the Marlins on April 15. Here's the full list: 1962 Al Jackson Game 15 1963 Carl Willey Game 14 1964 Al Jackson Game 5 1965 Al Jackson Game 68 1966 Jack Hamilton Game 14 1967 Don Cardwell Game 16 1968 Jerry Koosman Game 2 1969 Jerry Koosman Game 14 1970 Tom Seaver Game 8 1971 Tom Seaver Game 6 1972 Tom Seaver Game 4 1973 Jerry Koosman Game 20 1974 Tom Seaver Game 16 1975 Jerry Koosman Game 18 1976 Jon Matlack Game 2 1977 Tom Seaver Game 4 1978 Craig Swan Game 5 1979 Craig Swan Game 14 1980 Mark Bomback Game 16 1981 Pete Falcone Game 100 1982 Charlie Puleo Game 31 1983 Tom Seaver Game 9 1984 Dwight Gooden Game 29 1985 Dwight Gooden Game 5 1986 Dwight Gooden Game 12 1987 Sid Fernandez Game 46 1988 Ron Darling Game 7 1989 Bob Ojeda Game 64 1990 Sid Fernandez Game 13 1991 Dwight Gooden Game 59 1992 David Cone Game 20 1993 Dwight Gooden Game 1 1994 Bobby Jones Game 29 1995 Bobby Jones Game 122 1996 Jason Isringhausen Game 60 1997 Bobby Jones Game 51 1998 Al Leiter Game 45 1999 Kenny Rogers Game 138 2000 Mike Hampton Game 72 2001 Rick Reed Game 58 2002 Al Leiter Game 16 2003 Steve Trachsel Game 67 2004 Tom Glavine Game 44 2005 Aaron Heilman Game 10 2006 Alay Soler Game 61 2007 Tom Glavine Game 76 2008 Johan Santana Game 124 2009 Pat Misch Game 156 2010 Jon Niese Game 60 2011 Chris Capuano Game 130 2012 Johan Santana Game 47 2013 Matt Harvey Game 111

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

Wasn't that Kenny Rogers shutout in 1999 also the first complete game for any Mets' pitcher that season? I remember there being a big deal about it.

[Edgy MD]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: The last time the Mets got their first CG/ShO in April was in 2005, when Aaron Heilman shocked legions of Mets fans by pitching a one-hitter against the Marlins on April 15.

What shocked more, I think, was Heilman stating in apparent seriousness after the game that he had to come up with a new strategy for coming back at the Marlins in his next game.

Whatever that new strategy was, it didn't work half as good as the old one, as he went four innings, giving up seven runs, on 11 hits.

Ooops.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Yes, it was. The 1999 shutout by Rogers was, and still is, the latest first complete game in Mets history. The only other time that the first one came after the 100th game was Johan Santana in 2008, in the 105th game.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Ultimate Mets Database Facebook page wrote: As you may know, Felix Millan, in 1975, is the only Mets player ever to play in every game of a 162-game season. John Olerud is the only other Met to appear in 162 games, but that was in the 163-game 1999 season. Daniel Murphy has appeared in all 118 games that the Mets have played this season. How many other Mets, we're sure you're wondering, have played in 118 straight games to start a season? We're glad you asked! The answer is, in addition to Murphy and Millan, five. And here they are: Roy McMillan, 1965. (Final total: 157 games) Doug Flynn, 1978. (Final total: 156 games) Doug Flynn, 1980. (Final total: 128 games) Bobby Bonilla, 1993. (Final total: 139 games) John Olerud, 1998. (Final total: 160 games)

[batmagadanleadoff]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Ultimate Mets Database Facebook page wrote: John Olerud is the only other Met to appear in 162 games, but that was in the 163-game 1999 season....

The only game Olerud missed in 1999 was the one the Mets played on planet Mercury.

[Edgy MD]

Felix Millan turns 70 today. Stearns is 62.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Ultimate Mets Database Facebook page wrote: We got a request from a fan today, asking us for a list of Mets position players who appeared as a pitcher. Here's what we found: 1992 Bill Pecota 1999 Matt Franco 2000 Derek Bell 2001 Desi Relaford 2004 Todd Zeile 2012 Rob Johnson 2013 Anthony Recker

[Benjamin Grimm]

Ultimate Mets Database Facebook page wrote: We received an e-mail from a fan asking how many Mets pitchers have hit grand slams. The answer is two: Carl Willey on July 15, 1963 and Jack Hamilton on May 20, 1967. Seven opposing pitchers have hit grand slams against the Mets: Art Mahaffey, Phillies, August 2, 1962; Burt Hooton, Cubs, September 16, 1972; Bob Gibson, Cardinals, July 26, 1973; Enrique Romo, Pirates, October 1, 1980; Dontrelle Willis, Marlins, July 7, 2006; Felix Hernandez, Mariners, June 23, 2008; Jason Marquis, Cubs, September 22, 2008.