Memories of Mike Baxter

[Guest themetfairy]

The Catch will always be our biggest collective memory of Mike Baxter. The man should never have to buy a beer for himself in this town again.

This shot is of Lucas Duda congratulating Baxter on a 2-run homer on August 28, 2012. If he had hit more of these we wouldn't have lost him today.

[Edgy MD]

Fine season off the bench followed by him totally losing his approach following his injury. A lot like Eric Valent in that regard.

Maintaining form and focus as a bench player is hard. One of Whitey Herzog's basic principles was to keep rotating them. Always seemed heartless to me, but I see where he's coming from.

[Frayed Knot]

For a marginal hitter who could be totally shit-down by LHPs, he had himself more than his share of walk-off hits during his time here.
So while his overall tenure was largely inconsequential, he did have a knack for making his hits almost as timely as his best-known catch.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Not nearly as worthless as I woulda had you believe. But every bit as replaceable given the lead time we've got. Not nearly as dangerous post-injury as pre-injury. Like relievers, rare to find role-playing pinch-hitters who can do it year after year.

From Whitestone but Howie always mentioned he makes his home in Nashville, where I think he met his Wifey.

[Edgy MD]

Tennessee Diana Baxter, you did a good job looking after your man.

[Edgy MD]

The Dodgers DFA'd Alex Castellanos to make room. The Mets could grab him and make it an even trade.

Didn't have a hot season, but he's a career .500 slugger in the minors.

[G-Fafif]

One of his first accomplishments was to come off the bench and help win a come-from-behind affair over his former employer. Not only did the Mets beat the Padres after trailing in he eighth that night, they did it again the next night, triggering a note that it was the first time they'd done it quite that way since 1965. Mike Baxter thus helped invoke Casey Stengel's "Vive La France!" remark that was originally uttered in praise of Danny Napoleon.

First homer totally lost in the fog surrounding Jose Reyes's farewell and, to a lesser extent, Miguel Batista's complete game two-hitter.

Five walks in San Diego.

Two walkoff PHs in the same week this year.

So more than the catch. But oh that catch. Someday enshrine his glove and whichever hand Adrian Johnson used to indicate foul in the Mets HOF.

[Ceetar]

G-Fafif wrote: Two walkoff PHs in the same week this year.

And then he got pinch-hit for in his next walkoff chance.

Which is part of the reason I don't think Collins ever truly believed in him. I would've kept him up and played him more, particularly over Ankiel and Young, but chances are we won't be regretting letting him get away.

Had some good moments. Seemed like a good guy. wore 23.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Is he from the area? I seem to remember hearing something about him being from somewhere around here. I may be wrong.

[Lefty Specialist]

I purchased twelve Mike Baxters and it only cost me ten cents.

[seawolf17]

I'll remember the Catch and the fact that he was from Whitestone. Seemed like a nice guy, but is ultimately replaceable, I guess. I wish him the best.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

The catch by the way, was a super play, don't get me wrong. But seemed like the injury resulted from Baxxy either misjudging where the wall was in relation to his position, or maybe, getting his legs wrapped up weirdly.

Looked to me as though he was prepared for impact with the wall sooner than it actually happened; he allowed himself to fall but the wall didn't get there till he had all that falling momentum and that was what really tore his shoulder up. The real heroic thing was maintaining his grip on the ball once that happened.

[Zvon]

I'll miss the kid from Whitestone. *closes the book on him*