Memories of Red

[Edgy MD]

Justin Turner: LA Dodger.

[Edgy MD]

Minor league dealio, too.

[G-Fafif]

Before we knew him for pie, we knew him for deserving facefuls of the stuff. Broke Ron Swoboda's Mets rookie record for most consecutive games with an RBI in 2011, though he disappointed me by admitting he had no idea who Ron Swoboda was.

Remembering he was a cause celebre for the "why won't they give Mostly Unknown Quantity a chance?" crowd, though once he became known, the same psychographic demanded somebody besides Justin Turner get playing time.

If I could pull his arm back once, it would've been June 1, 2012, when he drew a mustache on the Mona Lisa during Johan's post-no-no chat with Guys! Pick your pie spots, kid.

Was part of one group interview situation with him, at the 2011 holiday jam. "Nice kid," I remember thinking.

[Edgy MD]

Fun guy, but for a bench player, but in that sense, enjoyed being a big leaguer a little too much for a guy whose status as such was highly tenuous.

Was platooning with Murphy at second the day Wright crashed into the Davis. The next day --- and for much of the rest of the summer --- he was third, firstr was at second, and Tejada was brought up to play second.

Essentially replacing their two best best hitters with Tejada and the inverse of the Murphy/Turner platoon, the team essentially treaded water in the standings, and I appreciated him for this.

Getting fat, becoming a negative on defense, showing up at weddings with his fray-fray untended, I didn't appreciate as much. One dark night, he was tweeting about heading into Vegas for a fun weekend, and some chick (or so the photo said, but I have my doubts) was all "Hey, @redturn2, I'll be at the Borgada at 10:00. Let's MEET!"

And he was all "@BarbieDreamhouse CRAZY! See you there!"

And I was all ("Private Message: Justin, you are TOTALLY being set up here. Watch the hell out.")

He said he was hip and knows what cooks. Maybe, but his goodtime-goofball persona had me worried. Hey, maybe Barbie turned out to be his current girlfriend.

[Guest themetfairy]

I'll remember him for the post-game celebratory pies in the face, and more for being a fun guy than a good player (he was decent, but not superlative).

And I'll remember him for using Call Me Maybe as his at-bat music; when I hear that song, I think of Justin.

[fimg=540:15qdj9bt]http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6064/6107325371_fab74e496e_b.jpg[/fimg:15qdj9bt]

[ashie62]

Free spirited fun guy... He will love the left coast..

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Definitely outpunched his weight class in the whole "being a big-leaguer" thing, but at least until he got fat and unreliable, was a decent guy to have around.

I think he will remind us that it's OK and maybe even a help to have a big personality as a bench player, but that can't come before staying in shape as a bench player. There is nothing more useless than a first line of defense that's unavailable.

Best memory of him was a really long pinch at-bat during one of those Thursday afternoon games in 2012, I think. I listened at my cubey as he fouled off a bunch and then got a big hit. Against the Phillies maybe? I don't recall.

[G-Fafif]

I believe the game you're thinking of was the last one of the first Marlins series, in April, the game famous in that moment for the Mets fielding an all home-grown lineup for the first time since 1971 (and a sweep of Jose Reyes's new team). Turner contributed big-time to running up Heath Bell's enormous pitch count.

Listened to that game in the Hofstra cafeteria the first day of the 50th Anniversary conference.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Yes to beat Heath Bell. It's all coming back to me now...

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I remember him feeding Heath Bell's recurring orange nightmares a couple of times.

[Edgy MD]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Yes to beat Heath Bell. It's all coming back to me now...

[Zvon]

I like how Turnip would be thrown into any infield position, any time of the game, and he looked as laid back and relaxed filling the spot with leather as anyone I've ever seen. I was always saying give him more at bats, but just to keep him sharp. Turner's a good bench guy in my book.

[smg58]

Reserve middle infielders who can give you a .700 OPS aren't that easy to find and will always have a place on a National League bench, even if they're not that good in the field. I'd rather have him on my bench than a glove guy who's less useful in a pinch-hitting situation than half of my pitchers.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I was about to call you a dirty liar with pants afire for saying Tyrna had a 700 OPS last year till I looked it up.

So he did. But also, looks as though his best work was done as a starter in September and not a benchie when we really could have used him.

Oh well. Maybe Anthony Seratelli is better.

[Edgy MD]

Yeah, Turner saved a bad season last year with suddenly-in-September production, but he only saved it on paper. He wasn't firing when the team needed him.

He's certainly not the hitter Satin is, and if he was a better fielder, that edge was disappearing or had disappeared. He's gone because Joshie won his slot.

[metirish]

Active on twatter and instagram with Kourtney_with_a_K ......always struck as a guy that is very grateful for his lot in life....

[Edgy MD]

Yeah, I remember somebody ribbing him on some goof he was having, saying "Get a job."

His response was, "I already got a job, and it's the best job in the world."

[Guest themetfairy]

My final memory of Justin