Did Somebody Move Their Cheese?

[Benjamin Grimm]

The following former Mets appeared in the major leagues in 2012, but did not do so in 2013. Are their careers over? Will any of them be heard from again?

Manny Acosta
Rod Barajas
Miguel Batista
Miguel Cairo
D. J. Carrasco
Brad Emaus
Willie Harris
Livan Hernandez
Luis Hernandez
Danny Herrera
Ryota Igarashi
Jason Isringhausen
Mike Jacobs
Fred Lewis
Guillermo Mota
Xavier Nady
C. J. Nitkowski
Val Pascucci
Ronny Paulino
Elvin Ramirez
Johan Santana
Brian Schneider
Wilson Valdez
Dan Wheeler
Chris Young

[Edgy MD]

Many of dese mokes have already announced retirement. Wheeler, the Schneid, Mota. Val Pascucci is coaching for the Mets in the minors this year.

I have a theory that Fred Lewis was never supposed to play for the Mets, and only ended up in the lineup a handful of times due to an unchecked clerical error that somebody finally flagged.

[Guest d'Kong76]

If anyone finds themselves looking for their cheese, I
recommend reading this book. It can be read in less than
an hour and it's worth the time.

[metirish]

C. J. Nitkowski is a prolific tweeter and MLB contributor....as these things go he is pretty good.

[metirish]

Hold on, C. J. Nitkowski has not appeared since 2005

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/nitkoc.01.shtml

[metirish]

Danny Herrera 2011

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/herreda01.shtml

[Edgy MD]

metirish wrote: Hold on, C. J. Nitkowski has not appeared since 2005 http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/nitkoc.01.shtml

C.J. gave the Mets some minor league innings in 2012.

[Benjamin Grimm]

metirish wrote: Hold on, C. J. Nitkowski has not appeared since 2005 http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/nitkoc.01.shtml

He showed up on the list because he appeared in the Mets farm system in 2012, playing for Buffalo and Binghamton.

I should have mentioned that at the top, but I forgot that such people would be included!

[metirish]

Ah, OK, makes sense......

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

I think I read this week that Livan Hernandez was finally hanging them up.

Pretty nice career for a guy who escaped Cuba and its abject poverty.

[Benjamin Grimm]

And Mike Jacobs, of course, was "The Jake Monster." Geez, how many years ago was that? I still remember Valadius' "Nickname Methodology" thread.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Wow, it was eight years ago.

[G-Fafif]

Johan's still keepin' on. At last check, the first CY was a minor league Nat.

Several of these guys are in the "retired" thread.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

There's some great fighting in that thread.

[Zvon]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: There's some great fighting in that thread.

Did a few of those guys leave or change their names? I can't keep track sometimes.

[Edgy MD]

Well, it's 4:48 on Friday, so...

I'll take 1-5.

Manny Acosta --- pitched for the Yomiuri Giants in 2013. Last seen appearing on the Norwegian version of The Voice, singing "Burn" by Usher, and absolutely killing it.

Rod Barajas --- announced his retirement in early March and was announced to be a new minor league skipper in the Pirates system. Was part of the makeup department on the Thor sequel.

Miguel Batista --- played a handful of AAA games in 2013, but got no call from Toronto. Released in May. Perhaps concentrating on his side career writing poetry and horror novels. (That one is actually true.)

Miguel Cairo --- spent the last three years utility playing for the Reds, and faked it more or less for the first two, before becoming just about the worst albatross in baseball as a 38-year-old in 2013. Got more PT in doing so than you might expect from a team going places. Reds thanked him by making him a special assitant to Walt Jocketty, the sort of job a team gives usually to a retired legend. Teh rReds gave it to Miguel Cairo.

Also likes to sculpt in his spare time... AND FIRE IS HIS MEDIUM.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Wow, it was eight years ago.

Mary Hopkin moment over here.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

That Bret sounds like a real peach.

I hear Isringhausen's roaming Middle America, righting wrongs, dodging tumbleweed, and-- to those who show the glint of heroic promise and facial hair-- teaching the knuckle curve. Coaching, IOW.

[Edgy MD]

D.J. Carrasco --- Perhaps the least impressive chapter in the Book of Omar, D.J. got released in the middle of his second season of a 2(!!!)-year-deal. He caught on with Braves and was released again within the month. I don't see where there was an official announcement of a retirement, but then again, retiring people was never D.J.'s strong suit. Anyhow, his representatives at Gaylord Sports list him as retired.

All the more time to concentrate on his audio blog.

[Guest cooby]

Did a few of those guys leave or change their names? I can't keep track sometimes.

Wondered that too. And as KC says those were the days. Just think Val's almost 30 now.

And Val, if your reading, that's a pretty cool system.

[G-Fafif]

Edgy MD wrote: D.J. Carrasco --- Perhaps the least impressive chapter in the Book of Omar

Alderson's folly. Omar had his share, but this one was under new management.

[G-Fafif]

Cross-referencing the end of the Dan Wheeler era.

[Edgy MD]

G-Fafif wrote: Edgy MD wrote: D.J. Carrasco --- Perhaps the least impressive chapter in the Book of Omar Alderson's folly. Omar had his share, but this one was under new management.

I meant to write "Book of Sandy." I thought I wrote "Book of Sandy." My wife was on the phone saying I'm waiting downstairs at the time I typed that.

I stand by the point I meant to make. Seriously, if only that were Omar's worst day..

[metirish]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: And Mike Jacobs, of course, was "The Jake Monster." Geez, how many years ago was that? I still remember Valadius' "Nickname Methodology" thread.

Can't wait to see Congressman Val explain his "nickname methodology "on FOX in a few years ....Bret will be apposing of course.

[G-Fafif]

Mets released Chris Schwinden from minor league camp today. He last pitched in majors as Met in first two months 2012, then was waived and passed around various organizations like a bowl of white rice before winding up back at Buffalo five weeks later, it might be recalled. Pitched as a Bison and a 51 in '12 and '13.

Do with that info what you will.

[Vic Sage]

Wow, it was eight years ago.

I'm sorry i missed out on that thread. I must've been, you know, working that day. What are the odds?

Ah, Bret.

What a piece of work was that man!
How ignoble his reasons! How did he become a member of a faculty?
His form of discourse, bowel-moving; his expressions less than admirable!
In action how like a demon, in comprehension how like a cod!
The beauty of the world eluded him! With a pair of gonads like a bull!
And yet by me what of his quintessence could be sussed?
Man delights not me, nor Woman neither;
But he left me smiling, so I always let it go.

I miss him.
No, really.

[Guest d'Kong76]

I'm sure he's still around, and if he wanted to could say
what's on his mind.

A couple of us are fb friends with him, he's not on often.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Vic Sage wrote: I miss him. No, really.

Not me.

[Edgy MD]

Brad Emaus --- After failing in his attempt to secure the Mets second base job, he ended up in Colorado Springs and tore the place apart. Returning to the Mets (his re-signing was announced along with the signing of Fred Lewis) in 2012, he was dreadful for the Bisons, going .212 / .297 / .315 // .612. Didn't play in 2013.

Loved his country and nearly died for it. By which I mean that he was nearly crushed to death at a Brad Paisley concert. I would consider him retarred.

Willie Harris --- In 44 2014 plate appearances, he went .114 / .170 / .205 // .375. I'm sorry, but that's just a hard thing to do.