Memories of... Zach Lutz

[Edgy MD]

Everybody's favorite David Wright insurance policy is tired of being an insurance policy, I guess. Zach Lutz is heading the Japan to soar with the Rakuten Eagles, aka the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. The GEs are the current defending Japan Series champs, and Lutz will be welcomed to his new digs by manager Senichi Hoshino. They play in the city of Sendai at Miyagi Stadium, which I hear was built using the famed and mysterious crane technique, which is indefensible if done correctly.

Reports don't mention compensation, but I assume the Mets got some. One doesn't just pack up and head to Japan in the middle of a season. Among Zach's new teammates will be fellow gaijin Andruw Jones.

So much for trading Wright.

[Guest themetfairy]

It was nice seeing Zach coming up the line through Binghamton. A big kid who had some pop - wishing him lutza luck in Japan.

[Benjamin Grimm]

This is one of the cards I've made that makes me smell bubble gum. It brought me back to the days of flipping through cards and seeing the familiar Mets color scheme but a mostly unfamiliar player.

[Edgy MD]

Doing perfectly decent this season, but a fourth straight season at AAA had to be getting old. And in the meantime, other guys catch up on the depth chart, so a trip to the disabled list for Wright could just as easily mean the opportunity would go to Flores, Campbell, or Satin, as to him, so the time was probably right to jump ship.

My main memory of him has to be his pinch-hitting goodness in this game, a September 2013 game in which the Mets went to the eighth down 4-0, got one back in the bottom of the eighth on a sacrifice fly, and that was all feeling like a big whoop, but then they rallied for four runs and the win in the ninth, using a lineup entirely made up of rookies, many or most of whom were September sailors.

• Walk to Andrew Brown
  
• Lucas Duda strikes out (1 out)
  
• Brown advances to second on a wild pitch
  
• Juan Lagares walks
  Sergio Romo takes over on the mound
  Zach Lutz pinch-hits for Tejada
  
• Lutz lines a double to left, scoring Brown, Laggy to third (4-2)
  
• Juan Centeno reaches on an infield single, scoring Laggy, Lutz to third (4-3)
  Anthony Recker pinch runs for Centeno
  
• Matt den Dekker walks, Recker to second
  
• Omar Quintanilla pinch hits for Vic Black
  
• Quintanilla flies out to right (2 out)
  
• Josh Satin (who hit the sac fly in the eighth) lines a single to left, Lutz scores to tie the game (4-4)
  OMYGOD! Tim Teufel is sending Recker!!!!
  
• Recker beats the throw from Gregor Blanco (5-4)
  METS WIN!! METS WIN!! BALANCE RESTORED TO THE FORCE!!

I'm not sure, but I think this was a game we all came away from this game very impressed by Terry Collins. Perhaps something about the counter-intuitive choice he made, pinch-running Recker, and using Quintanilla to pinch-hit for the next batter.

[MFS62]

My main memory was how proud I was when my kid made it to the majors. I wish him the best of everything over there.
Zach, don't forget to write. We still love you.

This opens up a roster spot for the anticipated PTBNL from the Ike deal.

Later

[Ceetar]

MFS62 wrote: My main memory was how proud I was when my kid made it to the majors. I wish him the best of everything over there. Zach, don't forget to write. We still love you. This opens up a roster spot for the anticipated PTBNL from the Ike deal. Later

Well, I doubt he'll need to be put on the 40 man since word seems to be he's a 2013 draftee.

40 man is at 39 guys now, but 4 catchers is probably more than they need. Teagarden might be looking at a catch and release program here once d'Arnaud gets it together a bit.

As mentioned by Rob Castellano, good chance Lutz mashes over there and parlays it into a contract back here with someone.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Absolutely none.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Wore No. 19. Dad's name was Yogi and the high school coach of him and Recker.

[Vic Sage]

i always thought of him in conjunction with Satin, as in "Satin and Lutz... you know, those AAAA corner IFers; decent bats, positional flexibility -- could be solid UT guys". Then Satin got the shot (succeeding last year, failing this year) and Lutz didn't. When Lutz was passed over again this year, for Campbell, I guess he saw the writing on the wall and took Greeley's advice to "head west, young man, and grow with the nation" ... though he went so far west that it became the east, and the nation he will grow with isn't his.

best of luck, Lutzie.

[bmfc1]

He is also going to be on the same team as Kaz Matsui and Kevin Youkilis (currently on the DL).

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Always had one hell of a chin, and a profile you could set your watch by.

[Edgy MD]

Great IGT from that HeroLutz game I note above, featuring a classick text exchange between Soupcan and his niece.

What's with Soup? Does he stop posting when the Syracuse season ends these days?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I think Soup is posting on a secret forum with Abogdan and Olerud Owned and Gary Cohen Jr. and Dinosaur Jesus and Holy Chicken and Joe Tundra and Joe Randa, Professional Hitter and Big Al and Ms Met and SI Metman and Gregory Gewitrz and RkFast

[G-Fafif]

Lutz rhymed with nuts, not boots. There's a town just north of Tampa by the same name that rhymes with boots. I instinctively assumed Zach Lutz was pronounced the same because I got so used to that Lutz when I was in college.

Had a good game in Colorado last June when David was given a breather in that mile high air.

[Frayed Knot]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I think Soup is posting on a secret forum with Abogdan and Olerud Owned and Gary Cohen Jr. and Dinosaur Jesus and Holy Chicken and Joe Tundra and Joe Randa, Professional Hitter and Big Al and Ms Met and SI Metman and Gregory Gewitrz and RkFast

Fuckin' elitists!!

[ashie62]

Did he play for the Metz?