One Fact and Go, 2015

[Edgy MD]

Now that we are discovering a new generation of Matt Wises and Chip Ambreses � ephemeral Mets but Mets nonetheless � I'm calling for a revival of One Fact and Go. A thread in which I ask for one fact about a Met who beguiles me because I know so little about him, but there is his name on the list right next to those of human colossi for whom I would gladly kill or die.

It's easy. I name a guy. You respond by giving me one fact � one you know or, in a crisis of knowledge, one you have to look up. But don't give me bullshit that you think you know. And give us a modestly interesting fact if you can. "He sucked" doesn't really illuminate the darkness.

Then you submit a Met of your own. One who beguiles you despite your relative lack of knowledge. Don't forget that please.

I'll open with... Justin Hampson.

[dgwphotography]

Edgy MD wrote: I'll open with... Justin Hampson.

My first reaction was... "Who?"

Pitched 10 games in 2012, mainly after a September callup. Pitched to a respectable 1.80 ERA in only 10 innings.

I always loved the name Joe Moock. Tell me why.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Best-ever Met by that name until Moockie Wilson came along.

Here's one that always makes me insane: Not Vance Wilson, not Carlos Delgado, but Wilson Delgado

[Edgy MD]

He violated the drug agreement as a minor leaguer the year after he was a Met and he was never heard from again!

Mike Fyhrie me. How do you even pronounce that?

[ashie62]

Michael Edwin Fyhrie (born December 9, 1969 in Long Beach, California) is a former professional baseball player who played 5 seasons for the New York Mets, Anaheim Angels, Chicago Cubs, and Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball.

He also pitched one season in Japan for the Chiba Lotte Marines in 2003. The following year, he played for the Hyundai Unicorns in Korea where he sported a 16-6 record with a sub-3.00 E.R.A. Currently, Fyhrie plays baseball for the SoCal MSBL (Men's Senior Baseball League) Whales

How about Randy Tate.

[Lefty Specialist]

Randy Tate tried. Honest he did.

But he's the owner of a lifetime 0-for-41 with a stick in his hands in the one season he pitched in the majors (1975).

What's so square about Sergio Ferrer?

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

#1 before Mookie.

BONUS NON-FACT: NOT related-- except in the human-family way-- to Miguel/Jose Ferrer.

Daddy, what's a Ross Jones?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Pornstache-wearing sacrifice-flyer. Lesser of the three Joneses to have worn No. 21 for the Mets.

Ramon Martinez.

[Edgy MD]

Amazingly came out of nowhere and ended up as our starting second baseman as Jerry navigated the team into collapse down the stretch in 2008.

Can you give me a more relevant or vivid fact about Mike Bruhert?

[batmagadanleadoff]

Mike Bruhert was married to Gil Hodges's daughter and was as tall as your average NBA small forward. And unless he's dead, he's still as tall as your average NBA small forward.

[Edgy MD]

And... GO!

[batmagadanleadoff]

Edgy MD wrote: Mike Fyhrie me. How do you even pronounce that?

Fyhrie rhymes with "theory". It's tougher to spell than to say, I'd say.

I got video of this guy. Try and find a picture of Fyhrie in a Mets uniform. I dare you.

Edited March 26, 2015 by Guest

[batmagadanleadoff]

Edgy MD wrote: And... GO!

Somebody take a flier on Filer. Tom Filer.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Ashie62 wrote: Michael Edwin Fyhrie (born December 9, 1969 in Long Beach, California) is a former professional baseball player who played 5 seasons for the New York Mets, Anaheim Angels, Chicago Cubs, and Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball. He also pitched one season in Japan for the Chiba Lotte Marines in 2003. The following year, he played for the Hyundai Unicorns in Korea where he sported a 16-6 record with a sub-3.00 E.R.A. Currently, Fyhrie plays baseball for the SoCal MSBL (Men's Senior Baseball League) Whales

You coulda just posted the wikipedia link and saved yourself all that copying and pasting.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Fyhrie

In the spirit of this thread, why dont'cha just post a wikipedia link to every Mets name that appears here?

[G-Fafif]

Somebody take a flier on Filer. Tom Filer.

Tom Filer pitched for the Mets on the Fourth of July. He let freedom ring -- and the Astros win (he pitched well in defeat, actually, on America's 216th birthday).

Since I conflate Tom Filer with Mike Birkbeck, lay a little Birkbeck on me.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Pitched part of two seasons for Metsie... spread out over four seasons. But that's just trivia... what's fact is, he looked very much like Hojo's more-depressive cousin on the one baseball card I had of his. FACT.

Speaking of Hojo-era depression, what of Ced Landrum?

[MFS62]

Outfielder Ced Landrum never hit a home run in over 100 major league at bats.

Tell us something about Steve Dillon.

Later

[G-Fafif]

MFS62 wrote: Tell us something about Steve Dillon

Steve's last game was Shea's first night game.

How about that Ryan McGuire?

[batmagadanleadoff]

G-Fafif wrote: MFS62 wrote: Tell us something about Steve Dillon Steve's last game was Shea's first night game.

Dillon also appears on the first Topps card to be photographed at Shea Stadium, even if Steve himself was shot at the Polo Grounds.

[Edgy MD]

It's hard to pick a more ephemeral Met than Ryan McGuire, a one-game Met, but was hugely consequential in the team's history. His pinch-hit grand slam the season after he was with the Mets organization, on May 31, 2001 off of Turk Wendell, turned a Mets win into a loss, delivering a terrible Marlins team in a terrible 1-18 tailspin to victory.

Knowing how 2001 would end, that game could certainly have turned out to be a difference-maker. It was the fourth straight loss for a Mets team desperately trying to find wind in their pennant-defending sails. They'd find an absolute zephyr in the second half, but it was just a little bit too little, just a little bit too late, and this loss is as good a choice for the difference-maker as any.



I bet Greg Harts has a story.

[Gwreck]

Greg never played as a defensive player in the major leagues. (He did get one hit, though).

What can you tell me about Mickey Weston?

[G-Fafif]

Gwreck wrote: What can you tell me about Mickey Weston?

Mickey Weston's basically the nicest Michigan guy in the world, according to a source who should be reliable on the subject.

When I think of Mickey Weston, my mind drifts to Jeff Kaiser. Got something to fill my mind with there?

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

Jeff Kaiser is another good Michigander! Kaiser was born "down river" from Detroit and went to school in Kalamazoo. Alas, was not acquainted with the thrill of victory during his seven-year career, but twice experienced the agony of defeat. He experienced neither as a Met.

But what about Dan Murray, and wouldn't I kill for one of his jerseys?

[Edgy MD]

Dan Murray was the pitching coach for the 2006 Kingsport Mets, where 21 different minor leaguers received coaching, only one of whom has reached the major leagues. That one, Jos� De La Torre, threw 11.1 innings for the 2013 Red Sox, to the tune of a 6.35 ERA.

Fact me up about Tom O'Malley.

[Centerfield]

Tom O'Malley was the youngest player in the bigs when he made his major league debut in 1982 while playing for the Giants. His debut was a Shea Stadium.

What is interesting about Bartolome Fortunado?

[batmagadanleadoff]

Mike Fyhrie me. How do you even pronounce that? Fyhrie rhymes with "theory". It's tougher to spell than to say, I'd say. I got video of this guy. Try and find a picture of Fyhrie in a Mets uniform. I dare you.

I don't know if it's a relatively new feature, or if I just noticed it (I caught it a few months ago), but baseball-reference has pronunciation info for every player's last name. Joe Grzenda: Solved.

[MFS62]

Bartolome Fortunato pitched small parts of 2 seasons with the Mets, and was undefeated, with a 2-0 record and an ERA over 7.00. (The fact that was came to the Mets in the Scott Kazmir trade was too painful to lead with)

Whaddaya' know about Ed Bressoud?

Later

Edited June 11, 2015 by Guest

[dgwphotography]

Centerfield wrote: Tom O'Malley was the youngest player in the bigs when he made his major league debut in 1982 while playing for the Giants. His debut was a Shea Stadium. What is interesting about Bartolome Fortunado?

It's Bartolom� Fortunato, and he's never eaten in my kitchen.

He was originally an outfielder, but was converted to a pitcher when he was signed by Tampa Bay.

Would we have gotten more out of Bruce Boisclair if he was converted to a pitcher?

[Edgy MD]

Bruce Boisclair is the second sexiest outfielder in this picture.



Yeah, that's opinion, but it almost qualifies as fact.

Bruce Boisclair began his career as a 23rd inning pinch runner. Not a lot of people could claim such an auspicious beginning.

Hey, you don't have to be obscure to have an interesting fact. How about a Jerry Koosman fact?

[dgwphotography]

Koos lost 20 the year after he came in second in the Cy Young voting to Randy Freaking Jones despite having only one fewer loss with a lower ERA and more than twice as many K's

Tell me something about Mike Vail