25 Since No. 5

G-Fafif · April 15, 2015

Anthony Recker became the 154th third baseman in New York Mets history Tuesday night and the 25th player to debut at third base for the Mets since David Wright (No. 129) essentially stuck a foot in the historically revolving door on July 21, 2004. Of course by sticking a foot in a revolving door, Wright had to go on the DL, creating rare dollops of hot corner playing time for others.

Here are all of them, by date of position debut.

154. Anthony Recker 04/14/2015
153. Eric Campbell 06/05/2014
152. Omar Quintanilla 09/15/2013
151. Wilmer Flores 08/06/2013
150. Zach Lutz 06/27/2013
149. Vinny Rottino 05/28/2012
148. Ronny Cede�o 04/10/2012
147. Josh Satin 09/28/2011
146. Nick Evans 07/17/2011
145. Daniel Murphy 05/31/2011
144. Willie Harris 05/12/2011
143. Luis Hernandez 08/31/2010
142. Mike Hessman 07/29/2010
141. Justin Turner 07/19/2010
140. Wilson Valdez 08/25/2009
139. Andy Green 08/19/2009
138. Fernando Tatis 06/17/2008
137. David Newhan 09/29/2007
136. Ruben Gotay 09/07/2007
135. Damion Easley 04/19/2007
134. Julio Franco 09/10/2006
133. Eli Marrero 07/02/2006
132. Jose Valentin 05/26/2006
131. Miguel Cairo 04/21/2005
130. Chris Woodward 04/13/2005

MFS62 · April 15, 2015

I wonder if Julio Franco wants to sign a minor league deal - just in case.

Later

G-Fafif · April 22, 2015

The #stumpgary question Tuesday night was name the five Mets to play third in 1986. He had little problem getting HoJo, Knight, Mitchell and gimmick answer Gary Carter. The stumper was Tim Teufel, which is ingrained into me because of the "79 Third Basemen" song that appears on An Amazin' Era. Teufel got into a game at third early in 1986 and when the VHS was introduced at a press luncheon I was lucky enough to attend on July 8, I was impressed that the songwriter (whose name I once knew but don't remember) worked Teuf in. Then, after Kid was pressed into hot corner duty on July 22, it was remarked soon after, "Now they'll have to revise the song."

The song is here, via the good graces of YouTube and the diligent digging of dgwhitham following a social media discussion of the kit and kaboodle.

Nz_X5Xkoya4&feature=youtu.be

FYI, we're four third basemen away from doubling 79.

G-Fafif · May 14, 2015

This thread salivates over today's lineup.

Edgy MD · May 14, 2015

I imagine that Tejada at third and Flores at short is dramatically worse than the alternative.

G-Fafif · May 14, 2015

If Terry wants to curry favor with me (which he's never indicated is a priority), he'd start Ruben at third, Wilmer at short and then, after the first pitch -- once I can add Ruben to the all-time 3B list -- switch them. 'Cause yeah, Flores has played third and Tejada is the best SS he's got.

Do they really think the portion of Flores's brain that retains whatever he's learned about short will explode if he's asked, for the good of the squad, to play somewhere else for a day? Or a week?

TransMonk · May 14, 2015

G-Fafif wrote:
If Terry wants to curry favor with me (which he's never indicated is a priority), he'd start Ruben at third, Wilmer at short and then, after the first pitch -- once I can add Ruben to the all-time 3B list -- switch them. 'Cause yeah, Flores has played third and Tejada is the best SS he's got.

Do they really think the portion of Flores's brain that retains whatever he's learned about short will explode if he's asked, for the good of the squad, to play somewhere else for a day? Or a week?

Agreed.

If the club needs to walk around on eggshells this much regarding Wilmer's ability to play SS, maybe he's not the best guy for the job long-term. I mean these guys are all professional men, right?

If the Mets ever want to turn the corner from up-and-coming youngsters to tried and true contenders without adding any veteran sluggers, then the kid gloves need to come off eventually.

G-Fafif · May 14, 2015

For the record, Cuddyer has played 174 games at third in his career, though only 17 since 2005. Still, I hope to see him out there at some point, if only to revive the grand tradition -- Frank Thomas, Jim Hickman, Amos Otis, Dave Kingman -- of the Mets sticking outfielders at third and hoping like hell nothing terrible happens.

Edgy MD · May 14, 2015

I'm working with the assumption they think moving him around to second and third when Tejada's otherwise going to be in the lineup � to say nothing of lifting him for late-inning defense � engenders the sort of discouragement and distraction that you don't want to sow into the mind of a young player when he's trying to establish himself as a big-league player.

But I say:

G-Fafif · May 14, 2015

I also enjoyed when they remembered Willie Harris played some third.

nymr83 · May 14, 2015

we've had roughly 2.5 3B debuts in 10 years of Wright and roughly 3 per year before Wright, I'd hardly call that shutting the revolving door on debuts.

batmagadanleadoff · May 14, 2015

G-Fafif · May 14, 2015

Post-Wright update, through this very official-game moment:

155. Ruben Tejada 05/14/2015
154. Anthony Recker 04/14/2015
153. Eric Campbell 06/05/2014
152. Omar Quintanilla 09/15/2013
151. Wilmer Flores 08/06/2013
150. Zach Lutz 06/27/2013
149. Vinny Rottino 05/28/2012
148. Ronny Cede�o 04/10/2012
147. Josh Satin 09/28/2011
146. Nick Evans 07/17/2011
145. Daniel Murphy 05/31/2011
144. Willie Harris 05/12/2011
143. Luis Hernandez 08/31/2010
142. Mike Hessman 07/29/2010
141. Justin Turner 07/19/2010
140. Wilson Valdez 08/25/2009
139. Andy Green 08/19/2009
138. Fernando Tatis 06/17/2008
137. David Newhan 09/29/2007
136. Ruben Gotay 09/07/2007
135. Damion Easley 04/19/2007
134. Julio Franco 09/10/2006
133. Eli Marrero 07/02/2006
132. Jose Valentin 05/26/2006
131. Miguel Cairo 04/21/2005
130. Chris Woodward 04/13/2005

G-Fafif · May 14, 2015

Third Basemen, 1962-1967 -- when the legend took hold.

038 Bob Heise 09/25/1967
037 Ken Boswell 09/18/1967
036 Amos Otis 09/07/1967
035 Joe Moock 09/01/1967
034 Phil Linz 07/19/1967
033 Bob Johnson 06/04/1967
032 Ed Charles 05/12/1967
031 Tommie Reynolds 04/29/1967
030 Jerry Buchek 04/23/1967
029 Sandy Alomar 04/15/1967
028 Jerry Grote 08/03/1966
027 Ed Bressoud 05/14/1966
026 Ken Boyer 04/15/1966
025 Kevin Collins 09/11/1965
024 Gary Kolb 09/01/1965
023 Chuck Hiller 08/22/1965
022 Danny Napoleon 04/24/1965
021 Bobby Klaus 08/15/1964
020 Wayne Graham 08/08/1964
019 Amado Samuel 05/08/1964
018 Johnny Stephenson 04/26/1964
017 Charley Smith 04/24/1964
016 Pumpsie Green 09/15/1963
015 Jim Hickman 06/19/1963
014 Ron Hunt 05/13/1963
013 Al Moran 05/12/1963
012 Larry Burright 05/12/1963
011 Chico Fernandez 05/12/1963
010 Ted Schreiber 04/14/1963
009 Charlie Neal 08/29/1962
008 Sammy Drake 08/10/1962
007 Rick Herrscher 08/02/1962
006 Frank Thomas 06/17/1962
005 Cliff Cook 05/08/1962
004 Elio Chacon 05/05/1962
003 Felix Mantilla 04/23/1962
002 Rod Kanehl 04/21/1962
001 Don Zimmer 04/11/1962

Theoldmole · May 14, 2015

What was Pumpsie Green's other distinction besides being #16?

May 14, 2015

First black red sock

Frayed Knot · May 14, 2015

And if Shoeless Joe turned out to be a Communist, he then would have been the first red Black Sock.

G-Fafif · May 31, 2015

Times takes notice of the third base phenomenon, though they misstate the number of 3B as 144; it is 155. I sent a note to somebody who I hope fixes it, complete with link to UMDB position page.

MFS62 · May 31, 2015

Frayed Knot wrote:
And if Shoeless Joe turned out to be a Communist, he then would have been the first red Black Sock.

As opposed to Curt Schilling who was famous for his red white sock.

Later

RealityChuck · May 31, 2015

TheOldMole wrote:
What was Pumpsie Green's other distinction besides being #16?

First player to get drunk and try to get on a plane to Israel in the middle of the season without a passport or luggage (tied with Gene Conley).

G-Fafif · May 31, 2015

Somehow missed Muno's hot corner debut on Memorial Day. This makes it 27 since No. 5 -- and puts the Times count as off by a dozen.

156. Danny Muno 05/25/2015
155. Ruben Tejada 05/14/2015
154. Anthony Recker 04/14/2015
153. Eric Campbell 06/05/2014
152. Omar Quintanilla 09/15/2013
151. Wilmer Flores 08/06/2013
150. Zach Lutz 06/27/2013
149. Vinny Rottino 05/28/2012
148. Ronny Cede�o 04/10/2012
147. Josh Satin 09/28/2011
146. Nick Evans 07/17/2011
145. Daniel Murphy 05/31/2011
144. Willie Harris 05/12/2011
143. Luis Hernandez 08/31/2010
142. Mike Hessman 07/29/2010
141. Justin Turner 07/19/2010
140. Wilson Valdez 08/25/2009
139. Andy Green 08/19/2009
138. Fernando Tatis 06/17/2008
137. David Newhan 09/29/2007
136. Ruben Gotay 09/07/2007
135. Damion Easley 04/19/2007
134. Julio Franco 09/10/2006
133. Eli Marrero 07/02/2006
132. Jose Valentin 05/26/2006
131. Miguel Cairo 04/21/2005
130. Chris Woodward 04/13/2005

G-Fafif · July 26, 2015

Juan Uribe becomes the fourth Met to make his 3B debut in 2015, tying the one-season record in the Wright Era, which at the moment is kind of on hiatus.

157. Juan Uribe 07/25/2015
156. Danny Muno 05/25/2015
155. Ruben Tejada 05/14/2015
154. Anthony Recker 04/14/2015
153. Eric Campbell 06/05/2014
152. Omar Quintanilla 09/15/2013
151. Wilmer Flores 08/06/2013
150. Zach Lutz 06/27/2013
149. Vinny Rottino 05/28/2012
148. Ronny Cede�o 04/10/2012
147. Josh Satin 09/28/2011
146. Nick Evans 07/17/2011
145. Daniel Murphy 05/31/2011
144. Willie Harris 05/12/2011
143. Luis Hernandez 08/31/2010
142. Mike Hessman 07/29/2010
141. Justin Turner 07/19/2010
140. Wilson Valdez 08/25/2009
139. Andy Green 08/19/2009
138. Fernando Tatis 06/17/2008
137. David Newhan 09/29/2007
136. Ruben Gotay 09/07/2007
135. Damion Easley 04/19/2007
134. Julio Franco 09/10/2006
133. Eli Marrero 07/02/2006
132. Jose Valentin 05/26/2006
131. Miguel Cairo 04/21/2005
130. Chris Woodward 04/13/2005

Theoldmole · July 26, 2015

Players I flat-out don't remember from that first list: Wayne Graham, Johnny Stephenson, Tommie Reynolds, Joe Moock. You'd think I'd remember a name like Joe Moock,

G-Fafif · October 3, 2015

Max Scherzer's no-hitter a footnote to the real history: Kelly Johnson becomes the fifth Met to play third base for the first time in 2015, and only the second to do so in October. Why yes, Alex Trevi�o was the first to it, on October 1, 1978, the final day of that regular season.

Last time the Mets "broke in" this many third basemen in one season? 2000, also the last time the Mets went to the World Series. You're welcome.

158. Kelly Johnson 10/03/2015
157. Juan Uribe 07/25/2015
156. Danny Muno 05/25/2015
155. Ruben Tejada 05/14/2015
154. Anthony Recker 04/14/2015
153. Eric Campbell 06/05/2014
152. Omar Quintanilla 09/15/2013
151. Wilmer Flores 08/06/2013
150. Zach Lutz 06/27/2013
149. Vinny Rottino 05/28/2012
148. Ronny Cede�o 04/10/2012
147. Josh Satin 09/28/2011
146. Nick Evans 07/17/2011
145. Daniel Murphy 05/31/2011
144. Willie Harris 05/12/2011
143. Luis Hernandez 08/31/2010
142. Mike Hessman 07/29/2010
141. Justin Turner 07/19/2010
140. Wilson Valdez 08/25/2009
139. Andy Green 08/19/2009
138. Fernando Tatis 06/17/2008
137. David Newhan 09/29/2007
136. Ruben Gotay 09/07/2007
135. Damion Easley 04/19/2007
134. Julio Franco 09/10/2006
133. Eli Marrero 07/02/2006
132. Jose Valentin 05/26/2006
131. Miguel Cairo 04/21/2005
130. Chris Woodward 04/13/2005

batmagadanleadoff · October 3, 2015

G-Fafif wrote:
You're welcome.

Forward this post to the New York Times.

G-Fafif · October 3, 2015

batmagadanleadoff wrote:
Forward this post to the New York Times.

Times sports dept. clearly in the pocket of Big Inaccuracy.

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