Memories of Jack Leathersich

[Guest themetfairy]

We were watching him hopefully since his B-Mets days -





I don't have any specific memories of his time pitching on the Mets, but I am thankful to him for autographing D-Dad's placard this past Banner Day -

[Edgy MD]

LeatherRocket Jack Leathersich Olive garden #sofresh 3 Oct Favorite Retweet Reply

LeatherRocket Jack Leathersich theres a reason why i think derek jeter is one of the best players ever. 14 hours ago Favorite Retweet Reply

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

He certainly knew how to put away a batter, especially when buttermilky and smothered in gravy.

[MFS62]

I remember getting excited over his minor league K/IP numbers.
The Mets have searching high and low for a lefty reliever and then get rid of the Leather Rocket?
Puzzling.

Later

[Edgy MD]

Worth noting that he indubitably contributed this year, offering a 2.31 ERA in his 11.2 innings. These were spread out over 17 games, which tells you just how far Terry trusted him. Fifty-six percent of the batters he faced were lefties, and (perhaps giving us a clue as to the Mets' mindset) they did slightly better than righties against him, posting a .739 OPS, as compared to the .707 figure put up by starboard-siders.

He spent may pitching in games that weren't particularly contested, and then in June, Terry started working him into tighter spots. Perhaps his brightest moment came in this series opener against the Blue Jays. Up 4-3, Terry called on him in the eighth to protect the slender lead. No big fireworks, but it was a big spot, and he got Valencia on a fly to center and walked Smoak before giving up a groundout to Reyes, forcing the lead runner.

He gave way to Familia, and I'd like to say it was smooth sailing from there, but Jeurys gave up a game-tying homer to Tony Batista, before the Mets and Hansel Robles struck back to win the game in extra innings.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

That's also the famous Def Leppard Game. Mets ruined it by playing in ugly camouflage jerseys

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Leathersich had okay numbers but only because he dodged a lot of bullets out there. As I recall it there runners on base practically every time he threw and his Ks didn't come with him to the big leagues.

Even though I was his adopted dad he didn't recognize me as we passed one another in the citifield parking lot while he chatted on the phone and pretended not to see people.

[Edgy MD]

He got his share o' Ks. Fourteen in 11 innings isn't shabby. But yeah, those seven walks.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Leathersich '66


[fimg=355:37yj2tc2]https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5632/22838481290_0bb2b0692f_o.jpg[/fimg:37yj2tc2]

[seawolf17]

Edgy MD wrote: LeatherRocket Jack Leathersich theres a reason why i think derek jeter is one of the best players ever. 14 hours ago Favorite Retweet Reply

Yeah, he won't be missed.

[Edgy MD]

Worth noting is that, despite his short workdays with Terry (11.76 pitches per appearance), his first appearance back in Vegas was a 57-pitch, two-inning, six-run crucible. BAM, he hit the disabled list the next day and didn't appear again the rest of the season.

I hesitate to make too much out of managers failing to baby their relievers, but WTF, Wally?

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

Premature memories?

The Cubs signed, then non-tendered. Do we have a spot for him to come back?

[Edgy MD]

Don't necessarily need a spot. They can give him a minor league deal. It's possibly all he's getting now that two teams (two good teams, but still) have deemed him an un-40-man-worthy asset.