Edgy MD

=G-Fafif post_id=39942 time=1593989840 user_id=55] Clint Hurdle also did some backup catching in 1985 (and pinch-hit in the marathon). Bonus observation from 7/4-5/85: Rusty Staub scored his final major league run that morning.

Edgy MD wrote: I figured the backup catcher was it. I even remember some quote from Davy Johnson along the lines of "He did more work than anybody, warming up all the pitchers." But it would have taken three or four guesses to recall which of the rotating mid-80s backups was on the job that week.

I figured the backup catcher was it. I even remember some quote from Davy Johnson along the lines of "He did more work than anybody, warming up all the pitchers." But it would have taken three or four guesses to recall which of the rotating mid-eighties backups was on the job that week.

Is it good?

Man, that new Rangers Stadium is never gonna open.

"If fame came in calories, this man would weigh more than the entire roster of the New York Mets." — Casey Kasem, speaking of Ray Stevens, the man whose smash hit, "Everything is Beautiful," was at #22 this week in 1970. The hits don't stop 'til we get to the top.

Poor Masahiro Tanaka has taken a liner off the coconut from the bat of Giancarlo Stanton. Stanton is probably at the top of the list of guys you don't want hitting a liner up the middle against you.

I mostly remember that is because Hernandez recounted it in the Biblically authoritative If at First. He gave the umpire shit the next inning, saying, "You robbed me of a cycle." You almost get the idea that it was the drive to get that single back that kept keep going through the night.

I think Sid Fernandez was set to pitch after Darling, so I'll go with him.

I didn't feel a particular imperative for the Braves to give up their nickname, or even the screaming face in their logo, but my wife reminded me that without the name, and the logo, we wouldn't have the stupid, stupid, tomahawk chop. Right as usual, Dear.

I'd previously thought that the way forward was a more authentic and thoughtful tribute to the Native Americans. But I sure can get behind Spiders. I've tried to look at nickname reforms in a more nuanced way, but it'd be hard for the Redskins and Indians to fold and the Braves to stay in the game.

it's not really an argument, it's just truth. "Bobby Bonilla Day" is a reflection (a poor one) on the media. How come I can't even enjoy when Ceetar mostly agrees with me?

Painting the exterior of my house is a job I don't look forward to. Oh, I sure like my home to look bright and good as new, but by the time I'm done with the back half, it seems like it's time to set the scaffold up at the front half again. That's why I want a long-lasting finish. And that's why the only paint I'll use on my house is Pennsylvania Bob Moorehead. Whether it's spring rain, summer sun, autumn wind, or winter snow, a Pennsylvania Bob Moorehead finish is going to last longer than the leading competitors. Pennsylvania Bob Moorehead, because sometimes you want to be able to come down from the ladder and enjoy the look of your work.

One Vietnam-born major-leaguer, but he played for the Mets. What excuse could Vermont possibly have?

VINN. That's your acronym for remembering which states haven't yet gifted the world with a native son that would grow to be a Met: Vermont Idaho New Mexico North Dakota As there are a lot of states whose names begin with those letters, it helps to remember that three of the four are Mountain Time Zone states. Yes, Idaho is only 3/4 in the Mountain Time Zone and North Dakota is only 1/4 situated there, but still, it's a helpful device. But be not hopeless. There was a Vermont-born big leaguer as recently as 2014 (Daric Barton), and Hall of Fame Great Carlton Fisk is also a son of the Green Mountain State. It's also interesting that Vermont has produced major leaguers with last-name-first-names like "Daric" and "Carlton." Idaho has been more fruitful in recent years — and we ain't talking about potatoes — currently boasting of two active big leaguers, Josh Osich and James Hoyt. James appears to be a member of the first-name-last-name club, and I frankly don't know how he made it to the big leagues with a stupid last name like "Hoyt." Good God. New Mexico is a blessed place, home of warm sun, cool breezes, and our own A Boy Named Seo, but never native home to a Met. This is something of an historical accident, as the Land of Enchantment has produced dozens of players, and Albuquerque alone currently roots for native sons Ken Giles, Mitch Garver, and All-Star Alex Bregman, while up north residents of Farmington tell tales of longtime reliever Mike Dunn. Surely one of those four will get some sense and join the Mets before his career is through. Lastly is lonely North Dakota, and when you look to North Dakota, you look to Fargo, and when you look to Fargo, you're looking at the birthplace of hockey-haired Padres reliever Matt Straham. And debuting this year for Seattle was West Fargo's own Erik Swanson. That's a good prairie name. And it'd make a good Mets name. So root for these states to do their jobs and get a player to the Mets. After 58 years, it's kinda shameful they haven't gotten the job done. Wyoming has produced two Mets and they're barely even trying. Also, a tip of the hat to US territories such as Puerto Rico, Washington, DC, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, who all count native-born Mets among their official exports. I don't know what Guam's problem is, to say nothing of Samoa or The Mariana Islands, but they sure better get on the ball.

Yeah, Madoff didn't give the Mets wealth. He game them the illusion of having far more wealth down the road. So borrowing from the future to supplement the present seemed like a good play to them. And as noted, there's an argument that it sort of worked out for them in a sense anyway.

Somebody called Campbell "Minty Fresh"?

I like the Brad34 story review. It's funny how mismatched Steve Phillips and Bobby Valentine were. The former had such thin skin and the latter was such a showman that he couldn't help poking the bear. For a brief time, they were just the right matchup, and then it blew up.

What's really meaningful is the innings Gooden pitched that Martinez did not were frequently the hardest innings — the late-and-close, high-leverage situations that usually go to a closer, and which typically include no weak hitters whatsoever. On the other hand, Martinez was an American League pitcher at the turn of the century. He didn't face too many weak hitters at all. Which is why I'm going for Martinez 99 over Gooden 85. I'd probably go for Seaver 71 over Gooden 85 too. And the fact is that, having been 18 at the time, looking back on it now, watching Gooden pitch in 1985 was as magical as I could have imagined anything being. It was ripe avocados, a hit of laughing gas, and a kiss from the homecoming queen all in one, every fifth day.

I'm just happy to believe that there is a strategizin'. This is exactly where I'd expect an organization on the block to cut expenses.

Was pretty unavoidable. Everything is so dysfunctional. How can we expect an exploitative enterprise like minor league baseball to run responsibly?

Gosh and golly.

Isn't Yasiel Puig still floating around out there somewhere? I just imagine a conversation, like: >>> "Did you know that Melky Cabrera is still out there?" >>> >>> "Maybe, but ... he's old and fat and kind of an asshole." >>> "Yeah, but it's not an asshole like Yasiel Puig is an asshole." >>> >>> "True dat." >>> "But can we sell it that way?" >>> >>> "That we signed him because he's not as big an asshole as Puig." >>> "Yeah." >>> >>> "I'll get to work on it."

Scott was sort of a sidearmer, if I recall rightly. Came from the Expos.

The guys in between Dunston and Gooden were non-performers. The #2 guy (shortstop Augie Schmidt, Blue Jays) never reached the majors, and the next two guys (pitchers Jimmy Jones, Padres, and Brian Oelkers, Twins) made it, but they were sub-replacement performers. Gooden, despite his early decline, had the best career of all the first rounders, and it wasn't particularly close. The real prize of that draft, though, went in the second round, #39 overall — an outfielder picked by the Giants.