Edgy MD

Benjamin Grimm wrote: So who are the ones who couldn't attend? Of the top of my head, there are those who are actually no longer living: Agee, Clendenon, McGraw, Frisella, Charles and managers/coaches Hodges, Walker, Berra, and Yost. And Seaver was in the too ill category. Who else wasn't there? Did Joe Pignatano make it? No, Piggy didn't make it. But they did a generally good job of recruiting and honoring family members of Piggy and many who were unable to attend.

As goofy as it is, I just feel like "The Art of Pitching" reflects too much of Seaver's arrogant side. Mr. Long Ball really captures the apex of the stored energy of a fully coiled Straw, with none of his focus lost. It's also hella intimate for a game photo. If you get a clear shot of Straw that tight, it's usually batting practice shot in one of those blue softball jerseys.

http://metsmerizedonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/guerrero-e1429388127759.png> I tend to think that most prospects get to skip The Appalachian League, but that's probably more impression than fact. The front page of The Kingsport Mets' website shows deGrom and Matz, so there's that. On the other hand, deGrom wasn't a big prospect until he was, and Matz, despite his first-round pedigree, had a slow and injury-laced start to his minor league career. It's really the foreign hotshots who get to skip it, I think. The rule is roughly the high schoolers start off in the GCL, the two-year collegians with The K-Mets, and the four-year guys go straight to Brooklyn. Foreign guys make some big jumps though, between The Dominican Summer League and full season ball. But there's Gregory Guerrero, so nope. All of which is a long way of saying you're a long way from Flushing if you're in Kingsport, Tennessee. It's been true since 1980 and it's true now. But Dwight Gooden, Darryl Strawberry, and David Wright all spent some time there. You should too. The team spending time there right now lost this evening to the Johnson City Cardinals, 6-2, dropping them to 6-6. That wouldn't be so bad, but if they hadn't started off with a sweet 4-1 bump. They now sit a game and a half behind those same Cards in the Appalachian League West Division. Anyhow, "Johnson City" sounds like a male strip-club megaplex. Fun Fact: Each of the 10 Appalachian League teams shares a nickname with their parent club. No Buscuits or BabyCakes or Festering Sores or anything like that. A guy who wants to create some fun facts of his own is Ramón Guzman. Through his first two turns in the Kingsportian rotation, Ramónmania has yet to allow an earned run. Yeah starts are particularly short at this level in the first weeks of the season, but even though it's only been eight innings so far, a trio of zeros for an ERA, along with 13 strikeouts against two walks? That's the sort of stat line that makes a man stand up and say A-men. And if they don't play "Blitzkreig Bop" for the guy's entrance music, they don't know what they're doing. You know who knows what he's doing? Lefty reliever Christofer Dominguez knows. Tofer has thrown seven and a third innings, giving up only one run on four hits. Yeah, he's walked five to go with his seven strikeouts, but walks happen with lefty relievers. You bring them in with the go-ahead run on second in the seventh, they're going to be prone to trying to be too fine, knowing that the walk is a far less damaging outcome than a hit. Hey, speaking of damaging outcomes, let's talk about second baseman Gregory Guerrero. He is starting to get a big head. Moving over to second likely because the team has more than a few high-end shortstop prospects, 20-year-ol Greg has turned into Johnny Bravo at the start of this season. After missing 2018 with shoulder surgery (perhaps another reason he's moved to second), Bravo has had a dynamite sound to the opening of his season, OPS-ing to the tune of 1.014, homering twice already, with a double and triple* thrown in, and walking alla time when he ain't slugging (12 walks in 10 games). Greg is out to prove just how close to Flushing Kingsport can be. You can find out too with a trip to Hunter Wright Stadium, where Rich Donnelly's charges fight the good fight against the best the Appalachian Mountains can throw at them. Bring a copy of Rich's memoir The Chicken Runs at Midnight, and get an inscription. * Because when Mariano Duncan is your hitting coach, you're gonna learn to hit a triple. YOUR Kingsport Mets Coaching Staff [th]Position Group[/th][th] Manager[/th][th]Pitching Coach[/th][th]Hitting Coach[/th][td90][/td90][td90][/td90][td90][/td90][td90][/td90][td90]Name[/td90][td90]Rich Donnelly[/td90][td90]Jerome Williams[/td90][td90]Mariano Duncan[/td90][td90]DoB[/td90][td90]8/3/46[/td90][td90]12/4/81[/td90][td90]3/13/63[/td90][td90]B/T[/td90][td90]L/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90] [th]Position Group[/th][th]Development Coach[/th][th]Performance Coach[/th][th]S & C Coah[/th][td90][/td90][td90][/td90][td90][/td90][td90][/td90][td90]Name[/td90][td90]Stephen Gaylor[/td90][td90]Seth Gregorich[/td90][td90]John Perry [/td90][td90]DoB[/td90][td90]10/4/91[/td90][td90]7/15/88[/td90][td90]??/??/??[/td90][td90]B/T[/td90][td90]L/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]?/?[/td90] YOUR 2019 Kingsport Mets [th]Position Group[/th][th]=#FF0000]Starting Pitcher[/th][th]=#FF0000]Starting Pitcher[/th][th]=#FF0000]Starting Pitcher[/th][th]=#FF0000]Starting Pitcher[/th][th]=#FF0000]Starting Pitcher[/th][td90][/td90][td90]http://www.milb.com/images/681740/t506/180x270/681740.jpghttp://www.milb.com/images/681740/t506/180x270/681740.jpg[/td90][td90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpghttp://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/td90][td90]http://www.milb.com/images/673250/t506/180x270/673250.jpghttp://www.milb.com/images/673250/t506/180x270/673250.jpg[/td90][td90]http://www.milb.com/images/681741/t506/180x270/681741.jpghttp://www.milb.com/images/681741/t506/180x270/681741.jpg[/td90][td90]http://www.milb.com/images/671305/t506/180x270/671305.jpghttp://www.milb.com/images/671305/t506/180x270/671305.jpg[/td90][td90]Name[/td90][td90]Benito Garcia[/td90][td90]Andres German[/td90][td90]Ramón Guzman[/td90][td90]Cesar Loaiza[/td90][td90]Micheel Otañez[/td90][td90]DoB[/td90][td90]3/10/00[/td90][td90]5/16/97[/td90][td90]10/16/96[/td90][td90]7/10/98[/td90][td90]7/3/97[/td90][td90]B/T[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]L/L[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]Primary Position[/td90][td90]=#FF0000]Starting Pitcher[/td90][td90]=#FF0000]Starting Pitcher[/td90][td90]=#FF0000]Starting Pitcher[/td90][td90]=#FF0000]Starting Pitcher[/td90][td90]=#FF0000]Starting Pitcher[/td90][td90]Other Positions[/td90][td90]rp[/td90][td90]rp[/td90][td90]rp[/td90][td90]rp[/td90][td90][/td90][td90]Status Notes[/td90][td90][/td90][td90][/td90][td90][/td90][td90][/td90][td90][/td90][th]Position Group[/th][th]=#FF0000]Starting Pitcher[/th][th]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/th][th]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/th][th]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/th][th]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/th][td90][/td90][td90]http://www.milb.com/images/681744/t506/180x270/681744.jpghttp://www.milb.com/images/681744/t506/180x270/681744.jpg[/td90][td90]http://www.milb.com/images/674345/t506/180x270/674345.jpghttp://www.milb.com/images/674345/t506/180x270/674345.jpg[/td90][td90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpghttp://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/td90][td90]http://www.milb.com/images/672543/t506/180x270/672543.jpghttp://www.milb.com/images/672543/t506/180x270/672543.jpg[/td90][td90]http://www.milb.com/images/676776/t506/180x270/676776.jpghttp://www.milb.com/images/676776/t506/180x270/676776.jpg[/td90][td90]Name[/td90][td90]Junior Santos[/td90][td90]Jender De Jesus[/td90][td90]Christofer Dominguez[/td90][td90]Jefferson Escorcha[/td90][td90]Yadiel Flores[/td90][td90]DoB[/td90][td90]8/16/01[/td90][td90]1/3/98[/td90][td90]1/3/00[/td90][td90]10/4/99[/td90][td90]7/31/99[/td90][td90]B/T[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]L/L[/td90][td90]L/L[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]Primary Position[/td90][td90]=#FF0000]Starting Pitcher[/td90][td90]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/td90][td90]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/td90][td90]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/td90][td90]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/td90][td90]Other Positions[/td90][td90]rp[/td90][td90]sp[/td90][td90]sp[/td90][td90][/td90][td90][/td90][td90]Status Notes[/td90][td90][/td90][td90][/td90][td90][/td90][td90][/td90][td90][/td90][th]Position Group[/th][th]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/th][th]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/th][th]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/th][th]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/th][th]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/th][td90][/td90][td90]http://www.milb.com/images/674450/t506/180x270/674450.jpghttp://www.milb.com/images/674450/t506/180x270/674450.jpg[/td90][td90]http://www.milb.com/images/682132/t506/180x270/682132.jpghttp://www.milb.com/images/682132/t506/180x270/682132.jpg[/td90][td90][/td90][td90]http://www.milb.com/images/676696/t506/180x270/676696.jpghttp://www.milb.com/images/676696/t506/180x270/676696.jpg[/td90][td90]http://www.milb.com/images/669951/t506/180x270/669951.jpghttp://www.milb.com/images/669951/t506/180x270/669951.jpg[/td90][td90]Name[/td90][td90]Hector Rodriguez[/td90][td90]Brendan Hardy[/td90][td90]Josh Hejka[/td90][td90]Nate Peden[/td90][td90]Cameron Planck[/td90][td90]DoB[/td90][td90]12/27/97[/td90][td90]12/15/99[/td90][td90]3/20/97[/td90][td90]10/16/98[/td90][td90]3/5/98[/td90][td90]B/T[/td90][td90]L/L[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]Primary Position[/td90][td90]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/td90][td90]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/td90][td90]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/td90][td90]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/td90][td90]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/td90][td90]Other Positions[/td90][td90]sp[/td90][td90]sp[/td90][td90]sp[/td90][td90]sp[/td90][td90][/td90][td90]Status Notes[/td90][td90]2018 31st- Round Pick[/td90][td90]2018 31st- Round Pick[/td90][td90][/td90][td90][/td90][td90][/td90][th]Position Group[/th][th]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/th][th]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/th][th]=#008000] Catcher[/th][th]=#00BF00] Catcher[/th][th]=#008000] Catcher[/th][td90][/td90][td90]http://www.milb.com/images/682896/t506/180x270/682896.jpghttp://www.milb.com/images/682896/t506/180x270/682896.jpg[/td90][td90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpghttp://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/td90][td90]http://www.milb.com/images/672555/t506/180x270/672555.jpghttp://www.milb.com/images/672555/t506/180x270/672555.jpg[/td90][td90]http://www.milb.com/images/690841/t506/180x270/690841.jpghttp://www.milb.com/images/690841/t506/180x270/690841.jpg[/td90][td90]http://www.milb.com/images/666685/t506/180x270/666685.jpghttp://www.milb.com/images/666685/t506/180x270/666685.jpg[/td90][td90]Name[/td90][td90]Reyson Santos[/td90][td90]Nixon Silva[/td90][td90]Wilfred Astudillo[/td90][td90]Matt O'Neill[/td90][td90]Andres Regnault[/td90][td90]DoB[/td90][td90]1/22/99[/td90][td90]8/20/99[/td90][td90]3/14/00[/td90][td90]8/20/97[/td90][td90]12/21/98[/td90][td90]B/T[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]L/L[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]Primary Position[/td90][td90]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/td90][td90]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/td90][td90]=#008000]Catcher[/td90][td90]=#00BF00]Catcher[/td90][td90]=#008000]Catcher[/td90][td90]Other Positions[/td90][td90]sp[/td90][td90]sp[/td90][td90][/td90][td90][/td90][td90]1b[/td90][td90]Status Notes[/td90][td90]Not Yet Activated[/td90][td90]Not Yet Activated[/td90][td90][/td90][td90][/td90][td90][/td90][th]Position Group[/th][th]=#008000] Catcher[/th][th]=#BF80FF] Infielder[/th][th]=#BF80FF] Infielder[/th][th]=#BF80FF] Infielder[/th][th]=#BF80FF] Infielder[/th][td90][/td90][td90]http://www.milb.com/images/642333/generic/180x270/642333.jpghttp://www.milb.com/images/642333/generic/180x270/642333.jpg[/td90][td90]http://www.milb.com/images/664329/t506/180x270/664329.jpghttp://www.milb.com/images/664329/t506/180x270/664329.jpg[/td90][td90]http://www.milb.com/images/672823/t506/180x270/672823.jpghttp://www.milb.com/images/672823/t506/180x270/672823.jpg[/td90][td90]http://www.milb.com/images/665872/t506/180x270/665872.jpghttp://www.milb.com/images/665872/t506/180x270/665872.jpg[/td90][td90]http://www.milb.com/images/681941/t506/180x270/681941.jpghttp://www.milb.com/images/681941/t506/180x270/681941.jpg[/td90][td90]Name[/td90][td90]Carlos Sanchez[/td90][td90]Anderson Bohorquez[/td90][td90]Sebastian Espino[/td90][td90]Gregory Guerrero[/td90][td90]Jaylen Palmer[/td90][td90]DoB[/td90][td90]6/6/96[/td90][td90]10/3/97[/td90][td90]5/29/00[/td90][td90]1/20/99[/td90][td90]7/31/00[/td90][td90]B/T[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]Primary Position[/td90][td90]=#008000]Catcher[/td90][td90]=#BF80FF]First Base[/td90][td90]=#BF80FF]Shortstop[/td90][td90]=#008000]Shortstop[/td90][td90]=#BF80FF]Shortstop[/td90][td90]Other Positions[/td90][td90]1b, 3b, 2b[/td90][td90]2b, rf, lf, cf[/td90][td90][/td90][td90]3b, 2b[/td90][td90]cf, 2b, lf, rf[/td90][td90]Status Notes[/td90][td90][/td90][td90][/td90][td90][/td90][td90][/td90][td90]2018 29th- Round Pick[/td90][th]Position Group[/th][th]=#BF80FF] Infielder[/th][th]=#BF80FF] Infielder[/th][th]=#4080FF] Outfielder[/th][th]=#4080FF] Outfielder[/th][th]=#4080FF] Outfielder[/th][td90][/td90][td90]http://www.milb.com/images/667827/t506/180x270/667827.jpghttp://www.milb.com/images/667827/t506/180x270/667827.jpg[/td90][td90]http://www.milb.com/images/681899/t506/180x270/681899.jpghttp://www.milb.com/images/681899/t506/180x270/681899.jpg[/td90][td90]http://www.milb.com/images/677078/t506/180x270/677078.jpghttp://www.milb.com/images/677078/t506/180x270/677078.jpg[/td90][td90][/td90][td90]http://www.milb.com/images/679295/t506/180x270/679295.jpghttp://www.milb.com/images/679295/t506/180x270/679295.jpg[/td90][td90]Name[/td90][td90]Christopher Pujols[/td90][td90]L.A. Woodard[/td90][td90]Cole Kleszcz[/td90][td90]Tanner Murphy[/td90][td90]Scott Ota[/td90][td90]DoB[/td90][td90]8/19/97[/td90][td90]6/3/97[/td90][td90]6/16/97[/td90][td90]5/1/98[/td90][td90]8/16/97[/td90][td90]B/T[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]L/L[/td90][td90]Primary Position[/td90][td90]=#BF80FF]Shortstop[/td90][td90]=#BF80FF]Shortstop[/td90][td90]=#4080FF]Center Field[/td90][td90]=#4080FF]Right Field[/td90][td90]=#4080FF]Right Field[/td90][td90]Other Positions[/td90][td90]3b[/td90][td90][/td90][td90]rf, lf[/td90][td90]lf, cf[/td90][td90]cf, lf[/td90][td90]Status Notes[/td90][td90][/td90][td90]2018 16th- Round Pick[/td90][td90][/td90][td90][/td90][td90][/td90][th]Position Group[/th][th][/th][th]=#0000FF] Outfielder[/th][th][/th][th]=#4080FF] Outfielder[/th][th][/th][td90][/td90][td90][/td90][td90]http://www.milb.com/images/672424/t506/180x270/672424.jpghttp://www.milb.com/images/672424/t506/180x270/672424.jpg[/td90][td90][/td90][td90]http://www.milb.com/images/663772/t506/180x270/663772.jpghttp://www.milb.com/images/663772/t506/180x270/663772.jpg[/td90][td90][/td90][td90]Name[/td90][td90][/td90][td90]Jhoander Saez[/td90][td90][/td90][td90]Kennie Taylor[/td90][td90][/td90][td90]DoB[/td90][td90][/td90][td90]3/24/98[/td90][td90][/td90][td90]10/20/96[/td90][td90][/td90][td90]B/T[/td90][td90][/td90][td90]S/R[/td90][td90][/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90][/td90][td90]Primary Position[/td90][td90][/td90][td90]=#0000FF]Center Field[/td90][td90][/td90][td90]=#4080FF]Center Field[/td90][td90][/td90][td90]Other Positions[/td90][td90][/td90][td90]rf, ss[/td90][td90][/td90][td90]lf[/td90][td90][/td90][td90]Status Notes[/td90][td90][/td90][td90][/td90][td90][/td90][td90][/td90][td90][/td90] [/th]Inactive K-Mets [th]Position Group[/td90][th]=#FF0000]Starting Pitcher[/th][th]=#FF0000]Starting Pitcher[/th][th]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/th][th]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/th][th]=#BF80FF] Infielder[/th][td90][/td90][td90]http://www.milb.com/images/606187/t506/180x270/606187.jpghttp://www.milb.com/images/606187/t506/180x270/606187.jpg[/td90][td90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpghttp://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/td90][td90]http://www.milb.com/images/642531/t506/180x270/642531.jpghttp://www.milb.com/images/642531/t506/180x270/642531.jpg[/td90][td90]http://www.milb.com/images/676158/t506/180x270/676158.jpghttp://www.milb.com/images/676158/t506/180x270/676158.jpg[/td90][td90]http://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpghttp://www.milb.com/images/silhouette/180x270.jpg[/td90][td90]Name[/td90][td90]Audry German[/td90][td90]Oscar Rojas[/td90][td90]Eucebio Arias[/td90][td90]Mitch Hickey[/td90][td90]José Peroza[/td90][td90]DoB[/td90][td90]5/16/97[/td90][td90]5/5/99[/td90][td90]9/20/74[/td90][td90]11/16/95[/td90][td90]6/15/00[/td90][td90]B/T[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]R/R[/td90][td90]Primary Position[/td90][td90]=#FF0000]Starting Pitcher[/td90][td90]=#FF0000]Starting Pitcher[/td90][td90]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/td90][td90]=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[/td90][td90]=#BF80FF]Third Base[/td90][td90]Other Positions[/td90][td90]rp[/td90][td90][/td90][td90]sp[/td90][td90][/td90][td90][/td90][td90]Status Notes[/td90][td90]=#00BF00]Possibly Retired[/td90][td90]=#FF0000]On 60- Day IL[/td90][td90]Suspended[/td90][td90]=#FF0000]On 60- Day IL[/td90][td90]Not Yet Activated[/td90]

A boy from Syracuse hit three home runs in one game this evening, and his name is René Fuckin' Rivera. https://milb.bamcontent.com/assets/images/5/3/0/308643530/cuts/1024x576/cut.jpg>

One left on the board. I know I should drop out and let the board go clean, but I can't help but guess. Mucus Duda! #2!

John Milner #4.

2019 Mets are going to win the World Series.

Can the Mets send deGrom out for the ninth?

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: Fuckin McNeil. What a stud Alonso can impregnate a mare or two also.

Two-run bingle!!!

Hope not. I've come down to just rooting for walks with Conforto. And hey, that's what we got.

It'd be nice to get someone on base for the Mets home runs. Todd Frazier doing all he can do of late to climb the Mets' all-time list of Todds. And OH, Canó is down.

Yeah, I feel like I got something right before I got it right.

That's because I meant Buddy Harrelson.

Wally Backman. Fourth.

And please double check Magadan and Granderson. I don't see how they couldn't be there.

One of those ties for sixth is Strawb.

I'll go with Curtis Granderson, #5.

Well, the 2,200 eliminates Rickey Henderson, the greatest walker of all time, and I'm pretty sure he would be #1 if the limit was 500 or 600 at-bats. I'll go with Lee Mazzilli.

Would it be crazy to encourage the Mets to try to get square by throwing a Gosger & Hudson Day? Complete with bobblehead dolls. They can dedicate as much to celebrating those two (and by extension any and all ephemeral Mets, especially those who appeared in a championship season), as well as eating humble pie. I mean, it would be kind of bush league, but no moreso than the unforced error that precipitated it.

I'm guessing Jay is not in his sharpest years. I'm sending in a blind application today.

I feel like I've been saying that for two weeks.

Face flop of the day yesterday: The Mets memorial montage of 1969ers no longer alive included two guys — Jim Gosger and Jesse Hudson — alive at the current time. I'd post a link, but you can just go to your favorite tabloid. They're all featuring it. In other circumstances, it might have been nice that they included Hudson, who only appeared in one game. But he's still eligible to appear in another.

Gosh, pinch runner abound.

I'm going to retroactively advocate for a visit to the mound after that first home run. I'm also going to retroactively advocate for violence in the street after that second home run.