Cowtipper

I don't want to jinx anything because he has FAR exceeded my expectations so far. But I'll go 4-2, 5.04 ERA, 61 G. Mets fans will be clamoring that he be traded but the team will keep him the whole year.

2-4 W-L, 64 G, 4 SV, 3.50 ERA, will melt down a few times to give us a negative impression, but looking back will seem better than we remember.

I have a strange feeling, based on very little, that Butto is going to be solid. Like Jae Weong Seo was that one year. 5-3, 3.52 ERA in 12 starts.

Jeff Kent is correct. Maybe Baerga was portly by standards of the time? Remember, Americans are about 8.5x larger than they were back then, on average, so our perception of size may be skewed. The answer of the Reds is correct, as well. Since Mr. Rogers got the first half of the question (all against the same team) and Mr. Lunchbucket got the latter (which team), I'll give each of them one point. New questions have been added, with hints for the rest. 1. Who was the first pitcher to hit a HR in Citi Field? Hint: Spent most of his career with the Pirates. Hint: While with the Pirates, threw a three-hit shutout against the Mets in 2012. Hint: Played from 2005 to 2014, going 77-100 with a 4.30 ERA. Hint: Was a first round pick, #8 overall, in 2003. Hint: https://i.imgur.com/hfWscxU.png> Hint: Mets named Byrd, Gibson and Siebert all shared his first name. He's the only guy in big league history with his last name, but a late-90s Met named Pat had a similar sounding surname. Hint: A famous Beatle shares his first name, so does a famous Pope. His middle name is "Gurner." Hint: Was involved in this trade—July 30, 2012: Traded by the Chicago Cubs with Reed Johnson and cash to the Atlanta Braves for Jaye Chapman and Arodys Vizcaíno. Hint: Jose Reyes hit .314 against him. Hint: P_ _ _ M _ _ _ _ _ Hint: P_ _ _ M A _ _ _ _ Hint: P_ _ _ M A H _ _ _ Hint: P_ _ _ M A H O _ _ Hint: P A _ _ M A H O _ _ Hint: P A U _ M A H O _ _ Hint: P A U _ M A H O L _ --originally posted by "AJbaseball00024" 2. Duaner Sanchez has the highest winning percentage among Mets pitchers with 10+ decisions. Who has the second highest winning percentage among pitchers with 10+ decisions? Hint: He played for the Mets beginning in 1999. Hint: Last played for the Mets in 2000. Hint: Had a 2.25 ERA in 4 relief appearances in the 1999 playoffs, including a 1.42 mark in the NLCS. --originally posted by "VIBaseball" 3. Which Met had the most wins in a single season without a loss? Hint: He spent the plurality of his career with the Twins. Hint: Hit .313 in 16 ABs in 1999. Hint: Was once involved in this trade: "Traded by the Minnesota Twins to the Boston Red Sox for a player to be named later. The Boston Red Sox sent Brian Looney (December 17, 1996) to the Minnesota Twins to complete the trade." --originally posted by "VIBaseball" 4. Out in right field, I sure had an arm But with my bat, I did little harm For all the folks who said, "Five tools" I'm sorry I made y'all look like fools. This hint was added later: Five years later, I was a wheel In a three-way trade without a steal On the one hand, the Mets sent away Benny Then on the other, they sent me with Lenny Who am I? Hint: Played for the Mets from 1995 to 1997. -originally posted by "VIBaseball" 5. In a year that the Mets made the postseason the Mets actually had a player on their team who played in 7 games during the regular season but did not have an at bat, or any runs scored, or any stolen bases, and didn't even make a play on the field. He played in the field during those 7 games but never had a ball hit to him when he played in the field. Who is this player? (I didn't want to give the year because then it might have been too easy to find out.) Hint: Played for the Mets in 1999. --originally posted by "Joe Rigatoni" Running tally of correct guessers: Johnny Lunchbucket: 81 Edgy MD: 76 stevejrogers: 55 batmagadanleadoff: 23 DocTee: 9 metsmarathon: 8 Benjamin Grimm: 5 MFS62: 3 Marshmallowmilkshake: 1 The Hot Corner: 1

I remember when he missed Rhys Hoskins' fat head and got suspended for two games.

2024 Met Abraham Almonte was signed by the Olmecas de Tabasco of the Mexican League. Also, was the signing away of Jonathan Arauz by the Dodgers ever officially noted by Mets Roster Central?

I hope they win.

Al Leiter was one of the #2s, however there is now a new Number 2. Hints have been added above.

I was just thinking to myself, "this could be something, Taylor's got pop!" And look what happens!

Late to the show, but well done today so far!

For #1, Zack Duke and Paul Mahome are not correct. But your are very close with the latter—the first name is right, and the second 'm' is right, as well (but not in the right spot). For #2, Bottalico, Hernandez and Leiter are all correct. For #3, you're getting there. I'll say they were all against a team, but who? (Former Met Danny Graves might have pitched for this team). Duaner Sanchez for #4 and Mel Rojas for #5 are correct! Well done! 1. Who was the first pitcher to hit a HR in Citi Field? Hint: Spent most of his career with the Pirates. Hint: While with the Pirates, threw a three-hit shutout against the Mets in 2012. Hint: Played from 2005 to 2014, going 77-100 with a 4.30 ERA. Hint: Was a first round pick, #8 overall, in 2003. Hint: https://i.imgur.com/hfWscxU.png> Hint: Mets named Byrd, Gibson and Siebert all shared his first name. He's the only guy in big league history with his last name, but a late-90s Met named Pat had a similar sounding surname. Hint: A famous Beatle shares his first name, so does a famous Pope. His middle name is "Gurner." Hint: Was involved in this trade—July 30, 2012: Traded by the Chicago Cubs with Reed Johnson and cash to the Atlanta Braves for Jaye Chapman and Arodys Vizcaíno. Hint: Jose Reyes hit .314 against him. Hint: P_ _ _ M _ _ _ _ _ Hint: P_ _ _ M A _ _ _ _ Hint: P_ _ _ M A H _ _ _ Hint: P_ _ _ M A H O _ _ Hint: P A _ _ M A H O _ _ --originally posted by "AJbaseball00024" 2. What do all 4 of Bobby Bonilla's homers hit in 1999 have in common? Hint: Had something to do with whom they were hit against. Hint: Had something to do with the team(s) they were hit against. Hint: There might have been some level of uniformity about whom they were hit against. Hint: To repeat a hint I gave in the response above—I'll say they were all against a team, but who? (Former Met Danny Graves might have pitched for this team) --originally posted by "m8644" 3. Duaner Sanchez has the highest winning percentage among Mets pitchers with 10+ decisions. Who has the second highest winning percentage among pitchers with 10+ decisions? Hint: He played for the Mets beginning in 1999. --originally posted by "VIBaseball" 4. Which Met had the most wins in a single season without a loss? Hint: He spent the plurality of his career with the Twins. ----originally posted by "VIBaseball" 5. Throughout our long History, before great they play, We trade Hall of Famers, to our great dismay. We had a good player, a young player who... we traded to get a fat tub of goo. The fat one stopped hitting, bringing Met fans more tears. The young one was great, the next 15 years. This riddle is easy for those that still can... Take trades like this one and remain a Mets fan. Who am I? Hint: Began his Mets career in 1992. --originally posted by "Gr8Beldini" Running tally of correct guessers: Johnny Lunchbucket: 80 Edgy MD: 75 stevejrogers: 54 batmagadanleadoff: 23 DocTee: 9 metsmarathon: 8 Benjamin Grimm: 5 MFS62: 3 Marshmallowmilkshake: 1 The Hot Corner: 1

Nunez has been waiting quite a while for this, congrats to him.

Terry Leach is correct! I've read that book and was going to use it as one of the hints if it got that far. A new question has been added. 1. Who was the first pitcher to hit a HR in Citi Field? Hint: Spent most of his career with the Pirates. Hint: While with the Pirates, threw a three-hit shutout against the Mets in 2012. Hint: Played from 2005 to 2014, going 77-100 with a 4.30 ERA. Hint: Was a first round pick, #8 overall, in 2003. Hint: https://i.imgur.com/hfWscxU.png> Hint: Mets named Byrd, Gibson and Siebert all shared his first name. He's the only guy in big league history with his last name, but a late-90s Met named Pat had a similar sounding surname. Hint: A famous Beatle shares his first name, so does a famous Pope. His middle name is "Gurner." Hint: Was involved in this trade—July 30, 2012: Traded by the Chicago Cubs with Reed Johnson and cash to the Atlanta Braves for Jaye Chapman and Arodys Vizcaíno. Hint: Jose Reyes hit .314 against him. Hint: P_ _ _ M _ _ _ _ _ Hint: P_ _ _ M A _ _ _ _ Hint: P_ _ _ M A H _ _ _ Hint: P_ _ _ M A H O _ _ --originally posted by "AJbaseball00024" 2. We all know before 2010, the last time the NL won the All-Star Game was 1996......name the other 9 players who were on the rosters of the AL and NL that season who were a Mets player at some point in their careers. Piazza, Glavine, Hundley, L. Johnson, R. Alomar, S. Alomar, M. Vaughn, Sheffield, P. Martinez and Trachsel have already been guessed. Hint: There were, by my count, 13 guys total. Four have been guessed for this question. Another one was a second baseman who played for the Mets from 2002 to 2003. Hint: Another guy was called the "human rain delay." Hint: Another one hit his 500th home run with New York. Hint: One guy, the second baseman mentioned above spent the plurality of his career with the Blue Jays. The Mets traded Alex Escobar, Matt Lawton, Jerrod Riggan, Earl Snyder and Billy Traber for him. Hint: (image removed) Hint: Another potential option: (image removed) Hint: You might also choose this guy: (image removed) Hint: There were, by my count, 13 guys total. Hints for five more...one was a reliever who played for the Mets in '05 and '06, another was a catcher who played for the Mets in '07, another was a first baseman who played for the Mets in '02 and '03, another was a reliever who played for New York in '04 and another was a starter who played for the Mets from '98 to '04. This list is not exhaustive and there are others you can guess, as well. Hint: Another guy called the Yankees his daddy. Hint: the '05 and '06 reliever had over 300 career saves. Hint: The '07 catcher's brother is a Hall of Fame second baseman. Hint: Here's one: (image removed) Hint: The final three! https://i.imgur.com/RrSa8F2.jpg>, https://i.imgur.com/09lKoKu.jpg>, https://i.imgur.com/R2RVdQ3.jpg> Hint: Of the remaining three, the first guy spent most of his career with the Phillies, but also pitched for the Royals, Diamondbacks and Brewers. The second guy shares a name with a guy who used to be called "Fausto Carmona." The third guy has a brother named Mark and a nephew named Mark Jr., who have both pitched in the majors. Hint: Of the remaining three, one had a 3.38 ERA in 60 appearances for the Mets in 2004, his only year with the club. The next, another reliever, joined the team at 40 years old in 2005 and had a 2.58 ERA in 67 games. Then he came back in '06, after starting the year with Pittsburgh, to post a 3.48 mark in 22 games. The last was the Mets ace in the late '90s and early 2000s. He grunted when he pitched. He won 95 games with the Mets. --originally posted by "m8644" 3. What do all 4 of Bobby Bonilla's homers hit in 1999 have in common? Hint: Had something to do with whom they were hit against. Hint: Had something to do with the team(s) they were hit against. Hint: There might have been some level of uniformity about whom they were hit against. --originally posted by "m8644" 4. Which Mets pitcher has the best career winning percentage -- minimum 10 wins? Hint: Began his career with the Mets in 2006. Hint: Didn't pitch in '07 but returned in '08, his final year with the club. --originally posted by "VIBaseball" 5. Oh, the bombs that I served up The fans were enraged They traveled long distance The balls had to be paged I came over with Turk And Brian Macrae too I'm the D.R. disaster Can you tell me who? Who am I? --originally posted by "VIBaseball" Running tally of correct guessers: Johnny Lunchbucket: 80 Edgy MD: 74 stevejrogers: 52 batmagadanleadoff: 23 DocTee: 9 metsmarathon: 8 Benjamin Grimm: 5 MFS62: 3 Marshmallowmilkshake: 1 The Hot Corner: 1

New day. new hints added above.

Here's my "Fan Memory" of Phil Bickford: "The Mets' front office conversation probably went like this: "How can we make a disappointing season a completely hopeless season?" "Acquire Phil Bickford?" "Sounds like a plan." The Mets went out and acquired—that is, they actively sought—a guy who had a 5.14 ERA and 85 ERA+ before he joined the team. Which means his 4.62 ERA and 92 ERA+ with the Mets IMPROVED his season numbers. I don't know why teams do this. You have a whole major league and an even greater minor league pool of players to choose from ... and you pick guys like Phil Bickford? Is it ego? Is it egotistical front office guys who think they have some special insight into a player's skills that everyone else isn't seeing? I don't know. Anyway, Phil Bickford sucked."

Before his breakout year with the Orioles in 2022, he was 12-31 with a 6.04 ERA.

Jorge Lopez is 22-40 with a 5.48 ERA for his career.

Who is this Reed Garrett we have this year? Totally surprised by his performance so far.

Side note—all the Mets pitching worries might soon be solved, Max Kranick is on his way to a rehab assignment.

They're really Teheran Julio up out there!

Ramirez was this year's Dennis Santana. Started the year with the club, but you knew he wasn't going to last.

Here's my "Fan Memory" of Grote: "Grote earned multiple All-Star selections, won a ring and appeared on a Hall of Fame ballot. He was excellent. I recall he earned significant mention in the book "Amazin'" by Peter Golenbock, which I read in high school. I also recall he was the answer to a trivia question one of my cousins—also a big Mets fan—asked me when I was a teenager. "Who was the Mets catcher in 1969?" Being young and to that point having never actually heard his surname pronounced, I responded Jerry GROAT (like Dick Groat), instead of Jerry Gro-tee. But he went along with it. One of the stories I most recall about Grote is, at the end of an inning, he would roll the ball to the far-side of the mound in the hopes that it would make the opposing pitcher have to take a few extra steps to get it, thereby tiring him out sooner. In the Mets Hall of Fame project I run on another website, very few players have been elected with 100% of the vote on their first try—but Grote was one of them. Rest in peace to a Mets legend."

New day, new hints added above. I've also removed the images of guys already guessed to make the post a bit neater.

7-5, 4.44 ERA Most Mets starters will fall into the 4-ish ERA range I think.

Harrelson, Zachry, McAndrew, Hodges, Craig and now Grote. That's a lot of meaningful Mets to pass in the past few months.