Cowtipper

Rich Rowland died. https://www.thebiglead.com/red-sox-tigers-catcher-rich-rowland-cause-of-death/ Who was Rich Rowland? Rich Rowland (1964–2026) was an American professional baseball catcher who spent six seasons in Major League Baseball with the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox from 1990 to 1995. A 17th-round draft pick in 1988, Rowland spent much of his nine-year minor-league career with the Tigers' Toledo Mud Hens, where he was a productive hitter, including a standout 1993 season in which he hit 21 home runs and posted a .548 slugging percentage. In the majors, he was primarily a backup catcher and appeared in just 98 games, batting .213 with nine home runs and 26 RBIs; his best MLB season came in 1994 with Boston, when he hit all nine of his career homers in 46 games. After his final major-league appearance in 1995, he continued playing in the minor leagues through 1997 before retiring. A native of Cloverdale, California, Rowland died there on August 25, 2026, at age 62; both of his sons also went on to play professional minor-league baseball. Who was Larry Christensen? Larry Richard Christenson (1953–2026) was a right-handed pitcher who spent his entire 11-year Major League Baseball career with the Philadelphia Phillies. Born in Everett, Washington, he excelled at Marysville High School, where he was initially better known for basketball but had an extraordinary senior baseball season, striking out 143 batters in 72 innings with a 0.28 ERA. The Phillies selected him third overall in the 1972 MLB draft, and he reached the majors at just 19 years old in 1973. His debut was impressive, as he threw a complete-game five-hitter against the New York Mets in a 7–1 victory, though he struggled initially before establishing himself as a full-time major leaguer in 1975. Christenson became an important member of the Phillies teams that won three consecutive NL East titles from 1976 through 1978. He won 13 games in 1976, then enjoyed the best season of his career in 1977, going 19–6 while winning 15 of his final 16 decisions and pitching 219⅓ innings. He followed that with a 13–14 season in 1978 while posting a career-best 3.24 ERA and starting Game 1 of the NLCS. He was also an unusually capable hitter for a pitcher, eventually hitting 11 home runs, including two in one game against the Mets in 1976 and a grand slam during Philadelphia's 1977 division-clinching victory over the Cubs. His career was increasingly disrupted by injuries, particularly recurring elbow problems. After missing time in 1979 and suffering a broken collarbone during a charity bicycle ride, he underwent elbow surgery in 1980 but returned in time to help the Phillies win their first World Series championship. He started Game 4 of the World Series but lasted only one-third of an inning. He remained capable of effective stretches, including a strong performance in the 1981 division series against Montreal, and made 32 starts in 1982. However, another elbow injury ended his 1983 season after nine starts, and the Phillies released him on his 30th birthday. Several attempted comebacks followed, but he was unable to return to professional baseball. Christenson finished his MLB career with an 83–71 record, a 3.79 ERA, 781 strikeouts and six shutouts in 243 games. After retiring, he began a career in institutional investing in 1985 and eventually became president of Christenson Investment Partners. He remained connected to the Phillies and was active in charitable work, while former teammates remembered him as an energetic, eccentric and highly social personality. Christenson died at age 72 on August 28, 2026, while on a fishing trip in Washington, leaving behind the legacy of a highly touted young pitcher who became a key part of the Phillies' successful teams of the 1970s, a member of their first championship club, and a career ultimately cut short by persistent injuries. And who was Jacques Doucet? Jacques Doucet (1940–2026) was a pioneering Canadian French-language baseball broadcaster whose career became inseparable from the Montreal Expos. Born in Montreal, he began as a translator for the Canadian Press before working as a sports journalist for La Presse. When the Expos were awarded to Montreal in 1968, Doucet became the newspaper's beat writer for the new team and also served as an official scorer, eventually making the transition into broadcasting during the club's inaugural 1969 season. Beginning in 1972, Doucet became the Expos' full-time French-language radio play-by-play announcer, a position he held for the team's entire existence in Montreal through 2004. Over more than three decades, he called more than 5,000 major-league games, including two perfect games, and became famous for his distinctive bass voice and precise, descriptive style. Perhaps his greatest contribution was developing and popularizing French-language baseball terminology, effectively creating a natural vocabulary for describing a sport traditionally dominated by English-language expressions. After the Expos departed Montreal, Doucet remained a prominent advocate for baseball in Quebec. He served as a spokesman for Encore Baseball Montréal and broadcast Quebec Capitales home games from 2006 to 2011 before joining TVA Sports as the French-language television voice of the Toronto Blue Jays. He continued broadcasting the Jays until retiring in 2022, and he also co-authored several books, including a definitive two-volume history of the Expos with Marc Robitaille. Doucet was widely regarded as one of the most important figures in Canadian baseball broadcasting, earning induction into the Quebec Baseball Hall of Fame, Montreal Expos Hall of Fame and Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. Although he was a five-time finalist for the Baseball Hall of Fame's Ford C. Frick Award, he never received the honor, with his French-language work receiving less exposure among American voters. Often compared to broadcasters such as Vin Scully and Jaime Jarrín, Doucet died on August 27, 2026, at age 86, leaving behind a legacy as the iconic voice of the Expos and one of the people most responsible for establishing baseball as a fluent part of French-Canadian culture. Also ... Shosuke Doi (1937-2026) was a Japanese professional baseball player who spent eight seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball from 1956 to 1963, playing primarily shortstop for the Kokutetsu Swallows, Yomiuri Giants, and Daimai Orions. After retiring as a player, he enjoyed a long coaching and managerial career in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, including roles with the Orions, Lotte Giants, Brother Elephants, and Kaoping Fala.

His ERA since it's high-point of 10.08 on June 23 is still 4.78. Not awful, but not good. Since August 1, his ERA is 1.93. That is good, but it's not a great sample size. He still hasn't convinced me he deserves to be on this team next year, let alone replace the closer we invested X number of dollars in.

I like Robert Stock more.

I want him to go so we can have a lineup of 7 Mets homegrown prospects and Soto and Lindor next year.

^^ this guy isn't good at picking up on the larger picture of what one is trying to say

Has the name and physical appearance of someone from Jersey City, NJ or Yorba Linda, CA but is from Venezuela. Had stylin' hair like Jonathan Arauz but not as memorable as Jonathan Arauz. He was a short-timer with New York despite have a decent pedigree. It's crazy how this team operates. Eric Wagaman ... keep bringing him back over and over. Gabriel Arias ... ditch him after 5 at-bats.

Kinda sad when a guy with a 3.73 ERA and 1.321 WHIP is your "greatest success story." I think Jared Young is the greatest success story. Or maybe Daniel Duarte.

Trey Mancini has retired.

Skip Bertman died. https://www.wafb.com/2026/08/14/legendary-lsu-coach-athletic-director-skip-bertman-dies-age-88/ Who was Skip Bertman? Skip Bertman (1938–2026) was an American college baseball coach and athletic director who became one of the most successful figures in the history of LSU athletics. Born in Detroit, he played catcher and outfield at the University of Miami before beginning his coaching career at Miami Beach High School, where he won a state championship. He later spent eight years as an assistant at Miami, helping the Hurricanes win the 1982 national championship, before being hired as LSU's head baseball coach in 1984. Bertman transformed LSU baseball into a national powerhouse during his 18 seasons as head coach. His teams won five College World Series championships—in 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, and 2000—and seven SEC championships, while making 11 College World Series appearances. He finished with an extraordinary 870–330–3 record (.724), including an NCAA tournament record of 89–29 (.754), the highest tournament winning percentage in college baseball history according to the source. His teams also became a major draw in Baton Rouge, leading the nation in attendance during each of his final six seasons. Bertman also had a significant career outside LSU's baseball program. He coached and managed the United States national baseball team, helping Team USA win a bronze medal at the 1996 Olympics. In 2001, he became LSU's athletic director, overseeing an exceptionally successful period for the university's entire athletic department. During his tenure, LSU won football national championships in 2003 and 2007, while its basketball, softball, and track programs also achieved major national success. He stepped down as athletic director in 2008 and subsequently served as athletic director emeritus, primarily assisting with fundraising. Bertman died in Baton Rouge on August 14, 2026, at age 88. His numerous honors included induction into the College Baseball Hall of Fame, the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and multiple LSU and Louisiana sports halls of fame. LSU also retired his No. 15 jersey and named its baseball field Skip Bertman Field in his honor. His legacy is that of the coach who built LSU baseball into a dominant national program while later helping establish LSU as a powerhouse across collegiate athletics. Jinten Haku (In-chun Baek) died. https://m-en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260815000400315 Who was Jinten Haku? Baek In-chun (1942–2026) was a Korean baseball player, player-manager, coach, and manager whose career spanned professional baseball in both Japan and South Korea. Born in Wuxi, China, to an ethnic Korean family, he moved to Japan as a child and began his professional career with the Toei Flyers in 1962. Initially a catcher, he later converted to the outfield and spent 19 seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball, playing for several teams. He made four All-Star teams, won the 1975 Pacific League batting title, and finished his Japanese career with 209 home runs and 212 stolen bases. Baek returned to his ethnic homeland in 1982 when South Korea launched its professional baseball league, becoming the player-manager of the MBC Chungyong. At age 38, he produced the defining season of his career, batting .412, still the only .400 season in KBO history. He led the league in batting average, hits, runs, doubles, and slugging percentage, making him one of the most important players in the early history of Korean professional baseball. He continued playing until 1984, finishing his three-year KBO career with a .335 batting average. After retiring as a player, Baek became a prominent KBO manager. His greatest success came with the LG Twins, whom he led to the 1990 Korean Series championship, the franchise's first title. He later managed the Samsung Lions and Lotte Giants and worked as a coach for several organizations, including the Hanwha Eagles and SK Wyverns. His career also included significant setbacks, including an adultery arrest in 1983 that cost him his MBC managerial position and a brain aneurysm that caused him to miss time while managing Samsung in 1997. Baek died in Cheonan, South Korea, on August 15, 2026, at age 83, after suffering cardiac arrest at his home the previous day. He left behind a unique legacy spanning two countries' professional baseball systems: a long and productive NPB career, an unprecedented .412 KBO batting season, and a Korean Series championship as a manager. Although his career was occasionally marked by controversy and adversity, he remains best remembered as a pioneering Korean baseball figure and the only player in KBO history to hit .400 in a season. Also, who was Butch Huskey? Butch Huskey (1971–2026) was an Oklahoma-born professional baseball player who spent most of his six-year MLB career with the New York Mets. Originally a third baseman, Huskey was a highly regarded prospect after being selected by the Mets in the seventh round of the 1989 draft. He excelled in the minor leagues, winning four Doubleday Awards and earning International League MVP honors with the Norfolk Tides in 1995. He reached the majors briefly in 1993 and again in 1995 before becoming a regular with the Mets in 1996. Huskey's most notable MLB season came in 1997, when he hit .287 with 24 home runs, 81 RBI, and eight stolen bases, while also putting together a 20-game hitting streak. His career with the Mets, however, was marked by positional uncertainty. He struggled defensively at both third base and right field and frequently moved between positions and roles as the team searched for a place to use his powerful bat. One of his most memorable moments came that September, when he hit a home run into the 600 level of Veterans Stadium, becoming only the third player to reach that section. After the 1998 season, Huskey was traded to Seattle and subsequently moved among the Mariners, Boston Red Sox, Minnesota Twins, and Colorado Rockies. He proved particularly useful as a part-time power hitter, including a strong stretch with Boston in 1999 that helped the Red Sox reach the playoffs. He finished his MLB career with a .267 batting average, 86 home runs, and 336 RBI. He continued playing in the minors in 2001, hitting .323 with 19 home runs for Colorado's Triple-A affiliate, but did not return to the majors. Huskey was also notable as one of the last MLB players permitted to wear No. 42 after Jackie Robinson's number was universally retired in 1997. Because he had already been wearing 42, he was grandfathered in and continued wearing it with the Mets, Twins, and other clubs; he was the last Seattle Mariner to wear the number. His career even received a pop-culture footnote through a mention in Yo La Tengo's song "Moby Octopad." Huskey died in Lawton, Oklahoma, on August 14, 2026, at age 54, from a pulmonary embolism. And who was Tommy John? Tommy John (1943 – 2026) was an American left-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who played 26 seasons (1963–1989) for the Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, California Angels, and Oakland Athletics. He compiled a 288–231 record with a 3.34 ERA and 2,245 strikeouts over 4,710⅓ innings, ranking among the all-time leaders in wins, innings, starts, and other categories. A four-time All-Star known for longevity (Opening Day starter six times; oldest active player in 1988), he is most famous as the namesake and pioneer of “Tommy John surgery.” Born in Terre Haute, Indiana, John signed with Cleveland in 1961 after starring in high school baseball and basketball. He reached the majors in 1963, established himself as a durable starter with the White Sox (1965–1971), and flourished after a 1971 trade to the Dodgers. In 1974, while leading the National League in winning percentage with a 13–3 record, he tore his ulnar collateral ligament. On September 25, 1974, Dodgers physician Frank Jobe performed the first ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction on a pitcher, grafting a tendon from John’s right forearm into his left elbow. John missed all of 1975 but returned in 1976, becoming the first pitcher to resume a successful career after the procedure. He went on to win 164 games post-surgery (including three 20-win seasons: 1977 with the Dodgers and 1979–1980 with the Yankees), earned Comeback Player of the Year and other awards, and appeared in three World Series (all losses, with a 2.67 ERA in 33⅔ innings). A soft-throwing sinkerballer who induced ground balls, John continued pitching into his mid-40s, tying (then later surpassed by Nolan Ryan) the record for most seasons played. He finished second in Cy Young voting twice and led his league in shutouts three times. After retiring in 1989, he worked as a broadcaster (Twins, Yankees, others), minor-league coach and manager (including the independent Bridgeport Bluefish), and motivational speaker. He founded the “Let’s Do It” Foundation focused on suicide prevention following the 2010 death of his son Taylor. Despite strong statistical credentials and the revolutionary impact of his surgery (now common among pitchers), he fell short of Hall of Fame election on the writers’ ballot and subsequent Veterans Committee ballots. John died at age 83 at his home in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, after battling health issues including a recurrence of bladder cancer; he had recently shared a farewell message with Yankees fans.

Drew Gagnon - 36-year-old former Mets pitcher (2018-2019) is 6-7 with a 2.16 ERA in 18 starts for the Wei Chuan Dragons of the CPBL. Ben Gamel - 34-year-old former Mets outfielder (2024) hit .210/.333/.328 with 3 home runs and 20 RBI in 57 games for the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers in the Braves system before being released August 3. Rico Garcia - 32-year-old former Mets pitcher (2025) is 4-1 with a 3.42 ERA in 58 relief appearances for the Orioles. He is averaging slightly more than a K per inning. Andres Gimenez - 27-year-old former Mets infielder (2020) is hitting .241/.287/.361 with 8 home runs, 49 RBI and 17 steals in 120 games for the Blue Jays. Trevor Gott - 33-year-old former Mets pitcher (2023) was 4-0 with a 3.55 ERA in 26 appearances (1 start) for the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings in the Nationals system before being released July 2. Robert Gsellman - 33-year-old former Mets pitcher (2016-2021) is 2-4 with a 5.12 ERA in 39 relief appearances for the Bravos de Leon in Mexico. Luis Guillorme - 31-year-old former Mets infielder (2018-2023) has hit .305/.400/.405 with 4 home runs and 33 RBI in 65 games between two Mexican League stops.

You knew things were slightly amiss with the 2026 Mets when they were calling on guys like Andy Ibanez (and Austin Slater) so early in the season. When I think of Andy Ibanez, I think of Austin Slater; when I think of Austin Slater, I think of Andy Ibanez. I don't remember much of his time with the Mets, but I do remember him having some decent pop back in the day. He also stuck around in the Mets system longer than I would've expected. He had a great run with Brooklyn, going 12-for-20 over 5 games.

26 home runs in 2023, 21 home runs in 2024. 162-game average of 24 home runs per year. Could be one of those exciting end-of-year guys that comes and goes just like that.

Off to the Mariners... https://www.fantasypros.com/mlb/news/602751/andy-ibanez-signs-minor-league-deal-with-mariners.php

Mets released Simon Juan, once a pretty highly ranked prospect. He never played above Single-A. They also released Andy Ibanez and Jackson Cluff. Christopher Morel is being called up.

Juan Soto - Aims to play again in 2026. Soto (calf) did wind sprints on the field prior to Friday's game, and the superstar outfielder intends to play again this season, Bill Ladson of MLB.com reports. Soto still doesn't have a clear timeline for his return from the IL, but his ability to run Friday is an encouraging sign. The biggest hurdle for a quick return to the lineup might come from the fact that the Mets are well out of the playoff picture, giving them no incentive to rush Soto back into action. He last played July 24, and over 84 games this season he's produced a .283/.408/.539 slash line with 21 homers and seven steals, and that .408 OBP would lead the National League if Soto had enough plate appearances to qualify. Injury: Calf. Est. Return 9/1/2026. Mark Vientos - Begins baseball activities. Mets interim manager Andy Green said Friday that Vientos (hand) has begun baseball activities, Laura Albanese of Newsday reports. Vientos is finally ready to ease back into workouts after missing more than a month of action with a fractured right hand. There's no timetable yet for the infielder's return, and he is likely to require a rehab assignment before being reinstated to the active roster. Injury: Hand. Est. Return 9/4/2026.

Johneshwy Fargas - 31-year-old former Mets outfielder (2021) is hitting .266/.322/.388 with 6 home runs, 37 home runs and 28 steals in 81 games for the Charros de Jalisco in Mexico. Matt Festa - 33-year-old former Mets pitcher (2024) is 2-3 with a 4.03 ERA in 53 relief appearances for the Guardians. In 51 1/3 innings, he has 54 strikeouts. Chris Flexen - 32-year-old former Mets pitcher (2017-2019) was 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA in 2 starts for the Doosan Bears in Korea before being released in June. Wilmer Flores - 35-year-old former Mets infielder (2013-2018) is hitting .298/.372/.485 with 11 home runs and 37 RBI in 76 games for the Toros de Tijuana in Mexico. Wilmer Font - 36-year-old former Mets pitcher (2019) is 8-4 with a 4.91 ERA in 19 starts for the Saraperos de Saltillo in Mexico. In 88 innings, he has 103 strikeouts.

Well, here are the remaining answers: Alaska - David Williams Germany - Tobi Stoner Montana - Rob johnson Netherlands Antilles - Ralph Milliard Nevada - Chasen Bradford, Jake Hager, Chasen Shreve Nicaragua - Erasmo Ramirez Panama - Manny Acosta, Jonathan Arauz, Juan Berenguer, Bruce Chen, Ariel Jurado, Ruben Tejada South Dakota - John Strohmayer, Bob Rauch, Tom Hausman U.S. Virgin Islands - Akeel Morris Utah - Brandon Lyon West Virginia - Jon Adkins, Kane Davis

Well that little surge the Mets were having seems to have been quieted.

I think the Mets should call next year a rebuilding year. Mets fans have gotten too okay with the Mets being just good enough. Just good enough to make the playoffs, just good enough to appear competent. How about we strive to be great again? So instead of the usual half measures that get us to just good enough ("well, technically we're a playoff team") how about we let next year slide so 2028 can be a truly great year worth watching?

Reliever Matt Barnes has retired.

Ditch Myers and you have a pretty solid bullpen right there. Since 2027 is likely to be a rebuilding year, they should really use whatever open spots they have left to try prospects in the system instead of signing new guys. However, it might also be worth checking in on Rico Garcia. The Mets seem to have unlocked something in him last year and he's still going pretty strong this year with the Orioles.

In a very quiet transaction, the Mets have signed reliever Chris Devenski to a minor league deal. He was one of the pitchers who was on the Queens-Syracuse shuttle last year, and he did particularly well, posting a 2.16 ERA in 13 relief appearances. He was signed away by the Pirates for 2026, but spent much of the year hurt; in just 3 games with the Pirates, he had a 7.71 ERA -- though in the minors, his mark was 1.08 in 12 games. We might see him in the majors fairly quickly, as his Triple-A mark was 1.00 in 6 games. Welcome back, Chris!

Tim Anderson has retired.

More expanded hints: Original #1: A slick-fielding infielder from Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles, this player was the second major leaguer from the island and later represented the Netherlands in both the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics. He appeared in just 10 games for the Mets in 1998 after previously winning a World Series with the Marlins. Expanded: Born in Curaçao, this infielder moved to the Netherlands as a child and eventually reached the major leagues with the Florida Marlins in 1996. He later spent a brief stint with the New York Mets and was part of the Marlins team that won the World Series. He also represented the Netherlands at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics, earning tournament honors for his defense at second base. After retiring as a player, he became a coach in the Netherlands, including serving as a head coach in the Hoofdklasse. He originally signed with the Florida Marlins as an amateur free agent in July 1992. In February 1998, he was traded to the New York Mets alongside Al Leiter in the blockbuster deal that sent A.J. Burnett and Jesús Sánchez to Florida. Exactly one year later, the Mets traded him to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for pitcher Mark Corey. Original #2: Drafted in the 35th round, this Nevada-born right-handed reliever spent six seasons working his way through the Mets' farm system before making his major league debut in 2017 by striking out two batters in a scoreless inning. He went 2–0 with a 3.74 ERA in 28 appearances for the Mets before being claimed off waivers by the Mariners, where he finished his big league career undefeated with a 7–0 record. Expanded: This Las Vegas native was drafted by the New York Mets in the 35th round of the 2011 MLB Draft and eventually reached the majors in 2017. He spent three seasons in the majors with the Mets and Seattle Mariners, going 7–0 overall and posting a 3.89 ERA in 87 appearances. After his playing career ended with the High Point Rockers in 2022, he later pursued a career in law enforcement in Nevada. This right-handed pitcher was drafted by the New York Mets in the 35th round of the 2011 amateur draft. After beginning his career in the Mets organization, he was selected off waivers by the Seattle Mariners in 2018 and later signed with both Seattle and the Atlanta Braves as a free agent. His similarity scores most closely compare him to pitchers such as Casey Fien, Barry Manuel, and Andrew Wantz. Original #3: A former first-round draft pick who waited a decade to reach the majors, this Nevada-born infielder made his big league debut with the Mets in 2021 against the team that originally drafted him. He collected just one hit in five games for New York before later appearing with the Diamondbacks, and eventually returned to the Mets organization as a Double-A coach. Expanded: A Nevada high school star, he was named the state’s Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year after hitting .547 with 11 home runs as a senior. A first-round pick of the Tampa Bay Rays in 2011, he spent a decade in the minors before making his MLB debut with the New York Mets in 2021. He appeared in just five games for the Mets before moving through the Brewers, Mariners, and Diamondbacks organizations, eventually finishing his MLB career with Arizona in 2022. After retiring as a player in 2024, he began a coaching career with the Mets organization in 2026. This infielder was selected 32nd overall in the first round of the 2011 amateur draft by the Tampa Bay Rays. Over the next decade, he bounced between several organizations, including the Brewers, Mets, Mariners, and Diamondbacks, with three different teams claiming him off waivers during the 2021 season. After a final stint with the Chicago Cubs system in 2024, he voluntarily retired from professional baseball. Original #4: This Nevada-born left-handed reliever spent parts of nine seasons in the majors with eight different teams, but some of his best work came in the Bronx before later returning to New York in Queens. Across two stints with the Mets, he appeared in 44 games, including a reliable 2020 season in which he posted a 3.96 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 25 innings. Expanded: Born in Las Vegas, this left-handed reliever began his professional career after being selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 11th round of the 2010 MLB draft. He was later involved in several notable roster moves, including a 2015 trade to the Yankees and a 2018 deadline deal to the Cardinals that sent Luke Voit to New York. Throughout his career, he has been the definition of a journeyman, signing with numerous clubs and enjoying multiple stints with both the Mets and the Yankees. This left-handed reliever was originally drafted by the Braves in the 11th round of the 2010 MLB Draft before later joining the Yankees and Cardinals in a notable 2018 trade. He became a true journeyman later in his career, pitching for numerous organizations including the Mets, Pirates, Tigers, Reds, Rangers, Rockies, and Braves. His career path was marked by frequent free-agent signings and releases, with his final stint coming back in Atlanta in 2025. Original #5: This hard-throwing Panamanian right-hander earned the nicknames "Señor Smoke" and "El Gasolino" for his blazing fastball, eventually winning two World Series with different franchises. He debuted with the Mets in 1978 but struggled with control during his three seasons in New York before blossoming into an effective reliever elsewhere, highlighted by a standout 1987 championship season with the Twins. Expanded: This Panamanian right-handed pitcher spent 15 seasons in the major leagues, debuting with the New York Mets in 1978 and playing for seven teams. Known for his intimidating appearance and mid-90s fastball, he earned nicknames including “Pancho Villa,” “Señor Smoke,” and “El Gasolino.” He won World Series rings with the 1984 Detroit Tigers and 1987 Minnesota Twins, enjoying his greatest success as a key member of the latter team’s bullpen. During the 1987 postseason, he even appeared in a memorable music video called “The Berenguer Boogie.” This well-traveled right-handed pitcher began his professional career with the Mets in the mid-1970s and eventually appeared for seven different MLB organizations. He earned NL Player of the Week honors in 1986 and had his best statistical season as a reliever in 1991, when he ranked among the NL leaders in saves, WPA, and RE24. His career included stops with teams such as the Royals, Tigers, Giants, Twins, and Braves, with his final MLB appearance coming in 1992.

I do think Soto is a big me-first ego. The Soto shuffle is one of the hokiest things I think I've seen. Yan's jumping is childlike and fun, the shuffle is just stupid. And I actually tend to agree with Johnny Lunchbucket. But it's not just Soto, though he's the biggest culprit. Mets technically still have a 0.1% chance of making the playoffs, per Baseball Reference.