Cowtipper

I remember the hype around Herrera. He was a top-50 prospect going into 2015.

Mauricio gives off massive Dilson Herrera vibes for some reason. Supposed to be a big piece then just gone. That's what I'm getting from Mauricio.

Stanek: 6.06 ERA, 69 ERA+ with the Mets Maton: 2.51 ERA, 150 ERA+ with the Mets Yeah, I can't see why Maton would be a better pick than Stanek, either.

I'm thinking .275/15/65 with 40 steals and 81 runs scored. Jeff McFlop will lose his starting job and throw a hissy fit, as is his wont. He has the genes, but he has to overcome being a Mets phenom, which historically means he'll let us down. But I'm feeling optimistic this morning.

As mentioned in another thread, Bob Gallagher died in 2024. https://phpbb3.ultimatemets.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=34232 Who was Bob Gallagher? Bob Gallagher was a Major League Baseball outfielder who played from 1972 to 1975 with the Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros, and New York Mets. Born on July 7, 1948, he was the grandson of former MLB player and manager Shano Collins and the son of minor league player Charles Gallagher. He attended Bellarmine College Preparatory and Stanford University before being selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 17th round of the 1968 draft. In his four-season MLB career, Gallagher played in 213 games, recording a .220 batting average with 56 hits, two home runs, 13 RBIs, 34 runs, a triple, and a stolen base. After retiring from baseball, he spent 25 years teaching high school social studies at Santa Cruz High School in California, later working as a substitute teacher following his retirement in 2010. Gallagher passed away on August 14, 2024, in Santa Cruz. Also, Morrie Steevens died in 2024. https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=steevmo01 Who was Morrie Steevens? Morrie Steevens was a left-handed pitcher who played in Major League Baseball for the Chicago Cubs in 1962 and the Philadelphia Phillies from 1964 to 1965. Born on October 7, 1940, he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cubs in 1958 and spent a decade in professional baseball. Steevens made his MLB debut in 1962 and had a strong start in relief before being sent back to the minors. He returned to the Cubs later that season and made his only career start on September 19 against the Philadelphia Phillies, taking the loss in a rain-shortened game. After spending 1963 in the minors, he was traded to the Phillies, where he was called up during their 1964 playoff push. His most memorable appearance came on September 19, 1964, when he entered a tied game in the 16th inning but lost when Willie Davis stole home before he could record an out. He split 1965 between the Phillies and the minors, struggling in his final big-league appearances before spending two more years in the minors and retiring in 1967. In 22 career MLB games, he posted an 0–2 record with a 5.75 ERA over 20⅓ innings, allowing 20 hits and 16 walks while striking out 11. And Eric Wilkins died. https://neptunesociety.com/obituaries/lynnwood-wa/eric-wilkins-12082830 Who was Eric Wilkins? Eric Lamoine Wilkins was a right-handed pitcher who played one season in Major League Baseball for the Cleveland Indians in 1979. Born on December 9, 1956, in St. Louis, Missouri, he attended James A. Garfield High School in Seattle before playing college baseball at Washington State University from 1975 to 1977. Wilkins made his MLB debut on April 11, 1979, and appeared in 16 games for the Indians that season. His final big-league game was on July 23, 1979. After his brief major league career, he did not return to the big leagues. He passed away on November 17, 2024, in Everett, Washington.

Angel Torres died. https://www.diariolibre.com/deportes/columnistas/2025/02/04/fallecio-el-exlanzador-angel-torres-el-chivo-azuano/2987912 Who was Angel Torres? Ángel Torres was a Dominican left-handed pitcher who made a brief appearance in Major League Baseball with the Cincinnati Reds in 1977. Over five games, he posted a 2.16 ERA but did not record a win or a loss. Originally signed by the St. Louis Cardinals as an amateur free agent in 1971, he spent several years in their minor league system, excelling at the Double-A level but never receiving a call-up to the majors. In 1976, Torres was traded to the Montreal Expos in a six-player deal before being sent to the Reds in May 1977. He split that season between Triple-A and the majors, making his MLB debut by striking out five batters in two innings. Despite solid minor league performances, he did not pitch in the big leagues again. He continued in Triple-A through 1980 and played his final professional season in the Mexican League in 1981. Torres passed away on February 1, 2025, at the age of 72. Jose Valdivielso died. https://www.newsweek.com/sports/mlb/pioneering-baseball-legend-yankees-broadcaster-passes-away-2041454 Who was Jose Valdivielso? José Valdivielso was a Cuban-born shortstop who played in Major League Baseball for the Washington Senators and Minnesota Twins between 1955 and 1961. Known for his strong defensive skills, he appeared in 401 games but struggled offensively, posting a career batting average of .219. Before reaching the majors, he was signed by scout Joe Cambria after a solid season with the Lubbock Hubbers in 1953. He also played in the Cuban Winter League, leading the league in sacrifice hits twice. His most active MLB season was in 1960 when he started 92 games at shortstop for the Senators, though he lost his role to Zoilo Versalles by season’s end. Valdivielso was also part of the only all-Cuban triple play in MLB history. His professional career lasted through 1964, finishing with 213 hits, nine home runs, and 26 doubles. After retiring, he worked as a youth recreation director in New York City and later became a Spanish-language sports announcer, covering Yankees games on radio. He also worked as a retail counselor for White Rose, a major food distributor. Valdivielso passed away on March 4, 2025, at the age of 90. Don Secrist died. https://www.searbyfuneralhomes.com/obituary/donald-laverne-secrist Who was Don Secrist? Don Secrist was an American left-handed pitcher who played in Major League Baseball for the Chicago White Sox in 1969 and 1970. Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 195 pounds, he appeared in 28 games, all as a reliever. His professional career began when he signed with the Baltimore Orioles, and he later moved to the Cincinnati Reds' farm system, where he had a standout 1968 season, winning 11 games with a 2-loss record for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. He was then traded to the White Sox. Secrist made his MLB debut in 1969, appearing in 19 games, including the home opener for the Seattle Pilots. His only major league decision came on July 16, 1969, when he took the loss against the Minnesota Twins after surrendering a home run to Rich Reese. He pitched nine more games for Chicago in 1970 before returning to the minors. In his MLB career, he pitched 54 2/3 innings, allowing 54 hits, nine home runs, and 26 walks while striking out 32. After his playing days, Secrist lived in Centralia, Illinois, where he passed away on January 30, 2025, at the age of 80.

Kelly Stinnett returned after a long hiatus. Rene Rivera is another catcher that went away and came back. A lot more Mets have done this than I could have imagined. Also, Chasen Shreve went away and came back. I had to do some digging to remember that one. Kelly Johnson too, maybe? Oh, and here's a good obscure one: Wilfredo Tovar.

And Jay Bruce.

We have a weak bullpen. Phil Maton coming back would have made that bullpen a lot less weak. Instead they brought back Ryne Stanek. I liked Maton for what he was. A decent pitcher and partial-season fly-by-nighter a la Graeme Lloyd or Steve Reed.

Also Eric Young, Jr.

Felipe Montemayor died. https://pittsburghbaseballnow.com/felipe-montemayor-obituary-pittsburgh-pirates/ Who was Felipe Montemayor? Felipe Ángel Montemayor, born on February 7, 1928, in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico, was a Mexican professional baseball player who made a brief but memorable mark in Major League Baseball. As an outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates, he played 64 games across the 1953 and 1955 seasons. Montemayor’s MLB career, though limited, included two home runs in a doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1955, marking his highlight in the majors. However, his time with the Pirates was marked by struggles at the plate, batting .173 with 26 hits in 64 games. Before his MLB stints, Montemayor had a notable career in the Cuban League with Cienfuegos, leading the league in triples and hitting two grand-slam home runs in consecutive games. He had been purchased by the Pirates from the Mexicali Eagles in 1951 after a strong performance in the Sunset League. After his brief time in the majors, Montemayor continued his career in the Mexican League, where he found more success, hitting .293 and earning a place in the Mexican baseball Hall of Fame in 1983. Montemayor's professional career spanned 21 seasons, playing primarily in Mexico where he accumulated 133 home runs and a .250 career average in over 1,600 games. He retired from playing at age 40 and became a sportswriter in his hometown. Montemayor passed away on February 4, 2025, just a few days before his 97th birthday, leaving behind a legacy as one of the pioneering Mexican players in Major League Baseball. Frank Saucier died. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/08/sports/baseball/frank-saucier-dead.html Who was Frank Saucier? Francis Field Saucier, also known as Frank, was an American professional baseball player who played as an outfielder for the St. Louis Browns during the 1951 season. Despite a promising career in the minor leagues, where he showcased his hitting talent with a .446 batting average in 1949 and a .343 average in 1950, Saucier’s major league career was brief. His 18-game stint with the Browns included only one hit in 14 at-bats, earning him a .071 batting average. Saucier’s place in baseball history is most notably tied to a publicity stunt orchestrated by Browns’ owner Bill Veeck. On August 19, 1951, Saucier was replaced by Eddie Gaedel, the shortest player in baseball history, in a pinch-hitting appearance that garnered much attention. Despite the oddity of the moment, Saucier held no ill will toward Gaedel or the event. In fact, he had been playing with an injury and was relieved to exit the game and return to Texas, where he later worked in the oil industry and eventually became the vice president and director of the First Savings and Loan Association in Amarillo. Saucier’s minor league career was marked by impressive achievements, including winning the 1950 Minor League Player of the Year award and leading the Big State League with a .446 average in 1949. He also served in the U.S. Navy during both World War II and the Korean War, making him one of the few major leaguers to have served in both conflicts. Saucier’s post-baseball life included a degree in math and physics from Westminster College, and he was later honored with the naming of Frank Saucier Field at his alma mater. He passed away on March 3, 2025, at the age of 98 in Amarillo, Texas. Art Schallock died. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/09/obituaries/art-schallock-dead.html Who was Art Schallock? Arthur Lawrence Schallock, known as Art, was a professional baseball pitcher who played for the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles from 1951 to 1955. Born in 1924 in Mill Valley, California, Schallock had a strong early interest in sports and played baseball, tennis, and golf in high school. After serving as a radio operator in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he played semi-professional baseball before signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1946. He spent several years in the Dodgers' minor league system before being traded to the Yankees in 1951. Schallock made his major league debut with the Yankees that same year, and he played a role in the team's success, including participating in the 1953 World Series. Though he appeared in 58 major league games, Schallock's time in the big leagues was limited, and after being picked up by the Orioles in 1955, he retired from baseball in 1957. Post-retirement, Schallock worked as a sporting goods salesman and in public relations. He was married to Dona Bernard for 76 years, and they had two children and five grandchildren. Schallock became the oldest living former MLB player in 2022, a title he held until his death in 2025. He celebrated his 100th birthday in 2024, and during his final years, he remained in good health, living in a retirement community in Sonoma, California. Schallock passed away on March 6, 2025, at the age of 100.

Can't forget Gary Matthews, Jr. and Matt Den Dekker! Ruben Tejada departed and came back. Brady Clark did, too. Kirk Nieuwenhuis left and came back ... in the same season.

78 games, 184 ABs, .229 BA. The Mets will ditch him before long, as has been their wont with many a top prospect (Milledge was gone at 22, Fernando Martinez at 22, Alex Escobar at 22 ........ etc.).

Manaea had legit All-Star potential back in the day and seems to have righted the ship. I'm guessing he'll do better than '24. 14-5, 3.20 ERA, 121 ERA+, similar K/9 as last year, 190 IP.

Chris Williams is so good that he is 28 years old and no team has given him a sniff of the majors yet. Let's not get excited.

Eddie Fisher died. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/43967427/eddie-fisher-all-star-reliever-world-series-champ-dies-88 Who was Eddie Fisher? Eddie Fisher was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played for six teams between 1959 and 1973, primarily as a reliever. After being signed by the San Francisco Giants, he spent time in the minors before establishing himself with the Chicago White Sox, where he became one of the league’s top bullpen arms. A knuckleball specialist, he learned from teammate Hoyt Wilhelm and excelled in relief, particularly in 1965 when he led the American League in appearances, won 15 games, saved 24, and was named an All-Star. He also finished fourth in MVP voting that year and won the Sporting News Reliever of the Year award. Midway through 1966, Fisher was traded to the Baltimore Orioles and contributed to their World Series-winning season, though he did not pitch in the Fall Classic. He later played for the Cleveland Indians, California Angels, and St. Louis Cardinals before retiring in 1973. His career totals included an 85-70 record, 81 saves, and a 3.41 ERA across 690 appearances. After baseball, he returned to Oklahoma, where he became a bank president and owned a sporting goods business. Fisher passed away on February 17, 2025, at the age of 88. Jim Lawrence died. https://www.thespec.com/news/hamilton-region/jim-lawrences-promising-baseball-career-sidelined-by-shoulder-injury/article_fd2c9e01-3671-5d97-88ae-8d68d64f7a66.html Who was Jim Lawrence? James Ross Lawrence was a Canadian professional baseball catcher who briefly played in Major League Baseball for the Cleveland Indians in 1963. Appearing in just two games, he recorded three putouts but did not have a plate appearance and committed one error. Born in Hamilton, Ontario, he batted left-handed and threw right-handed. His professional career spanned seven seasons (1958–1964), all within the Indians organization. After retiring from baseball, he lived in Ontario until his passing on January 8, 2025, at the age of 85. Bobby Malkmus died. https://www.si.com/mlb/phillies/news/former-philadelphia-phillies-infielder-minor-league-manager-dies Who was Bobby Malkmus? Bobby Malkmus was an American professional baseball infielder, manager, and scout. He played in Major League Baseball for the Milwaukee Braves, Washington Senators, and Philadelphia Phillies between 1957 and 1962, primarily as a utility infielder. His most active season was 1961 with the Phillies, where he batted .231 with seven home runs in 121 games. Over his MLB career, he hit .215 with eight home runs and 46 RBIs. Born in Newark, New Jersey, he signed with the Boston Braves in 1951 but spent two years in military service during the Korean War before resuming his baseball career. After brief stints with the Braves and Senators, he was selected by the Phillies in the Rule 5 draft, spending three seasons with them. He was notably the only batter not struck out by Warren Spahn in his first career no-hitter in 1960. Following his playing days, Malkmus managed in the minor leagues for nine seasons before transitioning to scouting. He worked for the Cleveland Indians and San Diego Padres, continuing as a part-time scout for Cleveland until 2025. He passed away on February 23, 2025, at the age of 93.

.000 in 7 ABs.

Who was Scott Sauerbeck? Scott Sauerbeck was an American left-handed relief pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1999 to 2006. Originally drafted by the New York Mets in 1994, he developed in their minor league system before being selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1998 Rule 5 draft. He became a reliable bullpen arm for the Pirates, particularly excelling in 1999 and 2002. Traded to the Boston Red Sox in 2003, he struggled before signing with the Cleveland Indians in 2004, missing that season due to injury. He returned in 2005 but was released in 2006 after poor performance and an arrest. Brief stints with the Oakland Athletics, Houston Astros, Toronto Blue Jays, Cincinnati Reds, and Chicago White Sox followed, though he never returned to the majors. Sauerbeck retired in 2008. He was arrested in 2006 for an incident involving a drunk companion and later died of a heart attack in 2025 at age 53. Who was Rich Dauer? Rich Dauer spent his entire 10-year Major League Baseball career with the Baltimore Orioles, serving as their primary second baseman and contributing to the team's success, including a World Series victory in 1983. Before his professional career, he was a standout player at the University of Southern California, helping lead the Trojans to consecutive College World Series titles in 1973 and 1974. Drafted in the first round by the Orioles in 1974, he quickly climbed the minor league ranks, earning recognition as the International League co-MVP in 1976 before making his major league debut later that year. While Dauer was not known for his hitting, he was a reliable fielder, setting American League records for consecutive errorless games and errorless chances at second base. He played a key role in Baltimore’s 1979 and 1983 postseason runs, hitting a home run in Game 7 of the 1979 World Series, though the Orioles ultimately lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was also part of the team’s lighthearted "Three Stooges" trio with teammates Todd Cruz and Rick Dempsey during the 1983 championship season. Following his playing career, Dauer transitioned into coaching, spending nearly two decades as an MLB coach with teams including the Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, and Colorado Rockies. He managed in the minors and later joined the Houston Astros as first base coach, winning another World Series title in 2017. However, during the team's victory parade, he suffered a brain hemorrhage that required emergency surgery, though he later recovered enough to participate in team events in 2018. Dauer’s health declined following a massive stroke in 2022, and he passed away in February 2025. He was inducted into the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame in 2012, recognized for his contributions to the franchise as both a player and a defensive cornerstone of their championship team. Also, Dave Van Gorder died: https://ballnine.com/2025/02/21/dave-van-gorder/ Who was Dave Van Gorder? Dave Van Gorder was an American Major League Baseball catcher who played five seasons at the major league level for the Cincinnati Reds and Baltimore Orioles. Drafted by the Reds in the second round of the 1978 amateur draft, he began his professional career with the Double-A Nashville Sounds. After spending several years in the minors, he made his MLB debut in 1982, catching 51 games for the Reds but struggling at the plate with a .182 average. Over the next few seasons, he bounced between the majors and Triple-A, with his most active MLB season coming in 1985, when he appeared in 73 games and hit .238. Released by the Reds in 1986, he signed with the Orioles in 1987, appearing in 12 games before finishing his career in the minors. Despite his offensive struggles, Van Gorder was known for his defensive skills, posting a strong career fielding percentage of .990. He played professionally for a decade before retiring in 1987. Van Gorder passed away in Tucson, Arizona, on February 4, 2025, at the age of 67. Jim Todd died. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/coloradocommunitymedia/name/james-todd-obituary?id=57530842 Who was Jim Todd? James Richard Todd Jr. (September 21, 1947 – February 3, 2025) was an American professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1974 to 1979 for the Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics, and Seattle Mariners. A left-handed batter and right-handed thrower, he was drafted by the Cubs in the 10th round of the 1969 MLB draft and made his debut in 1974. His best season came in 1975 with the Athletics, where he recorded eight wins, 12 saves, and a 2.29 ERA, earning MVP votes while helping the team win the AL West. However, his performance declined in the following years, leading to trades and struggles, including a difficult 1977 season with the Cubs, where he posted an ERA over 9. He later joined the Mariners before finishing his career with the Athletics in 1979. After being released in 1980 following a brief stint with the Phoenix Giants, Todd retired from professional baseball. He passed away in Parker, Colorado, on February 3, 2025, at the age of 77.

He didn't get the chance to go through a sophomore slump last year, so he'll have it this year. 22 starts, 7-6 W-L, 3.98 ERA, still a decent K rate.

Knock 10 home runs off my prediction above and all else remains the same.

A good pitcher who could really help the Mets right now. They should have brought back two of the three that kept them float in '24: Manaea, Quintana, Severino. But they brought back just one.

2023 was a uniquely memorable year, despite it sucking. We'll see. The Mets have a lot of decent depth still. They have a nice bumper crop of prospects. Like, a lot of guys 26 and under who are "supposed to be good." I'm not worried about the offense. Once again, it's the bullpen that scares me. Ryne Stanek is #2 on the bullpen depth chart and Garrett is #3. That's disconcerting. Nimmo being hurt will likely be a blip in the long run.

I liked him a lot his first year, liked him a fair amount his second year, wanted him gone by his third year. The 2020s version of Dennis Cook.

Edgy MD wrote: It just makes no sense that a guy folks are sending mail to, asking for autographs, is also a guy whose death is so overlooked — sometimes by those same persons. Lots of times people just assume they stop signing—not because they died, but because they got tired of being inundated by mail. Unless a relative writes a note back saying they died (or the post office finds out they died and RTS's the letter with "deceased"), collectors often have no way of knowing. Few are brave enough or have the desire to write specifically to ask if someone died. Often we get suspicious when someone who is a great signer just randomly stops. But still, unless there is a public record of their death or a notice online, it can be hard to find out. People who are cremated often get overlooked.

Will we finally have the long-awaited Hayden Senger appearance we've all been waiting for?