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Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 2012

Edgy MD Jan 06 2012 02:35 PM

Last year's thread can be found here. Eventually, when like it's subjects, it drifts into retirement, it'll be archived among threads started in January 2011. We open this year with a Wall Street Journal examination of how Mike Piazza pees better than you drink.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 06 2012 02:41 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Lettie is so wasted by the end of the article she accidentally gives him Oral. I'd read Piazza's book.

Edgy MD Jan 06 2012 02:48 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

And in the manner of retired veterans of all kinds, he lamented the way the game had changed. "You don't have the veteran middle on the bench like you used to—teams today have really eliminated bench-type players. As a rookie I was lucky to be catching a veteran staff—I had Oral Hershiser, Jim Gott, who pitched for Philadelphia. Jim was really animated—I loved catching for that guy." Can anybody explain who or what he is talking about here? Is he decrying the lack of Lenny Harris on a big league roster? If anything has hurt major league benches, it's the DH first and bullpen creep second.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 06 2012 02:55 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

I think the wine writer is over her head interpreting jock speak here (and drunk as well, probably)

Ceetar Jan 06 2012 03:38 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

at the All-Star game next year, instead of Seaver throwing a pitch to Piazza, they're going to get together and stomp grapes between the mound and the plate.

G-Fafif Jan 06 2012 03:43 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Former colleague of mine scooped WSJ by ten years on the Piazza-wine beat. The writer (a hardcore Orioles fan who joined me at Shea on a couple of occasions in the late 1990s) left beverages, et al to pursue baseball dreams several years ago. He's now Director, Major League Scouting/Assistant to GM for your N.L. West champion Arizona Diamondbacks. Moral to the story: It may not help to share a bottle of wine with Mike Piazza, but it couldn't hurt.

Lefty Specialist Jan 07 2012 07:16 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Actually saw Mike on the street last month, walking down Broadway not far from my office. He was alone, no posse. I'd already passed him when it registered ('Holy Sh*t, that's Mike Piazza!'). Thought about turning around and saying something but I figured his days are full of middle-aged fanboys like me gushing over him like giddy schoolgirls. So I walked on.

Ceetar Jan 07 2012 08:52 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Lefty Specialist wrote: Actually saw Mike on the street last month, walking down Broadway not far from my office. He was alone, no posse. I'd already passed him when it registered ('Holy Sh*t, that's Mike Piazza!'). Thought about turning around and saying something but I figured his days are full of middle-aged fanboys like me gushing over him like giddy schoolgirls. So I walked on. i would've turned around and stalked him, at least reported back on where he ate lunch or something. ;-)

G-Fafif Jan 07 2012 09:45 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Ceetar wrote: i would've turned around and stalked him, at least reported back on where he ate lunch or something. I liked when he would feast on Roger Clemens.

Lefty Specialist Jan 09 2012 07:27 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

I've always felt that people deserve their privacy. And I'm a lousy stalker anyway. I like it when someone famous can walk around like a normal person, which is something you can do better in New York than just about anywhere else. (I imagine Mike likes it, too.)

Ceetar Jan 09 2012 07:39 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Lefty Specialist wrote: I've always felt that people deserve their privacy. And I'm a lousy stalker anyway. I like it when someone famous can walk around like a normal person, which is something you can do better in New York than just about anywhere else. (I imagine Mike likes it, too.) they still have their privacy if they don't know you're stalking them! SNY should televise a new show for non-gametime. sneak a tracking device on Piazza or some ex-met and provide Jack Bauer like updates. "Piazza's checking out at Two Boots now! He's bought a chicken pizza and it's HOT! He's on the move!"

Edgy MD Jan 09 2012 07:44 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

I'd have realized that was actually Piazza about two weeks after passing him on the street.

Ceetar Jan 09 2012 07:47 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Edgy DC wrote: I'd have realized that was actually Piazza about two weeks after passing him on the street. This is why I got married. We must've spotted 2 dozen baseball players in Spring Training last year and pretty much all of them were spotted by my wife whispering to me "hey, isn't that a player?", or in one case asking one where he got that nifty Mr Met Leprauchaun hat.

Edgy MD Jan 23 2012 02:52 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Chooch.

G-Fafif Jan 23 2012 03:46 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Yay, Choo Choo! (Despite inadvertent douche chills unleashed by use of Carlos Ruiz's nickname above.) He always seemed mysterious and almost foreboding to me in that there were these anecdotes from the attic and never anything about what happened later. Glad to find out he is, per Vecsey, "sweet and as decent as ever." A little more Colemania from the diligent Nick Diunte at examiner.com.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 23 2012 06:42 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

wow, great. Pepper steak and rice.

G-Fafif Jan 23 2012 07:44 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Now matter how laconic Choo Choo Coleman was portrayed, he had to make for an interesting listen than Ed Coleman.

Edgy MD Jan 23 2012 08:43 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

It must be a real Woodstock moment for the Met Hunters of the world to see Choo Choo doing his first ever card shows. (That's two more than I've ever been to.) The pickoff anecdote holds up.

Met Hunter Jan 24 2012 05:23 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

I hear what you're saying. Through the years my wife has occasionally given me a hard time, but I always keep it in check. That being said, bringing Clarence back to New York. Seeing the smiles on everyones faces, from young and old fans, to Met personnel and former players and HOFers. Giving him a sense of respect he hasnt realized in decades has made it all worth it for me. He appreciated the scratch too.

Edgy MD Jan 24 2012 05:37 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

So, am I correctly understanding that you are Lou C.?

Met Hunter Jan 24 2012 05:45 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

In the flesh. Happy to serve the Met community whether they just root or root and collect.

Edgy MD Jan 24 2012 05:47 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Well played, Huntsman.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 24 2012 07:12 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Met Hunter wrote: In the flesh. Happy to serve the Met community whether they just root or root and collect. Kablam!

metirish Jan 24 2012 07:30 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Very cool Met Hunter, great for Choo Choo , love this Last week, Coleman flew into New York — his first plane ride in 35 years. “They used to shake more,” he said, recalling the DC-6B propeller planes the Mets used to charter. When he checked into a hotel, he had never seen a magnetic room card.

G-Fafif Jan 24 2012 07:49 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Met Hunter wrote: In the flesh. Happy to serve the Met community whether they just root or root and collect. Out-frigging-standing. Now that you've brought Choo Choo into the spotlight, who moves up to most wanted Met recluse?

Benjamin Grimm Jan 24 2012 07:59 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Fred Wilpon's wallet?

Met Hunter Jan 24 2012 10:03 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

I think after Choo Choo there really arent that many well known out of the spotlight Mets. The true recluses are guys like Brock Pemberton or Bob Rauch. But like the guy in Shawshank sort of said "I don't think they'll put up much of fuss for an old Met like that." When I checked Clarence in on Friday night, I had to literally show him how to use a key card in his hotel room door. Saw him last night and he told me he's doing pretty good with the key. (They've had him at three different hotels). He's got a perpetual smile. Last night was cool too. He came down to the hotel lobby and sat around shooting the shit with Ralph Kiner, Orlando Cepeda, Bernard Gilkey and Randy Myers. Quite a sight.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 24 2012 10:07 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

I would have LOVED it if Ralph had asked Choo Choo about how he got his nickname. Or about his wife's name and what she's like.

Edgy MD Jan 24 2012 10:13 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

That's nine degrees of awesome. I think of Dave Schneck as elusive. I also always figured a Met that would make himself scarce would be Mac Scarce.

G-Fafif Jan 24 2012 10:21 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Met Hunter wrote: I think after Choo Choo there really arent that many well known out of the spotlight Mets. The true recluses are guys like Brock Pemberton or Bob Rauch. But like the guy in Shawshank sort of said "I don't think they'll put up much of fuss for an old Met like that." When I checked Clarence in on Friday night, I had to literally show him how to use a key card in his hotel room door. Saw him last night and he told me he's doing pretty good with the key. (They've had him at three different hotels). He's got a perpetual smile. Last night was cool too. He came down to the hotel lobby and sat around shooting the shit with Ralph Kiner, Orlando Cepeda, Bernard Gilkey and Randy Myers. Quite a sight. I could roll around in those three paragraphs for the next three days.

G-Fafif Jan 24 2012 10:46 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Another Met Hunter question: Is there ever any call, or have you ever attempted, to secure the participation of shall we say Met pariahs at an event like the one Sunday? Would a Richie Hebner or a Vince Coleman show up? And based on your experience, would they be well-received? One more question: Is there going to be a gap at future Met-intensive shows given that so many Met stars from the past ten or so years have or presumably will have retired to Latin America? (Followup: Is language a barrier in situations like those?)

seawolf17 Jan 24 2012 11:02 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Met Hunter wrote: I hear what you're saying. Through the years my wife has occasionally given me a hard time, but I always keep it in check. That being said, bringing Clarence back to New York. Seeing the smiles on everyones faces, from young and old fans, to Met personnel and former players and HOFers. Giving him a sense of respect he hasnt realized in decades has made it all worth it for me. He appreciated the scratch too. Blargh. Knew I should have gone on Sunday. I'll track him down for the collection eventually, I hope.

G-Fafif Jan 24 2012 01:16 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Three Original Mets who aren't Choo Choo Coleman speaking at last Saturday's BBWAA dinner here.

Edgy MD Jan 26 2012 09:20 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Ed Charles, Hall of Famer.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 26 2012 09:23 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Big night for Jasper Hunter Dixon too.

Met Hunter Jan 30 2012 09:05 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

G-Fafif wrote: Another Met Hunter question: Is there ever any call, or have you ever attempted, to secure the participation of shall we say Met pariahs at an event like the one Sunday? Would a Richie Hebner or a Vince Coleman show up? And based on your experience, would they be well-received? One more question: Is there going to be a gap at future Met-intensive shows given that so many Met stars from the past ten or so years have or presumably will have retired to Latin America? (Followup: Is language a barrier in situations like those?) A Met pariah event would be something. Not sure fans would come out to greet Bobby Bo or Mel Rojas. Interestingly, I once asked Richie Hebner why he despised being a Met so much. He said, in his best salty New England accent, "What was I supposed to do, be happy?, we f*ckin sucked." There are some great obscure latino Mets, that I would love to meet. Sergio Ferrer, Luis Rosado, the other Pedro Martinez. That should make it interesting for the future. Not sure you'll see too many of them around town. I attended the BAT event Tuesday night and was able to see Willie Montanez. I asked Benny Ayala, like I do most years to bring in a Mario Ramirez or Ricky Otero. That would be cool.

Edgy MD Jan 30 2012 09:39 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

It might have been a cool idea if, during one of the San Juan games, somebody organized a reunion of retired Puerto Rican Mets (active ones included below). Surely somebody could've lined up 10 of these guys. Manati Carlos Beltran Aguadilla Julio Valera, Carlos Delgado Arecibo Orlando Mercado Bayamon Dicky Gonzalez, Jesus Feliciano, Omir Santos Caguas Alex Cora Carolina Willie Collazo Catano Willie Montanez Cidra Luis Rivera, Luis Lopez Fajardo José Santiago Humacao Junior Ortiz, Mario Diaz, Edwin Nuñez, Raul Casanova Isabela Felix Mantilla Lajas Luis Alvarado, Robinson Cancel Manati José Valentin Ponce Pepe Mangual, Gil Flores, Roberto Alomar, Ricky Ledee Rio Piedras José Oquendo, Rey Sanchez, Tito Navarro, Pedro Feliciano, Juan Padilla, Angel Pagan, Ruben Gotay Salinas Sandy Alomar, Sandy Alomar Santurce Sergio Ferrer, Luis Rosado, Roberto Hernandez, Luis Alicea, Carlos Baerga, Raul Gonzalez Vega Baja Luis Aguayo, Ricky Otero, Ramon Castro Yabucoa Felix Millan, Jerry Morales Yauco Benny Ayala, Mario Ramirez

Mets Guy in Michigan Jan 31 2012 04:13 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

I met Hebner last year and asked him to sign my Mets book. He appeared at a West Michigan Whitecaps game -- the team has "Tiger Fridays" with old Tigers -- and the team gave out bobble heads of Hebner wearing a Tigers road uniform of that era. Instead of swinging a bat, he's swinging a shovel. It's pretty cool. Tigers fans think it's odd that I stand in line with a Mets book, but it's been a good way to add former Mets to the book. Frank Howard appeared the year before and was really nice.

G-Fafif Feb 06 2012 02:00 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Eric Hillman exposes the Worst Team Money Could Buy as the Worst Team a Young Met Could Come Up With, on SportsTalkNY, via Metstradamus. These guys didn't care about anything. The worst of the worst was Bonilla. He did not care about the game, he didn't care about anything except his cars, his jewelry, and his real estate, and that's about all these guys, that's about all he cared about and I'd be happy to say that, hopefully he's listening because he knows it's true. And Frank Tanana was as depressing to sit next to as he was to watch pitch. I got Frank Tanana at the end of his career ... we're sitting on the bench one day and he said "E ... I've been on some bad teams in my career ... but this is the worst ... if you go out and pitch well, you're probably going to lose. But you go out and pitch badly, you're guaranteed to lose."

Edgy MD Feb 06 2012 02:04 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Wow, it's like Joan Rivers was interviewing him. Eric Hillman: six feet and 10 inches of dishin' it. Meow!

Benjamin Grimm Feb 06 2012 02:08 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Frank Tanana! I had just about forgotten that he was a Met. By the time they got him, he was long past his days as a sensation with the Angels. I remember when he and Nolan Ryan (who also used to be a Met, by the way) were just striking out everybody. Those 19 years between Tanana's rookie year (1974) and the year he became a Met (1993) seem like even longer than that to me, because those same years took me from being an 11-year-old to being a (slightly wiser) 30-year-old. Now? 19 years! Pish! That's nothing!

batmagadanleadoff Feb 06 2012 02:35 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

I remember Tanana the one-season Met well ... maybe even better than I recall some recent Met hurlers ... probably because Tanana was once such a big-name pitcher and the toast of Anaheim. He was simply toast - hold the town- by the time the Mets got him. Tanana set the Mets single season record for most HR's allowed by a LHP (26). The record stood until last season when Capuano yielded 27 taters (pitching half his games in the Citi Field Cavern).

G-Fafif Feb 06 2012 02:46 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Y'all gotta listen to this Hillman interview. And then somebody's gotta sign him to do an Ex-Met Morning Zoo.

G-Fafif Feb 06 2012 02:49 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Followed by Doug Flynn!

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 06 2012 02:52 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

G-Fafif wrote: Y'all gotta listen to this Hillman interview. And then somebody's gotta sign him to do an Ex-Met Morning Zoo. Listening now.

SPORTSTALKNY Feb 06 2012 06:21 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Wow, it's like Joan Rivers was interviewing him. Eric Hillman: six feet and 10 inches of dishin' it. Meow! ?? JOAN RIVERS ?? I WAS THE ONE INTERVIEWING HIM..WHAT DOES JOAN RIVERS MEAN ??

Edgy MD Feb 06 2012 06:28 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

It means you got some juicy material out of him. Nice job. Welcome aboard, SPORTSTALKNY.

Edgy MD Feb 06 2012 06:38 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

I'm playing it through now. Really good stuff.

Edgy MD Feb 06 2012 06:59 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Jerry Grote, meet bus.

Fman99 Feb 06 2012 08:21 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Hey a new guy! Welcome aBordick!

G-Fafif Feb 19 2012 10:29 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Mike Cameron moves out of Nats camp and retires. [youtube]7iviWn8UMR8[/youtube] It wasn't quite "L.A. Woman," but for the meaty part of 2004, Cameron's celebratory clubhouse jam made its way to the Shea speakers after wins. I can still hear it blaring from the Saturday afternoon 10-9 triumph over the MFYs.

metirish Feb 19 2012 10:34 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Happy trails Mike, good guy, can't believe it was 2005 when he got traded from the Mets, time flies.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 19 2012 01:41 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Always-- ALWAYS-- a standup guy; I was almost sad when we signed Beltran (almost) because it meant his Met days were numbered. Have a vivid memory of him signing autographs for an hour during/after an early-season rain delay (and, IIRC, eventual cancellation) in '04. Maybe my favorite short-term (< 2 years) Met of the '00s.

Edgy MD Feb 19 2012 01:49 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Memories of Mike Cameron.

Frayed Knot Feb 20 2012 07:48 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Man when I tell you he was cool he was red hot, I mean he was steaming

Edgy MD Feb 20 2012 08:29 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Human torch.

Mets – Willets Point Feb 23 2012 02:47 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Pumpsie Green honored by hometown.

TransMonk Mar 05 2012 02:26 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Boy, did I pick the wrong childhood hero. Lenny Dykstra sentenced to 3 years

Benjamin Grimm Mar 12 2012 11:11 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Today is Darryl Strawberry's 50th birthday.

Edgy MD Mar 18 2012 06:22 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

1986: 2012:

Benjamin Grimm Mar 18 2012 06:50 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Edgy DC wrote: WOW!

Edgy MD Mar 20 2012 10:40 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Tom Seaver Day in Fresno.

metirish Mar 20 2012 10:56 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

That's a really great picture of Tyson , Doc and Straw....note the Miami Vice pants Tyson is wearing, the guy over his shoulder looks familiar, who is that?

Benjamin Grimm Mar 20 2012 10:57 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Ray Knight.

Edgy MD Mar 20 2012 10:58 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Ray Knight, former boxer himself, smart enough to stay behind Tyson.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 20 2012 11:16 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Tyson wasn't yet the champion when that picture was snapped. (Neither were the Mets). Here's two more pics; one with Frank Cashen looking on, another with a Met I can't identify.

Edgy MD Mar 20 2012 11:21 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

That first number looks like an "8" and I'm thinking that other guy isn't a Met per se, but a bullpen catcher or a batboy. Looks like a catcher's mitt, too.

HahnSolo Mar 20 2012 11:42 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

I go with Mike the batboy, pride of St. Raymond's in the Bronx. He's just to Knight's left in this photo, right in front of Kid. Wore 86.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 29 2012 08:58 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Dave Gallagher talks sabermetrics and inventions.

G-Fafif May 11 2012 07:47 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Craig Anderson (W) and Craig Anderson (W) appeared in box scores fifty years ago tomorrow (or the morning after tomorrow). George Vecsey catches up with one of the players he covered. On May 12, 1962, Craig Anderson won both ends of a doubleheader in relief for the expansion team called the Mets. He had every reason to think maybe he and the Mets were going to be all right. Instead, Anderson never won another game in the major leagues, losing 19 straight decisions over three seasons. By doing so, Anderson became a legendary Met from the early years, along with Marv Throneberry and Choo-Choo Coleman and of course Casey Stengel. Fifty years is a perfect time for gauging this franchise, built on hope and dreams and irrationality and humor -- the veritable human condition, one could say. Those first weird days flavor everything fans feel about these current Amazing Mets, who are somehow over .500 under their pepper-pot manager Terry Collins. Norman Craig Anderson, epic Met, born in Washington, D.C., now 73, follows the Mets from Dunnellon, Fla., where he is an occasional substitute teacher, to keep his head young. He does not mind recalling the hopes that rose when he actually won both ends of a doubleheader. Anderson, a solid 6-2, 205-pound righty, was a college boy from Lehigh who had quite a decent debut with the Cardinals in 1961, as teams prepared to give players to the new teams in Houston and New York. In spring training of 1962, Stengel told the world the Mets could be contenders. Anderson looked around at Rich Ashburn and Gil Hodges and Roger Craig and figured, well, why not? As every Met fan knows, the Mets promptly lost [9] straight games at the start of 1962, but then actually came back to win a game here and there.. “Nowadays they never schedule a doubleheader, but they had a doubleheader scheduled for Saturday,” Anderson recalled. Read the whole thing, Mets fans. It's wonderful.

John Cougar Lunchbucket May 11 2012 07:56 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Thanks, that was great. It's kind of too that Stengel was such a lousy manager by the time he got here.

Mets – Willets Point May 11 2012 08:13 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

I like this line "built on hope and dreams and irrationality and humor -- the veritable human condition, one could say." That's what I like about the Mets, they are the human team and as a fan it makes their rare successes all the more joyful and their many failures all to relatable.

Mets – Willets Point May 11 2012 08:17 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: It's kind of too that Stengel was such a lousy manager by the time he got here. As Warren Spahn said "I'm probably the only guy who played for Casey before and after he was a genius."

Edgy MD May 11 2012 08:24 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Then Hodges singled and the instant folk hero, Hot Rod Kanehl, ran for him, and with two outs Hobie Landrith pinch-hit for Ed Bouchee. (Don’t you just love all these 1962 names?) In that sequence there, it sounds like a Lousiana State game. A lot of old Southern Frenchie sounding names. Vinegar Bend Mizell would fit in that category too.

Edgy MD May 15 2012 07:41 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Ekeythia Dunston, acquitted of attempted moider. (Convicted of felony assault.)

Edgy MD May 29 2012 06:53 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Tony Fernandez built this city.

soupcan May 30 2012 07:50 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Oh...That's where he is. MAY 29, 2012, 2:06 PM In Japan, Milledge Continues to Underwhelm By KEN BELSON A souvenir from the Swallows. TOKYO – Meiji Jingu Stadium, the home of the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, is a long way from New York, Washington and the other cities where Lastings Milledge has played during his spotty career. But after a mediocre six-year stint with four major league teams, it is where he now hangs his hat. On Sunday, Milledge roamed center field on a sultry spring night as the Swallows played the Rakuten Golden Eagles. No offense to the Swallows, but Milledge’s presence was a reminder of how he has failed to match the hype that accompanied his brief and rocky career with the Mets, who drafted him in the first round in 2003. Milledge is not the first former major leaguer who has tried to revive his fortunes by playing in Japan. After a rocky start in the United States, Colby Lewis spent two years pitching for the Hiroshima Carp. The Texas Rangers took note, and he has been a mainstay of their rotation ever since. Milledge, though, received far more attention on his way to the major leagues. Perhaps because he was drafted by the Mets, who play in New York, where prospects sometimes receive outsized attention, Milledge was considered a can’t-miss outfielder. It didn’t work out that way. In one of his first games in 2006, he homered and, on his way out to the field, traded high fives with the fans, earning him a stern warning from his teammates. His behavior suspect, he was traded to the Nationals after the 2007 campaign. In six major league seasons, Milledge hit 33 home runs and batted .269. He hasn’t been doing much better in Japan. He apparently isn’t enamored with Japanese noodles and rice, and he was fined 100,000 yen (about $1,250) for arguing with an umpire. Through Tuesday, he was batting .240 with 6 home runs and 17 runs batted in, hardly the power surge the Swallows had hoped for. On Sunday night, he went 0-3 in a 4-1 loss. His highlights included an inning-ending double play, a fly ball to the warning track and getting hit by a pitch. The team seems to be treating him with kid gloves. Milledge key chains (see photo) are sold at the stadium concession stands, but not jerseys or T-shirts. Clearly, he has a ways to go.

Fman99 May 30 2012 08:21 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

He sucks, globally. Godspeed, Blastings Thrilledge.

Edgy MD May 30 2012 08:34 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

That's a pretty hammy article by Beson. Obviously, Milledge's line isn't as hopeless as all that 47 games into the season. I don't know what Ken-Ben is in Japan to cover, but how about talking to Milledge, his manager, or somebody. He doesn't like noodles? Says who? There's a paucity of Milledge merchandise? Big whoop.

Benjamin Grimm May 30 2012 08:40 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Don't think for a minute that there's no connection between the lack of merchandise and his distaste for noodles.

metirish May 30 2012 08:44 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Don't think for a minute that there's no connection between the lack of merchandise and his distaste for noodles. I'm feeling a rap song coming on here

soupcan May 30 2012 09:55 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Edgy DC wrote: He doesn't like noodles? Says who? My bad - this link was embedded in the article. AND my apologies for putting this in the 'retired' thread as opposed to the 'continuing careers' thread. If you want to move it, please feel free.

Edgy MD May 30 2012 11:17 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Good stuff there, getting contuances of Chris Carter and Bob Keppel as well.

metirish May 30 2012 11:34 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

I bet Carter is all for changing at the team hotel and running to the stadium.

SteveJRogers Jun 13 2012 07:22 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Ex-Met and entire Braves alumni organization gets punked by someone posing as an ex-Met! [url]http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-braves/impostor-crashes-braves-alumni-1456183.html

metirish Jun 13 2012 07:26 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

SteveJRogers wrote: Ex-Met and entire Braves alumni organization gets punked by someone posing as an ex-Met! [url]http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-braves/impostor-crashes-braves-alumni-1456183.html What a bizarre story.

Lefty Specialist Jun 13 2012 07:58 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Boy, that requires a set of brass balls.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 21 2012 12:46 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Jeff Kent to be a contestant on the next season of 'Survivor' Internet says. (also, Blair from 'The Facts of Life') rawr

metirish Jun 21 2012 12:47 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Odds on Jeff Kent not talking to any of the other contestants by the end of the second episode?

Edgy MD Jun 21 2012 12:50 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

He'll talk to Blair. They all talk to Blair.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 21 2012 12:57 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

We watched 'Facts of Life' the other night after the Mets game. Tootie got lost during a school trip to NYC and almost turned into a hooker, but Mrs. Garrett and the girls arrived just in time.

Edgy MD Jun 21 2012 12:59 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

That totally happened to me once. Jo knew the pimp and kicked his ass, right?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 21 2012 01:29 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Nah, Jo had little to say what with Blair's shopping trip dominating the proceedings. It was a Very Special Episode which was mostly Tootie and a would-be friend/hooker at a coffee shop. A clever comedic parallel had Mrs. Garrett mistaking a man looking to scalp Broadway tickets as a John trying to get 2 of Blair/Jo/Natalie.

Farmer Ted Jun 21 2012 06:16 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Deadspin calls Kent a dick. They're on to something. http://deadspin.com/5920233/is-former-g ... n-survivor

Fman99 Jun 21 2012 08:22 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Nah, Jo had little to say what with Blair's shopping trip dominating the proceedings. It was a Very Special Episode which was mostly Tootie and a would-be friend/hooker at a coffee shop. A clever comedic parallel had Mrs. Garrett mistaking a man looking to scalp Broadway tickets as a John trying to get 2 of Blair/Jo/Natalie. I swear I didn't just masturbate to old photos of the "Facts of Life" cast, [crossout]including[/crossout] featuring Mrs. Garrison.

MFS62 Jun 22 2012 10:09 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Farmer Ted wrote: Deadspin calls Kent a dick. They're on to something. http://deadspin.com/5920233/is-former-g ... n-survivor He'll be ok as long as he doesn't have to wash his car or ride a motorcycle. Later

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 22 2012 10:10 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Fman99 wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Nah, Jo had little to say what with Blair's shopping trip dominating the proceedings. It was a Very Special Episode which was mostly Tootie and a would-be friend/hooker at a coffee shop. A clever comedic parallel had Mrs. Garrett mistaking a man looking to scalp Broadway tickets as a John trying to get 2 of Blair/Jo/Natalie. I swear I didn't just masturbate to old photos of the "Facts of Life" cast, [crossout]including[/crossout] featuring Mrs. Garrison.

Met Hunter Jun 23 2012 12:19 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

This year's minor league coaching staffs. Just MLB affiliated teams. No Indys. I specify managers and AAA teams. DSL-Dominican Summer League. AZL-Arizona League. Blaine Beatty-Orioles-Frederick Keys Brett Butler-Dbacks-Reno Aces-AAA-Manager Jay Bell-Dbacks-Mobile Baybears Jason Hardtke-Dbacks-Visalia Rawhide-Manager Andy Green-Dbacks-Missoula Osprey-Manager Rich Sauveur-Red Sox-Pawtucket Red Sox-AAA Andy Tomberlin-White Sox-Charlotte Knights-AAA Scott Erickson-Indians-Carolina Mudcats Eli Marrero-Reds-Bakersfield Blaze Rigo Beltran-Reds-Bakersfield Blaze Jerry Martin-Tigers-Erie Seawolves Ray Burris-Tigers-Erie Seawolves Jose Parra-Tigers-DSL Tigers Doug Henry-Royals-Omaha Storm Chasers-AAA Vance Wilson-Royals-Wilmington Blue Rocks-Manager Brian Buchanan-Royals-Kane County Cougars-Manager Abraham Nunez-Royals-DSL Royals Ramon Martinez-Royals-DSL Royals Dick Schofield-Angels-AZL Angels John Valentin-Dodgers-Albuquerque Isatopes-AAA Alejandro Pena-Dodgers-DSL Dodgers Doug Mientkiewicz-Dodgers-Ogden Raptors Jim Dwyer-Twins-Ft Myers Miracle Mark Dewey-Brewers-Brevard County Manatees Don Schulze-A's-Midland Rockhounds Wally Backman-Mets-Buffalo Bisons-AAA-Manager Frank Viola-Mets-Savannah Sand Gnats Alberto Castillo-Mets-DSL Mets-Manager Jonathan Hurst-Mets-Kingsport Mets Dwight Bernard-Mariners-Tacoma Rainiers-AAA Mike Kinkade-Mariners-AZL Mariners-Manager Neil Allen-Rays-Durham Bulls-AAA Tom Filer-Pirates-Indianapolis Indians-AAA John Gibbons-Padres-San Antonio Missions-Manager David Newhan-Padres-Lake Elsinore Storm Jose Valentin-Padres-Fort Wayne Tincaps-Manager Willie Blair-Padres-Fort Wayne Tincaps Mel Rojas-Padres-DSL Padres Jon Nunnally-Blue Jays-New Hampshire Fisher Cats Jerry Cram-Giants-Salem-Keizer Volcanoes Marlon Anderson-Nationals-Potomac Nationals Brian Daubach-Nationals-Hagerstown Suns-Manager

G-Fafif Jun 23 2012 02:51 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Abraham... Martin... and John.

Edgy MD Jun 23 2012 03:01 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Larry Mo and Curly

G-Fafif Jun 24 2012 12:45 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Dewey... Cheatem... and Howe.

DocTee Jul 14 2012 10:08 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Fireman's firesale: [url]http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/NY-Mets-great-downsizing-pitches-his-belongings-3707057.php

Edgy MD Jul 14 2012 01:03 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

I hope you guys got all over that.

TheOldMole Jul 15 2012 09:27 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

The merchandise includes Mets memorabilia, video arcade machines, 19th-century oil paintings and a Harley-Davidson Roadster. This is an odd assortment.

G-Fafif Jul 15 2012 12:47 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

That bike was presented to him by Tug McGraw, who arrived on it with the visor down on his helmet so it came as a surprise to John and the crowd. Nice moment for sale. Mets sponsor for years was Hempstead Harley, which might have had something to do with John getting something he'd find no use for. In 2003, the Mets honored Gary Carter's induction into the HOF with something similar. Gary being Gary said, graciously, something to the effect of I've never ridden one of these before...but oh boy!

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jul 27 2012 12:44 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

As told by Dan Epstein (Big Hair and Plastic Grass), ex-'Spo and erstwhile Flushinger Ellis Valentine gives you a party soundtrack that is almost definitely too funky for your rectangular ass. [youtube]kpr9qvuodVA[/youtube]

G-Fafif Jul 29 2012 10:40 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Tom Paciorek shows up in this SI profile of the mind-boggling one-game career his brother John had against the Mets in 1963. But what John Paciorek accomplished as an 18-year-old on Sept. 29, 1963, was not just remarkable; it was also historic. In his first game in the major leagues, playing rightfield for the Houston Colt .45s (now the Astros), Paciorek went to bat five times and reached base every time, on three hits and two walks, scored four runs and drove in three more. It was one of the finest first games by a ballplayer in major league history. Then, like the ghostly form of Moonlight Graham, an outfielder who played a half inning in the field without an at bat for the 1905 New York Giants and whose fictionalized version haunts Field of Dreams, Paciorek simply vanished into the endless cornfield of forgotten ballplayers. Some kinda scoresheet, too. Note all those promising Colt rookies making the 1963 Mets miserable on their way out the door. It was no accident, as Ted Keith reports. The San Bernadino Sun is on the Paciorek case, too.

SteveJRogers Aug 15 2012 10:18 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Did we know about this: [url]http://www.gobulldogs.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/jones_bobby00.html

seawolf17 Aug 15 2012 10:38 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Did we know about this: [url]http://www.gobulldogs.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/jones_bobby00.html We knew, but we weren't going to tell you.

SteveJRogers Aug 15 2012 02:10 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Did we know about this: [url]http://www.gobulldogs.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/jones_bobby00.html We knew, but we weren't going to tell you. Walked into that one...

G-Fafif Aug 17 2012 01:40 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Former Orioles great Eddie Murray called out by SEC for insider trading -- but former surly Met Eddie Murray who was great mostly when on a salary drive not mentioned.

G-Fafif Aug 21 2012 11:28 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Anthony Young, coaching kids by passing on the wisdom of Mel Stottlemyre and Bob Apodaca in SI's recent Where Are They Now? issue. The 46-year-old now spends most of his time with his wife, Mia, 42, and three daughters, Jaime, 27; Nikki, 23; and Addison, 11. He manages a warehouse for the chemical company Univar USA near his home in Kingwood, Texas. But he never forgets his star-crossed experience—in fact, he draws a positive to pass onto his pupils. If a team keeps sending you to the mound, you must be doing something right. And with his respectable 4.36 ERA during the streak and 3.89 career mark, the numbers bear him out. When Young gets past the distraction of his record, he passes on to his 13- and 14-year-old charges plenty more from his six-year career, advice handed down from former pitching coaches such as Mel Stottlemyre and Bob Apodaca, who taught him the importance of earning your team's faith. "The stuff I learned, I'm giving to kids," says Young, whose U-14 Elite team, Dynasty Black, is ranked No. 1 in Texas and 15th in the country. "I really wish this kind of stuff was around when I was coming up." And he wouldn't mind his record being broken.

G-Fafif Sep 15 2012 10:41 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Willie Mays incredibly gracious about overexposed Ford Edge pitchman who passed him for career hits.

Edgy MD Oct 02 2012 02:57 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Jay Bell, author of one of the very worst seasons in Mets history, loved every minute of it.

Mets Guy in Michigan Oct 02 2012 03:55 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Edgy DC wrote: Jay Bell, author of one of the very worst seasons in Mets history, loved every minute of it. LOVE THIS STORY! Hated Reggie Jackson, so because of Reggie Jackson, I hated the Yankees. Not that I don't respect them and appreciate what they've done over the course of baseball history. And Joe Girardi's a good friend of mine and I pull for him. I was anti-Reggie because, watching the game, it was a line drive to Bill Russell, thrown back across the diamond to get a double play. Reggie was caught off first base and did the hip move. The ball careened off his hip, and the umpires didn't get the call right, and I thought that was weak. I thought it was a weak play. ...and Man, I loved, I loved New York. I loved everything about it. Still hated the Yankees, but loved playing for the Mets. It was a blast. It was fun. It was a good final chapter of my career.

Farmer Ted Oct 04 2012 10:26 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Steven Henderson gets the batting coach call-up in Philly.

Edgy MD Oct 04 2012 12:11 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

BOOOO!!! We've got ex-Mets working against Metly interests with every team in the division save Florida (and you know they've got their eye on a few). Atlanta: Roger McDowell (pitching coach) Philadelphia: Steve Henderson (batting coach), Juan Samuel (third base coach) Washington: Davey Johnson (managerial coach)

Swan Swan H Oct 04 2012 01:35 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Sammy is out as third base coach in PHA, moved across the diamond for Ryne Sandberg. He'll coach first base and instruct baserunners (makes sense) and outfielders (using, one would assume, the 'do as I say, not as I do' method). Steve Henderson is 61 years old. How the hell did that happen?

G-Fafif Oct 04 2012 01:37 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Phillies didn't play well and fired coaches. Mets didn't play well and retained all coaches. Clueless Phillies.

Fman99 Oct 04 2012 07:02 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Edgy DC wrote: Jay Bell, author of one of the very worst seasons in Mets history, loved every minute of it. Jay Bell was a Met? Well honk my hooters.

themetfairy Oct 04 2012 07:47 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Fman99 wrote: Edgy DC wrote: Jay Bell, author of one of the very worst seasons in Mets history, loved every minute of it. Jay Bell was a Met? Well honk my hooters. He was so memorable during his tenure that one night Kase, D-Dad and MK were at a game together. Kase and D-Dad couldn't figure out who number 44 in the lineup was, and it was the kid who had to remind them that Bell was on the roster.

Ashie62 Oct 04 2012 08:12 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Bell had a nice career. 1963 hits

Edgy MD Nov 08 2012 10:12 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

G-Fafif wrote: That bike was presented to him by Tug McGraw, who arrived on it with the visor down on his helmet so it came as a surprise to John and the crowd. Nice moment for sale. Mets sponsor for years was Hempstead Harley, which might have had something to do with John getting something he'd find no use for. In 2003, the Mets honored Gary Carter's induction into the HOF with something similar. Gary being Gary said, graciously, something to the effect of I've never ridden one of these before...but oh boy! Gary Carter's bike being auctioned off for charity.

metirish Nov 09 2012 12:43 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

I happened upon a show last night on espn about athletes going broke and why they do....... Cliff Floyd featured in it, he is suing his former financial adviser for $12.5 million.....ouch I don't know much about Bernie Kosar but he looked some mess on the show, like a guy who has been through the wringer several times......a nervous wreck, some sad tales on the show

Edgy MD Nov 09 2012 01:01 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

i don't know much about much when it comes to the NFL, but I paid attention back when Bernie Kosar was active. He was best his first few years but was regularly injured and if I recall correctly, frequently concussed. Like every year, or so I remember. The other thing I recall is that he married a woman with fantastic hair, and their daughter become an adult film star.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 09 2012 02:22 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

That's what happens when you marry a woman with fantastic hair.

Edgy MD Nov 09 2012 02:30 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Be warned.

G-Fafif Nov 09 2012 05:08 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

David Cone, guest-bartending at Foley's NYC to raise funds for Sandy relief this Thursday evening, 11/15.

Farmer Ted Jan 11 2013 02:14 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Lee, still a proud papa. 2013 Preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year: L.J. Mazzilli, 2B, Connecticut 2013 Preseason All-BIG EAST Team Pos. Name, Class, School Key 2012 Stats P Jared Ruxer, So., Louisville 8-3, 3.38 ERA, 77.1 IP, 32 K, 15 BB, .262 OBA P Jeff Thompson, Jr., Louisville 9-4, 4.00 ERA, 78.2 IP, 73 K, 38 BB, .263 OBA P Sean Hagan, Sr., St. John's 8-2, 2.72 ERA, 102.2 IP, 66 K, 23 BB, .231 OBA P Jon Prosinksi, Sr., Seton Hall * 9-3, 3.52 ERA, 94.2 IP, 73 K, 19 BB, .288 OBA RP Dan Slania, Jr., Notre Dame 3-0, 2.03 ERA, 12 SV, 31.0 IP, 37 K, 12 BB C Jeff Melillo, Sr., Rutgers .311, 4 HR, 30 RBI 1B Trey Mancini, Jr., Notre Dame * .317, 12 HR, 45 RBI 2B L.J. Mazzilli, Sr., Connecticut .339, 9 HR, 38 RBI, 16 SB SS Tyler Sciacca, Sr., Villanova .359, 1 HR, 39 RBI, 17 SB, .980 FLD% 3B Eric Jagielo, Jr., Notre Dame .310, 13 HR, 43 RBI 3B Sean O'Hare, Sr., St. John's .346, 3 HR, 42 RBI OF Justin Glass, Jr., Cincinnati .366, 3 HR, 26 RBI, 15 SB OF Adam Engel, Jr., Louisville .308, 1 HR, 18 RBI, 37 SB OF James Ramsay, Jr.. USF .328, 2 HR, 32 RBI, 14 SB DH Jeff Gardner, Jr., Louisville .299, 2 HR, 34 RBI

Ceetar Jan 14 2013 07:53 PM Rico and Friends: Mets in retirement in 2013

This is old, so maybe you'all have seen it already, but I haven't and someone tweeted it, so.. [url]http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/former_met_loves_ranch_life_hates_d9LE47TiaNRfuZBTXdht8I e also traps. “I’ve made fur coats for my mom and comforters for my kids,” Wendell said.

Edgy MD Jan 30 2013 10:23 AM Re: Rico and Friends: Mets in retirement in 2013

Ed Hearn loves ol' Jackson. He oughta. He went .312 / .363 / .492 // .855 for the Jackson Mets in 1984.

Fman99 Jan 30 2013 11:12 AM Re: Rico and Friends: Mets in retirement in 2013

Brian Schneider hangs em up.

metirish Jan 30 2013 11:47 AM Re: Rico and Friends: Mets in retirement in 2013

Fman99 wrote: Brian Schneider hangs em up. again?

SteveJRogers Feb 09 2013 12:42 PM Re: Rico and Friends: Mets in retirement in 2013

New York Times catches up with Piazza and talks about THE BOOK which pretty much proves to be much less controversial than some voters thought it would be...

bmfc1 Feb 09 2013 01:20 PM Re: Rico and Friends: Mets in retirement in 2013

Piazza with Jon Stewart on Tuesday.

Farmer Ted Mar 27 2013 12:11 PM Re: Rico and Friends: Mets in retirement in 2013

I'm completely surprised that this hasn't happened already. Apparently he wore the hard hat in the field in college, too, much to Rickey Henderson's surprise. PULLMAN, Wash. - It has been a quarter century since John G. Olerud put together the best season in Washington State University's storied baseball history. The Seattle native led the Cougars to a school-record 52 wins while playing in all 66 games during the 1988 campaign. He was named national player of the year after batting .464 and posting a 15-0 record on the mound. Washington State will retire his uniform No. 18 prior to its March 30 (noon start time) game against Stanford at Bailey-Brayton Field. Olerud set school records that still stand today for batting average, hits (108), RBI (tied, 81), total bases (204), slugging percentage (.876), on-base percentage (.556), OPS (1.432), wins and innings pitched (122 2/3). Other records he set that have since been broken include home runs (23), runs (83), games pitched (tied, 16) and strikeouts (113). He added 21 doubles, one shy of the school record at the time, while recording a 2.49 ERA (fifth in the aluminum bat era at the time) and a 1.133 WHIP (third in the aluminum bat era at the time). Olerud finished his three-year Cougar career with a .434 batting average and was a third round selection by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1989 MLB Draft. He made his professional debut later that year without spending a day in the Minor Leagues. He went on to play 17 seasons in MLB, collecting 500 doubles, 255 home runs and 1,230 RBI. Olerud played on eight MLB postseason teams and was part of Toronto's back-to-back World Series champion squads in 1992-93. Today, the John Olerud Award is named in honor of the Cougars' distinguished alumnus and presented annually to the top two-way player in college baseball. Olerud's father, John E. Olerud, played three years for the Cougars (1963-65) and led Washington State to the 1965 College World Series. He was the Cougars' first MLB Draft pick when the Los Angeles Angels grabbed him during the fourth round in 1965. The elder Olerud spent seven years in professional baseball. NOTE A commemorative John Olerud T-shirt will be given out to the first 500 fans prior the game, March 30.

dinosaur jesus Mar 27 2013 12:17 PM Re: Rico and Friends: Mets in retirement in 2013

I want that commemorative shirt.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 27 2013 12:21 PM Re: Rico and Friends: Mets in retirement in 2013

I wonder what ever happened with his neighbor's tree?

cooby Mar 27 2013 12:38 PM Re: Rico and Friends: Mets in retirement in 2013

I had this in the wrong thread. Rey visits his home. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/1 ... de=2236755 But also, here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8NISctmt00

metirish Mar 28 2013 09:27 AM Re: Rico and Friends: Mets in retirement in 2013

cooby wrote: I had this in the wrong thread. Rey visits his home. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/1 ... de=2236755 But also, here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8NISctmt00 Very cool story, good for Rey and his family.

Farmer Ted Mar 30 2013 12:13 PM Re: Rico and Friends: Mets in retirement in 2013

Tom O'Malley, high school softball hitting coach. http://lthslancerpride.blogspot.com/201 ... -with.html

Edgy MD Apr 05 2013 08:33 AM Re: Rico and Friends: Mets in retirement in 2013

Hey, Lenny Randle, spirited retired baseball player who accepts my friendship, posts in all-caps and gives me access to other big-shot former ballplayers who share our friendship, what's with posting a still shot of the injury I've been doing my best to avoid. And under the guise of "praying" for all athletes. Lenny, honor those athletes' dignitary by saying no to injury porn.

Mets – Willets Point Apr 18 2013 09:47 AM Re: Rico and Friends: Mets in retirement in 2013

Mo Vaughn took out a half page ad in the Boston Globe saying "Your Are All Heroes in My Eyes."

Edgy MD Apr 18 2013 10:00 AM Re: Rico and Friends: Mets in retirement in 2013

Yeah, anybubby who hates on Vaughn, or conflates him with Bonilla, just ain't willing to pay attention.

Mets – Willets Point Apr 29 2013 02:00 PM Re: Rico and Friends: Mets in retirement in 2013

Mike Piazza preparing to make his ballet debut on May 3. The burly ex-batch is typecast as a mobster.

G-Fafif May 19 2013 09:48 PM Re: Rico and Friends: Mets in retirement in 2013

Lou Thornton: all tied up when Ken Levine attempted to interview him.

Edgy MD May 22 2013 08:22 AM Re: Rico and Friends: Mets in retirement in 2013

Just learned that original 1962 Mets coach Solly Hemus is still on that planet at 90 years. That has to make him the oldest living uniform personnel from the team.

Benjamin Grimm May 22 2013 08:29 AM Re: Rico and Friends: Mets in retirement in 2013

The UMDB seems to confirm that. The only older living "Mets person" I have in the database is Ralph Kiner, October 27, 1922. Hemus was born on April 17, 1923. The next oldest uniformed person (who wasn't also a player) is Jim Frey, May 26, 1931. (There are 12 living former Mets players who are older than Jim Frey, including Jim Marshall, who is one day older.

Edgy MD May 22 2013 10:41 AM Re: Rico and Friends: Mets in retirement in 2013

Why isn't Charlie O'Brien managing? He's too busy marketing signature high-end deer hunting products. If you remember Charlie O'Brien the athlete as fondly as I do, well then, you know he wouldn't sell you 100% pure doe estrus that isn't 100% PURE. I read recently that deer hunting has never been easier in America, and ironically, has never been more expensive. The need for an edge and the increasing importance of cultural immersion has created this bizarre top shelf of boutique buck-huntin' shit that Charlie O'Brien's company is but one small part of. Big expos of new products rolled out each year in major and minor cities.

Frayed Knot Jun 03 2013 07:40 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Ron Swoboda - reviewing books for the New York Times

Vic Sage Jun 03 2013 08:31 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

I saw an interview with Doc Gooden on CBS Sunday Morning (i love that show), and it once again made me sad to see clips of him pitching a no-hitter for the MFYs. That he, Straw and Mazz all tainted their legacies by playing and/or coaching in the Bronx remains an open wound. I didn't mind seeing Seaver come back with the Reds and kick our asses, or pitching to Fisk for the WSox. And Ryan hadn't established a real Mets legacy before stupidly dealt. And as much as i like David Cone (and I do), I never thought of him as anything but a gun for hire. He wasn't "one of ours". But watching those guys play for the MFYs? Thats a Triboro Bridge too far. I don't blame Doc and Straw. they needed jobs. and i don't really blame the Mets for not bringing them back, as they had already tainted their Mets legacies with their own behavior. It still makes me a little sad, but i can almost understand (if not accept) it. But Mazz? What the hell, dude? I understand you were traded there initially, but you didn't have to report. Jackie Robinson wouldn't play for the Giants; he retired before having to do such a thing. But alright, you went. And you did end up finding your way back to the Mets, even helping win the 86 series as a pretty good pinch-hitter. So if that half-season of MFY taint was all there was to it, i'd have gotten past it. But to go back to coach as Torre's butt-boy...did you really want to blow Torre that much? You went to Lincoln HS, like my brothers and Koufax, you douchebag! You played on the same little league field, Gil Hodges field (later renamed with grotesque genuflection as Joe Torre Stadium), as I did, you fuck. And you not only go and play for them, you coach for them? Really? You were a successful major leaguer, with a long career and matinee looks... you couldn't turn that into any other kind of post-playing career? You didn't have enough cash to wait it out? you HAD to crawl to the Bronx and suck Steinbrenner's midget dick for work? You prick. As you can see, i still carry some bitterness about Mazz's betrayal. And his son can get fucked by a rabid water buffalo for all i care.

batmagadanleadoff Jun 03 2013 08:45 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201

Vic Sage wrote: You went to Lincoln HS, like my brothers and Koufax, you douchebag! /quote] Edgy MD Jun 04 2013 05:41 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 Remember the jokes we used to make about "Senator" Al Leiter. Well, that's now moved into the realm of the possible, with the job open, and Leiter being crazy qualified: [list:20f3726p][*:20f3726p]rich,[/*:m:20f3726p] [*:20f3726p]famous,[/*:m:20f3726p] [*:20f3726p]Republican,[/*:m:20f3726p] [*:20f3726p]no political past[/*:m:20f3726p] [*:20f3726p]living under a Mets fan governor who has the power to make the appointment.[/*:m:20f3726p][/list:u:20f3726p] Also has juice with both Mets and Yankee fans now. Philly fans will have to deal. I think last time his potential candidacy came up a few years back, however, he was officially a Florida resident. Aren't they all? Chad Ochoseis Jun 05 2013 03:19 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 Leiter mentioned in the NYT as a possible candidate. On the Republican side, some lawmakers are reportedly considering running for the Senate, along with some political outsiders, including Al Leiter, a former major league pitcher who is now a broadcaster. Conservative activist Steve Lonegan, a former mayor of Bogota, N.J., said he is gathering signatures and raising money for a run. Zvon Jun 05 2013 03:32 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 Vic Sage wrote: You played on the same little league field, Gil Hodges field (later renamed with grotesque genuflection as Joe Torre Stadium), as I did, you fuck. Nice and enjoyable rant. A triboro Bridge too far. Classic. But this^ What's the point of naming a place in someones memory- to be there and forever remind us of this person- if you are going to change it! There are plenty of other fields out the that could have been named after Torre. Those fucks. G-Fafif Jun 05 2013 04:55 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 Sandy, like his buddy Fred, went to Lafayette. But WTF Joe Torre Field? G-Fafif Jun 05 2013 04:57 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 For the longest time, an array of Als would show up in tabloid headlines -- Sharpton, Gore, D'Amato -- and I would inevitably guess wrong when I just glanced before knowing the story. Moving Leiter from the sports page anywhere else (not that I'm spending a lot of time reading tabloids these days) would reignite my confusion. Vic Sage Jun 06 2013 08:25 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 G-Fafif wrote: Sandy, like his buddy Fred, went to Lafayette. DOH! "Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?" "Germans?" "Shut up, he's on a roll..." Lets change that line to "you went to Lincoln HS, like my brothers and Arthur Miller, you douchebag!" Edgy MD Jun 06 2013 08:31 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 Mets from Lincoln: Lee Mazzilli Nelson Figueroa Benjamin Grimm Jun 06 2013 08:41 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 And Clem Labine! Edgy MD Jun 06 2013 08:49 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 Others Brooklyn Schoolboys: Boys Tommy Davis James Madison Joe Torre Lafayette Bob Aspromonte Kevin Baez Benny Distefano Pete Falcone John Franco Sandy Koufax Fred Wilpon LaSalle Academy John Candeleria Thomas Jefferson Shawon Dunston Tilden Willie Randolph Westinghouse Joe Pignatano Xaverian Pedro Beato All broke your heart, to one degree or another. Except maybe Piggie. MFS62 Jun 06 2013 09:05 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 Did some of this thread get lost? I posted something about a week ago, and its not here. (OK, maybe I had a senior moment, so here goes again.) Bud Harrelson is an executive, and third base coach, for the Long Island Ducks. You can follow their games on 103.9 on your FM dial. Later Mets – Willets Point Jun 06 2013 09:07 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 You previously posted that in this thread: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=18924&p=515766&hilit=bud+harrelson#p515766 Works well in both spots. Benjamin Grimm Jun 06 2013 09:09 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 MFS62 wrote: Did some of this thread get lost? I posted something about a week ago, and its not here. (OK, maybe I had a senior moment, so here goes again.) Bud Harrelson is an executive, and third base coach, for the Long Island Ducks. You can follow their games on 103.9 on your FM dial. Later And... today is his birthday! Frayed Knot Jun 06 2013 09:25 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 Benjamin Grimm wrote: MFS62 wrote: Did some of this thread get lost? I posted something about a week ago, and its not here. (OK, maybe I had a senior moment, so here goes again.) Bud Harrelson is an executive, and third base coach, for the Long Island Ducks. You can follow their games on 103.9 on your FM dial. Later And... today is his birthday! Yup, 69 years old - and I know that without looking it up as Bud was born not just on an anniversary of D-Day but on the actual D-Day G-Fafif Jun 06 2013 09:27 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 There is a 2013 version of this thread that seems to have been obscured by the magic that was 2012, here. Edgy MD Jun 06 2013 09:38 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 Brace yourself for a merger. batmagadanleadoff Jun 13 2013 04:52 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 I got no beef with Les Rohr By Rob Neyer on Jun 13 2013, 5:15p ? @robneyer + Back in the1980s when David Letterman and Jay Leno were still pals, Leno was a regular on Letterman's show. And part of his schtick was that he's complain about some silly little something. Dave would ask him about it, and Jay would say, "What's my beef, Dave?" And then there would be much laughter and rejoicing throughout the land. Today and most days, my beef is Americans who think they deserve something beyond the most basic human needs (food, shelter, education, decent health care, Jon Miller). Which is almost all people, of every age and creed and political persuasion. Makes me nuts, especially when the sense of entitlement is paired with rank hypocrisy. As it so often is. But enough about me. It's just so refreshing when you find someone who seems to take the opposite tack. Les Rohr, for instance. In 1965, the Mets chose Rohr with the second pick in the very first amateur draft. That didn't work out so well for them, as Rohr won exactly three games in the majors. His last action with Mets (or anyone else) came in 1969, when he got into one game, briefly. A few years ago, the Mets invited him to New York to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their first World Championship. He didn't go. For whatever reason, Rohr never got a World Series ring. About which he seemed unconcerned. From an article in the Billings Gazette: He was with New York during a portion of its amazing run to a National League pennant and World Series championship 40 years ago. "But I don't consider myself a Miracle Met, because I really did nothing," he said. "I was just lucky to be there." That's why he said he won't be attending the team's '69 Anniversary Celebration, which is scheduled for Aug. 22 at New York's new Citi Field. "They wanted me to come back," Rohr said. "I just told them there isn't any reason I should be back there with all those ballplayers that actually won the World Series. They're the ones that deserve it." --snip-- He said the Mets offered to "pay for everything" to get him to attend the reunion. And some would suggest that he is being unassuming and humble to a fault. "Yeah, I know," Rohr said. "But this is just how I feel." --snip-- And, to this day, it seems a bit unusual that Rohr doesn't have a World Series ring. He just shrugs that off and says he has no hard feelings. "It's only a material thing, just a hunk of metal," he said. "It doesn't bother me at all. If it does show up in my mailbox one day, I'll be surprised. Somebody's got it." Rohr laughed when he said that, but later added: "I was measured for a ring. I'm sure there's a ring out there with my name on it. I don't know where it is." Yes, this article is four years old but I just found it. Maybe the Mets can send Les Rohr a World Series ring, finally? I'm sure the money can't be an issue. Oh. Right. Dang it. http://www.baseballnation.com/hot-corne ... eries-ring Edgy MD Jun 14 2013 08:15 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 Reports saying that Dykstra is getting sprung on Sunday. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 15 2013 10:24 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 Edgy MD wrote: Reports saying that Dykstra is getting sprung on Sunday. I just hope for Juan Samuel's sake it's not a trade. TransMonk Jun 23 2013 08:37 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 Guided by Sheffield, Journeyman Pitcher Is Now a Star G-Fafif Jul 07 2013 07:23 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 All-Star Ron Hunt reminisces in the Daily News. Ron Hunt calls it “alley ball” and it’s how he first started learning baseball from his grandfather. From the time Hunt learned to walk, he and his grandpa, Walter Gronemeyer, found places to play the game on the streets of St. Louis, all part of the education of a future big leaguer. So on the eve of the 1964 All-Star game, Hunt delivered a special treat to the man who had given him so much. Hunt, the first Met ever elected to start the Midsummer Classic, brought his grandfather for a grandson-guided tour of Shea Stadium, where Hunt and the rest of the game’s best would play the next day, July 7. Hunt’s pals among the grounds crew “turned the lights on for Grandpa,” Hunt recalls. “Oh, I thought that was outstanding. I had learned so much from him. It was hard to tell when Grandpa was thrilled, but he was thrilled to no end.” It’s one of the most vivid memories the now-72-year-old Hunt has of the last time the Mets hosted an All-Star game — and the only time it was at Shea — nearly 50 years before they host this year’s version at Citi Field July 16. Hunt, who started at second base, went 1-for-3 in the game and can still recite the pitch he hit for a third-inning single off AL starter Dean Chance. “3-1 slider, high and inside,” he says. Hunt and his wife, Jackie, will be at Citi Field this year, but it will be hard to top his experience in 1964, an electrifying 7-4 National League victory that came on a walk-off homer by Philadelphia’s Johnny Callison off Boston’s Dick Radatz. Hunt, who was in his second season in the majors, still recalls the surge of awe he felt sharing a clubhouse with the likes of Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente and Hank Aaron, and seeing stars such as Mickey Mantle and Harmon Killebrew across the field. The Mets, who were in their third season when they hosted the game, had had All-Stars the previous two years, but Richie Ashburn, a reserve in 1962, and Duke Snider, a sub in ’63, had been stars with other franchises. The 23-year-old Hunt, however, belonged to the Mets, which meant something in another lost season (the Mets were 23-58 at the All-Star break, halfway to a last-place finish with 53-109 record). As Norm Miller wrote in the Daily News when Hunt was elected by his fellow players, who had the vote back then: “Hunt is the first Met to be elected strictly on his exceptional merit. It’s almost like putting a man on the moon.” Hunt, who was batting .311 at the break, got 172 votes, easily topping runner-up Bill Mazeroski, who had 52. Hunt and his wife were going out to shop for an air conditioner when they got the news. There were 270 votes cast by NL players who could not pick their teammates, which means the rest of the league appreciated Hunt’s talents, including the toughness that would later lead to Hunt becoming one of the all-time leaders in getting hit by pitches. “He had no power and choked up a lot, but he was a good little hitter,” All-Star teammate Joe Torre says. “He was a guy you’d want on your side — he’d do anything to win. He never gave in at second base. He was a gashouse-type guy,” a reference to the rugged Cardinals teams of the 1930s. To this day, Hunt credits Casey Stengel with helping him get elected because the garrulous, crafty Met manager stumped for Hunt during a mid-June trip to Pittsburgh. “He told the writers if I wasn’t starting in the All-Star game, there was something wrong,” Hunt remembers. “I was having a helluva year. I guess Casey rang a bell or two.” And made Met fans happy. Torre recalls the applause Hunt got from the 50,850 fans at Shea as “huge. It was a proud moment for the newly minted Met fan, who were basically (Brooklyn) Dodger and (New York) Giant fans rolled into one,” Torre says. “He got a tremendous ovation in the introductions.” In the game, the American League took a 4-3 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning and Radatz, an imposing, 6-foot-6 reliever nicknamed “The Monster,” stayed in for a third inning. Orlando Cepeda knocked in the tying run with a no-out single, and Callison homered with two men on and two out. Just before the Callison homer, Hunt was pinch-hit for by one of the game’s immortals. Hunt, who went on to a lengthy career running a youth baseball program, would tell his kids, “Guy by the name of Hank Aaron pinch-hit for me.” Aaron struck out, but Callison clinched the victory with a deep drive to right, prompting a celebration at the plate. “It wasn’t that beat him in the head stuff, or hit him in the gut, like now,” Hunt says. “It was shaking hands. “We played for the fans back then,” Hunt adds. “I don’t know what they play for now. I appreciated the fans of New York. I was glad to be able to show them my appreciation, playing the All-Star Game at home in front of them. That was a terrific feeling.” Jackie Hunt still has the ticket stub from her front-row seat, right behind home plate. The price? About eight bucks. Hunt also has a sterling silver punch bowl, the player gift Jackie chose. “We still have it in a trophy case,” Jackie says. “It’s in what I call, ‘Ron’s room’ that has all his memorabilia. He has a bat with all the guys’ signatures from that All-Star game and a picture of him and Mickey Mantle that says, ‘New York’s Finest.’ I’ve got a picture of him in the on-deck circle, getting ready to go up to hit, too.” Hunt had a career average of .273 and a career on-base percentage of .368 in his 12 years in the majors, including 1963-66 with the Mets. He made the All-Star team in 1966, too, and is sixth all-time with 243 HBPs. “I wish I could’ve spent more time in New York,” Hunt says. “I never got into the postseason. I would’ve loved to do it for Mets fans, but it didn’t happen.” Hunt was stunned when he got a call from a sportswriter in November of 1966, telling him he’d been traded to the Dodgers along with Jim Hickman for Tommy Davis and Derrell Griffith. He still says, “I can’t understand why I was traded. I was broken hearted.” When he saw Mets owner Joan Payson in the stands one year later, he says, “I took my hat off and went over to her and told her I thought it was pretty poor that a writer had to tell me about the trade. She said she wasn’t aware of that, but I did also tell her that I appreciated everything the Mets had done for me.” After one season with the Dodgers, Hunt played mostly for the Giants and Expos and even says he thought the 1969 Giants could’ve perhaps won the NL pennant instead of the Miracle Mets if San Francisco had retained Herman Franks as manager. He appeared in 12 games for his hometown Cardinals in 1974 — he names the number of days he was on their roster, 28 — but when they wanted to cut his salary in spring training the next year, “I went home and I never did regret it,” Hunt says. “We were raising our kids. We did our thing as a family.” Nowadays, Hunt has a 110-acre farm with cattle and hay in Wentzville, Mo. Because of a back operation, he says he’s not as mobile as he used to be. “What used to take me a few hours to do takes me all day now,” Hunt says. “I’m glad I’m self-employed and have good friends.” After 18 years of running his youth baseball program the Ron Hunt Eagles Baseball Association, Inc., he stopped in 2003, though he still does an occasional clinic. Not bad for a coaching career that started years ago with a batting tee fashioned out of radiator hose by his father-in-law. It’s clear he’s still proud of coaching. “We put 98% of our kids in college with some kind of scholarship help,” he says. “We played 150-200 games a summer, everybody played and for 18 years I never (hurt) an arm because we had a pitch count. I walked off the field in the sixth or seventh or eighth inning if we didn’t have any more pitchers.” Sometimes, he says, kids would ask him about the big leagues. New Yorkers who went west to spend a summer playing for Hunt asked about the All-Star game at Shea. “I’d tell them about my career, how I got started, how I got help,” Hunt says. “I was an open book. Coaching helped me pay back some of my IOUs in the game.” batmagadanleadoff Jul 07 2013 10:31 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 All-Star Ron Hunt reminisces in the Daily News. Ron Hunt calls it “alley ball” .... Neat pictures, too. Ron Hunt was the only Met to play in the 1964 All-Star Game at Shea Stadium, becoming the first Met to start in the Midsummer Classic. Now, living on a ranch in Wentzville, Mo., the former infielder has plenty of mementos from that game, including a photo of himself in the on-deck circle. A bat from the 1964 All-Star Game (r.) is on display at Ron Hunt's Wentzville, Mo., home. Part of Ron Hunt's personal collection from the 1964 All-Star game is this picture with Yankees center fielder Mickey Mantle. An engraved silver punch bowl was a gift Ron Hunt received for playing in the All-Star Game. ________________ Not pictured or mentioned in the article: Look whose helmet Johnny Callison was wearing when he hit his game winning HR. Edgy MD Jul 07 2013 08:38 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 That's a great shot. Assume that Domonic Brown will have to wear a stray Mets helm`this year as well. G-Fafif Jul 12 2013 08:24 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 Darryl Strawberry, playin' for the Lord, but not into baseball anymore. The four-bedroom, two-story modest house sits on a corner in this planned bedroom community, and when this 6-6 muscular-toned man welcomes you inside his home, there is no evidence Darryl Strawberry the player ever existed. There are no pictures of Strawberry in a baseball uniform. No trophies. No plaques. None of his four World Series rings. Nothing from his eight All-Star Games. None of his 335 home run balls. "I got rid of it all. I was never attached to none of that stuff," says Strawberry, 51, wearing a North Carolina jersey with Michael Jordan's No. 23. "I don't want it. It's not part of my life anymore." Darryl Strawberry, the former outfield great, is no longer. Darryl Strawberry, the ordained minister in this town 30 miles west of St. Louis, is very much alive. "I'm over 'Strawberry,' " he tells USA TODAY Sports. "I'm over Mets. I'm over Yankees. I don't want to exist as Darryl Strawberry, the baseball player. "People don't understand that's no longer you. I'm not a baseball player, anymore. "That person is dead." Well, not that dead... "I never wanted to exist as Darryl Strawberry, the baseball player," he says. "I wanted to let go that identity. It's not who I am. "I love that I was a great player, and won championships, and did all these great things, but I was always more driven. I knew there had to be more than just putting on a uniform and hitting grand slams and making millions of dollars. "I always believed there was a greater purpose to life." Strawberry, who remains proud of his baseball career, realizes there could be awkward moments this weekend when he travels to New York with 13-year-old daughter Jewel to the All-Star festivities and game at the Mets' Citi Field. There will be plenty of autograph and photo requests, and fans wanting to talk about the Mets' glory days when they won the 1986 World Series. There will be corporate parties, some that are mandatory, as part of his obligation with the Mets. But this is a man uncomfortable re-living the past, knowing he can change the future. "I used to be a big shot, let's put it that way," Strawberry says. "But I want nothing to do with baseball now. I have no desire to be working in baseball. No desire at all." batmagadanleadoff Jul 12 2013 12:19 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 All-Star Ron Hunt reminisces in the Daily News. Ron Hunt calls it “alley ball” .... Neat pictures, too. ________________ Not pictured or mentioned in the article: Look whose helmet Johnny Callison was wearing when he hit his game winning HR. Paul Lukas chronicles the history of players in mismatched batting helmets at the MLB ASG. Johnny Callison's is apparently the first known instance. http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/ ... et-mix-ups G-Fafif Jul 23 2013 01:43 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 Dwight Gooden talks to Alec Baldwin. Transcript here. Alec Baldwin: So when you’re facing a batter have you pre-assessed before a game every single batter you’re gonna face in that game? Dwight Gooden: The thing was I only had two pitches, fastball and curve. So a lot of times they’re like, ‘This guy’s a great fastball hitter and can’t throw this guy curve ball for strikes,’ so I’m thinking, ‘Well, I shouldn’t be pitching. I’m done,’ but basically always pitched to my strength and made the hitters adjust. A lot of times what I would do also I used to like watch in box scores. If I knew I was gonna face the Cardinals say three days from now I also watch the box scores seeing who’s hot, who’s doing what a couple days before that so I have an idea which guy’s swinging the bat well. Alec Baldwin: So you have – I’m not a baseball player. I love going to the ball game. I love watching a baseball game live. It’s a great treat. So you’re standing there and you’re at the top of your game. Now you’re 20 years old. You’re in your second season, you’re more confident, and you look in your mind at imaginary strikes on the knees, to the shoulders, you got the home plate there. In those four corners, high and tight, high and outside, low and tight, low and outside, can you basically throw the ball in a fastball anywhere you want it? You can make it go where you want it to go? Dwight Gooden: 1985 without a doubt. 1985 it was right from the first game to the – my last start. Alec Baldwin: You picked your spot. Dwight Gooden: I was just right there, didn’t think about it. Everything just came. Alec Baldwin: And the ball would go where you made it go? Dwight Gooden: And the ball basically go right there. I would say probably – Alec Baldwin: How many miles an hour? Dwight Gooden: Oh, I was anywhere from 95 to 98. SteveJRogers Aug 05 2013 03:57 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 =:( [url]http://www.csnphilly.com/baseball-philadelphia-phillies/todd-pratt-reveals-hes-also-been-battling-cancer smg58 Aug 14 2013 09:26 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 [url]http://magazine.columbia.edu/college-walk/summer-2013/safe-home Pete Falcone gets a brief mention in this interesting article about his son, a 27-year-old DH for the Columbia University Lions. Edgy MD Aug 14 2013 09:35 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 Wasn't there another story of recent vintage of an ex-Met who had a son who was an older-than-usual college baseball player? I'm thinking he was back in school after the military and playing for Wagner or another Staten Island school. Edgy MD Aug 14 2013 09:36 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 Oh, there it is. It must be him. He transferred from CoSI. G-Fafif Aug 29 2013 11:04 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 Benny Ayala remembers his big splash 39 years later. Don’t rock the boat. Everyone was saying that in August 1974 – it was from one of the most popular songs that summer. I wanted more than anything to get called up and play for the New York Mets. I had 11 home runs, among the league leaders that year for AAA Tidewater, tops on my team. I felt I was ready. I didn’t speak up much that year, but when I was with my teammates, I would tell them how I felt, in the dugout, our small clubhouse, in the local bars of Norfolk, Va, where you could hear the song. Their response was always the same; you will get to New York very soon. Don't rock the boat. The whole organization was having a tough season. The parent club had just come off an amazing 1973, coming within a game of the World Championship against the Oakland A’s. The next year, the bullpen was much worse, Tom Seaver and Jerry Koosman had off seasons. Jon Matlack may have been the best pitcher in baseball, but the bullpen and batting order let him down again and again. The team was really out of the pennant race by the middle of August. Soon it would be time for them to call up players from Tidewater. I tried to be as patient as possible, but it wasn’t easy. I arrived at Metropolitan Memorial Park in the early afternoon on August 27th, 1974. The ballpark was ideally located very close to the airport in Norfolk. This was the first thing on my mind right after my manager John Antonelli called me into his office. “Benny, you’re in the starting lineup for the Mets tonight,” he said, “There’s a plane ticket waiting for you at the airport to Queens. Go right now.” It was calling it very close for an 8:05 game time in New York. No cell phones to call loved ones from the car to let them know what’s happening. No time to grab my glove & favorite bats. Only time to shake my kind manager’s hand and offer a sincere “Thank you.” Antonelli shook my hand and pointed to the door. “Go now,” he smiled, “The game starts in four hours.” John Cougar Lunchbucket Aug 29 2013 11:13 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 Nice job by Benny. Edgy MD Aug 29 2013 11:27 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 He might've hit the homer before anybody in his family knew he was a big leaguer. batmagadanleadoff Aug 29 2013 11:32 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 G-Fafif wrote: Benny Ayala remembers his big splash 39 years later. Nice story. John Cougar Lunchbucket Sep 05 2013 10:54 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 Sitting in the Lowe's Broadcast Booth with John Sterling last night: CJ Nitkowski, subbing for Suzyn Waldman. He wasn't so bad, deep voice, enlightened-jock takes, evidence of some sense of humor. John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 01 2013 07:21 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 batmagadanleadoff wrote: G-Fafif wrote: Benny Ayala remembers his big splash 39 years later. Nice story. Even more Benny here in this really great bio. "He’s so good he knocks himself out of games." [url]http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/d7be841b Edgy MD Oct 21 2013 02:46 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 The Rangers gain a new coach for their bench, and his name is Tim Bogar. Wash was a Mets minor league coach when Bogar was coming up. Edgy MD Oct 28 2013 06:23 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 Ken Davidoff takes advantage of a trip to St. Loo to catch up with an overall-clad Ron Hunt. Hey, since when is Davidoff with The Post? MFS62 Oct 28 2013 07:08 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 Edgy MD wrote: Ken Davidoff takes advantage of a trip to St. Loo to catch up with an overall-clad Ron Hunt. Hey, since when is Davidoff with The Post? It would be easier for Ron to lead the league in getting hit by pitches with that new profile. Later John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 28 2013 09:01 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 Davidoff moved to the Post more than a year ago I believe. Edgy MD Oct 28 2013 09:05 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 Not only hard to detach Davidoff from Newday in my mind, but it's surprising to think of sports columnists still jumping papers. If he was going to jump anywhere, I'd figure it'd be to an online-only outlet. Benjamin Grimm Oct 28 2013 09:22 AM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 I'm afraid that newspapers are becoming "online outlets" that just happen to also have a printed version. Mets Guy in Michigan Oct 28 2013 12:10 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 Benjamin Grimm wrote: I'm afraid that newspapers are becoming "online outlets" that just happen to also have a printed version. This is true. The goal is to give you the news in whatever format you want to read it in. Last year, mobile accounted for about half of our readership. Edgy MD Oct 28 2013 12:26 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 Yes, but I spoke explicitly about "online-only" outlets. The dailies still have the high profile of their centuries-old brand, and I'd rather be a columnist for the Daily News than Gotham Baseball (or even a more national site like SB Nation), even if I'm getting most of my readership online either way. ESPN.com, similarly, has the authority of being linked to the unbreachable broadcast anchor-entity. I therefore imagine it's tough for columnists to jump from one local paper to another anymore, as the main value of their name brand is their association with the paper's brand. Would Newsday jump at the chance to grab Bill Price if he became available? If he worked for something like an entry-level wage maybe. Mets Guy in Michigan Oct 28 2013 12:36 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 I think a part of the problem is that there are fewer two-paper towns any more, and there are fewer places to jump if you don't want to uproot. G-Fafif Oct 30 2013 12:14 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 Listening to one of the late-season Mets-Giants games at which Giants fans outnumbered Mets by a ratio of at least 54:1, Howie recalled the late Vic Ziegel writing about his love of the New York Giants (while missing the fact that he despised their San Francisco successors). Some platitudes ensued directly between Howie and Josh about how great it is to live in New York where the papers have columnists like George Vecsey and Steve Jacobson, while it was acknowledged both were basically retired (at least from their longtime gigs). So to sum up, the greatest columnists in town, by the announcers' reckoning, were two who are no longer plying their craft and one who is no longer with us. Oh, here's that Jon Matlack feature story you were looking for from the Saratogian. Forty years ago this month Jon Matlack helped lead the Mets all the way to Game 7 of the World Series. One of his favorite memories from that 1973 campaign was playing for manager Yogi Berra, whose verbal idiosyncracies are the stuff of baseball legend. For good reason, Matlack sometimes couldn’t understand Berra when he came out to the mound. Exasperated, he finally turned to Hall of Fame hurler and teammate Tom Seaver for help. “It’s real easy,” Seaver said. “What do you mean, it’s easy?” Matlack responded. “When Yogi comes out to the mound and says whatever he says, if he doesn’t put his hand out, just say OK. He’ll go back to the dugout. If he puts his hand out, put the ball in it and you go back to the dugout. It’s that simple.” Matlack, who lives in Johnsburg, still smiles when recalling Seaver’s advice. Other than that, he thrived under Berra’s managerial style. “Yogi was a gem,” he said. “Yogi would not over-manage. By today’s standards he would under-manage. It was, ‘Let’s put the right people on the field and let them play the game. Maybe we’ll make a change here or there.’ He was very easy to play for and work with.” Of the many changes in baseball since Matlack hung up his spikes, the one he laments most is the “SABR-metrics” approach to handling pitching staffs, where managers rely more heavily on spreadsheets and computer data than a hurler’s talent, heart and will to win. “Today, if the computer says this pitcher is most likely to get so-and-so out with a curveball at 4 o’clock on a Tuesday, when the sun isn’t shining, that’s who you go with,” Matlack said. “There’s so much emphasis on who faces who. It’s almost like Fantasy Baseball is being played on the field instead of baseball being played on the field.” He firmly believes, to his chagrin, that this limits a young pitcher’s progress and development over the long run. “The reason is that he gets no blame, no responsibility, or credit because all the information comes from the dugout,” Matlack said. “All he does is follow the script like a machine. If he’s wrong, all the people in the dugout didn’t know what they were talking about. If he’s right, ‘Oh, he’s supposed to do that.’ They’re supplying me with all the information, the stats.” “So instead of having that chess match at 90 mph that used to take place, I think it’s just figuring the odds and following them, which is a shame,” he said. After his playing career, Matlack spent many years as a pitching coach at both the major and minor league levels. One of his longest assignments was with the Detroit Tigers, where he mentored all minor league hurlers, including Justin Verlander, who’s now one of the game’s premier pitchers. In 2012, Matlack held a similar position with the Astros and would periodically come to Troy to work with young Tri-City Valley Cats prospects, Houston’s affiliate in the NY-Penn League. This season was his first away from organized baseball in almost 20 years and at 63, he’s uncertain about his future in the game. Despite a proven track record of success, mountains of hard-won experience and a knack for conveying such knowledge to young people, Matlack finds himself on the outside looking in. “I may be permanently retired, who knows?” he said. “It seems very strange. “Forty-somethings are more popular than 60-somethings. There’s a whole different thought process these days.” "SABR-metrics" is not only not a word, but implies advanced statistics are a product of the Society for American Baseball Research. Edgy MD Oct 30 2013 12:23 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 I like that the success they cite is his work with Justin Verlander. I mean, good for him, but the guy was a #2 overall pick with a spectacular collegiate career and a brief, comet-like run in the minors. It's sort of the like the joke about private-school admissions: "Give us your brightest most successful students and we'll make successes out of them!" John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 30 2013 12:27 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 Gee I dunno, Jon. Maybe they won't hire you because you come off exactly like a grouchy old man reluctant to understand, much less embrace, the modern game. seawolf17 Oct 30 2013 01:14 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 G-Fafif wrote: "SABR-metrics" is not only not a word, but implies advanced statistics are a product of the Society for American Baseball Research. Well, they are, aren't they? Edgy MD Oct 30 2013 01:24 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 Not very much. "Sabermetrics" was goofy word coined by Bill James as a fun tribute to his colleagues that he's long expressed regret over, because it mis-represents both the science being entirely (or even mostly or primarily) emanating from one outlet, and the purpose of the organization as scientific stat crunching, which is a very small part of what they are about. G-Fafif Oct 30 2013 01:43 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 And even if it was all SABR's doing, the guy on the paper upstate should know that it's cspelled sabermetrics. I've been a member of SABR for only a few years, but never once have I been given the impression that what "we" do is solely or mostly about statistics. SteveJRogers Oct 30 2013 08:03 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 Seaver gets a street named for him! [url]http://www.fresnobee.com/2013/09/26/3520416/fresno-city-council-puts-pitcher.html G-Fafif Nov 09 2013 02:35 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 Lee Mazzilli chats with Ron Darling on MLB Network. Neither Walt Terrell nor Howard Johnson joins them. Edgy MD Nov 09 2013 04:32 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 Mitchell looks like he's biting at the bottom of that pile. John Cougar Lunchbucket Nov 09 2013 07:10 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 Lee belongs to the 70s but his brain belongs to the 50s. Edgy MD Nov 09 2013 08:32 PM Re: Rico Brogna and the Long Sunset: Mets in Retirement, 201 Only a few seconds, but that footage of Mays teaching the basket catch to Mazz was golden. Where's that from? The 1976 highlight film? Not so golden is the shot of Lee's shorts the day the got traded.