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Mets 3B Debuts Since 7/21/2004

G-Fafif Jun 28 2013 06:01 AM

Milestone Alert! Zach Lutz became the Mets' 150th third baseman ever last night, though only the 21st to debut at the not so hot corner since David Wright became No. 129 almost nine years ago. An entire generation of Mets fans has come along with little idea every third base debut would earn a note in the game story in which it occurred. And who of a certain age cohort could forget the ode to the (then) 79 Mets who played third base in 1986's 25th anniversary celebration video cassette, An Amazin' Era? Smith and Jones and a Stearns named Dude Samuel, Valentine, Reynolds, Bressoud If experience counts, the Mets have four backups for David on the roster at present (in bold). Let's hope we almost never see any of them at his position. 150. Zach Lutz 06/27/2013 149. Vinny Rottino 05/28/2012 148. Ronny Cedeño 04/10/2012 147. Josh Satin 09/28/2011 146. Nick Evans 07/17/2011 145. Daniel Murphy 05/31/2011 144. Willie Harris 05/12/2011 143. Luis Hernandez 08/31/2010 142. Mike Hessman 07/29/2010 141. Justin Turner 07/19/2010 140. Wilson Valdez 08/25/2009 139. Andy Green 08/19/2009 138. Fernando Tatis 06/17/2008 137. David Newhan 09/29/2007 136. Ruben Gotay 09/07/2007 135. Damion Easley 04/19/2007 134. Julio Franco 09/10/2006 133. Eli Marrero 07/02/2006 132. Jose Valentin 05/26/2006 131. Miguel Cairo 04/21/2005 130. Chris Woodward 04/13/2005 129. David Wright 07/21/2004

Benjamin Grimm Jun 28 2013 06:13 AM Re: Mets 3B Debuts Since 7/21/2004

G-Fafif wrote: An entire generation of Mets fans has come along with little idea every third base debut would earn a note in the game story in which it occurred. I do remember that! I wonder, when did it stop? Has it been since David Wright took over?

G-Fafif Jun 28 2013 06:25 AM Re: Mets 3B Debuts Since 7/21/2004

Probably faded in the wake of David's emergence, along with the passing from the press box of writers who had kept it going (not sure if it was something the PR staff ever included in their game notes, but a generation of Jay's interns probably have no idea of its historical resonance). I can remember it still coming up in the happy days of Fonzie and the high-flying years of Robin every time a stray Lamb would wander to third. We're now talking fewer than three 3B per year over the lifetime of the franchise, which doesn't sound all that preposterous. It was the failure to maintain a regular third baseman for any sustained period of time that made it as bad as it sounded for so long. Once Hubie took over the position, I thought the callbacks to third base as a "perennial trouble spot" were overblown, but a legend is a legend. It's a way more fun legend when it's been rendered inactive.

Frayed Knot Jun 28 2013 06:28 AM Re: Mets 3B Debuts Since 7/21/2004

Can we* get a count of number of Starts at 3B by those on the above list since Sugar's debut? * and when I see "we" I mean done by someone other than me

G-Fafif Jun 28 2013 06:35 AM Re: Mets 3B Debuts Since 7/21/2004

115 games started by Not Wright since 7/21/2004, the bulk of those by Murphy and Turner when his back was crushed by Carlos Lee in 2011 and by Tatis after he got Cained in the head in 2009.

Benjamin Grimm Jun 28 2013 06:39 AM Re: Mets 3B Debuts Since 7/21/2004

Number of games started at third base for the Mets since July 21, 2004: David Wright 1335 Justin Turner 37 Daniel Murphy 25 Fernando Tatis 24 Chris Woodward 8 Mike Hessman 5 Willie Harris 5 Julio Franco 4 Ronny Cedeño 2 Ty Wigginton 1 Damion Easley 1 José Valentin 1 Ruben Gotay 1

G-Fafif Jun 28 2013 06:45 AM Re: Mets 3B Debuts Since 7/21/2004

Plus 1 for Zach Lutz.

Frayed Knot Jun 28 2013 06:47 AM Re: Mets 3B Debuts Since 7/21/2004

Just three guys in double figures - that's the part I was curious about.

Benjamin Grimm Jun 28 2013 06:53 AM Re: Mets 3B Debuts Since 7/21/2004

G-Fafif wrote: Plus 1 for Zach Lutz. Right. I haven't pasted last night's box score into the UMDB yet.

Ceetar Jun 28 2013 06:55 AM Re: Mets 3B Debuts Since 7/21/2004

G-Fafif wrote: It's a way more fun legend when it's been rendered inactive. 185 games without a no-hitter.

Benjamin Grimm Jun 28 2013 07:02 AM Re: Mets 3B Debuts Since 7/21/2004

That may end tonight.

Swan Swan H Jun 28 2013 07:04 AM Re: Mets 3B Debuts Since 7/21/2004

Wayne 'Red' Garrett and Pumpsie Green. Great memories.

MFS62 Jun 28 2013 07:40 AM Re: Mets 3B Debuts Since 7/21/2004

And the infielder we got for Nolan Ryan. Bad memories. Later

HahnSolo Jun 28 2013 08:49 AM Re: Mets 3B Debuts Since 7/21/2004

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Number of games started at third base for the Mets since July 21, 2004: David Wright 1335 Justin Turner 37 Daniel Murphy 25 Fernando Tatis 24 Chris Woodward 8 Mike Hessman 5 Willie Harris 5 Julio Franco 4 Ronny Cedeño 2 Ty Wigginton 1 Damion Easley 1 José Valentin 1 Ruben Gotay 1 Little Solo's first ever game at Shea was one of the Julio-Franco-at-third games, 2007 against the Dbacks.

Edgy MD Jun 28 2013 08:49 AM Re: Mets 3B Debuts Since 7/21/2004

Perhaps there was a certain charm to the beat writers hanging onto the legend. It was silly by the time a cameo by Gary Carter became "He's the XXXth person to man the hot corner since the franchise's inception," as if he's somehow there in pursuit of an actual solution due to the utter failure of Howard Johnson, Ray Knight, and Kevin Mitchell. The position was actually stacked at the time (with Gregg Jefferies and Dave Magadan in the pipeline) but they had column inches to fill, and I had a basic need to consume them. But when it persisted into the nineities, as right field became THE position the team couldn't fill, but wasn't reported as such, the story became problematic. On May 16, Rick Ankiel became the 211th rightfielder chewed through by the Mets. Interestingly, on June 20th, I officially forgot Rick Ankiel was ever a Met.

seawolf17 Jun 28 2013 09:53 AM Re: Mets 3B Debuts Since 7/21/2004

Edgy MD wrote: Interestingly, on June 20th, I officially forgot Rick Ankiel was ever a Met. No no no. It seemed like he was a Met because he walked all those guys in the NLCS, but he never actually played for us.

Edgy MD Jun 28 2013 09:54 AM Re: Mets 3B Debuts Since 7/21/2004

Positions Ranked by the Number of Players Appearing There for the Mets in Their History With Career Leaders, Active Leaders, and Most Recent Debuts) [list=1][*]Left Field: 242 [list][*]Jones #1: 800[/*:m] [*]Duda #23: 110[/*:m] [*]Brown Most Recent Debutante: 6/20/2013[/*:m][/list:u][/*:m] [*]Right Field: 211 [list][*]Strawberry #1: 1,062[/*:m] [*]Duda #22: 123[/*:m] [*]Ankiel Most Recent Debutante: 5/16/2013[/*:m][/list:u][/*:m] [*]Center Field: 168 [list][*]Wilson #1: 907[/*:m] [*]Nieuwenuis #62: 60[/*:m] [*]Young Most Recent Debutante: 6/19/2013[/*:m][/list:u][/*:m] [*]Third Base: 150 [list][*]Wright #1: 1,326[/*:m] [*]Wright #1: 1,326[/*:m] [*]Lutz Most Recent Debutante: 6/27/2013[/*:m][/list:u][/*:m] [*]First Base: 146 [list][*]Kranepool #1: 1,302 games[/*:m] [*]Davis #6: 382 games[/*:m] [*]Rottino Most Recent Debutante: 5/21/2012[/*:m][/list:u][/*:m] [*]Second Base: 136 [list][*]Backman #1: 681[/*:m] [*]Murphy #12: 221[/*:m] [*]Young Most Recent Debutante: 6/25/2013[/*:m][/list:u][/*:m] [*]Shortstop: 118 [list][*]Harrelson #1: 1,280[/*:m] [*]Tejada #11: 229[/*:m] [*]Quintanilla Most Recent Debutante: 5/29/2012[/*:m][/list:u][/*:m] [*]Catcher: 86 [list][*]Grote #1: 1,176[/*:m] [*]Buck #35: 61[/*:m] [*]Recker Most Recent Debutante: 4/7/2013[/*:m][/list:u][/*:m] [*]Designated Hitter: 47 [list][*]Piazza #1: 34[/*:m] [*]Duda #5: 8[/*:m] [*]Brown Most Recent Debutante: 6/25/2013[/*:m][/list:u][/*:m][/list:o] Lucas Duda is the team's active leader at three positions. He's versatile!

duan Jun 28 2013 10:07 AM Re: Mets 3B Debuts Since 7/21/2004

Have we not had a 1b debutante this season?

Edgy MD Jun 28 2013 10:28 AM Re: Mets 3B Debuts Since 7/21/2004

First base in 2013 has been covered by Ike Davis (52 games), Daniel Murphy (7 ), Justin Turner (7 also), Lucas Duda (5), and Josh Satin (another 5). All appeared in previous seasons, and by my reckoning, all debuted before Rottino. Lutz did, too.

G-Fafif Aug 07 2013 03:47 AM Re: Mets 3B Debuts Since 7/21/2004

151. Wilmer Flores 08/06/2013 150. Zach Lutz 06/27/2013 149. Vinny Rottino 05/28/2012 148. Ronny Cedeño 04/10/2012 147. Josh Satin 09/28/2011 146. Nick Evans 07/17/2011 145. Daniel Murphy 05/31/2011 144. Willie Harris 05/12/2011 143. Luis Hernandez 08/31/2010 142. Mike Hessman 07/29/2010 141. Justin Turner 07/19/2010 140. Wilson Valdez 08/25/2009 139. Andy Green 08/19/2009 138. Fernando Tatis 06/17/2008 137. David Newhan 09/29/2007 136. Ruben Gotay 09/07/2007 135. Damion Easley 04/19/2007 134. Julio Franco 09/10/2006 133. Eli Marrero 07/02/2006 132. Jose Valentin 05/26/2006 131. Miguel Cairo 04/21/2005 130. Chris Woodward 04/13/2005 129. David Wright 07/21/2004

duan Aug 07 2013 06:02 AM Re: Mets 3B Debuts Since 7/21/2004

Edgy MD wrote: First base in 2013 has been covered by Ike Davis (52 games), Daniel Murphy (7 ), Justin Turner (7 also), Lucas Duda (5), and Josh Satin (another 5). All appeared in previous seasons, and by my reckoning, all debuted before Rottino. Lutz did, too. I think I thought Downtown Andrew Brown got an inning or 9.

Edgy MD Aug 07 2013 06:35 AM Re: Mets 3B Debuts Since 7/21/2004

Brownie got 1 2/3 innings there on July 19, a few weeks after I made that post.

G-Fafif Aug 07 2013 06:49 AM Re: Mets 3B Debuts Since 7/21/2004

The wheels of Met versatility are unstinting in their progress.

metsguyinmichigan Aug 07 2013 06:51 AM Re: Mets 3B Debuts Since 7/21/2004

I would never have guessed that Wally Backman is the all-time leader at second -- especially since he was platooned a lot.

Edgy MD Aug 07 2013 08:11 AM Re: Mets 3B Debuts Since 7/21/2004

A mere six games more than Felix Millan, but active leader Daniel Murphy is only 37% of the way to catching Wally. He could play the rest of the season there and he won't even catch Tim Teufel in tenth place.

Edgy MD Aug 07 2013 08:33 AM Re: Mets 3B Debuts Since 7/21/2004

Worth noting is that there is a conspiracy afoot with Ruben Tejada. He is one game short of tying Ron Gardenhire in tenth place among apperances at short for the Mets. Clearly, Gardie relishes his top-ten status and has his buddy Backman giving the Mets bad reports on Tejada to keep him buried in Vegas.

Benjamin Grimm Aug 07 2013 08:39 AM Re: Mets 3B Debuts Since 7/21/2004

Ooooh! Such intrigue! Maybe Ron Gardenhire would be interested in being the Mets starting shortstop in 2014. Let's all say it together now: "He can't be any worse than what we already have."

SteveJRogers Aug 08 2013 08:13 PM Re: Mets 3B Debuts Since 7/21/2004

G-Fafif wrote: Probably faded in the wake of David's emergence, along with the passing from the press box of writers who had kept it going (not sure if it was something the PR staff ever included in their game notes, but a generation of Jay's interns probably have no idea of its historical resonance). I can remember it still coming up in the happy days of Fonzie and the high-flying years of Robin every time a stray Lamb would wander to third. We're now talking fewer than three 3B per year over the lifetime of the franchise, which doesn't sound all that preposterous. It was the failure to maintain a regular third baseman for any sustained period of time that made it as bad as it sounded for so long. Once Hubie took over the position, I thought the callbacks to third base as a "perennial trouble spot" were overblown, but a legend is a legend. It's a way more fun legend when it's been rendered inactive. Going through the Met Media Guides, the "All-Time Met Third Basemen" filler was still going strong by 2002. In 2003 the "trivia nugget" was "The Last 25 Third Basemen" counting from 100 (Alfonzo) onward. Oddly BOTH show up in the 2004 guide, through 2006 and in 2007 just the All-Time third base roster is listed. And it's been in every guide since, including the 2013 one. So while it probably hasn't been a big deal by the media, or the Mets PR notes for games, it still gets its own notation in the Media Guide.

G-Fafif Sep 15 2013 04:15 PM Re: Mets 3B Debuts Since 7/21/2004

152. Omar Quintanilla 09/15/2013 151. Wilmer Flores 08/06/2013 150. Zach Lutz 06/27/2013 149. Vinny Rottino 05/28/2012 148. Ronny Cedeño 04/10/2012 147. Josh Satin 09/28/2011 146. Nick Evans 07/17/2011 145. Daniel Murphy 05/31/2011 144. Willie Harris 05/12/2011 143. Luis Hernandez 08/31/2010 142. Mike Hessman 07/29/2010 141. Justin Turner 07/19/2010 140. Wilson Valdez 08/25/2009 139. Andy Green 08/19/2009 138. Fernando Tatis 06/17/2008 137. David Newhan 09/29/2007 136. Ruben Gotay 09/07/2007 135. Damion Easley 04/19/2007 134. Julio Franco 09/10/2006 133. Eli Marrero 07/02/2006 132. Jose Valentin 05/26/2006 131. Miguel Cairo 04/21/2005 130. Chris Woodward 04/13/2005 129. David Wright 07/21/2004

dgwphotography Sep 15 2013 06:05 PM Re: Mets 3B Debuts Since 7/21/2004

I never would have guessed that there have been 23 new players at third since Wright's debut..

Edgy MD Sep 15 2013 09:10 PM Re: Mets 3B Debuts Since 7/21/2004

The best part would have been trying to name them when challenged: "Um... Zach Lutz.... Daniel Murphy... did I say Zach Lutz yet?"