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Quirks of 2019

G-Fafif
Apr 22 2019 11:11 AM

Sunday 4/21 marked the fourth time in Mets history in which four solo home runs accounted for all their scoring. They've never won any of those games. The first three were in each of their home parks: the Polo Grounds in 1962; Shea Stadium in 1997; Citi Field in 2017. Sunday's was the first road game.



The margin of defeat, in chronological order, has descended incrementally: 9-4 in 1962; 8-4 in 1997; 7-4 in 2017; 6-4 yesterday. So we're making progress.

G-Fafif
Apr 22 2019 11:11 AM
Re: Quirks of 2019

Read more about the surfeit of solo home run futility here.

seawolf17
Apr 22 2019 11:50 AM
Re: Quirks of 2019

That is a *fantastic* little stat. Love it.

Edgy MD
Apr 22 2019 11:55 AM
Re: Quirks of 2019

Solo homers in games where a team is trying to come back can be excruciating things.



The keep-the-line-moving offense of a week or two ago... that was beautiful.

G-Fafif
Apr 22 2019 12:08 PM
Re: Quirks of 2019

I was moved to look this up by the thought that with four home runs -- including two that were so colorful (Pete's and Noah's) -- there should be happiness throughout the land. Yet that was at odds with my gut feeling that solo home runs, despite each counting for one run, are spiritually useless. As tiebreakers, they're fantastic. As building blocks, they can be inadequate.

G-Fafif
Apr 24 2019 03:57 AM
Re: Quirks of 2019

With Zack Wheeler's long ball Tuesday night, Mets pitching staffs of the 2010s have now outhomered the Mets pitching staffs of all other Metsian decades.



1962-1969: 7

1970-1979: 9

1980-1989: 14

1990-1999: 13

2000-2009: 3

2010-2019: 15



That's 61 home runs in all, matching Roger Maris in 1961 and every Met going in 1980.



Learn more about the decennial phenomenon (and enjoy a modest oral history thereof) here.

G-Fafif
Apr 28 2019 04:03 PM
Re: Quirks of 2019

When the 2019 Mets fell to 13-13 on Saturday, they became the fourth-latest club in Mets history to reach the .500 mark for the first time (not counting 0-0). Thirty-one times, a Mets team has gotten to .500 by going 1-1. Eight other times, they've won or lost their first two before losing or winning their next two (to get to 2-2).



The rest of the roads taken to .500:



1977: 3-3

1978 & 2005: 5-5

1987: 6-6

2013 & 2014: 7-7

2012: 8-8

1994: 9-9

1981 (2nd half): 11-11

1973: 12-12

2019: 13-13

1997: 18-18

2018: 25-25

1991: 57-57



For all but three of these editions, the first time to .500 represented a hot start cooled off, such as we saw from the 9-4 Mets this year or the 12-2 Mets last year (here's hoping post-.500 tells a better story this year). The break-even mark looked a lot better to the Mets from 1997 (who started 8-14), 2005 (0-5) and 2014 (0-3).



The 1991 Mets defied gravity for an awfully long time, but losing 19 of 23 after peaking at 53-38 pulled them down to earth (before they continued to plunge to a 77-84 finish).



Six Mets teams never spent a day at .500. Dreadful starts doomed the first four Mets clubs to look up at so-so all season long. On the other hand, strong starts propelled the 1985 and 2007 Mets to records immune to touching down at anything worse than winning percentages above .500...though I imagine if they gave the '07 Mets a few more weeks, they would have found a way.



A few more .500 thoughts here.

Benjamin Grimm
Apr 29 2019 04:54 AM
Re: Quirks of 2019

http://ultimatemets.com/above_below_500_graph.php?year=1991>

G-Fafif
May 02 2019 11:25 AM
Re: Quirks of 2019


With Zack Wheeler's long ball Tuesday night, Mets pitching staffs of the 2010s have now outhomered the Mets pitching staffs of all other Metsian decades.



1962-1969: 7

1970-1979: 9

1980-1989: 14

1990-1999: 13

2000-2009: 3

2010-2019: 15



That's 61 home runs in all, matching Roger Maris in 1961 and every Met going in 1980.



Learn more about the decennial phenomenon (and enjoy a modest oral history thereof) here.


Syndergaard's second of the season and sixth of his career raises the 2010s total to 16 and the lifetime power pile to 62.



Eat your heart out, the late Roger Maris.

Benjamin Grimm
May 02 2019 01:03 PM
Re: Quirks of 2019

My Schaefer vote will be very straightforward for today's game:



Syndergaard 6

G-Fafif
May 02 2019 01:26 PM
Re: Quirks of 2019

Noah becomes the seventh Met starter to win a 1-0 game while driving in the only run. The others were Jerry Koosman and Don Cardwell in the doubleheader of legend in 1969; Buzz Capra in 1972; Ray Sadecki in 1974; Nino Espinosa in 1977; and Zack Wheeler in 2018. Kooz, Ray, Nino and Noah all completed their shutouts. Only Syndergaard, you may have heard, homered.

G-Fafif
May 05 2019 04:10 AM
Re: Quirks of 2019

The Mets have now lost the penultimate game of their annual Miller Park series eleven consecutive seasons. The last time they won their second-to-last game in Milwaukee was September 2, 2008, when rookie Jonathon Niese, in his major league debut coughed up five runs in three-plus innings but was rescued by the sturdy Mets pen of Nelson Figueroa, Duaner Sanchez, Brian Stokes, Pedro Feliciano, Joe Smith and closer Luis Ayala. Met runs were driven in by Carlos Beltran (3-run HR), Endy Chavez, Damion Easley and father of future rookie sensation Fernando Tatis, Jr., Fernando Tatis, Sr.

G-Fafif
May 08 2019 02:53 AM
Re: Quirks of 2019

Thirty-six games into the 2019 season, Pete Alonso has more home runs (11) than Edwin Diaz has saves (9).

seawolf17
May 08 2019 07:22 AM
Re: Quirks of 2019

=G-Fafif post_id=9441 time=1557305621 user_id=55]
Thirty-six games into the 2019 season, Pete Alonso has more home runs (11) than Edwin Diaz has saves (9).



So does Jay Bruce (11 also).

Centerfield
May 09 2019 07:30 AM
Re: Quirks of 2019

I don't know if this is a quirk, but I meant to mention another reason why Gary Cohen is awesome. As if you needed another one.



The other night, when they were talking about Petco Park, Gary Cohen referenced the Padres old home a few times. Like he has every time I've ever heard him, he called it Jack Murphy Stadium. I remember when he and Bob Murphy were a duo, they would always refer to it as Jack Murphy Stadium ("We are live from Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego..."), even years after it had been re-named "Qualcomm". But even now, in 2019, 15 years after Bob's passing, Gary has stuck to it. We should acknowledge that this is not a mistake. Gary Cohen is a stickler about things, and especially names, even painstakingly making an effort to pronounce everything correctly. This is an intentional act of respect to his former broadcast partner.



I think that's cool. I try to do it too. But sometimes catch myself.



Anyway, for those keeping track at home:



Mentioning Qualcomm when it's not relevant: Douchiest thing ever



Refusing to mention Qualcomm even when you're supposed to: Greatest guy in the world

G-Fafif
May 15 2019 07:45 AM
Re: Quirks of 2019

Wilson Ramos, wearing No. 40, put the Mets up 4-0 with a grand slam in the first inning on May 14, 2019, exactly 47 years after Rusty Staub, wearing No. 4, put the Mets up 4-0 with a grand slam in the first inning on May 14, 1972. Staub's accomplishment was lost in the later heroics of Willie Mays, who homered in his first game as a Met (against his old team, the Giants). Likewise, Ramos had to at least share star-of-the-game honors with his pitcher, Noah Syndergaard, who flirted with a no-hit bid.



Take a modestly deep dive into this particular quirk here.

G-Fafif
May 18 2019 05:22 AM
Re: Quirks of 2019

Four Mets who seemed to have played their final games as Mets on September 29 would later return as second-termers: Bob Miller (1962; 1973); Brady Clark (2002; 2008); Anderson Hernandez (2007; 2009); and Carlos Gomez (2007; 2019).



When he debuted for the 2019 Mets, Gomez became the 234th player to play for the Mets in this decade, and the 30th to play in both the 2000s and 2010s.



Carlos Gomez and Jason Vargas debuted as Mets on the same homestand in 2007 as the 811th and 812th players in franchise history, respectively. They both went more than a decade between Met appearances and, pending Vargas's return from the DL (and Gomez's imminent staying power), will play in a game together as Mets in 2019 for the first time since July 3, 2007. It looms as the longest gap between two Mets being on the same field as Mets. The reigning record-holders appear to be Bob L. Miller and Ed Kranepool, who were starters on September 23, 1962 (the occasion of Krane's first hit), and then not on the field together again until May 7, 1974, when Miller relieved in a game Eddie started in left and never departed...though Krane pinch-hit in the first game Miller 2.0 pitched, on September 26, 1973, and they shared a few more box scores in early '74.



I can't believe I'm saying this, but I look forward to Vargas coming back, if only for this reason.

G-Fafif
May 18 2019 06:59 AM
Re: Quirks of 2019

Also in the shared gap conversation: Tom Seaver and Mike Jorgensen were on the field together as Mets on September 30, 1971, and then not again until April 20, 1983.

Edgy MD
May 18 2019 09:23 AM
Re: Quirks of 2019

Tom Seaver and Mike Jorgensen played together for the Mets on September 29, 1968, and then not again until April 5, 1983. And OH SHIT YOU BEAT ME TO THE PUNCH!

G-Fafif
May 23 2019 05:20 AM
Re: Quirks of 2019

This is the second consecutive season during which the Mets have added a player born on October 19, 1980, same day the Phillies defeated the Royals in Game Five of the World Series (winning pitcher, Tug McGraw): Jose Bautista in 2018, Rajai Davis in 2019.



Sadly for this thread, Jamie Quirk did not play in that World Series.

G-Fafif
May 25 2019 12:50 PM
Re: Quirks of 2019

LONGEST GAPS BETWEEN SAME METS IN SAME GAME (as measured in regular-season Mets games)

J. Vargas/C. Gomez: 1,913 (7/3/2007 - 5/25/2019, per tonight's starting lineup)

B.L. Miller/E. Kranepool: 1,780 (9/23/1962 - 9/26/1973)

T. Seaver/M. Jorgensen: 1,720 (9/30/1971 - 4/5/1983)



LONGEST GAPS BETWEEN SAME METS ON SAME FIELD (as measured in regular-season Mets games)

J. Vargas/C. Gomez: 1,913 (7/3/2007 - 5/25/2019, per tonight's starting lineup)

B.L. Miller/E. Kranpeool: 1,810 (9/23/1962 - 5/7/1974)

T. Seaver/M. Jorgensen: 1,728 (9/30/1971 - 4/20/1983)



Distinction between "same game" and "same field" in case it's not self-evident: same field means both players in the game at the same time, one pitching, one on defense. Same game means, obviously, they played in the same game, but weren't on the field or in the lineup together at the same time.



Few Mets fans have ever looked forward to seeing Jason Vargas pitch, but I'm pretty stoked at the idea that Vargas can turn around toward his outfielders and see Gomez just as he did one night nearly twelve years ago and not since.



Of course the Mets got blown out that night at Coors Field, so maybe only so stoked.



In Miller's second tenure, he never started. In Seaver's second tenure, Jorgensen never started. Who would have guessed Jason Vargas and Carlos Gomez would have that lane to themselves by several miles?

batmagadanleadoff
May 25 2019 01:24 PM
Re: Quirks of 2019

What about Ron Hodges and Rusty Staub (6/13/73-9/30/84)? Staub appeared in Hodges's first and last major league games, which were all as a Met. Close? Top three? If I wasn't so lazy, I'd calculate the games myself being that I already know the dates.

G-Fafif
May 25 2019 01:33 PM
Re: Quirks of 2019

I wasn't looking at the gap between first and last games together, rather the gap between appearances together. Hodges and Staub played together on September 28, 1975, and next on April 19, 1981. That's about 820 games.



As for longest stretch between first and last games together (as measured in regular-season Mets games), it's likely Reyes/Wright, with Seaver/Jorgensen close behind. Though the years are similar (slightly past middle of 2004 to end of 2018 vs. late 1968 to June 1983), Jose and David might have the edge because of no games lost to strike or even rain.

batmagadanleadoff
May 25 2019 01:39 PM
Re: Quirks of 2019

=G-Fafif post_id=11095 time=1558812801 user_id=55]
I wasn't looking at the gap between first and last games together, rather the gap between appearances together. Hodges and Staub played together on September 28, 1975, and next on April 19, 1981. That's about 820 games.



As for longest stretch between first and last games together (as measured in regular-season Mets games), it's likely Reyes/Wright, with Seaver/Jorgensen close behind. Though the years are similar (slightly past middle of 2004 to end of 2018 vs. late 1968 to June 1983), Jose and David might have the edge because of no games lost to strike or even rain.


/smacks head. I knew that, but somehow forgot it when I wrote that post. And then, I was just about to ask you about Wright & Reyes but I didn't because as I was about to write that post, I suddenly started to wonder how you'd miss that, too and figured I was the one likely missing sonething.

G-Fafif
May 25 2019 01:54 PM
Re: Quirks of 2019

It's cool. That was my next calculation anyway.



Reyes and Wright first played together on July 21, 2004, and last played together on September 29, 2018; 2,335 regular-season Mets games transpired in between.



Seaver and Jorgensen first played together on September 14, 1968, and last played together (on the field at the same time) on May 11, 1983; 2,244 regular-season Mets games transpired in between.



Seaver and Jorgensen were in the same game for the last time, though not on the field at the same time, on June 7, 1983, making the gap between first and last 2,267 regular-season Mets games if you choose to view it through that prism.

G-Fafif
Jun 05 2019 11:48 PM
Re: Quirks of 2019

MET CG SHUTOUTS AT CITI FIELD, 2014-Present

Noah Syndergaard 2

Jason Vargas 1



MET CG VICTORIES (9 IP) AT CITI FIELD, 2014-Present

Noah Syndergaard 2

Jacob deGrom 1

Jason Vargas 1

Benjamin Grimm
Jun 14 2019 05:10 AM
Re: Quirks of 2019

Was there a day when the Mets had to finish a suspended game and had their starter for the regularly scheduled game take the mound for the resumption of the previous night's game? I think it may have been Seaver, and he ended up pitching one inning in the suspended game and getting a win, and then getting a second win that day in the "nightcap". Am I remembering correctly? (If only I had access to a database where I could look this kind of stuff up...)

G-Fafif
Jun 14 2019 05:17 AM
Re: Quirks of 2019

That was when Seaver was a White Sock. He completed their 25-inning win over the Brewers, then went out and beat 'em in the scheduled game.

Benjamin Grimm
Jun 14 2019 05:21 AM
Re: Quirks of 2019

Right! That was when he was closing in on 300 wins!

Edgy MD
Jun 14 2019 06:47 AM
Re: Quirks of 2019

Benjamin Grimm wrote:

Was there a day when the Mets had to finish a suspended game and had their starter for the regularly scheduled game take the mound for the resumption of the previous night's game? I think it may have been Seaver, and he ended up pitching one inning in the suspended game and getting a win, and then getting a second win that day in the "nightcap". Am I remembering correctly? (If only I had access to a database where I could look this kind of stuff up...)


Kevin Kobel did this, I believe. 1979-ish.



The Mets were cruising to a victory the night before — Pete Falcone was working on a shutout — when the last out was seemingly made. Folks started celebrating, shaking Falcone's hand, and walking off the field, when the second-base ump called his comrades together and let them know that, wait a minute, I had called time.



The shortstop or secondbaseman or somebody had asked for time and it was granted before the final pitch was thrown.



So everybody was called out on the field to finish up that last out. After three more pitches, somebody finally realized there was no firstbaseman. Ed Kranepool had headed into the clubhouse, jumped into the shower, and was too busy cleaning Little Krane to realize nobody else was around him. I mean, I assume this is what he was doing. I had occasion some years later to ask him where he had gone. He chose to take the focus off himself and turn the question around: "What was the first base umpire doing? What was he thinking? Three pitches and he doesn't realize he's alone out there? You can't blame the first base coach, because he's probably hoping nobody notices we're a fielder short, but that ump was asleep on the job."



He even remembered which ump it was. I'm thinking Ed Montague, but that's probably not right.



So, realizing the game had grown farcical, and the typical 1979 crowd of a few thousand had dwindled to a few hundred, it was decided to finish the game the next day before the start of the scheduled game. Pete Falcone, being in recovery mode by this time, was unallowed by Joe Torre to finish his shutout. Kobel took the mound, got the last out, and then continued on to start the regular game.



Here we go:
[list]

  • [*]The suspended game.

  • [*]The regularly scheduled game the next day.
    • [/list]

    seawolf17
    Jun 14 2019 07:33 AM
    Re: Quirks of 2019

    I love the hell out of this. KC and Detroit played a game in Omaha celebrating the CWS yesterday, and this happened:


    [TWEET]https://twitter.com/ckamka/status/1139332310225117185[/TWEET]

    G-Fafif
    Jun 14 2019 12:57 PM
    Re: Quirks of 2019

    Elias delineates the Mets-Astros game Kobel wound up finishing for Falcone after Kranepool disappeared as a protest upheld and not technically a suspended game, so tonight is technically the seventh resumption of a suspended Mets game, though the eighth resumption of a game otherwise played on a previous date.

    G-Fafif
    Jun 19 2019 11:17 PM
    Re: Quirks of 2019

    On June 19, Stephen Nogosek pitched wearing No. 72 and was succeeded on the mound in the same inning by Daniel Zamora wearing No. 73. That's as high-numbered as it's ever gotten in consecutive Met pitchers.

    batmagadanleadoff
    Jun 19 2019 11:35 PM
    Re: Quirks of 2019

    Wow. I woulda figured Benitez (49) relieving Wendell (99) at least once. They were teammates for three seasons. Or Turk relieving either Hershiser (55) or Rogers (73).

    batmagadanleadoff
    Jun 19 2019 11:45 PM
    Re: Quirks of 2019

    =batmagadanleadoff post_id=13612 time=1561008934 user_id=68]
    Wow. I woulda figured Benitez (49) relieving Wendell (99) at least once. They were teammates for three seasons. Or Turk relieving either Hershiser (55) or Rogers (73).



    Wendell after Benitez (4/10/99). So now I'm wondering how I screwed this up and what am I not getting?

    batmagadanleadoff
    Jun 19 2019 11:46 PM
    Re: Quirks of 2019

    =batmagadanleadoff post_id=13613 time=1561009506 user_id=68]
    =batmagadanleadoff post_id=13612 time=1561008934 user_id=68]
    Wow. I woulda figured Benitez (49) relieving Wendell (99) at least once. They were teammates for three seasons. Or Turk relieving either Hershiser (55) or Rogers (73).



    Wendell after Benitez (4/10/99). So now I'm wondering how I screwed this up and what am I not getting?


    Ok. I see. Same inning.



    Never mind.

    batmagadanleadoff
    Jun 19 2019 11:49 PM
    Re: Quirks of 2019

    I'm back! Wendell relieves Hershiser in mid-inning, 4/14/99.

    batmagadanleadoff
    Jun 19 2019 11:57 PM
    Re: Quirks of 2019

    New record. 10/1/99 - Wendell relieves Rogers in mid-inning.

    G-Fafif
    Jun 20 2019 12:12 AM
    Re: Quirks of 2019

    Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jun 20 2019 11:17 AM

    On June 19, Stephen Nogosek pitched wearing No. 72 and was succeeded on the mound in the same inning by Daniel Zamora wearing No. 73. That's as high-numbered as it's ever gotten in consecutive Met pitchers.


    Consecutive numbers is what I intended to express: 73 relieving 72. Sorry if I wasn't clear. Yes, Wendell 99'd everybody in sight, but there was no Met pitcher (or player) wearing 98.



    In 2016 and 2017, we had the possibility of Josh Edgin (66) relieving Robert Gsellman (65), which I can't say for sure happened, because I haven't looked it up. But we've never had two consecutive higher-numbered pitchers on the same Met staff than 73 and 72, and now we have not only that, but an incident of 73 taking the ball from 72 (via the manager).



    OE: On April 13, 2017, in the Mets' 16-inning victory over the Marlins at Miami (which, in retrospect, was the high point of that season), Terry Collins removed Gsellman in the fifth inning and replaced him with Edgin, which established the consecutive high-number successive pitchers standard that was topped Wednesday night in Atlanta.

    Johnny Lunchbucket
    Jun 20 2019 10:16 AM
    Re: Quirks of 2019

    good quirk

    G-Fafif
    Jun 23 2019 09:09 AM
    Re: Quirks of 2019

    Coming into this week, the Mets had won games by a score of 10-2 23 times in their history. This week, they won two games by that score -- both on the same road trip, both against first-place clubs, under the watchful eye of two different pitching coaches.



    Read more about the Mets keepting their hands at 10 and 2 here.

    Edgy MD
    Jun 23 2019 09:27 AM
    Re: Quirks of 2019

    In 2016 and 2017, we had the possibility of Josh Edgin (66) relieving Robert Gsellman (65), which I can't say for sure happened, because I haven't looked it up.


    April 13, 2017, Edgin relieved Gsellie for the first time. Don't yet know if it was the last.

    G-Fafif
    Jun 23 2019 09:52 AM
    Re: Quirks of 2019

    That info re 4/13/17 appears above.

    batmagadanleadoff
    Jun 23 2019 10:58 AM
    Re: Quirks of 2019

    The Low Point: June 27, 1965, Larry Miller (16) relieves Al Jackson (15).

    batmagadanleadoff
    Jun 23 2019 11:20 AM
    Re: Quirks of 2019

    http://www.baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/roster.php?y=1965&t=NYN



    According to Baseball Reference, but not MBTN or UMDB, Larry Miller of the Mets wore #16 for at least a part of the 1965 season. I bring this up because on June 27, 1965, Larry Miller relieved Al Jackson (#15). This would probably be the Mets record for the lowest total of consecutive numbered pitchers to appear consecutively in ascending uniform number order if Miller wore #16 on that date. Both MBTN and UMDB assign #16 exclusively to Danny Napoleon for '65. FWIW, Napoleon did not appear in that June game. Also, according to all of these sources, Napoleon wore no other uniform number as a Met (or with any other team being that he never played for any other MLB team).



    OE Napoleon debuted in the Mets 2nd game of the '65 season, and as far as I can tell, was on the roster all season. Plus, he played the game before and after Miller relieved Jackson. So it appears unlikely that this game set the low number record. But youse number people might wanna look into this Miller 16 stuff.

    Edgy MD
    Jun 23 2019 12:18 PM
    Re: Quirks of 2019

    =G-Fafif post_id=13868 time=1561305141 user_id=55]
    That info re 4/13/17 appears above.



    I missed it. My mortified apologies.

    Johnny Lunchbucket
    Jun 24 2019 05:42 AM
    Re: Quirks of 2019


    http://www.baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/roster.php?y=1965&t=NYN



    According to Baseball Reference, but not MBTN or UMDB, Larry Miller of the Mets wore #16 for at least a part of the 1965 season. I bring this up because on June 27, 1965, Larry Miller relieved Al Jackson (#15). This would probably be the Mets record for the lowest total of consecutive numbered pitchers to appear consecutively in ascending uniform number order if Miller wore #16 on that date. Both MBTN and UMDB assign #16 exclusively to Danny Napoleon for '65. FWIW, Napoleon did not appear in that June game. Also, according to all of these sources, Napoleon wore no other uniform number as a Met (or with any other team being that he never played for any other MLB team).



    OE Napoleon debuted in the Mets 2nd game of the '65 season, and as far as I can tell, was on the roster all season. Plus, he played the game before and after Miller relieved Jackson. So it appears unlikely that this game set the low number record. But youse number people might wanna look into this Miller 16 stuff.


    on it

    Edgy MD
    Jun 24 2019 08:28 AM
    Re: Quirks of 2019

    August 26, 1989, Jeff Mussleman (#13) relieved Ron Darling (#12).



    This, of course, falls short if Darling had already done his in-season swap to #15.

    batmagadanleadoff
    Jun 24 2019 08:49 AM
    Re: Quirks of 2019

    Edgy MD wrote:

    August 26, 1989, Jeff Mussleman (#13) relieved Ron Darling (#12).



    This, of course, falls short if Darling had already done his in-season swap to #15.

    Missed it by exactly three weeks, according to UMDB & MBTN. Darling switched to #15 on 8/5/89. That woulda surely been the low record, I'd guess.

    Edgy MD
    Jun 24 2019 09:03 AM
    Re: Quirks of 2019

    https://i2i.org/wp-content/uploads/cf277eca5bc9b072fcf5f635a09653af.jpg>

    Edgy MD
    Jul 02 2019 08:42 PM
    Re: Quirks of 2019

    This was the random assortment of thumbnails I got today on the front page of Baseball-Reference:



    https://metsinpeace.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/screen-shot-2019-07-02-at-5.08.22-pm.png>



    How weird that (1) their photo of Jed Lowrie is in a Met kit that he still hasn't officially appeared in, and (2) Daisuke Matsuzaka, despite 132 games started in the Major Leagues (and 26 relief appearances), they depict him in a Las Vegas 51s uniform.

    G-Fafif
    Jul 03 2019 12:13 PM
    Re: Quirks of 2019

    Edwin Diaz has saved consecutive games — Mets games 85 & 86 — for the first time since the first two games of the season.

    G-Fafif
    Jul 05 2019 08:47 PM
    Re: Quirks of 2019

    Before Steven Matz's relief debut, his 87 Met appearances as a starter w/o relieving stood as seventh-most in franchise history. Top six:



    Leiter 213

    Gl@v!ne 164

    Trachsel 160

    deGrom 157

    Wheeler 113

    Santana 109

    G-Fafif
    Jul 30 2019 11:28 PM
    Re: Quirks of 2019

    The Mets have now played in three series as visitors to the White Sox in the same ballpark, and each time they have visited, the ballpark has had a different name.



    2002: Comiskey Park

    2013: U.S. Cellular Field

    2019: Guaranteed Rate Field

    Willets Point
    Jul 31 2019 10:49 AM
    Re: Quirks of 2019

    I hope this means that the South Side ballpark will be renamed before the Mets return in the future. Perhaps a name with some dignity.

    Edgy MD
    Jul 31 2019 11:30 AM
    Re: Quirks of 2019

    It's not really trending in that direction, though, is it?



    On the other hand, it's not like Charlie Comiskey was particularly worthy of the honor either.

    Willets Point
    Jul 31 2019 11:58 AM
    Re: Quirks of 2019

    Yeah, none of the names are particularly good. Comiskey's name should've stuck with the old ballpark.

    G-Fafif
    Aug 01 2019 11:36 AM
    Re: Quirks of 2019

    It was mentioned on the telecast Wednesday night that the back-to-back home runs in the eleventh inning on 7/30/2019 -- McNeil, followed by Conforto -- were the first such set the Mets have ever hit in extra innings.

    Edgy MD
    Sep 03 2019 04:18 PM
    Re: Quirks of 2019

    Brooklyn Cyclones pitcher Nelson Leon is from Leon, Nicaragua.

    G-Fafif
    Sep 04 2019 05:36 AM
    Re: Quirks of 2019

    Last night, September 3, 2019, was the seventh 11-10 loss in Mets history. The first came on April 8, 1969, the day last night's opponents were born as the Montreal Expos.



    One of the other 11-10 defeats came at Pittsburgh, on May 26, 1994, the day of last night's benchwarmers, Sam Haggerty, was born.

    G-Fafif
    Sep 04 2019 02:51 PM
    Re: Quirks of 2019

    The Mets' 8-4 victory today, September 4, 2019, is the first for the Mets by that score since they beat Texas on July 6, 2014. Very rare that a relatively non-exotic score of that nature would need to wait five years to repeat.

    G-Fafif
    Sep 07 2019 08:07 AM
    Re: Quirks of 2019

    Sam Haggerty joins a select circle of players who scored a run as a Met before batting as a Met. His predecessors include Steve Henderson, Lou Thornton, Tsuyoshi Shinjo, Luis Guillorme and Jack Reinheimer.

    Benjamin Grimm
    Sep 10 2019 07:22 AM
    Re: Quirks of 2019

    Pete Alonso is now the first Met ever to join the 47-1 club! (47 or more home runs and 1 or more stolen bases.)

    Edgy MD
    Sep 10 2019 07:32 AM
    Re: Quirks of 2019

    I think yesterday was the first time I saw a defensive alignment where theyinfielders were aligned in more-or-less their standard zones, but the secondbaseman and shortstop just switched places in order to get the rangier guy on the right side of the infield. That was a compelling strategy.



    Didn't work, however. #RedHotRamos

    G-Fafif
    Sep 15 2019 01:01 AM
    Re: Quirks of 2019

    Saturday night's game was the first Mets win ever to encompass (on the offensive side) EXACTLY three hits and two HBPs.

    MFS62
    Sep 15 2019 05:28 AM
    Re: Quirks of 2019

    Michael Lorenzen started in center field for the Reds against the Diamondbacks on Saturday.

    The Reds are giving Lorenzen a real chance to prove his mettle as a two-way player. He pitched two innings of relief Friday night and was unavailable as a pitcher on Saturday, so they took the opportunity to get his bat and his glove in the lineup. He went 0-3.



    Lorenzen is their best defensive outfielder with the possible exception of Nick Senzel, who is out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury. As a pitcher Lorenzen has a 3.12 ERA with six saves and 79 strikeouts in 78 innings. He can reach 100 miles per hour with his fastball. As a batter he is slashing .259/.333/.444 in 30 plate appearances.

    Later

    G-Fafif
    Sep 24 2019 08:50 AM
    Re: Quirks of 2019

    Amed Rosario's grand slam last night was the 17th to occur in a Mets loss. Conversely, the Mets have won 22 games in which one of their pitchers has surrendered a grand slam.

    G-Fafif
    Sep 25 2019 11:06 AM
    Re: Quirks of 2019

    With the Mets winning their 82nd game, Zack Wheeler leaves the list of Mets pitchers with most starts never pitching for a winning Mets team. Zack was eight starts behind Jack Fisher when Amed Rosario crossed home plate.



    I imagine Jay Horwitz arranged something special to mark the occasion.



    http://www.faithandfearinflushing.com/2019/09/25/heres-to-the-winners-who-wait/

    Edgy MD
    Oct 14 2019 07:42 PM
    Re: Quirks of 2019

    Twins catcher Jason Castro is from Castro Valley High School in Castro Valley, California.