Guess that Met

[batmagadanleadoff]

Checking in. 2 is Paul Blair.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

3 Marlon Anderson

[Cowtipper]

Brogna, Jones and Blair are all correct! Well done. Marlon Anderson is incorrect for #5, however. The guy in question was briefly a Met in 1980.

And with that, Johnny Lunchbucket is the first to 100 correct guesses! Good job!

New questions have been added, with hints for the rest.

1. I played for seven MLB teams in my career
With the last one I was a Met
Over a year off before the Mets for half a year
Then no more in the Majors would I get

Which Met am I?

Hint: Pitched 22 games for the Mets in 2005 after also pitching for the Cardinals, Rockies, Reds, Marlins, Cubs and Giants.

--originally posted by "milladrive"

2. I'm yet another guy who played for seven teams
A shortstop by trade, for utility I became known
Twice with the Mets, I played eight positions in my career
But nothing in 15 years was worth much for me to write home

Which Met am I?

Hint: Infielder hit .170 in 48 games for the Mets in 1980, having also spent significant time with the Padres, Athletics, Pirates and White Sox in his career.

--originally posted by "milladrive"

3. I was the savior according to Wilpon;
My IQ was the same as that of a moron.
Before I was handed the reigns to this franchise;
I was responsible for leading the 'Spos to their demise.
Sizemore and Phillips and of course there was Cliff Lee -
For Bartolo Colon, who exited swiftly.
I let Vladimir go getting nil in exchange;
Then Fred said to Jeff, "It is time for a change."
We need a GM with nary a clue,
and the same Baseball savvy as that of a shoe.
Got one we did, much to Mets fans' dismay;
he continues to haunt us, to this very day.

--originally posted by "Gr8Beldini"

4. I pitched 20 games in a Mets' uni
And that mid-90s year was it for me
I'm not well known, I'm quite obscure
But you'll get it, of that I'm sure

Who am I?

5. Hey all, did you hear
I was a Met for less than a year
I was one of those outfield roamers
Who for this squad hit 14 homers

Who am I?

Running tally of correct guessers:

Johnny Lunchbucket: 100
Edgy MD: 87
stevejrogers: 62
batmagadanleadoff: 26
DocTee: 9
metsmarathon: 9
Benjamin Grimm: 5
MFS62: 4
Marshmallowmilkshake: 1
The Hot Corner: 1

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

2 Marlon Anderson
3 Omar Minaya

[Cowtipper]

Anderson is incorrect. Go back a couple decades, think it over while perhaps enjoying an almond. If you can't figure it out, send me the bill. Minaya is correct, however. I forgot how many Mets fans despised Minaya back in the day—that poem was written ~12 years ago. It seems the stances of a lot of people have softened over the years. A new question has been added.

1. I played for seven MLB teams in my career
With the last one I was a Met
Over a year off before the Mets for half a year
Then no more in the Majors would I get

Which Met am I?

Hint: Pitched 22 games for the Mets in 2005 after also pitching for the Cardinals, Rockies, Reds, Marlins, Cubs and Giants.

--originally posted by "milladrive"

2. I'm yet another guy who played for seven teams
A shortstop by trade, for utility I became known
Twice with the Mets, I played eight positions in my career
But nothing in 15 years was worth much for me to write home

Which Met am I?

Hint: Infielder hit .170 in 48 games for the Mets in 1980, having also spent significant time with the Padres, Athletics, Pirates and White Sox in his career.

--originally posted by "milladrive"

3. I pitched 20 games in a Mets' uni
And that mid-90s year was it for me
I'm not well known, I'm quite obscure
But you'll get it, of that I'm sure

Who am I?

4. Hey all, did you hear
I was a Met for less than a year
I was one of those outfield roamers
Who for this squad hit 14 homers

Who am I?

5. The first major league start by a legend
I pitched in relief as it was my only Mets win
It was also my 50th and last win of my career
Let go before this season ended I felt was a sin
This Mets win pitching in relief was my Mets shining moment
For the occasion the Mets should have made a commemorative pin

Who am I?

--originally posted by "Joe Rigatoni"

Running tally of correct guessers:

Johnny Lunchbucket: 101
Edgy MD: 87
stevejrogers: 62
batmagadanleadoff: 26
DocTee: 9
metsmarathon: 9
Benjamin Grimm: 5
MFS62: 4
Marshmallowmilkshake: 1
The Hot Corner: 1

[stevejrogers]

5…I’m guessing Chuck Estrada who vultured Tom Seaver’s debut?

[Cowtipper]

Chuck Estrada is correct! Well done. A new question has been added, with hints for the rest.

1. I played for seven MLB teams in my career
With the last one I was a Met
Over a year off before the Mets for half a year
Then no more in the Majors would I get

Which Met am I?

Hint: Pitched 22 games for the Mets in 2005 after also pitching for the Cardinals, Rockies, Reds, Marlins, Cubs and Giants.
Hint: Involved in a lot of trades. November 16, 1999: Traded by the St. Louis Cardinals with Brent Butler, Rich Croushore and José Jiménez to the Colorado Rockies for Luther Hackman, Darryl Kile and Dave Veres. April 7, 2000: Traded by the Colorado Rockies to the Cincinnati Reds for Gabe White. July 26, 2000: Traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the Florida Marlins for Jorge Cordova (minors). March 30, 2001: Traded by the Florida Marlins to the Chicago Cubs for Oswaldo Mairena. July 27, 2001: Traded by the Chicago Cubs with a player to be named later to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for Fred McGriff. The Chicago Cubs sent Jason Smith (August 6, 2001) to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to complete the trade.

--originally posted by "milladrive"

2. I'm yet another guy who played for seven teams
A shortstop by trade, for utility I became known
Twice with the Mets, I played eight positions in my career
But nothing in 15 years was worth much for me to write home

Which Met am I?

Hint: Infielder hit .170 in 48 games for the Mets in 1980, having also spent significant time with the Padres, Athletics, Pirates and White Sox in his career.
Hint: Was the #1 overall pick in 1974.


--originally posted by "milladrive"

3. I pitched 20 games in a Mets' uni
And that mid-90s year was it for me
I'm not well known, I'm quite obscure
But you'll get it, of that I'm sure

Who am I?

Hint: Played for the Mets in 1996, posting a 4.26 ERA. Also pitched for the Blue Jays, Tigers and Yankees.

4. Hey all, did you hear
I was a Met for less than a year
I was one of those outfield roamers
Who for this squad hit 14 homers

Who am I?

Hint: Played for the Mets in 2006. Was traded by the San Diego Padres to the New York Mets for Mike Cameron.

5. I hit a grand slam home run for the Yankees.
I hit a spring training home run that landed near second base on an adjacent field.
My Final MLB Season I hit 35 home runs.
Tom Lasorda was not happy about being asked about my performance.
Diamond Vision was advertised to have protective glass because of me.

Who am I?

--originally posted by "WEB"

Running tally of correct guessers:

Johnny Lunchbucket: 101
Edgy MD: 87
stevejrogers: 63
batmagadanleadoff: 26
DocTee: 9
metsmarathon: 9
Benjamin Grimm: 5
MFS62: 4
Marshmallowmilkshake: 1
The Hot Corner: 1

[stevejrogers]

5 is Kong, The Sky King

[Cowtipper]

Dave Kingman is correct!

Answering the unanswered:

1. I played for seven MLB teams in my career
With the last one I was a Met
Over a year off before the Mets for half a year
Then no more in the Majors would I get

Which Met am I?

Manny Aybar

2. I'm yet another guy who played for seven teams
A shortstop by trade, for utility I became known
Twice with the Mets, I played eight positions in my career
But nothing in 15 years was worth much for me to write home

Which Met am I?

Bill Almon

3. I pitched 20 games in a Mets' uni
And that mid-90s year was it for me
I'm not well known, I'm quite obscure
But you'll get it, of that I'm sure

Who am I?

Rob MacDonald

4. Hey all, did you hear
I was a Met for less than a year
I was one of those outfield roamers
Who for this squad hit 14 homers

Who am I?

Xavier Nady

[Cowtipper]

Five new questions:

1. I wore Cleon Jones's old number
I wore that number for one game in which I didn't play
It was the last game I dressed as a major league player,what a bummer
My major league playing career ended,I had no say

Who am I?

--originally posted by "Joe Rigatoni"

2. When I first came up I wouldn't've bet
Especially considering all the trades
That I would play for the Mets
In three entirely different decades

Which Met am I?

--originally posted by "milladrive"

3. Matt Harvey's big league debut was pretty elite, as he allowed no earned runs in 5 1/3 innings. At the time he did it, five other Mets had pitched 5+ innings and allowed no earned runs in their big league debuts (all made with the Mets). Can you name those other five?

4. Garrett Olson pitched for the Mets in 2012 and had a career 108.00 ERA with the team. Four other pitchers at the time had had ERAs of 18.00 or higher with the Mets. Can you name them?

5. As a Met, just one game: 15.75
Yet somehow I kept my career alive
When I pitched for the Dodgers, my countrymen came
From Flushing with banners bearing my name
Scratching your head? Are you in the dark?
Just think of three words: ___ __ ____.

--originally posted by "VIBaseball"

Johnny Lunchbucket: 101
Edgy MD: 87
stevejrogers: 64
batmagadanleadoff: 26
DocTee: 9
metsmarathon: 9
Benjamin Grimm: 5
MFS62: 4
Marshmallowmilkshake: 1
The Hot Corner: 1

[Methead]

Scratching your head? Are you in the dark?
Just think of three words: ___ __ ____.

Chan Ho Park

[Cowtipper]

Chan Ho Park is correct! A new question has been added, with hints for the rest.

1. I wore Cleon Jones's old number
I wore that number for one game in which I didn't play
It was the last game I dressed as a major league player, what a bummer
My major league playing career ended, I had no say

Who am I?

Hint: Apparently there are a couple of correct answers here, but the German-born correct answer per the guy who wrote the poem was a longtime manager for the Twins in the 2000s and 2010s, and he was a Met for five seasons in the 1980s.

--originally posted by "Joe Rigatoni"

2. When I first came up I wouldn't've bet
Especially considering all the trades
That I would play for the Mets
In three entirely different decades

Which Met am I?

Hint: Likewise, this one has more than one correct answer, but the correct answer per the guy who wrote the poem was a 4th round pick in 1966, who played for the team in 1968, from 1970 to 1972 and from 1980 to 1983, and was once traded for Rusty Staub.

--originally posted by "milladrive"

3. Matt Harvey's big league debut was pretty elite, as he allowed no earned runs in 5 1/3 innings. At the time he did it, five other Mets had pitched 5+ innings and allowed no earned runs in their big league debuts (all made with the Mets). Can you name those other five?

Hint: Pitcher one pitched for the Mets in 1986. Was involved in this trade: "March 27, 1987: Traded by the New York Mets with Mauro Gozzo and Ed Hearn to the Kansas City Royals for David Cone and Chris Jelic." Pitcher two pitched for the Mets in 1966 and threw a complete game shutout in his first start. Pitcher 3 pitched for the Mets in 2004. Was involved in this trade: "December 14, 2001: Traded by the Oakland Athletics with Mark Guthrie to the New York Mets for David Justice." Pitcher four pitched for the Mets in 1998 and 1999. Was involved in this trade: "January 14, 2000: Traded by the New York Mets to the Colorado Rockies for Lariel González and Bobby Jones." Pitcher five pitched for the Mets from 1982 to 1984; was a primary reliever in 1984. None of them were particularly good for the Mets in the long run.

4. Garrett Olson pitched for the Mets in 2012 and had a career 108.00 ERA with the team. Four other pitchers at the time had had ERAs of 18.00 or higher with the Mets. Can you name them?

Hint: Pitcher one made a single start for the club in 2001, having previously played for the Mariners and Angels. Pitcher two made six relief appearances in 2005 and was involved in this trade—January 4, 2006: Traded by the New York Mets with Jae Weong Seo to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Duaner Sánchez and Steve Schmoll. Pitcher three was actually an outfielder who played for the Mets in 2000 and lived on a boat. Pitcher four was a first baseman from 2000 to 2001 and again in 2004, who is currently an analyst for the Mets.

5. I was Bo's running buddy
Once won a Cy Young
But when I got to New York
The fat lady had sung

--originally posted by "VIBaseball"

Johnny Lunchbucket: 101
Edgy MD: 87
stevejrogers: 64
batmagadanleadoff: 26
DocTee: 9
metsmarathon: 9
Benjamin Grimm: 5
MFS62: 4
Marshmallowmilkshake: 1
Methead: 1
The Hot Corner: 1

[batmagadanleadoff]

2 ----

[Cowtipper]

Mike Jorgensen is correct!

Answering the unanswered:

1. I wore Cleon Jones's old number
I wore that number for one game in which I didn't play
It was the last game I dressed as a major league player, what a bummer
My major league playing career ended, I had no say

Who am I?

Ron Gardenhire was the official correct answer, but Terrel Hansen would have also worked.

3. Matt Harvey's big league debut was pretty elite, as he allowed no earned runs in 5 1/3 innings. At the time he did it, five other Mets had pitched 5+ innings and allowed no earned runs in their big league debuts (all made with the Mets). Can you name those other five?

1) Rick Anderson
2) Dick Rusteck
3) Tyler Yates
4) Masato Yoshii
5) Brent Gaff

4. Garrett Olson pitched for the Mets in 2012 and had a career 108.00 ERA with the team. Four other pitchers at the time had had ERAs of 18.00 or higher with the Mets. Can you name them?

1.Brent Hinchliffe
2.Tim Hamulack
3.Derek Bell
4.Todd Zeile

5. I was Bo's running buddy
Once won a Cy Young
But when I got to New York
The fat lady had sung

Dean Chance

Johnny Lunchbucket: 101
Edgy MD: 87
stevejrogers: 64
batmagadanleadoff: 27
DocTee: 9
metsmarathon: 9
Benjamin Grimm: 5
MFS62: 4
Marshmallowmilkshake: 1
Methead: 1
The Hot Corner: 1

New questions will be added later.

[Cowtipper]

New questions:

1. Some people thought I was crazy
After I punched out Frank Lucchesi
So then I came to New York
Just a few years after "The Stork"
I had some pretty good wheels
I set the club record for steals
I hit .304 that first year
But the next season's drop was severe

--originally posted by "VIBaseball"

2. I was only here a little while
I manned first base with my own style
but it after a four base clout
that I would get the fans to scream and shout
I'd approach each base with a pitter patter
and make my foes madder than a drunken hatter.

--originally posted by "PVNICK"

3. They called me the second coming of Seaver
But after one start I became a deceiver
It happened at Wrigley after a snow
Thanks for wrecking my elbow, Joe

--originally posted by "VIBaseball"

4. I played in a World Series
And it really is a shame
I hold an all time record
but won't be in the Hall of Fame

--originally posted by "ribant"

5. Once I hit a homer
Ran backwards all the while
Some thought I was crazy
I think I just have style

--originally posted by "ribant"

Running tally of correct guessers:

Johnny Lunchbucket: 101
Edgy MD: 87
stevejrogers: 64
batmagadanleadoff: 27
DocTee: 9
metsmarathon: 9
Benjamin Grimm: 5
MFS62: 4
Marshmallowmilkshake: 1
Methead: 1
The Hot Corner: 1

[batmagadanleadoff]

1 - Randle; 2 - Montanez; 3 - Leary; 5 - Piersall.

[Cowtipper]

All four are correct. If you want to go for a clean sweep, here is the hint given for #4 when the poem was originally posted:

"There is a well known image of him that may be thought of as the Mets' version of the Iwo Jima photo."

[batmagadanleadoff]

Is this the Iwo Jima style image you refer to?



Of course, those aren't actual Mets on the cover of the premiere issue of Jock magazine, but actors portraying Mets. If that's the image you're referring to, then the answer to #4 must be either Cleon or Kooz, as Seaver is in the HOF and the fourth Met represented on the mag cover is unidentifiable.

[Cowtipper]

No, the hint was more referring to the enduring nature of the image, rather than the actual resemblance to the Iwo Jima image.

[Cowtipper]

Four new questions, along with the remaining one from before, have been added below.

1. I played in a World Series
And it really is a shame
I hold an all time record
but won't be in the Hall of Fame

--originally posted by "ribant"

2. I hung with Tug and Cleon
And I'm more than just a jock
I kept involved in baseball
As a teams primary doc

--originally posted by "ribant"

3. If a biographer were a second sacker
Who penned the life of Dr. Johnson
Then this Amazin' was a lefty thwacker
Who often batted ahead of Cleon, son...

--originally posted by "Strawman"

4. In the minors I ran through the wall
My only at bat as a Met was a game winning hit
HoJo, a nice man, retrieved me the ball
But shortly after that I no longer was a fit

--originally posted by "Joe Rigatoni"

5. Some folks say I am arrogant
Others say I'm ruled by greed
But never before or after
Will a Met have my explosive speed.

--originally posted by "ribant"

Running tally of correct guessers:

Johnny Lunchbucket: 101
Edgy MD: 87
stevejrogers: 64
batmagadanleadoff: 31
DocTee: 9
metsmarathon: 9
Benjamin Grimm: 5
MFS62: 4
Marshmallowmilkshake: 1
Methead: 1
The Hot Corner: 1

[batmagadanleadoff]

2 - Taylor; 3- Boswell; 4- McCray.

[Cowtipper]

Ron Taylor, Ken Boswell and Rod McCray are correct! Three new questions have been added.

1. I played in a World Series
And it really is a shame
I hold an all time record
but won't be in the Hall of Fame

--originally posted by "ribant"

2. Some folks say I am arrogant
Others say I'm ruled by greed
But never before or after
Will a Met have my explosive speed.

--originally posted by "ribant"

3. I hit my only Shea Stadium home run
In one of the season's biggest game
It was one of my moments in the sun
But I'll never be in the Hall Of Fame

--originally posted by "Joe Rigatoni"

4. Mario Ramirez had five hits as a Met off of four pitchers during his brief 1980 stay in New York. Who can name the four pitchers he collected hits off of?

5. Who were the last three Mets pitchers to hit triples?

1.
2.
3.

Running tally of correct guessers:

Johnny Lunchbucket: 101
Edgy MD: 87
stevejrogers: 64
batmagadanleadoff: 34
DocTee: 9
metsmarathon: 9
Benjamin Grimm: 5
MFS62: 4
Marshmallowmilkshake: 1
Methead: 1
The Hot Corner: 1

[stevejrogers]

1 Jesse Orosco

2 Rickey Henderson

[Cowtipper]

Orosco is correct, but #2 is not Henderson. Though the poem is vague enough that it COULD be Henderson, the word "explosive" was put in there for a reason. A new question has been added, with hints for the rest.

1. Some folks say I am arrogant
Others say I'm ruled by greed
But never before or after
Will a Met have my explosive speed.

Hint: Was more well-known as a speedster with the Cardinals in the '80s. The Mets traded him to get Kevin McReynolds back.

--originally posted by "ribant"

2. Mario Ramirez had five hits as a Met off of four pitchers during his brief 1980 stay in New York. Who can name the four pitchers he collected hits off of?

Hints:

A. He started 11 games against the Mets during his career, going 5-5 with a 3.36 ERA. Mets outfielder Elliott Maddox had great success against him, hitting .368 while in a Mets uniform. He started two games against the Mets in the 1973 World Series.

B. He went 2-1 with a 5.93 ERA in six appearances (four starts) against the Mets during his brief stay in the National League (with the Dodgers). On June 22, 1980, he started against New York, allowing eight earned runs in only 4.1 innings of work. Claudell Washington went 4-5 with five RBI that day. His final appearance against the Mets was in 1981.

C. He probably had more success against the Mets than any other team he faced a lot in his career, going 21-14 with a 2.62 ERA in 43 appearances (37 starts). He tossed 14 complete games and five shutouts versus New York, including a two-hitter against Tom Seaver in 1971. His final shutout against the Mets came on May 16, 1981. He was originally drafted by the Mets in 1968, but did not sign.

D. He was a Met briefly in 1984, but didn't have much luck, posting a 9.19 ERA in 11 relief appearances. He never started against the Mets, but he made 31 relief appearances against them, going 6-4 with a 3.33 ERA. Fun fact: He was traded for Ray Burris partway through the 1979 season. Burris would join the Mets shortly after that, in August of that year.

3. Who were the last three Mets pitchers to hit triples?

1.
2.
3.

Hints: 1—Pitched for NY from 2015 to 2020; went to the Cardinals. 2—Pitched for NY from 2010 to 2015; went to the Royals. 3—Pitched for the Mets from 2008 to 2015, traded to the Pirates for Neil Walker, then returned to NY in 2016 in exchange for Antonio Bastardo.

4. Who were the last three Mets pitchers to hit home runs?

1.
2.
3.

5. Who were the three Mets hurlers to toss complete games in 2013?

1.
2.
3.

Running tally of correct guessers:

Johnny Lunchbucket: 101
Edgy MD: 87
stevejrogers: 65
batmagadanleadoff: 34
DocTee: 9
metsmarathon: 9
Benjamin Grimm: 5
MFS62: 4
Marshmallowmilkshake: 1
Methead: 1
The Hot Corner: 1