Guess that Met

[Cowtipper]

April 23rd 1992 is correct, well done! A new question has been added, with hints for the rest.

1. I got the first Met save that year
I thought my career was gonna soar
But then I had a few bad outings
And the Mets showed me the door

Who am I?

Hint: Pitched for the Mets in 2011.
Hint: Nicknamed "Grande Rojo."
Hint: Debuted for the Braves in 2005, finished with the Royals in 2018.
Hint: Went 0-2, 10.80 in 5 games for New York.
Hint:
Hint: Was 17-27 with a 4.55 ERA in 447 major league games.
Hint: Went to Japan after his trial with New York, then came back to the US to post a 3.31 ERA in 161 games between the Padres, Twins and Brewers from 2014-2016.
Hint: Shares a first name with a short-lived Mets pitcher from the late '80s/early '90s who had a 2.30 ERA. Shares a surname with a former Mets starting third baseman who had brothers named Clete and Cloyd.
Hint: Was involved in this trade: "April 20, 2009: Traded by the Atlanta Braves to the St. Louis Cardinals for Brian Barton."
Hint: Wore #23 in his time with the Mets.
Hint: B _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Hint: B _ _ _ _ _ B _ _ _ _
Hint: Bl _ _ _ _ Bo _ _ _
Hint: Bla _ _ _ Bo _ _ _
Hint:

Hint: Bla _ _ _ Boy _ _


--originally posted by "Joe Rigatoni"

2. Pitching two games for the Mets was not the highlight of my career
I pitched two games, lost one, and didn't return to the Majors for years
With my ERA over 15.00 in those games
I'm only lucky anyone recalls my name

What Met am I?

Hint: Pitched for the Mets in 1996.
Hint: Involved in these transactions: "March 23, 1996: Sent to the New York Mets by the Kansas City Royals as part of a conditional deal." "November 25, 1996: Purchased by Chiba Lotte Marines (Japan Pacific) from the New York Mets." "December 6, 1997: Signed as a Free Agent with the New York Mets."
Hint: Also played for the Angels, Cubs and Athletics.
Hint: Played in 1996 (debuted with the Mets) and from 1999 to 2002 as (mostly) a relief pitcher.
Hint:
Hint: He might have had a 'fiery' personality, or perhaps not.
Hint: Here is the first bit of his Baseball Reference Bullpen write-up:"[This player] pitched five years in the big leagues, perhaps most notably with the 2000 Anaheim Angels when he posted an ERA of 2.39 in 32 games. Primarily a reliever at the major league level, he was mostly a starter in the minors, with a record of 83-66 over twelve seasons. He was at UCLA at the same time as Mike Magnante. The two later played together several seasons in the majors. After graduating, he was drafted in the 12th round of the 1991 amateur draft by the Kansas City Royals. He had been drafted once before, in 1987 by the Pittsburgh Pirates as he was coming out of high school, but he chose to attend college instead of turning professional."
Hint: Only guy in major league history with that last name.
Hint: Despite being a relative no-name, he was involved in multiple trades: March 25, 2001: Traded by the Anaheim Angels with cash to the Chicago Cubs for José Nieves. September 4, 2001: Traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Oakland Athletics for Mike Wenner (minors). March 29, 2003: the Philadelphia Phillies sent this player to the Cleveland Indians to complete an earlier deal made on March 25, 2003. March 25, 2003: The Philadelphia Phillies sent a player to be named later to the Cleveland Indians for Wendell Magee. May 25, 2003: Traded by the Cleveland Indians to the Kansas City Royals for Luis Cotto (minors).
Hint:

Hint: M _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Hint: M _ _ _ F _ _ _ _ _

--originally posted by "milladrive"

3. I played with The Worst Team Money Could Buy
I couldn't hit, but I sure could fly
I stole a lot too but didn't much walk
The thing I did best: I was some flyhawk

Who am I?

Hint: His sole year in the majors was with the Mets in 1992.
Hint: Hit .187 with 2 walks, 15 strikeouts and 4 steals in 75 ABs for New York.
Hint: Was involved in this trade—"November 18, 1992: Traded by the New York Mets to the Minnesota Twins for Darren Reed."
Hint: "Drafted by the New York Mets in the 9th round of the 1987 MLB June Amateur Draft from Vigor HS (Prichard, AL)."
Hint:
Hint: Here's his Baseball Reference writeup: "OF [This Player] was signed by the New York Mets and scout Joe Mason as a 9th round pick in the 1987 amateur draft. [He]was a superb defensive centerfielder. He combined his natural speed (4.3 in the 40-yard dash) with reflexes and daring, making numerous circus catches. Unfortunately, he did not hit enough to stay in the majors. [He] played Triple A ball through 1994, considered being a replacement player for the Atlanta Braves in 1995, but then went on to play in Mexico (1995-1997) and Taiwan (24 games in 1998). He then returned to the U.S., playing in the independent Northern League for 10 games in 1999 and the Atlantic League from 2000 through 2004. For most of those last five years, he was with the Nashua Pride."
Hint: Don't stand pat, how'll you guess this if you do?
Hint:

Hint: Stole 79 bases in the Mets minor league system in 1990, then 64 in 1991.
Hint: "December 3, 1990: Drafted by the Minnesota Twins from the New York Mets in the 1990 rule 5 draft."
Hint: P _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

--originally posted by "VIBaseball"

4. I played for the Mets for a short time.
I hit a double off Randy Johnson.
I came home to score.

Who is this Met?

Hint: Pitched for the Mets in 2005.
Hint: Was a 35-year-old rookie with New York.
Hint: Was from South Korea.
Hint: Made 33 relief appearances for New York, posting a 3.91 ERA.
Hint:

Hint: His last name might remind you of what a dove does.
Hint: Played professionally from 1993 to 2022-23 also in Korea, Japan and Australia. Last played at 52 years old!
Hint: Had a give-up at-bat against Todd Coffey of the Reds on May 16, 2005, where he stood as far from the plate as possible. Then, against Randy Johnson less than a week later, he whacked his double. Tim McCarver is noted for saying "this is, thus far in this young season, the biggest give-up at-bat" and while he's saying it, the player in question walloped the most unlikely of knocks.

--originally posted by "Blue387"

5. I came from Japan with high hopes
But turned out to be just a dope
I pitched two years, that was fun
But just like that, I was done

Who am I?

Hint: Played for the Mets in 2010 and 2011.
Hint: October 19, 2011: Released by the New York Mets. December 20, 2011: Signed as a Free Agent with the Pittsburgh Pirates. March 30, 2012: Sent to the Toronto Blue Jays by the Pittsburgh Pirates as part of a conditional deal. May 29, 2012: Selected off waivers by the New York Yankees from the Toronto Blue Jays.
Hint: Was 5-2 with a 5.74 ERA in 79 games for the Mets over two years.

Running tally of correct guessers:

Johnny Lunchbucket: 93
Edgy MD: 87
stevejrogers: 59
batmagadanleadoff: 25
DocTee: 9
metsmarathon: 9
Benjamin Grimm: 5
MFS62: 4
Marshmallowmilkshake: 1
The Hot Corner: 1

[Cowtipper]

...and we're back. New day, new hints added above.

[Cowtipper]

New day, new hints added above. Come on team, we got this!

Look at the picture hints ...

For #3, you might know that as a goofy androgynous character from SNL. And what does a wolf do?

For #2, what is the thing a performer sings into? And if something is ablaze in an inferno, it is often described as a ____ inferno; or perhaps, if someone has a passionate personality, their personality is described using the same word.

For #1, who is that magician—specifically, what is his last name? What do you call that person...he's not a man, rather a what? And what is that show?

[Cowtipper]

New day, new hints. Surely someone must know some of these :-)

[Cowtipper]

Let's focus on one at a time. Here's #1—

I ran the poem and hints through ChatGPT and had it rewrite the hints into an intelligible summary of them:

"I pitched for the Mets in 2011 and was nicknamed "Grande Rojo." My career began with the Braves in 2005 and concluded with the Royals in 2018. For the Mets, I recorded an 0-2 record with a 10.80 ERA over five games. I finished my major league career with a 17-27 record and a 4.55 ERA in 447 games.

After my stint with the Mets, I played in Japan before returning to the US, where I achieved a 3.31 ERA in 161 games between the Padres, Twins, and Brewers from 2014 to 2016.

My first name is shared with a short-lived Mets pitcher from the late '80s/early '90s who had a 2.30 ERA. My surname is shared with a former Mets starting third baseman who had brothers named Clete and Cloyd. I was traded by the Braves to the Cardinals for Brian Barton on April 20, 2009, and wore number 23 with the Mets.

My name fits the pattern: B _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ B _ _ _ _ _ B _ _ _ _ Bl _ _ _ _ Bo _ _ _ Bla _ _ _ Bo _ _ _ Bla _ _ _ Boy _ _."

Who am I?

(I have to give the AI credit, it actually guessed the relatively unknown pitcher correctly).

[Cowtipper]

I personally believe, for the Mets to start winning again, our loyal members here at The Crane Pool Forum need to start participating in this thread again.

(It was fun).

[Cowtipper]

We'll come back to those ones later.

Let's try some new ones.

1. Who am i?



2. Who am I?



3. This is the description from the back of an old baseball card. Who is it describing? "This player is no longer a pure power pitcher, but he can still reach back for "something extra" when he needs it. Among active pitchers, he ranks fifth in baserunners allowed per nine innings (10.69) and sixth in strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.89)." Hint: Remember, this is from the back of a baseball card, which might be 30 years old.

4. Same as #3. Who am I? "After serving as the Mets No. 1 catcher much of '90, this player became a bit of a handyman in '91, seeing time at first base and right field as well as behind the plate. The Mets obtained him from the Pirates 3/26/88 with pitcher Tim Drummond for first baseman Randy Milligan and pitcher Scott Henion. This player attended Troy St. (AL) U."

5. Before Hanley Ramirez broke the record in 2007, a one-time Met held the Marlins single-season record for runs scored. Who was it?

Running tally of correct guessers:

Johnny Lunchbucket: 93
Edgy MD: 87
stevejrogers: 59
batmagadanleadoff: 25
DocTee: 9
metsmarathon: 9
Benjamin Grimm: 5
MFS62: 4
Marshmallowmilkshake: 1
The Hot Corner: 1

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

4. is Mackey Sasser.

I wanna say the first pictured guy is Matt Hovvey

Of the above, once its obvious no answers are forthcoming given a couple of clues, I'd prefer you turn the cards over than lead an endless clue parade that doesn't reward knowing the answer to the original question

[Cowtipper]

Harvey and Sasser are correct. Well done! I've considered giving up on questions and just revealing the answers, but you guys are 100% so far in guessing them, though hints have been necessary on occasion, so I hate to lose that streak now. You guys got Paul Alspach, who never even reached the majors, of all people, so you're definitely knowledgeable enough to guess them (especially the unanswered ones that we're leaving behind for now) eventually.

I will say the redhead in the unanswered question #1...hypothetically one might suggest that his name rhymes with someone who is an attorney for a bowling alley, a Lane Lawyer perhaps. Or perhaps if you were to walk into the anteroom of a house in Denmark, you might call that a Dane Foyer.

1. Who am I?



Hint: Played for the Mets in 1992 as their primary shortstop.
Hint: Had a father of the same name that played in the majors from the 1950s to the 1970s.

2. This is the description from the back of an old baseball card. Who is it describing? "This player is no longer a pure power pitcher, but he can still reach back for "something extra" when he needs it. Among active pitchers, he ranks fifth in baserunners allowed per nine innings (10.69) and sixth in strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.89)." Hint: Remember, this is from the back of a baseball card, which might be 30 years old.

Hint: Played for the Mets from 1984 to 1994.
Hint: Won the Cy Young Award in 1985.

3. Before Hanley Ramirez broke the record in 2007, a one-time Met held the Marlins single-season record for runs scored. Who was it?

Hint: Played for the Mets from 2003 to 2006.
Hint: Played in the majors from 1993 to 2009, hitting over 230 home runs.

4. His mark has since been surpassed by multiple pitchers, having first been overtaken by Jason Jennings in 2006, but at one point a one-time Met held the Rockies career record for victories. Who held it before Jennings?

Hint: Pitched for the Mets from 2002 to 2003.
Hint: Went 15-13, 5.20 in his time with New York.

5. I was a Met not too long ago
A pitcher who they thought could throw
I did pretty well, sometimes so-so
And now I'm an All-Star for our foe

Who am I?

Hint: Pitched for the Mets from 2013 to 2019, save for 2015, when he was hurt.
Hint: Traded for Carlos Beltran.

Running tally of correct guessers:

Johnny Lunchbucket: 95
Edgy MD: 87
stevejrogers: 59
batmagadanleadoff: 25
DocTee: 9
metsmarathon: 9
Benjamin Grimm: 5
MFS62: 4
Marshmallowmilkshake: 1
The Hot Corner: 1

[Cowtipper]

New day, new hints added above. Like I said, I don't want those other questions to go unanswered (at the top of the page), however. For example, the unanswered pitcher in #2. He certainly was no Hampton (Mike); Fiery did not describe his fastball. And #4, I don't want that one to die—the fat lady hasn't Sung on it, it's merely been put to sleep with a baby's Koo. And I haven't given up on #5, not one Ryota—I mean, iota—nor #1, because I think the answer is Blaine—er, plain—to see. And finally, for the unanswered #3, I'll repeat what I said before—Don't stand Pat, How'll you guess it if you do?

[Cowtipper]

You know, in thinking about it, perhaps a one-week window on the questions might be a good idea. I have quite a few to get through and it does get rather cluttered having 96,000 hints.

So I'll spill the beans on the five unanswered ones now from a couple weeks ago now:

1. I got the first Met save that year
I thought my career was gonna soar
But then I had a few bad outings
And the Mets showed me the door

Who am I?

Blaine Boyer

2. Pitching two games for the Mets was not the highlight of my career
I pitched two games, lost one, and didn't return to the Majors for years
With my ERA over 15.00 in those games
I'm only lucky anyone recalls my name

What Met am I?

Mike Fyhrie

3. I played with The Worst Team Money Could Buy
I couldn't hit, but I sure could fly
I stole a lot too but didn't much walk
The thing I did best: I was some flyhawk

Who am I?

Pat Howell

4. I played for the Mets for a short time.
I hit a double off Randy Johnson.
I came home to score.

Who is this Met?

Dae-Sung Koo

5. I came from Japan with high hopes
But turned out to be just a dope
I pitched two years, that was fun
But just like that, I was done

Who am I?

Ryota Igarashi

[Cowtipper]

New day, new hints added above.

[Cowtipper]

Answering the unanswered:

1. Who am I?



Dick Schofield

2. This is the description from the back of an old baseball card. Who is it describing? "This player is no longer a pure power pitcher, but he can still reach back for "something extra" when he needs it. Among active pitchers, he ranks fifth in baserunners allowed per nine innings (10.69) and sixth in strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.89)." Hint: Remember, this is from the back of a baseball card, which might be 30 years old.

Dwight Gooden

3. Before Hanley Ramirez broke the record in 2007, a one-time Met held the Marlins single-season record for runs scored. Who was it?

Cliff Floyd

4. His mark has since been surpassed by multiple pitchers, having first been overtaken by Jason Jennings in 2006, but at one point a one-time Met held the Rockies career record for victories. Who held it before Jennings?

Pedro Astacio

5. I was a Met not too long ago
A pitcher who they thought could throw
I did pretty well, sometimes so-so
And now I'm an All-Star for our foe

Who am I?

Zack Wheeler

New questions will be added shortly.

[Cowtipper]

1. I pitched for the Mets in their early days
And with them I had two different stays
And for the record, this should be said:
I too pitched for the Bucs, Cards and Reds

Who am I?

2. From west to east I went
Spent some time crosstown
Then went back west again
And there I lingered around

Who am I?

--originally posted by "milladrive"

3. I'm an ex-Met who was a very very extremely big key
The assistant GM from Moneyball got the job thanks to me
I also spent some time as a player crosstown
I got plunked by an ex-Met that made me go down

Who am I?

--originally posted by "Joe Rigatoni"

4. I was a beloved player, for all that can mean
That's what all the fans were hollerin'
But the owners were crooks as far as was seen
And so I became a Marlin

--originally posted by "milladrive"

5. I didn't have much pop
But a measure of speed
And give me a glove
I'd play wherever the need
I came from the Jays
For Roy Lee, I did
Soon no more dark days
Once I helped bring in Sid

--originally posted by "VIBaseball"

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

5 bob bailout

[Cowtipper]

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

1. I pitched for the Mets in their early days
And with them I had two different stays
And for the record, this should be said:
I too pitched for the Bucs, Cards and Reds

Who am I?

Hint: Pitched for the Mets from 1962 to 1965 and from 1968 to 1969.

2. From west to east I went
Spent some time crosstown
Then went back west again
And there I lingered around

Who am I?

Hint: Pitched for the Mets in 1992, when they were in the guetter.

--originally posted by "milladrive"

3. I'm an ex-Met who was a very very extremely big key
The assistant GM from Moneyball got the job thanks to me
I also spent some time as a player crosstown
I got plunked by an ex-Met that made me go down

Who am I?

Hint: Mets bench player in 2004, who went to the Orioles partway through the season.

--originally posted by "Joe Rigatoni"

4. I was a beloved player, for all that can mean
That's what all the fans were hollerin'
But the owners were crooks as far as was seen
And so I became a Marlin

Hint: Played for the Mets from 2003 to 2011 and from 2016 to 2018.

--originally posted by "milladrive"

5. My Mets career was very small
And ineffective, all in all
I pitched for them in '93
And those few games were it for me
My whole career wasn't fine -
My ERA was over nine

Who am I?

Running tally of correct guessers:

Johnny Lunchbucket: 96
Edgy MD: 87
stevejrogers: 59
batmagadanleadoff: 25
DocTee: 9
metsmarathon: 9
Benjamin Grimm: 5
MFS62: 4
Marshmallowmilkshake: 1
The Hot Corner: 1

[stevejrogers]

# JOSE JOSE JOSE JOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSEEEEEEEEEE

[stevejrogers]

2 Lee Guetterman

[stevejrogers]

1 is a recipient of the Mets HOF Achievement Award from the class of 2020(1), Al Jackson

[Cowtipper]

Reyes, Guetterman and Jackson are all correct! Well done. Three new questions have been added.

1. I'm an ex-Met who was a very very extremely big key
The assistant GM from Moneyball got the job thanks to me
I also spent some time as a player crosstown
I got plunked by an ex-Met that made me go down

Who am I?

Hint: Mets bench player in 2004, who went to the Orioles partway through the season.

--originally posted by "Joe Rigatoni"

2. My Mets career was very small
And ineffective, all in all
I pitched for them in '93
And those few games were it for me
My whole career wasn't fine -
My ERA was over nine

Who am I?

3. Here's a name you remember, I bet
This pitcher was an original Met
He was an All-Star twice in his day
But as a Met, things went not his way

Who is he?

4. In '73, scandal was on the floor
Watergate was a big deal in the Court
It was on everyone's minds
Well, almost everyone's, for
Judge Potter Stewart got a note which bore
"----- flies to right, Agnew resigns."

Who am ----- ?

--originally posted by "milladrive"

5. I had a nickname
Describing how a vehicle could move
Unfortunately the team that year
Was least likely to get in a winning groove

Who am I?

--originally posted by "Joe Rigatoni"

Running tally of correct guessers:

Johnny Lunchbucket: 96
Edgy MD: 87
stevejrogers: 62
batmagadanleadoff: 25
DocTee: 9
metsmarathon: 9
Benjamin Grimm: 5
MFS62: 4
Marshmallowmilkshake: 1
The Hot Corner: 1

[Cowtipper]

Answering the unanswered:

1. I'm an ex-Met who was a very very extremely big key
The assistant GM from Moneyball got the job thanks to me
I also spent some time as a player crosstown
I got plunked by an ex-Met that made me go down

Who am I?

Karim Garcia

2. My Mets career was very small
And ineffective, all in all
I pitched for them in '93
And those few games were it for me
My whole career wasn't fine -
My ERA was over nine

Who am I?

Jeff Kaiser

3. Here's a name you remember, I bet
This pitcher was an original Met
He was an All-Star twice in his day
But as a Met, things went not his way

Who is he?

Clem Labine

4. In '73, scandal was on the floor
Watergate was a big deal in the Court
It was on everyone's minds
Well, almost everyone's, for
Judge Potter Stewart got a note which bore
"----- flies to right, Agnew resigns."

Who am ----- ?

Ed Kranepool

5. I had a nickname
Describing how a vehicle could move
Unfortunately the team that year
Was least likely to get in a winning groove

Who am I?

Choo Choo Coleman

New questions will be added shortly.

[Cowtipper]

New queries:

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?

--originally posted by "milladrive"

2. I twice won 20 games with the Pads
My junk had batters exclaiming “Ye gods!”
In the year of the strike I joined New York
The whole world was ready to stick in the fork
In May ’82 I’d won six and lost two
People were saying, “He isn’t quite through”
The rest of the season I only won one
And then after that, I really was done

Who am I?

--originally posted by "VIBaseball"

3. I did not play a game with the NYM...
but for my first contract I did sign with them.
And when I was through, much to their great dismay...
8 Gold Gloves I won; 2 All Star games I did play.
7 teams that I played they went to the playoffs;
and my first 3 World Series, I did not get a day off.
I played in 2 more but not as a starter
Which made letting me go just a little bit harder.

Who am I?

--originally posted by "Gr8Beldini"

4. I had half a good season in '84
I threw hard, but my shoulder got sore.

Who am I?

--originally posted by "VIBaseball"

5. 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?

--originally posted by "milladrive"

Running tally of correct guessers:

Johnny Lunchbucket: 96
Edgy MD: 87
stevejrogers: 62
batmagadanleadoff: 25
DocTee: 9
metsmarathon: 9
Benjamin Grimm: 5
MFS62: 4
Marshmallowmilkshake: 1
The Hot Corner: 1

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

2. Randy Jones
4. Bruce Berenyi

[Cowtipper]

Jones and Berenyi are correct! Well done. Two new questions have 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?

--originally posted by "milladrive"

2. I did not play a game with the NYM...
but for my first contract I did sign with them.
And when I was through, much to their great dismay...
8 Gold Gloves I won; 2 All Star games I did play.
7 teams that I played they went to the playoffs;
and my first 3 World Series, I did not get a day off.
I played in 2 more but not as a starter
Which made letting me go just a little bit harder.

Who am I?

--originally posted by "Gr8Beldini"

3. 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?

--originally posted by "milladrive"

4. A QB in high school, I stuck with first base
My career was an interesting case
I came in a trade for a first-round bust
For the '95 season, I was a must
I had a condition that's called spondylitis
Attacking the back, a form of arthritis
One of the reasons the Mets dealt me away
They got Toby B and Ricardo J

--originally posted by "VIBaseball"

5. was a key member of a World Series winning team
No other place I would rather be
I batted .340 in the same year
It was a year to shout with glee
I was in an episode of Everybody Loves Raymond
But someone forgot all about me

Who am I?

--originally posted by "Joe Rigatoni"

Running tally of correct guessers:

Johnny Lunchbucket: 98
Edgy MD: 87
stevejrogers: 62
batmagadanleadoff: 25
DocTee: 9
metsmarathon: 9
Benjamin Grimm: 5
MFS62: 4
Marshmallowmilkshake: 1
The Hot Corner: 1

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

4 brogna
5 cleon