You know since it’s been about 72 hours since the last Mets controversy , I used some that negative energy and I channeled it to something positive. You see I began thinking ( smell the smoke?), ” What would my All Time Mets Scrub Line Up look like? Well I had some criteria. First the player had to play for the Mets from the time I started having vivid memories of the Mets ( ’76 – present). Secondly they had to be god awful – they didn’t have to be fan favorites – they could be bums also. And lastly they had to play more than a handful of games for the Mets. So here is my all time scrub line up ( feel free to tell me if you agree , disagree or who your line up would be)
First base – Mike Jorgenson - He could field but was mediocre at best as a hitter
Second base – Doug Flynn – Yes he earned a gold glove , but he could never hit his weight.
Shortstop- Frank Taveras. We traded Tim Foli for this guy , he couldn’t field and couldn’t hit – so he was perfect for those early ’80′s Mets teams.
Third Base – Elliot Maddox. Yeah I know the Mets have had many crappy third basemen in their almost 50 year history, but Elliot was converted from a outfielder who had limited range from a leg injury to a infielder with limited range from a leg injury ( makes sense)
Catcher- Mackey Sasser. Yes Mackey could hit – and hit for power. But he had that mental block that prevented him to throw runners out while stealing ( remember he would double pump while throwing ?)
Left Field – D.J. Dozier - Unfortunately he is best remembered for running through the wall during a minor league game.
Center Field – Darryl Boston. Remember he was Frank Cashen’s answer to replacing Darryl Strawberry? I think most Mets fans would have preferred seeing Fred ” Rerun” Berry patrolling center-field.
Right Field – Ellis Valentine. Ellis played pretty decently in his tenure as a Met. But he bolted as soon as he became a free agent ( so in other words we pretty much got nothing in return for Jeff Reardon).
Starting Pitchers
Mike Torrez – He was good when he was with the Boston Red Sox – but stunk up the joint when he joined the Mets . And don’t forget when he accidentally beaned Dickie Thon.
Mark Bomback – Jeez this guy gave up alot of home-runs !
Pete Falcone – He made Mickey Loilich look consistent !
Bruce Chen – was a mid season reclamation project gone extremely wrong.
Anthony Young- Possibly the best scrub pitcher the Mets have ever had !! He always pitched well enough to lose, and he was a good sport about the jokes that were made at his expense. He is the only losing pitcher that was not from the early ’60′s that endeared himself to Mets fans.
Relievers
Rich Rodriguez – We begged , we pleaded , we threatened Steve Phillips life , but Rich Rodriguez pitched for two years out of the Mets pen.
Doug Sisk – ‘NUFF SAID !!
Mel Rojas-Â He was one of the most dominant relievers of his time when he was with the Cubs. But as soon as he joined the Mets he forgot how to pitch !
And there you have it. My all time scrub line-up
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                                           ” Better than Darryl Boston? – You decide !!”
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And with that … HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!
Happy Birthday greetings go out to reserve infielder for the ’91 team Jeff Gardner (1964) .
New York Mets traded infielder Ralph Milliard to the Cincinnati Reds for pitcher Mark Corey on February 4, 1999.
New York Mets signed free agent pitcher Dennis Springer of the Florida Marlins on February 4, 2000.
The Colorado Rockies signed pitcher Billy Taylor of the New York Mets as a free agent on February 4, 2000. Taylor was acquired in that INFAMOUS  trade that sent Jason Isringhausen to the Oakland A’s. Taylor sucked pitching down the stretch that year, As he almost cost us the wild card!
New York signed free agent first baseman ( and Tom Glavine’s brother) Mike Glavine on February 4, 2003. This move was done in my opinion  to appease Tom after signing with the Mets.
And don’t forget - There are just 60 days until the Mets open the 2010 season against the Florida Marlins at Citi Field.
22 comments
Hazmet
2/4/2010-7:38pm at 7:38 pm (UTC -4)
Smell the Smoke? I was sure a Tyler Yates inclusion was on the way…
Kingman 26
2/4/2010-8:01pm at 8:01 pm (UTC -4)
HA! See below!
Kingman 26
2/4/2010-8:02pm at 8:02 pm (UTC -4)
But wait, are you thinking of Grant Roberts of bong fame??
Hazmet
2/4/2010-8:22pm at 8:22 pm (UTC -4)
Doh. Yes…… that’s him.
Kingman 26
2/4/2010-8:00pm at 8:00 pm (UTC -4)
Now my esteemed colleague, you are being too hard on Frank Taveras and Doug Flynn!
Great topic, and here is my take:
1B–Doug Mientkiewicz
2B–Platoon of Samuel/Baerga/Alomar/Matsui
SS–Ted Martinez–Had a .247 OBP in 1974!!
3B–Roy Staiger
LF–Vince Coleman
CF–Ryan Thompson
RF–Butch Huskey
C–Alex Trevino
SP–Mark Bomback
SP–Randy Jones
SP–Pete Schourek
SP–Ray Burris
SP–John Pacella
CL–Neil Allen
RH–Mike Maddux
LH–Scott Schoeneweis
BP–Roy Lee Jackson
BP–Tyler Yates
BENCH–Joe McEwing
BENCH–Jeff McKnight
BENCH–Benny Ayala
BENCH–Duffy Dyer
BENCH–Jason Phillips
MANAGER–Art Howe
BENCH COACH–Razor Shines
OWNER–Lorinda DeRoulet
EXECUTIVE–M. Donald Grant
Hazmet
2/4/2010-8:39pm at 8:39 pm (UTC -4)
Wow. I’m impressed. I was taking a spin on it as players who were once stars or big names but were blech with the Mets. You pretty much covered 2B, but here’s my list so far,
Mo Vaughan, 1B
you covered my exact thoughts, 2B
Larry Bowa, SS
Jim Fergosi, 3B
George Foster, LF
Vince Coleman, CF (I know not a CF)
Barry Bonilla, RF
Brian Schneider, C – I had to pick someone, and he had the catcher rep.
Mickey Lolich – Nuff said
Pat Zachry – Never stood a chance
Brett Saberhagen – Bleach Boys
Orel Herscheiser – C’mon, after what he did in ’88
Shaun Estes – He couldn’t hit the broad side of a Clemens
Pen – Too much thought involved as I couldn’t even Remember Grant Roberts:). ya mon.
Honorable mention: Jeff Kent, Carl Everett
rustyjr
2/4/2010-8:46pm at 8:46 pm (UTC -4)
DAMN – i FORGOT tu mention manager !!! – Jeff Torborg – he was art howe 1.0 !!
Thirdbase coach has to go to mike cubbage
can’t argue with good ol Linda and grants tomb
my scrub reserves
eric valent
jose cardenal
tucker ashford
bill almon
trchnically carl and kent werent scrubs – but me and rerun will give you Mo Vaughn
rustyjr
2/4/2010-8:47pm at 8:47 pm (UTC -4)
oh and scrub g.m – al harazin !!!
Kingman 26
2/4/2010-9:23pm at 9:23 pm (UTC -4)
Oh man, you got some I missed–Brian Schneider, how could I have missed him! And Fregosi, fine call, as was Mickey Lolich. I did think about Estes, but the one game where he threw at Clemens and then I think homered off of him kept him off the list.
And Rusty, great calls on Torborg and Tucker Ashford and Bill Almon! Ha!
Great topic!
Hazmet
2/4/2010-8:43pm at 8:43 pm (UTC -4)
F-MART Alert, Carib WS Bottom of 2nd – Coming Up
Hazmet
2/4/2010-8:52pm at 8:52 pm (UTC -4)
Took first pitch, good move last guy swung at first pitch. Strike 1.
Swung and missed at flat breaking pitch up in zone. Strike 2.
Hammered inside breaking pitch foul. Pitch was ball but close.
Shot fast ball up foul the other way. Pitch was ball but close.
Nasty Fastball up underhands – Strike 3.
Oh well. 3 more at bats to go, guy he faced is a top Braves prospect according to the announcers. Interesting.
Hazmet
2/4/2010-8:54pm at 8:54 pm (UTC -4)
* strike 3 swinging
Hazmet
2/4/2010-9:28pm at 9:28 pm (UTC -4)
F-MART on Deck Alert. 2 out 1 on.
Hazmet
2/4/2010-9:31pm at 9:31 pm (UTC -4)
Inning over. F-Mart will lead off next inning. Broadcast on MLBN. Master of the obvious tonight.
Hazmet
2/4/2010-9:39pm at 9:39 pm (UTC -4)
F-Mart nice play in field top of the inning, playing LF ranging left to catch line drive.
F-Mart leading off bottom of the 4th
Swung at first pitch, grounded weakly to Pitcher.
Why did I bother watching???
rustyjr
2/4/2010-8:52pm at 8:52 pm (UTC -4)
btw i think matt c posting the ” letter” about the bar opening at citi field is just some under the table advertising – im a conspiracy thorist at heart !
Hazmet
2/4/2010-8:57pm at 8:57 pm (UTC -4)
Good call, I didn’t even think of that. I read that and was like who gives a rats a$$.
trs86
2/4/2010-9:10pm at 9:10 pm (UTC -4)
I think Ceetar caught that earlier. Said they were sponsoring something on his page. One of his polls or something.
ceetar
2/4/2010-11:52pm at 11:52 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, that was me. McFadden’s sponsor’s a weekly poll.
Oh, and I care about the bar.
fongy2
2/4/2010-9:31pm at 9:31 pm (UTC -4)
Love ya Rustoleum BUT this list was very mattesque…..is ya
know what I mean.
First, DJ Dozier was more known as a great fmr Penn St RB.
It was actually Rodney McCray who ran thru the wall while
in the Whitesox system. He later did have a cup of joe with
us and was indeed more of a scrubini than Dozier.
A little hard-on (ha,ha) Darryl Boston, Mackey,Flynn,Tavaras,
Jorgensen& My man Pete Falcone.
Where the heck were Leo Foster, Ron Gardenhire,The Yankee twins-
-Karim Garcia&Shane Spencer,Bill Almon,Dan Norman,Mario Ramirez,
DAN NORMAN,Gil Flores,Sergio Ferrer,Shawn Hare,Eric Gunderson,
Doug Saunders and one of my all time favs,Kevin Baez??????
stickguy
2/4/2010-10:49pm at 10:49 pm (UTC -4)
mark bombacks nickname was “boom boom” for a reason.
metsfan4decades
2/5/2010-12:03am at 12:03 am (UTC -4)
Don’t think I could come up with a better, or should I say worst…list than some of you. High on my list are:
Daryl Boston
Vince Coleman
Bonilla
Number one, without a doubt, is Orel Herscheiser. After ’88, I would not have cared if he came over here fresh off 5 CY awards. If there was ever one guy I never wanted to see in a Met uniform it was him…