" Where will Tom Rank on the list ?"
Sorry guys , just got back from working a double because of the snow storm that just hit. I am cold, tired and hungry ( in that order) so tonight’s post will be short and sweet.
Just remember that I need your lists of the top 50 Mets off all time emailed to me at rustyjr@realdirtymets.com by Friday evening.
And with that said…. HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!
Mets alumni celebrating birthdays today include :
Washed up starting pitcher from the ’80-’81 seasons, Randy Jones is 61 (1950) .
Mets first baseman from the ’90 season, Mike Marshall is 51(1960) . I still don’t understand why Cashen brought in Marshall when he had a more than capable successor to Keith Hernandez with Dave Magadan.
Infielder for the Mets from ’00-’03 Jorge Velandia is 36 (1975) . Iam sure that Steve Phillips rues the day that he obtained Velandia from the Oakland A’s. Who did whe give up for him you may ask ? NELSON CRUZ !!!
Mets reliever from the ’08 season, Luis Ayala is 33 (1978). He was picked up by the Mets after the July non waiver trade deadline and proved to be ineffective going down the stretch that saw the Mets miss their second straight post season.
New York Mets selected catcher, Ron Hodges in free agent draft on January 12, 1972. Hodges would be come one of the longest tenured Mets, spending 11 years on their roster.
New York Mets selected pitcher, Randy Tate in fifth round of free agent draft on January 12, 1972. Tate was supposed to be the Mets top pitching prospect upon his arrival to the big leagues in ’75. He even pitched a one hitter. But he had a rather uneven season , going 5-13 with a era of 4.45.
Los Angeles Dodgers signed shortstop, Kevin Elster of the New York Mets as a free agent on January 12, 1993. The amazing thing is Elster – would later on become a prolific power hitter for a few seasons. Whether it was due to steroids remains to be seen.
New York Yankees signed first baseman, Tony Clark of the New York Mets as a free agent on January 12, 2004.
San Diego Padres signed utility man, Eric Valent of the New York Mets as a free agent on January 12, 2006.
New York Mets signed free agent pitcher, Tim Redding of the Washington Nationals on January 12, 2009. Redding was the doppelganger of David Wells in every-way. They both were of big carriage, the both sported the “Sons of Anarchy” cue-ball look, hell they even had Jim ” The Anvil ” Neidhart goatees. The only difference was that Wells could pitch - well !
And while you worry yourself if John Maine signs with the Philadelphia Phillies, just relax and take a deep breath because – 79 days until the Mets open the 2011 season against the Florida Marlins in Miami and 86 days until the Mets 2011 home opener against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field.
Mo Vaughn isn’t thrilled with the Taylor Tankersley signing !!
8 comments
kingman 26
1/12/2011-7:58pm at 7:58 pm (UTC -4)
I remember being so psyched when we got Randy Jones—ah, the idiocy of youth!!
Tom Hausman! Rusty, you sure know how to bring out memory lane my friend.
Geez, I just looked up his stats, and he was actually a really good bullpen guy for us for four years!
rustyjr
1/12/2011-8:20pm at 8:20 pm (UTC -4)
That was one of the first baseball cards I ever got – the packs were 50 cents back then
kingman 26
1/12/2011-8:23pm at 8:23 pm (UTC -4)
Hey, I am just thrilled the picture looks OK so Mr N doesn’t whine at you for the 86th time…..
rustyjr
1/12/2011-8:31pm at 8:31 pm (UTC -4)
Lol mets blog republished a tweet I received from buster onley
metsfan1744
1/12/2011-8:51pm at 8:51 pm (UTC -4)
Love The Mets.
metsfan4decades
1/12/2011-10:33pm at 10:33 pm (UTC -4)
Ron Hodges….I waited every year when he came up, thinking this would be his ‘breakout’ year and become a really good everyday catcher for us. Not really sure why I thought that but being a fairly young Met fan at the time, I probably read some article in the newspaper about the Mets picking him in the draft and believed whatever hype they were touting about him at the time.
Snowstorms…are we all having fun here in the NE yet?
stickguy
1/12/2011-10:48pm at 10:48 pm (UTC -4)
I only had to shovel 6″ or so this morning. So not bad. Thank goodness I went to far eastern connecticut last weekend, and not 3 days later!
hazmet
1/12/2011-10:52pm at 10:52 pm (UTC -4)
10-12″ here on LI. Totally beat, should be asleep but what the hell.