" One of the best pitchers we ever had !!"
When you think of baseball players do you consider them well read men of letters or as athletes that would rather play Nintendo than read the Sunday Times ? Off the top of your head who would you say was more of the thinking man’s player ? Dickey ? The recently signed Chris Young ? Choo Choo Coleman perhaps ( kidding !!) .Well coming in at number 28 is probably one of the most intelligent men to ever wear a Mets uniform, Pitcher Ron Darling.
Ron was born in Honolulu Hawaii on August 19 1960. When he was a child his family moved to Massachusetts. He would go on to attend Yale University. he was selected by the Texas Rangers in the first round ( ninth pick overall).
He ouldonly spend one season in the Rangers farm system before being traded along with pitcher, Walt Terrell to the Mets for matinee idol outfielder, outfielder, Lee Mazzilli in ’82.
Darling pitched well for the Metstriple A farm team , the Tidewater Tides in both ’82 and ’83. Darling received a September call up for the Metsin ’83. He pitched well in his first game, losing 2-0, and he ended the season witha record of 1-3 with a ERA OF 2.80. His final game of the season saw his first major league win , it was a complete game victory .
Darling won a spot in the starting rotation during the Spring of ’84. He along with rookie phenom, Dwight Gooden would be the teams 1-2 starters for the better part of the next decade. Ron wouldfinish his rookie season with a record of 12–9 and a ERA of 3.81. The Mets just missed out of winning the National League East by the Chicago Cubs.
In 1985 Darling had one of his finest seasons. He started off the season going 9-2 , and was selected to his only All-Star team. He did not see action during the game. He would finish the season with a record of 16–6 with a ERA of 2.90.
In 1986, Ron like every pitcher in that vaunted Mets rotation wouldgo 15–6 , and had a s career-best 2.81 ERA. One Ron was part of that post game brawl at Cooter’s in Houston Texas, which saw him , along with fellow players, Bobby Ojeda, Tim Teufel and Rick Aguilera were arrested for fighting with the club’s bouncers – who were off duty police men.
I wish that I could say that Ron pitched well during the ’86 NLCS, but he pitched poorly in game 3, allowing four runs before being relieved. The Mets did come back to win the game , and as we know they went on to win the series.
Darling pitched well in game one of the ’86 World Series against the Boston Red Sox. He only allowed one unearned run – on a fielding error by Teufel , and the Mets lost by the score of 1-0. Darling was equally dominant in game four which resulted with the Mets winning the game 6-2. In game 7 Darling’s was not on his game. The Sox would score three runs early, and he would exit after four innings. But the Mets were a resilient bunch , coming back to beat the team from Bean Town and clinching their second ever Word Championship !!
Darling wouldhave a mediocre season, going 12-8 witha ERS of 4.29. Ron didn’t win a game in either May or June of that season. He went 0–4 , and had with eight no-decisions . Ron would not pitch in the last few weeks of the season due to a arm strain, which possibly cost the Mets a possible chance at winning the division.
Darling returned to form in 1988, going 17-8 witha ERA of 3.25.He finished the first-half of the season with a record of 10–5 a 2.70 ERA .He would throw four shutouts that season , which was a career high for him . Ron would participate in his second post season, but he pitched god awful against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He pitched in two games that post season. In the first game he let uop three runs, but the Mets would eventually win 8-4. But in that deciding Game 7, Darling was pitted against the dreaded , Orel Hershiser,. Darling was clearly over matched, giving up six runs. He was removed from the game in the second inning. It would be the last post season game for the Mets for eleven years.
1989 started Darling’s decline with the Mets. He would go 14-14 that season with a ERA of 3.52. In 1990 , Ron was relegated to the bullpen as a spot starter/ middle reliever. He would end the season with his first ever losing record, 7–9 and his ERA was a obese 4.50.
Darling returned to the Mets rotation in ’91 but his performances were uneven at best. He would be dealt just before the trade deadline , when on July 15thhe was dealt to the Montreal Expos along with minor league pitcher, Mike Thomas for reliever, Tim Burke. Metsfans were very upset with the trade because yet another Met from that once dominant team from the ’80′s was shipped out of town. Two weeks later, the Expos would deal Darling to the Oakland A’s.
Darling would spend the next five years with the A’s . He would every now and then display flashes of his former self, but he never did recapture his glory days. He retired after being released by the A’s in ’95.
After retiring , he would become a color commentator for the Washington Nationals. In 2006, Darling joined the Mets broadcast boothalong side Keith Hernandez and Gary Cohen to broadcast games for both channel 11 as well as the Mets cable network, SNY. He was awarded a Emmy for his top notch analytical skills , and his ability to break down the game , giving the viewer insights to what both the managers as well as the players are thinking. In 2007, Darling was hired as a a color analyst for TBS’ coverage of the 2007 MLB playoffs, and he joined their game of the week coverage in ’08.
Darling was on hand for the closing ceremonies of Shea Stadium in ’08. A little known fact is that heis cousin is umpire Gary Darling.
Ron’s final careerstats withthe Mets include a record of 99-70 with a ERA OF 3.50 , ten shutouts , 25 complete games and 1,148 strike outs.
Tomorrow we will profile number 27 on the list of the top 50 Mets of all time, he is one of the top Mets relievers of all time .
And with that said…. HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!
Mets alumni celebrating birthdays today include :
One of the most important as well as beloved Mets of all time , center fielder, Mookie Wilson is 55 (1956). I for one am ecstatic to see Mookie back with the organization.
Middle reliever from the ’94 team, Doug Linton is 46 (1965).
Back up catcher from ’97-’01, Todd Pratt is 44 (1967) . He will always be remembered for that game winning home run against the Diamondbacks in the ’99 NLDS.
The New York Mets signed one time 1977 Rookie Of The Year, Clint Hurdle as a free agent on February 9, 1987. He wouldspend parts of three seasons with the Mets. After retiring from baseball , he became a successful manager , and is currently piloting the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Anaheim Angels signed middle reliever,Jason Middlebrook of the New York Mets as a free agent on February 9, 2004.
New York Mets signed free agent pitcher Chan Ho Park on February 9, 2007. Park would only play in one game for the Mets. He would go four innings, giving up seven earned runs. He would be released that June.
New York Mets signed free agent utility man.pinch hitter, Frank Catalanotto of the Milwaukee Brewers on February 9, 2010. Frank would have a awful Spring Training last season – but somehow still made the team over players such as Nick Evans and Chris Carter. He would be released in late May after going .160 in 25 games.
And while you are burring yourselves in flannel blankets trying to keep warm , just remember that there are just 51 Dick Sisler days until the Mets open the 2011 season against the Florida Marlins in Miami and only58 days until the Mets 2011 home opener against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field.
Mo Vaughn is wondering who the hell Dick Sisler is !!!
33 comments
Ceetar
2/9/2011-9:20am at 9:20 am (UTC -4)
Good choice. probably right where he belongs on the list from what I understand, even if to me he’s a guy I remember more as a broadcaster than a pitcher. But at least we’re getting to guys i mostly know about.
rustyjr
2/9/2011-9:34am at 9:34 am (UTC -4)
Honestly he was in my top 15
TRS86
2/9/2011-9:53am at 9:53 am (UTC -4)
Mine as well.
metsfan4decades
2/9/2011-9:54am at 9:54 am (UTC -4)
I didn’t submit my list in any kind of order but I’d have to agree with you here. He’d probably be on my top 20, if not top 15.
I keep saying it but without all those pieces of the puzzle in ’86, we don’t win that championship.
’88 was another story all together. After beating the Dodges something like 10-1 (of was it 11) in regular season, did anyone think we’d fail to beat them in post season? Just goes to show you what can happen when you play one series. Don’t know how many times after that ’88 lose I said to myself ‘if only’…..
metsfan4decades
2/9/2011-10:01am at 10:01 am (UTC -4)
Mets sign Casey Fossum? Ah…everything old is new.
We’ve signed so many arms between major and minor league contracts I think I’ve lost track….
rustyjr
2/9/2011-10:08am at 10:08 am (UTC -4)
Yeah he’s back to take ollie’s job lol
metsfan4decades
2/9/2011-10:33am at 10:33 am (UTC -4)
Ha! I don’t know if he’d be any better but he’d certainly be cheaper.
stickguy
2/9/2011-11:08am at 11:08 am (UTC -4)
they signed some other dude yesterday to a MiL deal. I can’t even remember his name. 30 YO and I had never heard of him.
ST filler.
as to Darling, he really was pretty good. ANd man, does this team need to produce a couple more guys out of the system like this right about now! I would also take another Terrell (the “bulldog”) at this point.
interesting though is that a bunchof pitchers in those days (the cashen years) were picked up out of other teams minors that went on to be very good for the Mets, and were traded for aging mediocrities off the ML roster. Mazz, Ed Hearn, etc. Hopefully Sandy can pull off the same trick.
I guess Maine was the most recent example of this, right? Not that Nady was that old. But it was a spare part (supporting crew) going for young pitching.
metsfan4decades
2/9/2011-11:19am at 11:19 am (UTC -4)
I believe Nady was traded at the 11th hour on 31 July in ’06 to the Pirates as a result of that Dirty Sanchez cab ride. We got Roberto Hernandez for a replaclement, who almost immediately went on the DL. Perez was more or less a throw in, I assumed.
WIthout that Duaner accident, don’t think Nady would have been traded – certainly not at that time.
I can’t remember right now how Maine wound up here.
stickguy
2/9/2011-12:02pm at 12:02 pm (UTC -4)
oops. think I mixed up 2 deals there. I was thinking maine showed up with Ollie.
He actually came over for Benson, so still qualifies as getting a prospect with upside for an old guy!
metsfan4decades
2/9/2011-1:51pm at 1:51 pm (UTC -4)
The Dolan Family has issued the following statement:
“Recent blog reports regarding the participation of Charles Dolan in a potential bid for the New York Mets are erroneous. Neither the Dolan Family nor Cablevision or MSG are involved in any such effort.”
*********************************
I’m not surprised.
stickguy
2/9/2011-1:57pm at 1:57 pm (UTC -4)
Dolan that was the part of the rumor that made no sense.
true or not, a group trying to force the issue now by making a strong offer is actually logical.
Even having Cuban in the mix made sense. He supplies the big $$, the other guys get the group approved!
saltygary
2/9/2011-3:06pm at 3:06 pm (UTC -4)
Should we start discussions on the 2nd annual TRDMB fantasy baseball league?
It was a lot of fun and would like to see it happen again. I would like to see the venue changed to ESPN or CBS. I like there format and scoring systems better and there is a lot more control with custom leagues.
Ceetar
2/9/2011-3:08pm at 3:08 pm (UTC -4)
I’ve always liked Yahoo better, but I’d do either I guess. Don’t think yahoo’s open yet.
saltygary
2/9/2011-3:17pm at 3:17 pm (UTC -4)
The good thing about yahoo is that most people have an account but I feel the format is odd and the layout is very dated. The scoring system of matching a persons total of singles and who ever has more gets one point, is a odd concept to me. Also there were many stats that really didnt have a bearing on how good the team was like “holds” and thos stats would swing largely from week to week.
I’m more in favor of points per particular stats and total points wins for the week.
Ceetar
2/9/2011-4:01pm at 4:01 pm (UTC -4)
I like mixing in the odd stats. even the silly ones like GIDP.
Yahoo allows head to head. I always find CBS and ESPN very lmiited and simplistic. but I’ll play whatever. I’ll leave it up to dirty to organize again unless he passes it off. hell, i’ll even play in two leagues.
Prismo
2/9/2011-5:51pm at 5:51 pm (UTC -4)
As a player, Darling is right about where he belongs.
However, if you include his broadcasting career, I think he shoots up into the top 15 easily.
rustyjr
2/9/2011-6:32pm at 6:32 pm (UTC -4)
youre asuch a youngin lol
Prismo
2/9/2011-7:13pm at 7:13 pm (UTC -4)
What did I do this time!?
(you old fart)
hazmet
2/9/2011-7:15pm at 7:15 pm (UTC -4)
lol
gategem
2/9/2011-6:41pm at 6:41 pm (UTC -4)
This posting made me wonder who were the most intelligent Mets. I remember Ralph Kiner’s retelling of his famous Jay Hook story. It seems Hook was an engineer that could describe the physics behind the breaking ball but he just couldn’t throw one. Hook was also able to mathematically describe the movement of a fastball but if you attached a string from Hook’s release point to the catcher’s glove Hook’s fastball would follow the path of the string. Anyway I googled Hook and found that he received a master’s degree in thermodynamics. Thermodynamics, like electronics, can be a highly intensive mathematical discipline.
Ron Taylor entered medical school after his career and became a doctor.
Ken MacKenzie was a member of the Yale Class of 1956.
There must be more but off-hand I can’t think of any.
Prismo
2/9/2011-7:15pm at 7:15 pm (UTC -4)
Jeff Francoeur has his GED.
(loljk)
Prismo
2/9/2011-7:15pm at 7:15 pm (UTC -4)
Not that there’s anything wrong with that, of course!
metsfan4decades
2/9/2011-7:29pm at 7:29 pm (UTC -4)
Ron Taylor took the Moonlight Graham path.
I read Darling’s book last year on the art of pitching. Everything he said make perfect sense. Just goes to show you what you’ve got in your head doesn’t always translate to what’s coming out of your hand.
hazmet
2/9/2011-7:22pm at 7:22 pm (UTC -4)
Stupidest Met related thing I read today from Neil Best in Newsday:
in writing about Davey Johnson he refered to him as “the teams only living World Series winning manager”.
Well Neil… DUHHHHHHHHH! Like we’ve been to sooooo many world series and won so many and the other winning guy died like 2 years after his world series win some 3 decades ago. Thanks for reminding me Neil because I just couln’t remember all those world series managers we’ve had let alone the winning ones. a-hole.
metsfan4decades
2/9/2011-7:34pm at 7:34 pm (UTC -4)
LOL. They don’t call us ‘long suffering’ Met fans for nothing.
hazmet
2/9/2011-7:40pm at 7:40 pm (UTC -4)
It’s bad enough we’re getting smacked around daily in the paper on this Madoff garbage now they gotta weave in these little cheap shots along the way. Ughhhh.
Like yesterday’s David Wright comments, they focus on what he said about Madoff but the thing that was absolutely awesome was when David basically said “it’s time to put up or shut up…..anybody on this team that doesn’t think we can compete in the NL east can just get off the team now”. I absolutely loved that.
oleosmirf
2/9/2011-10:29pm at 10:29 pm (UTC -4)
hey could be worse, at least Wright didnt get caught with a high school girl.
stickguy
2/9/2011-10:55pm at 10:55 pm (UTC -4)
did that happen to another player recently, or is it just some sort of dream for you?
Prismo
2/9/2011-10:59pm at 10:59 pm (UTC -4)
Mark Sanchez (it’s legal, just creepy)
http://deadspin.com/#!5755011/the-somewhat-romantic-story-of-mark-sanchez-and-a-17+year+old-girl
stickguy
2/10/2011-12:16am at 12:16 am (UTC -4)
wasn’t the L.T.s legal defense?
kistics
2/10/2011-8:58am at 8:58 am (UTC -4)
I think LT was with a 16yr old…
gategem
2/10/2011-12:52am at 12:52 am (UTC -4)
I didn’t realize that the Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, played professional sports.