Short Time Mets Reserve Catcher: Gustavo Molina (2007)

Gustavo Eduardo Molina was born on February 24, 1982 in La Guaira Venezuela. The six foot one catcher is known as a solid defensive back stop, & was originally signed by the Chicago White Sox in 2000. He spent six years at the A ball level before finally making the leap ahead in 2006. By 2007 an injury to back up catcher Toby Hall got him promoted the White Sox big league club behind A.J. Pierzynski on Opening Day. OnApril 2nd he had an RBI sac fly in his first plate appearance. Molina played in just 10 games with the White Sox before getting put on waivers & getting picked up by the Baltimore Orioles.

In December 2007 he signed as a free agent with the New York Mets. On April 26th he made his Mets debut catching a John Maine 4-3 vistory over the Atlanta Braves at Shea Stadium. That day he drew a walk & got a base hit off Tim Hudson. Four days later he got his second but last Mets start behind the plate, during an Oliver Perez loss where he allowed seven runs (two earned) by the second inning. Molina spent the rest of the year at AAA New Orleans as the clubs main catcher (64 games), sharing time with Mike Nickeas (48 games) Raul Cassanova ( 22 games) & Robinson Cancel (18 games) but hit just .206.

He was granted free agency & signed with the Washington Nationals. He would go to the Boston Red Sox playing just four games there in 2010 & then the A.L. New York club where he appeared in three games in 2011.

Former Mets Relief Pitcher: JJ Putz (2009)

Joseph Jason Putz was born February 22, 1977 in Trenton, Michigan. The tall six foot five right hander, attended the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor going on to pitch in the major leagues with a long line of other Wolverines. In his college days he shared a dorm with New England Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady. Putz was drafted three different times, lastly by the Seattle Mariners in the 6th round of the 1999 draft.
In the minors he was mostly a starting pitcher, switching to a reliever in 2003 when he saved 11 games in 41 appearances. Putz debuted in 2003 with a good fastball at around 97 mph. Over the next two years he became a middle reliever behind closer Eddie Guardado, going 6-5 with a 3.60 ERA in 2005. That year Guardado taught him to throw a split finger fast ball & it changed Putz into a much better pitcher. He took over the Mariners closer role in 2006 & saved 36 games (6th in the league) going 4-1 with a 2.30 ERA. The following year he was spectacular, leading the A.L. in appearances (65) going 6-1 with a 1.35 ERA & 40 saves (second in the league). He won the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award & set a Mariner record of 30 consecutive saves.

Elbow injuries nagged him throughout the 2008 season & he fell to a 6-5 with 15 saves (3.88 ERA) in 47 appearances. In December of 2008 Putz came to the New York Mets along with Sean Green & Jeremy Reed in a three team trade also involving the Cleveland Indians. The Mets sent away fan favorite Endy Chavez, along with Joe Smith, Aaron Heillman & Jason Vargas in the trade. There was a lot of excitement for 2009 at the new Citi Field with Putz expected to rebound from his injury, accepting a set up role behind new Mets closer Frankie Rodriguez. Putz pitched for Team USA in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

Putz appeared in the first two games of the season, getting credited with two holds in the Mets first two wins in Cincinnati against the Reds. On April 17th he earned his first win it came against the Milwaukee Brewers at Citi Field. On April 21st he came into a tie game (4-4) at Citi Field against the St. Louis Cardinals, he gave up an RBI double & sac fly RBI taking the loss. A week later he blew an 8th inning save when Florida's Cody Ross drove in two runs giving the Marlins the lead & the eventual win. 

Putz had a decent May with two saves & six holds, allowing seven earned runs over 17 innings. His ERA was at 3.81 at the end of May before he suffered more elbow problems. In his last three outings he allowed seven runs in 1.1 innings over three games before getting shut down for the rest of the season. On June 1st the Pirates got him for three runs in less than inning of work & then on June 4th they got him for two more runs over one inning in Pittsburgh. His ERA ballooned to 5.22 as he finished the year at 1-4 with two saves allowing 18 runs in 29 innings.

The Mets chose not to pick up his option in 2010. He went to the Chicago White Sox & served as set up man to Bobby Jenks going 7-5 with a 2.83 ERA. He recorded 14 holds & three saves while making 60 appearances. In December 2010 he signed with the Arizona D-Backs & was penciled in as their closer for 2011.

He recorded 45 saves (third most in the NL) for the NL Western Champion D-backs, posting a 2.17 ERA going 2-2 in 60 appearances finishing 52 games (7th in the NL). Putz & his family resided in the Pelham Manor section of New York during hi stime in New York. He now lives in Peoria, Arizona in a resudence he kept ever since pitching in the Cactus League.

He enters the game to the tune of AC/DC's "Thunderstruck". Through 2011 he has made 457 appearances, going 32-26 with 151 saves posting a 3.06 ERA.

Former Italian / American Player of the Day: Rob Picciolo (1977-1985)

Robert Michael Picciolo was born on February 4, 1953, in Santa Monica, California. The middle infielder was a star player at Pepperdine University getting drafted in the first round, (4th pick overall) in 1975 by the Oakland A’s. He was known for his fine glove work more than his weak hitting or low on base percentages. Picciolo never posted an on base percentage above .290 & never drew double figures in walks in his career.

By 1977 all the Oakland A’s from the World Series Dynasty years of the early seventies were gone. After a second place finish in 1976, the A’s had fallen to a seventh place finish by 1977, Picciolo was brought up to the A’s as their starting shortstop to replace the departed Bert Campaneris. In his rookie year, Picciolo batted just .200 with 2 HRs & 22 RBIs as the teams main shortstop playing in 148 games. He remained in Oakland for parts of six seasons, playing four of those as the A’s main shortstop.

He had his best season in the strike shortened 1981 season, when he batted .268 as the A’s got into the post season finishing first in the first half of the season & second after the strike. That season he made just five errors in 261 chances posting a .981% & turning over 30 double plays at short. In the ALDS he played just in Game #2 going 1-3 (.333) as manager Billy Martin went with veteran Fred Stanley (the chicken) in the other two games.

During the next season he was traded to Milwaukee Brewers for pitcher Mike Warren & a minor leaguer. There he served as Robin Yount’s back up getting to another World Series although he did not play in any games. Picciolo spent three more seasons in the majors playing with the California Angels & finishing his playing career back in Oakland in 1985. In his nine year playing career Picciolo batted .234 with 17 HRs 109 RBIs 56 doubles & just 25 walks in 1628 at bats for a .246 on base %.

After his playing days, he got a manager’s job with the Spokane Indians in the minor leagues. In 1990 he became a coach with the San Diego Padres & remained there for 16 seasons, the longest tenure of any Padre coach.

In 2006 he became a roving instructor for the Los Angeles Angels & for 2011 he has been named the teams bench coach under Mike scioscia.

New York Giants Win the Super Bowl- Now Four Time Super Bowl Champions

Congratulations to the New York Football Giants on winning Super Bowl XLVI.


The Giants just proved; always believe, keep the faith, be professional & always play together like a team! This championship makes the Giants four time Super Bowl winners (third most in history) & Eight time NFL Champions. It was their fifth Super Bowl appearance ( fourth most- tied) in history.

Thats two Championship titles for Eli Manning & Coach Tom Coughlin, dare we say Hall of Fame already? Thanks you guys for bringing us fans a little more joy. What a season, six straight wins, great defense, always hanging in there & just let Eli lead us in the end.

Tonight the Giants once again beat the New England Patriots, Tom Brady & coach Bill Belichick. Like Brandon Jacobs said post game about a so called Patriot dynasty " We decapitated the baby" !

Eli's pass to Mario Manningham has already become another legendary Giants play, one for the ages. Yes, we were down but what Giant fan wasn't confident giving Eli the ball with three minutes left, Eli Shall Lead Us, Once again! The drive completed by Amhad Bradshaw falling into the end zone, with New England thinking Brady could win with a minute left. Once again what Giant fan wasn't confident in Big Blues defense, after the performances they have had the past two months?

The win  makes the Giants the first team to win Super Bowls in four different decades. The second win in four years in similar to the 1986/1990 wins.

And by the way it was 25 years ago the Giants won Super Bowl XXI & yes they scored a safety in that one & went into that half time behind 10-9 just like this one. The Giants made no mistakes, when they fumbled they recovered it themselves. Just as in weeks past they let the other teams beat themselves with their own mistakes.

"We are the champions"........................

Former Mets Relief Pitcher: Bartolome Fortunato (2004/2006)

Bartolome Araujo Fortunato was born on August 24, 1974 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The six foot one right hander was originally signed by the Tampa Rays as a free agent in 1996 but didn't begin pitching in the minors until 2000. He moved through the minors mostly as a relief pitcher making his MLB debut in 2004. In Tampa he had only pitched in three games at the big league level allowing three runs in seven innings of work. 

In July 2004 Fortunato came over to the New York Mets along with Victor Zambrano in the Scott Kazmir trade. He debuted as a New York Met on August 20th pitching two scoreless innings in San Francisco against the Giants. Through the rest of the 2004 season, he pitched well out of the Mets bull pen, getting credit for a save with two holds going 1-0. Fortunato saw action in 15 games (18.2 innings) earning the win on September 22nd, pitching two scoreless innings against the Montreal Expos.

He missed the entire 2005 season due to a herniated disc and came back in 2006 pitching at AAA Norfolk. After eleven games he made two brief appearances that May with the Mets. His first outing went well allowing a run in 1.2 innings and getting the win on May 6th against the Atlanta Braves. The next day was a disaster; he allowed eight runs in 1.1 innings relieving Jose Lima (who took the loss) in a 13-3 Mets loss. His ERA ballooned to 27.00 & he was released later that week.

He signed with the San Francisco Giants in 2008 but didn’t make the team getting released there as well. He played in the Golden Independent League in California in 2009. Fortunato finished his career at 2-0 with a save and a 6.21 ERA in twenty appearances.