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Showing posts from November, 2016

Former Mets Pitcher: Juan Berenguer (1978-1980)

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Juan Batista Berenguer was born November 30th 1954 in Aguadulce, Cocle, Panama. The five foot eleven, right handed pitcher was signed by the New York Mets as an amateur free agent in 1975. Berenguer had a high nineties fastball which earned him the nickname "el gasolino" & "senor smoke". He also was known as "pancho villa" with his menacing looks of long hair & moustache on the mound. He put up big strike out numbers in the Mets minors going from A ball Lynchburg to AA Jackson & then AAA Tidewater in three quick seasons. Unfortunately he was having major control issues & was walking almost as many batters as he struck out. By 1978 he was 10-7 with a 3.67 ERA & 130 Ks at Tidewater when he got the big league call up to a Mets team looking for something. He debuted on August 17th, getting his first start, but gave up five runs on four hits to the San Diego Padres earning a loss. He returned as a September call up taking anoth

Cespedes Remains A Met!!

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Yoenis Cespedes & the Mets have agreed to a four year $110 million deal! That means the Mets are series & ready to avenge their NL Championship title from two seasons ago & take it to the next level, a long awaited championship. Cespedes has more than proven his worth as a Met, I have been saying this for the past two contract negotiations, it's a no brainer. He is a proven All Star, he has proven that he can play in New York. He has proven he can hit for power, drive in runs & throw out almost any one with his arm. He is good in the club house & the fans love him. He has taken the Mets to the playoffs both seasons he has been on the roster, including a World Series. And in case anyone forgot, had the greatest performance any player has ever had in a pennant race two seasons ago, with an incredible August. Looking forward to a great 2017 with Cespedes a crowded talented outfield, solid defense up the middle, a good bench & a healthy pitching staf

Former Mets Hitting Coach: Dave Engle (2001-2002)

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Ralph David Engle was born on November 30th, 1956 in San Diego California. The six foot three, right hand hitting Engle began his career as an outfielder but was converted over to a catcher.  He attended the University of Southern California & won championships on the baseball & football teams in his junior year. In 1978 he was selected as a third round pick of the California Angels. In 1979 Engle was sent to the Minnesota Twins along with Ken Landreaux in exchange for Hall of Famer; Rod Carew. With the Twins he was a team mate of his brother in law; Tom Brunansky. By 1981 he was an outfielder for the Twins hitting .258 with 5 Hrs 14 doubles & 32 RBIs. He came in fifth in the AL Rookie of the Year voting.   In 1982 he was the first player to hit a HR in the new Metro Dome Stadium. Two years later in 1983, Engle was fully transformed into a catcher, he played in a career high 120 games, hitting a career best .305 with 8 HRs 22 doubles & 43 RBIs. In 1984 he made

The Legend of New York Giants Outfielder: Moonlight Grahm (1905)

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Archibald "Moonlight" Graham was born on  November 12th, 1877 in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Graham made one appearance in a major league game. On June 29th, 1905 he was placed in right field, but never got a turn at bat for John McGraw's 1905 World Champion New York Giants. It was not on the field but in fiction where Graham became famous. In 1975 author W.P. Kinsella, had taken notice of Graham's statistic in the Baseball Encyclopedia. He used the character in his novel; Shoeless Joe which the movie Field of Dreams was based on. In the movie Kevin Costner & James Earl Jones are sent to Fenway Park in Boston by the voice that tells them "If you build it he will come." And "Ease his pain". At the game the Graham stat is seen only by them on the scoreboard.  The voice tells them, "Go the distance..." as the two soon drive off to Chisholm, Minnesota, to find out what they can about the man and his mysterious MLB career. I

Concert Review: Evanescence at Wellmont Theater, Montclair New Jersey

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Last night I finally got to see Amy Lee & Evanescence for the first time. I wanted to see them so badly a few years ago, on their last tour, but couldn't make it happen. S ince that last tour, Amy Lee has had a baby, done a musical score, wrote a children's album & made some more band member changes in Evanescence. Despite not having a new album to promote, she surprised fans like myself, & decided to take Evanescence on the road for a Fall Tour. So Pie & I were off to Jersey........... All I can say, is that she is everything I was hoping for & much much more. Amy Lee is no doubt, the current reigning Queen of Rock. All music for that matter. She is absolutely incredible & the best female rock performer in the world right now. She has reached the upper status of the legendary front woman of rock-the bests ever- Stevie Nicks & Ann Wilson. There was Janis, Grace Slick, Debbie Harry, Joan Jett & for this era it is Amy Lee.  The two si

Former Mets Infielder: Justin Turner (2011-2012)

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Justin Matthew Turner was born on November 23rd, 1984 in Long Beach California. The red headed six foot infielder attended California State University at Fullerton, getting named freshman All American by Baseball America. He was named to the 2003 College World Series All Tournament team as a short stop. In 2005 he was drafted in the 25th round by the AL New York club but did not sign. He signed in 2006 with the Cincinnati Reds in the 6th round. Turner hit well in the minor leagues hitting .300 or better in five of six seasons.   In December of 2008 he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles along with Ryan Freel in exchange for Ramon Hernandez. He hit .300 at AAA Norfolk & and earned himself a September call up, debuting in Boston going 0-2 in a 10-0 loss to the Red Sox. In 2010 he began the year with the Orioles but was hitless in five games, he was demoted & placed on waivers. On May 25th he was picked up by the New York Mets. With the Mets he batted .333 in 78 games a

The Story of Former Met- Kris Benson & His ex-Wife Anna (2004-2006)

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Kristopher James Benson was born November 7, 1974 in Superior, Wisconsin. His parents named all their children starting with the letter K, the scoring symbol for strikeout.  After living in Michigan his first six years the family moved to Georgia. The six foot four right hander became a star pitcher at Clemson University where his first two seasons didn’t go all that well. He hit the gym put on some muscle & came back to strike out over 200 batters in his junior year. He was first in wins, strike outs & second in ERA, winning the Baseball America College player of the Year in 1995. He got to the College World Series, but two decisions.  He was on the 1996 USA Olympic team going 2-1. But Benson lost the gold medal game to Japan as Team US settled for a bronze medal. Benson was the Pittsburgh Pirates number one overall draft pick in 1996, signing for a $2 million bonus. While pitching in the minors he met a model from Atlanta Georgia named Anna. At the time she was re