Former Mets Relief Pitcher: Juan Padilla (2005)

-
Juan Miguel Padilla was Born on February 17, 1977 in Rio Piedras Puerto Rico. The six foot right hander eventually made his way to the United States pitching at Jacksonville University for the Dolphins. There he was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 24th round of the 1998 draft. 

 He pitched in the minor leagues as a reliever saving 23 games at A ball for Fort Meyers in 2001. The next year he saved 29 games at AA New Britian.

Padilla was sent to the AL New York club in 2003 for former Mets pitcher Jesse Orosco, there he debuted in the majors pitching for six games in 2004. He was placed on waivers & picked by the Cincinnati Reds pitching in 12 games, earning his first career win against the Cubs at Wrigley Field on September 30th.

He was signed by the New York Mets in the off season as a free agent for 2005. He began the year at AAA Norfolk going 3-2 with 11 saves posting a 1.42 ERA, before being brought up to the Mets in July. Padilla made his Mets debut at Shea Stadium pitching a scoreless 7th inning in a Mets win over the Atlanta Braves. 
In his second outing he earned a save at Shea Stadium against the Padres. At the end of August he got his first win & added two more in the month of September to finish the year at 3-1 with five holds, a save, posting a 1.49 ERA in 36 innings over 24 games pitched.

Padilla certainly looked promising for the future but then needed Tommy John surgery which shut him down for the next two seasons. He was released by the Mets then signed to a minor league deal in 2008 but was eventually released again. He pitched in the independent league in New Hampshire in 2009 & then became a reliever / pitching coach for the Pittsfield Colonials.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Mike Piazza To Enter Hall of Fame As a New York Met

-
Image
In case there was any doubt, Mike Piazza announced today that he will be entering the hallowed Halls of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, forever wearing a Mets cap. "I'm going in as a New York Met" he said. These are words that bring a smile to all Mets fans faces & maybe a tear in their eye. It's a sigh of relief that Piazza got what he worked so hard for & certainly deserved. He now joins Tom Seaver as the second Met to officially enter as a New York Met. It has been a great year for the New York Mets & their fans as well. It certainly is much deserved. From the team reigning as National League Champions to Piazza entering the Hall of Fame, it's great to be a Mets fan. The induction ceremony will take place July 24th at Cooperstown New York.              http://m.mets.mlb.com/news/article/161281068/mike-piazza-to-wear-mets-cap-in-hall-of-fame
Read more

Remembering Four Time Mets All Star Catcher & Coach- John Stearns (1951 - 2022)

-
Image
John Harden Stearns was born August 21, 1951, in Denver Colorado. At age 17, he was originally drafted in 1969 by the Oakland A's but chose to attend the University of Colorado instead.  Stearns became a star baseball & football player at the University of Colorado.  In 1971 his older brother was drafted by the AL New York club, also as a catcher but never made the bog leagues. Bad Dude: As a defensive back, Stearns felt he had to hit harder than anyone else on the defense. So when Sports Illustrated asked how he'd like to be descried on the field, he said as a "Bad Dude". The name stuck & certainly played out his career living up to the moniker.  I n 1972 Stearns was drafted by the NFL's Buffalo Bills as a defensive back but did not sign. The next year in 1973, he was the first pick of the Philadelphia Phillies in the MLB draft, he was the second overall pick after behind Clyde Wright. Stearns was chosen ahead of future Hall of Famers, Robin You
Read more

Remembering Mets History: (1978) Tough Guy John Stearns Wins Out In Home Plate Collision With Dave Parker

-
Image
Friday June 30th, 1978: Joe Torre's fifth place Mets (33-45) were in Pittsburgh at Three Rivers Stadium to play Chuck Tanner's fourth place Pirates (35-38) in a weekend series. A nice crowd of 31,947 came out as the Mets; Nino Espinosa (6-7) went up against rookie Don Robinson (4-2). Nino Espinosa would lead the 1978 Mets staff with eleven wins (11-15) & tie for most losses. He pitched 203 innings but struck out just 76 batters & walked 75. In the top of the 3rd inning, Mets pitcher Nino Espinosa doubled, Len Randle singled & Tim Foli brought in the first run with a sac fly. The two pitchers both pitched well as the game stayed 1-0 until the 5th inning. In the Pirates 5th, Phil Garner doubled & stole third. He scored on Frank Taveras base hit to tie the game. In the home 7th, the Garner doubled again. Ken Macha then doubled & shortstop Frank Taveras singled again to make it 3-1 Pirates. In the top of the 8th, Lenny Randle & Tim Foli bo
Read more

Remembering Mets History: (1980) John Stearns Tackles A Fan On the Playing Field

-
Image
Thursday June 12th, 1980 : A Shea Stadium crowd of 19,501 fans came out to Shea Stadium, for this series finale, hoping the Mets could sweep the Los Angeles Dodgers. Joe Torre's fourth place Mets (26-27) were trying to get to .500 as they hosted Tommy Lasorda's second place Los Angeles Dodgers (32-24).  The Mets sent John Pacella & his classic moustache, to the mound going up against L.A.'s Dave Goltz. Goltz had led the AL in wins (20) & starts (39) playing for the Minnesota Twins in 1977. It was a wild series that already had had a bench clearing brawl two days earlier. That fight started when the Mets' Pat Zachry hit Ron Cey with a pitch after two Dodger HRs. In the 1st inning, Pacella walked Davey Lopes, then balked. Catcher, John Stearns threw out Lopes trying to steal third. In the top of the 2nd, Dusty Baker singled & Ron Cey walked. Rookie catcher, Mike Scioscia then hit an RBI double scoring Baker for a 1-0 Dodger lead. In the Dodger 3rd, Bill Ru
Read more

Remembering Vixen Founder / Guitarist; Jan Kuehnemund (1961-2013)

-
Image
centerfieldmaz was shocked to learn of the sudden passing of Jan Kuehnemund, the founding member of the all female metal band Vixen. Jan was a fantastic guitarist, song writer & women pioneer in Heavy Metal. I am a huge fan of hard rock all girl bands & Vixen were one my long time favorites. Janice Lynn Kuehnemund was born November 18th, 1961 in St. Paul Minnesota. The female guitarist formed one of the first all female Metal bands in Minnesota with singer Janet Gardner while in high school in 1980. By 1985 they moved the band to Los Angles California, to be part of the Heavy Metal scene. In 1987 the classic Vixen line up of Jan Kuehnemund (lead guitar) Janet Gardner (vocals/ guitar) Share Pederson (bass) & Roxy Petrucci (drums) formed & released their debut album the following year. Vixen 1988 In a world of all male Heavy Metal bands during its heyday, Vixen were groundbreaking in being an all female metal band. The Runaways, with Joan Jett & Lita Ford
Read more