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Showing posts from August, 2019

Mike Torrez: Early Eighties Mets Pitcher (1983-1984)

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Michael Augustine Torrez was born on August 28th 1946 in Topeka Kansas. The tall six foot five right hander was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1964 at age 17. Torrez went 10-10 at AAA Tulsa & would make his MLB debut as a September call up for the 1967 World Champion Cardinals.  On September 10th, he pitched to one batter & struck him out in a 8-7 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. The next year he began the year with the Cardinals & went 2-1 but was sent down in late May. He went 8-2 at AAA Tulsa in the Pacific Coast League as the Cards won another pennant & lost to the Detroit Tigers in the World Series. In 1969 the Cards fell to fourth place & Torrez filled in on a staff of Bob Gibson (20-13) Steve Carlton (17-11) & Nelson Briles (15-13) going 10-4 with the best winning percentage on the staff. He fell to 8-10 in 1970 & in June of 1971 was traded to the Montreal Expos for Bob Reynolds. Torrez would spend four years in Montreal, having two 15 wi

Remembering Mets History: (2015) Yoenis Cespedes' Historic Night

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August 22nd 2015: Terry Collins first place Mets visited the Rocky Mountains with a weekend series at Coors Field in Denver. It was to be a historic offensive night for the most recent Mets player Yoenis Cespedes who was acquired on the July 31st non waiver trade deadline. Since his arrival, as well as the additions of Juan Uribe, Kelly Johnson & rookie Michael Conforto,  the Mets have become a true first place team. Tonight Cespedes had one of the biggest games of his career as well one of the best any Mets player has ever had at the plate. Tonight's starters Bartolo Colon for New York & John Gray for Colorado would have a tough time of it and not factor in the decagons what so ever. In the 1st inning, Cespedes doubled with two out for his first hit, he then scored his first run when Lucas Duda singled him in. The Rockies tied it on a solo HR by Carlos Gonzalez. In the 2nd the Mets had a huge inning, Kelly Johnson singled, Michael Conforto walked & pitcher B

Chris Capuano: Former Italian / American Mets Pitcher (2011)

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Christopher Frank Capuano was born August 19, 1978 in West Springfield, Massachusetts. Capuano was the valedictorian of his class at Cathedral High School in Springfield, Mass.  He went on to earn a degree in Economics at Duke University, where he earned membership in Phi Beta Kappa. The tall left hander was signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 8th round of the 1988 draft. In 2001 he helped Team USA win the Silver Medal, but then had arm trouble needing Tommy John surgery the following year. In 2003 he made his MLB debut with the D-backs going 2-4 with a 4.64 ERA pitching in nine games. The promising young lefty was sent to the Milwaukee Brewers in an eight player deal that also sent Ritchie Sexton to Arizona. In 2005 he had a career year, going 18-12 (4th most wins in the NL), his 18 wins were the most by a Brewer pitcher since Teddy Higuera in 1985. From mid June through the end of July he won seven straight decisions, while putting up a 11-6 record the first half o

Pete Alonso Sets NL Rookie HR Record

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Sunday August 18th 2019: In the Mets big 11-5 win at Kansas City, Pete Alonso went into the record books. His incredible Rookie season is now highlighted by setting the NL HR record for Rookies with 40 HRs. The Amazing Alonso went 2-4 with two runs batted in his 95th RBI of the year. He is now just one HR shy of tying the Mets HR record of 41 HRs in a season held by Todd Hundley & Carlos Beltran. A look back on Pete Alonso's 40 HRs in 2019: On April 1st 2019, in south Florida, in the Mets fourth game of the season, Pete Alonso hit his first career HR, a three run shot off the Marlins, Drew Steckenrider. The Mets went on to a 7-3 win that night as a new era for a Mets slugger began.  After the game Alonso squeezed into a clubhouse cart & his team mates doused him with everything they could find. "A couple of eggs," Alonso said. "Barbecue sauce. Mayonnaise. Beer. Shaving cream. Maybe ketchup and mustard. Maybe relish." On April 6th a

50th Anniversary of the 1969 Mets: Mets Sweep Second Double Header In Two Days

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50th Anniversary of the 1969 World Champion "Amazing Mets" Sunday August 17th 1969: After the Mets had swept yesterday's doubleheader Gil Hodges Mets (65-51) were playing great baseball, but were still nine games behind the Chicago Cubs & tied for second with the St. Louis Cardinals. On this Sunday everyone was talking about the Mets & the Woodstock concert going on in Upstate New York. These were exciting times. On this Sunday, the Mets & Padres were playing another double header. Today was also another Shea classic; it was "Banner Day" a tradition since the Mets second season, 1963 in the Polo Grounds.  A crowd of 35711 came out for the festivities & the twin bill. Jerry Koosman took the mound against Joe Neikro. Starting Lineups Padres 1 Jose Arcia 2B 2 Roberto Pena 1B 3 Ollie Brown RF 4