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Showing posts from April, 2020

Scott Strickland: Early 2000's Mets Reliever (2002-2003)

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Scott Michael Strickland was born April 26, 1976 in Houston, Texas. The right handed fastball pitcher was drafted out of the University of New Mexico by the Montreal Expos in the 10th round in 1997. After a brief two year period in the minors, Strickland made his debut with the Expos, in 1999 going 0-1 in 17 games. In 2000, the Expos only won 67 games and Steve Kline was their main closer with 14 saves. Strickland would eventually take over that closer role, posting a 3.00 ERA and finishing up 4-3 with nine saves. The next year he lost that job to Uqueth Urbina, but he still saved nine games with a 3.21 ERA but posted a 2-6 record. During the first week of the 2002 season he was traded to the New York Mets for pitcher Bruce Chen.  At the time it was believed Scott could help a weak Mets bullpen and possibly even be their future closer. He’ll always be remembered for wearing that thick silver chair around his neck, while on the mound. He made his Mets debut on April 6th

Remembering Mets History (1969): Koos Earns His First Win Of the Season

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Wednesday April 23rd, 1969: On this cool night at Shea Stadium, Gil Hodges Mets (6-8) hosted Larry Shepard's Pittsburgh Pirates (10-5) in front of just 7274 fans.  Tonight Veteran pitcher, Jim Bunning who had thrown his famous 1964 Fathers Day no hitter against the Mets, when he was with the Phillies was on the mound for the Pirates this evening. Bunning won 17 or more games eight times in his 17 year career. He won 19 games five times & was a twenty game winner once in his career, he made the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996 thru the Veterans Committee. Gild Hodges sent a winless Jerry Koosman to the mound. Koosman was in his third season, his second as a dominant left hand starter behind Tom Seaver. Koos won 19 games in 1968 (4th in the NL) with a 2.08 ERA (4th best in the NL) & would win 17 games in 1969, striking out 180 batters while posting a 2.28 ERA (5th best in the NL). Koosman was a vital part of the 1969 Mets success, he also would go 2-0 in the 1969 World Seri

Doug Henry: Former Mets Mid 1990's Reliever (1995-1996)

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Richard Douglas Henry was born December 10th 1963 in Sacramento, California. The six foot four righthander, attended Arizona State University as a top pitcher.  1984 Olympics: Henry pitched for the 1984 USA Olympic team who won a Bronze Medal. He went 2-0 in the Olympic run, playing along side with team mates Mark McGwire, Barry Larkin & BJ Surhoff, all of whom made the major leagues. Brewers Career: The tall righty was signed by the Milwaukee Brewers in the round of the 1985 draft.  In his rookie season of 1991 he came in 8th in the Rookie of the Year voting. He saved 15 games for the Brewers, going 0-2 with a 1.00 ERA. He struck out 28 batters in 36 innings pitched.  The next year he saved 29 games (8th in the AL), establishing himself as one of the better relievers in the league. He went 1-4 with a 4.02 ERA. The next season he missed time due to injuries, saving 17 games going 4-4. Former Met, Jesse Orosco saved eight for Milwaukee that tear.  In 1994, he lost his cl

The Drama of Former Pitcher Julio Machado (1989-1991)

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Julio Segundo Machado was born on December 1, 1965 in Zulia, Venezuela. In 1985 the twenty year old five foot nine, right hander was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies. His minor league career never took off &  Four years later in March 1989 he was released. A week later he was then signed by the New York Mets. He pitched through all levels of the minors in 1989, landing in AAA Tidewater by August. He finished up the year with an overall record of 6-7 with 12 saves. On September 7th, 1989 he debuted with the Mets in a mop up performance of a 13-1 Mets win against the St. Louis Cardinals at Shea Stadium. He would make ten appearances that month for the second place Mets who finished six games behind the Chicago Cubs.  On September 24th he blew a save against the Montreal Expos, when Dave Martinez completed a five run 9th inning with an RBI base hit. Machado finished the year at 0-1 with a hold & 3.17 ERA. In 1990 he made the Mets staff as a reliever out of Spring Tr

Tyler Bashlor: Mets Relief Pitcher (2018-2020)

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Tyler Morris Bashlor was born on April 16th 1993 in Springfield Georgia. The six foot right hander was drafted by the New York Mets in the 11th round of the 2013 draft. He attended South Georgia College, where he was a third baseman.  After a friend called and said the Futures League in Connecticut needed a closer, he displayed his fastball, impressed & went back to college becoming a pitcher. The Mets chose him while still in college, he soon started out pitching for the A ball Kingsport Mets. In 2014 he underwent Tommy John surgery missing that year & the next season as well. In 2016 he played for A ball St. Lucie then got promoted to AA Binghamton going 3-2 with a 3.44 ERA.  In 2017 he had 10 saves while finishing 25 games at St. Lucie then was brought back up to AA Binghamton where he did not allow any runs in 12 games (14.2 innings) notching two  more saves. He puts up big strike out numbers with a fastball in the mid nineties, with 84 Ks in just 49.2 innings be