centerfield maz

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

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

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 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

Jed Carlson Lowrie was born  on April 17th 1984 in Salem, Oregon. The six foot switch hitting infielder, attended Stamford University, where he was a Pac-10 Player of the Year & two time All American (2004-2005). He was the Boston Red Sox first round pick in 2005. In 2007 he was the Sox minor league player of the year, making the All Star team & was the AA Portland Sea Dogs MVP. Red Sox: He was quickly promoted to AAA Pawtucket & began 2008 there. When the Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell went down with injury, Lowrie got an early season call up. On April 15th, he made his debut, driving in three runs in a 5-4 win over the Cleveland Indians. On August 1st, he drove in both runs, including a 12th inning walk off hit in a 2-1 win over the Oakland Athletics. That week he drove in 11 runs in just six games. Later that month he hit a game winning 11th inning HR against the Toronto Blue Jays. In his first season he hit 25 doubles in 81 games. Post Season: The Red