centerfield maz

Tsuyoshi Shinjo was born January 28, 1972, in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. He was one of the best defensive center fielders of the 1990's in his native Japan.  Although he didn't hit for power, he was a very popular player due to his antics & good-natured personality. Flashy Style: He dyed his hair blonde & red. He would leap in the air with a hop when he caught a ball. Off the field & in the club house, he wore flashy clothes & expensive shoes. On the field he donned colorful wrist bands. He left Japan and signed with the New York Mets for $200,000 in 2001, turning down a $2 million deal in Japan. His signing in MLB with the New York Mets, as he was influenced by manager Bobby Valentine. His signing surprised a lot of people. Shinjo played hard for the Mets, winning over the fans as well as his manager -Bobby Valentine. He hustled & always had an positive, upbeat attitude.  MLB- Mets Career: He debuted getting an at bat on Open...

Kevin Daniel Elster was born August 3, 1964, in San Pedro California. The six foot two, sleek infielder was signed out of Golden West College in Huntington Beach California.  In 1984, Elster was the Mets second round draft pick & signed with them after the college season.  In 1985 he began the season at A ball Lynchburg & was promoted to AA Jackson where he became known for outstanding defense. 1986 Mets 1986 Championship Season: In 1986 he hit .269 at AA Jackson & was noticed by Mets manager Davey Johnson.  Quotes- Davey Johnson: "You look at your ball club & see where you have a weakness. As good as Rafael Santana has played what if I have a bases loaded situation & I'm down in a game? I would need another short stop to hit for him." That September Elster was called up making his debut on September 2nd, as a defensive replacement in a 4-3 loss to the San Francisco Giants at Shea Stadium. The next day he came into the game late & colle...

Jeffery Davd Innis was born on July 5th, 1962 in Decatur, Illinois. While attending the University of Illinois, he was drafted in the 13th round of the 1983 draft by the New York Mets.  The six foot one, right hander Innis was a submarine style pitcher that threw two different type curve balls. Innis was groomed as a reliever in the minor leagues, saving 25 games at AA Jackson in 1986, as the big league club was winning the World Series. Mets Career : In May of 1987 Innis was brought up to an injury ridden Mets pitching staff. In his first outing, he took a loss to the Giants  at Shea Stadium  after allowing a run in the top of the 10th inning. He made 16 appearances posting a 3.16 ERA & was back at AAA Tidewater in August. There  he was 6-1 with a 2.03 ERA with 28 strike outs in 44 innings. 1988 Mets NL Eastern Champion Season:   After a good Spring Training,  Innis began the season with the club. On April 24th he allowed three runs in mid...

Trevor Joseph May was born September 23rd 1989, in Longview Washington.  The six foot five, right hander graduated from Washington State & was the valedictorian. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the fourth round of the 2008 MLB draft, In 2012 he was ranked as the Phils top  prospect, they used that to trade him to the Minnesota Twins for Ben Revere. He spent six years with the Twins, debuting in 2014, where he posted a 7.88 ERA going 3-6. In 2015 he lowered his ERA to 4.00 and improved to an 8-9 record in 48 appearances. In 2016 his season was cut short with a stress fracture in his back. The news got worse when he had to undergo Tommy John surgery in March of 2017, missing the entire season. He returned to the Twins staff by July 31st, 2018. After recording three holds, he earned a win against the Detroit Tigers on August 16th. That month he earned victories against the White Sox & Rangers, to get to 3-0 with a 1.88 by September 1st.  He clos...

  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. Nick Names:  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. Berenguer 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 also having major control issues, 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. Mets Career:  On August 17th, 1978, Berenguer debuted, getting his first MLB start in a game at Shea Stadium against Gaylord Perry & the S...