Tommie Agee was one of the all-time great Met Center fielders. How well do you know his career? Play Tommie Agee trivia and find out. Answers will be posted tomorrow (no cheating)
Tommie Agee conjures up wonderful memories from my childhood. Much like we all thought growing up in suburban New York that we were the next Walt Frazier, many of us who played center field as kids thought we would be the next Tommie Agee. Unfortunately, my dreams of being the Mets center fielder were dashed by my inability to hit, field or throw. Other than that, I had a real shot.
Tommie Agee Trivia
1) In what state was Tommie Agee born?
2) With what team did he make his major league debut?
3) What prestigious award did he win after the 1969 season?
4) What players did the Met trade to get Agee?
5) What other player was in the deal with Agee who also became one of the 1969 World Series heroes?
6) What other Met went to high school with Agee?
7) What was the name of the bar that Agee operated in Flushing after retiring from baseball?
8) Off what two players did Agee make his incredible catches in Game 3 of the 1969 World Series?
9) How many combined runners were on base when he made those two catches?
10) Tommie Agee won the American League rookie of the year award in 1966. What Oriole who played a major role in the future of the Mets finished third in the balloting that year?
Come back tomorrow and see how you did on the Tommie Agee trivia contest?
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Top Lucas Duda Quotes
You gotta believe. I know 2-0 does not mean we break out the champagne, but you couldn't have asked for a better script than yesterday's game. The game had so many highlights, Wright's 9th inning catch and home run, R.A's pitching effort (what he called a 'community win'), great relief pitching, clutch hitting and the two home runs of Lucas Duda.
With that name and that slugger look (6'5", 250 pounds), it is only a question of time before the quiet and unassuming Duda will own New York. Face it, over their fifty years, you can count on the fingers of one hand, the legitimate sluggers that the Mets have had on their roster (topic for another time).
As Met optimists, lets take a deep breath, hope for the best and celebrate the accomplishments of Lucas Duda in quotes.
"He's got the strength to hit it out of anywhere. He's got a chance to be some kind of power hitter."
--Terry Collins, on Lucas Duda
"It's a gorgeous feeling. It's refreshing to know that those line drives that were doubles could go out there."
--Ike Davis, on Lucas Duda's Home run to Center field that would likely have been a double before the dimensions changed
"He is not a burner out there, but he will catch the ball and he'll make some plays you might not think he can and he will do whatever he can to win."
--Mike Gillepsie, UC-Irvine Baseball Coach, on the fielding ability of Lucas Duda
'I'd put him up against anybody in the league as far as power."
--David Wright, on Lucas Duda
"Offensively, the guy is going to be a force."
--Terry Collins
Love sports quotes, then become a fan of sports quotation man at http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Sports-Quotation-Man/125672394170091
With that name and that slugger look (6'5", 250 pounds), it is only a question of time before the quiet and unassuming Duda will own New York. Face it, over their fifty years, you can count on the fingers of one hand, the legitimate sluggers that the Mets have had on their roster (topic for another time).
As Met optimists, lets take a deep breath, hope for the best and celebrate the accomplishments of Lucas Duda in quotes.
"He's got the strength to hit it out of anywhere. He's got a chance to be some kind of power hitter."
--Terry Collins, on Lucas Duda
"It's a gorgeous feeling. It's refreshing to know that those line drives that were doubles could go out there."
--Ike Davis, on Lucas Duda's Home run to Center field that would likely have been a double before the dimensions changed
"He is not a burner out there, but he will catch the ball and he'll make some plays you might not think he can and he will do whatever he can to win."
--Mike Gillepsie, UC-Irvine Baseball Coach, on the fielding ability of Lucas Duda
'I'd put him up against anybody in the league as far as power."
--David Wright, on Lucas Duda
"Offensively, the guy is going to be a force."
--Terry Collins
Love sports quotes, then become a fan of sports quotation man at http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Sports-Quotation-Man/125672394170091
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Kirk Nieuwenhuis New Met Centerfielder
After Andres Torres injury on Opening Day, Kirk Nieuwenhuis was called up from Triple A to take over in center field for the Mets. I feel badly for Torres, as he seems like a really good guy who has overcome a lot, but it should only be a temporary setback.
In the mean times, what do we know about Nieuwenhuis (need some veteran to give him a clever or not so clever nickname like Newbie).
First we know he is a third round pick from 2008. He is a left handed hitter who is known for his hustle on the field.
What the numbers say is he appears to have some pop on his bat. Last year in 188 bats, he hit six home runs. His minor league career, he seemed to be a consistent fifteen to eighteen home run guy. Decent rbi and batting average over his minor league career. Had a .401 on base percentage in Buffalo last year. First year or two he had some decent stolen base numbers also, but not in the last two years. Also, his minor league numbers indicates that he does tend to strikeout a lot. There's something new for the Mets (note the sarcasm).
According to what I read, he is an average fielder with a good arm. His assist numbers seem impressive. In 2010, in a combined 121 games in Binghamton and Buffalo, he had 13 assists.
The downside is his recent injuries. He missed a good part of last year with shoulder surgery and this spring training, he fought off an oblique injury. If he gets hurt, other available Met outfielders available include Don Hahn, Don Bosch and Mike Vail.
Best of luck to Kirk Nieuwenhuis as he joins the first place New York Mets.
Here is a brief glimpse of Nieuwenhuis' arm.
In the mean times, what do we know about Nieuwenhuis (need some veteran to give him a clever or not so clever nickname like Newbie).
First we know he is a third round pick from 2008. He is a left handed hitter who is known for his hustle on the field.
What the numbers say is he appears to have some pop on his bat. Last year in 188 bats, he hit six home runs. His minor league career, he seemed to be a consistent fifteen to eighteen home run guy. Decent rbi and batting average over his minor league career. Had a .401 on base percentage in Buffalo last year. First year or two he had some decent stolen base numbers also, but not in the last two years. Also, his minor league numbers indicates that he does tend to strikeout a lot. There's something new for the Mets (note the sarcasm).
According to what I read, he is an average fielder with a good arm. His assist numbers seem impressive. In 2010, in a combined 121 games in Binghamton and Buffalo, he had 13 assists.
The downside is his recent injuries. He missed a good part of last year with shoulder surgery and this spring training, he fought off an oblique injury. If he gets hurt, other available Met outfielders available include Don Hahn, Don Bosch and Mike Vail.
Best of luck to Kirk Nieuwenhuis as he joins the first place New York Mets.
Here is a brief glimpse of Nieuwenhuis' arm.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Mets Opening Day Trivia Challenge Answers
Yesterday, I posted fourteen New York Met Opening Day Trivia Challenge Questions. Today, the answers are included. Find out if you are a Met expert.
Congratulations to the Mets on their 1-0 start. Outside of Torres injury, nothing but blue skies today led by Santana and host of relievers and clutch hitting of David Wright (Daniel Murphy is a hitting machine).
1) The future Hall of Fame who started at first base for the Mets in 1992 and 1993 was Eddie Murray
2) Today David Wright started for the 8th consecutive year at third base, passing Howard Johnson to become first on the list.
3) The only future Hall of Famer in the Mets Opening Day Lineup in 1962 was center fielder Richie Ashburn.
4) The two Met legends tied with six all-time Opening Day starts at first base are Keith Hernandez and Ed Kranepool
5) The player with the winning hit in the 1998 Opening Day, 1-0 fourteen inning victory of the Mets was Alberto Castillo (actually referenced by Howie Rose in today's game)
6) The future Hall of Fame Opening Day Met starting left fielder in 1999 and 2000 was Rickey Henderson
7) The starting second baseman on Opening Day for the Mets in 2011 was Brad Emaus
8) The Met player who had the most starts in the outfield was Darryl Strawberry with seven
9) The Mets won their first Opening Day in 1970, 8 years after the franchise started. They actually won a World Series before they won an Opening Day game. The winning pitcher in relief was Ron Taylor (Tug McGraw got the save in this eleven inning game)
10) Of course the Met with the most starts was Tom Seaver with 11 (1968-1977 and 1983). Dwight Gooden was second with six
11) Roger Craig started the first Mets game in 1962
12) The player who started the most Opening Day games as catcher for the Mets was Jerry Grote with 9. Mike Piazza had 7 and Todd Hundley had 6.
13) The Met player with the most all-time Opening Day starts is Bud Harrelson with eleven.
14) The 1962 Amazing Mets must not have been a big draw on Opening Day against the Cardinals in Busch Stadium. The attendance for the game was 16,147
Hope you enjoyed the Mets Opening Day trivia challenge. Much more to come.
Congratulations to the Mets on their 1-0 start. Outside of Torres injury, nothing but blue skies today led by Santana and host of relievers and clutch hitting of David Wright (Daniel Murphy is a hitting machine).
1) The future Hall of Fame who started at first base for the Mets in 1992 and 1993 was Eddie Murray
2) Today David Wright started for the 8th consecutive year at third base, passing Howard Johnson to become first on the list.
3) The only future Hall of Famer in the Mets Opening Day Lineup in 1962 was center fielder Richie Ashburn.
4) The two Met legends tied with six all-time Opening Day starts at first base are Keith Hernandez and Ed Kranepool
5) The player with the winning hit in the 1998 Opening Day, 1-0 fourteen inning victory of the Mets was Alberto Castillo (actually referenced by Howie Rose in today's game)
6) The future Hall of Fame Opening Day Met starting left fielder in 1999 and 2000 was Rickey Henderson
7) The starting second baseman on Opening Day for the Mets in 2011 was Brad Emaus
8) The Met player who had the most starts in the outfield was Darryl Strawberry with seven
9) The Mets won their first Opening Day in 1970, 8 years after the franchise started. They actually won a World Series before they won an Opening Day game. The winning pitcher in relief was Ron Taylor (Tug McGraw got the save in this eleven inning game)
10) Of course the Met with the most starts was Tom Seaver with 11 (1968-1977 and 1983). Dwight Gooden was second with six
11) Roger Craig started the first Mets game in 1962
12) The player who started the most Opening Day games as catcher for the Mets was Jerry Grote with 9. Mike Piazza had 7 and Todd Hundley had 6.
13) The Met player with the most all-time Opening Day starts is Bud Harrelson with eleven.
14) The 1962 Amazing Mets must not have been a big draw on Opening Day against the Cardinals in Busch Stadium. The attendance for the game was 16,147
Hope you enjoyed the Mets Opening Day trivia challenge. Much more to come.
Ten Reasons Why the Mets Will Contend in 2012
I have always been an April optimist only to be shot down by May 1st. Not this year. I have much more confidence in the Mets this year than in recent years. Here are ten reasons why the Mets will surprise the baseball world in 2012
1) Terry Collins---Collins proved last year that he handles two things well--young talent and adversity. The Mets were the most injured team in baseball yet they played well for the first three months of the season. If they had a healthy Johan last year and kept Beltran all year (in retrospect, it was a great trade for the Mets), who knows how circumstances would have changed.
2) A Healthy Johan---Pitching wins baseball (at least the 9,547 time you've heard that) You don't lose a player the caliber of Santana and expect those games to somehow be made up by someone else. He had a great spring training and there is no reason to think he won't have a great year.
3) A Somewhat Healthy Ike---Ike seems to be hitting the ball with the same authority as the past. He is the best all-around Met first baseman since John Olerud. His bat and glove will make a big difference this year.
4) Lucas Duda---Are you kidding me? Have you seen this kid hit? He is a beast. He is the Mets best power hitter in years. The combo of him and Ike will become one of the best young one-two punches in baseball.
5) Ruben Tejada and Josh Thole---Again, two more young talented kids who have proven under the pressure of last year that they can put up some good numbers in the big leagues. Tejada will be the next exciting Met infielder. Thole has some defensive issues but he handles the pitching staff very well and has proven he can hit major league pitching.
6) Jon Rauch and Frank Francisco---I always thought that KRod got a bad rap with the Mets, but after the incident from two years ago, things were never the same. I think the Mets will have more consistency in relief this year. They made a good move in signing these guys as their key free agents (of course I will be kicking the TV set the first time one of them blows a game). They are proven major leaguers and if nothing else, they win the team with the tallest player award with the 6'10" Rauch
7) David Wright---Has there ever been a more maligned all-time Met great than David Wright? Sure he strikes out too much (can't tell you how many times I screamed at some of those K's), but he is by far the greatest Met third baseman of all-time. He has a long track record of clutch hitting and he will be protected this year by Duda and Ike. Contract discussions will be moot because he'll want to stay a Met after their early season resurgence.
8) Daniel Murphy/Justin Turner---Murphy is one of those guys who is a professional hitter. Does anyone remember how well he hit last year when he wasn't hurt? The man can flat out get a hit at any time. Sure, there are fielding issues, but he played a decent second base in spring training. He will surprise. Mets also have super sub Justin Turner who showed why he was the Mets best clutch hitter last year.
9) John Niese, R.A. Dickey and Dillon Gee---A key to the Mets season will be their second, third and fourth starters. Niese has always shown potential and the long term commitment from the Mets will hopefully make him feel secure. Dickey was the Mets best starter last year who had as a hard as luck as any starter in baseball. He throws that knuckle ball faster than most anyone who has thrown the pitch and that has to be a great advantage. No reason to think he won't be around and consistent for a long time (also the candidate most likely to pitch the Mets first no-hitter). Pessimists point out the second half of last year when they discuss Gee. What about the first half. The kid showed guts and more importantly--an ability to throw strikes consistently. He had a really good spring. There is no reason to think he won't have a big 2012 season.
10) Best Announcing Crew in Baseball (Gary, Ron and Keith)--I have been critical of announcers over the years, but I have nothing but great things to say about the three of them---funny, insightful, critical and knowledgeable. They are baseball's best announcing trio by far. Even in the dog days of August, they made games enjoyable. This year though they will have a lot more positive things to say then in the past.
Question Marks for the Mets are obviously--Bay is one of them. Hopefully, the fences will make a difference for him. Usually spring training is a barometer of nothing, but this spring training has me worried that he will carry it into the regular season. We get a good year out of him and that will be a great bonus. In the case of Torres, it it is hard to say a guy in his thirties has great potential, but he does. He is a good fielder with terrific speed but he has to cut down on his strikeouts and put together a 2010 type season. Pelf always has the capacity for being a terrific pitcher. You just have to hold your breath and hope for the best.
The Mets will surprise the baseball world and contend in 2012.You heard it here first.
Check out five all-time great opening day quotes at http://listman.blogspot.com/2012/04/top-five-opening-day-quotes-of-all-time.html
1) Terry Collins---Collins proved last year that he handles two things well--young talent and adversity. The Mets were the most injured team in baseball yet they played well for the first three months of the season. If they had a healthy Johan last year and kept Beltran all year (in retrospect, it was a great trade for the Mets), who knows how circumstances would have changed.
2) A Healthy Johan---Pitching wins baseball (at least the 9,547 time you've heard that) You don't lose a player the caliber of Santana and expect those games to somehow be made up by someone else. He had a great spring training and there is no reason to think he won't have a great year.
3) A Somewhat Healthy Ike---Ike seems to be hitting the ball with the same authority as the past. He is the best all-around Met first baseman since John Olerud. His bat and glove will make a big difference this year.
4) Lucas Duda---Are you kidding me? Have you seen this kid hit? He is a beast. He is the Mets best power hitter in years. The combo of him and Ike will become one of the best young one-two punches in baseball.
5) Ruben Tejada and Josh Thole---Again, two more young talented kids who have proven under the pressure of last year that they can put up some good numbers in the big leagues. Tejada will be the next exciting Met infielder. Thole has some defensive issues but he handles the pitching staff very well and has proven he can hit major league pitching.
6) Jon Rauch and Frank Francisco---I always thought that KRod got a bad rap with the Mets, but after the incident from two years ago, things were never the same. I think the Mets will have more consistency in relief this year. They made a good move in signing these guys as their key free agents (of course I will be kicking the TV set the first time one of them blows a game). They are proven major leaguers and if nothing else, they win the team with the tallest player award with the 6'10" Rauch
7) David Wright---Has there ever been a more maligned all-time Met great than David Wright? Sure he strikes out too much (can't tell you how many times I screamed at some of those K's), but he is by far the greatest Met third baseman of all-time. He has a long track record of clutch hitting and he will be protected this year by Duda and Ike. Contract discussions will be moot because he'll want to stay a Met after their early season resurgence.
8) Daniel Murphy/Justin Turner---Murphy is one of those guys who is a professional hitter. Does anyone remember how well he hit last year when he wasn't hurt? The man can flat out get a hit at any time. Sure, there are fielding issues, but he played a decent second base in spring training. He will surprise. Mets also have super sub Justin Turner who showed why he was the Mets best clutch hitter last year.
9) John Niese, R.A. Dickey and Dillon Gee---A key to the Mets season will be their second, third and fourth starters. Niese has always shown potential and the long term commitment from the Mets will hopefully make him feel secure. Dickey was the Mets best starter last year who had as a hard as luck as any starter in baseball. He throws that knuckle ball faster than most anyone who has thrown the pitch and that has to be a great advantage. No reason to think he won't be around and consistent for a long time (also the candidate most likely to pitch the Mets first no-hitter). Pessimists point out the second half of last year when they discuss Gee. What about the first half. The kid showed guts and more importantly--an ability to throw strikes consistently. He had a really good spring. There is no reason to think he won't have a big 2012 season.
10) Best Announcing Crew in Baseball (Gary, Ron and Keith)--I have been critical of announcers over the years, but I have nothing but great things to say about the three of them---funny, insightful, critical and knowledgeable. They are baseball's best announcing trio by far. Even in the dog days of August, they made games enjoyable. This year though they will have a lot more positive things to say then in the past.
Question Marks for the Mets are obviously--Bay is one of them. Hopefully, the fences will make a difference for him. Usually spring training is a barometer of nothing, but this spring training has me worried that he will carry it into the regular season. We get a good year out of him and that will be a great bonus. In the case of Torres, it it is hard to say a guy in his thirties has great potential, but he does. He is a good fielder with terrific speed but he has to cut down on his strikeouts and put together a 2010 type season. Pelf always has the capacity for being a terrific pitcher. You just have to hold your breath and hope for the best.
The Mets will surprise the baseball world and contend in 2012.You heard it here first.
Check out five all-time great opening day quotes at http://listman.blogspot.com/2012/04/top-five-opening-day-quotes-of-all-time.html
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
New York Mets Opening Day Trivia Challenge
Fellow Met fans---time to dream of the miracle 2012 season when a team expected to go nowhere became contenders. Hey, a fan can dream....In celebration of Opening Day at Citifield, here are fourteen Met Opening Day Trivia Questions. Answers tomorrow. Lets Go Mets.
1) What future Hall of Famer was the Mets Opening Day starting first baseman in 1992 and 1993?
2) Who will David Wright pass tomorrow as the longest Opening Day starting Met third baseman?
3) How many future Hall of Famers were in the Mets Opening Day lineup in 1962?
4) What two Met legends are tied with six for most Opening Day Starts at first base?
5) In the Mets famous 1998 Opening Day Game which they won 1-0 in fourteen innings, who drove in the only run of the game?
6) What future Hall of Famer was the Mets Opening Day left fielder in 1999 and 2000?
7) Who was the Mets starting second baseman on Opening Day of 2011?
8) What Met started the most opening games in the outfield?
9) What year did the Mets win their first Opening Day and bonus point, who won the game for them (game was 11 innings)?
10 What Met pitcher had the most Opening Day starts (if you don't get this one right than you cannot consider yourself a Met fan)?
11) Who was the Mets Opening Day Starter in 1962?
12) Who had the most Opening Day starts for a catcher in Met history?
13) What Met player holds the record for most Opening Day starts?
14) Within 5000, what was the attendance of the Mets 1962 Opening Day game against the Cardinals in Busch Stadium?
Find out tomorrow how you did on the Mets Opening Day Trivia Contest?
If you love trivia than log onto trivia man at http://triviaman.blogspot.com/
1) What future Hall of Famer was the Mets Opening Day starting first baseman in 1992 and 1993?
2) Who will David Wright pass tomorrow as the longest Opening Day starting Met third baseman?
3) How many future Hall of Famers were in the Mets Opening Day lineup in 1962?
4) What two Met legends are tied with six for most Opening Day Starts at first base?
5) In the Mets famous 1998 Opening Day Game which they won 1-0 in fourteen innings, who drove in the only run of the game?
6) What future Hall of Famer was the Mets Opening Day left fielder in 1999 and 2000?
7) Who was the Mets starting second baseman on Opening Day of 2011?
8) What Met started the most opening games in the outfield?
9) What year did the Mets win their first Opening Day and bonus point, who won the game for them (game was 11 innings)?
10 What Met pitcher had the most Opening Day starts (if you don't get this one right than you cannot consider yourself a Met fan)?
11) Who was the Mets Opening Day Starter in 1962?
12) Who had the most Opening Day starts for a catcher in Met history?
13) What Met player holds the record for most Opening Day starts?
14) Within 5000, what was the attendance of the Mets 1962 Opening Day game against the Cardinals in Busch Stadium?
Find out tomorrow how you did on the Mets Opening Day Trivia Contest?
If you love trivia than log onto trivia man at http://triviaman.blogspot.com/
Sunday, April 1, 2012
When Did Football Take Over Spring?
Check out my piece on When Football Took Over Spring? We Met fans know that spring is all about the love of the game.
http://sportsquotation.blogspot.com/2012/04/when-did-football-take-over-spring.html
http://sportsquotation.blogspot.com/2012/04/when-did-football-take-over-spring.html
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