What you don’t remember or never heard of Randy Tate? Don’t worry you’re not alone. I vaguely remember Tate and for good reason, he not only had just one season in Flushing but that one year been the extend of his big league career. On the night of August 4, 1975, Randall Lee Tate of Florence Alabama came close to becoming the first Mets pitcher to hurl a no hitter. As we all know, the Mets have not had a pitcher throw a no hitter in their history, but Randy Tate joins the ranks of those who came close, as Tate held the Montreal Expos hitless for 7 innings and the Mets held a 3-0 lead. Tate was dominating through 7 as he K’d 10 and walked 4 which for Tate was a great ratio as his season tally of BB/K was 86/99 in 137.2 IP. Tate came into the game with a 4-9 record after his last start against the Cardinals that lasted just 1.2 innings and got his tits lit for 5 runs on 5 hits and 5 walks. Tate was a back end of the rotation guy, along with Hank Webb. The front end of the staff by the way was 22 game winner Tom Seaver along with Jerry Koosman and Jonathan Trumpbour Matlack. - link
No. 9 New York Mets - League: Major League Baseball - Brand Value: $159 million - The Mets have built their brand in part by successfully integrating the Brooklyn Dodgers' past with their own: Look no further than Citi Field's Jackie Robinson Rotunda. - link
Five-Star Prospects
1. Jenrry Mejia, RHP
Four-Star Prospects
2. Fernando Martinez, CF
3. Wilmer Flores, SS
4. Ike Davis, 1B
Three-Star Prospects
5. Jon Niese, LHP
6. Brad Holt, RHP
7. Kirk Nieuwenhuis, OF
8. Josh Thole, C
9. Kyle Allen, RHP
10. Ruben Tejada, SS
11. Reese Havens, SS
Four More:
12. Jeurys Familia, RHP: Familia had the best pure arm on an impressive staff at Low-A Savannah last year, but most see him in a future relief profile.
13. Cesar Puello, OF: An athletic Dominican who has impressive tools, Puello also has considerable rawness.
14. Jefry Marte, 3B: Marte wasn't ready for a full-season league, but he has the ability to move back up the list.
15. Juan Urbina, LHP: He’s a big bonus Venezuelan who has crazy upside, but he needs considerable refinement. - link
RHP - DOB: 10/11/89
Height/Weight: 6-0/160
Bats/Throws: R/R
Drafted/Signed: Dominican Republic, 2007
2009 Stats: 1.97 ERA (50.1-41-16-44) at High-A (9 G); 4.47 ERA (44.1-44-23-47) at Double-A (10 G)
Last Year’s Ranking: 7
Year in Review: This right-hander took a big step forward in 2009, as he reached Double-A as a teenager and more than held his own.
The Good: It's rare to find a fastball with plus-plus velocity and movement, but Mejia has just that. His heater sits at 93-95 mph, touches 98, and features heavy, hard sink, generating as many grounders as it does swings and misses. He'll flash a plus changeup that also features significant downward action. While he's a bit undersized for a starter, he's broadly built (well over his listed weight), has clean arm action, and scouts have no problem projecting him as a starter.
The Bad: Mejia needs to find a consistent breaking ball. He gets around on his slider too often, leading it to sweep across the plate on a single plane. His pitches have so much movement that at times he has trouble controlling them in the strike zone.
Ephemera: While Mejia got hammered in the Arizona Fall League to the tune of 25 hits and 21 runs over just 14 1/3 innings, there was a bit of silver lining, as he did not give up a home run and generated 21 ground-ball outs against just six of the fly-ball variety.
Perfect World Projection: Mejia will be an upper-echelon starter.
Path to the Big Leagues: Power arms like this are rarely blocked.
Timetable: While Mejia will continue his development as a starter, his fastball alone could land him in the Mets’ bullpen at some point during the season.- link
RHP, Villanova, #62 Overall: Mulvey had average or better stuff across the board at the end of his career at Villanova. He was supposed to be drafted in either the late first round or the supplemental first round, so the Mets got a steal here of a quality college pitcher. Following players selected: Tom Hickman, Joe Benson, Drew Carpenter. Signing bonus: $585,000. - link
Of course I remember Randy Tate. I was working at a sports station that night, and the UPI wire announce he had a no-hitter going. And all I could think what "Randy TATE???? He's going to pitch the first no hitter." I knew it couldn't last.
ReplyDeleteMy Mom gets two more votes than me?
ReplyDeleteHow fucked up is that? :)