Rusty Staub was a Grand Orange Indeed as a Pinch Hitter
Two fondly remembered lumbering Mets lefties, Rusty Staub and Ed Kranepool, combined for 190 career pinch hits back when teams many times had room on their rosters for a pinch hitting specialist, a role Vogelbach could fill, except there is no room on today’s rosters for those (or for 3rd string catchers).
Back in the day, 15 roster hitters, 10 roster pitchers. Nowadays, 13 roster hitters, 13 roster pitchers.
Fat, slow former Tiger Gates Brown was just such a PH specialist.
Brown holds the AL record for the most pinch-hit at bats in a career, with 414. In his career, Brown collected 107 pinch hits including 16 pinch homers - both AL career records.
But, alas, when teams only have 13 hitter roster spots, because of no starting pitcher outing length, rather than 15 hitter roster spots, there is no room for a "Daniel Vogelbach, pinch hitting specialist" role in baseball.
Lacking pinch hitting specialists can be painful, though. Last year, as the Mets won 101 games, the Mets were 12 for 83 in pinch hitting, with 1 HR and 10 RBIs, disgraceful output indeed.
Atlanta, surprisingly, was just 9 for 40 in pinch hitting with 2 RBIs in 2022 (data source: Baseball Reference).
The average team was 20 for 93 with 2 HRs and 13 RBIs when pinch hitting in 2022. Not good.
Ed Kranepool in one Mets season was a superb 17 for 35 as a pinch hitter, by comparison. Rusty and Gates were also both real tough in that role. Baseball doesn't embrace rusty gates today, however.
Clearly, that specialization does not exist today. Another loss for baseball in today's game.
OF COURSE…THERE’S THIS FLAW…
After Vogie’s fanning looking for the 15th time, I saw that Jose Reyes tweeted this:
“I’m not sure if Vogey understands this concept but you have to SWING THE BAT to hit the ball…”
Meanwhile, PITCHER Harris Brodey is for real….
The converted OF to reliever in Brooklyn has fanned 13 in 7 innings over his last 3 outings in his inaugural pro pitching season, while walking just 2. Wow. 2.65 ERA too.
He might be a top 10 pitcher in the Mets minors. He is the anti-Ankiel.
Brodey might end up reminding us of a shortstop who once upon a time converted into a Mets two time Cy Young winner, whose name eludes me, but I seem to remember it rhymes with ache and break. Help me out here, people.
METS’ KIDS VS. MARGINAL VETS
6 Mets’ vets hitting like Mutts provide our 4 lads (Alvarez, Baty, Vientos and Mauricio) quite the opportunity to enhance the Mets’ offense.
The combo of Escobar, Pham, Canha, Guillorme, Vogelbach and Nido have produced 112 hits in 527 at bats (.212) with just 21 doubles, 12 HRs and 51 RBIs. If one guy did all that, he’d retire or be released.
An easy bar to clear.
The 3 kids, Alvy, Baty, and Vienty, are a combined 54 for 218 (.249), with 9 doubles, 10 HRs, and 29 RBIs.
An upgrade. Bar cleared.
And you say Vientos is just 2 for 15? Well, Alvarez started out 1 for 15, but has been sensational since. Solution?
Play all 3, and call up # 4.
HOME COOKING
Mets have played 31 on the road (15-16) and just 21 at home (12-9). A big plus, hopefully, going forward. 60 left at home vs. just 50 remaining games on the road. Time for some HOME COOKING, MA.
10 comments:
Still fond memories from my old tryout buddy, Eddie.
We will see Vientos for tlinhe next three games. Oboy.
Will be interested to see if Ronny is back in the AAA lineup 2day
I'll never understand why Ronny has not been trained to play left field.
Solid Max and really hope he's back to being.... well Max we need him. Now if RonnieMo can stick at 2nd base the future would look so bright I gotta wear shades or something like that. That would leave us with only one "old timer" in Marte as in OMG how can that be and no positions to fill next year and one kick ass lineup so all the focus can be on pitching. Guys any news on the Vasil injury?
Ronny is a big kid. Looks like a perfect OF to me.
Mack, you should share the tryout story in an article.
Vasil? Say please that he is not hurt.
Can’t figure out why so many DHs can’t hit. The position was designed to be for a good hitter, a guy who would bat first through fifth in the lineup. How many of these guys are batting in the bottom third?
Mets DH OPS is a stingy .638. 25th in MLB.
Ten teams are .800 or higher.
# 1?
Yanks, at .969.
So, many teams have functional DHs. Mets ain't one of them.
Mark Vientos would exceed .638 in a heartbeat. So would Mauricio.
The key is you have to actually be in the lineup to produce are u listening Buck?
Hoping the Mets are about to turn the corner. Bad stretch behind them, pitchers (like Max) starting to look better, and the old vets have had their time to demonstrate trade value. Time to surge and win lots of games at home in front of hungry fans.
Paul, great time to have A pitchers back. Rolling…7 of 9.
I the team had Edwin, they’d be ready to obliterate.
PHs no longer need to hit for the pitcher
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