Let's face it, the Mets are terrible. The owners are irresponsible deadbeats. There's no way in holy hell I'll be blogging their pathetic exploits this year. Here's an idea, though: the front office, led by Sandy Alderson, Paul DePodesta and J.P. Ricciardi, is actually pretty good, and they have a solid track record of winning results. How about I chronicle only those Mets players that Sandy DePo Ricciardi are responsible for? Eh, why not. There's nothing else going on in the semi-wilderness of Alaska (and I can't exactly bask in the Patriots' afterglow).
First up, let's start with right-handed pitcher Jon Rauch.
Full name: Jon Erich Rauch
Position: Relief Pitcher
Born: September 27, 1978
Height: 6'11"
Weight: 290 lbs.
How acquired: Signed as a free agent from the Toronto Blue Jays.
Uniform number: 60
MLB experience: 9 seasons, with Chicago (AL), Montreal/Washington, Arizona, Minnesota, and Toronto.
Best season: 2007, when he appeared as a reliever in 88 games for the Nats, with a 3.61 ERA and a WHIP of 1.099.
Injury history: Viral meningitis (2000), torn labrum (2001), forearm stiffness (2009)
2012 salary: $3,500,000
Actual scouting notes: At 6'11", Rauch has the distinction of being the tallest pitcher in the history of baseball. His height does nothing to help his velocity, as he typically throws in the high 80's to low 90's with a good slider that is coming from an understandably odd angle. For a team with a shaky bullpen, Rauch is almost literally a horse, or at lease the size of one. He should be able to make tons of appearances and be reasonably effective. He was pretty god-awful with Toronto in 2011, which means he'll probably be fine this year, since relievers never seem to have two similar seasons in a row. When he's going bad, he gives up a lot of home runs, and that should not be a problem at Citi Field, even with the fences coming in a bit. At $3.5M, you can't really argue with this acquisition. It's only a fifth of what they would have had to pay Jose Reyes.
Weird, wild stuff: Rauch is an Olympic gold medal winner, having been on the 2000 U.S. team that won at Sydney. He has the Olympic rings and the Olympic logo tattooed on his neck, as well as wedding rings and an olive branch, plus his wedding date in Roman numerals down his back. With a body his size, that's a big canvas. He majored in Physics and Business while at Morehead State University. He and R.A. Dickey should have some interesting conversations in the bullpen.
He will be only the second Mets player to wear #60 in a regular season game, if he does in fact appear in a game. Scott Schoeneweis was the first.
First up, let's start with right-handed pitcher Jon Rauch.
Full name: Jon Erich Rauch
Position: Relief Pitcher
Born: September 27, 1978
Height: 6'11"
Weight: 290 lbs.
How acquired: Signed as a free agent from the Toronto Blue Jays.
Uniform number: 60
MLB experience: 9 seasons, with Chicago (AL), Montreal/Washington, Arizona, Minnesota, and Toronto.
Best season: 2007, when he appeared as a reliever in 88 games for the Nats, with a 3.61 ERA and a WHIP of 1.099.
Injury history: Viral meningitis (2000), torn labrum (2001), forearm stiffness (2009)
2012 salary: $3,500,000
Actual scouting notes: At 6'11", Rauch has the distinction of being the tallest pitcher in the history of baseball. His height does nothing to help his velocity, as he typically throws in the high 80's to low 90's with a good slider that is coming from an understandably odd angle. For a team with a shaky bullpen, Rauch is almost literally a horse, or at lease the size of one. He should be able to make tons of appearances and be reasonably effective. He was pretty god-awful with Toronto in 2011, which means he'll probably be fine this year, since relievers never seem to have two similar seasons in a row. When he's going bad, he gives up a lot of home runs, and that should not be a problem at Citi Field, even with the fences coming in a bit. At $3.5M, you can't really argue with this acquisition. It's only a fifth of what they would have had to pay Jose Reyes.
Weird, wild stuff: Rauch is an Olympic gold medal winner, having been on the 2000 U.S. team that won at Sydney. He has the Olympic rings and the Olympic logo tattooed on his neck, as well as wedding rings and an olive branch, plus his wedding date in Roman numerals down his back. With a body his size, that's a big canvas. He majored in Physics and Business while at Morehead State University. He and R.A. Dickey should have some interesting conversations in the bullpen.
He will be only the second Mets player to wear #60 in a regular season game, if he does in fact appear in a game. Scott Schoeneweis was the first.