I’m no more panicky or distressed today than I was weeks ago over this team, just a little disappointed now that it looks like they’re headed for another last place finish when 3rd place once looked so attainable. Some insist this demands the end of the Terry Collins Era; I’m of the feeling that Terry would be around until the team is ready to be passed along to the next guy, but it’s getting harder to imagine when that day is coming. This team needs a lot of help. So does Terry.
He presided over another bad loss yesterday, as the bullpen, poor defense and a punchless offense wasted a fine debut effort from Collin McHugh, the new No. 36. You might have noticed Robert Carson was back for a spell too.
And you might also have seen this article the other day by hardworking blogger Brian Joura, reviewing the failures of the Mets and Collins as they idiotically pursue “a second lefty” the same way Jerry Manuel wasted so much time and energy on the “8th inning guy” while the rest of the team grew increasingly tight and unable to give the bullpen much of anything to work with in the first place. Why, Joura asked, should a team value narrow platoon advantages over versatility? Where have you gone, Bob Myrick?
As it turned out, Bob Myrick died yesterday of a heart attack at age 59. Myrick, who wore No. 44 for the late-70s Mets, was a lefty who could start or relieve. His splits were radical only in the sense that they basically didn’t exist: Joe Torre never once needed to tie his roster in knots in order to shoehorn him into a game. He more or less was an average reliever who happened to throw with his left arm, an almost unheard-of concept today.
Myrick’s obituary mentioned first not that he was a former Mets pitcher, but that he was general manager of a family-run building supply business in Hattiesburg, Miss. — his hometown, and also Robert Carson’s hometown. It’s entirely possible Robert Carson grew up in a home built with lumber Bob Myrick provided.
Submitted by Brian Joura (not verified) on Fri, 08/24/2012 – 11:16am.
Thanks for pointing out the sad news about Myrick’s passing.
It’s just kind of weird that a guy I hadn’t thought of since the last time I looked at my 1978 Topps set comes up twice for me in such a short time.
Getting traded was probably the worst thing that happened in his baseball career. He never got another shot in the majors after the Mets dealt him.
Loved the way you ended this post. Small world…
Submitted by gored82 on Fri, 08/24/2012 – 7:24pm.
I attended the Mayors Trophy game at Shea in 1977, which Myrick started for the Stems. A couple of oddities: There were so few people at the game that the mezzanine and upper decks were closed, and Jimmy “The Toy Cannon” Wynn played 3B for the Yankees. He had all of 2 official appearances at the hot corner during his 15-year career, both coming in 1963 with Houston.
Submitted by Matt B on Tue, 09/04/2012 – 5:27pm.
Valdespin will wear uniform #1, Ramirez will wear #62,
Mejia will wear #32, Familia will wear #27, Hampson will wear #45 and Fred Lewis will wear #15.
Submitted by ShortyNJ on Tue, 09/04/2012 – 11:17pm.
“His family always came first, and everybody was a part of his family.” What a beautiful sentiment.
Submitted by ShortyNJ on Wed, 09/05/2012 – 7:36pm.
This afternoon, R.A. Dickey became the Mets’ all-time wins leader for uniform #43. His 37 wins put him ahead of Jim McAndrew (1968-1973).
Submitted by ShortyNJ on Sat, 09/22/2012 – 10:46pm.
… And this afternoon, Jon Rauch became the Mets’ all-time saves leader for uniform #60. His 4 saves put him ahead of Scott Schoeneweis (2007-2008).
Submitted by gored82 on Tue, 09/25/2012 – 4:26pm.
Whoopee. That took a long time!
Submitted by PAKTYPE (not verified) on Fri, 10/05/2012 – 2:16pm.
I remember Bob Myrick. He was in the Mets photo album that they gave away in 1978. Other Mets luminaries in that album were Mardie Cornejo, Kevin Kobel and Mike Bruhert.
It was tough being a Mets fan in 1978.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 11/07/2012 – 11:31am.
Mike Nickeas elected free agency. He was part of the longest current trade chain in mets history
Submitted by Jon Springer on Wed, 11/07/2012 – 10:42pm.
I saw that, thanks. Looks like they might try and re-sign Nickeas to a minor league deal but his value as a trade chip has been tenuous enough to render the chain in real danger for a while now. I have to double check, but this would make Angel Pagan the new grandfather, unless they trade Pelfrey or something.