Don't know how many of you saw the footage the other day of the nasty brawl in an International League game between Richmond and Syracuse. In case you didn't, here's the description from the AP story.
Apparently this dated back to something that happened the day before, when a Snead bunt, with a four-run lead angered Syracuse pitcher Matt Whiteside, to the point where he hollered some profanities Snead's way. There's more to the story, but the gist of it is that Snead was suspended indefinitely on Tuesday.
As recently as last season, Snead was a prospect in the Mets organization, one with blazing speed (In his one appearance in 2004, I saw him run past home plate so fast that his momentum nearly caused him to crash into the Mets dugout railing) and decent, but not great stats. At the very end of what was a miserable 2002 season, Snead had a Mets walk-off moment.
On September 21, 2002, the Mets and Expos played a game at Shea Stadium that was fairly meaningless, other than for statistical purposes. It was the end of Bobby Valentine's tenure as Mets manager and the team didn't close out the season particularly strong. The Mets were one out from defeat but an Andres Galarraga throwing error plated the tying run.
In the 11th inning, with the score tied, the Mets put two men on base with two outs against Dan Smith for Snead, who had earlier entered the game as a pinch-runner and was now playing center field. Snead's big league career to that point consisted of one hit in six at-bats, and he had only five minor league home runs in more than 1400 at-bats, so he was considered a threat only to hit a line drive. Snead did more than that, launching a floater to right field that cleared the fence by just enough. He told reporters after the game that he was blowing at the ball from home plate, trying to will it over the fence.
As we referenced in an earlier post, that walk-off was Esix Snead's first major-league home run. For now, it looks like it could be known as his last.
True Metsologists know...The latest date that the Mets have had a regular-season walk-off win is October 3, 1999, when they beat the Pirates 2-1 (on a wild pitch by Brad Clontz), which led to a one-game playoff against the Reds the next day.
**Special Hi to those who clicked on the links posted by MetsBlog and Amazin' Avenue. Thanks for checking in.**
**We've written up walk-offs by a bunch of pretty obscure players so far. We'll try to go a little more 'Mainstream Met' on Thursday.**
(Richmond outfielder Esix)Snead charged the mound in the second inning after SkyChiefs pitcher David Bush threw a pitch that went between Snead's legs. Snead started walking toward Bush and both dugouts emptied, but the incident was limited to heated jawing from both sides. Moments later, after Snead walked, he started up the line toward first, then suddenly sprinted toward the mound with his helmet in one hand, tackling Bush, who had his back to Snead and was bent over. Both dugouts quickly emptied again.
Apparently this dated back to something that happened the day before, when a Snead bunt, with a four-run lead angered Syracuse pitcher Matt Whiteside, to the point where he hollered some profanities Snead's way. There's more to the story, but the gist of it is that Snead was suspended indefinitely on Tuesday.
As recently as last season, Snead was a prospect in the Mets organization, one with blazing speed (In his one appearance in 2004, I saw him run past home plate so fast that his momentum nearly caused him to crash into the Mets dugout railing) and decent, but not great stats. At the very end of what was a miserable 2002 season, Snead had a Mets walk-off moment.
On September 21, 2002, the Mets and Expos played a game at Shea Stadium that was fairly meaningless, other than for statistical purposes. It was the end of Bobby Valentine's tenure as Mets manager and the team didn't close out the season particularly strong. The Mets were one out from defeat but an Andres Galarraga throwing error plated the tying run.
In the 11th inning, with the score tied, the Mets put two men on base with two outs against Dan Smith for Snead, who had earlier entered the game as a pinch-runner and was now playing center field. Snead's big league career to that point consisted of one hit in six at-bats, and he had only five minor league home runs in more than 1400 at-bats, so he was considered a threat only to hit a line drive. Snead did more than that, launching a floater to right field that cleared the fence by just enough. He told reporters after the game that he was blowing at the ball from home plate, trying to will it over the fence.
As we referenced in an earlier post, that walk-off was Esix Snead's first major-league home run. For now, it looks like it could be known as his last.
True Metsologists know...The latest date that the Mets have had a regular-season walk-off win is October 3, 1999, when they beat the Pirates 2-1 (on a wild pitch by Brad Clontz), which led to a one-game playoff against the Reds the next day.
**Special Hi to those who clicked on the links posted by MetsBlog and Amazin' Avenue. Thanks for checking in.**
**We've written up walk-offs by a bunch of pretty obscure players so far. We'll try to go a little more 'Mainstream Met' on Thursday.**
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