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All We Are Saying Is Give Niese A Chance

To read my other post today, please link to

http://www.metswalkoffs.com/2008/09/its-your-nieses-birthday.html

The wonderful Baseball-Reference allows me to generate such lists as this one.

In their illustrious history, the Mets have had 9 previous occasions in which they've started a lefty who was making his major league debut.

There's a reason this doesn't happen often. Lack of success might have something to do with it.

The lineup includes

1995, Bill Pulsipher: 5 career Mets wins
1994, Jason Jacome: 4 career Mets wins
1988, David West: 1 career Met win
1985, Bill Latham: 1 career Met win
1972, Brent Strom: 0 career Mets wins
1971, Jon Matlack: 82 career Mets wins
1967, Les Rohr: 2 career Mets wins
1966, Dick Rusteck: 1 career Mets win
1965, Rob Gardner: 4 career Mets wins

Perhaps it's a good omen that Tuesday's starter is named Jon.
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Anonymous said…
Exactly 100 wins among them and 82% accounted for by Matlack. Wow. Pulse was supposed to have at least 18 in '96. Just like Jacome was no doubt going to garner in '95 (strike-shortened season and all).

I clearly recall Strom and Matlack having similar callups: didn't look bad at first, didn't get a win, didn't look ready. One blossomed. One became a Padre.
6:21 PM
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