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Livan On a Prayer

We don't do the fistbumps thing unless it's a walk-off, walk-up, or road win 9th inning or later, so Livan Hernandez will just have to settle on just getting a thank you for a job well-done.

* Not only was it a complete game (yes, the first since Santana on the final Saturday at Shea), but it was a 127-pitch complete game. Baseball-Reference tells us that's the most pitches by a Met in a complete game since Al Leiter threw a 128-pitch CG in the second game of a doubleheader against the Braves on September 11, 2002.

Leiter actually had the Mets last three complete games of 127 pitches or more.

* The last Mets pitcher to throw a complete game, allowing 9 hits or more: Kenny Rogers in a 12-5 road win over the Giants on August 15, 1999 (12-hitter). The last one at Shea was thrown by Masato Yoshii in a 6-1 win over the Reds, May 21, 1998.

* This was the 7th time that Livan struck a batter out to end a game, but the first time in 5 years. His last was Jeromy Burnitz in a 3-1 win over the Rockies on May 6, 2004.

* Livan is now tied with his brother Orlando in career complete games for the Mets. They each have one. Orlando got one against his former team as well, the Diamondbacks.

Among other notables with 1 career CG for the Mets: Oliver Perez, Paul Wilson, Hideo Nomo, Bob Apodaca, and Roy Lee Jackson.

* Gary Sheffield's home run was his 504th, tying him with Eddie Murray for the 2nd-most home runs hit by someone who played for the Mets. Willie Mays, of course, ranks first with 660.

* Fernando Martinez was hit by a pitch in his major league debut. He's the third Met to be hit by a pitch in his first game, joining Steve Bieser (1997) and Stanley Jefferson (1986).

* Martinez also went hitless in his MLB debut. Interestingly, the last two Mets position players to go hitless AS STARTERS in their MLB debut were both on the field on Tuesday: David Wright and Anderson Hernandez.

* The combo of going hitless, but with an RBI, in a major league debut is a Met rarity. Martinez is the 4th Met to go hitless, but get an RBI in his major league debut, along with Barry Lyons (1986), John Gibbons (1984), and Mookie Wilson (1980).

* My new favorite Citi Field brick, spotted Monday night (and I'm paraphrasing, but you get the idea): "2/3 of earth is covered by land and water. The other 1/3 by Keith Hernandez."

True Metvans know...They asked a trivia question during the game that had nothing to do with anything, but was interesting...Who was the only player to win 3+ batting titles with a career batting average below .300? (Carl Yastrzemski). That led to a brief discussion of Gary Sheffield's batting crown, which I'd completely forgotten about.

So that led to me creating this list

Won Batting Title Elsewhere
Played for Mets During Career

John Olerud (1993 Blue Jays)
Gary Sheffield (1992 Padres)
Julio Franco (1991 Rangers)
Keith Hernandez (1979 Cardinals)
Joe Torre (1971 Cardinals)
Tommy Davis (1962-63 Dodgers)
Richie Ashburn (1955, 1958 Phillies)
Willie Mays (1954 Giants)

Much like the Mets have never had a no-hitter, they've also never had a batting champ.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Livan on a Prayer? How about Elton John's "And He Shall Be Livan"?

Dave Pucks
Ceetar said…
Interesting. Maybe this is the year we have a batting leader? got two candidates so far. No hitter? well..I'm not holding my breath.

Not sure if you saw this post, but my favorite brick. (although that one's a good one too) http://www.ceetar.com/optimisticmetsfan/2009/05/best-brick-ever/

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