I remember at least one guy saying he could be a 25-homer threat if only this variable changed, and that one, and that one. It's not Nieuwenhuis's fault he sucked, it's all those dang variables!

I guess what I remember most about Nieuwenhuis is how the Mets got rid of him, then reacquired him, in 2015. He began the year with the Mets, played some for the Angels, then returned to New York to finish the year. I didn't realize they brought him along on the postseason roster that year, but he got into some playoff games, so I guess they did.

Okay, okay. I'm being pretty harsh and not entirely forthright. I, too, was on the Nieuwenhuis train in the early-going, as he tore the cover off the ball for awhile upon his debut. He couldn't be stopped for a while there. But he ended up being a flash-in-the-pan and succumbed to mediocrity pretty quickly.

Alex
December 17, 2024
An addendum to my last post:

He was a doubles machine, with 14 of his 29 hits in 2014 going for two bases and 11 of his 25 hits in 2015 being doubles. Wow!

Well, 2024 was surprisingly awesome instead, but it is because the Mets ditched guys like Tonkin. But still, the bullpen was their glaring weak spot overall.

He was a well-traveled man following the 2023 season. From November 2023 to August 2024, he was: granted Free Agency. Signed as a Free Agent by the New York Mets. Purchased by the Minnesota Twins from the New York Mets. Selected off waivers by the New York Mets from the Minnesota Twins. Selected off waivers by the New York Yankees from the New York Mets. Selected off waivers by the Minnesota Twins from the New York Yankees.

He actually did really quite well, outside of his stint with the Mets: 57 G, 3.63 ERA, 9.6 K/9.

He was an amazing multi-sport athlete - baseball, basketball and football. I played basketball and baseball against him. I remember one time he was pitching against us, the batter ahead of me hit a homer. He got visibly pissed and then smoked me in 3 pitches.

I never knew him personally but always respected his work ethic. Hr truly wanted to be an athlete and worked really hard at it. That work ethic and attitude was what separated him from most athletes.

I'm happy to see he found a home in professional sports and continues to pass on what he’s learned.

He and Grant Hartwig are both intertwined in my mind, because they both sort of followed that pattern.

Walker never impressed me too much, but the prospect we got in return for him—Nicolas Carreno—seems to have upside. He's only 18, so anything can happen, but he's done pretty well so far.

Eduardo is one and Abraham is the other. Abraham was a solid ballplayer for over a decade in the 2000s—I remember him as a familiar face with the Pirates for the most part. Then he played full seasons with the Cardinals and Phillies.

He played for the Mets, too? I guess so. Actually, I shouldn't say "I guess," as I actually do recall him being with the club, but he didn't do anything with them.

But that little Mets stint just tossed onto the end of a productive career is very easy to miss and also pretty easy to forget.

Also, back in the day, I wrote him two autograph requests while he was playing, but he never responded.

He also one of only two pitchers to play for the Mets, Braves, Blue Jays and White Sox, with the other being Octavio Dotel. Non-pitchers Charlie O'Brien and Kevin Pillar also did it.

Anywho, I wrote Castillo an autograph request through his home address in 2021. It came back as a failure. Wrong Tony Castillo :/

I sincerely hope his 2024 was not an aberration and we'll be able to see a few more excellent, full seasons from this guy in the future.

But compared to Narvaez, he was a godsend. Narvaez was drudgery. Torrens at least inspired some level of confidence.

My primary memory of Torrens actually goes way back to his rookie season with the Padres in 2017. He was one of multiple youngsters yanked from the low minors and put on the big club's active roster. Torrens had never played above A ball before he joined the Padres. Allen Cordoba was another who made a big jump.

In his second game with the team, he went 0-for-6 with four strikeouts; in his eighth game with them, he went 3-for-4 with two RBI.

Anywho, in 2008, I sent him a few cards through the New Orleans Zephyrs, but he never signed them. He doesn't sign for anyone, as his listed success rate is 0%.

Edit that—and this is how memory plays tricks—he was actually with the club in 2000. Huh, I thought he was a 1999 guy. I probably mixed him up with Jermaine Allensworth. But I thought he and Allensworth were teammates in 1999. Oh, what 25 years can do to a memory.

It's amazing how otherwise non-factors seem so important when one is young and doesn't know any better. I thought he was good and was a meaningful part of the team. To be that innocent again.

In 2019, I sent him an autograph request through his home address, but he never responded.

But Vientos, man oh man. What a year. He played 111 games and hit 27 home runs with 71 RBI. Extend that out over 162 games and you get 39 home runs and 104 RBI.

Alonso who?

This guy has 40-home run potential and probably more. And he's just a good personality to have around.

If he can get that OBP up a bit and those Ks down a bit, he'll be golden.

I was never too fond of Wendle during his pre-Mets days. He was an All-Star once, but still, he never seemed particularly good.

He was also always one of those guys where you look at his stat line and say, "Joey Wendle has been around THAT long?" He debuted in 2016, so 2024 was his ninth year in the bigs.

Not sure if 2024 was the end of the road for Wendle, but it looks like he didn't play anywhere after May.