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Edwin Diaz: Wild Card Champion Mets Pitcher & 2022 Relief Pitcher of the Year (2019 - 2025)

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Edwin Orlando Diaz Laboy was born March 22nd, 1994, in Naguabo, Puerto Rico. While growing up he was outfielder, until his father suggested he try pitching. As a youth he would play baseball with future major leaguers, Carlos Correa & Jose Berrios. At age 18 he was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 3rd round from the Caguas Military Academy.  MLB Career: Diaz spent three seasons in Seattle, making the big leagues in 2016. That year he saved 18 games going 0-4 with a 2.79 ERA. In 2017 he saved 34 games emerging as one of the AL's best closers.  In 2018 he had his best year with the Mariners going 0-4 with a league leading 65 saves, setting a Mariners single season record & a personal career high. He also led the AL in games finished (57) with 124 strike outs in 73.1 innings pitched. He walked 17 & gave up five HRs. He won the Reliever of the Year award & the TSN Pitcher of the Year Award as well. 2018 All Star: By the All Star break he already had 36 sa...

Remembering Mets Opening Days (1975) Joe Torre Delivers the Walk Off Hit in His Mets Debut

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Tuesday April 8th, 1975: As the new season was about to begin, the Mets were looking to forget their 1974 season. Just one year ago they were raising the 1973 NL Championship flag at Shea Stadium, but they ended up 71-91 on the season finishing fifth.  In the off season  the Mets had addressed some of their offensive problems acquiring HR slugger Dave Kingman, outfielder Del Unser, the speedy Gene Clines & veteran Joe Torre.  The Mets had been trying to land the native New Yorker, Joe Torre for years, but a deal could never get worked out for the former Cardinals 1971 MVP winner. Over the winter the Mets got the 34-year-old Torre in exchange for Ray Sadecki & Tommy Moore.  On this Opening Day Torre, would bat cleanup, play third base & have a spectacular debut. In the long run Torre was not the same player he once was & was at the end of his playing career. Del Unser had come over in a trade that sent the popular Tug McGraw to Philadelphia along...

Juan Uribe: 2015 NL Champion Mets Big Time Utility Player (2015)

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Juan Cespedes Uribe Tena was born March 22nd, 1979, in the Dominican Republic.  The right-handed infielder would go on to play second, third & short stop in his long career. Uribe began playing professionally in 1997 at just 18 years old. MLB Career:  In 2001 Uribe would debut with the Colorado Rockies, hitting 11 triples with 15 doubles 8 HRs & 53 RBIs while batting .300 in 72 games. The next year he batted just .240 & struck out 120 times as the Rockies everyday short stop playing in 155 games.  After one more season in Colorado he was traded to the Chicago White Sox for Aaron Miles. Uribe played five seasons for the White Sox hitting over twenty HRs & driving in 70 plus runs three times. In the White Sox 2005 World Championship team Uribe batted .252 with 16 HRs 23 doubles & 71 RBIs.  2005 Post Season: In the ALDS win over the Boston Red Sox, Uribe homered in Game #1 driving in three runs in the Sox 14-2 rout. He hit safel...