Russell Branyan is just the type of trap that the Mets seem to always fall for, a guy who had the prospect tag but never lived up to expectations, finally puts up solid numbers and the Mets choose to see him as a late bloomer instead just having a career year...In 1997 at AAA Branyan hit .272 with 39 HRs and 105 RBIs, was nicknamed "Russell the Muscle" and was compared to Mark McGuire. But he never lived up to that billing, in 12 seasons he's only played in 882 games and only three of those seasons did he play in over 100 games. He's played for four different teams, in which he has a lifetime BA of .234 with 164 HRs and 396 RBIs. But at 33 y/o the left hander played in 116 games mostly at 1B and hit .251 with 31 HRs/ 76 RBIs for the Mariners. Not only was that the first time he lived up to his billing as a true power hitter by producing more then 24 HRs but most of those numbers came in the 1/2 half of the season when he was on an incredible hot streak. Prior to th...
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