Yardbarker: Shawn Estes

Don't let your kid pitch for this team

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:09:52 -0500

by DCScrap, on 205th magazine

This weekend Dusty Baker will be the fill-in coach for 9-year-old son Darren's 10-and-under traveling tournament team.

In other news, every player's parents refuse to let their kid pitch this weekend for fear of them becoming the next Mark Prior.

"The head coach is away for the weekend. I begged my dad to coach the team," Darren said. "I'm very excited because it was his dream to always coach me."

Apparently Darren is too young to know the names Shawn Estes, Kerry Wood, Aaron Harang, Russ Ortiz, Kirk Rueter, Jason Schmidt, and Matt Clement, among others...

My Shea Memories

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 19:06:27 -0500

My Top 10 Shea Stadium Memories...
Everyone has their favorite Shea memories. I was not around for the 1969 World Series but I was around for the 1986 World Series. I started going to Mets games at the age of 10. At that time in 1983, the Mets were bad but they always played on a natural grass field surface and the stadium had it's own nuances about it. It never was the prettiest ballpark, but it always was my second home in the summer time. Somewhere we can all go and watch the Mets.....

Here are My Top 10 Shea Memories:

10) 9/27/08 - Santana Pitches the game of his life. This could be the very last possible good memory of this Stadium.

9)5/10/85 - My First encounter with Doc Gooden. - I was young 12 yr old., but I was sitting on the first base side in field level and the Mets were playing the Phillies. Doc struck out 13 that day and I can remember the pop of the glove and I was hooked, I could not get enough of Doctor K..

8)6/15/02 - Shawn Estes throws at Roger Clemens and misses... - I was in the upper deck to watch the subway series and I can remember Estes throwing the ball behind him and the crowd went wild. It was retaliation for all the abuse Mike Piazza endured from Clemens . Estes also hit a Home run against Clemens that day..

7)10/21/86 - Lenny Dykstra Homers in the 1st inning Game3 of the World Series off Oil can Boyd. I was jumping around at home like a lunatic

6)10/17/99 - 1999 NLCS Game 5 Ventura Walk off Grand Slam Single...Mojo rising

5)10/9/99 - 1999 NLDS Game 4 Pratt's Walk off Homer to center. I though Steve Finley caught that ball......and I remember Gary Cohen's call, it's outta here!

4)9/21/01 - Baseball returns to Shea after 9/11. - Mike Piazza hit a dramatic Homerun that was just memorable. It seemed to me, that all we had left was baseball and I was very emotional..

3)10/19/06 - Endy Chavez's Catch Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS - This was one of the greatest catches in Mets history. Obviously we did not do much after that but it is something that will always be in my mind forever..

2)10/25/86 - The Buckner Game - Game 6 of the World Series.. I was coming home from a birthday party and I heard from a friend that we were losing. I ran home to see the end of this dramatic game. You just can't write the ending to this happy story....

1)10/27/86 - We Win the 1986 World Series. - I remember the last out like it was yesterday with Jesse Orosco striking out Marty Barrett. I was a paper boy back then and I have many copies of that paper.

I could go on and on but these are the ones that are enlodged in my brain.

I also remember being on that field in 1991 for the Harry M. Stevens Picnic which I was a employee. They used to let us play on the field and they used to let us walk around the stadium. I was a real treat for any Mets fan..

I will be real sad to see Big Shea go because it hosted so many memories of my childhood and they can be never be replaced..

Go Mets ! - Get 'Er Done!

Looking Ahead at the 2009 Free Agent Market!

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:17:46 -0500

Now with some glaring holes going into next year. The Mets will have a new ballpark but they also will have to replace some parts.

Obviously the bullpen is a mess starting with Billy Wagner.

The second base position can be resolved with a veteran and that means that Castillo will be traded for a bag of balls.

The starting rotation is also very interesting thing to look at with Oliver Perez (who is only 27)who is going to be a free agent and has Scott Boris as a agent.

The Mets will have Pedro Martinez coming off the books. As well as Moises Alou, who has been a disappointment because he never plays.

Here are the 2009 Free Agents from those positions mentioned:

Second basemen
Willie Bloomquist (31)
Geoff Blum (36) - club option for '09
Jamey Carroll (35) - $2.5MM club option for '09 with a $0.15MM buyout
Craig Counsell (38)
Ray Durham (37)
Damion Easley (39)
David Eckstein (34)
Mark Ellis (32)
Mark Grudzielanek (39)
Jerry Hairston Jr. (33)
Orlando Hudson (31)
Tadahito Iguchi (34)
Jeff Kent (41)
Felipe Lopez (29)
Mark Loretta (37)
Nick Punto (31)

Starting pitchers
Kris Benson (33)
A.J. Burnett (32) - can opt out after '08 season
Paul Byrd (38)
Roger Clemens (46)
Matt Clement (33)
Bartolo Colon (36)
Ryan Dempster (32)
Shawn Estes (36)
Josh Fogg (32)
Freddy Garcia (33)
Jon Garland (29)
Tom Glavine (43)
Mike Hampton (36)
Mark Hendrickson (35)
Livan Hernandez (34)
Orlando Hernandez (43)
Jason Jennings (30)
Randy Johnson (45)
John Lackey (30) - $9MM club option for '09 with a $0.5MM buyout
Jon Lieber (39)
Kyle Lohse (30)
Braden Looper (34)
Rodrigo Lopez (33) - club option for '09
Derek Lowe (36)
Greg Maddux (43)
Pedro Martinez (37)
Jamie Moyer (46)
Mark Mulder (31) - $11MM club option for '09 with a $1.5MM buyout
Mike Mussina (40)
Carl Pavano (33) - $13MM club option for '09 with a $1.95MM buyout
Brad Penny (31) - $8.75MM club option for '09 with a $2MM buyout
Odalis Perez (32)
Oliver Perez (27)
Andy Pettitte (37)
Sidney Ponson (32)
Mark Prior (27)
Kenny Rogers (44)
C.C. Sabathia (28)
Curt Schilling (42)
Ben Sheets (30)
John Smoltz (42)
Tim Wakefield (42) - perpetual $4MM club option
Kip Wells (32)
Randy Wolf (32)

Closers
Brian Fuentes (33)
Eric Gagne (33)
Eddie Guardado (38)
Trevor Hoffman (41)
Jason Isringhausen (36)
Todd Jones (41)
Brandon Lyon (29)
Francisco Rodriguez (27)
Salomon Torres (37) - $3.75MM club option for '09 with a $0.3MM buyout
Kerry Wood (32)

Middle relievers
Jeremy Affeldt (30)
Luis Ayala (31)
Joe Beimel (32)
Joe Borowski (38)
Doug Brocail (42) - club option for '09
Shawn Chacon (31)
Juan Cruz (30)
Alan Embree (39) - $3MM club option for '09
Scott Eyre (37)
Kyle Farnsworth (33)
Casey Fossum (31)
Keith Foulke (35)
Tom Gordon (41) - $4.5MM club option for '09 with a $1MM buyout
LaTroy Hawkins (36)
Mark Hendrickson (35)
Matt Herges (39) - club option for '09
Bob Howry (35)
Jon Lieber (39)
Jason Johnson (35)
Damaso Marte (34) - $6MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Trever Miller (36) - $2MM club option for '09 with a $0.4MM buyout
Guillermo Mota (35)
Will Ohman (31)
Darren Oliver (38)
Chan Ho Park (36)
Horacio Ramirez (29)
Al Reyes (38)
Dennys Reyes (32)
Arthur Rhodes (39)
Juan Rincon (30)
Rudy Seanez (40)
Brian Shouse (40)
Russ Springer (40)
Mike Timlin (43)
Ron Villone (39)
David Weathers (39)
Kip Wells (32)
Matt Wise (33)
Jamey Wright (34)

The curse of the MLB All-Star Game and San Francisco Giants' pitchers

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 21:39:44 -0500

There's a curse bigger than the Bambino, the Billy Goat and the Black Sox that no one seems to talk about. It's claimed yet another victim this year and still baseball fans choose to ignore it. I'm talking about the 'curse of the San Francisco Giants All-Star Pitchers.' (Or better known as COTSFGASP.) Since 1983, the All-Star Game has dominated Giants' pitchers like Chris Berman dominates co-workers. The curses' latest victim? Twenty-four year old Giants' phenom Tim Lincecum, who was forced to miss Tuesday night's game due to being hospitalized because of dehydration. Seriously, this curse isn't f'ning around. See below. 1983: Atlee Hammaker In perhaps the worst beating by an All-Star Game on a Giants' pitcher happened in 1983. Atlee Hammaker led the NL with a 2.25 ERA that season and was selected to the All-Star Game. He was then hammered for seven runs on six hits in just 0.2 innings and to make matters worse, he gave up the first grand slam in ASG history. Granted he was pitching with shoulder tendonitis but still – the COTSFGASP claims its first victim of the 1980s. 1989: Rick Reuschel In 1989, the Giants represented in the National League in the World Series. And in the 1989 All-Star Game, Rick Reuschel represented the National League as their starting pitcher. Only he didn't represent them very well and was shelled for two runs on three hits in just one inning of work. 1990: Jeff Brantley After the massive beat down the COTSFGASP laid on Reuschel the year before, Jeff Brantley was next. Brantley gave up the most hits (2) and runs (2) of any other pitcher in the National League. He lasted just 0.1 innings. 1993: John Burkett & Rod Beck John Burkett was an absolute disaster in the 1993 ASG, giving up three runs on four hits in just 0.2 innings of work. His teammate Rod Beck didn't fare much better, giving up one run on two hits in just one inning pitched. 1997: Shawn Estes In 1997, Shawn Estes won a career-best 19 games for the Giants, finished the year with a 3.18 ERA and he was selected to his first ASG. In the 1997 Midsummer Classic, Estes made an appearance in the seventh inning of a 1-1 tie. He proceeded to walk Bernie Williams and then one out later, Indians' catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. blasted an Estes' pitch over the left field wall that eventually gave the AL a 3-1 victory. Since then, Estes' ERA has never been lower than 4.00. 1998: Robb Nen Although it's fair to mention that just one run was earned, Robb Nen pitches just one inning and gives up three runs on three hits. 2002: Robb Nen In 2002, the NL was in the midst of a five-year losing streak, but led the AL 7-6 in the eighth inning. That is, until Robb Nen entered the game. Nen allowed the tying run to cross the plate in the eighth and the game eventually ended in a 7-7 tie. Fans were outraged…all because of Robb Nen. 2008: Tim Lincecum COTSFGASP never even allowed Tim Lincecum to reach the clubhouse after being selected to his first ASG. The media reported Lincecum had "flu-like symptoms", but everyone knows better. It was COTSFGASP that got Linc. Let these examples serve as a warning to future All-Star pitchers who represent the Giants. Do whatever you have to do – miss the team bus to the stadium, fake an injury or make up a death in the family. Just don't pitch in the All-Star Game because your career may never be the same. COTSFGASP is for real.

Fantasy Rundown: Pedro Version 2.0

Wed, 14 May 2008 03:23:32 -0500

Cliff Lee may be making a mockery of the American League, but maybe even more surprising is the dominance Edinson Volquez is having in the National League. Find out how Volquez is dominating plus more bullpen madness and Tampa Bay in first-place?

Baseball's Signs of Panic

Sat, 10 May 2008 11:30:27 -0500

With almost 40 games down the baseball season is rapidly approaching the panic crunch. Teams will have to decide whether they will continue and try to win their division or start to face the reality that they just weren't very good this season. Players on the other hand are trying to figure out why their just aren't producing this season and will be looking for reasons for their current teams to continue to pay them mega contracts for little production. We'll go ahead and take a look at a few of the recent moves that signal that this time of the season is indeed upon us. CLICK THE LINK TO READ THE REST

Panic Signs: Padres move Estes into rotation

Sat, 10 May 2008 10:32:00 -0500

To say the San Diego Padres are in panic would be easy to prove as they recently announced a change in their rotation involving Shawn Estes. Estes will take over the fifth starters spot in the San Diego Padres rotation which was held by Justin Germano to start the season. Germano was 0-3 with a 6.17 ERA in seven games this season for the team. Estes pitched out of the bullpen recently and hasn't started a big league game since 2006 when he appeared in just one game all season. In 2005 his last season of pitching on a somewhat regular schedule Estes was 7-8 with a 4.80 ERA while a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Once considered one of the best young lefties in the game, the former 1st round pick of the San Fransisco Giants in 1991 is now 35 years old. For his career he is 99-90 with a 4.71 ERA.

Behind Enemy Lines

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 17:10:48 -0500

We here at AZSH are just rolling out the new entries to look forward too. Another one of our new semi regular posts will be called Behind Enemy Lines. We will take a look at the blog posts from Arizona sports teams division rivals to see what they are saying about their teams and our Arizona teams.

Zambrano Gives Thanks

Sat, 30 Dec 2006 18:45:50 -0500

In what I consider a shocker, Barry Zito has agreed to a deal with the San Fransisco Giants. What's not the shocking part is the money, Barry will get a reported 126 million over 7 years with an option for an 8th year giving the total deal a possible 137 million value. It's the largest for any pitcher in the history of baseball, surpassing the previous mark set by Mike Hampton and the Colorado Rockies for 121 million over 8 years. The seven year guarenteed deal is tied for the sixth largest in the history of baseball, tying Vernon Wells mark set just a short while ago, yet still pailing in comparision to what the Cubs guarenteed the 31 year old Alfonso Soriano, 136 million over 8 years. So what does the signing of Zito have to do with the Cubs? It deals with the Cubs in that Carlos Zambrano, our only stud to turn out thus far of our "three-headed pitching monster" of 2003, is a free agent at the end of the 2007 season and he's looking to be paid. Statistically speaking he is very comparable to Barry, and he's three years younger. Carlos has already commented this offseason that he's not willing to take a hometown discount like his friend Aramis Ramirez did. Which is rightfully so, the Cubs have went hogwild this offseason in their spending, dishing out 40 million/4 years and 21 million/3 years to average pitchers in Lilly and Marquis while giving Soriano the fifth richest contract in MLB history. When Carlos was coming up through the system, he was touted for his arsenal, but quickly excelled for his bulldog attitude and ability to keep the ball on the ground and in the park. But Zambrano was NOT pegged as a starter, instead most scouts and analysts had him as a setup/closer type role due to various factors such as the depth of Cubs pitching prospects, his demeanor, and his high walk rate.