Silver Linings, Or .....

By Professor Evan Pritchard
Posted Wednesday, May 9, 2007

.....or how the Duaner Sanchez Disaster Turned Into Unlikely Gold

A Positive, Feel-Good, Diatribe on the Good Karma of the Mets

We have to give Omar Minaya a little credit for thinking on his feet. Few of us can now second-guess the man who shone like a diamond under pressure and made three excruciatingly difficult trades within hours of losing his best pitcher in a car accident—16 hours before the trade deadline. How many would have done as well under the same circumstances? It is only now in 20-20 hindsight that we can fully appreciate the results.

First, here is an excerpt from my new book Flushing Fever, including some of the story surrounding the horrible crash that sent the Mets’ star middle reliever Duaner Sanchez to the hospital.

“On midnight of July 30th, with 18 hours left until the trade deadline, Omar Minaya lit the midnight oil once again, talking trade with almost every owner in the majors, but to no avail. Still he had a lot to sit back and be grateful for. There was no game scheduled for July 31st, and he could focus on dealing for pitching. The Mets record for the month was 16-9 (.640), a terrific month, really. They were 66-40 on the year to date, and after wrecking the Braves, their lead over the NL East became even more commanding. But Omar still had the post-season to stock up for.

Rumors were flitting here and there about Maddux or Oswalt coming to New York, which was logical, but more far-fetched were the rumors of Bobby Abreu coming to New York as well, to join the Yankees. That didn’t make sense as the Phils were still in the wild card race, so I stopped following those rumors. As it turns out, the Maddux and Oswalt deals didn’t “fly” but the Abreu one did, (July 30th) and double surprise, it didn’t slow down the Phils, in fact they got better, and Abreu got better at the plate as well. A lot better. Jason Varitek was to go on the DL immediately after the trade deadline, and the Red Sox would be in real trouble. July 30th was also the day Cory Lidle joined the Yankees, whose tragic plane crash into an apartment building in Manhattan is still the cause of bewilderment and sorrow.

But the biggest surprise was the phone call Omar Minaya received at about 2 AM that Monday morning, 16 hours left before the doors of opportunity closed. His best pitcher, #50, (to honor America’s 50 states?) a bespectacled fellow Dominican named Duaner Sanchez was in a serious car accident, injuring his pitching arm. He was already in the IC ward in a Florida hospital. Omar was in the hot seat. Time for a serious cup of mocha java and a couple o’ hunks o’ pie. It was going to be a long night!

Young Mets fans had one of the worst 48 hours of their budding collective careers between Sunday night's/Monday morning's car crash in Miami, the loss of Xavier Nady at 4 PM on Monday to Pittsburgh, and Tuesday’s heartbreaking 6-5 loss due to Billy Hero-to-Zero Wagner’s blown save in the bottom of the ninth. Those four pitches ended a four game win streak for the Mets. When you add that to one hundred degree weather in the New York Mets home region, well...it was just two of those days.

I posted: “For those who haven’t heard, Duaner Sanchez was in a car crash last night, 16 hours before the trade deadline, and suffered a separated shoulder which will probably require surgery. The news crashed the Mets victory party, celebrating their historic sweep of the Braves at Turner Field earlier that same day. Sanchez was having a career year, and though he can play again in a year or so, he may never be the same. Omar Minaya moved fast and traded right fielder Xavier Nady for aging reliever Roberto Hernandez, a middle reliever the Mets had already sent packing before, and one other player, Oliver Perez. Nady was one of four big sluggers for the Mets, and was definitely on track to hit 20+ homers that year. That trade completely disrupted Nady’s life and was less than fantastic with Pittsburgh: at least Jeromy Bernitz would have a fellow former Met to swap New York stories with…"

I posted, “But let’s not dwell on life’s little misfortunes! Let’s sing Meet the Mets and dance around, counting our blessings! Every cloud has a silver lining. Let’s look on the bright side. (If you can’t digest that bit of fluff, the Mets’ Suicide Hotline is (718)-438-6666!) Here’s the good news!!! It wasn’t Pedro!

Sanchez didn’t die, God forbid! He’s healthy in every part of his body except his $399,500 (ouch!) pitching arm. Pedro's not dead either, just well rested.”

That was the extent of my optimism. Because of the loss of Nady in right, Lasting Milledge was called up, yanking him out of a fire of controversy in the International League. It probably saved him from a playing ban for bumping an umpire, and we all know that the devil has plenty of part-time work for idle hands to do. Now he can say to that ump Mike Estabrook, “That’s “You’re outta the game, MR. Milledge” to you!” He must have felt like the mythic soda jerk that gets that big call from Hollywood just as his crabby boss is about to say “You’re fired!” And the Mets brass called and convinced Estabrook that the bump never happened, and that the conversation with Mr. Milledge never happened, either. Milledge started off his second stint this year as a Big League Met with three bases on balls. It was good for his on-base percentage. I guess the umpire didn't want to get into an argument with him.

The silver lining was hard to see then, but Xavier Nady would wilt with the Pirates, and journeyman Oliver Perez (6.63 ERA with the Pirates) would turn into a post-season superstar with the Mets.

Roberto Hernandez, who replaced Duaner Sanchez in the bullpen, had 326 lifetime saves at that point. That was a lot more that Sanchez. Mr. Hernandez had gone 8-6 the previous year for the Mets with a low 2.58 ERA, which is lower than Sanchez’ was back in ’05. “It could happen again,” I said, but it didn’t.

Duaner Sanchez would have plenty of time to work in his new David Wright A2KDW5 infielder’s glove, that is if he chooses to purchase one, or if Wright gives him one as a get well gift.”

From Flushing Fever, The Incredible Story of the 2006 New York Mets As Told From a Fan’s Perspective Flushing University Press, an Imprint of Brandywine Mew Media copyright © 2007 Evan Pritchard Available soon at this website!

Here is the update on the far-reaching results of that pivotal moment in Mets history. And the next time something happens to you from out of right field that seems to upset your apple cart, think of Duaner Sanchez and the Mets and take heart. Some clouds really do have a silver lining.

THE FAR REACHING RESULTS

We lost Duaner Sanchez, (acquired for Jae Seo) and he is still not recovered, and it is now May 7th, 2007. Yes, we could have used him in the NLCS, but other players were acquired to fill Duaner’s shoes, good people like Guillermo Mota, who won three games in only 18 innings with a 1.00 ERA while filling in for Sanchez.

We lost Xavier Nady (acquired for Mike Cameron) who was having a good year in right. We traded him to Pittsburgh for middle reliever Roberto Hernandez. We called up Lastings Milledge to replace him in right, and then got Shawn Green from L.A. to replace Milledge.

Xavier Nady: So far this season, (2007) Nady had been in 22 games, 74 at bats, with 4 homers 13 ribbies, one stolen base and a disappointing .243 batting average. For the last seven games he has been hitting a mere .154, and is now having tests to see if he suffers from Crohn’s Disease. He has been complaining of a “grabbing” complication to his left hamstring pull which has bothered him all year. He did not get hit between April 21st and May 4th. He is batting only .133 at home this year. He did well for the Pirates at the end of last season, with 3 homers and a .300 average in 55 games, however he struck out 34 times.

Shawn Green: He played in 34 games at the end of 2006 and was not impressive, 29 hits, 9 doubles, 4 homers, 15 ribbies, 18 strikeouts, no stolen bases, and a .257 batting average. This year, in only 30 games, he already has the same number of homers, the same number of doubles, but 11 more hits, 3 more ribbies, 4 more bases on balls, 4 less strikeouts, 2 more stolen bases, and an amazing .351 batting average near the top of the National League in hitting since day one. On April 28th, for example, he was hitting .365. Nothing against Xavier Nady, but he never batted .365 that I can recall.

Roberto Hernandez: Hernandez pitched in 22 games for the 2006 Mets, 20.7 innings, and gave up 8 earned runs and 15 hits, 8 walks to 15 strikeouts. His ERA was 3.48. There were no saves, no wins or losses, but it wasn’t a bad year. He now pitches for Cleveland, with a 4.76 ERA in 11.3 innings, with 9 walks to 7 strikeouts, not a good ratio.

Oliver Perez: Perez is 3-2 this year in 5 games, 29 innings. He has 10 walks to 36 strikeouts, a good ratio. His ERA this year is a solid 3.41. In his last start, May 2nd, he went 5.2 innings with fanned ten men while walking only 3 and a 1.59 ERA for the game. Since 4/27 he has had three out of four walkless games, and 9 strikeouts twice. He is batting .333 on the season and is also getting really good at jumping over the foul lines without stepping on them.

In the 2006 Post Season, Perez was the star of the beleaguered Mets staff. He had two good starts in the NLCS, with a 1-0 record. In 11.7 innings, he gave up 13 hits and 6 earned runs, with 7 strikeouts versus 3 walks for a 4.63 ERA against Pujols and the heavy-hitting Cards.

In the regular 2006 season with the Mets, he held his own, with 41 strikeouts to 17 walks, 1 win and 3 losses, and one complete game shutout. He had a deceptively high 6.38 ERA, but gave some outstanding performances. Even then, we had reason to be glad he had joined the team in place of Duaner Sanchez, but the best was yet to come.

News From Maine: Last Friday, John Maine, pitching in a night game on the road, tossed a no-hit first inning (as well as a second) to complete his glorious Acrostix No-Hitter; 9 consecutive first innings without giving up a hit. For all we know, Maine is the first man ever to do so. The TV commentators did not comment on this important feat, but I predicted here last week in my Flushing U article, and he did it. Congratulations, John Maine. Now I want a backwards diagonal no-hitter, starting with a hitless ninth, then an eighth, then a seventh. In fact, any kind of ninth inning would be a novelty.