Mark Buehrle Can Thank The Mets
In a season where everything’s gone wrong for the Mets, you can add Mark Buehrle’s perfect game to the list.
Why, you ask? The Mets weren’t even playing Thursday!
Correct. But, a former Met was…and he had a huge impact on Buehrle’s perfect-o. Just take a look at the picture below. See the guy about to be the first one to embrace Mark Buehrle on the mound?
Yep, that’s Ramon Castro. He was Buehrle’s catcher. One of only 18 in major league history to call a perfect game. And the Mets traded him to Chicago in May.
Turns out, according to an article on MLB.com, today was the first time Castro caught Buehrle. But apparently they were on the same page.
Said Buehrle to Castro, “You put it down, and I'll throw it. Hopefully, I'll get it where you want it."
Castro was a guy the Mets considered a defensive liability and a poor game-caller. That might be true, but today, the guy was about as good as a catcher could be.
I’m not necessarily saying that the Mets made a mistake in unloading Castro, or that if they kept him this season wouldn’t have turned out the way it has.
I guess all I’m really doing is calling attention to a guy who managed to escape this black hole of a Mets season and managed to become part of baseball history in the process.
Good for Castro. Because knowing the way 2009 has gone for the Mets, chances are he wasn’t going to accomplish anything nearly as special in Flushing.
Matt Estreich for The Huddle
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Comments: 1
It is not a coincidence that the two players reported to be in Jerry Manuel's doghouse, Ramon Castro and Ryan Church, were both traded.
Jerry "The Communicator" did not think much of Ramon Castro's defensive ability. Well, all Castro did was catch a perfect game today. Meanwhile, Manuel is the inept manager of the floundering Mets. I was watching that ninth inning this afternoon and at game's end I could not help but rip off my shirt in total amazement.