Fossum File

It's been a long time since I've posted a Fossum File. My bad. The state of the Mets has just depressed me far too much to speak. However, here's the update: Fossum is once again available. After pitching very well for a few weeks at Scranton, Fossum used an out in his contract and opted for free agency. Will the Mets pick him back up? Very unlikely. But where will his great, epic story take him next? I already need to add a couple more verses to the tribute song.

Another Stop on the Fossum Trail

After 3 appearences with the Mets, posting a 2.25 ERA in the process, Casey Fossum was DFA'd by the Mets to make room for 40 year old rookie Ken Takahashi. Now, I'm hoping Takahashi pitches very well for the Mets, and his first appearence against Philadelphia was impressive following another pathetic Oliver Perez start (which now has Perez headed to the bullpen to be a $12 million long reliever). But this is a sad time for me as a Casey Fossum fan. He was quickly snatched up off waivers by the evil Yankees across town. He made his first start at AAA Scranton on Saturday afternoon, pitching well against the Norfolk Tides. Saddest of all: I was at the Scranton-Norfolk game on Friday night, but did not find out until today (Monday) that Fossum had signed on there. Otherwise, I definitely would have at least gone and seen him pitch. Very sad. Very, very sad. Maybe another time this summer...

Go Blade!

Okay, it's Casey Fossum's first game with the Mets, and he's currently on his way to the mound from the bullpen to relieve (once-again) terrible Ollie Perez, who just walked in a run. As you can deduce from that, Fossum is entering with bases loaded. Dear God! He's doomed.

Let's hope the best....

Go Blade!!!!


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Well, he's just thrown 4 pitches. And... well.... none of them were anywhere close...

..at least it wasn't any different from how Ollie Perez was pitching...

He did it!!!

Today the Mets called up LHP Casey Fossum from AAA Buffalo to the Major League club. Here's how I learned this awesome news:

According to a commenter on DRaysBay, Fossum just got called up to the Mets??? And holy crap, he's on their Active Roster!! Yippeeeeeeee!!!!

That's an email I woke up to from Steve. I haven't had a chance to look into it yet, but my guess is this: Nelson Figueroa had to be called up for a spot start over the weekend since Pelfrey was hurt but not hurt enough to go on the DL. To make room on the roster, Darren O'Day (who we got as a Rule 5 pick from the Angels) needed to be designated for assignment. Pelfrey should be healthy enough for his next start, so Figueroa was no longer needed on the big league club. So I'm guessing Fossum is taking his spot on the roster, and O'Day's role with the club as a middle reliever. Not sure, but that's my guess. Whatever the explanation, Woo-Hoo!!!!

A Glorious Day

Today is truly a great day in my life. I just realized that Gameday pitch-by-pitch of minor league games is available at MiLB.com. What does that mean for me? Well, the Buffalo Bisons just started a game against Syracuse, and the starting pitcher for Buffalo is none other than -- you know who -- The Blade!

After one inning, Fossum's hopes for a season-long shutout are shattered: Syracuse leadoff hitter Jorge Padilla doubled to start the game, and scored on an RBI groundout following a Fossum wild pitch. In typical Fossum style, after a couple mistakes leading to a run, he then struck out the next two batters to end the inning. One of those was former Met great Lastings Milledge -- sent down to AAA by the Nationals last week. Fossum continues to please the authors of this blog in so many ways.

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Update: Fossum just exited the game with a no-decision. In 6 innings, he allowed one earned run on 3 hits and 3 walks. He also struck out 9 (Lastings Milledge was a victim twice). He threw only 88 pitches. Eddie Kunz has come in to pitch the 7th.

Fossum File

There hasn't been much positive to say about the Mets thus far this season, so I figured I'd give a more uplifting post that's relevant to one of the main themes of this blog:

Casey Fossum has started one game so far for AAA Buffalo. In a no-decision, Fossum tossed 5 innings of scoreless ball while allowing 2 hits and 2 walks. He also struck out 3. With Pelfrey ineffective and possibly injured, and Perez and Maine both inconsistent, is it terribly unreasonable to believe Fossum could break the big league rotation this season? Granted, he's probably behind Jon Niese, Dillon Gee, and even Elmer Dessens on the organizational depth chart, but...... stranger things have happened. The '06 Mets who won the division used over a dozen starting pitchers during the season. So why not? The jersey I have will actually make sense then -- assuming he keeps his number 47 from Spring Training.

See you in Buffalo

In what will very likely be his last appearance of the Spring, Casey Fossum today allowed 3 runs on 6 hits in 2.2 innings against hte Orioles. Clearly, Fossum was at his best on the mound. And that's why we love him. See you in Buffalo at AAA, Casey! The Buffalo Blade!

The Good News and the Bad

Today brings with it both happy and sad news for the authors of this blog. For Steve and his Rays, Evan Longoria was named to Team USA today to replace the injured Larry Jones. So along with David Wright, Steve and I now both have our man-crushes manning the hot corner for the Americans for the semis. On a much sadder note, the Mets re-assigned our beloved Casey Fossum to minor league camp today (along with Jon Niese and a few others), officially ending our dream that he would somehow secure a role on the big league staff as a long reliever. Damn.... On a happier note, my Casey Fossum Mets jersey should be arriving in the mail in a few days. I just have to keep hope alive!

Love is the Most Important Thing in the World, but Baseball is Pretty Good Too

So far this Spring Training, I've had to just listen to the Mets games on mlb.com since we do not get SNY here at Gettysburg College. However, we do -- for some strange reason -- get CW11, so I haven't moved from my seat since 1 pm as I've been watching the Mets take on the Astros. So far, the offense has looked good, loading the bases in each of the first 3 innings. However, they only just pushed in a run for the first time here in the 3rd on Ryan Church's grounder through the legs of the Astros first-baseman (the second time today Church reached on an error).

On another note, John Maine started today's game. His first inning was sharp (despite a solo homerun by Miguel Tejada). He lost his control a bit in the 2nd, but the important thing for Maine is seeing him healthy after last season. The importance of his health is heightened with the news today that Santana is returning to NYC to have his elbow examined.


....as I typed this, Brian Schneider hit a grand slam to put the Mets on top 5-1. Last season, I made it to three Mets games (two at Shea and one in Washington). Schneider homered in all of them -- including being the last person I saw hit a homer at Shea (against these Astros). Let's hope he stays healthy this year, as well, as he spent the first half of last season struggling from a multitude of problems before having a strong second half at the plate.

Watching baseball again feels great. The world is right again. If only Casey Fossum could pitch today it would be perfect.....

First Fossum File of the Spring

Okay, so the Mets lost their Grapefruit League game today against the Cardinals, 9-8. However, a couple things on the bright side:

1) Ryan Church had an RBI double in the second inning off Cardinals starter Todd Wellemeyer. It's no secret on this blog that I'm a Church fan (certainly more-so than Jerry Manuel, apparently), and I'm happy to see him still able to rake at the plate. I've had 6 concussions myself (4 in baseball), so it might be partly for that reason that I'm really rooting for Church. Good start to the spring; let's hope (for Church and for the sake of the Mets' lineup) that he keeps it up.

2) Bobby Kielty had a homerun off former Met great (in the same way Roberto Alomar and Kaz Matsui are former Met greats..) Royce Ring. Kielty is -- just like Church -- trying to make a comeback from post-concussion syndrome. Kielty, however, has been out of the game since 2006. It's impossible to imagine Kielty making the opening day roster, but he could be this year's Fernando Tatis. And taking a chance on Tatis after his break from the league certainly turned out well for the Mets last season. I hope to see him in Queens (or somewhere else, granted it isn't Philadelphia, Atlanta, or Miami) getting a shot at some point this year. A real feel good story if he can. (By the way, check out some old photos of Kielty. As some other blogs such as Metstradamus have pointed out, he bears a striking resemblance to Sideshow Bob from the Simpsons. And as most kids of the '90s like me know, Sideshow Bob certainly kept on coming back -- even if in Italy........ by the way, Johan Santana was supposed to make a start against the Italian WBC team for the Mets, but he's been scratched as the Mets play it safe with his health).

3) Most important to the heart of this blog (which any of you who are regular readers will know) was the fact that Casey Fossum, our beloved "Blade", pitched two scoreless innings in relief for the Mets -- allowing two hits. Obviously Fossum is a long-shot for a spot on the 25-man roster out of Spring Training, but we're not giving up hope. We'll be following his incredible mediocrity whether it be in Queens, Buffalo, or just on the field the voices are telling me to build for him.

....by the way, I'm accepting donations to fund my construction of that field.

We called it!

"Sometimes I even amaze myself." -Steve Martin, My Blue Heaven


I continue to be impressed by the near-prophet abilities we've demonstrated so far on this blog. First, we anticipated the usefulness of covering the Mets and Rays before Mets Geek did so for emotional expediency. Now, we come to realize the fruition of our greatest dream. That's right. Casey Fossum, "The Blade" himself, was the winning pitcher tonight for the Detroit Tigers. He's BACK!

In honor of this occasion, here's the lyrics to the Casey Fossum tribute song which I promised in the comments to the post linked to above. It's as corny as any other baseball fan song, I know (note: I actually have applied for a copyright for these lyrics, so they can only be reproduced with my permission.... which I'll very happily grant):

Our Beloved “Blade” by Joseph Cook

Drafted by the D-backs in the 7th round
He refused to sign, and the next year found
He’d raised his value up to pick 48
And was set to be the next Red Sox great.

Here’s to Casey Fossum
Our beloved “Blade”
We’ll never forget the incredibly average
Way that he played.

He moved up to the majors in just four years.
He was clearly in the top half of his peers.
Casey made 7 starts his rookie season
And their quality gave us all a reason

To say here’s to Casey Fossum
Our beloved “Blade”
We’ll never forget the incredibly average
Way that he played.

He joined the likes of Pedro, Burkett and Lowe
But the ALCS was as far as the Sox could go
So Casey did his part to end that dreadful “Curse”
He headed to the D-Backs – hey, it could be worse!

Here’s to Casey Fossum
Our beloved “Blade”
We’ll never forget the incredibly average
Way that he played.

The Sox needed an ace who could lead them through
The playoffs while wearing a blood-filled shoe
So they sent off Casey to the desert sand
And brought Schilling to Fenway up in New England.

Here’s to Casey Fossum
Our beloved “Blade”
We’ll never forget the incredibly average
Way that he played.

After a year in the desert where he’d mostly lose
He was sent to Tampa Bay for Mr. Jose Cruz (and cash!)
It was there that he spent the next 3 seasons
And gave us all so many more very good reasons
To say here’s to Casey Fossum
Our beloved “Blade”
We’ll never forget the incredibly average
Way that he played.

With that infant franchise that did nothing but lose
Casey did nothing to hide from the boos.
Led the team in losses and thus put the hurts
On Nomo, Hendrickson, Waechter and Sturtz

Here’s to Casey Fossum
Our beloved “Blade”
We’ll never forget the incredibly average
Way that he played.

Released by the D-Rays, he was free to roam
To the Padres and the Pirates searching for a home
Finally he signed on with Detroit
The 1930 home of the great Waite Hoyt.

Here’s to Casey Fossum
Our beloved “Blade”
We’ll never forget the incredibly average
Way that he played.

This will have to be the current end of this song
But greatness can be held in check for just so long
Casey saved the Red Sox from decades of dark
And soon will be losing in Comerica Park.

Here’s to Casey Fossum
Our beloved “Blade”
We’ll never forget the incredibly average
Way that he played.

Yes!
Here’s to Casey Fossum
Our beloved “Blade”
We’ll never forget the incredibly average
Way that he played.



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There are some kiljoys who say we shouldn't salute Fossum for being 1-0 out of the bullpen with an ERA of 12.00. But c'mon; anybody could be 1-0 with an ERA of 0. Lighten up and celebrate Fossum's mediocrity.


By the way, just as Fossum was clearly responsible for ending the Curse of the Bambino, check out what's happening with the team he was forced to leave last season. That's right. The Rays are in first place at the start of July. Steve isn't available currently to comment on it, so I'll just give the opinion of the rest of us in the world of baseball fan-dom: WTF?!!! Oh, Casey Fossum, why must your powers of improving teams by leaving them be so great?

Breaking News!

Okay folks, this news almost tops Longoria in terms of how big a deal it is. Some of you out there may not fully appreciate the magnitude of this announcement, but it truly is ground-shaking information. Quite possibly the biggest baseball news that there's been since that whole Santana drama finished. Maybe even since that Babe Ruth guy was sent to the Yankees for money to fund a play.

**Drumroll please**

Casey Fossum has signed a minor-league deal with the Tigers! The Blade is back!

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