Nanner
05-26-2004, 02:09 PM
Found this cool article while surfing. His avg. may be low right now, but I always feels good when he comes in a game. He's just that kind of guy. I know he's gonna leave everything on the field. He's gonna play his heart out.
I remember the start of the season. With guys injured, he was getting alot of playing time, and doing well. And he's only got one error! :eek: :clap:
McEwing: A New York kind of guy
By RANDY MILLER
phillyBurbs.com
NEW YORK - The local kid who made it big would never diss his roots. Joe McEwing, a jack-of-all-trades utility player for the New York Mets, is proud to have been born and raised in Bristol Township, and still calls Yardley home.
But while relaxing last winter with his wife, Julia, and their new son, nine-month-old J.D., Joe learned something about himself. Nothing against Philadelphia or Bucks County, but his heart seems to have moved on.
Nowadays, McEwing considers himself a New York kind of guy.
"Absolutely," he said Tuesday night before a game against the Phillies, the team he followed all through his childhood.
In his fifth season with the Mets, McEwing, 31, spends his summers in a section of Queens where he gets the conveniences of Manhattan and friendliness of Yardley.
"New York is great," McEwing said. "I know a lot of people can't stand the hustle and bustle, but in the winter I couldn't wait to get back to it. I couldn't wait to walk down the street to get my paper and hear people say, 'Hey, what's going on.' "
This year, McEwing is having a blast at the ballpark, too. Although struggling with a .206 batting average, he's on a ballclub that has been better than expected. Coming off a 95-loss season, the Mets were predicted by many to finish near or at the bottom in the NL East. But heading into this two-game series against the Phillies, the Mets had a .500 record at 22-22.
"It's been a lot of fun, and we're playing good," McEwing said. "Nobody is expecting a lot from us, but we expect to win. We're having fun, and from Day One, we've done little things to win games. We're not going to outslug you 16-15, but we've been getting outstanding pitching and we're in every game."
McEwing seems to come off the bench just about every night, too, and he's done his part. Although his average is low, he has eight RBIs because he's been very good in the clutch with five hits in 14 at-bats with runners in scoring position.
And as usual, he's playing everywhere. Like last season, he's already played seven positions. He's started eight games at second base, four in center field, two in left, one in right and one at shortstop. He's also gotten into games at third and first, and although he hasn't been needed there, he's the emergency catcher with a mitt waiting in his locker.
Despite all this moving around, McEwing has committed just one error.
"It's funny, but I feel comfortable everywhere," McEwing said. "I've played seven positions, and it's going out there, doing the work and getting the reps. Only then do you get that comfort level."
Like any reserve, McEwing would love to play more. His only chance as a regular came during his rookie season in 1999, when he played for St. Louis. He played well that season, too, hitting .275 with nine homers and 44 RBIs in 152 games.
Since, the guy nicknamed Super Joe has been a super sub who sits and waits for at-bats, whether they come as a pinch-hitter with the game on the line, when a starter needs a day off or when someone goes down.
All the while, McEwing wears a smile, encourages teammates in good times and bad, and has a blast living out his dream.
"I try to be in a positive frame of mind every day, even though it is tough sometimes," McEwing said. "The more you're positive, the better off you're going to be and the people around you are going to be."
Now you can see why he's a favorite of Mets manager Art Howe, just as he was of former Mets skipper Bobby Valentine and Tony La Russa, his manager in St. Louis.
"You'd rather be respected than liked, but you prefer both," McEwing said. "I have confidence in my ability to go out there and play the game, and hopefully they do in me, too."
The Mets showed what they think last December by offering a two-year, $1 million contract. McEwing, who previously never had a multi-year deal, graciously signed on the dotted line.
"That meant a lot that the organization felt that way about me," McEwing said. "It's the first time you feel all the hard work paid off."
MCEWING'S STATS
Games played: 30
At bats: 63
Avg. .206 BB 5
HRs 1 SO 16
RBIs 8 SB 2
Runs 7 SLG. .286
I remember the start of the season. With guys injured, he was getting alot of playing time, and doing well. And he's only got one error! :eek: :clap:
McEwing: A New York kind of guy
By RANDY MILLER
phillyBurbs.com
NEW YORK - The local kid who made it big would never diss his roots. Joe McEwing, a jack-of-all-trades utility player for the New York Mets, is proud to have been born and raised in Bristol Township, and still calls Yardley home.
But while relaxing last winter with his wife, Julia, and their new son, nine-month-old J.D., Joe learned something about himself. Nothing against Philadelphia or Bucks County, but his heart seems to have moved on.
Nowadays, McEwing considers himself a New York kind of guy.
"Absolutely," he said Tuesday night before a game against the Phillies, the team he followed all through his childhood.
In his fifth season with the Mets, McEwing, 31, spends his summers in a section of Queens where he gets the conveniences of Manhattan and friendliness of Yardley.
"New York is great," McEwing said. "I know a lot of people can't stand the hustle and bustle, but in the winter I couldn't wait to get back to it. I couldn't wait to walk down the street to get my paper and hear people say, 'Hey, what's going on.' "
This year, McEwing is having a blast at the ballpark, too. Although struggling with a .206 batting average, he's on a ballclub that has been better than expected. Coming off a 95-loss season, the Mets were predicted by many to finish near or at the bottom in the NL East. But heading into this two-game series against the Phillies, the Mets had a .500 record at 22-22.
"It's been a lot of fun, and we're playing good," McEwing said. "Nobody is expecting a lot from us, but we expect to win. We're having fun, and from Day One, we've done little things to win games. We're not going to outslug you 16-15, but we've been getting outstanding pitching and we're in every game."
McEwing seems to come off the bench just about every night, too, and he's done his part. Although his average is low, he has eight RBIs because he's been very good in the clutch with five hits in 14 at-bats with runners in scoring position.
And as usual, he's playing everywhere. Like last season, he's already played seven positions. He's started eight games at second base, four in center field, two in left, one in right and one at shortstop. He's also gotten into games at third and first, and although he hasn't been needed there, he's the emergency catcher with a mitt waiting in his locker.
Despite all this moving around, McEwing has committed just one error.
"It's funny, but I feel comfortable everywhere," McEwing said. "I've played seven positions, and it's going out there, doing the work and getting the reps. Only then do you get that comfort level."
Like any reserve, McEwing would love to play more. His only chance as a regular came during his rookie season in 1999, when he played for St. Louis. He played well that season, too, hitting .275 with nine homers and 44 RBIs in 152 games.
Since, the guy nicknamed Super Joe has been a super sub who sits and waits for at-bats, whether they come as a pinch-hitter with the game on the line, when a starter needs a day off or when someone goes down.
All the while, McEwing wears a smile, encourages teammates in good times and bad, and has a blast living out his dream.
"I try to be in a positive frame of mind every day, even though it is tough sometimes," McEwing said. "The more you're positive, the better off you're going to be and the people around you are going to be."
Now you can see why he's a favorite of Mets manager Art Howe, just as he was of former Mets skipper Bobby Valentine and Tony La Russa, his manager in St. Louis.
"You'd rather be respected than liked, but you prefer both," McEwing said. "I have confidence in my ability to go out there and play the game, and hopefully they do in me, too."
The Mets showed what they think last December by offering a two-year, $1 million contract. McEwing, who previously never had a multi-year deal, graciously signed on the dotted line.
"That meant a lot that the organization felt that way about me," McEwing said. "It's the first time you feel all the hard work paid off."
MCEWING'S STATS
Games played: 30
At bats: 63
Avg. .206 BB 5
HRs 1 SO 16
RBIs 8 SB 2
Runs 7 SLG. .286