“Hi, Mom, I’m a Met.”
“Is that good?” Karen Church asked her son this morning.
“Heck, yeah!” he replied.
RYAN CHURCH (pictured in a shot by Mike Collins) was traded today along with catcher Brian Schneider by the Washington Nationals to the New York Mets for right fielder Lastings Milledge.
“To go to a team that day in and day out is a contender, I’ve never been in that situation. I can’t wait,” Church told the media. "I'm tickled pink."
The Nationals finished 16 games behind the National League East champion Phillies, while the Mets lost out by a single game.
“Sellout crowds, that’s what you dream of,” Church said. “New York is the biggest stage in all sports. It’s an honor to be part of that. The sky is the limit.”
The Mets drew 3.8 million fans in 2007, 47,000 per game. The struggling Nationals by comparison attracted 1.9 million or 24, 200 per contest.
New York General Manager Omar Minaya, the same executive who brought Church to the majors with the old Montreal Expos, said Church would be the Mets’ starting rightfielder with all-stars Moises Alou in left and Carlos Beltran in center. Church has played mostly left field and center for the Nats but in the minor leagues he was almost exclusively a right fielder.
The trade comes after two years of rumors that Church, who did not live up to Washington General Manager Jim Bowden’s expectations, was on the block.
As MLB.com Washington correspondent Bill Ladson wrote: “Church was often criticized by the Nationals for not hitting for power, but the Mets loved the fact that he hit 15 home runs and 43 doubles while playing at spacious RFK Stadium.”
Minaya looked at the same numbers Bowden did and came to the opposite conclusion.
“He had a good season,” Minaya told a telephone press conference. “Forty-three doubles, .272, 70 RBI and 15 home runs in a big ballpark. He has a track record. We got an outfielder who had a very good year and can have an even better year. We think you have to take into consideration the ballpark. I think you will see Ryan hit for more power and you will see him steal some bases the way we play.” The Mets led the league in stolen bases this season.
Minaya said Church’s defense was important. “I’m big on defense,” he said several times in the press conference. He also mentioned Church being a lefthanded hitter. “It gives us balance,” he said.
Schneider will be the Mets’ starting catcher after the departure of Paul LoDuca. Milledge, 22, is seven years younger than Church, and is reputed to have superstar potential. He batted .272 this year, exactly the same as Church. He hit seven home runs and drove in 29 runs. He was a first round draft choice by the Mets in 2003.
“Ryan is as excited as the day he was drafted,” bubbled his mom. “I am so happy for him.”
“Is that good?” Karen Church asked her son this morning.
“Heck, yeah!” he replied.
RYAN CHURCH (pictured in a shot by Mike Collins) was traded today along with catcher Brian Schneider by the Washington Nationals to the New York Mets for right fielder Lastings Milledge.
“To go to a team that day in and day out is a contender, I’ve never been in that situation. I can’t wait,” Church told the media. "I'm tickled pink."
The Nationals finished 16 games behind the National League East champion Phillies, while the Mets lost out by a single game.
“Sellout crowds, that’s what you dream of,” Church said. “New York is the biggest stage in all sports. It’s an honor to be part of that. The sky is the limit.”
The Mets drew 3.8 million fans in 2007, 47,000 per game. The struggling Nationals by comparison attracted 1.9 million or 24, 200 per contest.
New York General Manager Omar Minaya, the same executive who brought Church to the majors with the old Montreal Expos, said Church would be the Mets’ starting rightfielder with all-stars Moises Alou in left and Carlos Beltran in center. Church has played mostly left field and center for the Nats but in the minor leagues he was almost exclusively a right fielder.
The trade comes after two years of rumors that Church, who did not live up to Washington General Manager Jim Bowden’s expectations, was on the block.
As MLB.com Washington correspondent Bill Ladson wrote: “Church was often criticized by the Nationals for not hitting for power, but the Mets loved the fact that he hit 15 home runs and 43 doubles while playing at spacious RFK Stadium.”
Minaya looked at the same numbers Bowden did and came to the opposite conclusion.
“He had a good season,” Minaya told a telephone press conference. “Forty-three doubles, .272, 70 RBI and 15 home runs in a big ballpark. He has a track record. We got an outfielder who had a very good year and can have an even better year. We think you have to take into consideration the ballpark. I think you will see Ryan hit for more power and you will see him steal some bases the way we play.” The Mets led the league in stolen bases this season.
Minaya said Church’s defense was important. “I’m big on defense,” he said several times in the press conference. He also mentioned Church being a lefthanded hitter. “It gives us balance,” he said.
Schneider will be the Mets’ starting catcher after the departure of Paul LoDuca. Milledge, 22, is seven years younger than Church, and is reputed to have superstar potential. He batted .272 this year, exactly the same as Church. He hit seven home runs and drove in 29 runs. He was a first round draft choice by the Mets in 2003.
“Ryan is as excited as the day he was drafted,” bubbled his mom. “I am so happy for him.”
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