“I’m realizing a dream every day by playing major league baseball,” Easley said. “I was just determined to hang on as long as I could.”
Over the next three seasons, he would go on to play for three different clubs.
After a brief stop in Tampa Bay, Easley provided middle-infield depth and plus power off the bench for both Florida in 2004-2005 and Arizona in 2006. He hit 9 home runs each year, and in a part-time role produced slugging percentages of .457, .419 and .418–impressive for the typically weak-hitting positions he plays. As he mulled over his options for 2007, he had contract offers from both the Mets and Yankees–and a desire to win a World Series before his career wound to a close.
“So far, it’s looking like I made a good decision,” Easley said with a smile of the choice to play at Shea.
Unlike the Easley of years past, he has determinedly not let Shea, a pitcher’s park, affect his mental approach. Since Valentin went down and Easley assumed the everyday role, he has not only provided unexpected production, but six of his seven home runs have come at home.
He also provided one of the biggest moments for the Mets so far this season. He’d played only sparingly, with two starts and a .100 batting average to his name, when he came to the plate April 24 with the Mets down 1-0, and two out in the tenth inning. He battled Colorado closer Brian Fuentes to a 2-2 count, then turned on an inside fastball, pulling it into the left-field bleachers to tie the game.
“At that point, you start to feel like a part of the team, when you’ve contributed to the team’s success,” Easley said. “At this point in my career, I knew that I was going to have my share of big hits. My experience has taught me that.”
With Valentin, also 37, on track to return next week, according to Mets General Manager Omar Minaya, it appears that Easley’s position as an everyday starter will come to an end. But his success at the plate–particularly against left-handed pitchers, who often baffle the switch-hitting Valentin–virtually assures that he’ll get significant playing time, at least in a platoon situation.
Easley’s numbers were nothing short of astounding over his first 61 at bats this year, when he hit 6 of his 7 home runs. His pace has slowed of late (just one home run since May 16), though he’d hit in seven consecutive games heading into the game on Tuesday night.
From the dugout over the first two innings, Easley watched as the unfamiliar Lincecum threw his 96-98 fastballs by the first few Mets batters with disturbing ease while mixing in both a hard and soft curve.
He braced himself for the hard stuff. Coming to bat in the third inning, Lincecum hadn’t allowed a hit. Easley watched the slow curve dip out of the zone for a ball, then tried to muscle up on an inside fastball. The pitch jammed him, and he lofted a harmless fly to left field.
After a long at bat by Paul Lo Duca produced a walk in the fifth inning, Easley stepped up for a second chance to do something.
On the first pitch, he watched a curveball break away from the plate.
Lincecum snapped off another curve for a strike.
Easley mustered a defensive swing on the third pitch, fouling off a breaking ball. Lincecum reared back and threw a high fastball. Strike three.
Ultimately, it was a lost night at the plate for Easley, who went hitless in five at bats. “It’s a simple case of timing,” Easley said after the game. “I don’t get too carried away with success or failure. When I’m hitting home runs, I’m getting those pitches to hit and driving them. The past week, I’ve been getting those pitches, and fouling them off. I can’t explain when it’s going to come back. Baseball’s funny like that.”
