Ultimate Mets Database - Memories of Mike Birkbeck

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Mike Birkbeck
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Memories of
Mike Birkbeck

Mike Birkbeck
Ultimate Mets Database popularity ranking: 747 of 1233 players

Michael Lawrence Birkbeck
Born: March 10, 1961 at Orrville, O.
Throws: Right Bats: Right
Height: 6.02 Weight: 190

Mike Birkbeck was the most popular Ultimate Mets Database daily lookup on March 10, 2016.

First Mets game: August 31, 1992
Last Mets game: June 11, 1995

Share your memories of Mike Birkbeck

HERE IS WHAT OTHER METS FANS HAVE TO SAY:

Broc
I played ball against Mike Birkbeck all throughout my high school career. He had quite possibly the worst slider I have ever seen. I took him yard 7 out of the 13 times I faced him. How the hell did he make it to the majors anyway? I remember one time, he was on the mound, and he was so scared, he actually pissed his pants. What the hell is wrong with this cat?

Mr. Sparkle
December 16, 2001
The Mets drive me crazy with relief pitchers sometimes. Birkbeck was pretty decent out of the pen, albeit a small sampling, in 95 and then they gave up on him. Then of course he goes to the Braves and has a few pretty good years. They seem to give up on a lot of guys in the pen without giving them much of a chance. Birkbeck was one of those guys.

Jim
July 7, 2002
Poor guy pitched well in 97, I believe, only to get sold to Japan. What luck!

mets
May 29, 2003
I saw Birkbeck pitch a great game in San Diego against the Padres right before he was sold to Japan. He left the game winning but the bullpen couldn't hold the lead.

David Mo
November 25, 2007
I believe Mr. Sparkler is confusing Birkbeck, a starter, with Mike Remlinger. If memory serves, Birkbeck was set to Japan at his own request and I guess the Mets felt they were well stocked with young arms -- Isringhausen, Pulsipher, Paul Wilson (sigh) -- that there was no need to hang on to this journeyman, even though he pitched exceptionally well in his 4 starts in 1995. Cool name.

Witz
October 9, 2008
I don't ahve much of a memory of this guy, but it appears to be quite an anomoly that he could make four starts in '95 average 7 innings per start, give up a total of 5 runs and leave the Mets 0-4 in those starts!

VIBaseball
May 1, 2009
Birkbeck is now head coach at Kent State, after having served there as pitching coach starting in the early '90s.
He was let down by the bullpen in 3 of his 4 starts in '95:
5/24: He pitched adequately for 6 but Pedro Astacio threw a shutout. 5/29: Left after 7 leading 1-0; Eric Gunderson gave up the lead and the Mets lost in 13. 6/6: Left after 7 2/3 leading 1-0; John Franco could not strand the runner on second and lost it the next inning. 6/11: Left after 7 with a sore and swollen ankle leading 3-1; Jerry DiPoto coughed up the lead.