ONE year ago at this time Joe Smith was at Wright State, heading to Milwaukee for a big weekend series against the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
“I’d be facing the old Panthers,” Smith said last night. How many people would be at that game?
“Well, with the wind blowing, and this time of year, 25,” Smith answered in his matter-of-fact tone. In front of 35,545 more fans, Joe Smith, the uncommon pitcher with the common name, picked up his first major-league win in the Mets’ thrilling, 2-1 victory over the Rockies last night at Shea Stadium.
Damion Easley hit the big pinch-hit home run, and Little Big Man Endy Chavez made the perfect baseball play, putting down a drag bunt to knock in the winning run in the 12th inning. But in many ways, the night belonged to Smith, who threw all of three pitches to record the last two outs of the top of the 12th.
Joe Smith quietly did his job again. If you haven’t noticed, the side-winding Smith has appeared in 11 games this season and his ERA is 0.00.
Smith, 23, is one of the best stories of the young season, coming from nowhere to play a vital role in the Mets’ bullpen. Considering the woes the Yankees are having with their bullpen, that makes the Joe Smith story that much more interesting.
“It really hasn’t all sunk in yet,” Smith said. “It’s weird, I look around and see all these famous players and shake my head. Sometimes I’m out in the bullpen watching it on TV and then I look and say, ‘Hey, I’m here.’ It’s weird, but it’s awesome.”
Pitching coach Rick Peterson points out that Smith is no fluke.
“To get a guy to come in with that kind of poise with 30 minor-league innings is absolutely incredible,” Peterson said. “He’s way mature way beyond his years. It’s absolutely phenomenal. He’s coming in facing a lot of the middle of the lineups, which is pretty impressive.
“He’s an intense kid, but he’s got things in great perspective.”
In spring training, the Mets wanted to put Smith to the test, so they brought him in to face Manny Ramirez. He threw a slider behind Manny. Peterson told Smith in the dugout that the umpires had mentioned some new rules to him before the game, and one of those rules is that rookies are allowed to breathe when they pitch.
Smith got the message and has been doing his thing ever since. Peterson told Smith he just needs to be normal.
“You don’t need to be extraordinary,” he said.By being himself, and with the nasty slider he throws, Smith has been extraordinary, all the while looking like the kid next door. The kid whose college team is going to play the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee this weekend.
“He understands location is the key. He can locate his slider to both sides of the plate,” Peterson said.
Despite his calm demeanor, Smith is a bulldog. Two hours before last night’s game, he came off the field dripping in sweat after doing his pregame running. He is not taking this incredible opportunity lightly. When it was over, when he secured his first major-league win, Smith was asked if he had gotten the game ball.
“Nope, no game ball,” he said. “Carlos Delgado told me, they can take the ball away from you, just take any ball and say it’s that one, but they can’t take the win away from you.”
No they can’t. Mighty Joe Smith is 1-0 with that 0.00 ERA. Omar Minaya came over to Smith to shake his hand.
“Way to go, dog. They’re partying at Wright State right now,” the GM said with a smile.
Smith eventually made his way to his locker. On the floor of his locker, right in the middle, sits a quarter, placed between a pair of spikes. Obviously, it’s his good luck quarter.
“I don’t know how it got there, but it’s been there a while and I’m not moving it,” Smith said.
Don’t move it Joe Smith. Don’t change a thing. Whatever you’re doing is working perfectly.