Comments on: 100 Greatest Phillies: 97 – Jose Mesa

By: Corrine Cacciatori

Corrine Cacciatori — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 13:27:20 +0000

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By: Phan in TN

Phan in TN — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 22:45:46 +0000

I’m obligated to catch up since I haven’t posted since October. Watching Jose with my usual hypertensive ways was amazingly frustrating. Approx 10 minutes per batter drove me bonkers. Yes, he is memorable.

By: fred

fred — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:58:06 +0000

Me and my Dad came over from England in 2007 to watch the Phillies for 2 games in Houston. They lost the first game by a wide enough margin, but the 2nd game went into extras after Alfonseca blew a save on a blown call by the 1st base ump. Anyways, the game went on and on until the bottom of the 14th, when the only reliever we had left was… Jose Mesa. First pitch, Hunter Pence hit a ball that still hasn’t landed. I don’t think i’ve ever been so frustrated in my life, and consequently hate Mesa.

By: Chuck P

Chuck P — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:37:35 +0000

It’s going to be fun arguing about who was left off of your list…

Joe Table gave us a couple of good seasons, sure and one really bad season. The franchise saves leader for any other team would surely find a higher spot on the all-franchise list… but this is probably a good spot for Mesa. Regardless, he has to make the list on that merit alone. I remember half-crying, half-laughing when I heard that we signed Mesa in early 2007 (on 610). I couldn’t believe my ears. It still makes me smile… at that point, no one thought that Mesa would be pitching meaningful games in September for us. He pitched 2 innings of no-hit ball in an extra-inning defeat of the Cardinals down the stretch that proved to be huge.

By: Bunts and Bloopers

Bunts and Bloopers — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:08:39 +0000

[...] wonder where Carlton will end up on Phillies Nation’s list of the 100 Greatest Phillies of All-Time List. Ricky Bottalico and Jose Mesa are on the list, which makes me wonder if they shouldn’t have [...]

By: john of Albuquerque

john of Albuquerque — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 16:51:37 +0000

It’s fun to read the passion the Phils fans have on these subjects. I never liked Mesa and lived in Montgomery County when he was pitching for Philly. But, he did have a couple of good years and was brought to Philly by Larry Bowa, who was just too high strung to manage professional athletes. Mesa deserves credit for being loyal to Bowa. He pitched for Seattle the year before as a set-up man.
People thought his career was winding down, but he gave us two good years and a real stinker. You can say this: he always brought the emotions out in everyone

By: Georgie

Georgie — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 16:13:48 +0000

You just had to keep talking about it, didn’t you? Now I have gone and googled Jose Mesa, found that CourtTV doc, and I was right in my post above- EEEEEWWWWW!!!!

By: Ed R.

Ed R. — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 14:06:31 +0000

No, no, no, no, no, no! Mesa epitomized the horrible adding-gas-to-the-fire Phils’ relievers that tormented fans for so, so long. The comment by Robert Kreider above is dead on about the Phils’ closers. Honestly, I’d take Slocumb over Mesa.

After this I’m expecting Nino Espinosa to crack the top 25, and why not? He helped us win in ’80 with his “injury”.

Love the site, by the way.

By: Andrew R.

Andrew R. — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 03:50:52 +0000

I almost got kicked out of Vet stadium in 2003 because of Jose Mesa. It was a Sunday game and I was so fed up with him blowing saves. I got there early and they were all warming up and a ball went over Mesa’s head and came towards the seats. He got within 6 feet of me and I gave the typical asshole hater comment of “Mesa, YOU SUCK!” He didnt look at me but waved and said yea, thank you. Carlos Silva was standing there trying to stare me down, (he sucked too), but i remember being a little sad cuz bobby abreu gave me a dirty look as well. (hey, i was only 15, and at the time i loved abreu).

Well wouldnt you know it, it was a sunday game, and some kind of give-away so there were parents and kids all over the place and somebody told on me. I was ushered out of there for making an ‘obscene comment’ and was told never to return for the rest of the game.

And wouldnt you know it, by the end of the week, he had lost his closer’s job, didnt achieve the 14 appearances needed for his contract extension, and i like to think it was all because of me. and i beg to differ on the ‘obscene’ stuff, it was truth. he was garbage. even in his good years here, he still blew like 7 saves a season, too many. As for obscene, i saw his trial on Court TV. Something about him putting his fingers somewhere in a woman’s body…….. that’s obscene. He’s the Pee Wee Herman of baseball and he still sucks.

By: Brian Michael

Brian Michael — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 03:32:59 +0000

Yes, I don’t think I’ve ever hated anyone more than Jose Mesa on that Labor Day game in 2003. Luckily, I have the pictures to remind me.

http://www.philliesnation.com/wordpress/wp-content/plugins/falbum/wp/album.php?album=72157603349293017

He redeemed himself when almost beat up Howard Eskin though.

By: DD

DD — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 03:12:14 +0000

Having Mesa on this list is like bragging about being the tallest midget in the circus.

By: Mark

Mark — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 02:46:24 +0000

I always confused Mesa and Alfonseca. Anyone else have this problem?

By: Jason

Jason — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 00:48:17 +0000

It is ludicrous to have Mesa on this list and not have Wagner.

Also, Lidge meant more to this city in one season then Mesa did over a few.

Your list, my opinions.

But what if you hated Kruk like you hate Wags? Or even someone like Rico Brogna (who I assume will be on this list), or Mariano Duncan, Greg Jeffries, or Tommy Greene?

I’d take all the guys I named on this list over Mesa by the way. And I despise Jeffries.

By: Griffin

Griffin — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 00:44:57 +0000

Jeff Brantley made Jose Mesa look like Brad Lidge. Props to Joe Table and his blue glove. I wonder what Omar Vizquel thinks of this ranking?

By: Greg V.

Greg V. — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 00:43:01 +0000

Larry Anderson better make the top 50!

By: Greg V.

Greg V. — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 00:42:11 +0000

I remember him coming in last season with a 10 run lead to close it out, and I still didn’t like it!

By: Jason B

Jason B — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 00:24:56 +0000

Joe Table… Really? Come on. Yes he had 45 saves in a season. 42 in another. That doesn’t automatically put him on this list. Tim, i respect the hell out of you, but I cannot agree with you here. My favorite memory of Mesa was labor day against the Red Sox. In the thick of a play off race, the Phils had a 4 run lead going into the 9th. Then all of the sudden… Boom, Trot Nixon grand slam. The only good thing that came out of that day was the Steve Carlton bobbleheads they gave out. If I’m not mistaken, that was a make up game. there originally no game scheduled for Labor day that year.

By: Greg V.

Greg V. — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 23:12:25 +0000

Mesa just didn’t know where to put his fingers. Lol!

By: Greg V.

Greg V. — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 23:11:33 +0000

Actually, he had two extra fingers!

By: Greg V.

Greg V. — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 23:09:24 +0000

Have there only been 100 people to ever play for the Phillies? I’m starting to wonder! JOSE MESA?

Mark, Antonio Alfonseca had the extra finger (I’m putting my money on him for 96!).