May 04, 2007

Easley Pulling A Valentin

David Lennon at On The Mets Beat, writes about Damion Easley and how he's doing the same exact thing Valentin did last season:


History seems to be repeating itself this year with Damion Easley reprising the Jose Valentin role from last season. Just like Valentin in 2006, Easley stayed under the radar during spring training, and now he's the starting second baseman with a penchant for big hits. Of course, Valentin never lost the job after taking over the traded Kaz Matsui, and Easley could find himself there on a more permanent basis with Valentin's shaky right knee.

"I didn't know how much I'd play," Easley said of his decision to sign a one-year, $850,000 contract with the Mets. "This was a highly talented team. My purpose coming here was to win."

Easley has done his part. Back on April 24, his pinch hit home run in the bottom of the 10th inning tied up the Rockies in a game the Mets would win in 12. Easley struck again last night with a three-run shot that turned a 4-3 deficit into a 6-4 lead en route to the Mets' 9-4 victory over the Diamondbacks. Somehow, the spotlight keeps finding him.

"It seems like with certain guys it does," Tom Glavine said. "Some guys have a flair for the dramatic and he has so far."

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