Ed Lynch
Encyclopedia
Edward Francis Lynch is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher
. He pitched and batted right-handed, and his pitch selection included a fastball
, slider
, changeup
and slurve
.
in the 22nd round of the 1977 Major League Baseball Draft
. After three years in their farm system, in which he compiled a 22–27 record and 3.89 earned run average
, the Rangers sent him to the New York Mets
on September 18, as part of an earlier deal in which the Mets sent Willie Montanez
to the Rangers for two players to be named later. The other player the Rangers sent the Mets was first baseman
Mike Jorgensen
.
Lynch debuted with the Mets on August 31, against the San Francisco Giants
, and gave up four earned runs in just 1.1 inning out of the bullpen
. He won his first major league start
on September 13 against the Chicago Cubs
, snapping a thirteen game losing streak for his club. For the season, Lynch was 1–1 with a 5.12 ERA in four starts.
The Mets and Cubs were perennially the bottom two teams in the National League East
for the early part of Lynch's career, however, they'd evolved into division rivals at the top of the N.L. East by the time Lynch took the mound in the second game of a double header
on August 7, . The first game was won by the Cubs, 8–6, on the strength of a six run fifth inning, which included a three run home run
by Keith Moreland
. During a five run fourth inning in the second game, Lynch hit Moreland with a pitch, inciting a bench clearing brawl. The Cubs won the second game, 8–4.
Lynch enjoyed a career year in , when he went 10–8 with a 3.44 ERA in a career high 191 innings pitched
. Lynch made only one appearance for the Mets in , pitching 1.2 innings
in relief
in the third game of the season, when he went on the disabled list with torn cartilage in his left knee. By the time he was ready to return, he'd lost his spot in the starting rotation to the young pitchers on the World Champion squad. The Mets traded him to the Cubs for Dave Liddell
and Dave Lenderman. He remained with the Cubs through before retiring.
School of Law, and graduated in . Using his law degree and prior baseball
experience he was able to land management positions with the San Diego Padres
and Cubs, where he eventually became General Manager. Lynch was a popular person at UM, and was known to let other students try on his 1986 World Series
ring, which he proudly wore every day. Ed currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona
. At one point he worked as a scout for the Cubs. As of 2010, Lynch is serving as a professional scout in the Toronto Blue Jays
organization.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. He pitched and batted right-handed, and his pitch selection included a fastball
Fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
, slider
Slider
In baseball, a slider is a pitch that breaks laterally and down, with a speed between that of a curveball and that of a fastball....
, changeup
Changeup
A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball. Other names include change-of-pace, Bugs Bunny change-up, the dreaded equalizer, and simply change. The changeup is sometimes called an off-speed pitch, although that term can also be used simply to mean any pitch that is slower than a fastball...
and slurve
Slurve
The slurve is a baseball pitch in which the pitcher throws a slider as if he were throwing a curve ball. The term is a portmanteau of the words "slider" and "curve".-History:...
.
MLB career
Lynch was drafted by the Texas RangersTexas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
in the 22nd round of the 1977 Major League Baseball Draft
1977 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1977 Major League Baseball draft.- Background :The White Sox raised some brows when they passed on right-handed pitcher Bill Gullickson, a native of nearby Orland Park, IL, and selected outfielder Harold Baines as the number one...
. After three years in their farm system, in which he compiled a 22–27 record and 3.89 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
, the Rangers sent him to the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
on September 18, as part of an earlier deal in which the Mets sent Willie Montanez
Willie Montañez
Guillermo Montañez Naranjo is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. Even though he was productive, Montañez often carried the label "hot dog" for the whimsical manner in which he approached the game. After hitting home runs, he would trot very slowly around the bases, shuffling his feet on...
to the Rangers for two players to be named later. The other player the Rangers sent the Mets was first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
Mike Jorgensen
Mike Jorgensen
Michael Jorgensen is a former Major League Baseball player drafted by the New York Mets in the fourth round of the 1966 Major League Baseball Draft...
.
Lynch debuted with the Mets on August 31, against the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
, and gave up four earned runs in just 1.1 inning out of the bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
. He won his first major league start
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
on September 13 against the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, snapping a thirteen game losing streak for his club. For the season, Lynch was 1–1 with a 5.12 ERA in four starts.
The Mets and Cubs were perennially the bottom two teams in the National League East
National League East
The National League East Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. The Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies are tied for the most National League East Division titles . All of Atlanta's NL East titles came during a record stretch of 14 consecutive division titles...
for the early part of Lynch's career, however, they'd evolved into division rivals at the top of the N.L. East by the time Lynch took the mound in the second game of a double header
Doubleheader (baseball)
A doubleheader is a set of two baseball games played between the same two teams on the same day in front of the same crowd. In addition, the term is often used unofficially to refer to a pair of games played by a team in a single day, but in front of different crowds and not in immediate...
on August 7, . The first game was won by the Cubs, 8–6, on the strength of a six run fifth inning, which included a three run home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
by Keith Moreland
Keith Moreland
Bobby Keith "Zonk" Moreland is a former outfielder, catcher and infield in Major League Baseball who played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and San Diego Padres. In , the final year of his career, he played for the Detroit Tigers, then the Baltimore Orioles...
. During a five run fourth inning in the second game, Lynch hit Moreland with a pitch, inciting a bench clearing brawl. The Cubs won the second game, 8–4.
Lynch enjoyed a career year in , when he went 10–8 with a 3.44 ERA in a career high 191 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
. Lynch made only one appearance for the Mets in , pitching 1.2 innings
Innings
An inning, or innings, is a fixed-length segment of a game in any of a variety of sports – most notably cricket and baseball during which one team attempts to score while the other team attempts to prevent the first from scoring. In cricket, the term innings is both singular and plural and is...
in relief
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
in the third game of the season, when he went on the disabled list with torn cartilage in his left knee. By the time he was ready to return, he'd lost his spot in the starting rotation to the young pitchers on the World Champion squad. The Mets traded him to the Cubs for Dave Liddell
Dave Liddell
David Alexander Liddell is a former Major League Baseball catcher. He caught one game for the New York Mets in 1990. He hit a single in his only Major League at bat, on June 30, 1990, giving him a lifetime batting average of 1.000. His Major League slugging percentage and on-base percentage are...
and Dave Lenderman. He remained with the Cubs through before retiring.
As an executive
After his career ended, he attended the University of MiamiUniversity of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
School of Law, and graduated in . Using his law degree and prior baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
experience he was able to land management positions with the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
and Cubs, where he eventually became General Manager. Lynch was a popular person at UM, and was known to let other students try on his 1986 World Series
1986 World Series
The 1986 World Series pitted the New York Mets against the Boston Red Sox. It was cited in the legend of the "Curse of the Bambino" to explain the error by Bill Buckner in Game 6 that allowed the Mets to extend the series to a seventh game...
ring, which he proudly wore every day. Ed currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
. At one point he worked as a scout for the Cubs. As of 2010, Lynch is serving as a professional scout in the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
organization.