Bisons notebook
Contract with Mets brings Cooper back to the fold
Jason Cooper said his goodbyes last September all over then-Dunn Tire Park. He had spent five seasons with the Bisons but was becoming a minor-league free agent and the Cleveland Indians were leaving town anyway. So Buffalo’s modern-era leader in games played figured his time here was over.
But Cooper still held out hope of returning. When he was playing winter ball in Puerto Rico, he talked to some New York Mets coaches about signing with their organization.
The deal was done in January and Cooper is back with the Herd as it makes its debut today against Pawtucket in Coca- Cola Field as the Mets’ new top affiliate.
“It’s different but I feel like the tradition of the Mets is such a long-standing one that it’s very neat to be a part of so I’m excited,” Cooper said. “I’m new to them. They’re new to me. I have the opportunity to get off on the right foot, open some eyes, make a good first impression by the way I play and the things I know I’m capable of doing.”
Cooper, 28, will join former Buffalo slugger Russell Branyan as the only position players to appear for the Herd in parts of six seasons, although Branyan played in just one game in 2007. The record is eight seasons, by pitcher Jason Stanford (2001-08).
Cooper joined the Herd from Double-A Akron late in 2004 and earned a championship ring that fall while batting .375 in the Governors’ Cup playoffs. He has been a regular in Buffalo the last four years.
The former Stanford University player has appeared in 410 games and ranks second in Buffalo’s modern era in doubles (81), triples (19) and RBIs (212), third in runs (203), fifth in hits (331) and sixth in home runs (49).
Cooper hit .247 with nine home runs and 45 RBIs in 102 games last year and won the team’s Community Service Award for the third straight year.
“To be able to come back and keep those relationships I’ve established the last few years is a special feeling, especially in this community,” Cooper said. “After last season, my wife said, ‘I know whoever’s here, we’re going to be back in Buffalo. I have a feeling.’ I was thinking there was no way, it’s not possible. But she was right.”
•••
Bisons first baseman/outfielder Nick Evans was with the Mets at Citi Field last weekend when they opened the ballpark with exhibition games against Boston and said he was floored by the parent club’s new home.
“It’s unbelieveable,” Evans said. “They did everything great, down to every minor detail, so it’s very exciting. It’s incredible getting to experience a stadium like that. Any time you get to see something like that, you want to get there as soon as possible.”
•••
The Bisons are 13-8 in home openers since moving downtown in 1988 but just 5-5 in their last 10. They fell last year to Toledo, 4-1, before a paid crowd of 11,283.
The last time Pawtucket was the foe for the opener was 2003, when the Bisons slogged out a 10-8 win in a game played through sleet and 29-degree temperatures. Snow and cold then wiped out the next six games of Buffalo’s homestand.
The Bisons also beat the PawSox, 5-2, on Opening Day in 2001. That was current Cleveland manager Eric Wedge’s first game as Buffalo skipper.
•••
History does not bode well for modern-era Buffalo teams in their first game with a new parent. The Bisons enter today’s game 0-4 under those circumstances. Here’s the rundown:
• The 1985 Bisons marked their return to Triple-A after a 15-year absence with a 3-1 loss at Nashville. It was their first game as a White Sox affiliate.
• The 1987 team, which played with Cleveland in the final year at War Memorial Stadium, dropped its opener at Denver, 10-5.
• The 1988 team lost at Louisville, 7-4, in its debut with Pittsburgh. That team rebounded to finish 3-2 on its opening road trip before coming home to christen then- Pilot Field with the memorable 1-0 victory over the old Denver Zephyrs.
• The 1995 Bisons opened their second stint with the Indians with a 6-3 loss to Nashville in the managerial debut of Buffalo Baseball Hall of Famer Brian Graham.
Log into MyBuffalo to post a comment
MyBuffalo is the new social network from Buffalo.com. Your MyBuffalo account lets you comment on and rate stories at buffalonews.com. You can also head over to mybuffalo.com to share your blog posts, stories, photos, and videos with the community. Join now or learn more.
Reader comments