In an under the radar move on December 14th, the New York Mets traded left handed reliever Scott Schoeneweis to the Arizona Diamondbacks for right handed reliever Connor Robertson. Based upon the numbers put up by Robertson in his brief major league career (9 IP, 14 H, 8.00 ERA, 2.00 WHIP), the trade was more to rid the Mets of the Schoeneweis drama for another season, rather than Robertson’s great ability to record key outs. That fact confirmed when the Mets agreed to pick up much of SS’s 2009 salary.

In the story about the trade, it was mentioned that Connor Robertson was born in Alabama, and that got me thinking about another Robertson from Alabama. I knew that New York Yankees right handed reliever David Robertson was from Alabama, went to high school at Paul (Bear) Bryant High and starred at the Bear’s former University in Tuscaloosa.  Connor went to Birmingham Southern College, also in Alabama. Too coincidental for my journalistic juices not to begin flowing. It only took a few clicks of the mouse to find out they were brothers.

Imagine Christmas dinner this year at the Robertson homestead in Alabama, a family reunion of New York proportions. Two down home southern boys plying their trade under the bright lights of the Big City.

While both brothers are with the New York teams, they couldn’t be more different within their trade. New Mets pitcher Connor (age 27) was a 31st round pick in 2004 of the Oakland A’s, worked his way up the ladder until getting that cup of coffee with the A’s in 2007. Before the 2008 season, though, the big 6′2″, 225 lb pitcher was traded along with Dan Haren to the Arizona Diamondbacks in that big 7 player Billy Beane style deal. After a pretty good AAA numbers in 2008 (71 IP, 69 H, 72 K’s, 30 BB, 7-4 W/L, 5.02 ERA, 1.38 WHIP), Robertson was promoted to the majors again. He throws a low 90’s sinking fastball, slider and changeup.

Meanwhile, the diminutive David stands at 5′11″, 185 lbs., throws a low to mid 90’s fastball, and a devastating hammer curveball, his signature out pitch. Like his big brother, David worked his way up through the minor leagues…but at a much faster rate. He blew through three levels his first full pro season, and in his second year (2008) reached the majors.

David was drafted in the same 2006 Yankee draft with Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy, all three making the majors relatively quickly. As a draft eligible sophomore (because he was already 21), the Yankees grabbed their Swiss family-Robertson in the 17th round. As the University of Albama’s elite closer, Robertson likely would have been a first round pick if he stayed in school one more season. Incidentally, that 2006 Yankee draft is ready to produce its fourth major leaguer in 2009 with the expected arrival of right handed reliever Mark Melancon, who was the University of Arizona’s closer.

NOTE: That 2006 Yankee draft will eventually go down as one of the greatest organizational pitching drafts in history. That is, of course, if the Yankees don’t sign any more big money free agents and use their own drafted and developed players!

Anywhooo….during his 2008 time in the Bronx, David was 4-0 with a 5.34 ERA and 1.45 WHIP. The last two numbers are very misleading of the job David did in New York, though, as all 3 of his homers allowed and 15 of his 18 runs allowed occurred when the scoring margin (in 55 plate appearances) was greater than 4 runs. During tie games, however, opposing batters (in 20 plate appearances), hit .067 with a .367 OPS. Those are dominating numbers and was why David had a 4-0 win/loss record for the Yankees. It is also why win/loss records are far more important stats for a pitcher than most sabermetricians portray. Wins and losses on a pitchers record are mostly indicative of how a hurler performs when the game is on the line, not when the game is in blow out mode.

So, welcome to New York, Connor, and good luck in the Mets bullpen in 2009. Little brother David has shown he can “come through in the clutch.” With the acquistion of older brother Connor, the New York Mets can only hope big brother can match little brother win for win in 2009 and beyond.