Lists

THE List: Top 10 2016 Mets Moments

This has been a good couple of years for my annual top Mets moments list. In prior years, I had to scrounge around just to get to 10 — a lot of off-field drama and losing games had to be included. But this year, just like last, there were plenty of on-field thrills, in addition to a few major player moves. With so much going on in Flushing, I had to combine a few so I would not have to leave anything out.  I hope that’s okay.

So without further adieu, here they are, the top 10 Mets moments of 2016:

Cespedes Signs on the Dotted Line (Part 1) — 1/23/16

The winter hand wringing ended for Mets fans ended when the Mets re-signed Yoenis Cespedes to a three-year, $75 million contract. However, the deal allowed Cespedes to opt out after the season. Of course, he would exercise that right, but more on that happy ending later.

Offensive Explosions — 4/19/16. 4/29/16

The early homer-happy Mets slugged six of them in an 11-1 romp over the Phillies. A week later, the Mets set a team record with a 12-run inning as they went on to top the Giants 13-1.

Hey, We Want In! — 5/7/16, 5/11/16

The pitchers also joined in on the home run barrage with Bartolo Colon hitting an epic homer and then a few days later, Noah Syndergaard hit two in one game.

Sweet Revenge — 5/28/16

In Chase Utley’s first at-bat against the Mets since breaking Ruben Tejada’s leg in the 2015 NLDS, Syndergaard threw a 99 mph fastball behind Utley’s back. Syndergaard was ejected, but it was worth it.

They Still Can’t Beat the Mets — 6/30-7/3/16

The Cubs may have broken their World Series curse, but they still can’t beat the Mets. The Mets swept them in four games at Citi Field (sound familiar?), including an incredible comeback in the first game.

Big Deal! — 8/1/16

For the second straight year, Sandy Alderson went out and got a slugger at the trade deadline. Jay Bruce was a disappointment early, but came on late to help the Mets secure the Wild Card.

Cespedes Sends Marlins Fishing — 8/29/16

Cespedes hit a home run in the bottom of the 10th to beat the Marlins 2-1. With Rafael Montero somehow matching the late Jose Fernandez zero for zero, it was a game even Terry Collins said “you don’t expect to win.”

Grandy Old Time — 9/17/16

With the Mets surging towards the Wild Card, Curtis Granderson hit a solo home run in the 11th inning to re-tie the game against the Twins, then hit the game-winning shot in the 12th.

Lose One, Win One 9/21-9/22/16

mets moments

After losing the night before when Cespedes was robbed of what would have been a game-winning homer to end the game, the Mets came back for one of their most thrilling wins of the season. Jose Reyes hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game. The Phillies scored two runs in the top of the 11th, but Asdrubal Cabrera hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the inning to win the game.

Aces Wild — 10/1/16, 10/5/16

The Mets clinched the Wild Card on the second to last day of the season. Their postseason run was short, though; Madison Bumgarner traded zeroes with Noah Syndergaard in the Wild Card game, but Jeurys Familia allowed a three-run homer in the top of the ninth to end the Mets season.

Cespedes and the Dotted Line (Part 2) — 11/30/16

As Alderson pointed out, the Mets acquired Cespedes for a third time when they re-signed him to a four-year, $110 million deal. No opt out this time.

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