Blogging Mets

Luis Castillo & Oliver Perez Released — 3/18/11, 3/21/11

Alderson was smart to bring them into camp to see if they had anything to offer. Of course they did not, so they were cut loose despite the Mets still being on the hook for $18 million, much to the delight of Mets fans.

Osama bin Laden Killed — 5/1/11

It was fitting that the Mets were playing on the Sunday night that we finally got bin Laden. The “USA USA” chants that the crowd spontaneously chanted as word spread sent chills up my spine. I still think they should have stopped the game to show President Obama’s announcement on the big screen. It was the news we’d been waiting to hear for a decade. I don’t think the players would have minded.

Ike Davis Injury — 5/10/11

I never said these were all good moments. The Davis-David Wright collision didn’t seem like much when it happened, but the ankle injury somehow ended up keeping Davis out for the reminder of the season. It left a huge hole in the lineup that could not be filled.

Carlos Beltran 3 Home Runs — 5/12/11

It was one of Beltran’s shining moment in his Mets career — slamming three home runs on a blustery day in Colorado.

Mets Explode for 52 Runs — 6/25/11-6/29/11

During a four-game winning streak in late June, the Mets beat the Rangers 14-5 and 8-5, then moved onto Detroit to blast the Tigers 14-3 and 16-9. The 52 runs were the most the Mets have ever scored in four games.

K-Rod Traded — 7/12/11

Sandy Alderson caught us all by surprise by trading Rodriguez to the Brewers for two players. That $17.5 million option for 2012 was unacceptable; it was impressive that Alderson was able to get rid of it.

Carlos Beltran Traded — 7/28/11

It was also impressive that Alderson was able to get a top pitching prospect in Zack Wheeler for Beltran a couple of weeks later. If Wheeler pans out this could be a landmark deal.

Chris Capuano 2-Hitter — 8/26/11

In an otherwise forgettable season, Capuano turned in one of the best pitching performances in franchise history — a two-hit shutout with 13 strikeouts and no walks.

Jose Reyes Bunt — 9/28/11

It was the bunt heard round the world. Reyes led off game 162 with a bunt single and promptly jogged off the field, preserving what turned out to be the first-ever batting title for a Met. Reyes was roundly criticized for protecting his average in such a fashion, especially since so many people showed up at Citi Field for what they thought was going to be his final game in a Mets uniform.

Jose Reyes Leaves — 12/7/11

And indeed, it was. Reyes defected to the Marlins for a six-year, $106 million contract after the Mets failed to even make a formal offer to him. He will be missed.

Butch Metzger (1978)

Metzger won the Rookie of the Year in 1976. When the Mets got him two years later at age 26 he was already washed up. In his one year with the Mets and his final year in baseball he had a 6.51 ERA and more walks than strikeouts. He was so bad the excellent Ultimate Mets Database does not even have a picture of him.

Anthony Young (1991-1993)

From May 6, 1992 through July 24, 1993, pitching as a starter and a reliever (mostly as a reliever), Young lost a major league record 27 straight games. His overall record with the Mets was 5-35, but with a respectable 3.82 ERA. He was a victim of bad luck, but with that record he’s got to get on the list.

Mel Rojas (1997-1998)

Rojas was supposed to replace John Franco in the  bullpen. Then the Mets got a look at him and quickly resigned Franco. Rojas had a 5.76 ERA with the Mets.

Rich Rodriguez (2000)

Perhaps the worst pitcher ever on the Mets, as his 7.78 ERA can attest. He only made it through the year because he was allegedly then-GM Steve Phillips former minor league roommate.

Jorge Julio (2006)

Remember him? He lasted half a season with the Mets after coming in the Kris Benson deal. He was flipped for Orlando Hernandez, who was effective until he went down before the playoffs. Julio sucked.

Guillermo Mota (2006-2007)

Mota was excellent when the Mets got him late in the season in 2006. Turns out he was on steroids. Without the PEDs he was terrible in 2007 (5.76 ERA).

Scott Schoeneweis (2007-2008)

God he was awful, yet it always seemed like he was pitching, Indeed, he appeared in 70 games in 2007 (when he had a 5.03 ERA) and 73 in 2008 when he was a little less awful but still crappy.

Sean Green (2009-2010)

Green somehow appeared in 79 games in 2009, and he sucked in each and every one. I hated him.

Ryota Igarashi (2010-2011)

Igarashi was pitching lights-out early in 2010 but was never the same after he came back from injury, posting a sterling 7.12 ERA for the season. He’s gone now.

D.J. Carrasco (2011-current)

But we still have Carrasco, whom Alderson for some reason thought was worthy of a two-year contract. Carrasco spent most of the year in the minors; when he didn’t he pitched to a 6.02 ERA.

Mug Shots courtesy Ultimate Mets Database

Gil Hodges Dies: 4/2/72

People remember where they were on 9/11 or when JFK was assassinated, but I remember where I was when  Hodges died. I was watching some kind of quiz show (it might have been a college bowl-type show) on the Mets flagship WOR when they “interrupted this broadcast for breaking news” that Hodges died. I still think of it whenever they break into show. Hodges died just before the start of the 1972 season of a heart attack at age 47. Had he lived, I believe he would have been the manager for 20 years, providing the type of stability the team lacked during those awful years in the mid 1970s through the early 1980s.

Tom Seaver Traded: 6/15/77

Seaver wanted out following a feud with the Mets front office and sportswriter Dick Young. Even still, it was shocking to see the only superstar in team history at that point to be sent away for four decidedly non-superstars.

Lee Mazzilli Traded: 4/1/82

I thought it was an April Fools joke when my brother told me Mazzilli was traded. Mazzilli was the only player for whom to root in those awful days — a local boy made good who was a decent player. The trade ended up being a stroke of genius — the Mets got Ron Darling and Walt Terrell, who was later flipped for Howard Johnson. At the time, though, it was a huge disappointment to see Mazzilli go.

Mike Scoiscia Homers, Mets lose 1988 NLCS: 10/9/88

The Mets were on their way to taking a commanding 3-1 lead in the NLCS against the Dodgers when Scoiscia hit a shocking two-run home run off Dwight Gooden in the ninth to tie the game. The Dodgers would win in 12 innings and go on to win the series four games to three. All hopes of a dynasty ended there with just the 1986 World Series championship to show for it.

Dwight Gooden Tests Positive for Drugs: 6/28/94

Gooden tested positive for cocaine prior to the 1987 season and missed the first two months. But the big disappointment came in 1994 when he tested positive again. A youthful indiscretion was one thing; continuing to use drugs was something else entirely. He would continue to test positive and be banned for the 1995 season. By that time, though, we already knew his promising Mets career was over.

Kenny Rogers Walks in Run, Lose 1999 NLDS: 10/19/99

Game 6 against the Braves was a 12-inning thriller — down three games to two, the Mets overcome a 5-0 first inning deficit and the game was tied at nine after nine innings. The Mets scored in the tenth, but Armando Benitez allowed the Braves to tie it. With no relievers left, Bobby Valentine brought in Rogers. A hit and two walks later the bases were loaded. Rogers proceeded to walk in the winning run. We all knew he was going to do it, yet we couldn’t stop it. Season over.

Yadier Molina Homers, Carlos Beltran Strikes Out, Lose 2006 NLCS: 10/19/06

The Mets were supposed to win this game following Endy Chavez’s catch. Instead, Molina slammed a two-run home run in the ninth that was like a punch in the face. With the Mets down 3-1, they managed to load the bases in the bottom of the ninth, but the season ended with Carlos Beltran’s knees buckling on an Adam Wainwright curve ball. 2006 was the Mets year. We all felt it. In my opinion, the most disappointing on-field moment in Mets history.

Tom Glavine Finishes Mets 2007 Collapse: 9/30/07

The Mets were up by seven games with 17 left to play. There was no way they could lose, but they did. They went 5-12 the rest of the way, topping it off with Glavine allowing seven runs in just a third of an inning in Game 162.

Mets Close Shea with 2008 collapse: 9/28/08

The Mets were up by three and a half games with 17 to play. There was no way they could lose again, but they did. This time they went 7-10 the rest of the way. The Mets still had a chance for the Wild Card in the last game of the season, but they lost. To make matters worse, it was the final game at Shea, and some genius scheduled the closing ceremony after the game.  Bad idea.

2009 Season: 4/6/09-10/4/09

There was so much promise going into 2009. After the disappointing ends to the previous three seasons, this was going to be the year. They were opening a new stadium, Sports Illustrated predicted they would win the World Series — this was it. Instead, everybody got injured and the Mets finished 70-92. Perhaps the most disappointing season in Mets history.

Mugshots Courtesy Ultimate Mets Database

Tom Seaver (1969)

25-7, 2.21 era, 208 ks
The list is limited to one season per player, or Seaver would be on it about five times. 1969 was his best year — he won his first of three Cy Youngs as well as 25 games, a Mets record that still stands.

Dwight Gooden (1985)

24-4, 1.53 era, 268 ks
Gooden won the pitching triple crown and the Cy Young. His 1.53 is a Mets record.

David Cone (1988)

20-3, 2.22 era, 213 ks
Just a superb year. His league-leading .870 winning percentage gives him the nod over Jerry Koosman’s 1968 season.

Bernard Gilkey (1996)

.326, 30 hrs, 117 rbis
At the time it was the greatest Mets offensive season, just edging Darryl Strawberry’s best seasons by virtue of his .326 average and a team record 44 doubles.

Lance Johnson (1996)

.333, 9 hrs, 69 rbis
Johnson set Mets records for hits with 227 hits and 21 triples.

Robin Ventura (1999)

.301, 32 hrs, 120 rbis
An all-around great season, including his Gold Glove defense.

Mike Piazza (1999)

.303, 40 hrs, 124 rbis
The best of Piazza’s monster years. He set a team record for rbis, and his 40 home runs were his most as a Met.

Jose Reyes (2006)

.300, 19 hrs, 81 rbis
A slight nod over his 2008 season because of the rbis. It doesn’t matter — his 2011 season will be better than any of them.

Carlos Beltran (2006)

.275, 41 hrs, 116 rbis
Tied Todd Hundley’s Mets record with 41 homers.

David Wright (2008)

.302, 33 hrs, 124 rbis
Tied Piazza’s team record 124 rbis, and set a personal best 33 homers.

Mug Shots Courtesy Ultimate Mets Database

Mets Sign Jason Bay — 1/5/10

It took more than two months, but Omar Minaya finally got his man, signing Bay to a four-year, $66 million contract. Bay was the power hitter the Mets thought they needed to put them over the top.

20 Inning Game in St. Louis – 4/17/10

It was a game for the ages — a six hour, 53 minute marathon that saw the first 18 innings scoreless, then each team scoring a run in the 19th, and the Mets finally winning it in the 20th, 2-1. Closer Francisco Rodriguez got the win, starter Mike Pelfrey earned the save and outfielder/first baseman Joe Mather took the loss. It was that kind of game.

Ike Davis Flips Out Again and Again and Again – 5/11/10

With his major league career less than a month old, Davis pulled off his third flip-over-the-dugout-railing catch, this one the final out of a win against the Nationals. Davis’s solid rookie year gives the Mets hope for the future.

Mets Sweep Phillies in 3 Straight Shutouts — 5/25-5/27/10

The Mets proved, for the time being, anyway, that they were just as good as the Phillies, winning 8-0, 5-0 and 3-0 at Citi Field in the best three game series in years.

Mets Beat Yanks 4-0 — 6/18/10

This win at Yankee Stadium was significant for several reasons. First, they beat the Yankees. Second, it extended the Mets winning streak to eight games (their second such streak of the season).  Third, they went a season-high eleven games over .500 to stand at 39-28. It marked the high point of the season as it was all downhill from there, the Mets going  40-55 the rest of way.

Jason Bay’s Concussion — 7/23/10

Bay somehow managed to sustain what would be a season-ending concussion while making an incredible catch at Dodger Stadium. His head didn’t even hit the fence — rather, his face hit the padding, and the whiplash effect of his head bouncing back caused the injury.

K-Rod Family Feud — 8/11/10

Rodriguez decided it was a good idea to slug his girlfriend’s father in full view of his teammates’ wives and children. It was a damaging punch, and not just for the victim — K-Rod was suspended, he tore a ligament in his thumb and was lost for the season, he lost $3 million, and he was arrested and charged with assault. Not his best moment.

R.A. Dickey 1-hitter — 8/13/10

But this was Dickey’s best moment. The knuckleballer who came out of nowhere to be the team’s MVP threw a one-hitter against the Phillies. The only hit he allowed was a single to opposing pitcher Cole Hamels in the sixth inning.

Omar Minaya and Jerry Manuel Fired — 10/4/10

These firings were well-deserved, as Minaya was a lousy GM and Manuel was a lousy manager. These moves mark the beginning of the Mets rebuilding process. 

Sandy Alderson Hired — 10/28/10

The Mets went out and got a seasoned pro to run the franchise — the first time we’ve been able to say that in a really long time. His early inactivity is likely a product of the roster and payroll he inherited. Alderson appears to have a plan that includes patience — a difficult concept for notoriously impatient Mets fans to stomach.

Jerry Grote (1966-1977)

For some guy named Tom Parsons who never played in the majors again, the Mets got an All Star catcher who was able to bring the greatness out of a young pitching staff. Johnny Bench famously said if he and Grote were on the same team, Bench would have to play third base.

Tommie Agee (1968-1972)

The Mets gave up 4 players to get Agee, the best of whom was Tommy Davis, whose best years were behind him. Agee singlehandedly saved Game 3 of the 1969 World Series. As a bonus, the Mets also got Al Weis, another World Series hero, in the trade. 

Keith Hernandez (1983-1989)

For the price of pitchers Neil Allen, who never could harness his talent, and Rick Ownbey, the Mets got the man who led them to the 1986 World Series. Not a bad swap indeed.

Ray Knight (1984-1986)

The Mets sent three players of very little consequence to Houston for Knight, who went on to be the 1986 World Series MVP. 

Bob Ojeda (1986-1990)

Ojeda came over to the Mets in an 8 player deal with the Red Sox, and proceeded to go 18-5 in 1986. The only player of note the Mets sent away was Calvin Schiraldi, who helped the Mets more as a Red Sox than he ever did as a Met — he was the losing pitcher of Game 6 of the 1986 World Series.

David Cone (1987-1992, 2003)

The Mets got Cone from the Royals for 3 players, the top one being Ed Hearn. Hearn was actually a very promising young catcher, but injuries and then a very serious disease cut his career short.

John Olerud (1997-1999)

For some reason Olerud fell out of favor with the Blue Jays, and the Mets were able to get him for medicore pitcher Robert Person. And if memory serves me right, Toronto also paid around $6 million of Oleurd’s $6.5 million 1997 salary.

Mike Piazza (1998-2005)

After spending a week in Florida, the Marlins turned around and dealt Piazza to the Mets for 3 players, the best being Preston Wilson. Wilson had a few good power years, but he was nothing compared to Piazza — the best hitter in Mets history. 

Carlos Delgado (2006-2009)

A year after spurning the Mets as a free agent, Omar Minaya finally landed Delgado, sending Mike Jacobs, Yusmeiro Petit and a minor leaguer to Florida. Jacobs had a couple of good years, but now both he and Petit are looking for jobs after being released by their teams.

Johan Santana (2008-Present)

The Mets landed the best pitcher in the game without giving up any of their top prospects. Carlos Gomez could still develop into a good player, but the Twins have already given up on him. Philip Humber has appeared in just 13 games in Minnesota in two seasons, and has not fared well. 

Mug Shots Courtesy Ultimate Mets Database, http://ultimatemets.com/mugshots.php

Dave Kingman (1975-1977, 1981-1983)

Kingman was notoriously prickly with the media with the Mets. Things got worse when he left, once sending a rat in a box to a  female sportswriter when he was with the A’s. Read this really good article by Joe Posnaski on his feelings about Kingman. Despite it all, he’s still  one of my favorite all-time Mets.

Darryl Strawberry (1983-1990)

Another one of my all-time favorites, but you’ve got to admit, he was kind of a jerk. Famously punched Keith Hernandez while taking a team photo. After going through a lot of trials (literally) and tribulations, he has rehabbed his image and is now back in the Mets’ good graces.

Kevin Mitchell (1984, 1986)

Lets see, he allegedly fought with Strawberry during a basketball game in 1982 shortly after both were drafted and signed. He allegedly decapitated his girlfriend’s cat (he denies it). He was allegedly making plane reservations during the famous Game 6 comeback in the 1986 World Series before being called on as a pinch-hitter. In 1999 he was arrested for assaulting his father. And as a minor league manager in 2000, he was suspended for punching the opposing team’s owner in the mouth during a brawl.

Lenny Dykstra (1985-1989)

Dykstra earned his jerkdom for his post-baseball career. He earned lots of media attention for his business acumen, accumulating tens of millions of dollars. He started an investment fund for athletes that charged exorbitant fees. Now he’s bankrupt, and blames everybody else for his troubles. Check out this excellent article on Dykstra’s rise and fall.

Gregg Jefferies (1987-1991)

Jefferies came up to the Mets as a 20-year-old with a lot of hype. And apparently he believed it all. He was seen as extremely immature, and by all reports was hated by his teammates. 

Vince Coleman (1991-1993)

He injured Dwight Gooden’s arm by stupidly swinging a golf club in the clubhouse early in the 1993 season. Three months later, he threw a firecracker into a crowd of fans outside Dodger Stadium. An all around nice guy.

Bobby Bonilla (1992-1995, 1999)

His jerkdom has been well documented in these pages. No need to repeat. But man, was he a jerk.

Bret Saberhagen (1992-1995)

In 1993 Saberhagen sprayed bleach into a group of reporters. When he was found out, he apologized and donated one day’s pay to charity. So maybe he wasn’t a total jerk.

Jeff Kent (1992-1996)

Here’s my favorite Kent story. After coming over from the Blue Jays in a late-season trade along with Ryan Thompson for David Cone, the Mets staged their annual rookie hazing, in which the young players wear women’s clothing. Thompson went along, but Kent smugly refused, saying he had already done it earlier in the season in Toronto. Can you believe he’ll be in the Hall of Fame someday? Boy, those early 1990 teams were certainly jerky!

Lastings Milledge (2006-2007)

I actually had no problem with his high-fiving fans as he took the field after hitting his first home run. But the rest of his act quickly wore thin with his teammates, culminating with someone (reported to be Billy Wagner) hanging a note on his locker that read “Know your place, rook.”

Mug Shots Courtesy Ultimate Mets Database, http://ultimatemets.com/mugshots.php

BEST:

Casey Stengel (1962-1965), 175-404

It doesn’t matter that Stengel’s .302  winning percentage is the worst in Mets history. The greatest showman in baseball history made the Mets relevant when they were simply awful on the field.

Gil Hodges (1968-1971),  339-309

Everybody who played for Hodges revered him, saying he was the driving force behind the 1969 Miracle Mets. It would have been nice to see how far he could have taken the franchise.

Davey Johnson (1984-1990), 595-417

Johnson’s .588 winning percentage is the best in Mets history. He led the team to the 1986 World Series title — a team should have won more than one, but it wasn’t Johnson’s fault.

Bobby Valentine (1996-2002), 536-457

Valentine is still beloved by Mets fans who are hoping he will some day return to the dugout in Flushing. His personality sometimes rubs people the wrong way, but he has a brilliant baseball mind.

Willie Randolph (2005-2008), 302-253

Yeah, I’m surprised, too. But you can’t ignore the fact that Randolph’s .544 winning percentage is second best in team history. It also shows how checkered the Mets managerial past is.

WORST:

Joe Torre (1977-1981), 286-420

Torre will go into the Hall of Fame as a manager, but not because of his work with the Mets. He was in way over his head. In Torre’s defense, he went right from the field to the dugout, and had to learn as he went.

George Bamberger (1982-1983), 81-127

Bamberger was like your kindly old uncle who wasn’t a very good baseball manager.

Jeff Torborg (1992-1993), 85-115

Torborg was pretty much clueless during his two years at the helm at Shea.

Dallas Green (1993-1996), 229-283

Green wasn’t much better, and he was kind of a jerk. That’s why he made the list over Joe Frazier.

Art Howe (2003-2004), 137-186

Ah, Art Howe. A nice enough guy by all accounts, but just a listless manager whose teams played with little fire. But hey, at least they battled.

Mug Shots Courtesy Ultimate Mets Database, http://ultimatemets.com/mugshots.php

This decade with no name was an interesting one for the New York Mets. They started high, then quickly went down to the depths, only to rise again, and then another steep decline in a shocking fashion. Let’s take a look at the top 10 stories for the Mets this decade:

2000 Subway Series

The first year of the decade turned out to be the best for the Mets. They faced the Yankees in the World Seres — the team’s first appearance in the Fall Classic since 1986. Even though they lost, it was a sign that the rest of the decade was going to be a good one. A championship was assured. Sadly, it never happened.

2001 Off Season

The Mets followed the 2000 season with a disappointing 2001 campaign. So GM Steve Phillips moved agressively to fix what ailed the team. He traded for Roberto Alomar, Mo Vaughn and Jeromy Burnitz, and signed free agent Roger Cedeno. What were the odds all four moves would fail? Whatever they were, they did, and it sealed Phillips’ fate as GM.

Emergence of Jose Reyes and David Wright

Midway through the 2003 and 2004 seasons, the Mets called Jose Reyes and David Wright, respectively, up from the minors. They were both instant sensations, and have gone on to be the faces of the franchise. Reyes has battled injuries, and Wright had a very strange 2009, but it’s nice to see a couple of homegrown players starring for the team.

Scott Kazmir/Victor Zambrano Trade

The Mets were on the fringe of the wild card race in July 2004 when GM Jim Duquette sent highly regarded prospect Scott Kazmir to Tampa Bay for less-than-highly regarded pitcher Victor Zambrano. The trade was lambasted by everyone, except of course Tampa. Kazmir went on to be an All Star, Zambrano went on to nothing. The trade sealed Duquette’s fate as GM.

Omar Minaya Hired

Since being hired in the closing days of the 2004 season, Omar Minaya has shaped the franchise for the second half of the decade, for better or for worse. While he has many, many critics, don’t forget Minaya took over a terrible team and quickly built it into a winner, thanks in part to the Wilpons finally loosening the purse strings.

2005 Off Season

Minaya made a splash in his first off season, signing Pedro Martinez and Carlos Beltran to big bucks contracts. Martinez turned out to a very fun disappointment, while Beltran, after a horrible first year, has earned his sizable paychecks.

2006 East Division Champs

The Mets won 97 games in 2006, and easily won the National League East for their first division title since 1988. The loss to the Cardinals in the NLCS was like a punch in the face. But still, it was a great year. 

2007 and 2008 Collapses

2007 and 2008 were also good years, that is, until the last couple of weeks of September. The 2007 collapse was historic — they lost a 7 game lead with 17 games left to play. In 2008, the collapse was less dramatic (a 3 game lead with 17 play), but just as painful.

Johan Santana Trade

The Mets are probably still wondering how they were able to land Johan Santana, arguably the best pitcher in the game, for next to nothing, prior to the 2008 season. Whatever the circumstances, Santana is a Met in perhaps the best trade in franchise history. His performance on the mound in his 2 seasons has not disappointed.

Shea Hello to Citi Field

Shea Stadium dilapidated right before our eyes. Before it had a chance to collapse around us, the Mets came up with the cash to build Citi Field. The shiny new ballpark  has its issues, but the team is addressing them by adding much needed Mets history to the building. Let’s hope Citi Field is kinder to the Mets in the teens than Shea was in the 00s, or whatever the decade ends up being called.

Mug Shots Courtesy Ultimate Mets Database, http://ultimatemets.com/mugshots.php

Tommie Agee (10/14/69)

Game 3 of the 1969 World Series was one for the ages for Agee. He is best remembered for those two sensational catches that saved five runs in a 5-0 win. But he also led off the game with a home run, setting the tone for the rest of the game, letting the Orioles know there was no way to stop this miracle.

Al Weis (10/16/69)

Weis’ 1969 regular season stats were not what you’d call impressive — .215, 2 home runs, 23 RBIs. Nowadays he probably wouldn’t make the post-season roster. Not only did he make the team, he played in all five World Series game, hitting .455. His solo home run in the 7th inning of Game 5 tied the game at 3, helping propel the Mets to their first World Series title. 

Dave Kingman (take your pick)

You can’t talk about Mets home runs without talking about Dave Kingman. He used to regularly launch homers over the bullpen at Shea and into the parking lot, a feat not often accomplished. He played on some pretty awful Mets teams, so none of his home runs was particularly historic, but they all were certainly long and memorable. Kingman was just really fun to watch — even when he struck out, which was often.

Darryl Strawberry (10/1/85)

This was the situation — with just 6 games left in the season, the Mets were 3 games behind the Cardinals in the NL East, and traveled to St. Louis for a 3 game series. They needed a sweep, so the tension began before the game even started. It only increased as Game 1 was scoreless into the 11th inning. Strawberry stepped up and hit a monster shot to right that slammed into a digital clock on the scoreboard. The Mets won the game 1-0 — one of the most tense, exciting games in Mets history.

Lenny Dykstra (10/11/86)

Pivotal Game 3 of the 1986 playoffs against the Astros at Shea. The Mets were down by a run in the bottom of the 9th, on the verge of going down 2 games to 1, when Lenny Dykstra hit a two-run homer to give the Mets a 6-5 win. It gave the Mets a 2-1 series lead, which they would go on to win in 6 games.

Todd Pratt (10/9/99)

Pratt was the Mets backup catcher who was only in Game 4 of the NLDS against the Diamondbacks because superstar catcher Mike Piazza was out with a bad thumb. So when he came to bat with the score tied 3-3 in the 10th inning, nothing much was expected of him. But he launched a long fly to dead center field that Steve Finley couldn’t come down with (although for a few heart-stopping seconds we all thought he did) that gave the Mets the 3-1 series win. 

Robin Ventura (10/17/99)

Pratt played a role in the greatest homer/non-homer in baseball history. It was 3-3, bottom of the 15th inning of Game 5 of the NLCS against the Braves. Ventura stepped to the plate with the bases loaded. He proceeded to hit a grand slam to right center to win the game. But did he? Pratt, the runner on first, intercepted Ventura as he tried to round the bases. The rest of the team piled on, and Ventura never did make it to second. He was credited with a single and an RBI. But the Mets still won the game, and the term “Grand Single” was born.

Mike Piazza (6/30/00)

With the Mets down 8-1 in the bottom of the 8th, most fans were chalking this up as another loss to the hated Braves. But not the players. They mounted a comeback that saw them score 10 runs in the inning, capped off by a 3-run home run by Piazza. Then-manager Bobby Valentine called it “one of the most unlikely things I’ve ever seen.” 

Mike Piazza (9/21/01)

A year later, Piazza hit an even more memorable, important home run. With the New York City still reeling from 9/11, the Mets hosted the Braves in the first sporting event since that horrible day. The Mets were down 2-1 in the 8th, when Piazza slammed a 2-run homer. The Mets won 3-2, and the city had something to feel good about for the first time in 2 weeks. 

Mo Vaughn (6/26/02)

Mo Vaughn’s time as a Met was less than memorable, but one moment does stand out. He slammed a home run to right field that hit midway up that big old hulking scoreboard, right into a Budweiser ad. It was estimated at 505 feet. Gary Cohen called it probably the longest he’d ever seen at Shea, and he probably saw most of them.

Mug Shots Courtesy Ultimate Mets Database, http://ultimatemets.com/mugshots.php