20
2011
Will The Mets Ever Throw A No-Hitter?
An article by 
Dillon Gee gave the Mets a glimmer of hope in throwing the team’s first-ever no-hitter.
However, like so many hopefuls before him, Gee fell short of making history.
Though there have been some heartbreaking possible no-hit efforts in Mets history, the last two have been particularly hard to swallow, since the opposing team’s pitcher broke up the bid.
How fitting that former Met Livan Hernandez was the culprit this time? While he’s been a good hitting pitcher his whole career, it’s just ironic that a former Met played the role of spoiler.
It’s also ironic that a handful of former Mets have gone on to throw no-hitters or perfect games with other teams. David Cone, Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver, Dwight Gooden, Al Leiter and A.J. Burnett have all experienced the honor.
The Mets and Padres are the only teams still without a no-hitter. As the Mets approach their 50th anniversary, who will be the first to have a historic game?
The Mets have had some candidates over the past few years, but no one has been able to cross the threshold.
Of the current healthy Mets pitchers, Jon Niese probably has the best chance. He threw a one hitter against the Padres last year, and has the stuff to keep a team in check all game.
R.A. Dickey also threw a one-hitter last year, but he has been very hittable so far this year.
Johan Santana may be the Met that finally breaks the curse. If he can return healthy—whether this year or next year—he might be able to put everything together on a given day. If his changeup is working, he’s still one of the most unhittable pitchers in the game.
Over the past few years, one Met held the greatest chance of throwing the team’s first no-hitter. And it’s not Santana, Mike Pelfrey or John Maine.
It’s actually exiled former Met Oliver Perez.
Though he’s one of most inconsistent pitchers to ever toe the rubber at Shea Stadium/Citi Field, he had all the tools to throw a no-hitter.
He was destined to show up at the ballpark one day and just figure everything out, even if it was just for one start.
He probably would walk a few guys in the effort, but when his slider is on and his velocity is up, he is very tough to hit.
This definitely is not a ploy to bring back Ollie P, but he certainly had no-hit quality stuff at one time.
As I find myself saying after every game, Mets fans will have to wait another day for their team’s first no-hitter.
However, when that day does come, there will be jubilation in the streets.
Still, I’d still rather see the team simply win the game than worrying about a no-hitter.
A couple more wins and we’re looking at a .500 team.
About the Author: Jim Mancari
Jim Mancari hails from Massapequa, N.Y. He recently earned a Master's degree in Journalism at Hofstra University. He is a devout Mets fan and takes pride in his team, despite their lack of success over the last few years. Like all Mets fans, Jim has plenty of hope. He also writes as the sports reporter for the Brooklyn Tablet newspaper and the senior editor of metroBASEBALL Magazine. Click my name to view my personal website.
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Like the Red Sox finally winning a W.S. the Mets will pitch a no-hitter one day. My hope is it’s on a great stage like Game 7 of a W.S. but yes I have to hope that the Mets will 1 day pitch a no-hitter.
I hope it is a game 163 or something because then it’d be a regular season one.
That would be great but it wouldnt count. Playoffs are treated differently than regular season. Pops
Of course it would count. Did Don Larson not get credit for a perfect game because it was thrown in the WS? I’m pretty sure I saw it listed among the perfectos thrown in MLB history.
Baseball games are played to be won. As long as the W goes up at the end of the game, I could give a flip if a no hitter or perfect game is thrown. Great for the team, pitcher and fans but it has no affect in the won lost column and I bet most ballplayers have the same attitude.
We did…. uh DUH! Tom Seaver… ever heard of him? oh wait. we traded him to the Reds for Steve Henderson, Pat Zachary and Dan Norman…THEN Seaver pitched the no hitter.
ok well what about Dwight Gooden! Oh .right…
Or David Cone…
If it happens tonight then be prepared for the world to officially end on Saturday
Exactly!
I don’t think getting into the 6th inning is “close” to a no-no. There were still 10 outs to go. Yeah, it’s frustrating that a pitcher broke it up (again!), but Livan is a pretty good hitter.
It will happen, but I really don’t worry about it too much. I’m much more concerned with 5 years without a playoff appearance, 10 w/o a WS appearance and, wait for it, 25 w/o a championship.
I have to admit that I foolishly left work early b/c I wanted to see it on tv. Naturally, I arrived in time to see Livan end it! LOL!
We won the game via a blown call. Not such a good feeling, but a win’s a win.
Jim, I have to disagree with your conclusion to this query;”Over the past few years, one Met held the greatest chance of throwing the team’s first no-hitter. And it’s not Santana, Mike Pelfrey or John Maine.
It’s actually exiled former Met Oliver Perez.”
Jim, believe it or not, I believe Trachsel had more 1H efforts for us & thus more opportunity.
Here’s a proposition I thought of recently after one of the loval scribes castigated us for our fuilure.
As u point out, Padres are in the same boat.
Since historically both SD & NY are reputed strong pitching developers consistantly playing in larger “pitcher’s” parks. I wonder if that venue related size isn’t contributing to their failures in NO-NOs since there is a constant for ALL teams regarding # of defenders & their relative positioning, could it be that the increased coverage area provided by pitcher friendly dimensions leaves more acreage to cover per defender thus creating more potential for undefended seams for batted balls to drop into? Could size really matter in a negative way? OBVIOUSLY NYM HAVE HAD THE DEVELOPED TALENT LEVEL TO PROVIDE AT LEAST 1 IN 50 YRS; BUT COULD DIMENSIONS BE CAUSING QUALLS LIKE FRUSTRATIONS? I would think it bears investigation as logical as surmising that 100 border patrol agents would be moew effective guarding Swiss borders than our Southern one.
I have been a Met fan since the beginning……..and yes, it is amazing that with all the great pitchers we have had that not one threw a no hitter in our uniform.
I just chalk it up to being one of those quirky things that our franchise has as part of it’s history. A ridiculous number of time consuming extra inning games. If I remember correctly one of the great NL umpires Ed Sudol was the umpire behind the plate for 3 or more 20 inning games in the early and mid 1970′s. I had been offered tickets at Shea the night of the Jimmy Qualls hit against Tom Seaver in 1969 and turned them down (poor seats)but was fortunate to see every pitch on TV that night. Seaver had total command that night although I have seen him at other times faster. The day he struck out the last 10 Padres he was violently fast. Then there was the “Good Doctor” and so many more stud pitchers who never got a no hitter for us…I would love to see one before I leave this earth but stranger things in life just can’t be explained!
If it ever does happen and the curse is broken, I expect there to be a whole slew of Mets no-hitters, to make up for the drought.