Photo by Ed Delany of MMO

His statistics minus context would have guaranteed him election on the first ballot. A 143 OPS+, a career .308 batting average, six seasons with at least 100 RBIs, plus 427 home runs.

Impressive numbers made more so because of where he played on the field. The unofficial title of “Greatest Hitting Catcher” was deservedly given to Mike Piazza as his career concluded and as he approached Hall of Fame eligibility.

However, speculation of performance-enhancing drug use combined with the era in which he played kept him from being a sure-fire inductee. It took four years before he cleared the 75 percent threshold.

Piazza earned his spot in Cooperstown by garnering 83 percent of the electorate and would soon be announced as the second player to be inducted as a New York Met. Joining him was Ken Griffey Jr. — who interestingly surpassed the record for the highest voting percentage previously held by the other Hall of Famer who entered as a Met, Tom Seaver.

A 62nd round selection by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1988, Piazza became the lowest-drafted player to get enshrinement. He was named the 1993 National League’s Rookie of the Year after hitting 35 home runs. Piazza would establish himself as one of the premier power hitters in baseball before a whirlwind sequence of trades over an eight-day span in May 1998 landed him with the Mets. It turned out to be one of the best deals the franchise has ever made.

The numbers he put up in Los Angeles are no doubt impressive, but his greatest achievements — and his greatest impact on an organization — came during his seven-and-a-half years in Queens: leading the Mets to consecutive postseason appearances including the 2000 National League pennant, six All-Star appearances, and the unforgettable home run in the first game in New York City following the events of September 11th. On his way to becoming the most prolific home run-hitting catcher in baseball history, Piazza compiled 220 of them with the Mets while also driving in 655 runs. He still holds the highest slugging percentage in team history, ranks second in OPS, and third in homers.

In his retirement statement, Piazza left no doubt about where his closest loyalties lie.

“One of the hardest moments of my career was walking off the field at Shea Stadium and saying goodbye,” he said. “My relationship with you made my time in New York the happiest of my career, and for that, I will always be grateful.”

The post OTD 2016: Mike Piazza Elected to the Hall of Fame appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner are all headed to Cooperstown. After 10 years of waiting, Wagner has finally made it, while Sabathia and Ichiro were elected on their first ballots with 86.8% and 99.7% of the vote, respectively. Ichiro missed being a unanimous selection by just one vote.

In addition, Carlos Beltran received 70.3% of the votes, keeping him on track toward Cooperstown, while David Wright earned 8.1%, ensuring his place on the ballot for another year.

Read MMO’s analysis of Tuesday’s events here.

Latest Mets News

Billy Wagner’s reaction to finally making the Hall of Fame was filmed. “Dreams do come true,” Wagner said.

Latest MLB News

Ichiro’s number will officially be retired by the Seattle Mariners, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. He joins Edgar Martinez (11), Ken Griffey Jr (24) and Jackie Robinson (42) as the only uniform numbers retired by the M’s.

Alden González and Jesse Rogers of ESPN “asked former teammates, opponents and other MLB greats to describe what it was like playing with, pitching to and simply witnessing Ichiro during his legendary career.” Read the full article here.

The Los Angeles Angels agreed to a one-year, $1.075 million deal with José Quijada for the 2025 season. The deal avoids arbitration and also gives the Angels a $3.75 million club option on Quijada for 2026. Previously, the southpaw filed for a $1.14 million salary while the Angels preferred a number closer to $975k.

The Yankees have named Preston Claiborne as their new assistant pitching coach after losing Desi Druschel to the Mets. Claiborne, 37, has no prior experience on an MLB coaching staff but brings three years of major league playing experience to the role. All other major coaches are returning, including former Mets skipper Luis Rojas, who will continue as the third base and outfield coach.

Latest on MMO

Patrick Glynn handpicked some teams who could look at Pete Alonso as a potential target.

Jack Ramsey looked at scenarios that could lead Alonso back to New York.

On This Date in Mets History

1996: The Mets send Eric Hiljus, Eric Ludwick, and Yudith Orozio to the St. Louis Cardinals for outfielder Bernard Gilkey. For the Mets, Gilkey was one of the few bright spots on a dreadful 1996 team. That season, he slashed .317/.393/.562, drove in 117 runs, and put up an impressive 8.1 bWAR.

2001: 1969 Miracle Met Tommie Agee passes away. Over five seasons, Agee received top 10 MVP votes twice and won a Gold Glove.

Born on This Date: Wayne Kirby (1964), Tyrone Taylor (1994).

The post Morning Briefing: Ichiro, Sabathia, Wagner Headed To Cooperstown appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Wagner, eighth on the all-time saves list with 422 and sixth in Mets history with 101, earned 82.5% of the vote in his 10th and final chance on the Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot, it was announced Tuesday. Players need 75 percent of the vote to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Carlos Beltrán, unfortunately, will have to wait.

Beltrán, a nine-time All-Star who accumulated 70.1 WAR over his 20-year career, received 70.3% of the vote in his third year on the ballot. That’s up from the 57.1% he earned last year.

Ichiro Suzuki (99.7%—all but one vote) and CC Sabathia (86.8%) were the two biggest vote-getters, both getting elected on their first ballot. Wagner, Suzuki, and Sabathia join Dick Allen and Dave Parker (voted in by committee) in the Hall of Fame class

David Wright earned 8.1% of the vote in his second year on the ballot up from 5.4% last year. Francisco Rodriguez earned 10.2% in his third year. Curtis Granderson, unfortunately, garnered less than 1% in his first year, meaning he’ll fall off the ballot. Players need 5% to remain on the ballot the following year.

Wagner Earns His Spot

Wagner posted a 2.31 ERA and 0.99 WHIP over 903 career innings while striking out 1,196 in 16 seasons. His career K% is 33.2 and his 11.92 K/9 is one of the best marks ever. The lefty came to the Mets as a free agent in 2006 (four years, $43 million) after 11 years in Houston and Philadelphia. He saved 40 games in his first year in New York with a 2.24 ERA and 1.10 WHIP. He had 94 strikeouts in 72.1 innings. He made the All-Star team seven times, including twice with the Mets in 2007-08.

Wagner was traded to the Red Sox in August 2009 for a couple of players to be named later and finished his career with the Braves in 2010.

Beltran Will Have to Wait… But Not Long

With 435 career home runs and 312 steals, Beltrán is one of five players in the 400 home run/300 stolen base club. The others are Willie Mays, Andre Dawson, Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez.

While Beltrán’s stats are Hall-worthy, he is likely losing support from some writers because of his admitted involvement in the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal, which also cost him his job as Mets skipper in 2020 before he ever managed a game.

Still, with Beltrán gaining 70.3% this year, he has an excellent chance of reaching the 75 percent threshold soon, especially with a slew of names dropping off this year, and not a ton of great candidates getting added for the 2026 ballot.

The post Wagner Elected to Hall of Fame; Beltrán Falls Just Short appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The 2025 Hall of Fame voting results will be revealed today at 6 p.m. As of Monday night, 188 votes have been publicized, which is about 48% of the expected total.

Ichiro Suzuki has been checked off on every ballot, while CC Sabathia looks to be a lock, sitting at 93.6%. Two former Mets – Billy Wagner (84.6%) and Carlos Beltrán (80.3%) – are also above the 75% threshold needed for enshrinement. Wagner is in his last year on the ballot and fell five votes shy of Cooperstown in 2024, but he’s already gained nine votes from returning voters this year. Beltrán is in his third year after receiving 57.1% of the vote a year ago, and he’s gained 21 votes this cycle. David Wright has already secured enough votes to remain on the ballot for another year.

You can track the results on Ryan Thibodaux’s tracker.

Latest Mets News

The order of the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft is officially set, with the Mets slated to pick 38th. The Mets, Astros, Blue Jays, Yankees, Giants and Diamondbacks have forfeited their second-round picks for signing players who were tendered a qualifying offer.

Latest MLB News

The Blue Jays have signed outfielder Anthony Santander to a five-year contract worth over $90 million. The deal also includes an opt-out after the 2028 season, which can voided if Toronto picks up the option for the 2030 season, and $35 million deferred. Santander made his first All-Star Game in 2024, batting .235/.308/.506 with a career-high 44 homers in 665 plate appearances. Scott Mitchell of TSN reports that Pete Alonso is still in play for Toronto.

The Giants have signed lefty Joey Lucchesi to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training. He can make $1.5 million if he reaches the majors. Lucchesi made just two starts for the Mets in 2024, but the second one came in the last game of the regular season, in which he held the Braves to one run over six innings and gave the bullpen some much-needed rest.

Another 2024 Met, Alex Young, signed a minor league deal with the Reds. Young played for the Reds in 2023 and 2024, but was traded to the Giants before the Mets claimed him off waivers. In 14 appearances for the Mets, Young posted a 3.29 ERA with 13 strikeouts against seven walks.

Former Mets southpaw Chasen Shreve inked a minor league deal with the Braves. He can earn up to $1.3 million if he were to make the majors. Shreve bounced from the Rangers to the Yankees, to the Rockies in 2024, tossing a scoreless inning in his lone big league appearance of the season.

Right-hander Ryder Ryan has re-signed with the Pirates on a minor league deal with an invite to spring training. A former Mets prospect, Ryan appeared in 15 games for Pittsburgh, posting a 5.66 ERA with 17 strikeouts against nine walks across 20 2/3 innings.

The Rangers have signed righty Peyton Gray to a minor league contract. A former Rockies farmhand, Gray carved up the competition in the Mexican Winter League this offseason, posting a 1.57 ERA with 33 strikeouts against five walks in 23 innings.

Latest on MMO

Evan Mazza looks at the Mets’ biggest needs remaining this offseason.

David Melendi breaks down the reliever market still available in free agency.

On This Date in Mets History

2002: In a three-team deal with the Rockies and Brewers, the Mets send Benny Abgayani and Todd Zeile to Colorado, and Lenny Randle and Glendon Rusch to Milwaukee. Headed to New York from Colorado are Ross Gload, Alex Ochoa, and Craig House, though Ochoa is immediately sent to Milwaukee. The Brewers send Jeromy Burnitz, Jeff D’Amico, Lou Collier, and Mark Sweeney to the Mets.

2006: The Mets trade Kris Benson to the Orioles in exchange for Jorge Julio and John Maine. Julio saved 83 games in five seasons in Baltimore. Maine has struggled in his brief time in the majors but flew through Baltimore’s minor league system after a dominant 2003 season.

Born on This Date: Jake Diekman (1987).

The post Morning Briefing: 2025 Hall of Fame Results Announced Today appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

If there was a “nice guy” Hall of Fame, he’d be a first-ballot inductee. Beyond his playing ability, Curtis Granderson was the epitome of professionalism. Hard work, hustle, class and his smile earned him tremendous respect league-wide over his 16-year career.

Granderson arrived in Queens following four seasons in the Bronx with the Yankees. At his introductory press conference, he stated, “real New Yorkers are Mets fans”. This, among other things, made him easy to root for. He totaled a 10.9 bWAR during his time with the Mets and was a significant factor during their run to the 2015 World Series when he slashed .259/.364/.457 with 26 home runs. He hit 30 more homers the following year, one of four times in which he equaled or exceeded that number.

The Case For

Granderson made seven stops—from Detroit to New York and elsewhere—between 2004 and 2019 in a career that included 344 home runs, 937 RBIs and 153 stolen bases. He was a true five-tool player with the Tigers. That array of talents was showcased best in 2007, when he accumulated the highest bWAR of his career (7.6), along with the rare 20-double, 20-triple, 20-homer, 20-steal season. Only two other major leaguers at that time had ever achieved such a feat.

If 2007 wasn’t his best season, however, then 2011 was. As a Yankee that year, Granderson hit 41 home runs and established career-highs in slugging percentage (.552), OPS (.916), OPS+ (142), runs (136) and RBIs (119). He led the majors in runs scored and the American League in runs batted in. He also stole 25 bases, earned his only Silver Slugger Award and finished fourth in AL MVP voting. The next year, he hit 42 homers and earned his second-straight All-Star selection (third overall).

Although Granderson never won a Gold Glove, he was a solid outfielder who finished with 32 Defensive Runs Saved. Additionally, by the definition of the character clause, he has that in abundance: his philanthropic efforts helped earn him the 2016 Roberto Clemente Award.

The Case Against

It was only in that 2007 season when Granderson had a WAR higher than 7.0. His career 47.2 WAR is below fellow 2025 candidates Jimmy Rollins, David Wright, Torii Hunter and Dustin Pedroia.

According to JAWS, a metric which is calculated by averaging a player’s career WAR with the total WAR from his seven-year peak, Granderson ranks No. 33 among center fielders. It’s better than a handful of Hall of Fame players but behind non-Hall members Devon White, Brett Butler and Bernie Williams.

By the standards of the similarity scores on Baseball Reference, Granderson’s number is closest to quality players who are admittedly not getting in: Justin Upton, Bobby Bonds, Ron Gant and José Bautista.

The 2011 season was the only one in which he finished in the top five of MVP voting. He was No. 10 in 2007 and No. 18 in 2015, and three All-Star appearances is particularly low for someone vying for the Hall of Fame.

There was nothing in particular that stood out when it comes to his postseason resume either. Over 16 series, which included 15 games as a Met, he had a .741 OPS with nine homers, nine steals and 30 RBIs.

Final Thoughts

With all due respect, this is an open and shut case. Grandy is not a Hall of Famer, and the better question is whether he’d receive the necessary five percent of votes to simply remain on the writer’s ballot. He had a few years that can be considered elite, but in order to get to Cooperstown, you need more than a few. Overall, Granderson was a very good player with an exceptional reputation.

The post The Hall of Fame Case for Curtis Granderson appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Henderson was born December 25, 1958, in Chicago. He later moved to Oakland at age seven, where he grew up a fan of the Oakland Raiders. Henderson played football, baseball, and ran track at Oakland Technical High School, and decided to go the baseball route after some wise advice from his mother.

Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Nicknamed the Man of the Steal, Henderson had a historic career over his 25 years in Major League Baseball. The Hall-of-Famer was a 10-time All-Star, three-time silver slugger, two-time World Series Champion with the Athletics and Blue Jays, gold glove winner, and 1990 American League Most Valuable Player.

Along with his accolades, Henderson racked up an MLB-leading 1,406 stolen bases and 2,295 runs scored in his career. Henderson led the league 12 times in stolen bases, including the 1982 season where he set the record for the most stolen bases in a single season with 130 (Modern Era).

Off the field, Henderson was just as entertaining. He often referred to himself in the third person, putting himself uptop the likes with Yogi Berra in baseball culture and lore.

“There are certain figures in American history who have passed into the realm of cultural mythology, as if reality could no longer contain their stories,” Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated wrote in 2003. “Johnny Appleseed. Wild Bill Hickok. Davy Crockett. Rickey Henderson. They exist on the sometimes narrow margin between Fact and Fiction.”

One of those moments came on May 1, 1991, when Henderson passed Lou Brock as the all-time leader in steals and famously referred to himself as the greatest of all time.

“It took a long time, huh. First of all, I would like to thank God for giving me the opportunity. I was to thank the Haas family, the Oakland organization, the city of Oakland, and all you beautiful fans for supporting me. Most of all, I’d like to thank my mom, my friends, and loved ones for their support. I was to give my appreciation to Tom Trebelhorn and the late Billy Martin. Billy Martine was a great manager. He was a great friend to me. I love you, Billy. I wish you were here. Lou Brock was the symbol of great base stealing. But today, I’m the greatest of all time. Thank you.”

Rickey, as the outfielder referred to himself, had many instances and stories come out where the truth was convoluted. One personal favorite was during the 2000 season with the Mariners, where Henderson commented on  John Olerud wearing a batting helmet on defense, commenting that he’d played with another man who did the same.

“That was me,” Olerud replied. Or so the story goes. Henderson and Olerud had also played together on the Mets during the 1999 season and won a championship together in 1993.

While mostly known for his time with the Athletics, Blue Jays, and Yankees, Henderson’s career included multiple pit stops in Queens. The first came as a player when Henderson was signed to the club prior to the 1999 season. That year, Henderson slashed .315/.423/.466 and stole 37 bags at age 40, taking home the National League Comeback Player of the Year award.

Then, after retirement, Henderson returned to the Mets organization in 2006 as a special instructor to work with hitters on their approach and stealing bases. Henderson’s work that season was noted to aid José Reyes, who was a first-time All-Star that season and led MLB with 64 steals. Henderson returned as a Mets coach in 2007 and was promoted as the first base coach mid-season.

Henderson is survived by his wife Pam, and his daughters Angela, Adrianna, and Alexis. He joins a list of players to pass away in 2024, including Willie Mays, Orlando Cepeda, Whitey Herzog, and Fernando Valenzuela.

The post Rickey Henderson Passes Away at 65 appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

We now know the ‘when’ is July 19. That’s the day one of the best in franchise history joins the rest.

It’s easy to claim Wright as a forever Met—not because this is the only organization he played for. The seven-time All-Star took a liking to the team while growing up a deep fly ball away the Triple-A club in Norfolk, VA.

Wright wore orange and blue for 14 seasons, breaking the team record in hits, runs scored, total bases, and batted in, and compiling the highest bWAR among position players. And he did it with professionalism and joy that fellow Mets fans could be proud of.

He excelled through the minor-league system after being drafted in 2001. For more than 40 seasons, the Mets pretty much had a revolving door at the third base position. July 21, 2004 ended that. It wouldn’t be long before his on-field skill and pleasant off-field demeanor were readily present.

Wright didn’t wilt in the New York spotlight. By his second full season, he had fully embraced it. Meanwhile, the Mets were emerging as a National League force.

In 2006, Wright reached his first postseason. The Mets cruised to the division title behind the best in the game at the hot corner. Wright was one of two NL players to bat better than .310 with 25 homers, 116 RBIs, and 40 doubles.

Fast-forward to 2015, and Wright was in the postseason again—his second and final time. In between, there were many successes and setbacks—both for himself and the team he represented.

By historical and logical measures, the Mets had the 2007 NL East title sewn up. But not even a seven-game lead with 17 games remaining was safe. The seams burst over the final three weeks. Wright, however, was not to blame. He had a 1.034 OPS in September with 38 hits and nine doubles. By year’s end, he became the third Met to have a 30-homer, 30-steal season along with a 149 OPS+. It’s a certainty that had New York not relinquished the division to the Phillies, Wright would have been the MVP.

Next year came another late-season demise in spite of Wright’s efforts. During this September, he posted a .993 OPS with a .416 on-base percentage and 21 RBIs. Overall, Wright’s 2008 featured a career-high in homers (33), at least 40 doubles for the fourth straight year, and his 124 RBIs were a single-season team record.

By now, the Mets were now building their roster around Wright. But their new stadium certainly wasn’t. Although he christened Citi Field with the home team’s first home run, long balls were sporadic at best. The dimensions penalized right-handed power hitters, and they especially hurt the team’s biggest name. Wright managed a mere five homers at Citi in 2009 (as opposed to the 21 he hit at Shea in ’08). He had just 10 for the year and struck out an alarming 140 times.

The cavernous Citi Field layout wasn’t the only misfortune. In a year marred by the team’s financial ruin, injury, and underperformances, the typically durable Wright found himself on the disabled list—the result of a rising fastball to the helmet during an at-bat versus San Francisco’s Matt Cain. He was batting .324 at the time. He returned two weeks later with post-concussion symptoms and hit only .239 for the rest of the season.

As the Mets sank deeper into mediocrity, he remained the reliable star fans could cling to. In 2010, despite a higher strikeout rate (24%) and the lowest batting average since his rookie year, he regained his power stroke and hit out 29 while driving in 103 (the fifth time he eclipsed 100 RBIs).

Wright was on a Hall of Fame track as he approached age 30. But 2012 would be the last time he’d play in at least 135 games. From there, we were left to enjoy Wright in small doses. Although he was healthy enough to participate heavily in the All-Star festivities in and around Citi Field in 2013, a right hamstring injury a month later limited him to 58 RBIs. A left rotator cuff contusion early in 2014 cost him a significant portion of his power. He hit only eight home runs.

Dependability had been one of Wright’s signature traits. From 2005 through 2010, he played in 935 of the Mets’ 972 games. Seeing him man third base and bat in the heart of the Mets order had become a summer ritual in Queens. There was little reason to think his May 2011 lower-back stress fracture, which kept him out for two months and derailed any hopes of a productive year, was anything but an aberration. The way he played in 2012, with 21 homers, 93 RBIs, and a .306 average in 156 games quieted any concerns.

Through it all, Wright remained as stand-up a person as ever. He spoke with tact on behalf of the team in good times and in bad. He never threw anyone under the bus even when it would have been very easy to do so. And through this trial by fire, he became the de facto leader in the clubhouse—a role that would only grow in stature.

Following the 2012 season, he agreed to a seven-year contract extension to effectively ensure him “Met-for-life” status. This had been a franchise that shied away from long-term contracts to players in their 30s, but Wright was a special case. He would later be named the fourth captain in team history.

But while he was gaining stature, he was losing opportunities to build a Cooperstown resume. In 2015, while trying to recover from another hamstring issue, he was diagnosed with spinal stenosis. This was considered, at best, career-threatening. But Wright was not about to let a pennant race go by without taking part in it.

When the leader of the Mets rejoined the club in August 2015, he homered into the upper deck in Philadelphia in his first at-bat. In a key September matchup with second-place Washington, Wright scored from first base on a double. Unleashing energy and frustration of the recent past, he demonstratively fist-pumped and let out a primal scream as the Mets were closing in on a division title. In the NL East clincher in Cincinnati, he put the icing on the cake to help finish off a blowout victory. And it was appropriate that in the first World Series contest at Citi Field, Wright delivered a booming home run to left field in the opening inning of Game 3.

The 2015 postseason, however, was his last sustained period of on-field action. He could only get through 37 games of 2016 before his back flared up again. Career mortality wasn’t just nipping at his heels, it had him by the ankles and wouldn’t let go.

Wright was too prideful to go out a broken man. With an opportunity to show his appreciation to New York on the field, he vowed to be in uniform for the last series of the 2018 season. On September 29, his final appearance, an anticipatory Citi Field sellout crowd there to say goodbye. Wright charged onto the diamond alone to his customary spot at third base. After four innings, he departed to a long ovation and tears in many eyes.

The announcement of David Wright’s number retirement and induction into the team Hall of Fame coupled with the acquisition of Juan Soto brings about a certain synergy. Money notwithstanding, the 26-year-old superstar chose the Mets above everyone else. When Wright signed his contract extension in November 2012, under much different circumstances, he did the same albeit under much different circumstances. Regardless of what happened after, it was a rare showing of loyalty even if it wasn’t reciprocated.

Wright’s dedication to the Mets—through the best and worst days—is a big reason why he connected so well with the fans. And that’s what will make July 19 so special.

The post Retiring No. 5 is No Doubt the Wright Choice appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The newcomers to the ballot are: Carlos González, Curtis Granderson, Félix Hernández, Adam Jones, Ian Kinsler, Russell Martin, Brian McCann, Dustin Pedroia, Hanley Ramirez, Fernando Rodney, CC Sabathia, Ichiro Suzuki, Troy Tulowitzki and Ben Zobrist.

The returnees include former Mets David Wright, Carlos Beltran, Billy Wagner, Bobby Abreu, and Francisco Rodriguez.

Wright earned 6.2% of the vote in his first year on the ballot last year. Beltran is in his third year after earning 57.1% a year ago. Rodríguez is also in year three after garnering 7.8% last year. Abreu is in year six after getting 14.8% a year ago.

Wagner, who is in his 10th and final year on the ballot, came closest of all returnees to earning induction last year with 73.8% of the vote (75% is needed for induction). Five percent of the vote is needed to remain on the ballot for the next year.

The other returnees:

Andruw Jones (61.6% – 8th year)

Alex Rodriguez (34.8% – 4th year)

Manny Ramirez (32.5% – 9th year)

Chase Utley (28.8% – 2nd year)

Omar Vizquel (17.7% – 8th year)

Jimmy Rollins (14.8% – 4th year)

Andy Pettitte (13.5% – 7th year)

Mark Buehrle (8.3% – 5th year)

Torii Hunter (7.3% – 5th year)

All those elected will be inducted along with anyone selected by the Classic Era Baseball Committee on July 27 in Cooperstown.

The post 2025 Hall of Fame Ballot Revealed, Results to be Announced Jan. 21 appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, and attending St. John’s University in Queens, John Franco embodied a New Yorker. It was only apt that Franco would ultimately pitch for his beloved childhood team, the New York Mets.

Franco, 64, was a four-time All-Star and a reliable arm in the backend of the bullpen. During his 21-year Major League career, Franco made at least 50 appearances 14 times, recorded 30+ saves eight times, and rose to the occasion in the postseason, posting a 1.88 ERA with a 0.977 WHIP over 15 career games.

The left-hander was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fifth round of the 1981 Draft. It was with the Dodgers organization that Franco started to develop his bread-and-butter pitch: the changeup.

Two years later, Franco was on the move to Cincinnati, where the Reds fully transitioned Franco from the starting rotation to the bullpen.

Over his first six big league seasons (all with the Reds), Franco appeared in 393 games and posted a 2.49 ERA with 148 saves. Only two pitchers recorded more appearances during that span (Craig Lefferts, 416; Kent Tekulve, 403). Since the earned run became an official stat in both leagues in 1913, only four pitchers have appeared in 350+ games while posting a sub-2.50 ERA in their first six seasons: Tim Burke, Brad Ziegler, Craig Kimbrel and Franco.

During the 1989 Winter Meetings, the Reds matched up with the New York Mets in a trade that sent Kip Gross and Randy Myers to the Reds, with minor league outfielder Don Brown and Franco heading to the Mets.

Franco was coming home.

In his fourteen seasons with the Mets, Franco appeared in 695 regular season games and saved 276 games (both franchise records). In 2001, Franco became the third captain in team history, joining Keith Hernandez and Gary Carter.

Franco provided the Mets with many memorable moments, from striking out Barry Bonds with a 3-2 changeup in Game 2 of the 2000 National League Division Series to being the winning pitcher in the first game back after the September 11 terrorist attacks to a memorable commercial appearance for the defunct retailer The Wiz.

Among all-time pitchers, Franco ranks third in games pitched (1,119), seventh in saves (424) and in a three-way tie for 22nd in ERA+ (138). Franco and Billy Wagner are the only left-handed pitchers with more than 400 saves.

I had the privilege of speaking to Franco, where he discussed developing his signature changeup, striking out Barry Bonds in Game 2 of the 2000 National League Division Series, and the role Franco’s father played in his development.

MMO: Who were some of your favorite players growing up?

Franco: My favorite players were Tom Seaver, Tug McGraw, Tommie Agee and that whole ’69 Mets team.

I loved Ron Guidry because he was a little left-handed pitcher like me.

MMO: At what point during your development did you start focusing on pitching?

Franco: I played shortstop up until 13, and then played center field and first base. Mostly around 13-14 [is when] I started pitching a lot.

MMO: What do you remember from your summer playing in the Cape Cod League?

Franco: That Ron Darling was my roommate and Dan Marino was our shortstop, but he left right before I got there. I think he made a good choice to go play football.

Playing in the Cape was a great experience. Not every college player gets the opportunity, and back then it was the highest level of college baseball.

MMO: What are your memories from the 1981 MLB Draft? Were the Los Angeles Dodgers on your radar?

Franco: I can tell you that the Dodgers were always a team that invited me to their tryouts. They always had their local tryouts at Poly Prep High School; that’s where my two older children went to school. The Dodgers were always there and they would invite me, along with the Baltimore Orioles’ scout named Al Goldis. The Dodgers’ scouts were Steve Lembo and Gil Bassetti. Those were the guys who gave me an opportunity and invited me to the tryouts.

I didn’t know I was going to get drafted by them, but I was happy that I did.

MMO: At what point did you start tinkering with your changeup? And is it true that Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax played a role?

Franco: Absolutely. When I was in the Instructional League with the Dodgers, Sandy Koufax, Dave Wallace – who’s my favorite pitching coach of all time – and Larry Sherry, our minor league coordinator, helped me develop that changeup.

When I got traded to Cincinnati, there was a left-handed relief pitcher named Freddy Norman, who had a circle change. I picked his brain a little bit. And then I picked the brain of Mario Soto, who had probably the best changeup in baseball back in the eighties.

One of the guys I sat and learned so much about pitching and how to act was Tom Hume. He was one of my favorite teammates in Cincinnati. He was one of the veterans who took me under his wing. I still keep in contact with him to this day.

MMO: You mentioned Dave Wallace. In previous interviews, you’ve heaped a ton of praise on him for your development. What specifically did Wallace do to help you?

Franco: I can tell you when I was pitching with the Dodgers in a couple of minor league games, and in one particular game, I was getting ahead in the count but wasn’t striking guys out. Dave called time, came to the mound, and had a lot of choice words for me which I can’t say. [Laughs.] That kind of put a lightbulb on, and I thought, you know, this isn’t college anymore. He kind of straightened me out and made me realize to stop acting like a fool and just concentrate on pitching.

I owe him a lot of credit for my maturity and development. Fast forward, and he became the pitching coach with the Mets, so it was great coming full circle.

MMO: At what point did they ask you to transition to the pen?

Franco: I was a starter in the minor leagues with the Dodgers. In ’81, I got drafted, and then in ’82 I went from A-ball to Triple-A because one of their pitchers got hurt. I later went down to Double-A and then the following year I went to Triple-A Albuquerque, and they moved me to the bullpen there.

I got traded to Cincinnati and I went back to starting. They had a number one draft pick named Ron Robinson, who eventually became one of my best friends and roommate with Cincinnati. He was a starter and and they moved me to the bullpen.

My initial thoughts were it sucked because I always thought I’d make it as a starter, but [relieving] was the quickest way to get to the big leagues. I had the type of arm that could throw almost every day. As a starter, I wasn’t a big guy, but I was a full-energy guy, and by the sixth I used to get tired. Career-wise, I think it was probably the best move. Whoever thought of that in the Reds organization, I owe them a lot of credit!

MMO: What were your initial reactions when you heard you were being traded to the Mets in December 1989?

Franco: I was kind of shocked. That winter, the Cincinnati general manager called me because they wanted to give me a three year extension, and asked what I’d be looking for. I said, ‘I haven’t talked to my agent.’ I saw some stuff in the papers back home saying the Yankees were really interested in me.

A week later, the GM for the Reds called me again and said Lou Piniella, who became the new manager, wanted to meet and have lunch. That was about a week before the winter meetings.

The winter meetings came, and I got a phone call saying I was traded to New York. I just assumed it was the Yankees. About ten minutes later, I got a call from Joe McIlvaine, who was the GM of the Mets, so I knew it was them.

I was very, very happy. I mean, I would’ve been happy for the Yankees, too, because it would still mean pitching back home. But the Mets were the team I grew up rooting for.

MMO: I’m sure you received a ton of ticket requests once you came back home to pitch.

Franco: I had a lot of cousins that I didn’t know I had! [Laughs.]

I had two phone lines at my house: one for family and one for friends. My wife, Rose, did a great job in handling the ticket situation. I always told everyone we’re home for 81 games, everybody can’t come to the same games, but pick and choose the ones you want to go to.

MMO: Can you share the reason why you wore the orange undershirt underneath your jersey?

Franco: I wore the shirt in honor of my father, who was a sanitation worker. My dad was my buddy, my best friend.

My dad didn’t like to fly. When I was attending St. John’s, we went to the World Series in Omaha. My brother, Jerry, and my dad were driving and the car broke down in Pennsylvania, so they had to turn back and miss it. But all through the minor leagues, he drove to Florida, Texas, etc.

When I had bad games, I’d call him up, and he would just make me feel good. He would tell me to put things in perspective, that I still have an opportunity, and turn the page on this one and focus on the next game. He never got mad, never yelled. Even when I was playing in high school and college, he was always away from the other parents. He stayed down the line and kept to himself. People would ask him, “Don’t you talk about your son?” He’d say, “No, I let my son do the talking between the lines.” That’s how he was.

He always demanded respect for the game; don’t disrespect baseball. He didn’t believe in booing players. My brother and I would go to games with him and even if the team was playing badly, you didn’t boo the guys. He loved baseball and he was a very important part of my life and development.

MMO: I assume your father was the person who introduced you to baseball.

Franco: He was. I also had an older brother; he passed away about a year and a half ago, and he was five years older than me. I owe him a lot of credit because we used to play games against each other and he’d beat my butt! But it made me more of a competitor, and as I got bigger and stronger, I started beating him. I owe him a lot of credit for my competitiveness, that’s for sure.

MMO: As a reliever, you need to have a short memory and be able to bounce-back after a tough game. How would you specifically handle those situations? Were you someone who utilized any visualization techniques?

Franco: There were a couple of visualization techniques that I used. Mentally, you had to be tough; you had to have a short-term memory. I used to compare a closer to a field goal kicker; if you save 15 in a row, everyone knows you. But the one you blow is the one they remember. A field goal kicker can make ten in a row, and when he misses, that’s the one they’ll remember.

It used to bother me more because I blew the saves of guys like Al Leiter, Tom Glavine, Mike Hampton or Bobby Jones, and they pitched their tails off and I come in for one inning and blow it for them. Those guys worked their tails off for seven-eight innings. That’s what bothered me most about blowing a save.

It would stick with me for a night. I used to watch the replays on ESPN and look to see where the pitch location was. I would try to visualize and do better next time. The good thing about being a relief pitcher was you could get in there the next day and save a game instead of blowing it.

MMO: You pitched both out of the windup and from the stretch at various points throughout your career. Was that more of a feel-thing for you, or were the specific reasons behind those choices?

Franco: When I first came up, it was mostly out of the windup because I was a middle relief/setup man with Cincinnati until I took over [the closer role]. And then my first year or two with the Mets, I was out of the windup. I realized coming into the game there’s less margin of error, and it’s more compact for me being in the stretch rather than the windup.

MMO: One of the lasting memories Mets fans have of you is when you struck out Barry Bonds looking on a 3-2 changeup in the bottom of the tenth in Game 2 of the 2000 N.L.D.S. For your career, you held Bonds to a .229 batting average and a .568 OPS over 39 regular-season plate appearances (and 0-for-2 with two strikeouts in the postseason). Did you have a specific game plan and pitch selection when facing Bonds?

Franco: Barry and I had the same agent, so I knew Barry for a while. I used to tell him, ‘You’re the greatest hitter, I don’t know how I get you out.’ He would always tell me that if he hit a home run against me he’d run around the bases backwards. [Laughs.]

We had some friendly competition, and he came close one time; he hit one off the wall. I really liked the challenge, and Barry was very challenging. You’d throw him fastballs and sliders; I never threw him a changeup until that playoff game.

I talked to John Olerud, who was our first baseman and a great left-handed hitter, and I asked him what the toughest pitch to hit off a lefty was. He said a changeup, so I put that in the back of my mind.

In that particular game against the Giants, I threw a 3-1 fastball that Barry fouled straight back. If he would’ve hit it, that would’ve landed in Oakland. [Mike] Piazza kept putting the fastball sign down, and I kept shaking him off. I had a base open and I decided if I walk him, fine; if not, I’ll take a chance with it. Just so happens, I threw a 3-2 changeup for a strike and got him out.

I think the next time I faced him in that series, he was looking for it (changeup), but I got him with a high fastball. We had some good battles.

MMO: Who are some hitters who gave you the most trouble during your career?

Franco: At the top of the list, and I think he gave everyone trouble, was Tony Gwynn. Then there were hitters like Mariano Duncan and Bob Dernier, who were more contact hitters.

I really didn’t have too much of an issue with the big home run hitters, it was the contact guys. Gwynn was just amazing, no matter what you threw him he hit it. I got to the point where I’d just throw it down the middle and hope he hit a line drive at somebody.

MMO: What did it mean to be named the third captain in Mets history? Were there any additional responsibilities you took on?

Franco: Not really. It was a great honor to be shown the respect from my teammates and the organization.

As a captain, if guys had a bad day, you’d go up to them and talk. Some might’ve had off-the-field problems that you might be able to help them with. When the team was going bad, you’d call team meetings. If we needed guys to relax and there was too much media in the locker room, I’d say, ‘We’re having a meeting,’ and Jay [Horwitz] would clear them out.

Jay would ask me, “What time’s the meeting?” I’d say, ‘There’s no meeting. I just want guys to relax.’ I tried to be a leader and lead by example on and off the field.

MMO: You’re third all-time in regular season pitching appearances with 1,119 games. Do you take pride in your place on that leaderboard?

Franco: It means a lot. I love the game and I love to play. Being a reliever is almost like being an everyday player. I had a great opportunity to do what I did for a long time.

MMO: Playing 21 years in the majors, and racking up the number of games that you did surely took a toll on your body. What would you do stay in shape?

Franco: The difference, I think, between players now and when I played is once the season’s over, guys today seem to take a week off and then they go right into throwing. I think that puts strain on their arms. I did a lot of weight training, and when I got closer to spring training, I cut my training in half in terms of weight and always did cardio and core. I ate well and my wife is in great shape too, and she made sure I ate well. I think there are too many gadgets now and gurus with these instructions and workouts. I think that adds a lot to these injuries.

I used to play basketball and throw the football around, and that was part of my workout. I’ll tell you a funny story: When I played for Cincinnati, I used to play in a touch football league in the offseason. I was a quarterback with the YMCA league. I used to have to sneak out because my dad would say I was crazy for playing, but that kept my arm in shape all winter. Once I got traded to the Mets, that was it. My career in touch football was over.

MMO: What have you been up to post playing career?

Franco: I’ve been retired since 2005 and still work with the organization periodically. I’ll go to spring training when I’m invited down. I’ve been one of the ambassadors and I do alumni work with Jay and the organization. I represent the team in various functions if they need me to do certain things.

I would love to get back into the game in some capacity. We’ll see what happens but I’m enjoying life. I took up golf a bit more seriously; I’m still not good at it, but I enjoy it. Hopefully one day, with the Era Committee, I get elected to the Hall of Fame.

MMO: Your candidacy is certainly an interesting one. Relievers haven’t been given the same attention as other positions for the Hall. If Billy Wagner makes it in his last year of eligibility, perhaps that will help your case.

Franco: My numbers are just as good as most of the guys in there, except for probably Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman. If Billy gets in, that might open the door for me. I still think I belong in there, but things don’t always work out that way. Maybe the Era Committee and the former players and executives who are around the game will realize that.

MMO: When you look back on your career, John, what are you most proud of?

Franco: I’m most proud of being able to take the ball every day, being a good leader and respected on and off the field.

The post MMO Exclusive: Franchise Saves Leader, John Franco appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Darryl Strawberry had remarkable talent. Sure, he left us wanting more but had the type of skills that you couldn’t look away. And like Dwight Gooden, a different time with a better understanding could have led to better results.

After years of personal turmoil, Darryl found redemption, rejuvenation, and has changed for the better. As for his legacy—a player who had gifted abilities and enjoyed moments of tremendous success in New York—that will never change. Following the distinction that Gooden received earlier this season, the outfielder will have a permanent place in Mets history on Saturday with his number retirement.

No. 18 is the greatest power hitter the Mets ever produced. He came into the league seemingly destined for Cooperstown.

It was those kind of expectations that surrounded Strawberry even before the Mets made him the top overall pick in the 1980 amateur draft out of Los Angeles’s Crenshaw High School. He was tall and lean, blessed with a sweet name and a sweeter swing. A Sports Illustrated feature compared the 18-year-old to Ted Williams. With a thoroughbred build and a swift upper-cut made for home runs, he had all the makings of the revered “five-tool player.”

On May 6, 1983, the Mets unveiled their shiny new toy. For a team already 10 games out of first place, this was the sign of hope fans had and would cling to. Strawberry struggled as he tried to adjust to baseball’s top level. Over his first month, he hit .165 and struck out every 2.5 at-bats. But after about five weeks, he began to figure it out. His final totals of 26 homers and 76 RBIs stood as Mets rookie records.

The hope was Strawberry would ascend further into superstardom. In 1984, Darryl duplicated his rookie season’s home run total, struck out nearly as frequently, and batted around the .250 mark. Torn ligaments in his thumb, the consequence of diving for a sinking liner, kept Strawberry on the mend for all but 10 games in May and June of 1985. His blistering second half—which featured a 1.035 OPS and 60 RBIs—made up for lost time.

On August 5 at Wrigley Field, he hit three of the 23 homers he’d launch over the season’s final three months. On October 1 in St. Louis, his titanic 11th-inning blast caromed off the Busch Stadium clock to give the Mets a 1–0 win. It kept his team breathing in a frantic, yet futile, attempt to catch the Cardinals. Darryl did his best to try and stop time. Within a couple of days, though, the Mets ran out of it.

But in 1986, everyone was chasing New York. Strawberry—clouting 27 homers and driving in 93—was one of several major contributors. The Mets piled on wins and added to their division lead, becoming the subject of intense media attention for their dominance and arrogance.

The white-hot spotlight made Darryl open to ridicule. This wasn’t limited to opposing fan bases. Even the Shea faithful got on his case in August, when he failed to produce a hit at home for the whole month.

He rode out the rest of the season, then endured a turbulent postseason of tumult and triumph. His 12 strikeouts in the NLCS against Houston were offset by two clutch tying home runs.

New York chipped away at a 4–0 lead in Game 3 with two hits and an error that brought in a run. Shea was waiting to burst. Strawberry wouldn’t let them down. As Bob Knepper tried to get ahead in the count with a first-pitch fastball, he didn’t have the velocity to throw it by Darryl’s quick bat.

Strawberry delivered again in Game 5. Nolan Ryan had retired the first 13 batters. Not the 14th. Darryl ended Ryan’s hitless day—and the shutout—with a tracer that had enough height and hook to sneak over the fence in the right-field corner.

By the World Series, Strawberry was not just a big target but an easy one. Fenway Park took full advantage in Game 5. The Red Sox were sewing up a victory, giving the crowd a chance to turn its focus on the temperamental right fielder. A “Daaarrrr-ylll, Daaarrrr-ylll” serenade lasted minutes.

But he had an answer in Game 7. Strawberry sent a towering drive over the right-center-field wall to lead off the bottom of the eighth—his first home run and first run batted in of the Fall Classic—and gave the Mets breathing room in an 8–5 win. Strawberry savored the moment, then fittingly offered one last curtain call in a year filled with them.

That homer washed away the scorn of two nights prior, when he was removed by Davey Johnson in the eighth inning of Game 6 on a double-switch and publicly shared his frustration with the media. Choosing the worst possible time for public outbursts became something of a habit.

During the 1988 NLCS against Los Angeles, Strawberry hinted at the possibility of joining the Dodgers after his contract expired. A few months later, he took out his frustration with Keith Hernandez by trying to fight him at team picture day. On top of that were routine accounts of loafing, lateness, and legal battles.

In 1987, he attained personal highs in homers (39), RBIs (104), steals (36), along with batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging. But those stats were clouded by pointed criticism of Johnson and a war of words with teammates Wally Backman and Lee Mazzilli after they questioned his desire to play.

Strawberry began 1988 with a 4-for-4 day and two home runs. The second reached the nether regions of Montreal’s Olympic Stadium, a ball that might have cleared customs if not for the roof. He’d hit 37 more to match his career-high total from ’87 and lead the National League. He topped 100 RBIs for the second straight year and was one steal short of back-to-back appearances in the 30-30 club.

For the first time, Darryl was garnering serious consideration for Most Valuable Player, thanks in part to the Mets pulling away from their NL East competition in September and claiming their second division title in three years. Yet it was Kirk Gibson and the Dodgers who took top billing over Strawberry and the Mets later that fall.

Darryl was not the most valuable in ’88, but he was definitely the most volatile during spring training ’89 after his quarrel with Hernandez. That kind of fighting spirit was hard to find during the season as his numbers declined. But with Hernandez and Gary Carter gone before 1990, it was officially Darryl’s team.

In what would turn out to be Strawberry’s swan song, but it didn’t go by quietly. He batted .412 during an 18-game hitting streak, bashed 10 homers, and drove in 27 in June. The Mets advanced up the standings—getting into first place in July before ultimately coming up three games short of Pittsburgh.

By driving in 108 runs, he set a single-season franchise record to go along with 37 homers and an .879 OPS. He was also among the top five outfielders in fielding percentage and the top five National Leaguers in WAR. Strawberry made good on his threats to explore free agency. He jetted for Los Angeles, leaving behind many thrills and controversies.

His career continued to be marked by indiscretions that prevented what should’ve been an easy entrance into the Hall of Fame. He’s owned up to his troubled past and has done his best to keep others from doing similar. He is especially grateful, especially so after suffering a heart attack earlier this year.

Saturday at Citi Field, fans will show their gratitude toward one of the most spectacular players to ever wear a Mets uniform. Darryl Strawberry is one of baseball’s “could have beens.” But what’s true is that he’s a Mets Hall of Famer, which was made so in 2010. He’s forever a legendary figure of the team in Queens. Placing his number atop the rafters alongside Seaver, Piazza, Gooden, and others certainly confirms that.

The post The Straw Stirred: An Ode to the Mets’ Home Run King appeared first on Metsmerized Online.