It is perilous to build narratives, or even make predictions, in the middle of an upturn, just as it is during a downturn.
Nevertheless, driven by still-vivid memories of the most glorious team in franchise history, and under-girded by a shared sense among Mets fans that this team may have that same special “it,” some combination of talent, grit, timing and good fortune, how about we give it a shot.
The challenge this team faced for months was to somehow replace the pre-season narrative that collapsed – the one that had the David Wright and Michael Cuddyer 2015 Reunion Tour leading the Mets out of the wilderness and into a promised land full of happy recaps. And it looks like we have one.
Call it 1969 redux.
Having just finished another in a long line of volumes on the ‘69 season, A Magic Summer, by Stanley Cohen, I could not help but pick up on the similarities between that team and this one.
Heading into ‘69, the Mets had put together an historic seven year stretch of futility, finishing last or next to last every year of their young existence. This year’s team had spent six years in the doldrums. But if you add to that the soul-destroying collapses the two seasons before, it has certainly seemed even longer than seven years.
The previous seasons quite similar for both teams. The ‘68 Mets won 73 games. The ‘14 team won 79. Neither team was in contention, but both seasons represented marked improvement from the not-ready-for-prime-time teams of ‘67 and ‘13.
Both teams heralded as having great young pitching, but not enough else. Remember, however, that there were no wildcards in ‘69, but if there were, that team would likely have been considered on the fringes of wildcard contention, just as this team was.
Both teams defined by young and dominant starting pitching – three deep – Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman and Gary Gentry then, Harvey, deGrom and Syndergaard now. Each team with a third year starter (Seaver and Harvey), a second year starter (Koosman and deGrom) and a rookie (Gentry and Syndergaard) Both staffs also possessing another budding star – Nolan Ryan then, Steven Matz now.
Both teams with a grizzled veteran in the rotation – Don Cardwell then, Bartolo Colon now. And both with a workmanlike back-of-the-rotation starter – Jim McAndrew then, Jon Niese now.
Friendly arguments about whether Seaver or Koosman was better then, just as with Harvey and deGrom now (Thor is, IMHO, still a slight tick below)
Both teams relying on two key relievers – Ron Taylor and Tug McGraw then, Jeurys Familia and Tyler Clippard now.
And then the plot thickens.
In ‘69, while the Mets had the pitching from day one, it was the acquisition of Donn Clendenon that gave the Mets the big bat they needed for offensive credibility. Strikingly similar to the trade for Yoenis Cespedes.
When playing their best ball, both teams relying on a platoon system at multiple positions – three infield positions plus RF then, four or five positions now.
That team and this one sharing the record for the longest winning streak in franchise history. The 11 game winning streaks for both coming early in the season and starting to turn heads and provide a whiff of things to come months down the road – the ‘69 Mets in May, this team in April.
The season for both teams turning around dramatically in August. In ‘69, a ghastly doubleheader sweep against the Astros in which they allowed 27 runs and Cleon Jones unceremoniously escorted from the field by Manager Gil Hodges, representing the nadir of that magical season. But also the launching point for their incredible 17 ½ game turnaround in the standings – from 9 ½ back in mid-August to 8 ahead at the finish line. The Cubs in total collapse, left in the dust.
And so, the narrative goes, July 30 representing this season’s nadir, and also serving as a precursor to a dramatic August. The Flores fiasco followed by the unthinkable squandering of a six run lead the next day.
But then, as the narrative goes, the Mets getting the bat they desperately needed at the last minute, then a storybook ending that same night from the fractured Flores, then sweeping the team they needed to sweep in front of a Citi Field crowd alive with its first taste of an honest to goodness pennant race, and taking over first place, winning seven in a row and 11 of 14 to gain 7 ½ games in the standings in two weeks. The Nationals, like the Cubs of ‘69, hardly looking unbeatable anymore.
And then, there’s the animals. Oh yes, the animals. The black cat crossing in front of the Cubs’ dugout in a crucial game at Shea in September then. The raccoon and rally parakeet appearing as the Mets surge further and further up the food chain now.
The ‘69 Mets won 38 of their last 49 games. So perhaps that means….well, you get the picture.
And in the end, the great pitching in ‘69 – together with timely hitting – was enough to almost completely stymie an offense in the World Series that had mowed down American League pitchers to the tune of 109 wins.
For those of us who lived through ‘69, nothing could ever match it. But we can try. And dream a bit, yes?
It’s up to the 2015 Mets to finish the script and complete the narrative… and just like 46 years ago, we’ll all be drenched in ticker tape along the Canyon of Heroes.
