Author: Jack Hendon

Matz Run From Fifth Inning in Loud Loss to Phillies

In the aggregate, the results of Steven Matz’s start last night were as frustrating as they were expected: 4.1 innings, six runs (all earned), five hits, and a homer in a dismal 6-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. He is now winless with four losses to his name and his ERA sits at 9.00 – the second-worst among 60 qualified starters (a run ahead of Detroit Tigers’ lefty...

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All-Time Met Killers: Bullpen Edition

Since the dawn of the expansion era, the New York Mets franchise owns the second-worst OPS (.688) after the sixth inning. Excluding the San Diego Padres, no other team seems to have as much trouble hitting relief pitching. I wouldn’t give the moment away for anything, but even their most famous eleventh-hour comeback in game six of the 1986 World Series was aided by a passed ball and an...

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All-Time Met Killers: Infield Edition

Truth be told, it feels somewhat problematic to restrict formidable Mets opponents to a small roster of players. Anyone who has watched the franchise play for even five or six years knows that pedigree is just one part of the equation: literally Conor Gillaspie, Luis Sojo, and Terry Pendleton could qualify as Met killers on the basis of one accomplishment alone. The point I’m trying to...

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Metsmerizing Moves: Lenny Harris Arrives in a Pinch

As the calendar turned to June in the year 2000, the Mets sat just five games above .500, and already seven games behind the Atlanta Braves. Relative to their standing the prior June in 1999, things could have been worse. Derek Bell (.873 OPS) and Todd Zeile (.919) were both raking in the place of Roger Cedeno and John Olerud, but the offense still lacked the depth that would eventually push it...

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Metsmerizing Moves: Trade for Gary Carter Ignites Championship Run

The Mets had transformed from a 94-loss club in 1983 to a 90-win dynamo the following year, thanks in large part to first-year skipper Davey Johnson and two phenomenal rookie campaigns from Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry. Perhaps the biggest contributor to this early turnaround, however, was first baseman Keith Hernandez, who posted a 6.3 bWAR in his first full year with the team. With a...

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