MMO’s partnership with Out of the Park Baseball (OOTP) continues as our 16-team Mets Madness bracket is well underway. Next up, MMO and OOTP pit the 2022 Mets team against the 1999 Mets team. Jack Ramsey, MMO and Mets Minors writer, is set to control the 1999 team, while James Villani, MMO editor and writer, will control the 2022 team.
Each round will be best-of-seven. We will be posting series previews and recaps of the first round and then will be more detailed in our posting as we get deeper into the competition.
Additionally, we will also be giving folks access to 10% off coupons for downloading the game as well as giving away codes to download the game for free.
2022 Mets
The ninth seed in the 16-team tournament is the most recent team in Mets history to participate in the event. Of course, it was a disappointing ending to one of the most successful regular seasons in franchise history. The 2022 Mets posted the second-most wins (101) of any team across the 62-year history of the Mets. However, it all culminated in a Wild Card round loss to the San Diego Padres.
The 2022 Mets were led by manager Buck Showalter and posted the second-highest batting average in the league. Five key cogs in the lineup posted a season OPS over .800, with the offense mainly being led by Pete Alonso (40 home runs and 131 RBIs), Francisco Lindor (26 home runs and 107 RBIs), and Jeff McNeil (.836 OPS).
On the mound, the Mets owned a team ERA of 3.57 which was seventh-best in the majors. The rotation saw six main contributors, all posting season ERAs below 4.00. Of the best were Max Scherzer (2.29 ERA), Chris Bassitt 3.42 ERA), and Taijuan Walker (3.49 ERA). Not to mention, one of the best seasons in relief pitcher history, Edwin Díaz who posted 118 strikeouts and a 1.31 ERA over 62 innings.
1999 Mets
The 1999 Mets team checks in as the eighth seed in the 16-team tournament and posted a 97-win season 24 years ago. After finishing second in the National League East, the 1999 Mets defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Division Series before ultimately falling 3-1 to the Atlanta Braves in the NL Championship Series.
The team, managed by Bobby Valentine, were led by four big boppers in the lineup; Mike Piazza (40 home runs and 123 RBIs), Robin Ventura (.908 OPS), Edgardo Alfonzo (108 RBIs), and John Olerud (.890 OPS). The team posted an OPS+ of 104 which was the eight-highest figure in the league.
On the mound, the squad was led by four main starters aged 33, 40, 34, and 34, respectively. The workhorse of the group being 33-year-old Al Leiter who tossed 213 innings posting a 4.23 ERA. The bullpen was led by an electric Armando Benitez (128 strikeouts and a 1.85 ERA over 78 innings) as well as Pat Mahomes (8-0 record).
The team that advances will be taking on the winner of the 1976 Mets team versus the 1986 Mets team. The No. 16 versus No. 1 matchup in the bracket.
Let us know your predictions below!
