MMO Roundtable: Favorite Mets by Position – Center Field

The MMO team will be going all around the field, sharing our favorite Mets players by position. 

• First Base
• Second Base
• Third Base
• Shortstop
• Left Field

Next up, center field.

Rob Piersall 

My favorite center fielder is Carlos Beltran. When the Mets acquired him prior to the 2005 season, I was only 9-years-old going on 10 and I was so excited that the Mets were getting a player of his magnitude. Most people remember Beltran unfairly for his strikeout against Adam Wainwright in the 2006 NLCS, meanwhile he’s one of the best offensive players the team ever had. Seeing him in his prime was a treat and it’s a shame we never got to see him as team manager, though I hope Carlos gets another opportunity elsewhere someday.

Sal Manzo

The Mets have had some really memorable center fielders in their history from Cleon Jones to Mookie Wilson, but my favorite has to be Carlos Beltran. Recent memory may only have folks remembering Beltran for some bad decisions in Houston and a swift end as Mets skipper last year, but Beltran is far and away the best center fielder in the franchise’s history.

In his prime, Beltran was a top defender and seemed to make dazzling plays all over the Shea Stadium outfield. In the batters box, he was the best switch-hitting sluggers of his generation with speed and great instincts on the bases. Hopefully the Mets can one day find another Beltran-type of talent to patrol center field once again.

Logan Barer

As someone who has been a pitcher all his life, I appreciate a good defense as much as anyone. Knowing you don’t have to strike everyone out to get through an inning takes a ton of pressure off a pitcher. So, when infielder-turned-outfielder Juan Lagares made his debut with the Mets in 2013, naturally, it was love at first sight.

Playing 121 games in 2013 and 116 in 2014, he had 25 DRS in each season. In 2014, when he won his only Gold Glove (not that it was the only one he deserved), he also hit .281/.321/.382 with 13 stolen bases, worth a 5.2 bWAR. Everyone wishes he would have kept up that offensive production, as well as stayed on the field. But when Juan Lagares was in center field, I could rest easy, knowing that extra base hits were doomed, and that there would be a Met on Sportscenter’s Top 10 Plays the next morning. He will always be number Juan in my heart.

Brian Wright

Is there a Mets fan who doesn’t love Mookie Wilson? The man who had the most significant plate appearance in team history is so much more than “a little roller up along first.” He is heart and hustle personified. A thousand-watt smile and the universal admiration of those he encountered throughout his relationship with the Mets — one which dates back to the late 1970s. One who gave a lot to the organization even when the organization wasn’t always returning the favor. A player who stuck it out when the Mets were at their worst and rose to the occasion when the Mets were at their height. Mookie is No. 1 in many respects.

Rich Sparago

For my favorite Mets’ center fielder, it’s a close call between Mookie Wilson and Carlos Beltran. Having lived through the 1986 World Series, I will always be grateful to Mookie for obvious reasons. But I have to go with Beltran as my favorite. Beltran was the quintessential baseball player. He had all the tools, defense, speed, power, etc.

It was a joy to watch him play, and look so effortless as he did so. He gave us so many moments. There was the walk-off against the Phillies, the catch going up the hill in Houston, and the home run against Randy Johnson in the David Wright walk-off game to name a few. It’s a shame some define Beltran’s career by one pitch. He was an outstanding player, a true All-Star in every aspect of the game. I was over the moon when he was named manager. Maybe some day he will get that chance again.

Marshall Field

He may not the best Mets centerfielder of all-time, but nevertheless, my favorite by far is Tommie Agee. The 1966 Rookie of the Year was a two-time Gold Glove winner. Agee solidified an outfield whose contributions were vital to the Mets winning the 1969 World Series.

In game three against Baltimore, Agee had what Sports Illustrated called the greatest single performance by a center fielder in World Series history. He homered off of Jim Palmer to leadoff the game, but is mostly remembered for two spectacular catches in center. One was in the fourth with two men on, and the other was in the seventh with the bases loaded. Observers say to this day he saved five runs from scoring.

Agee spent only five years of a 13-year career with the Mets, but made an indelible impression on the fabric of Mets history. January 22 of this year was the 20th anniversary of Agee’s untimely death at only 58 years of age. Agee was posthumously inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame in 2002.

Michelle Ioannou

Carlos Beltran was my favorite player when he was on the Mets. I was pumped to hear he was supposed to be the next Mets manager, but alas, that did not work out. He will remain one of my favorite Mets, and when it comes to center fielders specifically, my favorite yet. He was the glove you wanted in center — he’s the glove I still want in center. He was also the guy you wanted at the plate (do NOT come at me with 2006, please). Cue “El Esta Aqui” please.