The Mets bullpen. That phrase alone can be triggering. But hear me out — what if you can create your dream bullpen from Mets past and present? That changes the story, now doesn’t it?

We already shared our dream Mets infield, outfield, and rotation with you. Now, it’s time to talk bullpens that would get the job done.

Jack

Seth Lugo, Addison Reed, Tug McGraw, John Franco, Jeurys Familia, Joe Smith, Pedro Feliciano

Closer would probably be Seth Lugo. He’s not as accomplished in Met history as the Franco’s and Familia’s, but he doesn’t give me headaches yet, so I’ll give him the ninth for the foreseeable future. Setup man would probably have to be Addison Reed, given what he provided for us during our last two postseason runs.

The other five spots are sort of anyone’s guess, but I’ll give the first mid-relief option to Tug McGraw. Never mind how effective he was between 1969 and 1974 – he could eat innings for good measure. John Franco probably gets a spot too on the same merits. I’m gonna add Jeurys Familia to the mix, however controversial that may be. At his peak, he was easily the best Met closer I’ve ever been able to watch, and I still think he has another 2016 streak deep down there, even if that dominance gets channeled through a setup role.

The last two spots are gonna be weird, but they’re an important kind of weird. I’m ripping a page out of Willie Randolph’s book and taking on both a submarine righty and submarine lefty in Joe Smith and Pedro Feliciano, the former of whom never got enough reps in Queens, and the latter of whom seemed to absorb all of them.

Tatiana

Seth Lugo, Tug McGraw, John Franco, Billy Wagner, Jeurys Familia, Randy Myers, Jesse Orosco

In a perfect world, I’d have a bullpen that was able to feature pitchers that can work as middle relievers as well as a closer when needed. I’m not a fan of closers that are only put in for three-out saves even if the setup man is struggling before the end of the 8th. I think a good bullpen is one that carries the weight of those who are struggling when needed.

That being said I’d have Seth Lugo for my first mid-reliever because I don’t worry when he’s being put in the game after the starter leaves, but I also don’t think he’s proven himself to be a closer yet. Then comes in John Franco and Tug McGraw, despite some of their more underperforming outings, at their best, they were pretty elite. I’d probably put in either a 2016 Jeurys Familia or a 1988 Randy Myers as a setup man. While it’s hard to forgive Familia for 2019, I also can’t deny how he at one point only blew one save in 53 opportunities. Lastly, I’d have Jesse Orosco because of how many happy memories he produced in the 80s being the last on the mound for the ‘86 NLCS and World Series. I’d love to experience some that energy myself.

 

Sal 

Billy Wagner, Tug McGraw, Pedro Feliciano, Jesse Orosco, Seth Lugo, Heath Bell, Joe Smith, Chad Bradford

It’s a little bit ironic talking about my “dream” Mets bullpen when my dream is usually just for no one to let up a late-inning lead. But even despite that, there have still been some great relievers who have donned the orange and blue over the years. For me, a group consisting of Billy Wagner, Tug McGraw, Pedro Feliciano, Jesse Orosco, Seth Lugo, Heath Bell, Joe Smith, and Chad Bradford would make any Mets fan swoon with excitement. Here’s hoping the 2020 Mets pen gives us more dreams than nightmares.

Michelle

Seth Lugo, Jesse Orosco, Tug McGraw, John Franco, Billy Wagner, Turk Wendell, Pedro Feliciano

I feel like I have lived through more bad bullpens during my lifetime than good ones and I am scarred by the word bullpen. But, if I was able to choose my dream one, I would go with the above seven. They were all solid arms and together, likely could have changed the outcome to many Mets loses.

I have argued many times about how Lugo should be in the rotation, and I do think he could be a great addition there. But in reality, the Mets need him in the bullpen. He is one of the few who comes out and you just don’t need to worry. Also, you bet I debated putting Bartolo Colon in as one of my dream bullpen guys — he can easily eat up innings as we have seen in the past, but, I refrained, as he is technically a starter.

Marshall

Tug McGraw, Jesse Orosco, John Franco, Billy Wagner, Jeurys Familia, Addison Reed, Seth Lugo

To bring together a dream bullpen I cheated and reread my own article on the five best seasons a reliever has had for the Mets. Let’s start with the 1972 version of Tug McGraw, as he would be hard to leave off any Mets’ list dealing with relievers. In 1972, he pitched to a 1.70 ERA and 4.5 WAR.

Then, I turn to Jesse Orosco from 1983, the only year he made the All-Star game as a Met. He had a terrific season with a 1.47 ERA and career high 3.8 WAR. Next, is John Franco. We’ll go with the 1997 season when he had 38 saves, his Mets’ best. Billy Wagner in 2006 went 3-2 with a 2.24 ERA and 40 saves.

We’ll add the 2015, ’16 version of Jeurys Familia. Between the two years he converted 32 straight save opportunites. Finally I will take Addison Reed and Seth Lugo both of whom have been near automatic for New York . The Mets have had some nice relievers throughout their existence, these 7 selected are just some of many we’ve been lucky to see over the years.

Emmanuel 

John Franco, Tug McGraw, Jesse Orosco, Billy Wagner, Roger McDowell, Randy Myers, Seth Lugo

Any list has to start with Franco. He was consistent and effective over a large portion of his 14-year stint with the Mets. He also stranded seven of eight inherited runners in his postseason appearances between 1999 and 2000. McGraw was from a different era where relievers were asked to do a lot more. He threw over 100 innings in four different seasons with the Mets including three consecutive years (1971-73). McGraw was also top 15 in MVP voting in ’73.

Orosco pitched in four different decades which is incredible to think about. He originally came up with the Mets in 1979 and was a key part of the run in 1986. In the World Series against Boston, Orosco allowed just two hits, no walks, and stranded all nine runners inherited. Wagner is a guy who should get more Hall of Fame consideration. He was overshadowed for much of his career and though he only spent three seasons with the Mets, he did rack up just over 100 saves. What’s more: Wagner was a Met toward the end of his career and was an All-Star twice.

When I constructed this, I wanted to have some longevity and McDowell provides that. Again, relievers were asked to do more at that time. In five seasons as a Met, McDowell threw 468.1 innings and amassed a 3.13 ERA in a Mets uniform. He also came up big in Game 6 of the ’86 NLCS against Houston.

Randy Myers didn’t spend a long time in a Mets uniform, but did have 50 saves in his final two seasons in New York. He’s remembered more nowadays for the guy who was traded for John Franco, but Myers had a 2.8 WAR in 1988. He earned wins in Game 1 & 3 of the ’88 NLCS against the Dodgers. I think Lugo has done enough to warrant a spot on this list as well. Lugo has stranded 24 of 29 runners in his last two seasons. His ERA+ jumped from 140 in ’18 to 150 in ’19. And he provides the versatility to be able to pitch in different situations as needed.