On Wednesday afternoon, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns addressed the media for his post-season press conference. While there were plenty of quotes regarding pending free agents, including the mention of wanting to bring back both Pete Alonso and Jesse Winker, Stearns also gave updates regarding injured Mets.

First was right-handed relief pitcher Dedniel Núñez, who was severely missed by the Mets’ bullpen down the stretch run of the season. The Mets’ president of baseball ops said that Núñez is progressing well after missing the last month of the season due to a strained flexor tendon in his right arm; the club hopes to get him back on the mound by November, and have a normal offseason if that goes well.

The other major piece of injury news was not as positive, as Mets prospect Ronny Mauricio has not started baseball activities while his rehab has not progressed as quickly as the club hoped for. Mauricio tore his ACL last offseason during his stint in the Dominican Winter League and is trying to get back on the field some time in 2025.

For a full breakdown of Stearn’s presser, click here!

Photo by Jordan Godfree-USA TODAY Sports

Latest Mets News

The Mets’ seventh-round pick in the 2019 draft, Luke Ritter, was selected by USA Baseball to represent the nation at the WBSC Premier 12 Tournament, which will feature the top 12 baseball nations in the world, per Taylor Eldridge of The Wichita Eagle. 

The League Championship Series was the most-watched since 2017, per MLB Communications. Game 1 of the NLCS between the Mets and Dodgers drew more than 20.6 million viewers in the United States and Japan. 

Alex Cohen, wife of Mets owner Steve Cohen, announced she is taking a social media break, but made sure to show her love for Mets Nation prior to doing so. “You guys have been the best fans any team could ever ask for,” she wrote.

Latest MLB News

The Miami Marlins will interview Los Angeles Dodgers first base coach Clayton McCullough for their vacant managerial position, per Isaac Azout of Fish On First.

Netflix has officially premiered its documentary on the 2004 World Series champion Boston Red Sox, titled “The Comeback.”

Sam Blum and C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic detailed what it feels like for major leaguers whose big league cameos resulted in World Series jewelry. 

The Tampa Bay Rays re-signed RHP Michael Flynn to a minor league deal with a spring training invite, per Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors. Tampa acquired him in a trade where they sent the Dodgers Amed Rosario. 

Latest on MMO

MMO writers gathered to give the Mets’ miracle season a letter grade.

Ronny Mauricio is not doing baseball activities following his ACL surgery. 

David Stearns addressed the media in his post-season press conference. 

On This Date in Mets History

2019: The MLBPA announces Pete Alonso as the NL Outstanding Rookie and Jacob deGrom as the NL Outstanding Pitcher for the 2019 MLB season. 

2006: Carlos Delgado is awarded the Roberto Clemente Award; Clemente is the reason Delgado wore 21. 

2000: Al Leiter becomes the second Met to ever win the Roberto Clemente Award, joining Gary Carter. 

2000: The Mets beat the Yankees in Game 3 of the World Series behind a Benny Agbayani go-ahead RBI double in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Born On This Date: Omar Quantanilla (1981), Mike Matthews (1973), Junior Ortiz (1959), Ron Gardenhire (1957).

The post Morning Briefing: Dedniel Núñez Progressing Well appeared first on Metsmerized.

Game 1

The two teams traded blowouts in Games 1 and 2. The 2022 team took Game 1 9-1 in a matchup between Jacob deGrom and Kenny Rogers, in large part due to an eight-run third inning, highlighted by Mark Canha‘s grand slam and two doubles in the inning from Brandon Nimmo. DeGrom went six innings and struck out just three, but was followed by Trevor Williams who recorded the three-inning save.

The offense threw up an eight-run third inning, in which the 2022 team never looked back. Canha’s grand slam, a Starling Marte sac fly, and two Nimmo doubles highlighted the massive inning. The two teams would only score one run each the rest of the way, but the third-inning ambush was more than enough to wrap up a game 1 victory for manager James Villani’s squad.

Game 2

The second game was dominated by the 1999 Mets, with the 1999 team winning 11-1. Al Leiter went tossed a complete game, allowing just one run, striking out five, and throwing a grand total of 123 pitches. Max Scherzer was treated rudely by the 1999 squad, allowing seven runs in his four frames.

The 1999 attack was led by homers from Rey Ordóñez and Mike Piazza. John Olerud knocked his second double of the series, but besides the three extra-base hits, the 1999 team paper cut the 2022 team to death: manager Jack Ramsey’s squad racked up 10 singles and four walks, helping result in the 11 runs they put up. With the series now tied at two, games could be expected to settle down, right?

Game 3

Game 3 ended in a narrow 2022 win. The 1999 team took the lead early with a three-run third inning off Chris Bassitt, who would settle in and throw seven innings of three-run ball. John Olerud would deliver the first early blow to Bassitt with a two-run homer in the third, which was proceeded by a Rickey Henderson RBI single.

Bassitt was opposed by Oral Hershiser who threw six three-run innings of his own on 117 pitches. The 2022 team would trail 3-2 for most of the middle innings before disaster struck for the 1999 team. The game was lost by reliever Pat Mahomes, whose two-run homer to Jeff McNeil in the 7th inning ended up being the decisive blow, giving the 2022 team a 4-3 lead. A Brandon Nimmo solo homer in the bottom of the 8th put this one to bed, securing a 5-3 2022 team.

Game 4

The 1999 squad evened up the series the next game with a 7-5 win. The pitching matchup for Game 4 was a heavyweight battle: Bobby Jones and Carlos Carrasco. Both pitchers fared reasonably well: Carrasco went 4 1/3 innings of two-run ball, and Jones 5 innings of three-run ball. The 1999 team opened the scoring in the top of the first with back-to-back homers from Henderson and Robin Venture to start the game, but the offense would quiet down following that.

The 2022 team put up their first run in the home half of the 4th with a Daniel Vogelbach double, and they would take the lead in the 5th thanks to back-to-back solo homers of their own by Marte and Francisco Lindor. Now 3-2, the teams began trading blows in the late innings. The 1999 team took a 4-3 lead from a two-run single by Roger Cedeño.

The wild game hit its peak in the bottom of the eighth, when a James McCann two-out, two-on infield single off Turk Wendell gave the 2022 team a 5-4 lead. Next, enter Edwin Díaz in the 9th.

However, after allowing walks to Rickey Henderson and Mike Piazza, Díaz served up a two-out, two-strike three-run homer to Robin Ventura to give the 1999 team their 7-5 lead, which wound up the final score and tied the series at two. If the 1999 team could hang on, Ventura’s heroics might be enough to net him MVP honors for the series.

The Mets Madness bracket presented by OOTP 24.

Game 5

The final two games of the series were dominated by the 2022 team. Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, and Jeff McNeil would all go yard in the fifth game of the series, a game the 2022 team won 10-4. Kenny Rogers was beaten up again, and Jacob deGrom went six scoreless innings. Rogers was followed by Masato Yoshii, who was not much better. The two combined to give up ten earned runs in 3 1/3 innings, while Pat Mahomes and Octavio Dotel allowed no runs in 4 1/3 scoreless relief innings.

The 1999 team scored three of their runs on a two-out homer in the bottom of the ninth by Edgardo Alfonzo, which was far too late. The team’s bats went quiet for too long, and the pitching never had a chance from the jump. For the brunt of the game, 1999 trailed by an embarrassing 10-1.

Game 6

Game 6 was won 13-3 by the 2022 team. Alonso, Lindor, and now Darin Ruf all went yard, destroying Al Leiter. Leiter, somehow, stayed in the game long enough to complete six full innings of work but allowed eight hits, seven earned runs, three walks, and three homers. The bullpen behind him would combine to allow six earned runs over three innings, which would be the final death blow to the 1999 team.

As John Franco and Billy Taylor struggled out of the pen, a shaky Max Scherzer was followed by 2 2/3 perfect innings from Taijuan Walker. Drew Smith closed out the series clincher, and the 1999 team was sent packing. The 2022 bullpen allowed just three base runners over 3 2/3 innings of work, giving the explosive 1999 offense no chance of coming back in this one.

MVP

Jeff McNeil was named series MVP after posting a .417/.500/.750 slash line with two homers. McNeil’s timely hitting propelled the 2022 team to the closer game of this series.

On the losing squad, John Olerud hit .350/.500/.600 with a homer and a pair of doubles. His work wouldn’t move the needle in the series too much, considering how horrid the 1999 pitching was.

On Deck

The 2022 team moves on, with their fearsome starting three, and the 1999 team and their brutal pitching head home in MetsMerized’s Mets Madness Bracket. The 2022 team will face the 1986 team in the second round.

The post Mets Madness Recap: 2022 Mets Defeat 1999 Mets In Six Games appeared first on Metsmerized.

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!

The post Mets Madness Series Preview: 2022 Mets vs. 1999 Mets appeared first on Metsmerized.

They’ve shared more than just a city. While the Mets and Yankees rarely engage in trade talks, it’s not unusual for players to spend parts of their careers in Queens and in the Bronx. According to Baseball-Reference, the count has now surpassed 150, but here are some of the most notable plus verdicts on which team they fared better with.

David Cone – Mets (1987-92; 03), Yankees (1995-2000)

Few players have been one of the best at their positions for both current New York clubs. It could be argued that David Cone belongs on the Mets and Yankees’ all-time rotations. The Mets got him in a steal of a trade in March ’87. He didn’t start full-time until the following May but made sure it stuck. Cone won 20 games in ’88 for a division title winner, struggled in his first postseason outing but thrived in the next.

During five-plus years as a Mets starter, Cone topped 200 strikeouts three times and led the NL twice. On the season finale in 1991, he tied the team and league record for a single game with 19. Postseasons were the mark of Cone’s Yankees legacy, as he was a vital part of four championship clubs. Then there was the day he was perfect in 1999.

Better as a: Yankee (stats say Mets, but clutch performances say pinstripes)

Darryl Strawberry – Mets (1983-90), Yankees (1995-99)

He should have never left New York in the first place. Darryl Strawberry returned to the city after troublesome years on the west coast with Los Angeles and San Francisco. While he continued to endure personal issues during his time with the Yankees, he contributed to three more title-winning teams adding to a ring collection that began in ’86.

When Yankee Stadium was under repair, Darryl got the chance to return to his initial major-league residence and connected for his 127th homer in Flushing. The forever home run leader in Shea Stadium history and, for now, the Mets’ all-time home run king, Straw’s seven All-Star appearances are tied for the most among Amazin’ position players.

Better as a: Met

Robinson Canó – Yankees (2005-13), Mets (2019-2022)

While Mets fans couldn’t wait to see Robinson Canó go elsewhere, Yankees fans were thrilled by his arrival in 2005. He finished runner-up for the AL Rookie of the Year and would be named an All-Star five times, hitting 204 homers and slashing .309/.355/.504.

Canó’s sojourn to Seattle saw some decrease in production but a bigger fall in reputation with a PED suspension. The trade to the Mets (along with Edwin Diaz) led to additional scrutiny and another drug ban. Canó’s 168 games in orange and blue proved nothing more than a waste. A slightly above league-average hitter at a 105 OPS+, it certainly wasn’t acceptable considering the amount of money he was paid.

Better as a: Yankee

Carlos Beltrán – Mets (2005-11), Yankees (2014-16)

The greatest center field in Mets history was in the twilight of his career by the time he put on the pinstripes. Carlos Beltrán‘s exploits in Flushing are well-known: a terrific outfield range that led to three Gold Gloves, five All-Star selections, a 129 OPS+, 41 long balls in 2006, and three years of at least 110 RBIs. His high-profile signing was a rare case in which the Mets made money well spent.

All this would’ve made his performance as a Yankee very hard to match, more so considering his age. That being said, his numbers in the Bronx aren’t bad. He hit 19 homers and posted a 119 OPS+ in 2015 at age 38 plus 22 home runs in 99 games the next year (with an All-Star nod) before going to Texas.

Better as a: Met

Yogi Berra – Yankees (1946-63), Mets (1965)

Joe Torre, Willie Randolph, and Dallas Green are among those who have coached and/or managed for both Big Apple teams. Yogi Berra too, and he’s the only one to lead both to a World Series. His Fall Classic performance as a Yankee player is unprecedented: an all-time record 74 hits and 10 rings. The regular seasons were pretty good too: three MVPs and 358 home runs. Often forgotten is Yogi’s brief stint as a Mets player, which occurred in the wake of his initial period as a Yankee manager.

Let go following a World Series loss to the Cardinals, Yogi joined the other side as a coach — but in between had a cameo in the lineup with nine at-bats over four games. Berra stayed on the staff through the Miracle Mets year until he took over the club following Gil Hodges‘ sudden passing.

Better as a: Yankee (was this even a discussion?)

Dwight Gooden – Mets (1984-94), Yankees (1996-97, 2000)

Nobody’s Mets career began more spectacularly. Gooden’s presence and the talents of the team in the mid-1980s turned New York orange and blue. Especially when Dr. K was on the mound, the Mets were the most fascinating and most successful club in town. He was the top rookie in ’84, the top pitcher in ’85, and a World Champion in ’86. Dwight Gooden may not have gotten the most out of his ability, but his ability was better than most who ever pitched for the franchise.

He did everything but get a no-hitter. That came on May 14, 1996 at Yankee Stadium against the Seattle Mariners. He made a final appearance at Shea in a memorable two-stadium doubleheader while getting the win in the process.

Better as a: Met (again, was this even a discussion?)

Orlando Hernández – Yankees (1998-02, 2004), Mets (2006-07)

Like Cone, the success of the Yankees in the late 1990s afforded “El Duque” the opportunity to make many important starts. Rarely did he disappoint. In his first year after escaping Cuba, Hernández allowed one run in 14 October innings. He was the MVP of the ’99 ALCS and didn’t lose a postseason decision until the Mets defeated him in Game 3 of the 2000 World Series. Hernández had a 112 ERA+ over 44 starts in Queens but provided veteran leadership on a team mostly reliant on its lineup. Any chance of pitching in the postseason for the Mets was ruined when he injured his hamstring in late September 2006 after the division title was already secured.

Better as a: Yankee

Curtis Granderson – Yankees (2010-13), Mets (2014-17)

One of a few to play for a New York team one year and play for the other New York team the next. The dimensions at Yankee Stadium were more to the lefty swinger’s liking. Curtis Granderson hit a career-best 41 homers in 2011, only to surpass that with 43 in 2012. He exceeded 100 RBIs in both seasons.

The love for Grandy spread to Citi Field, especially when he helped lead the Mets to the World Series. Notorious for slow starts, Granderson picked it up as the 2015 season went into October. He drove in 13 runs in the playoffs including three World Series homers. He added 30 more long balls in 2016. At his introductory press conference after switching sides in 2013, Granderson declared that “true New Yorkers are Mets fans.” Who’s to argue with him?

Better as a: Yankee (the short porch in right field didn’t hurt)

Al Leiter – Yankees (1987-89; 2005), Mets (1998-04)

He’s now a Mets Hall of Famer and isn’t soon to be seen in Monument Park. Al Leiter began his big-league career with an organization lacking direction. The New Jersey native only got 22 appearances in two-plus seasons and fewer with Toronto. But he won a couple World Series there an another in Florida before getting the chance to play for the team he grew up rooting for. His first year with the Mets, 1998, was his best year. His best performance was the 1999 Wild Card tiebreaker and he had many clutch playoff outings. Leiter left the Mets in the top 10 of many club pitching categories, including a 124 ERA+, and has stayed there. He finished out his career with the Yankees—far more accomplished but clearly not the same he had recently been before.

Better as a: Met

Rickey Henderson – Yankees (1985-89), Mets (1999-00)

He played for enough teams over his lengthy and monumental career that he was bound to end up in New York at least once. Rickey Henderson‘s domination during the 1980s was mainly in Oakland but included a stop in the Bronx. While he didn’t put up the same prodigious stolen base numbers, averaging 75 in four full years was superior by comparison to the rest of the league. He was traded back to the A’s as part of a Yankees mid-season and later bounced to Toronto, San Diego, and Anaheim before landing in Queens.

Now in his early 40s, Henderson didn’t steal bases with the same prowess. But he did have a 117 OPS+ as the leadoff hitter for a ’99 team that reached the postseason for the first time in 11 years before eventually wearing out his welcome.

Better as a: Yankee

The post Playing on Both Sides of Town: Those Who Were Mets and Yankees appeared first on Metsmerized.

Good morning, Mets fans!

A star-studded filled afternoon that featured former Mets Al Leiter and Howard Johnson and team broadcasters Howie Rose and Gary Cohen were inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame ended on a sour note as the Blue Jays beat the Mets 2-1. Tylor Megill started for New York and pitched admirably through five innings but the team failed to muster more than a run. For more on this loss, check out our recap.

The Mets, with just one run in two games this series, will look to avoid the sweep today at 1:40 p.m. ET.

Now onto the morning briefing!

Latest MLB News

Sarah Langs of MLB tweeted her gratitude for the numerous messages she has received and assures that she has seen and appreciates each one. She describes the previous day at Citi Field, as incredible and expresses her immense gratitude. Also in her tweet, Sarah urges everyone to maintain awareness about ALS every day until a cure is found.

As I get to answering all the messages I’ve received in so many places, please know I’ve seen them + appreciate every single one

Yesterday was incredible. I am so grateful

Let’s use this awareness to keep ALS top-of-mind EVERY day until there’s a cure

BASEBALL IS THE BEST 🫶 pic.twitter.com/lGj6MKndvE

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) June 3, 2023

According to Adam McCalvy, the Brewers beat writer for MLB.com, Jon Singleton has made an impressive comeback. Singleton, who was previously considered one of the top prospects in baseball but faced personal challenges off the field, has now earned his return to the major leagues after a six-year absence. The Brewers have officially announced his call-up, marking a significant milestone in Singleton’s journey. To make room for Singelton, the Milwaukee Brewers have made several roster moves. First baseman Darin Ruf has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to a right knee laceration. Outfielder Tyrone Taylor has also been placed on the 10-day injured list with a right elbow sprain, and this move is retroactive to June 2. Outfielder Blake Perkins has been recalled, along with Singleton’s contract being selected from Triple-A Nashville.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, former Mets pitching prospect Ryder Ryan has been granted his release from the Seattle Mariners’ AAA team after exercising an opt-out clause in his contract. Ryan, known for his MLB-quality sinker/slider combination, was highly sought after during the previous offseason. In his last six games with Triple-A Tacoma, he has pitched seven innings, allowed only one run, and recorded seven strikeouts. Ryan possesses an impressive 93.7 mph two-seam fastball, a 43.4% whiff rate, and has limited hitters to a .179 batting average against his slider.

According to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, the Los Angeles Dodgers are set to promote outfield prospect Jonny DeLuca. Sources have confirmed that DeLuca, who hails from Agoura Hills, is being called up to fill the roster spot of Trayce Thompson, who has been placed on the injured list due to a strained oblique.

Latest on MMO

MMO Roundtable: The GOAT Gary Cohen and Howie Rose’s Met Calls.

On This Date in Mets History

1976: In an impressive 11-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers, the New York Mets showcased their offensive prowess with a total of 14 hits. The game was highlighted by Tom Seaver‘s dominant three-hit pitching performance. Leading the charge was Dave Kingman, who had an outstanding night, driving in eight runs and becoming only the second Met in history to hit three home runs in a single game. Jim Hickman achieved this feat 11 years earlier. This remarkable win served as a much-needed confidence booster for Kingman, Seaver, and their teammates. Prior to the game, Kingman had struggled, with just three RBIs in his last 15 games. Seaver had also faced difficulties, posting a winless record of 0-4, along with a 5.09 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP in his previous five starts. As a team, the Mets had endured a tough stretch, losing four consecutive games and 11 out of their last 13.

Birthdays: Rick Wilkins (56)

The post Morning Briefing: Mets Honor Legends But Fall in Lackluster Loss appeared first on Metsmerized.

Because it had taken so long for the Mets Hall of Fame to expand its member base, the recent inductees have been overdue. That holds true for the players joining this year.

Howard Johnson and Al Leiter‘s Mets careers don’t overlap. HoJo generated the fourth-most homers, fourth-most RBIs, and third-highest stolen base total, primarily in the racing stripe uniforms. Leiter pitched t0 a 124 ERA+ with more than 1,100 strikeouts in a variety of colors, black included.

Both arrived to New York through offseason trades from the reigning World Champions. Both deals would be instrumental in helping solidify the franchise as a title contender for multiple years. Both are still among the top 15 in overall bWAR.

Johnson was a platoon third baseman when the Mets won it all, while Leiter was an integral part of a starting rotation that came up short in the Fall Classic. In fact, Leiter’s most admirable performance might have been the World Series-deciding loss.

He strove to single-handedly fend off a Yankee three-peat, even creating a run-scoring play with a perfectly-placed bunt. As his pitch count crept toward a season-high 142, two-out ninth-inning hits against the exhausted lefty plated the tie-breaking runs and spoiled hopes of sending the Subway Series back to the Bronx.

It was so much of what Leiter was about: tough, fearless, durable, emotional.

The value of pitching wins notwithstanding, Leiter never earned a victory in his seven postseason appearances despite six of them being quality starts. But he was at his best when the Mets’ first playoff trip in 11 years was at stake in Cincinnati.

For the one-game tiebreaker to determine the 1999 NL Wild Card, Leiter dealt a two-hit shutout. He allowed a baserunner in each of the first three innings, but then went on to retire 13 Reds in a row. He dotted the strike zone beautifully with pitches that led to seven strikeouts and rarely resulted in hard contact.

Leiter’s masterpiece holds a special place in the history of the Mets, the team this Toms River, New Jersey native watched while growing up. The left-hander had been a part of championship teams in Toronto and Florida when he joined the Mets prior to 1998. But playing for the team he rooted for fulfilled a childhood dream.

Leiter gave no misconceptions about his feelings on the mound. That infectious passion was a feeling the Mets fed off of during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

He began exceptionally well. During a ’98 season when home runs were flying out at a record pace, Leiter gave up only eight. When the median ERA of all major-league pitchers was a hefty 4.42, Leiter’s was a robust 2.47. And in a season in which the collective league-wide batting average was .266, Leiter held opposing hitters to .216. He also led all Mets in victories with 17 while losing just six and walked 71 batters two years after he led the NL with 119.

While Leiter was a key component upon arrival, Johnson’s progression didn’t happen overnight. Once a middling utility player in Detroit, he averaged a little more than 10 homers and 42 RBIs in his first two seasons in New York. He certainly had his moments during the championship year. Most notably, a key long ball in St. Louis to propel the Amazin’s to a four-game sweep versus their NL East rivals and assert themselves as a dominant club.

He split his time at the hot corner with Ray Knight, who enjoyed a comeback season that ended with World Series MVP honors. Shortly after the champagne dried, Knight was gone and Johnson was the everyday starter.

But as the Mets continued to be in a state of disrepair, Johnson was breaking down. Injuries derailed his final two seasons in New York and he was a Colorado Rockie by 1994 before retiring after 1995.

Johnson is perhaps the most underrated player in franchise history. He’s certainly among those names at the top. His best years came while the Mets were underachieving or, sometimes, worse. And that’s a big reason why Johnson doesn’t get enough consideration when discussing the franchise’s best.

Hopefully, this weekend’s ceremonies help give HoJo the esteem he deserves as he and get their well-earned recognition together.

The post HoJo, Leiter Get Deserved Mets Hall of Fame Nods appeared first on Metsmerized.

Al Leiter. Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

It helps to be in the right places at the right time. It also helps be a very good pitcher. Al Leiter was both. Those circumstances helped him achieve a feat that, at the time, was unique only to him.

The left-handed pitcher went seven strong innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Bank One Ballpark on April 30 of 2022, only allowing one unearned run. Thanks to the Mets’ offense quickly building a significant lead, Leiter was the winning pitcher in a 10-1 New York victory and became the first pitcher to beat all 30 active major league teams.

Leiter had the full backing of his hitters right away. New York put up all 10 runs in the first three innings. Most of the production, not surprisingly, came from Mike Piazza. Leiter’s batterymate slugged a home run in each of his first two at-bats. A third-inning RBI ground out was the sixth run Piazza drove in on the night.

That was plenty for Leiter, who was pretty much on cruise control from there. His only real slip-up came in the bottom of the third when he hit two consecutive batters. That led to an error by first baseman Mo Vaughn which allowed Arizona’s lone run to score.

By the time Leiter departed after the seventh, the last victory over a new team was all but assured.

His wait to go from team 29 to 30 was actually rather lengthy. He had checked off all but one franchise once he defeated his old club, the Florida Marlins, in June 1998. That was the 69th victory of his career. There were 50 additional victories in between his win over the Diamondbacks.

Several factors allowed Leiter to be able to notch a victory versus every club. Playing in both leagues as well as being in his prime during the advent of interleague play when four new franchises (Rockies, Marlins, Diamondbacks, Devil Rays) came into the fold were certainly added benefits. Success and longevity are also important, too. They almost always go hand-in-hand, and this was true in Leiter’s case.

He was primarily a starter as early as 1988 but it became a habit by 1994. And for the next nine years, Leiter averaged 13 victories. Twice he was an All-Star and twice he finished in the top-10 in Cy Young Award voting.

His career began with the New York Yankees and the first team he defeated was the Milwaukee Brewers on September 15, 1987.

After two-plus seasons in the Bronx, he moved on to Toronto in 1989 and later to Florida from 1996 through 1998 before landing with the Mets via free agency. In between, he was a significant piece for multiple World Series champions which frequently provided him numerous opportunities to come out ahead.

With expanded interleague play, the Astros changing leagues in 2013, and no additional franchises since 1998, there have been more opportunities for pitchers to beat all active clubs — in spite of wins being in shorter supply for starters.

In fact, since Leiter, 18 more pitchers have achieved this feat. One of those is Bartolo Colon. He completed the 30-team circuit in 2017 as a Minnesota Twin. The team he beat to do it? The Arizona Diamondbacks.

The post OTD 2002: Leiter Becomes First to Beat All 30 Teams appeared first on Metsmerized.

On Wednesday, Buck Showalter revealed that David Wright would be visiting the team this spring to serve as an alumni coach along with a who’s who of other Mets legends.

In addition to Wright on March 1-2, Showalter plans to bring in Edgardo Alfonzo and Darryl Strawberry from March 2-6, Mookie Wilson and Howard Johnson from March 5-10, and Al Leiter and John Franco from March 20-26/27. Showalter also commented that Mike Piazza won’t be attending due to his role as Italy’s manager in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

“We’ll take as much as they’re willing to give, because they’ve got schedules too,” Showalter said. “Those guys are all good, nothing beneath them, they want to get into it, and we’ll work them.”

It was reported in January that the Mets planned in extending an invitation to Wright, who also attended spring training last season, the first time he had worn a Mets uniform since his retirement in 2018.

Wright’s expertise will be of particular value to Brett Baty, who got his first taste of major-league action a year ago and will be fighting to be the team’s long-term third baseman after this season. Wright, Alfonzo, and Johnson also figure to work with the likes of Mark Vientos and Ronny Mauricio, who may end up playing a variety of positions this season.

The post Wright, Strawberry Among Alumni That Will Visit Mets Camp appeared first on Metsmerized.

Photo Credit: Jason Bridge of USA Today

This week, third baseman Scott Rolen was voted in by the BBWAA as the latest member of the Hall of Fame. Rolen is a player Mets fans are very familiar with as he began his career with the Philadelphia Phillies from 1996-2002.

Over the course of his career, Rolen was one of the more underrated Mets killers. In 106 career games against New York, the eight-time Gold Glove winner had a slash line of .313/.413/.555 with 20 home runs and 67 RBIs. The 20 home runs was the fifth most that Rolen hit against any team and the second most in terms of NL East opponents (21 against the Braves). Out of those 20 home runs, 10 of them were hit at Shea Stadium.

In terms of hits, Rolen had 119 (second most against NL East teams – 132 against the Braves). Some other fun facts are that Rolen had as many RBIs at Shea (47 games) than he did in 40 games at Coors Field against Colorado (25), and he had 47 strikeouts at Shea (seventh most in any ballpark).

Rolen is an integral part of Mets history to a degree because he could be an answer at your local trivia event to the question: Who was the batter that hit the ball that Endy Chavez made a miraculous catch against in Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS?

During that game, Rolen ended up having the last laugh as he hit a 1-out single in the top of the 9^th against Aaron Heilman. The next batter, Yadier Molina, would hit the go-ahead two-run home run and as they say…the rest is history. The Mets held Rolen somewhat in check during that series besides the single (5-for-21, 3 walks).

Four years earlier, Rolen was traded from the Phillies to the Cardinals at the trade deadline. The Mets would play a part of more history for Rolen in August when he hit his first home run as a Cardinal against Pedro Astacio on Sunday Night Baseball.

When Rolen faced the Mets, he had the most success against Al Leiter in terms of hits. He was 11-for-38 (.290) with four doubles and he drew 11 walks. However, Leiter did a good job of keeping him from hitting the ball out of the ballpark (no home runs). That couldn’t be said for Mike Hampton (3-for-9, 2 home runs) or John Franco (2-for-7, 2 home runs). These numbers are courtesy of UltimateMets.com.

If you want to look at Rolen’s best year against the Mets, that came in 2001 when he played all 19 games and hit .329 with 6 doubles, 3 home run, and 12 RBIs. In an extra-inning win on August 28, 2001, Rolen hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in the top of the 11^th against Donne Wall at Shea Stadium.

With the new era of balanced schedules, the list of “Met killers” can continue to grow and not just be limited to the likes of Chipper Jones, Pat Burrell, Daniel Murphy, etc. Even though Rolen only spent seven seasons in the NL East, the Mets still ended up being an interesting part of his Hall Of Fame career.

The post Scott Rolen’s History Against The Mets appeared first on Metsmerized.

Howard Johnson, Al Leiter, Gary Cohen, and Howie Rose will be inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame as the 2023 class of inductees, the team announced on Wednesday.

Additionally, Jay Horowitz, the team’s longtime media relations guru, will receive the team’s Hall of Fame Achievement Award.

Johnson, Leiter, Cohen and Rose will officially be inducted on Saturday, June 3 in a pre-game ceremony prior to the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Citi Field. The four new additions means that there is now a total of 34 inductees in the Mets Hall of Fame.

The organization also announced that they will host a Zoom meeting on Thursday, January 19 at 11am with Johnson, Leiter, Cohen, Rose and Horowitz.

“It was an honor informing each of the four new members that they were going to be inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame,” Mets owner Steve Cohen said in a statement. “Howard Johnson was the classic combination of speed and power, with three seasons of 30-homers and 30-stolen bases. Al Leiter, who grew up in New Jersey rooting for the Mets, ranks in the top 10 in team history in wins and strikeouts.

“Mets fans are privileged to have two of the very best in all of baseball describing the action with years of institutional Mets knowledge. Gary Cohen is set to start his 35th year of calling Mets games and Howie Rose has been covering the team since 1987. In addition, we are honoring Jay Horowitz, who has passionately worked for this organization for over 40 years, with the Hall of Fame Achievement Award. I’m looking forward to celebrating more Mets history on June 3.”

Johnson and Leiter are being inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame for their prowess on the field in a Mets uniform. Johnson put together three seasons of 30-homers and 30-stolen bases (1987, 1989, and 1991), which rank as the most in team history. The two-time All-Star (1989, 1991) and two-time Silver Slugger (1989, 1991) was the first switch-hitter to join the 30-30 club in major league history. He also ranks in the top five in franchise history in home runs, doubles, RBI and stolen bases. Johnson was a member of the 1986 World Series team and he spent nine years with the Mets.

Leiter, meanwhile, excelled on the mound for the Mets and he won double-digit games in seven straight years between 1998-2004. The two-time World Series winner ranks in the top 10 in franchise history in wins, innings, strikeouts and quality starts. Perhaps Leiter’s finest moment in a Mets uniform came in 1999 when he threw a two-hit shutout in a one-game playoff at Cincinnati. He also became the first pitcher to defeat all 30 major league teams. Leiter won both the Roberto Clemente Award and the Branch Rickey Award for his charitable endeavors.

As richly deserving as Johnson and Leiter are of being inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame for their heroics on the field, so too are Cohen and Rose for their expertise off it. Cohen began calling Mets games in the booth in 1989, right up until 2006 when he transitioned into the SNY booth. Cohen, who is the second-longest tenured Mets play-by-play announcer in team history, makes up one part of SNY’s famous broadcast booth with Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling.

Rose is known for entertaining the Mets masses with his distinctive voice on the radio as the team’s play-by-play announcer, a job he’s proudly been doing since 1996. Rose has been with the Mets since 1987 having grown up going to Shea Stadium. Inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in 2012, and welcomed into the New York State Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019, Rose’s signature “Put it in the books” call is a welcome sound to all Mets fans after a win.

Finally, the organization will also honor Horowitz in a classy move. The longtime Mets PR guy joined the team on April, 1 1980 as the director of public relations. He was promoted to vice president of media relations in 2001, and he has been honored on a plethora of occasions for his undying commitment to the Mets. The decision to honor Horowitz is another sign that owner Steve Cohen is determined to pay tribute to all those who have left their mark on the franchise.

Further details will be announced by the Mets in due course. Mets fans can now purchase tickets for the June 3 game vs. the Blue Jays and the Hall of Fame Induction ceremony by clicking here.

The post Mets Announce 2023 Hall of Fame Inductees appeared first on Metsmerized.