Within that 14-year span, he broke records, made seven All-Star teams, was an elite third baseman both in the field and at the plate, and was the face of a franchise that far too often didn’t come close to meeting the standards he was at. In spite of setbacks, many beyond his control, he carried himself as a true leader—a player that fans could relate to and be proud of. Wright built a legacy that has made him a Mets immortal and among the most Amazin’ to ever wear orange and blue.

Welcome to the Bigs – July 21, 2004

It was meant to be. He rooted for the Mets growing up in the Tidewater area of Virginia. After being drafted in 2001, Wright blossomed in the minor league system and never gave the organization reason to question him as a cornerstone player-in-waiting. David went hitless in his major league debut at Shea Stadium versus the Montreal Expos, but made several impressive plays in the field. The necessary tools to become the third base fixture and team leader were evident.

Although it was a small sample size of 69 games and 263 at-bats, Wright finished ’04 with a .293 batting average, 14 home runs, and 40 RBIs while carrying himself in a manner unusual for a 21-year-old. It was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dismal Mets season.

Glove Not Required – August 9, 2005

Easily his greatest defensive highlight occurred at Petco Park during his first full big-league season. San Diego’s Brian Giles lifted a soft fly ball over Wright’s head in the seventh inning—a certain hit (usually). It would’ve been tough enough to make the play with a mitt. So as he ran back for the ball, he tracked the trajectory and where it was headed—leaving him little choice about the next course of action.

Wright reached out with his throwing hand. While falling down, he held on to the ball before landing on the grass in shallow left. It was one of the best catches you’ll ever see, by a Met or anyone.

Subway Series Classic – May 19, 2006

What’s the lasting image of David Wright? For many, it’s him running out of the batter’s box after a drive to straightaway center field and leaping with hope multiple times before exulting after he had delivered the game-winning hit to beat Mariano Rivera and the Yankees.

He faced a legendary closer with the score sitting at 6-6 in the bottom of the ninth. On a 2-2 pitch, Rivera threw his patented cutter down in the strike zone.

Johnny Damon couldn’t get it. Paul Lo Duca scored to ensure a thrilling victory in one of the best Subway Series games ever. It was also a series that carried extra significance for the Mets, as it came in the midst of their best regular season since the start of the decade, coupled with the emergence of a new face of the franchise.

A Homer Happy All-Star Debut – July 10 & 11, 2006

Ignore the fact that after the Home Run Derby, Wright’s second-half power numbers tailed off significantly. But that night (and the next) was a national coming-out party for David. He ended up second to the Phillies’ Ryan Howard in the derby. But nobody told him the contest was over.

Wright stepped up for his first All-Star Game at-bat and hit a liner off former Met Kenny Rogers in the second inning that cleared the short left-field fence. Wright was one of six Mets selected to the National League squad in a season when the East was already a runaway by the unofficial midway point. The American League’s comeback victory prevented Wright from potentially being the game’s MVP.

Welcome to the Club – September 16, 2007

His third base predecessor Howard Johnson did it three times. Darryl Strawberry accomplished it as well. Now it was Wright’s turn to enter the select 30-homer, 30-steal circle. An opposite-field homer against Philadelphia made David the first 30-30 Met since HoJo in 1991.

While September 2007 was certainly a month to forget for his team, Wright did not suffer down the stretch. In fact, he had a 1.034 OPS over the regular season’s final 27 games and would’ve made a strong case for NL MVP if the Mets hadn’t completely cratered.

Lone Walk-off Homer – August 7, 2008

He held the Mets record for walk-off hits before it was broken by Wilmer Flores, but only once did a game-ender leave the park. It couldn’t have come at a better time for the player or the club. Both Wright and the Mets were struggling. New York had lost five of six, and manager Jerry Manuel even considered sitting David for this afternoon’s contest versus the San Diego Padres. But Wright proved his worth. He singled in the first, doubled in the fifth, and punctuated his three-hit day with a two-out, two-run homer against Heath Bell.

First Mets Citi Field Blast – April 13, 2009

Who better? And how ironic also, considering the original canyon-like dimensions helped to severely limit Wright’s power numbers for years to come. After he laced a double down the right field line in the bottom of the first for the Mets’ initial hit in their new ballpark, Wright came up with two on and two out in the fifth, and the Mets down by three. He had enough lift and distance to send it about 390 feet. Back then, that was *barely* enough to get it over “The Great Wall of Flushing.” That briefly tied the score at five, but the San Diego Padres would be the home-opening spoiler.

The Hit King – September 26, 2012

He had already become the leader in nearly every significant offensive category: RBIs, runs scored, extra-base hits, and total bases. A little more than eight years into his career, David surpassed Ed Kranepool for the most hits ever by a New York Met. But it didn’t happen in typical David Wright fashion. The record-breaker was a dribbler down the third-base line. The attempted throw to get Wright out sailed wide of first, and he advanced on the throwing error. But they all count the same. After that infield single, the count was a historic 1,419.

“Captain” Made Official – March 21, 2013

Dating back to his start in the big leagues, Wright embodied the qualities that make a team captain. Eight full seasons into his career, and having signed an extension earlier that off-season, the Mets gave him the title he deserved. Wright became the fourth player in franchise history to have the honor, joining Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter, and John Franco. It was the first time anyone held the title since Franco left the team in 2004. A leader by example, he exemplified professional success and personal character, which earned respect from those in the clubhouse and throughout the league.

Your All-Star Host – July 16, 2013

When the Mets hosted a Midsummer Classic for the first time in almost 50 years, the man playing in his seventh served as an unofficial ambassador. His duties included participating in the Home Run Derby and receiving the ceremonial first pitch from Tom Seaver, who not surprisingly, has the most All-Star selections of any Amazin’ with nine. Wright also won the fan balloting at third base and manager Bruce Bochy slotted him in the clean-up spot of the starting lineup. He singled in the seventh inning off Greg Holland—the last of his three at-bats in the game and, as it turned out, his final All-Star appearance.

Returning with Thunder – August 24, 2015

In the top of the second inning at Citizens Bank Park, Wright prepared to take his first swing in 133 days. Once a mainstay in the Mets lineup, he had missed over four months. First, it was a hamstring injury, and then, because of the dreaded spinal stenosis, the ailment which would ultimately cause the premature end of his career. It wasn’t a certainty he’d ever return.  Now, Wright was facing Phillies starter Adam Morgan. The 1-1 pitch went over the heart of the plate. David swung and did not miss. It wasn’t just a home run, it was a moonshot.

The Fist-Pump – September 7, 2015

This was the unleashing of stored energy. Wright ran from first base off a liner to right-center by Yoenis Céspedes in the seventh inning of the series opener with the Washington Nationals. The ball was retrieved on the warning track by Bryce Harper. Wright turned for home. With his team eying a first postseason berth since he was a rising star in 2006, the emotion of the moment came out soon after he slid safely ahead of the throw from Anthony Rendon and the tag from Wilson Ramos. The Mets won that day, the next, and ultimately completed a three-game sweep to sew up the division title.

A World Series Homer to Remember – October 30, 2015

He had spent 12 seasons waiting to make the Fall Classic. He had spent many months just hoping to be healthy. In his first World Series at-bat in New York (and the first World Series game at Citi Field) with a runner on base, he sent a towering drive over the left-center field fence and sent the crowd into a frenzy. Wright’s classic swing put the Mets on top, 2-1. New York went on to capture their lone win of the series, 9-3, with Wright tacking on two more RBIs in the sixth with a single to center.

Farewell, Captain – September 28, 2018

On the penultimate day of the regular season, Wright bid goodbye to a New York audience that watched him grow up. With setbacks that would’ve forced a less determined player to quit, Wright was too proud to go out that way. After returning the previous night for his first at-bat in more than two years, an anticipatory sellout crowd at Citi Field was there for the finale. Wright made two plate appearances: drawing a walk in the first and popping out to foul territory in the fourth. Before the fifth inning started, it was time for the final send-off and an ovation that was both long and very much deserved.

The post Captain’s Choice: The Best David Wright Moments appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The surgery came on the heels of a frustrating 2023 campaign that saw Peterson demoted to Triple-A Syracuse in May after posting an 8.08 ERA to start the season. In July, he spent most of the month working out of the bullpen before rejoining the rotation by season’s end. He ultimately finished with a 5.03 ERA over 111 innings in 27 appearances (21 starts). While a 4.34 FIP and 10.4 K/9 offered glimmers of hope, Peterson’s overall track record — including a 4.51 ERA and 4.23 FIP across 333 career innings — raised questions about his long-term role in the Mets’ rotation despite his pedigree as a former first-round pick.

Peterson returned to the mound on May 29, 2024, tossing five innings of two-run ball in what ended as a 10–3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. While the game is best remembered as the low point of the Mets’ season—when reliever Jorge López infamously threw his glove into the stands—it quietly marked a turning point for Peterson. From that start on, he never looked back. The Mets went 15–5 in his remaining 20 outings, and Peterson finished the regular season with a stellar 2.90 ERA and 133 ERA+ (33% better than league average) across 121 innings.

Peterson carried that momentum into October, excelling in multiple roles. He earned a save in the Mets’ Game 3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers to clinch the Wild Card round, picked up the win in Game 4 of the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies to send New York to the NLCS, and started Game 5 of that series against the Dodgers—a victory that forced a decisive Game 6 in Los Angeles.

David Peterson (23) Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

In 2025, Peterson hasn’t missed a beat. His 3.06 ERA and 3.37 FIP over 109 innings (18 starts) have helped stabilize a Mets rotation ravaged by injuries since the spring. He’s not just eating innings—he’s been effective while doing it, recording outs in the sixth inning or later in six separate starts. For context, the rest of the Mets pitching staff has combined to do that just four times. That reliability and performance earned Peterson the first All-Star selection of his career, named as a replacement for the San Francisco Giants’ Robbie Ray.

All told, since returning from labrum surgery, Peterson has posted a 2.97 ERA (129 ERA+) over 39 starts and 230 innings—a dramatic shift from his pre-injury performance. So, what’s changed? That’s the tricky part. Peterson isn’t exactly an analytical darling. According to Baseball Savant, he grades out poorly in several advanced metrics. He doesn’t throw hard (13th percentile in fastball velocity) and is still prone to hard contact, ranking in the 16th percentile in hard hit rate and 19th percentile in average exit velocity allowed. He’s also not overpowering hitters: his chase rate (48th percentile), whiff rate (25th) and strikeout rate (38th) all fall below league average.

So how is Peterson thriving despite his lack of velocity, limited swing-and-miss ability and struggles with hard contact? Part of the answer lies in how well he maximizes the tools he does have. At 6-foot-6, Peterson generates elite extension—releasing the ball 7.2 feet in front of the rubber, which ranks in the 95th percentile league-wide. That extension creates added deception, helping his pitches play up despite below-average velocity.

More importantly, Peterson has mastered the art of limiting damage by keeping the ball on the ground. A staggering 56.6% of contact against him has come on groundballs, placing him in the top 6% of MLB. Hard contact is much easier to survive when it’s hit into the dirt—especially with Francisco Lindor (94th percentile in Outs Above Average) and Brett Baty (85th percentile) anchoring the infield behind him.

From an arsenal standpoint, Peterson has made smart adjustments to optimize his effectiveness based on batter handedness. Since 2023, vs. right-handed hitters, he’s increased his sinker usage from 22.7% to 26% while dialing back his four-seam fastball from 28.2% to 25.5%, making the sinker his primary pitch. He’s also reduced his reliance on the changeup (23.4% to 18.1%) in favor of more curveballs (9.5% to 13.8%). That shift has paid off—right-handed hitters have batted just .216 against his curveball since 2023, compared to .262 against the changeup.

Against lefties, Peterson has leaned into a two-pitch approach, relying heavily on his sinker and slider. Sinker usage in left-on-left matchups has jumped from 32.5% in 2023 to 41.2% this year, while slider usage has also climbed—from 31.2% to 37.1%. In turn, he’s nearly abandoned the four-seamer against lefties, cutting its usage from 25.2% to just 13.3%.

Peterson has excelled at maximizing the value of his pitch mix. According to Statcast’s Run Value—a metric that quantifies the impact of a pitch based on game context—his sinker ranks as the No. 14-best in baseball with a run value of +6. His slider (+4, No. 21) and changeup (+3, No. 16) have also been highly effective. While his curveball hasn’t been thrown often enough to qualify, it has been a useful complementary piece. The only pitch with a negative run value is his four-seamer (-6), ranking No. 183 out of 202 qualified pitchers—but with its usage down significantly, it hasn’t been a major liability.

David Peterson’s ascent hasn’t followed the traditional blueprint of a modern pitching breakout. He doesn’t overpower hitters or miss a ton of bats while his underlying metrics don’t jump off the page. But through smart adjustments, elite extension and a refined pitch mix tailored to handedness, he’s carved out a path to sustained success. Since returning from hip surgery, Peterson has been one of the most reliable arms in the Mets’ rotation, and now, an All-Star. He may not fit the mold of an analytical darling, but results like his are impossible to ignore.

The post David Peterson Is Outpitching the Percentiles appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

After perhaps the most thrilling win of the year in the opener, the Mets were swept by the Orioles in their doubleheader on Thursday. Poor pitching, zero offense and some questionable decisions all hurt New York.

What makes this series loss all the more frustrating is that it appeared as though the Mets had turned a corner as of late. Instead, all of the momentum from the recent turnaround has now gone.

The Mets have just three games left before the break to get that momentum back.

On that note, let’s proceed with the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images

3 UP

COMEBACK KINGS

Okay, so Tuesday’s win counts for little now. But, with that said, we did see just what the top of the lineup is capable of. In what was the biggest comeback win of the year, the “Fab Four” came out swinging. Both Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso hit two-run shots in the eighth to make it a 6-6 game. Remember, the Mets had been staring at a 6-2 deficit. Then, in the 10th inning, Juan Soto came up with the clutch go-ahead run on a single. Brandon Nimmo also went 2-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI. The series opener highlighted just how explosive the big boys can be. Now, they just need to be more consistent.

HERO BALL

Huascar Brazobán has been hit and miss as of late. However, he emerged as the hero on Tuesday. Armed with a lead thanks to his offense, Brazobán delivered a shutdown inning with one strikeout to secure the win. It was the right-hander’s second save of the year. Everyone was needed in Tuesday’s win, and Brazobán certainly played his part to perfection.

HE’S AN ALL-STAR, DAVE

To borrow a famous line from Moneyball, David Peterson is an All-Star, Dave. The left-hander was named as a replacement for the All-Star Game moments after delivering yet another stellar start. Peterson allowed just one run over seven innings, while striking out six in Game 1 of the doubleheader. He more than did his job, and departed the game with the lead intact. What happened after just further highlighted how valuable Peterson has been to the Mets so far in 2025. He’s been lights out, and he deserves his trip to Atlanta.

Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

BULLPEN OVERUSE 

Who else is sick and tired of bullpen games? Yeah, I thought so. Man, when is it enough? The Mets have now gone with a bullpen game in three of their last six contests. The strategy acted essentially as a punt game against the Yankees on Sunday, which cost the Mets a series sweep, and it also cost them a series against the Orioles. The fact that both Brandon Sproat and Nolan McLean have dominated in the minors this week just adds insult to injury. At some point, Sproat and McLean should be called up. Yes, Sean Manaea and Kodai Senga are set to make their respective returns this weekend. But, with Clay Holmes needing to be managed, more rotation depth is needed. And why not call-up prospects like Sproat and McLean? They need to be given a chance at some point.

Furthermore, employing the bullpen game is a strategy that clearly isn’t working for this team. It is only serving to put more stress on this group of relievers, while the offense can’t be expected to come from behind constantly. The Mets have dropped two games this week because of the bullpen game, and it has to stop.

SECOND GUESSING

It is easy to play Monday Morning Quarterback when it comes to certain decisions a manager makes. Of course we all think we know best. However, it was hard to defend manager Carlos Mendoza after his costly decision in Game 1 of the doubleheader on Thursday. Peterson was in his groove, and the Mets had a 1-0 lead. He came back out for the eighth, but was pulled after giving up a hit. The end result? Ryne Stanek entered the game and quickly gave up the lead, sealing his team’s fate in the process.

Again, it is easy to second guess managers. But, with that said, Mendoza should have allowed Peterson to finish the job in the eighth. Or, instead, he should have given the ball to Stanek to start the inning.

COMING UP EMPTY

Want one stat that sums up the Mets’ day on Thursday? How about the fact they went a combined 2-for-19 with RISP across both games of the doubleheader. Or, the fact they scored four runs in the eighth inning of Tuesday’s game, but then just seven runs in the other 25 innings of this series. Yes, the offense was as much as to blame for the doubleheader implosion as bad pitching was. It didn’t help that Juan Soto and Pete Alonso went a combined 0-for-12 in the doubleheader. New York also managed a total of just 10 hits in the two games on Thursday.

A lineup with this much firepower can’t be this inconsistent. And a lineup with this much top-tier talent can’t continue to come up empty in clutch situations. Unless something gets fixed, the RISP problem could cost this team a chance at doing something special this year.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Stumble In Baltimore appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

If there was a “nice guy” Hall of Fame, he’d be a first-ballot inductee. Beyond his playing ability, Curtis Granderson was the epitome of professionalism. Hard work, hustle, class and his smile earned him tremendous respect league-wide over his 16-year career.

Granderson arrived in Queens following four seasons in the Bronx with the Yankees. At his introductory press conference, he stated, “real New Yorkers are Mets fans”. This, among other things, made him easy to root for. He totaled a 10.9 bWAR during his time with the Mets and was a significant factor during their run to the 2015 World Series when he slashed .259/.364/.457 with 26 home runs. He hit 30 more homers the following year, one of four times in which he equaled or exceeded that number.

The Case For

Granderson made seven stops—from Detroit to New York and elsewhere—between 2004 and 2019 in a career that included 344 home runs, 937 RBIs and 153 stolen bases. He was a true five-tool player with the Tigers. That array of talents was showcased best in 2007, when he accumulated the highest bWAR of his career (7.6), along with the rare 20-double, 20-triple, 20-homer, 20-steal season. Only two other major leaguers at that time had ever achieved such a feat.

If 2007 wasn’t his best season, however, then 2011 was. As a Yankee that year, Granderson hit 41 home runs and established career-highs in slugging percentage (.552), OPS (.916), OPS+ (142), runs (136) and RBIs (119). He led the majors in runs scored and the American League in runs batted in. He also stole 25 bases, earned his only Silver Slugger Award and finished fourth in AL MVP voting. The next year, he hit 42 homers and earned his second-straight All-Star selection (third overall).

Although Granderson never won a Gold Glove, he was a solid outfielder who finished with 32 Defensive Runs Saved. Additionally, by the definition of the character clause, he has that in abundance: his philanthropic efforts helped earn him the 2016 Roberto Clemente Award.

The Case Against

It was only in that 2007 season when Granderson had a WAR higher than 7.0. His career 47.2 WAR is below fellow 2025 candidates Jimmy Rollins, David Wright, Torii Hunter and Dustin Pedroia.

According to JAWS, a metric which is calculated by averaging a player’s career WAR with the total WAR from his seven-year peak, Granderson ranks No. 33 among center fielders. It’s better than a handful of Hall of Fame players but behind non-Hall members Devon White, Brett Butler and Bernie Williams.

By the standards of the similarity scores on Baseball Reference, Granderson’s number is closest to quality players who are admittedly not getting in: Justin Upton, Bobby Bonds, Ron Gant and José Bautista.

The 2011 season was the only one in which he finished in the top five of MVP voting. He was No. 10 in 2007 and No. 18 in 2015, and three All-Star appearances is particularly low for someone vying for the Hall of Fame.

There was nothing in particular that stood out when it comes to his postseason resume either. Over 16 series, which included 15 games as a Met, he had a .741 OPS with nine homers, nine steals and 30 RBIs.

Final Thoughts

With all due respect, this is an open and shut case. Grandy is not a Hall of Famer, and the better question is whether he’d receive the necessary five percent of votes to simply remain on the writer’s ballot. He had a few years that can be considered elite, but in order to get to Cooperstown, you need more than a few. Overall, Granderson was a very good player with an exceptional reputation.

The post The Hall of Fame Case for Curtis Granderson appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

We now know the ‘when’ is July 19. That’s the day one of the best in franchise history joins the rest.

It’s easy to claim Wright as a forever Met—not because this is the only organization he played for. The seven-time All-Star took a liking to the team while growing up a deep fly ball away the Triple-A club in Norfolk, VA.

Wright wore orange and blue for 14 seasons, breaking the team record in hits, runs scored, total bases, and batted in, and compiling the highest bWAR among position players. And he did it with professionalism and joy that fellow Mets fans could be proud of.

He excelled through the minor-league system after being drafted in 2001. For more than 40 seasons, the Mets pretty much had a revolving door at the third base position. July 21, 2004 ended that. It wouldn’t be long before his on-field skill and pleasant off-field demeanor were readily present.

Wright didn’t wilt in the New York spotlight. By his second full season, he had fully embraced it. Meanwhile, the Mets were emerging as a National League force.

In 2006, Wright reached his first postseason. The Mets cruised to the division title behind the best in the game at the hot corner. Wright was one of two NL players to bat better than .310 with 25 homers, 116 RBIs, and 40 doubles.

Fast-forward to 2015, and Wright was in the postseason again—his second and final time. In between, there were many successes and setbacks—both for himself and the team he represented.

By historical and logical measures, the Mets had the 2007 NL East title sewn up. But not even a seven-game lead with 17 games remaining was safe. The seams burst over the final three weeks. Wright, however, was not to blame. He had a 1.034 OPS in September with 38 hits and nine doubles. By year’s end, he became the third Met to have a 30-homer, 30-steal season along with a 149 OPS+. It’s a certainty that had New York not relinquished the division to the Phillies, Wright would have been the MVP.

Next year came another late-season demise in spite of Wright’s efforts. During this September, he posted a .993 OPS with a .416 on-base percentage and 21 RBIs. Overall, Wright’s 2008 featured a career-high in homers (33), at least 40 doubles for the fourth straight year, and his 124 RBIs were a single-season team record.

By now, the Mets were now building their roster around Wright. But their new stadium certainly wasn’t. Although he christened Citi Field with the home team’s first home run, long balls were sporadic at best. The dimensions penalized right-handed power hitters, and they especially hurt the team’s biggest name. Wright managed a mere five homers at Citi in 2009 (as opposed to the 21 he hit at Shea in ’08). He had just 10 for the year and struck out an alarming 140 times.

The cavernous Citi Field layout wasn’t the only misfortune. In a year marred by the team’s financial ruin, injury, and underperformances, the typically durable Wright found himself on the disabled list—the result of a rising fastball to the helmet during an at-bat versus San Francisco’s Matt Cain. He was batting .324 at the time. He returned two weeks later with post-concussion symptoms and hit only .239 for the rest of the season.

As the Mets sank deeper into mediocrity, he remained the reliable star fans could cling to. In 2010, despite a higher strikeout rate (24%) and the lowest batting average since his rookie year, he regained his power stroke and hit out 29 while driving in 103 (the fifth time he eclipsed 100 RBIs).

Wright was on a Hall of Fame track as he approached age 30. But 2012 would be the last time he’d play in at least 135 games. From there, we were left to enjoy Wright in small doses. Although he was healthy enough to participate heavily in the All-Star festivities in and around Citi Field in 2013, a right hamstring injury a month later limited him to 58 RBIs. A left rotator cuff contusion early in 2014 cost him a significant portion of his power. He hit only eight home runs.

Dependability had been one of Wright’s signature traits. From 2005 through 2010, he played in 935 of the Mets’ 972 games. Seeing him man third base and bat in the heart of the Mets order had become a summer ritual in Queens. There was little reason to think his May 2011 lower-back stress fracture, which kept him out for two months and derailed any hopes of a productive year, was anything but an aberration. The way he played in 2012, with 21 homers, 93 RBIs, and a .306 average in 156 games quieted any concerns.

Through it all, Wright remained as stand-up a person as ever. He spoke with tact on behalf of the team in good times and in bad. He never threw anyone under the bus even when it would have been very easy to do so. And through this trial by fire, he became the de facto leader in the clubhouse—a role that would only grow in stature.

Following the 2012 season, he agreed to a seven-year contract extension to effectively ensure him “Met-for-life” status. This had been a franchise that shied away from long-term contracts to players in their 30s, but Wright was a special case. He would later be named the fourth captain in team history.

But while he was gaining stature, he was losing opportunities to build a Cooperstown resume. In 2015, while trying to recover from another hamstring issue, he was diagnosed with spinal stenosis. This was considered, at best, career-threatening. But Wright was not about to let a pennant race go by without taking part in it.

When the leader of the Mets rejoined the club in August 2015, he homered into the upper deck in Philadelphia in his first at-bat. In a key September matchup with second-place Washington, Wright scored from first base on a double. Unleashing energy and frustration of the recent past, he demonstratively fist-pumped and let out a primal scream as the Mets were closing in on a division title. In the NL East clincher in Cincinnati, he put the icing on the cake to help finish off a blowout victory. And it was appropriate that in the first World Series contest at Citi Field, Wright delivered a booming home run to left field in the opening inning of Game 3.

The 2015 postseason, however, was his last sustained period of on-field action. He could only get through 37 games of 2016 before his back flared up again. Career mortality wasn’t just nipping at his heels, it had him by the ankles and wouldn’t let go.

Wright was too prideful to go out a broken man. With an opportunity to show his appreciation to New York on the field, he vowed to be in uniform for the last series of the 2018 season. On September 29, his final appearance, an anticipatory Citi Field sellout crowd there to say goodbye. Wright charged onto the diamond alone to his customary spot at third base. After four innings, he departed to a long ovation and tears in many eyes.

The announcement of David Wright’s number retirement and induction into the team Hall of Fame coupled with the acquisition of Juan Soto brings about a certain synergy. Money notwithstanding, the 26-year-old superstar chose the Mets above everyone else. When Wright signed his contract extension in November 2012, under much different circumstances, he did the same albeit under much different circumstances. Regardless of what happened after, it was a rare showing of loyalty even if it wasn’t reciprocated.

Wright’s dedication to the Mets—through the best and worst days—is a big reason why he connected so well with the fans. And that’s what will make July 19 so special.

The post Retiring No. 5 is No Doubt the Wright Choice appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

We begin our 2024 Mets Report Card feature by taking a deep dive into Jeff McNeil’s season…

Jeff McNeil, 2B

Player Data: 32 (04/08/1992), B/T: L/R

Primary Stats: 129 G, 472 PA, 424 AB, .238/.308/.384/.692, 101 H, 12 HR, 44 RBI, 26 2B
Advanced Stats: 97 wRC+, 14.4% K%, 7.4% BB%, .256 BABIP, .289 xwOBA, 1.3 fWAR

2024 Salary: $10.25 million

GRADE: C-

2024 Review

The 2024 season was a mixed bag, to say the least for McNeil. As the Mets struggled to begin the year, so did he, and in a big way. He hit .247/.330/.340/.671 with one home run, six doubles and seven RBIs in the opening month of the season. His batting average went on to regress in May, and he slashed just .194/.215/.258/.474 in the month of June as his play completely fell off a cliff. The veteran’s considerable struggles at the plate, coupled with the emergence of Jose Iglesias at second base, had many questioning McNeil’s future with the team. Granted, there were still some Gold Glove-caliber plays in the field, but on the flip side, the ugly far outweighed the good in the first half of the season.

However, McNeil began to get the train back on the tracks after the All-Star break. He enjoyed his most productive month of the entire season in July, hitting .289/.322/.566/.889 with five homers, eight doubles, four walks and 17 RBIs while the Mets went 17-10 over that stretch. McNeil continued to rake in August as the Mets continued to perform like the best team in baseball over a prolonged period of time. He wasn’t July levels of great, but he was still productive with seven doubles, three home runs, nine walks and seven RBIs. Overall, McNeil hit .289/.376/.547/.923 with 37 hits, 12 doubles, seven home runs, 13 walks, and 20 RBIs during the season half of the year.

Unfortunately, just as McNeil was beginning to really hit his stride and become a meaningful contributor to this team, an injury struck. The second baseman fractured his wrist on a hit-by-pitch on Sept. 6, forcing him to miss the rest of the regular season as a result. McNeil was also out for the National League Wild Card series against the Milwaukee Brewers and the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies. He did return for the NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers and drove in two runs thanks to two sacrifice flys in a crucial Game 5 win. In all, McNeil went 2-for-11 with three RBIs in five postseason games.

Overall, 2024 will not go down as a vintage year for McNeil. He endured the worst stretch of his career before injury really slowed down his resurgence. While there were flashes of the 2022 McNeil down the stretch, he will be 33-years-old for the majority of the 2025 season. As such, there are serious question marks over the level of production New York could get from him next year.

2025 Overview

McNeil is under contract with the Mets through the 2027 season having previously signed a four-year extension. He will earn $15,750,000 in 2025.

With the Mets expected to be major players this coming offseason, it is fair to argue that McNeil’s role on this roster moving forward isn’t exactly set in stone. The front office will have the financial flexibility to address several needs, as well as be able to make a potential run at Juan Soto. Plus, Luisangel Acuña could be shifted over to second base so that he receives the playing time he needs to develop. It could make sense to move forward with a platoon of Acuña and Jose Iglesias at second base. As such, McNeil would then become expendable. Of course, considering he’s owed a good chunk of money over the next three years, McNeil could be hard to move, especially when you consider his struggles over the past couple of years.

It is feasible to suggest that McNeil could be used as part of a trade to acquire more starting pitching. After all, president of baseball operations David Stearns has already made it clear that acquiring another starter will be a priority this winter. There is also a chance the Mets stick with McNeil and hope his play after the All-Star break carries over. But, if his struggles from the first half of 2024 return and persist, then a parting of the ways could become more of a reality.

The post 2024 Mets Report Card: Jeff McNeil, 2B appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

10. 1987

Davey Johnson‘s reward for being in the World Series is representing the NL as manager. He had Gary Carter and Darryl Strawberry in his starting lineup and Keith Hernandez off the bench, but it was Sid Fernandez who closed out the extra-inning victory.

Runs were at a premium thanks mainly to the late-afternoon sun at the Oakland Coliseum. The NL finally broke through in the 13th after Tim Raines‘ triple with “El Sid” preserved in the bullpen. Fernandez walked the leadoff batter but found his location from then on.

9. 1969

If the country wasn’t aware of the rapidly improving New York Mets—in second place at 53-39 and five games behind the Chicago Cubs by the time the All-Star Game arrived—it soon would. Three players who contributed to the turnaround were selected for the 40th midsummer classic at Washington D.C.’s RFK Stadium.

Cleon Jones started in left field for his first All-Star appearance and went 2-for-4, Jerry Koosman pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings, and eventual Cy Young Award winner Tom Seaver was present but was not called on to the mound in what turned out to be a 9-3 NL win.

8. 1964

In its debut season, Shea Stadium had already opened in conjunction with the New York World’s Fair. By July, it had already seen a perfect game (thrown by Philadelphia’s Jim Bunning on June 21), and now it hosted one of the greatest All-Star Games.

Mets fans who had little success to cheer for in the early years latched on to Ron Hunt, a scrappy second baseman elected to start for the National League in his home park. He would go 1-for-3, but more excitement was saved for the finish. Johnny Callison of the Phillies hit a walk-off homer to give the NL a 7-4 win, the last time in the contest’s history to end in such a fashion.

7. 1986

The Mets were the predominant story of ’86, so it was of little surprise that when the All-Star rosters were announced, the Mets had the most participants. At the Astrodome on July 15, the setting for future postseason drama, the Amazin’s had five selectees – Dwight Gooden, Carter, Hernandez, Strawberry, and Fernandez.

The recognition of the Mets’ accomplishments was apparent in the starting lineup. Fans voted in Carter at catcher, Hernandez at first base, and Strawberry in right field. At age 21, Gooden was making his third All-Star appearance in three seasons. He worked a scoreless first and was touched up for two runs in the second. The Hernandez-Carter-Strawberry trio combined to go 1-for-9 with Darryl logging the lone hit against Teddy Higuera in the bottom of the fifth.

6. 1979

The lowly Mets had one participant, but he was very much present even though he didn’t appear until the eighth inning. Nevertheless, Lee Mazzilli‘s cameo at the Kingdome was made worthwhile. Leading off with the NL down 6-5, Mazzilli took a Jim Kern pitch down the left field line that snuck just over the wall. The defensive heroics of MVP Dave Parker kept the score even into the ninth. That’s when the NL, and Mazzilli, took advantage of wild American League pitching.

Joe Morgan drew a one-out walk and moved to second on a balk. Parker was intentionally walked. Ron Cey earned the traditional free pass to load the bases for Maz with two gone. Ron Guidry came in, but his 3-1 pitch drifted outside. Mazzilli had driven in the tying and go-ahead runs. The 7-6 lead was placed into the hands of Bruce Sutter, who closed out the NL’s eighth straight win.

5. 1975

Jon Matlack was often second or third on the hierarchy of Mets pitchers during that era. But not long after Tom Seaver relinquished the lead by giving up a game-tying sixth-inning blast to Carl Yastrzemski, he bailed out this rotation cohort and kept the American League from scoring anymore. Matlack got two strikeouts (mixed in with a caught stealing) in the seventh inning and two more in the eighth.

It was certainly an MVP-caliber performance. Matlack shared the honor on this night at Milwaukee’s County Stadium with Bill Madlock of the Chicago Cubs, who produced the game-winning hit in the top of the eighth and allowed the lefty to get the victory.

4. 2006

Apparently, nobody told him the Home Run Derby was over. David Wright complimented his runner-up finish in the annual long ball contest with a drive off former Met Kenny Rogers, clearing the left-field fence to tie it up at one in the second inning.

Wright was one of six Mets selected to the NL squad in a season when the NL East was already a runaway by the unofficial midway point. Carlos Beltrán doubled in the first inning and later stole third and scored the tie-breaking run. That 2-1 lead held up until Trevor Hoffman let it get away in the ninth inning.

3. 2015
“Hi, I’m Jacob deGrom, and I have the chance with my stuff to just dominate baseball for years to come.”

Never has Joe Buck been so on point with a call. The 27-year-old defending Rookie of the Year wasn’t around long for his All-Star debut. That was of his own doing. DeGrom didn’t just strike out each of the three American League All-Stars he faced in the sixth inning at Cincinnati’s Great American Ballpark. He was nearly immaculate, fanning Stephen Vogt, Jason Kipnis, and finally — OMG! — Jose Iglesias on a mere 10 pitches.

2. 2013

The Mets’ past, present, and future was on display as Citi Field hosted the game for the first time. David Wright was the unofficial ambassador, starting at third base and batting fourth. He caught the ceremonial first pitch from Tom Seaver, who not surprisingly has the most All-Star appearances of any Met.

The actual first pitch also came from a Met. Matt Harvey was the headliner, earning the nod in his first full big-league season. For those in the national audience still unaware of “The Dark Knight,” they got glimpses over 32 pitches. Harvey brushed off early jitters to toss two scoreless innings before the announced crowd of 45,186—the largest in the brief history of Mets’ new stadium. As for Wright, he singled in the seventh, the last of his three at-bats in the game and, as it turned out, his seventh and final All-Star appearance.

1. 1984

For All-Star K’s, no one did it better—in quantity and quality—than Carl Hubbell back in 1934. After Fernando Valenzuela struck out the side in the fourth inning at Candlestick Park, it was time for Dwight Gooden (and history) to make an appearance as one former sensation passed the baton to the current one.

The 19-year-old was the youngest All-Star in history and, in the fifth inning, did what had been doing to hitters thus far in his Rookie of the Year campaign, Gooden overpowered a succession of American League sluggers: Lance Parrish of Detroit, fellow Tiger Chet Lemon, and the Mariners’ Alvin Davis.

Gooden tossed another scoreless frame with future teammate Gary Carter behind the plate.

The post 10 Amazin’ All-Star Game Moments appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

David Wright was destined to be a New York Met. It’s not often we talk about good fortune and this franchise over the last 35 years, but him on this team made sense. He rooted for the Mets growing up in the Tidewater area of Virginia, close to the team’s Triple-A affiliate. He was 2001 first-round draft pick, made his way up the minor leagues, and eventually reached the show some three years later.

The hustle and enthusiasm with which he ran out on to the field for his debut on July 21, 2004 at Shea Stadium was the same as it was on September 28, 2018 for his goodbye at Citi Field. In between were successes we could’ve seen coming and setbacks that nobody could foresee.

Wright never gave the organization any reason to doubt he was a superstar-in-waiting once he began. The necessary tools—in play and in presentation—to become the third baseman and team leader the franchise had wanted were readily present.

Through the 2013 season, Wright had 222 homers, 1,558 hits (the most in Mets history), 183 steals, and a .301/.382/.506/.888 slash line. His OPS+ was 137 and his bWAR was at 46.5. His 162-game averages were 184 hits, 41 doubles, 26 homers, 103 RBI, 101 runs, 22 steals and 5.1 WAR. In other words, a Hall of Fame pace.

He ended up a career .296/.376/.491 hitter, which was good for a 133 OPS+. He collected 1,777 hits, 390 doubles, 26 triples, 242 home runs, 970 RBI, 949 runs and 196 stolen bases.

Beyond the standing ovations, the tears, the thank yous, and the recounting of great performances and records that occurred when he said goodbye on the next-to-last day of the 2018 regular season, a bittersweet feeling lingered. Wright holds nearly every meaningful Mets hitting record. He’s the all-time leader in at-bats and has played the second-most games in orange and blue. There’s a strong case for Wright being the greatest position player the team has ever had, with a 50.4 WAR that’s second only to Tom Seaver.

But David Wright got cheated. His body betrayed him. He is one of the great “what ifs.” We often imagine what could have been. Now as he makes his first appearance on the Hall of Fame ballot soon find out what is.

“Never would I have thought that I would have been in this situation,” Wright said to MLB Now on Monday, reflecting back to his youth. “Even having this conversation is almost a ‘pinch me’ moment. Whether it happens or whether it doesn’t, I really appreciate the consideration.”

“I reached that goal of not having any regrets and leaving it all out on the field.”

The Case For

The Case Against

As Jayson Stark pointed out in a recent Athletic article, his case is similar to that of Kirby Puckett, who had to retire prematurely because of sight issues and made the Hall of Fame on his first try in 2001. But where the Twins outfielder differs, among several areas, from the Mets third baseman is in games played and postseason success.

Puckett won two rings and delivered a World Series Game 6 walk-off homer in 1991. Wright has two postseason trips and including the 2015 World Series and slashed .198/.311/.319 in 24 postseason games—his memorable Game 3 homer notwithstanding.

This was yet another occurrence that was mostly caused by circumstances out of his control.

Final Thoughts

The post Hall of Fame Case: David Wright appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

If you’re a 5-foot-10 left-hander, throwing 100 miles per hour in the 1990s doesn’t compute—more so if you figured out how to throw lefty after breaking your dominant right arm as a child. Billy Wagner and his relatively small frame defied baseball logic. By reaching triple digits on the radar gun with regularity, he was among the best hard-throwing relievers of his time.

Wagner wasn’t merely a flamethrower, he was very effective too. He accumulated 422 saves in his 16-year career, good for sixth all-time. He totaled 1,196 strikeouts and had a 2.31 ERA. He was named an All-Star seven times and reached the postseason seven times.

Wagner locked down games for the Astros, Phillies, Red Sox, and Braves. With Houston, he fanned more than 12 per nine innings. Over two years with Philly, his WHIP was barely over 0.800. But after burning bridges in the city of Brotherly Love, Wagner joined its closest rival and bolstered the Mets’ chances of taking supremacy in the NL East.

Over three-plus seasons in New York, Wagner was an All-Star twice, registered 101 saves, fanned 230 batters, and had a 2.37 ERA with a 1.054 WHIP. His initial year was one of the best of his career, ultimately finishing with 40 saves and a 2.24 ERA for the NL East champs and even garnering Cy Young Award votes.

His next two seasons each started out well but ended in disappointment—first in ’07 when he struggled down the stretch and then in ’08 when he suffered an injury that took him out of action for much of ’09. He returned for just a few appearances as a Met that August before joining the Red Sox. It seemed as if his career was on the verge of petering out, but instead, he rebounded with a solid 2010 performance in Atlanta, posting a 1.43 ERA and 37 saves for the Braves.

Even after being an elite performer in his specialty for more than a decade, Wagner is still waiting to make the Hall. This is not uncommon for relievers. It happened prior to the eventual elections of Bruce Sutter, Goose Gossage, and Lee Smith. And now it’s happening to Wagner. There’s strong evidence to believe he’ll break through in one of his final two tries on the writer’s ballot. Wagner has picked up support in recent years, with the latest bringing him up to 68.1 percent.

The Case For

The Case Against

Final Thoughts

The post Hall of Fame Case: Billy Wagner appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Francisco Rodríguez did not enter the major leagues discretely. There he was at the end of the 2002 season as the Anaheim Angels were making a run at their first title. He made his big league debut in September 2002, at 20 years old.

Over 10 days, he made five regular-season appearances. Rodríguez faced 21 batters and struck out 13. He stayed unfazed during the postseason, fanning 28 of the 70 batters he faced—including three in the eighth inning of Game 7 as the Angels won the World Series. He had earned the nickname that would be tied to him for the rest of his career and beyond.

He had a lot to live up to after but did a terrific job at being a top-flight reliever. From 2004-2008, Rodríguez led the AL in saves three times, capped off by a record-setting 62. During that span, he posted a 2.23 ERA and 200 ERA+, was among the top four in Cy Young Award voting three times and made three All-Star appearances. The Angels were a perennial playoff team with Rodríguez anchoring the bullpen.

The consistently outstanding numbers K-Rod put up made him a valuable asset once he became a free agent. The Mets’ generosity was to Rodríguez’s great benefit, as they signed him to a three-year, $37 million deal.

He did not last the duration. Rodríguez made 165 appearances, saving 83 games to a 3.05 ERA and a 129 ERA+, and was traded to Milwaukee in the middle of the 2011 season (for his first stint with the Brewers).

Looking back, Rodríguez did not live up to the contract. And what occurred away from the mound was more disturbing. In August 2010, he was arrested for assaulting the father of his then-girlfriend in an incident in which he repeatedly punched the man and tore ligaments in his right thumb.

Later, after leaving New York, there were more off-the-field issues. He was arrested again in September 2012—this time for domestic violence and battery against his fiancé.

Rodriguez spent his final seven seasons with four teams at various spots in the bullpen hierarchy. He retired in 2017, but not before earning two more All-Star bids during a second stint with Milwaukee that included 126 saves in a three-year period.

Although he didn’t come close to election on his first try at the Hall of Fame, his 42 votes give him a chance to stay on the ballot. But does Rodríguez deserve to stay and, more so, deserve added consideration?

The Case For

Rodríguez’s 437 saves are the fourth-most all-time (a save was not an official stat until 1969). That’s behind three Hall of Famers: Mariano Rivera (652), Trevor Hoffman (601) and Lee Smith (478). Rodríguez is one of eight pitchers to post at least seven seasons with a sub-3.00 ERA and at least 60 games pitched. He has had a sub-3.00 ERA plus 40 or more saves in a season four times. Only three other pitchers have done that: Rivera (nine), Hoffman (eight), and Craig Kimbrel (five).

JAWS, an advanced metric for measuring a player’s Hall of Fame worthiness, accounts for career and peak performance. Rodríguez ranks 12th among relief pitchers. The top five are all in the Hall of Fame: Rivera, Hoffman, Dennis Eckersley, Hoyt Wilhelm, and Goose Gossage. Rodríguez ranks ahead of the other three inducted relievers: Smith (13th), Rollie Fingers (19th), and Bruce Sutter (23rd).

Compared to the eight in Cooperstown, Rodriguez has the second-best ERA+ at 148. Of note, Billy Wagner has a better number than K-Rod.

The Case Against

Among all others is the lack of relievers in the Hall of Fame. Wagner is waiting for his chance to reach the 75% mark and is someone many feel should’ve already been in. Other bullpen aces like John Franco and Jeff Reardon haven’t come close.

The trajectory for Wagner’s balloting offers hope for modern-day closers in the coming years. But in 2023, Rodríguez barely eclipsed the five-percent barrier needed to be on this ballot, and early indications are that it’s not a guarantee he will continue. Plus, he compares poorly against Wagner’s career statistics.

A better comparison is Joe Nathan, a one-and-done on the ballot. Nathan became a closer in 2003, the season after K-Rod started. They retired one year apart. Rodríguez pitched more innings, had more strikeouts, and had more saves. Nathan’s JAWS is higher, thanks mainly to a higher WAR.

While Rodríguez was elite—at times historic—for over six seasons, the longevity factor is lacking when compared to other Hall of Famers. And on top of that, the black marks on his character have certainly pushed away many voters.

Final Thoughts

The post Hall of Fame Case: Francisco Rodríguez appeared first on Metsmerized Online.