The 2022 Mets was piloted by MMO editor and writer James Villani. The 1988 Mets was ran by MMO writer Dilip Sridhar.

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Game 1

The first game of the championship series was tightly contested. It was a pitcher’s duel between 2022 Mets starter Max Scherzer and the 1988 team’s David Cone. When it was all said and done, it was the 1988 Mets who were able to hold onto a 3-2 lead and a Game 1 victory.

Kevin McReynolds had the big blow, and what ended up being the game-winning, two-run home run in the sixth inning.

Game 2

In another low scoring game, the 1988 team’s starting pitching once again shined. Dwight Gooden went 7 2/3 innings striking out seven and only allowed one run. Offensively, it was once again McReynolds for the 1988 team, who slugged two more home runs en route to the 4-1 Game 2 victory. All of the runs the 1988 Mets scored were via the long ball.

Game 3

The great pitching by the 1988 team continued in Game 3 as they shutout the 2022 Mets, 8-0. Bob Ojeda posted a complete game, allowing only four hits to go along with seven strikeouts. It took him 105 pitches to get it done.

Offensively, the 1988 team was led by a huge six-run fifth inning. Chris Bassitt and Seth Lugo combined to allow all six of those runs. Offensively, McReynolds once again had a huge game posting three RBIs while Gary Carter had three as well.

Game 4

The 1988 team finished off the sweep in Game 4 defeating the 2022 team in a tightly-contested 4-3 game. It took 11 innings, but a Wally Backman ground out was the deciding run as Randy Myers shut the door in the bottom half of the 11th inning at Citi Field.

The 1988 team only needed three pitchers, with Ron Darling doing terrific work over 2 2/3 innings after Sid Fernandez started the game and went 6 1/3 innings. It was a much different story as the 2022 team had to rely on a bullpen game of sorts, as Carlos Carrasco started the game and five relievers followed.

MVP

It was an easy decision as Keith McReynolds was named the most valuable player of the championship series. He hit a series-high four home runs and posted a 1.000 slugging percentage. He was the main driver of a 1988 Mets offense that did just enough to capture the 16-team tournament crown.

Thanks for following along!

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The 2022 Mets, who have now defeated 1999 Mets, 1986 Mets, and most recently, the aforementioned 1998 Mets in the tournament, is piloted by MMO editor and writer James Villani. The 1998 Mets, who fell in seven games, was ran by MMO editor and writer Mojo Hill.

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Game 1

In Game 1, the 2022 Mets won in an onslaught started early by a six-run first inning. The 1998 Mets’ starter, Al Leiter, was shelled, allowing six hits, but only two of the six runs were earned, in the first frame. Max Scherzer got the start for the 2022 Mets and went six innings, allowing only two runs. Offensively, Brandon Nimmo and Mark Canha both had three RBIs for the 2022 Mets, in addition to a long ball each.

The final score in the game was 11-4. After jumping out to a 7-0 lead, the 1998 Mets were able to close in, 8-4. But that was the closest they were able to get as the 2022 Mets jumped out to a 1-0 series lead.

Game 2

Game 2 was a pitcher’s duel, as Rick Reed for the 1998 team threw a gem. He only allowed one run across 8 1/3 innings of work. Despite this, it was the 2022 Mets that struck first via a Daniel Vogelbach home run. However, when Edwin Díaz was called upon in 1-0 game for a six-out save, he folded, allowing RBI hits to Brian McRae and Mike Piazza in the eighth inning. In the end, a seven-scoreless inning Jacob deGrom performance was wasted and the 1998 Mets got the Game 2 win, 3-1.

Game 3

The 2022 Mets responded in Game 3 thanks to a huge eighth inning. Entering the eighth frame tied at two, the 2022 Mets reeled off five eighth-inning runs. The explosion was thanks to a Tyler Naquin two-run triple and a Daniel Vogelbach bases-clearing double. Reliever Greg McMichael was shelled, allowing all five of those runs, and despite the 1998 Mets threatening in the ninth inning, Edwin Díaz rebounded and helped the 2022 team to a 7-4 Game 3 victory.

Game 4

In another pitcher’s duel, similar to Game 2, it was the 1998 team who once again was able to tie the series. After Taijuan Walker and Masato Yoshii both only gave up two runs, the deciding tally came in the seventh innings against 2022 Mets reliever Drew Smith. Specifically, it was Edgardo Alfonzo who hit a solo home run in the seventh while Willie Blair and John Franco got the hold and save to end the game propelling the 1998 team to the 3-2 Game 4 victory.

Game 5

Max Scherzer was once again huge for the 2022 Mets, pitching six innings of one-run ball. He gave way to a bullpen combination of Carlos Carrasco, Drew Smith, and Edwin Díaz who all posted scoreless appearances. Offensively, it was Starling Marte (two-run double) and Eduardo Escobar (solo home run) who led the 2022 team to a 3-1 victory.

Game 6

The 1998 Mets needed a victory to force a Game 7, and got exactly that. The 2022 team was forced to use seven pitchers, and the 1998 team was able to take advantage and scatter 15 hits. A two-run fifth was the difference, and the 1998 Mets held on, 4-2, to force a decisive Game 7.

Game 7

Entering the seventh inning, the 1998 Mets held a 3-0 lead and were poised to advance to the Mets Mandess title game. However, the 2022 Mets once again got to reliever Greg McMichael as he allowed five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning propelling the 2022 Mets to a 5-3 victory.

In that seventh inning, Pete Alonso had a huge two-run single, while Francisco Lindor and Daniel Vogelbach also had run-scoring hits. Joely Rodríguez was credited with the win, while Adam Ottavino and Edwin Diaz combined to close things down in the eighth and ninth innings.

Series MVP

It was an unlikely MVP for the Mets, as Eduardo Escobar, who got 26 at-bats in the series, led New York hitters in home runs, average (.385), and OPS (1.121). There were not any specific big-time moments for Escobar, but he was just extremely consistent the whole seven games.

What’s Next

The 2022 Mets are slated to face the 1988 Mets in the Mets Madness title game. That contest will mark the end of the 16-team Mets Madness bracket that MMO and Out of the Park Baseball partnered to run.

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The 1988 Mets outlasted (led by Dilip Sridhar) the 2006 Mets (led by Patrick Glynn) in six games.

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Game 1 

It was David Cone for the 1988 Mets and Pedro Martinez for the 2006 team. Cone was not as dominant as he was in the last series for the ‘88 club, but he gave his team a chance. The ‘88 team grabbed an early 1-0 lead, but David Wright hit a two-run homer off Cone to give the ‘06 team a lead they would not relinquish. Darry Strawberry hit a homer in the ninth off Billy Wagner to make Patrick stress a little, but the ‘06 team drew first blood. 

Game 2 

Dwight Gooden took the ball for the 1988 team and John Maine got the start for the ‘06 team. Gooden had a pretty smooth outing, while Maine and the bullpen faltered. The ‘88 team ended up taking the second game, 6-2. 

Game 3 

Orlando Hernandez started for the 2006 team against Bob Ojeda. Ojeda was sensational, with 6.1 scoreless innings pitched and 11 strikeouts. Hernandez gave up a three-run homer to Darryl Strawberry, and that was all Ojeda needed. Strawberry added another homer later in the game.

Game 4 

Tom Glavine got the start against Sid Fernandez. Glavine’s lone mistake was a home run to Keith Hernandez but otherwise threw a complete game. David Wright homered for the ‘06 team again. Cliff Floyd also provided an RBI double in a 5-1 win. 

Game 5 

Keith Hernandez hit a huge three-run homer off Pedro to give the ‘88 team an early 3-0 lead. Gary Carter and Howard Johnson added two-run doubles as well. David Cone pitched into the 8th inning without giving up a run but after walks to Beltran and Wright, Randy Myers was called on to face Carlos Delgado with the bases loaded. Delgado hit a grand slam off Myers to pull the ‘06 team within one. Myers managed to escape with the lead but it was suddenly nervous in the ‘88 dugout. They managed to add two insurance runs to make it a more breathable, 7-4 game.

Ron Darling got the ninth and loaded the bases himself. It was his game to finish, though, and despite walking Beltran with the bases loaded, he managed to strike out David Wright for the save. 

Game 6

It was Maine vs Gooden again. Carlos Beltran homered for the ‘06 team to give them an early lead, but some timely hits from Keith Hernandez and Darryl Strawberry gave the ‘88 team a lead they would not relinquish. Gooden went six strong before Roger McDowell was called on. He gave up a run but kept the lead. Myers got the eighth inning after him and was allowed to start the ninth. Darling was up in the bullpen if needed but Myers got the final three outs to end the series. 

Series MVP

I could go with Doc or Darryl, but I would lean toward Darryl since he was clearly the best hitter for the ‘88 team. Strawberry had four home runs and 10 RBIs in the series. 

While Doc was great on the mound, the team also got great performances from Cone and Ojeda.

What’s Next

The 1988 Mets will await the winner of the 2022 Mets against the 1998 Mets for the big trophy.

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Mets Madness Bracket.

2022 Mets

One of the middle seeds of the 16-team tournament is enduring an improbable run. In Round 1, the 2022 team got by the middle-seeded 1999 team in six games. Led by MVP Jeff McNeil, the most recent team in this tournament, was able to punch their ticket to the second round. To read an in-depth recap of how the Round 1 matchup went, click here. As for Round 2, the 2022 team knocked off the mighty 1986 championship Mets team also in six games. This time, led by MVP Pete Alonso. To read an in-depth recap of how the Round 1 matchup went, click here.

Of course, in reality, it was a disappointing ending to one of the most successful regular seasons in franchise history in 2022. 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.

In this tournament, the team has been led by some huge offensive performances as well as starling starting pitching by a trio of Max Scherzer, Jacob deGrom, and Chris Bassitt. The weakest point of the, the bullpen, has been led heavily by Edwin Diaz, Seth Lugo, and Adam Ottavino.

1998 Mets

Meanwhile, the 1998 team, first defeated the 2015 team in a slugfest seven-game series. To read an in-depth recap of how the Round 1 matchup went, click here. Then, in Round 2, the team relied on stout pitching to get past the 1973 team in six games. To read an in-depth recap of how the Round 2 matchup went, click here.

In reality, the 1998 team was a top-heavy squad that ultimately didn’t have quite enough to make a run. The Mets collapsed at the end of the season and placed second in the NL East, one game short of making the playoffs. Their final record was 88-84.

However, so far in this tournament, the team has been led by a pair of pitching and offensive duos. Specially, those are Al Leiter and Masato Yoshii in the starting rotation, and, offensively, it has been all about Mike Piazza and Edgardo Alfonzo.

Let us know your predicts below!

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Mojo Hill is the leader of the ’98 squad, while Tim Shanahan had control of ’73.

Game 1

The first game set the tone for the series, with the ’98 Mets edging out the ’73 Mets 1-0. There were just seven hits total between the two teams. Al Leiter, whose heroics helped 1998 get to this round in the first place, pitched eight scoreless innings with only two hits allowed. He struck out seven and walked two.

“Teams don’t get here by being incompetent, so I really wasn’t expecting this,” the fictional version of Leiter said. “I just kept throwing and they kept missing.”

John Franco got the save, while the only run came on a seventh-inning homer by Alfonzo.

Game 2

The ’98 Mets took a 2-0 series lead with this next win, a 7-2 defeat of 1973. The ’73 squad scored first with two runs in the second inning, but ’98 tallied one in each of the third and fifth innings, then blew it open with a five-run seventh.

Mike Piazza, the first-round MVP, went 4-for-4 with a home run, two doubles, a walk and two RBIs. Willie Blair started on the mound as an opener and allowed two runs while recording three outs, but Rick Reed stepped up in a big way. He went the next 5 2/3 innings in relief without allowing a run, striking out six in the process. Dennis Cook threw the final 2 1/3 innings as the Mets cruised to the finish line.

Game 3

The 1973 team got on the board in the series by no-hitting the ’98 squad. That’s right: the losing team in the series had a no-hitter.

Jon Matlack threw nine brilliant innings with 12 strikeouts. The only baserunner he allowed was a walk to Alfonzo. Despite an utterly dominant performance, Matlack was humble in his postgame quote and credited the team effort.

Bobby Jones had a decent showing in his right for 1998, limiting the Mets to three runs in seven innings. But Greg McMichael gave up three runs while getting just one out as part of a five-run eighth inning. It was a 6-0 win for 1973, cutting 1998’s series lead to 2-1.

Game 4

A no-hitter still only counts for one win, though, and the 1998 Mets got back on track in Game 4. Alfonzo went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, while Carlos Baerga and John Olerud each hit a home run to help ’98 to a 4-1 win.

Armando Reynoso allowed one run in 5 1/3 innings, and the bullpen took it the rest of the way with Franco picking up his second save.

The 1998 team took a 3-1 series lead, rising to the cusp of victory.

Game 5

Not so fast.

The ’73 team put the ’98 squad’s celebration on hold behind a dominant effort from Tom Seaver. He nearly replicated Matlack’s no-hitter, as he struck out 12, didn’t walk anybody, and allowed one measly hit in a complete game shutout. It’s not often that a team has two of the most dominant starting pitching performances in postseason history yet loses the series.

The Mets won this one 3-0, with its runs coming on a Willie Mays double and RBIs from Wayne Garrett, Jerry Grote and Bud Harrelson. Leiter, after his fantastic Game 1 performance, was merely okay, allowing two runs in five innings for 1998.

The ’73 team was trying to crawl back into it, down 3-2 in the series.

Game 6

But at last, victory reigned for the 1998 club.

In fitting fashion, the series ended the same way it started, with a 1-0 game. Alfonzo had the lone RBI, going 2-for-3 with a double. Reed had another complete game shutout, throwing 112 pitches and allowing four hits. He outdueled Jerry Koosman, who had a strong performance in his own right with seven innings of one-run ball.

MVP

Alfonzo was the clear MVP for ’98, as really the only consistent offensive contributor throughout the series. His final slash line was .389/.476/.722. Nobody else on the team hit above .250. Alfonzo, Piazza, Baerga and Olerud each hit exactly one home run — the only four homers for ’98 in the series.

Reed and Leiter deserve shoutouts on the pitching side; Reed didn’t allow a run in 14 2/3 innings of work, while Leiter only allowed two in 13 innings. The whole pitching staff deserves a nod, for that matter, for only allowing 12 runs in six games. But in a series with pitching highlights on both sides, Alfonzo’s productive performance gave 1998 the edge.

What’s Next

The 1998 Mets have made the Final Four! They will take on the winner of the 2022 Mets vs. the 1986 Mets matchup.

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Patrick Glynn continues his regime as manager of the 2006 squad, while Allison Waxman manages the 2019 team.

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2006 Mets

The 2006 Mets made easy work of the 1985 Mets in five games (4-1). Now, their offensive prowess will take on Jacob deGrom and the long-shot 2019 Mets. (I don’t think Allison would disagree with that description!)

On paper, the ’06 Mets are better than the ’19 squad in just about every area except for their ace. A 34-year-old Pedro Martinez isn’t out-dueling a Cy Young-winning deGrom. But as long as the bats—led by Carlos Beltrán, David Wright, and Carlos Delgado—do what they need to, the ’06 team should advance to the semifinals.

2019 Mets

These Mets pulled off the upset of the first round when they beat the 2000 squad in a thrilling seven-game matchup. Led by Series MVP J.D. Davis, who hit .357 (10-for-28) and came up with the series-sealing RBI double in game seven. Starting pitchers Jacob deGrom and Marcus Stroman were lights out, and the entire starting rotation gave up nine runs in seven games.

While the bullpen came through in big spots, big bats like Pete Alonso and Wilson Ramos failed to capitalize on big opportunities. The two combined for only two home runs and must do more to compete with the big bats of the 2006 squad.

The key to a 2019 Mets victory over the 2006 squad lies with their rotation and bullpen. If they can limit the damage on the bases and the bats can produce in key situations, the team can pull off another upset.

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1973 Mets

The “Ya Gotta Believe” Mets advanced to the second round by way of a decisive four-game sweep of the 2007 Mets. While the series featured the expected strong pitching from the likes of Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman and George Stone, it was a surprising offensive outburst that propelled the 1973 team to its sweep. Felix Millan took home MVP honors in the first round while hitting .353 (6-for-17) with two home runs and five RBI. Rusty Staub contributed six RBI, and John Milner hit two home runs.

Unlike the 2007 team they faced in the first round, the 1998 Mets share the same strength in pitching that the 1973 squad does. In a series that may very well yield pitching duels, it’ll be up to the rotation of Seaver, Koosman, Jon Matlack, and Stone to deliver.

1998 Mets

The Mets beat the 2015 pennant winners in a thrilling seven-game series, one in which they overcame a 3-1 deficit. Now, the top-heavy squad led by Al Leiter, Mike Piazza and John Olerud will face the 1973 Mets.

A big test for this team will be to see if its depth can hold up. Pitching performances late in the previous series by Masato Yoshii and Rick Reed helped the Mets squeeze out the victory, but the lineup got thin quickly after Piazza, Olerud and Edgardo Alfonzo. The bottom of the order will have to step up, especially against a tough ’73 pitching staff.

Bobby Jones and Armando Reynoso struggled on the mound in the first series, so New York will need them to be more reliable. The bullpen has a strong 1-2 punch of John Franco and Turk Wendell, but again, not much depth beyond that.

In real life, the Mets collapsed at the end of the season. In the fictional world, history doesn’t necessarily have to repeat itself if they can stay hot just long enough to beat all the other Mets teams. But it’s likely not going to be in overpowering fashion; this team must figure out a way to grind out wins.

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Mets Madness Bracket.

2022 Mets

The ninth seed in the 16-team tournament got by the eighth-seeded 1999 team in six games. Led by MVP Jeff McNeil, the most recent team in this tournament, punched their ticket to the second round. To read an in-depth recap of how the Round 1 matchup went, click here.

Of course, in reality, it was a disappointing ending to one of the most successful regular seasons in franchise history in 2022. 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). The offense was the main reason the 2022 Mets were able to get past the 1999 Mets in their aforementioned Round 1 matchup.

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.

1986 Mets

Meanwhile, the 1986 Mets, No. 1 seeded team in the tournament, rolled by the 1976 Mets in only five games. Outside of a Game 2 blemish, the 1986 team rolled into the second round of the tournament. To read a full in-depth recap, click here.

It is no secret, the 1986 Mets was arguably the best Mets’ team of all time. Not only that, there is a strong argument that they were one of the best World Series-winning teams ever. New York finished that season with the highest-team OPS+ in the National League (106), led by veterans Gary Carter (115 OPS+) and Keith Hernandez (140 OPS+), and rounded out by the youthful Darryl Strawberry (139 OPS+), Lenny Dykstra (129 OPS+), and Kevin Mitchell (124 OPS+).

Behind their great offense was the best rotation in baseball that year. The Mets finished with the best ERA and ERA+ in the majors, with Dwight Gooden (2.84), Ron Darling (2.81), and Bob Ojeda (2.57) all finishing with ERAs under 3. Their bullpen was also a plus in 1986, led by Roger McDowell (3.02) and Jesse Orosco (2.33), who split the closer role that season and both finished with 20-plus saves.

Seeded No. 1 for a reason, the 1986 Mets project to continue to be a force in this tournament.

Let us know your predicts below!

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Six different players homered for the 1988 squad, with Keith Hernandez, Mookie Wilson, and Kevin McReynolds all hitting two a piece. Lefty Bob Ojeda pitched 17 2/3 innings, posting a 2.55 ERA and racking up 18 strikeouts compared to only two walks for the 1988 team.

Game 1

The 1988 team led most of the way thanks to an early home run by Kevin McReynolds off Noah Syndergaard. Syndergaard lasted only 1 2/3 innings and allowed four runs. Bobby Ojeda went 8 2/3 innings, running into a little ninth inning trouble as Jay Bruce hit a two-run homer to make it 6-4 with two outs. Yoenis Céspedes came up in the bottom of the ninth with the score 6-4 and the bases loaded, but manager Mets Daddy turned to Randy Myers to get the final out, defeating manager Mike Mayer and the 2016 Mets, 6-4 in Game 1.

Keith Hernandez chipped in three hits and two RBIs for the 1988 team, the start of a very good series for the first baseman.

Game 2

Down 1-0 in the series, the 2016 Mets turned to Jacob deGrom, and things did not go well. The right-hander gave up five runs in 4 2/3 innings, including home runs to Darryl Strawberry and McReynolds. Mookie Wilson and Howard Johnson homered later in the game off Erik Goeddel in the 11-4 win for the 1988 team.

David Cone struck out 10 in 7 2/3 innings, though he did allow four runs.

Céspedes was the lone bright spot for the 2016 Mets, with three hits, including a home run.

Game 3

Game 3 was more of the same for both teams, with the 1988 team winning 13-2 to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the series. Tim Teufel and Keith Hernandez homered, with Keith picking up four hits in the game. Straw had a monster game as well, with four hits, four runs, a walk, and a stolen base.

On the pitching side, it was all about Doc Gooden. The right-hander struck out seven in eight scoreless innings. The starter for the 2016 team struggled yet again; Steven Matz allowed six runs in 3 1/3 innings.

Wilmer Flores knocked in both runs for the 2016 Mets with his first home run of the series.

Game 4

Too little, too late? Well, at least the 2016 squad showed up for one game, thanks in large part to the Dark Knight. Matt Harvey gave up only one run on two hits in six innings of work. The 2016 Mets took an early lead on a Neil Walker solo homer, and Céspedes stretched the lead to 4-1 with a bases-clearing double.

Sid Fernandez kept the 1988 team in the game with eight solid innings.

The 1988 Mets wouldn’t go away quietly, though, as Mookie Wilson hit a two-run home run to make it a 4-3 game with no outs in the ninth. Enter Addison Reed. The right-hander retired the next three batters, including two strikeouts, to end the game and give the 2016 Mets some hope.

Game 5

Game 5 was the story of Keith Hernandez and Bobby Ojeda. Hernandez gave the 1988 Mets an early 2-0 lead with a two-run homer in the second inning. Céspedes would hit a solo homer in the fourth before the bats went quiet for both teams.

The 2016 team got a solid start from Thor (5 IP, 2 ER) and three scoreless innings from Bartolo Colón, but the offense couldn’t solve Ojeda. The lefty pitched a complete game on 114 pitches with nine strikeouts as the 1988 Mets won 2-1 to clinch the series.

Flores has three hits on the losing side, and Straw chipped in two for the winners.

MVP

OOTP had a tough choice here between Ojeda and Hernandez, but they ultimately went with the sweet mustache of the lefty-hitting first baseman. Hernandez hit .450/.467/.850 with two home runs and five RBIs in the series. Catcher Mackey Sasser went 7-for-15 with six RBIs in the series as an unsung hero.

Ojeda finished with a 2.55 ERA over 17 2/3 innings in his two starts, including a complete game in the clincher.

On the losing side, Céspedes was impressive with a .409/.409/.818 slash line and three home runs for the 2016 team. Travis d’Arnaud and Wilmer Flores were tied for second on the team with seven hits a piece in the series. Big Sexy tossed five innings of scoreless ball out of the pen and might have made manager Mike Mayer second-guess not getting the right-hander a start.

On Deck 

The 1988 Mets team will move on to face the World Champion 1969 Mets in a battle of two teams that won exactly 100 regular season games. Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, and Gary Gentry will look to cool down the bats of Keith Hernandez, Darryl Strawberry, and Howard Johnson. The 1988 rotation of Doc Gooden, Bobby Ojeda, Sid Fernandez, and David Cone is pretty good in its own right.

Other Mets Madness series recaps:

• 2019 Mets beat 2000 Mets
• 1998 Mets take the 2015 Mets seven games
• 1973 Mets sweep the 2007 Mets
• 2006 Mets dominated 1985 Mets
• 1969 Mets win in 7 games
• 2022 Mets win a series

We have just one more recap of round 1 coming your way, and then we kick off the top 8 battle.

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Early on, the 1997 Manager, MMO writer Jorge Eckert expressed concern with his rotation…grimacing at the matchups

Game 1- Tom Seaver vs. Rick Reed

Game  2- Gary Gentry vs. Bobby Jones

Game 3- Jerry Koosman vs. Dave Mlicki

Game 4- Nolan Ryan vs. Armando Reynoso

The ’69 Manager, Mike Lloyd, a long-time MMO commenter, set his rotation with confidence. Surprisingly, manager Eckert’s concerns were largely unfounded- and the 1997 Mets proved to be more than they showed historically in the series.

Game 1

After an early flourish against Tom Seaver, and an early 4-0 lead, capped by a mammoth bases-clearing double from ’97 slugger Butch Huskey. The ’97 Mets seemed to have Seaver on the brink; Tom Terrific settled down. Rod Gaspar, playing hero with a three-run blast to tie it at 4-4.

The ’69 Mets turned to small ball to combat the power of the vaunted ’97 Mets offense, using sacrifices to get runners in scoring position, good situational hitting, and a suicide squeeze to build a lead and come away with a hard-fought 9-7 victory vs. The ’97 Mets.

McAndrew, Ron Taylor, and Tug McGraw, in relief of Seaver, provided just enough…McAndrew the winner. ’69 Mets lead ’97 Mets 1-0.

Game 2

Game 3 

Series MVP

Outfielder Cleon Jones was the only player in the series with double-figure hits, and he had a whopping 12. Jones is no stranger to success in big series, and he had a .800 OPS during postseason play in his career.

On the losing side, Hundley had a huge series for the 1997 Mets, including four home runs and eight RBIs.

On Deck

The 1969 Mets will now take on the 1988 Mets in the second round of our Mets Madness tournament.

Other Mets Madness series recaps:

• 2019 Mets beat 2000 Mets
• 1998 Mets take the 2015 Mets seven games
• 1973 Mets sweep the 2007 Mets
• 2006 Mets dominated 1985 Mets

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