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Managerial Maneuverings Minutiae

For those curious regarding Monday's managerial maneuverings, it's as easy as 1-2-3 to tie them in to Mets walk-offs...

The Mets only had one walk-off win against Dodgers manager Jim Tracy (the team and former skipper mutually parted ways on Monday). It was a 6-5 triumph on May 20, 2001, decided on a hit by Tsuyoshi Shinjo.

The Mets had two walk-off wins against Tigers teams managed by Alan Trammell (fired on Monday). Mike Cameron did the honors on both days, with a game-winning homer and a game-winning single on June 18 and 19, 2004.

The Mets had three walk-off wins against Marlins skipper Jack McKeon (announced his retirement on Sunday), all coming, as previously mentioned, during the 2005 season.

Also noteworthy on Trammell from a walk-off perspective, tying things back to the Mets: On October 3, 1987 (18 years prior to his firing), he had a walk-off single (one that should have been ruled an error on shortstop Manny Lee) in the 12th inning of a 3-2 Tigers win against the Blue Jays. Though the hit came against Mark Eichorn, the game's losing pitcher was future Met Jeff MusselmanThe win put the Tigers one game ahead of the Blue Jays with one game remaining. The Tigers won the AL East the next day, 1-0 behind future Mets pitcher Frank Tanana.

Trammell also had the rarest of walk-off moments, an "Ultimate Grand Slam" (defined as coming with the home team trailing by three runs with two outs in the final inning), capping a six-run ninth-inning Tigers comeback in a 7-6 triumph over the Yankees on June 21, 1988. The home run came against Cecilio Guante, depriving former Mets reliever Neil Allen of a victory. The Yankees starting pitcher that day? Future Met Al Leiter, who left due to a blister (which put him on the disabled list; he didn't pitch in the majors again for nearly three months) after 3 1/3 shutout innings.

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