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Minutiae Break: It Takes Two

It was about a year ago at this time that we honored the Mets for reaching the 10,000 double plateau. We have no such milestones approaching for double plays, but since they've been the most important thing to come out of the two victories so far, we thought we'd pay homage.

* With 7 double plays turned in 2 games, the Mets are on pace to turn 567 for the season. That would shatter the club record of 171, previously set in 1966 and 1983. It would also destroy the major-league record of 217, set by the 1949 Philadelphia Athletics.

* The Mets turned 4 DP on Opening Day and 3 in the second game of the season. The record for double plays turned in a game is 5, previously set August 8, 1962 (a 5-2 win vs the Giants), May 24, 1973 against the Dodgers (7-3 19-inning win), June 9, 1983 against the Cubs in Wrigley Field (6-4 11-inning win) and June 5, 1997 at home against the Marlins (a 6-0 regulation victory).

* The information is a little more easily accessible on ground-ball double plays and that's good, since all seven have been of that nature. The 4 GIDP induced on Opening Day marked the first time the Mets had induced 4 or more GIDP in any game since an 11-9 12-inning win against the Giants in San Francisco on August 21, 2004. It was the 22nd time in team history that they've induced 4 or more GIDP in a game. The Mets are 15-7 all-time when they induce 4 GIDP or more in a game.

* The Mets have only had one walk-off win in a game in which they induced 4 GIDP. It was a 3-2 18-inning affair with the Phillies in the first game of a doubleheader, on August 1, 1972.

* Based on a search of the Baseball-Reference.com Play Index, it looks like the all time leader in GIDP for a player against the Mets is Pete Rose with 26. Both Rose and Terry Pendleton had 23 games in which they grounded into a double play against the Mets, the most of any player, though Pendleton only grounded into 23 total against them.

* The record for most ground-ball double plays in one game against the Mets, by a player is 3, by then-Phillies catcher Johnny Estrada in a 6-3 Phillies win on May 30, 2001.

* Speaking of the Phillies, they've had four games of grounding into at least four double plays against the Mets, most of any team. Sunday's game was the first such game for the Cardinals against the Mets.

* Armando Reynoso holds the club record for ground-ball DP induced, getting 5 in that 1997 win over the Marlins. Only one pitcher induced as many as 3 last season (Glavine got 3 in the opener). That would be Mike Pelfrey (8-3 win at Cincinnati, July 18, 2006).

* Famous DP in Mets history...Well, you have to start with September 24, 1969, when the Mets clinched the NL East with a 6-0 win over the Cardinals. The game ended with Joe Torre grounding into a 6-4-3 double play.

The Mets also clinched the 1973 NL East pennant with a double play when they beat the Cubs, 6-4 on October 1. Glenn Beckert hit a soft line drive to first and with baserunner Ken Rudolph in motion, it was an easy double play.

The 1986 season also had a bunch of Metmorable ones. The afforementioned Terry Pendleton hit into a game-ender in a 4-3 Mets win on April 26, 1986, the third win in a four-game sweep at the defending NL champion Cardinals.

There were also two of an unusual nature- a 3-5-4 in a 14-inning 6-3 win in Cincinnati (best known for the Eric Davis-Ray Knight fight, Dave Parker dropping a game-ending fly ball, and Jesse Orosco and Roger McDowell alternating between outfield and mound). The other was an 8-2-5 combination in a 6-5 win over the Padres on August 27, when John Gibbons got bowled over at home plate but still managed to throw out Tim Flannery, who was trying to go to third base.

* And while this wasn't scored a double play, it's still an interesting way to get two outs and worth your reading time.
http://metswalkoffs.blogspot.com/2006/08/impossible-has-happened.html

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