Mets Walk-Offs And Minutiae

In Boston, they refer to the game of May 13, 2007 as "The Mother's Day Miracle." The Red Sox were trailing the Orioles, 5-0 in the ninth inning, and were being three-hit by Jeremy Guthrie. Julio Lugo led off the ninth and grounded out. Coco Crisp followed by popping up to the catcher. Or not. Ramon Hernandez muffed the ball, allowing Crisp to reach first base. For some reason, that resulted in Guthrie's removal, in favor of Danys Baez, despite Guthrie having thrown only 91 pitches. David Ortiz doubled to center on Baez's second pitch, scoring Crisp. Wily Mo Pena singled, advancing Ortiz to third. With the outcome having gotten slightly more dicey, Baez was pulled for Orioles closer Chris Ray. That didn't work either. Ray walked both J.D. Drew and Kevin Youkilis, forcing in a run to make it a 5-2 game. With the bases loaded, Jason Varitek lined a double to right center. Two more runs scored and the tying run, Youkilis, went to third base. Now it was 5-4, Oriole...

So this is what it's come to, celebrating the arrival of mediocre, journeymen has-beens (whatever happened to Wilson Valdez?). If we must, we must. Angel Berroa beat the Mets with a walk-off hit once, something of which I have no recollection. The game took place on June 12, 2004 and the Mets were in the midst of a 5-game losing streak. This was one that would have fit in well in 2009. A 2-0 Mets lead disappeared when Berroa hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning against Al Leiter. In the seventh, Leiter found success against Berroa, getting him to pop out to help escape a runner on third, one-out jam. The Royals took the lead in the home eighth when Carlos Beltran singled, stole second (Joe McEwing failed to get down a tag) and scored on Mike Sweeney's hit off David Weathers. The Mets tied the game in the ninth on Todd Zeile's RBI double, but Zeile would get doubled off second on Kaz Matsui's fly out to end the inning. Zeile evidently was at home plate when the dou...

Continuing Monday's list of the most notable plays at the plate in Mets history September 20, 1973 We've referenced "Ball on the Wall" many times in our writings here, and I strongly suggest you check out some of what we've done on the subject that was a vital game between the Mets and Pirates. The moment of moments took place in the top of the 13th when Pirate Richie Zisk was thrown out by Mets left fielder Cleon Jones trying to score on what he had to have thought was a sure-thing home run to left field by Dave Augustine. Imagine his shock to learn that the ball hit the fence, caromed to Jones, and with a perfect relay throw to home plate, Zisk was toast. I've read a good number of accounts on what took place on that play, but Jones' account, as featured in the next day's pages of the Bucks County Courier Times, trumps any I've read. "The ball didn't hit the top of the fence," Jones said. "It hit the corner of the two-by-four, ...

Their success on Sunday notwithstanding, the Mets have struggled to hit home runs throughout 2009. So, rather than partake in chatter related to Monday's Home Run Derby, I thought I'd create my own little project. I call it the Run Home Derby. I took about a week to compile the most memorable plays at the plate in Mets history, IE: instances in which someone was indulging in a different kind of home run. The play could be by a Met, as was the case in a couple of instances, or against the Mets, which make up a significant portion of the listings. For those who like the "Best Games I Know" series, think of this as the "Best Plays I Know." They are listed chronologically, beginning with those from the 1960s, and I encourage you to submit any I may have omitted. April 15, 1965 The Karate Kid had a winning maneuver called "The Crane." The Mets, on this date, had one called "The Krane." In the second inning of their meeting with the Astros, the...

My take on the Francoeur trade? I'm ok with it. A colleague told me he thought Ryan Church maxxed out, and comped him with Todd Hollandsworth. And I'd have traded Todd Hollandsworth for Jeff Francoeur without any hestitation. I love the walk-off deterrent capabilities of Francoeur's throwing arm (unnoticed this season is how much opposing teams have run on the Mets) and that alone is probably worth more runs per year than we know. I like that we took someone who usually hurts us and brought him on our side (can we do the same for Brandon Phillips?) I like that he's a good, positive guy, though he's probably gonna be a bit shellshocked when he checks out the deader-than-dead atmosphere on Saturday night. I like that he's only 25, and he's a couple years away from free agency. I like that he's got two career walk-off home runs, including one off "The Hat" (Chad Cordero, for those unfamiliar). What makes me a little skittish? Well, that's most...

You probably know about the Tom Seaver connection to July 9. Or you'll read about it somewhere. But July 9 is important for other reasons in Mets history... For Ya Gotta Believe... http://www.metswalkoffs.com/2009/05/believing-in-myself.html For Marathon Men http://www.metswalkoffs.com/2007/07/queens-are-flushing.html And For Coming Back From Injury http://www.metswalkoffs.com/2006/02/doubting-thomas.html Enjoy the flashbacks. Working on some other projects and enjoying the miracle that was "Ball on the Base."

Dodgers skipper Joe Torre is closing in on 100 regular-season wins against the Mets. He entered the series with 98. If you're compiling a list of the grimmest innings in Mets history (and we've had our share in 2009), the 2nd inning from Torre's first win against them would rank high on the list. The date was May 25, 1982. Mike Scott was pitching for the Mets and this was in his pre-splitter days, so he was very hittable. Scott's best days were a few years ahead. This would be one of his worst. Here's how Scott's second inning went. Home Run Single Triple Sac Fly Double Single Double Just for good measure, Scott was replaced here by Tom Hausman. The first batter Hausman faced homered. The damage amounted to eight runs, nine hits, an error, and three men left on base, and the final score was Braves 10, Mets 2. The New York Times noted it was the biggest Braves inning against the Mets since 1966, when they scored eight runs in the third inning of a 17-1 win. To ...

Al Jackson was 43-80 with a 4.26 ERA and his reward for pitching for the 1962 Mets was a 9-game stint with the 1969 club. Darrin Jackson hit .195 in 87 at-bats for the 1993 Mets. The first 11 games in which he played, the Mets lost. Roy Lee Jackson was 2-9 in 40 appearances for the 1977-1980 Mets. His highlight was a 12-strikeout complete game in Cincinnati for his final Mets win. Jackson Todd is a cancer survivor who went 3-6 for the 1977 Mets. That May 22, he beat the Reds in relief, a stint that included a bases-loaded escape, and the retiring of Pete Rose twice. Reginald C. Jackson went 9-8 for the 1983 Lynchburg Mets, a Class-A team whose roster included Dwight Gooden and Lenny Dykstra.

Tuesday is the 45th anniversary of the last walk-off home run in an All-Star Game (Johnny Callison). I would like to see another one. Therefore, I would call upon the good folks at Major League Baseball to make Manny Ramirez the injury-replacement selection for Carlos Beltran. In other words, let Manny be Manny. I realize this would be somewhat unpopular, and from a moral standpoint, I'm opposed, but I think it's a logical decision given the circumstances. The National League has not won an All-Star Game since 1996. The National League gets pummeled in interleague play every year. They need to do something to change the mojo. The last time an NL team had home-field advantage in the World Series was in 2001. Think the Diamondbacks win Game 7 (reminder: it was a walk-off) if they're in Yankee Stadium? I don't. I root for a National League team. If that team makes the World Series (ha!), I'd like it to have home-field advantage. And I'm willing to be a sellout to m...

The 2009 Mets are 39-42 through their first 81 games. They're halfway home. * The only other Mets team to start 39-42: The 1980 Mets. (final record 67-95) * The 2008 Mets were 1 game better (40-41). That's ok. These Mets are used to being 1 game behind. * The 39 is almost halfway between the best (56 in 1986) and worst (23 in 1962, 1964) midpoint win totals in Mets history. * The 1973 Mets started 35-46. They won the NL East and got to Game 7 of the World Series. * Of the Mets teams with 39 wins or less at the season's midpoint, the only ones to finish with a winning record were the 1973 and 2001 teams. * The 1969 Mets fared best over their final 81 games, going 53-28, one win better than the 1985 and 1986 teams. * To get to 90 wins, the current Mets need to go 51-30 (a 102-win pace). Only 4 Mets teams have played at that pace over the second half of the season- the previously mentioned 1969, 1985, and 1986 teams, and the 1999 squad. * To get to 90 losses, the current Mets ...

OK, so I'm trying out this Twitter thing and looking for my hook. For now, that's gonna be TWIMNOTES. TWIMNOTES, at least for now, will be defined as short-form Met-related nuggets. It may be related to This Date in Mets History, it may be some statistical minutiae that doesn't warrant a full blog, it may be a silly Mets pun, it may be something where I have 2 minutes to write instead of 30, it may be a walk-off alert. I may do one a day. I may do five. Depends on my mood, and if I find that people like them. I won't neglect my blog to do them. Think of them as a healthy, non-steroidal Mets supplement. I'm calling them TWIMNOTES as a tribute to the "TWIB Notes" that ran on This Week in Baseball. Feel free to follow me on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/metswalkoffs .

Charlie Brown: "Why does my team keep losing? Why? Why? Why?" Lucy: "Because we're no good...because we're no good...because we're no good." ------------------ Linus: "I've been going over our team records, Charlie Brown. We lost every game this season." Charlie Brown: "Maybe we're building character." -------------------------------------- Charlie Brown: "All right. Let's get together out there! Let's start calling for those fly balls!" Lucy: "I think maybe perhaps hopefully if everything goes right and nothing unpredictable happens, possibly I got it." Charlie Brown: "That isn't exactly what I meant." ----------------------------------------------- Charlie Brown: "Just look at this will you? Our team isn't ready to start a new season. We're just not ready. Where did the time go? Why does the season have to start so soon?" Linus: "Charlie Brown, our team wouldn...

You can now follow me on Twitter, under the name "Metswalkoffs." A blast from July 4th past can be found here: http://www.metswalkoffs.com/2005/07/fireworks-knight.html

I don't usually write about members of the opposing New York team, but I'll make an exception as we approach a 70th anniversary of note (the famous speech at Yankee Stadium) to reference the three walk-off home runs hit by Lou Gehrig. August 25, 1932 vs Indians One of the fun things about reading old-time newspaper game stories is that you get writings such as this from John Drebinger of the New York Times. "As every good hunter knows, there is nothing like a trusty double-barreled gun to bring down big game, and it took all of two shots, right on the mark, for the Yankees to overcome the Indians in the second game of the current series at the Stadium yesterday." Drebinger was referring to the home runs of both Msrs Ruth and Gehrig, the latter of which ended a contest that, amazingly enough, was played to nine-inning conclusion in 92 minutes. June 20, 1934 vs Indians Walk-off home runs were celebrated a little bit differently in Gehrig's playing days. A photo with...

I'll give a very gentle fistbump to Fernando Tatis (so not to ding him up any more), as well as Ryan Church and Brian Stokes for Mets extra-inning road win #181 (including postseason). Remember that fistbumps are awarded for all last at-bat wins this season, and are logged in the right-hand margin of this blog. * It was the 2nd road extra-inning win this season, the other coming on June 5 against the Nationals. * It was the Mets 20th extra-inning road win in Pittsburgh. It was their first extra-inning road win in Pittsburgh since an 8-7 win on September 18, 2004. * The only other Mets road extra-inning win to take place on a July 2 took place in 1969. The Mets beat the Cardinals in St. Louis, 6-4, in 14 innings. * The Mets have had four walk-off losses on July 2, so they were walking a rather dangerous line late this afternoon. * The Mets had a player get hit by multiple pitches for the 24th time (Damion Easley had it happen twice last season). Fernando Tatis tied a club record wit...

I built a 1-0 Mets wins database a few months ago just for the purpose of finding the answers to questions such as: What pitchers have lost multiple 1-0 games to the Mets in the same season? Yovani Gallardo joins two others. Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins: July 11 and September 11, 1968 and Nelson Briles: July 27, September 18, and September 29, 1972 For more information on the history of the previous 115 1-0 Mets wins, check out http://www.metswalkoffs.com/2009/05/one-nil.html * Gallardo also makes it an even dozen times that a pitcher has struck out 12+ Mets and lost the game. The last, as was mentioned on the SNY broadcast, was John Smoltz in Willie Randolph's first managerial win in 2005. One pitcher is on the list twice, and while you probably have heard reference to Steve Carlton's 1969 effort in which he struck out 19 and lost to the Mets (on 2 home runs by Ron Swoboda), you may not be as familiar with his other effort. On September 16, 1981 (12 years and a week after th...

There are few questions that the folks at Retrosheet can't answer. So when I asked about plays in which four runs scored without the scoring being a grand slam, David Smith came through big-time. Since the Mets inception in 1962, that play has happened 54 times, with Ryan Braun being the most recent slammer. It was the fourth involving the Mets in some manner, and the first AGAINST them in 35 years. That doesn't include the time it happened in my little league career, a series of blunders by our team, the Cougars, against the No. 2 team, the Panthers. Fortunately, we rallied from the 4-0 first-inning hole to win, 5-4, on a walk-off hit, the most difficult win of our unbeaten season. As for the Mets, here are the details on the other instances. Howard Johnson- Mets at Expos, April 19, 1992 New York Times writer Joe Sexton called it a "grand scram." With the Mets trailing, 4-3 in the 7th inning, Johnson lined a bases-loaded double into the left field corner. Expos left ...

In honor of this being my 100th post of the 2009 calendar year. * The Mets have won exactly 100 games in a season twice: 1969 and 1988. * The 100th win in Mets history was their 9th win in 1964. It was a 4-2 win over the Giants in San Francisco. Three Mets combined on a three-hitter. Don Larsen took the loss. The Hall of Fame trio of Mays, McCovey and Cepeda were 0 for 11. * Mike Piazza (2005) Darryl Boston (1990) Elliott Maddox (1978) They share the common bond of being the three Mets who had exactly 100 hits in a season. Maddox, oddly enough, also had a 101-hit season in 1980. At least he was consistent. * If you include postseason games, the Mets 100th walk-off win was their Opening Day win in 1975. Joe Torre beat the Phillies with an RBI single. * If you ranked the Mets in alphabetical order by last name, the 100th name on the list would be Hubie Brooks. * The 100th win of the 1986 season was really exciting. It was a 6-5 win over the Cubs in Wrigley Field on September 25. The team...

Here are the Mets hit totals from their last 4 games 5, 3, 1, 5 If the Mets get 5 hits or fewer in Monday's game against the Brewers, they will match a team mark for most consecutive games with 5 hits or fewer. It's a mark shared by 3 teams. The 2004 Mets did it. So did the 1963 Mets. What's most interesting is how the 1989 Mets did it. May 4-May 9 1989 Mets Offense 5-Game Summary .142 Batting Average .206 Slugging Percentage .424 OPS 42 strikeouts 14 walks 2 home runs Those are the marks of a team that 99 times out of 100 would go 0-5. This team didn't. The 1989 Mets somehow managed to go 3-2 in that span. Win #1 was a 3-2 victory over the Reds in what was a matchup of first place teams. Ron Darling and Danny Jackson dueled for most of the night before Howard Johnson hit a walk-off home run, the Mets fourth hit of the game, to beat Rob Dibble in the 10th inning. Win #2 was a 2-1 squeaker over the Astros. The Mets had all four of their hits by the end of the third innin...

Patience is a virtue if you're Mariano Rivera. Patients (ie: injured ones) is not a virtue for the Mets... ---- The Mets have now walked the opposing pitcher 13 times this season. Do you know how many times they walked the opposing pitcher last season? 13. They haven't walked the opposing pitcher more times in a season since 1999 (17). That season ended with a walk, by the way. The 1962 Mets were so bad, they walked 26 opposing pitchers. This team is halfway to that tally. The Truly Walking Mets Fan knows ...Hall of Fame pitchers to draw bases-loaded walks from the Mets include: Juan Marichal Don Drysdale Sandy Koufax Don Sutton The 11 walks were one shy of the club record for most walks in a nine-inning home game, previously set with 12-walk efforts in 1998 and 2003.