Mets All Time Batting Order/Rotation

Just for some fun, I whipped up the All Time New York Mets batting order and pitching staffs.

Batting Order

1) Jose Reyes SS - The speedy Shortstop has been a fixture at the top of the Mets batting order since 2004. Though the Mets tried to ruin Reyes by moving him to second base or change his running style, Reyes has flourished in Flushing
Why bat him here? Reyes is the prototypical lead off hitter. He's fast and his speed can be so disruptive that  he can get on and score all by himself.  The Mets win 70% of the games when Reyes scores.  That's enough to seal the leadoff spot all time for him.

2) Edgardo Alfonzo 2B - Though Alfonzo played a big number at third, his best years were at second base for the Amazins.  He was a career .292 hitter on the Mets and had power to all fields.  He was an outstanding hitter, especially with two strikes.
Why bat him here? His best year with the Mets was 1999, when he hit second in front of John Olerud and behind Ricky Henderson. He hit .304, 27 HRs, 108 RBIs.

3) Mike Piazza C - Possibly the best hitter in Mets history, but definitely their best right handed hitter.  The Mets were fortunate to get Piazza in his prime and keep him.  The day Piazza re-signed he said, "I want to finish my career here."  Though he didn't, his number will likely be added to the "Great Wall of Flushing".
Why bat him here? Piazza was the Mets best three hitter.  He was the most dangerous hitter in the lineup and could hit in nearly any way in big situation.  He could get a key single to right or drive the ball over the centerfield wall at Shea.

4) Darryl Strawberry RF - The Mets all time homerun leader hit many towering drives at Shea Stadium. Though his off-filed career was turbulent, his on-field performance for the Mets was outstanding.  Strawberry won Rookie of the year in 1983 and was the first Met to join the 30/30 club.
Why bat him here? Strawberry's power alone cements him in the cleanup spot.  He is the only Met to hit over 100 homeruns at pitcher friendly Shea Stadium and is the franchise all time RBI leader with 733.

5) David Wright 3B - Wright has had various highs and lows in the last two years, but no one can argue his place in Mets history.  Wright has solidified a position that saw 142 other players take the hot corner in Queens.
Why bat him here? Wright is currently second in Mets history with 682 RBIs and will likely take over one of many records he'll eventually get.

6) Carlos Beltran CF - Though Beltran will be remembered for one at bat by Met fans, his production as the Mets centerfielder is equalled by none.  He is tied with Todd Hundley for the franchise's single season homerun record at 41, and averaged 29 HRs and 104 RBIs while hitting .275 during his seven years in Flushing- that's including three seasons with 16 HRs or fewer.
Why bat him here? All the other spots were taken.  Beltran has not hit lower than fourth as a Met, but he wouldn't get the nod over the guys ahead of him.

7) Keith Hernandez 1B - The acquisition of Hernandez (1979 NL co-MVP) changed the Mets' organization in 1983.  His experience and leadership was critical to shape the young improving Mets, but it wasn't like he couldn't play.  Hernandez was always a clutch hitter (once holding a record for game winning RBIs that MLB used to keep) and sparked the Mets comeback in Game 7 of the 86 Series.  He was also an incredible fielding first baseman.
Why hit him here? Like Beltran, all the other spots were taken.  Hernandez is the third (or fourth depending on where you'd rank Wright) best #3 hitter in Mets history, but he doesn't have Beltran or Piazza's power.

8) Cleon Jones LF- The toughest position to give the nod is leftfield, but Jones gets it.  His full seasons with the Mets saw him hit with a .285, 92 HRs and 503 RBIs.  Jones would hit a career high .340 in 1969.
Why hit him here? I ran out of spots.

Bench: Mookie Wilson, Howard Johnson, Ed Kranepool, Lee Mazzilli, Gary Carter, Rusty Staub and Bud Harrelson





Starting Rotation:

#1 Tom Seaver- The only Met Hall of Famer and only player to have his number retired by the Mets, "The Franchise" or "Tom Terrific" is the team's all time records for wins (198), ERA (2.57) and strikeouts (2541).  For good measure stat geeks, he's also the all time WHIP leader (1.08) though he's tied with Brett Saberhagen.
Why is he #1? Re-read the first paragraph.  Add on that he won THREE Cy Young Awards in Flushing.










#2 Dwight Gooden - Possibly the most talented pitcher in the franchise's history though also a tale of "What might have been".  Gooden was the 1984 rookie of the year, but his 1985 season is among the greatest in the history of baseball when he won the pitching Triple Crown and came the closest MLB pitcher to Bob Gibson's all time ERA record with a 1.53.
Why is he #2? Gooden's number were incredible and his worst season was 1993 (12-15) still kept his ERA under a 4.00.
#3 Jerry Koosman- The best lefty in Mets history holds the records for wins by a left handed pitcher and is third on the Mets all time win list (140).  Oddly Koosman had his first 20 win season ninth season with the Mets.
Why #3? For a career, Koosman is the Mets third best pitcher all time.
#4 David Cone- The greatest value trade in Mets' history as he was acquired for backup catcher Ed Hearn.  In 1988, Cone's 20-3 record with a 2.22 ERA stand out as one of the best seasons in Mets history.
Why #4? Though others could have fit here, Cone was a beacon of light in the late 80's and early 90's. He had several memorable games (like 2 near no-hitters).
#5 Ron Darling - A dependable starter for Mets, Darling would soldier though games.  He didn't strikeout everyone like Gooden or Cone, and his career ERA as a Met was 3.50, but few remember that he was the pitcher with the most complete games in 1986.
Why #5? This is more of a person choice, perhaps because he's on SNY now, but you could go with a number of other people, like John Matlack, Sid Fernandez or Al Leiter, but Darling's career numbers and 99 wins put him on the list.

Closer:

John Franco- Staten Island's own who grew up a Mets fan and wore his father's orange sanitation uniform shirt under his Mets uniform.  Franco's prime years were when the Mets struggled, so his number aren't overwhelming, but he did save 25 games or more all but three seasons as the Mets closer.
Why? Who else?  Randy Myers didn't play as a Met long enough.  Roger McDowell and Jerry Orosco split time.  That leaves Armando Benitez, Braden Looper, Billy Wagner and K-Rod.  Simply put, none of them are what Franco was.

So there's a brief list. Discuss.

You're a Fraud!!!!

When I was a kid talking about baseball with my grandfather, he helped instill a love of the game by telling me stories about his favorite player Babe Ruth.  I remember going to Mets games with him, my mother and brothers and seeing my favorite player Keith Hernandez.  Watching the Mets in the 80's was a treat for a growing little boy, but they only won a single World Series. They got close in 84, 85, 87 and lost the NLCS in 88.  Even in their Championship 1986 season, the Mets had to battle.  As I got older, I added other teams to my passion.  My brother Dan's video yearbook called "Poised For Glory" about the division winning 89-90 New York Rangers and watching Dan Marino eventually turned me in a Dolphins' fan.  I know, weird, but true.  I watched my teams winning only two championship and lose COUNTLESS games.  I think it showed me how to love my team and made me a true fan of my teams.  However, there are signs of "Fraud fans".  If you are one of these, please change your ways.
Walking around Citifield yesterday, I was disgusted at seeing the many Yankee fans with names on the back of their jerseys.  Really? Have you ever seen Derek Jeter wear a uniform with his name on it?  Or is it that you need to let people know who wears number 2 on the Yankees?  The worst part is that it doesn't stop there.  I saw fans with Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio and Mantle.  The first thing a child should know when becoming a Yankee fan is their history.  If they don't know who wore #3, they deserve a slap. That would be like not knowing who was the first president of the United States. It's inconceivable!  The best part is that there are "die hard" fans that don't know who Ron Guidry is or that Elston Howard was the first African American player to play for the Yankees.  Honor your history!!!!

I wish the were alone, but they're not.  Front runners aren't just Yankee fans.  They can go to any team.  In 1999, I actually was present when a guy tried to cheer on the Mets with an "M-E-T-S" chant.  He was heckled down for being a moron.  People should honor their teams and be true fans.  Regardless of the records, stand by your team.  Don't ever do this!!!!