Reversal of Misfortune...A Mets Dynasty

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Was holding out hope of having one - if not both - back in time for the World Series but it ain't happening. We will go it minus our closer and our stud second baseman.

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The absence of Bruce Sutter was felt by the Mets in Game 1 of the 1978 World Series.

With their closer shelved due to injury, the Amazins bullpen got stretched thin, leading to Shigeyuki Takahashi toeing the rubber in the top of the 11th to face the Tigers' Hal McRae leading off the frame.

McRae greeted Takahashi with a tie-breaking home run that propelled the Tigers to a 4-3 victory.

The Mets held a 3-1 lead through five but Detroit scored twice in the sixth as starter Nolan Ryan's habit of wildness arose at the wrong time. A pair of walks to start the inning were back by a Butch Wynegar RBI single and a run-scoring wild pitch that tied the game.

Painful loss, one suffered despite solid bullpen work from Mike Scott and Tippy Martinez.

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Another extra-inning affair in Game 2 but with a sweeter ending from the Mets' perspective.

New York collected a bounty of two-out hits during the course of the contest - most meaningless knocks left uncashed - but those fortunes changed in the bottom of the 11th.

Cecil Cooper stroked a single up the middle with two gone and Robin Yount completed a perfect 5-for-5 performance with a double into the left-center field gap. Cooper hustled around to score all the way from first and the Mets walked off a 3-2 win to tie the World Series at a game apiece.

Props to the Mets' pitching corps of Steve Carlton, Vida Blue and Mike Scott, who picked up the win.

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Where is Mr. October?

One of the primary reasons for signing Reggie Jackson is on the off season was anticipating what he would produce for the Mets in the playoffs. The returns on the investment have yet to yield anything significant.

Jackson is batting .208 with five hits - all singles - one RBI and nine strikeouts.

Hodges had Reggie batting second in the NLCS but we moved him down in the lineup for the Tigers.

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Not much to say on this one...

Seaver got absolutley rocked, our defense was poor to put it kindly and there is a pretty good chance we don't return to Flushing for a Game 5.

Couldn't help but think during this game that a rebuild is on the horizon. We have some pretty attractive pieces - though a little long in the tooth - that we will consider moving in the off season.

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Mike Scott was sensational...
Johnny Bench was incredibe at the plate and behind it...

BUT

It was all lost as the Mets dropped Game 4, 2-1, in a 17-inning drama that has the Tigers on the brink of a World Series title.

These are not excuses...merely facts. The absence of Joe Morgan leaves a gaping hole with the platoon of Kevin Drury/Fred Andrews. Their spot in the order is basically to concede an out.

Reggie Jackson has been a no-show, batting .176 with 13 Ks in 36 post-season ABs.

We can't get a leadoff man aboard, but getting a number of two-out base knocks that demand clutch swings that haven't ensued.

Box and Game Log below. Painful outcome to grind for 17 and absorb the loss.

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Mets showed stones in Game 5, rallying from an early deficit with late-inning heroics to score a 6-4 triumph over Detroit, narrowing the Tigers edge in the series to 3-2 as the World Series heads back to Shea.

With the bases loaded and one out in the eight and the Mets trailing, 4-3, Jim Rice lined a two-run single to give New York its first lead.

Guess who showed up in the ninth? Reggie Jackson, who unloaded a solo homer for some insurance.

Nolan Ryan battled through a taxing seven innings and Dave LaRoche handled the final two frames to nail down the victory.

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Brutal conclusion to World Series from our point of view.

Holding a 3-2 lead heading to the top of the ninth, Mets were on the cusp of forcing a Game 7. Instead, the Tigers struck for three runs and their bullpen completed the job and closed out a 5-3 win the clinched Detroit's third World Series crown since 1967.

Tippy Martinez came on to close out the game in the top of the ninth but only lasted three batters. Tom Spencer followed a leadoff double by Butch Wynegar with a triple to tie the game at 3-3. Jack Sexton snapped the deadlock with an RBI single and Rick Camp was summoned from the bullpen. Reggie Smith added a run-scoring double to give Detroit a 5-3 advantage.

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Joe Morgan and Steve Carlton have exercised their player options and both will test the free-agent market.

Truthfully, those two decisions are just added incentive to potential break things up here and start a rebuild. Our core - Morgan, Carlton, Bench, Blue - have left indelible fingerprints over an unprecedented nine-year run of championship glory. Can't thank them enough for what they provided the fanbase and our organization.

We have some exciting, maturing pieces, especially on the left side of the infield witb George Brett and Robin Yount. Dave Stewart and Mike Scott are pushing their way into rotation consideration. Bruce Sutter is lined up to close for years to come. There is a foundation. Building upon it in a timely fashion will be the trick.

We miss out on some generational pieces in this upcoming draft, notably Rickey Henderson, but we will be active moving pieces this winter.

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First the post-season accolades...

Gil Hodges was named NL Manager of the Year for the seventh time in his illustrious career. His numbers during his tenure as Mets' skipper are sensational.


Nolan Ryan claimed his second straight Cy Young Award


Jim Rice named NL's Most Valuable Player, with teammate Cecil Cooper coming in second


As for the off-season business...
Mets have agreed to terms with pending free agent Steve Carlton


And, it looks like the Mets and legendary 2B Joe Morgan are preparing to go their separate ways. Morgan will test free agency along with CF Billy North.

Arbitration hearings are coming up.

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Free agent market is about to open and we have our eyes on a possible replacement at second base...

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Because, the Mets once again take a bath at the arbitration table.

Rulings went in favor of reigning NL MVP LF Jim Rice,1B Cecil Cooper, 3B George Brett, LHP Tippy Martinez, RHP Bruce Sutter and CF Ron LeFlore with SS Robin Yount the only Met to walk away on the losing side of a decision.

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Bid farewell to Joe Morgan, who signed a free-agent deal with Detroit, joining former Met Reggie Smith. Stings because...

A) Could have used Morgan in the World Series but his broken hand rendered him unavailable and we lose to the Tigers.
B)Morgan is 35 and has been injury-plagued the last few years. Love him and thank him for his time in Flushing but we're cool with moving on.

We fill the hole at second base with the free-agent signing of Rennie Stennett. It would be absolutely unfair to compare him to Morgan, a HOF, but Stennett is a pro who has put up quality numbers in his short career...and he's 27 to Morgan's 35.



Waiting to hear from OF Rick Manning, who we offered. He would be a decent fourth outfielder for us.

In the draft, we landed a Bulldog in RHP Orel Hershiser, along with OF Gary Pettis, C Mark Parent and IF Mario Diaz.

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You're 1979 New York Mets

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The good news? As we head into July, the Mets are holding down their familiar perch atop the NL East.


The bad news? The Mets have lost the right side of their infield for an extended period. On June 7th, 2B Rennie Stennett went down for six weeks with torn ligaments in his ankle. Two days later, 1B Cecil Cooper went on the IL for six weeks as well, dealing with a strained abdominal muscle.

Nonetheless, when the two went down, New York held a slim 2.5 game lead in the division but it has managed to extend that cushion.

Our offensive stats...


Our pitching numbers...


Where we stack up in the NL statistically...

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With Stennett and Cooper due back shortly, Mets have done a nice job pacing the NL East. Standings coming out of the All-Star break...

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I truly believed our run of post-season appearances would come to an end this season, but I'm happy to be so wrong.

The Mets steamrolled to another NL East, their 10th straight, and will pursue their ninth pennant against the Atlanta Braves.

The defending world champion Tigers will take on the Kansas City Royals in the ALCS.


Final regular season numbers...

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