My Best All-Time New York Mets By Position
Here are my all-time best New York Mets By Position…
When I picked my team, I only considered their contributions while a member of the Mets. If they played longer for the Mets, I gave them a slight bump in rankings since their impact on the Mets should be greater than someone playing only a couple seasons. As a general note, I started watching the Mets around 1985-86 so my choices will be biased towards Mets who have played in the 80s or later.
My squad contains one player at each position, five starters and a relief pitcher/closer. I listed other people I considered in the running for each position. I also added a link to some of our sports memorabilia by each of my choices..
OK.. Here is my all-time Mets squad.
Catcher – Mike Piazza
Also in the running: Gary Carter, Todd Hundley
1B – Keith Hernandez
Also in the running: Carlos Delgado, John Olerud
2B – Edgardo Alfonso
Also in the running: Jeff Kent, Wally Backman
SS – Jose Reyes (No Mets shortstop was even close)
3B – David Wright (He has only scratched the surface of his potential)
Also in the running: Howard Johnson, Robin Ventura
LF – Kevin McReynolds (This was a tough one.. There was not a clear favorite in my mind)
Also in the running: Cleon Jones, Cliff Floyd
CF – Carlos Beltran
Also in the running: Lenny Dykstra, Tommie Agee, Mookie Wilson, Lee Mazzilli
RF – Darryl Strawberry
Also in the running: Rusty Staub
Starting Pitchers –
1. Tom Seaver (Top 2 were obvious but I am somewhat biased towards players who played after 1986 and probably would have chosen a few older pitchers had I actually seen them pitch a little more)
2. Doc Gooden
3. Johan Santana
4. David Cone
5. Al Leiter
Also in the running: Jerry Koosman, Pedro Martinez, Tom Glavine, Jon Matlack
RELIEF PITCHER – John Franco (Captain and long time Met.. got the benefit of the doubt even though I remember a few rough spots for him in his last year or two. The other ones I listed are dominating pitchers but had less actual time with the Mets than John Franco. I like KROD so far, and can see him moving up here if he does well for the Mets for the next couple seasons)
2. Francisco Rodriguez
3. Billy Wagner
Also in the running: Armando Benitez, Jesse Orosco, Roger McDowell, Jeff Reardon, Randy Myers, Tug McGraw
– Now that I went out on a limb.. anyone else want to try..?
Written by Evan Kanter of the Sports Fan Blog Network
Carloses inching toward returns
The Carlos Brothers moved forward in their respective rehabilitations Monday.
Carlos Delgado took batting practice outdoors for the first time since undergoing surgery on his right hip. Carlos Beltran shagged fly balls for the first time since he was assigned to the disabled list June 22. The return of neither is expected in the immediate future. Delgado acknowledged he has good days and bad days and just tells those who inquire that he feels fine. He has yet to run and says the schedule, once he does, is to include running, then sprinting, then sliding, then playing in Minor League rehab games.
Click here to read the full article – By Marty Noble of MLB.com
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