N.Y. Mets: Last One Out Shut the Lights

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

NEW YORK METS: The scars of previous postseason failures timestamp my pain.  This season, however, went a long way towards soothing those wounds.

From 1985 through 1988, the Mets won 398 games.  Like the 1986 team, the 1988 Mets reached the century mark in wins, and captured another division flag.  The Mets pummeled the N.L. West clinching Los Angeles Dodgers throughout the regular season, and appeared poised to cement their dynasty - that is, until they ran into Orel Hershiser's record setting arm, Kirk Gibson's swan song, and catcher Mike Scioscia accidentally hitting a Dwight Gooden fastball over Shea Stadium's right field wall during the NLCS.  That one is still very disturbing to revisit.

Let's be honest with ourselves with what transpired a decade later.  Much of the 1999-2000 success was owed to Wayne (Blockbuster) Huizenga, and his Marlins fire sale after winning the 1997 World Series.  Al Leiter and Mike Piazza would not have become available otherwise.

That said, the Mets of Jon Olerud, Edgardo Alfonzo, and Robin Ventura, almost pulled off a remarkable comeback against the Braves in the 1999 NLCS - right up until Kenny freakin' Rogers walked home the winning, and series clinching run in Game Six.  That was an infuriating way to lose (rather than forcing a Game 7).  I still have trouble reconciling that series, particularly Kenny Rogers' existence.

Then, losing the 2000 World Series was distressing for obvious reasons, as it came against the Yankees.

The 2006 team was a veteran squad constructed for immediate gratification.  They were indeed an offensive force that steamrolled the regular season competition.  Their starting pitching, however, fell apart at the worst possible time - the opening of the postseason.  Even then, the Mets had their chances against the Cardinals in the NLCS.  Much transpired that left Mets fans pondering, what if, well before Adam Wainwright delivered his series ending curveball to Carlos Beltran.

Remember Duaner Sanchez?  Yeah, me too.  I'm reminded how he wasn't there to save Mets fans from Aaron Heilman, much in the same way Jenrry Mejia went professionally MIA this season, leaving the Mets depending on the likes of Tyler Clippard, etc.

Just saying...

As a self proclaimed pragmatist, I try living by a saying, that you can not be disappointed with what you do not expect.  That's the best way I can describe the 2015 season.  All I wanted from this team was a .500 record, and improvement from their young crop of players.  Instead, I got a National League pennant, and baseball lasting into November!

Without question, the New York Metropolitans recently concluded 54th season in franchise history rates among their most Amazin' ever.  For the fifth time in their history, the Mets are kings of the Senior Circuit.

I'll take that!

If anything, I'm confident this off-season will prove far more disappointing than the Mets actual loss to Kansas City.

Asphalt road, take me home, under the El where I belong, Roosevelt Avenue, Flushing, Queens, Citi Field, take me home...

They say love is blind.

If Fred Wilpon's shameless tribute to the Dodgers didn't quite feel like home to you (like yours truly), then perhaps this changes things?  I guess there's a reason why I spend most of my time spanning the Shea Bridge.  I spent my childhood, teen years, adolescence, and adult years at Shea Stadium.  That's hard to top.  But, they say home is where the heart is.  In the end, Citi Field finally had its day to shine.  Hell, the Home Run Apple even took one for the team off the bat of Travis d'Arnaud.

**Word to the owners: Leave the bandage on the Apple!**

So yeah, now that the place has been decorated with a new National League Champion banner after six long, losing seasons, perhaps a noticeable cold era has indeed thawed.

I'll learn to love her yet.

Game Called:

I'm a man for all seasons.

Good or bad, I love the stories they inspire, but they all take their respective toll.  Don't misunderstand me when saying I look forward to the last day of the season as much as I do Opening Day.  I like the beginning and finality.

The length of any given baseball season, however, never hits me until the very last out.  That's when the long haul ends, the weight of 162-plus games comes to rest, and you realize how much being consumed by teams, players, games, stats, and trends, taxed the brain.

N.Y. Mets: Jacob deGrom stamps his name in Mets history books, again

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

ICYMI:

History Beckons for Jacob deGrom

NLDS

Mets win series over Doders 3-2

I - NYM 3; LAD 1

II - LAD 5; NYM 2

III - NYM 13; LAD 7

IV - LAD 3; NYM 1

V - NYM 3; LAD 2

NEW YORK METS: The deGROMinator stars in final Hollywood epic; adds his name among great playoff performances authored by Amazin' hurlers of the past.

Many consider Jacob deGrom's two NLDS mound opponents the Los Angeles Dodgers' modern day equivalents of Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale - and for good reason.

Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke deserve no audit from me, but, just to keep things in perspective, Kershaw is a three-time, and reigning back-to-back N.L. Cy Young award winner.  He posted a 16-7 regular season record with a 2.13 ERA.  His 232.2 innings pitched, 301 strikeouts, and 4 complete games all led the National League.

Having just ended his fourth season with the Dodgers, Zack Greinke was originally a Kansas City Royals product.  After posting a 19-3 record this season, he is no less a Cy Young candidate than Kershaw.  Greinke led the National League with a minuscule 1.66 ERA and 0.844 WHiP.

Last year's Rookie of the Year opposed them both, won each time, and did so on the road. While the Mets indeed owe Daniel Murphy a large debt of gratitude for his NLDS exploits, make no mistake, the Mets are opening the NLCS today primarily due to the right arm of Jacob deGrom, and his brilliant competitive spirit.

Regardless what the near future brings, Jacob's name has officially been etched among the New York Mets greatest ever post-season performances.  He tied a franchise record with a deGrominating performance in the NLDS opener, then followed-up with one of the guttiest efforts Mets fans have ever seen, during the Amazin's decisive Game 5 victory in Los Angeles.

Jacob deGrom outlasted Kershaw in Game One for the victory, pitching 7 scoreless innings of five-hit baseball.  He walked one, and tied a post-season franchise record with 13 strikeouts first set by Tom Seaver back in 1973 against the Big Red Machine.

Jacob then faced off against L.A.'s other Cy Young candidate, and Game Two winner Zack Greinke. In the fifth and deciding game of the NLDS, last year's Rookie of the Year quite literally willed himself through 27 batters, and laboriously threw 105 pitches with 67 (63%) going for strikes.  He somehow limited the Dodgers to a pair of earned runs on five hits and three walks over six innings, with seven strikeouts.

In truth, however, the Mets leading starter of 2015 spent the first 5 innings of the game escaping trouble like a squirrel crossing Queens Boulevard:

• 1st inning: Surrendered 4 straight singles then fanned the final two batters.
• 2nd inning: After issuing a walk, and an E-6, he fanned the final two batters.
• 3rd inning: Surrendered a lead-off double, issued a walk, and left them stranded.
• 4th inning: Issued his third walk of the evening to the lead-off batter.
• 5th inning; Surrendered a 1-out double and fanned two batters.
• 6th inning: Retired the side in order.
• 7th inning: Retired side in order, struck out last two batters he faced.

So where exactly does Jacob deGrom's NLDS performance rate in Mets post-season history?

Two starts: 2-0 record, 13 innings, 1.38 ERA, 11 hits, 4 walks, 20 strikeouts

Jerry Koosman famously turned in two stellar efforts during the 1969 World Series against the Orioles; Tom Seaver not so much.

In 1973, however, Seaver opened the NLCS with an 8.1 inning/13 strikeout performance against the Cincinnati Reds, but allowed a pair of solo home runs during a brutal 2-1 Mets loss.  In Game Three of the World Series against the A's, Seaver again topped double digit strikeouts (12), but again failed to achieve a victory.

Dwight Gooden's two-start performance in the 1986 NLCS against the Astros deserves mention.  In 17 innings, he allowed 16 hits, just 2 earned runs, walked 5 and struck out 9 batters.  However, he managed no victories either.

In 1988, Dwight Gooden put forth a pair of dominant, albeit unlucky performances.  He opened the NLCS against the Dodgers with a 7 inning/10 strikeout performance, but earned a no decision.  He pitched 8.1 innings in Game Four, struck out 9 more batters, and yielded 5 hits, but none more damaging than Mike Scioscia's 9th inning home run that sent the game deep into extra-innings.

Bobby Jones pitched a brilliant 1-hit shutout in the clinching game of the 2000 NLDS over the San Francisco Giants.  Mike Hampton then drew the spotlight with a stellar 2-0 record against the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLCS.  He pitched the series opener, and the Game Five clincher, compiling 16 scoreless innings of 9 hit baseball, with 4 walks, and 12 strikeouts.  In the World Series, Al Leiter pitched commendably in two starts against the Yankees.

Dwight Gooden, Jacob deGrom, and Tom Seaver, are the only three Mets pitchers to post double-digit strikeouts in a post-season game.  deGrom also won both his games, while Doc and Seaver can not say the same.  However, Mike Hampton can, but he was not as deGROMinating as Jacob was.

So where does this all place Jacob deGrom's performance in Mets post-season history?

It's certainly near the top.

All I know is his resiliency owned Game Five in Los Angeles.

N.Y. Mets: Jacob deGrominated Dodgers with an all-time Amazin' effort

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

K K K K K K K K K K K K K

Jacob deGrom tied Tom Seaver (1973)

for most strikeouts in a post-season start.

NEW YORK METS: Jacob deGrom's Game One performance goes down as one of the Amazin's all-time best playoff efforts ever.

Jacob deGrom's winning effort in Game One of the NLDS over the Dodgers goes down as one of the organization's finest play-off performances ever.  He faced 27 batters over 7 innings pitched, allowed the Dodgers no runs on just 5 hits, walked one, and struck out 13 batters for the victory.

Jacob tied Tom Seaver for most strikeouts in a post-season game by a Met.  In the opening game of the 1973 NLCS against the Reds, Seaver struck out 13 batters over 8.1 innings, yet took the loss.

Jacob deGrom also became only the third Mets pitcher to achieve double-digit strikeouts in a post-season game.  Seaver struck out another 12 batters against the Oakland A's in the '73 World Series, but this time earned a no-decision.  Dwight Gooden struck out 10 Los Angeles Dodgers in 7 innings to open the 1988 NLCS, and likewise walked off to a no-decision.

In the 1969 NLCS vs. the Atlanta Braves, Nolan Ryan pitched 7 innings, allowed 2 runs on 3 hits, and fanned 7 batters for the victory in relief of starter Gary Genrty.

In the World Series vs, the Baltimore Orioles, Tom Seaver pitched 10 innings and struck out 6 batters for the victory in Game Four.  Jerry Koosman pitched a complete game and fanned 5 batters in the Game Five clincher.

In 1973 NLCS, Jon Matlack followed Tom Seaver's 13 strikeout opening loss against Cincinnati with a gem.   Matlack fanned 9 batters en route to a complete game 2-hit shutout over the Big Red Machine in Game Two.  Jerry Koosman followed with another 9 strikeout, complete game effort in Game Three.

In Game Three of the 1973 World Series against the Oakland A's, Tom Seaver fanned 12 batters over 8 innings pitched.

The greatest pitching effort of the 1986 NLCS was perhaps authored by Roger McDowell during the Game Six clincher.  Starter Bob Ojeda pitched a complete game victory in Game Two, but only lasted 5 innings in Game Six, which evolved into 16 innings of play.  Before Jesse Orosco labored through the final three innings, Roger McDowell's 5 innings of 1-hit ball kept the Mets alive from the 9th through the 13th inning.

Bob Ojeda got the Mets turned around after going down 0-2 in the 1986 World Series against the Boston Red Sox with an immensely clutch effort in Game Three.  Ron Darling allowed just one unearned run and 6 hits, and struck out 12 over 2 starts and 14 innings pitched.

Dwight Gooden experienced tough luck during the 1988 post-season against the Los Angeles Dodgers.  He struck out 10 batters over 7 innings in Game One, but took a no-decision.  Gooden was again cruising along in Game Four with 9 strikeouts through 8.1 innings until Mike Scioscia connected on a gut-wrenching home run in the 9th inning.

Al Leiter's 1999 play-in game in the 163rd game of the regular season deserves mention.  He tossed a complete game 2-hit shutout over the Cincinnati Reds, with 7 strikeouts.

A year later, Mike Hampton turned in a brilliant performance in the 2000 NLCS clincher, tossing a complete game 3-hit shutout, with 8 strikeouts over the St. Louis Cardinals.

In fairness to Tom Glavine, he pitched very well in Game Two of the 2006 NLDS against the Dodgers, and again in Game One of the NLCS against the Cardinals, when he opened the series with 7 scoreless innings of 4-hit ball for the victory.

Forgive me for the efforts omitted in this compilation, but none of them would have matched what Jacob deGrom accomplished Friday night in Los Angeles.