Maine Signs

The Mets and John Maine avoided an arbitration hearing by agreeing on a contract for 2009. Maine had submitted an arbitration figure of $3 million and the Mets had offered $2.2 million. The perfectly reasonable settlement split the gap right down the middle at $2.6 million, plus the Mets dusted it with sugar by adding an innings-pitched incentive bonus.

The fact that John was going to be a Met for '09 was never really in question ... still, it's nice that they were able to avoid the arb hearing. Only Pedro Feliciano remains eligible for arbitration this winter.

Four More Minor Signings

The Mets continue to stockpile minor leaguers with a smattering of major-league experience. Today's herd includes right-hander Tony Armas, who pitched in three games for the Mets last year, and two other pitchers—Valerio de los Santos and former Yankee Matt DeSalvo. I would be a little surprised if any of them threw an inning for the big-league club this year—maybe Armas if there's an emergency.

Also signed was outfielder Bobby Kielty, who joins the Pagan-Reed-Mackowiak-Sullivan cadre of potential spare outfielders. Kielty hasn't had a terrible career; he has an OPS+ of 99 in 599 games for the Twins, Athletics, and Red Sox. He's a switch-hitter, which is a point in his favor, I suppose, and by all reports, has fiery red hair. But he didn't play in the majors at all in 2008, and his numbers in the minors were not pretty. I mean, why not Timo Perez?

The All-Time NY Mets: 2000s Third Baseman

Okay, it's David Wright--not that there should have been any doubt. Now that we've gotten that formality out of the way, let's take a brief look at the other third-base starters for this decade.

In 2000-01, Robin Ventura filled the spot, if not with the lustrous success that he had in 1999, at least with smiling competence. He appeared in over 140 games both years, clubbing more than twenty home runs each time out. His .230s batting averages were augmented by his ability to draw a walk; his on-base percentages each year were acceptable. But clearly Robin was nearing the end of the line, and following the 2001 season, he was traded to the Yankees, for whom he put up similar numbers.

2002 saw the return of Edgardo Alfonzo to the hot corner. Just as he had been moved from third to second to make room for Ventura, this time he was shifted from second back to third to make way for shiny new import Roberto Alomar. His final season for the Mets was reminiscent of his better years: 16 homers and a .308 average, a fine 127 OPS+. He was allowed to leave as a free agent at the close of the season; Mets management seemed to believe his best years were behind him. Turns out they were right.

For the next year and a half, third base belonged to young Ty Wigginton, who more resembled a fullback than an infielder. Wiggy was a fan favorite--no small feat considering he was replacing the popular Alfonzo--but he was really just a placeholder for the position, a steward warming the throne for the coming prince.

Midway through 2004, Wigginton was traded to the Pirates, partially in order to get Kris Benson, but primarily because the ascendancy of David Wright to his rightful place had become necessary.

In David Wright's four complete seasons in New York, he has always hit at least 25 home runs and 40 doubles, always driven in more than a hundred runs, always scored at least 95, always batted over .300. The lowest OPS+ he has posted in any of those years was 133; I don't want to speak prematurely, but that's Hall of Fame territory. In addition, he has been successful stealing bases at a better than 4-to-1 clip--better percentage-wise than Jose Reyes. He has won the last two NL Gold Gloves at third base, and while some may consider that a faint honor, there is little question that he has continuously improved as a defensive player. Smiling, positive, telegenic--he is the homegrown position player Mets fans pensively waited for over the course of more than forty dismal seasons. And here he is, and he's ours.

Some of the more vociferous fans expressed displeasure with his 2008 campaign, which, according to a few scant measures, was disappointing. And he hit .302, and tied the all-time Mets record for RBI in a season, and hit over thirty home runs. And that was a bad season?

Be careful with your expectations, Mets fans. Remember Jim Fregosi. Remember Roy Staiger. Remember Elliott Maddox. And celebrate David Wright.

Ex-Mets Moves

Maybe this is of interest to nobody except me, but whenever I hear that (for example) Timo Perez signed a minor-league contract with the Tigers, I always remember that Timo was once, and forevermore will be, a Met. With that in mind--and on the off chance there are more of you out there like me--this blog will report any transactional moves involving former Mets.

There have been four such moves that I noticed this week, starting with this one: Timo Perez signed a minor-league contract with the Tigers.

Timo didn't log a single at-bat in the big leagues last year; he spent the whole 2008 season with AAA Toledo--he also spent most of 2007 with Toledo. His numbers were very similar both seasons: over 400 at-bats, at least 30 doubles, 13 home runs, over 60 RBI, and batting averages of .309 and .302. His last big-league action came with the Tigers in '07, when he batted a sparkling .389 in 96 late-season trips to the plate. Here's hoping he gets another chance to show his stuff in the majors.

Steady reliever David Weathers re-signed with Cincinnati, thus avoiding arbitration. Dave was a workhorse out of the Met bullpen for 2½ years earlier this decade, as he has been elsewhere before and since. He's appeared in over 60 games in each of the last ten seasons.

Former favorite whipping boy of the intolerant Mets fans Aaron Heilman got traded from the Mariners to the Cubs without ever having thrown a pitch for Seattle. It was long rumored that the Cubs were interested in Aaron; now they have their man. I never fully understood the Mets fans' dissatisfaction with Heilman; even in the years he was pretty good for them, he was always an easy target for fast, unjustified booing. Good luck in Chicago, Aaron. Hope we meet you in the playoffs!

Lastly, another popular target of the Mets fans' scorn, Jeff Kent, announced his retirement after seventeen stellar seasons. Jeff merits a post all his own, which will be soon forthcoming.

Rickey in the Hall

In the winter of 1998, my soon-to-be wife asked me what I wanted for Christmas. I replied with all of the conviction of my blue-and-orange-beating heart, "Rickey Henderson." Sure enough, Rickey signed with the Mets that December, and he was even better than I had hoped he would be; he was a leading contributor to the Mets' successful '99 campaign with 89 runs scored in just 121 games, a dozen homers, 37 steals, 82 walks, and a team-high .315 batting average--the only time in the last eight years of Rickey's career that he would bat over .250.

1999 was in many ways the last hurrah for Rickey, even though he continued to play in the big leagues until 2003, and even beyond that in the independent leagues. But Mr. Henderson had had plenty of hurrahs before that!

He is, of course, MLB's all-time leading base stealer by an almost impossible-to-fathom margin. He is also the all-time leader in runs scored and unintentional walks. He was MVP of the American League in 1990, a ten-time All-Star. He won Silver Slugger awards as well as a Gold Glove. He led his league in steals a dozen times and had a career OBP of over .400. He was almost universally regarded as the greatest leadoff hitter to ever play the game.

And now he is a Hall of Famer. Congratulations, Rickey, on your well-deserved election to the hallowed halls of Cooperstown, but you already had a better place than that in my heart … you were a Met.

A footnote on asking for players to be added to the Mets for Christmas: There have been three that I recall; Rickey was the first, and that worked out just fine. A couple of years ago, I decided to try again, and I asked for Barry Zito. That worked out well, too, when he signed with the Giants instead and flamed out to the tune of more than a hundred million dollars. Then, just this past winter, I really kind of wanted Derek Lowe, and once again came up empty. I can only hope that I will be as pleased this time, when it turns out that Oliver Perez or Freddy Garcia was really the better choice after all!

Anyway, congratulations, Rickey Henderson!

Yet More Minor Signings

Shame on me! How could I have missed the return of Argenis Reyes? I must have forgotten about that one extra-base hit in 110 at-bats, those three runs batted in, that OPS+ of 34. I don't mean to mock; I hope he has a nice season for Buffalo.

Two other possibilities were added for the bullpen mix, too: 31-year-old Kyle Snyder and his career ERA of 5.57 in 93 games, and 29-year-old Jon Switzer and his career ERA of 6.11 in 68 games. More depth at Buffalo, I'm sure, if they survive Spring Training intact.

More Minor Signings

(originally posted 1/24/09 on Preaching to the Choir)

Just when you thought the Mets had cornered the market on fifth outfielders, they prove you wrong by signing yet another one. This time it's Rob Mackowiak, who has actually had a better career than Pagan, Sullivan, and/or Reed--at least so far--but is on the gray side of thirty, and coming off an injury-marred season that saw him bat only .132 in 53 at-bats for Washington last year.

The chances of any of the Mets' fifth outfield crew being significant contributors at the big-league level shrink with each new addition to the competition ... but the starting outfield for Buffalo this year might be pretty good.

I neglected to mention a couple of other minor signings earlier this week; might as well acknowledge them now: catcher Omir Santos, who got one hit in ten at-bats for the Orioles last year, and former Met Tom Martin, who will attempt to join the bullpen as a lefty specialist. I may have missed a couple, but they would be of only marginal import anyway.

Less than three weeks now until pitchers and catchers report to Port St. Lucie!

The All-Time NY Mets: 1990s Third Baseman

(originally posted 1/23/09 on Preaching to the Choir)

Howard Johnson, the third baseman of the 1980s, started off the decade of the '90s with a couple more strong seasons; would he be a repeat champion? We'll look at his résumé and then examine the competition: Dave Magadan (1992), Bobby Bonilla (1994), Jeff Kent (1996), Edgardo Alfonzo (1995, 97-98), and Robin Ventura (1999)--potentially stiff competition all.

In 1990 Howard Johnson was the incumbent third baseman, having just completed a record-setting 1989 season (169 OPS+ as a Met). HoJo's 1990 season was less impressive: 23 HR, 90 RBI, 34 steals, but still better than any third baseman who had preceded him. In 1991, though, he reached heights never before scaled by a Met third sacker: National League-leading totals of 38 home runs and 117 runs batted in. He also stole 30 bases, making him a 30/30 man for the third time.The following year HoJo spent most of his time in center field, and had a poor season. (The Mets have had a very questionable track record in trying out-of-position players in key spots: Juan Samuel, anybody? Mike Piazza?) In any event, HoJo returned to the hot corner for 1993, but his years of dominance were behind him.

In 1992, while HoJo was manning center, the Mets tried another position shift, making three-year incumbent first baseman Dave Magadan the third sacker, clearing room for new first baseman Eddie Murray. Mags, who had been an on-base machine during his New York tenure, continued to post a fine OBP (.390), but his power numbers of 3 HR and 28 RBI were an unhappy reminder of the slapstick ways of the Met third basemen of the '60s and '70s.

By 1994, both HoJo and Magadan were off the roster, clearing the way for yet another out-of-position experiment. This time it was slugging outfielder Bobby Bonilla who got the nod. And while he continued to hit well (20 HR and 67 RBI in that strike-shortened year), the next year saw him depart twice--first back to the outfield, and then on to Baltimore in a midseason trade.

The primary third baseman for 1995 was rookie Edgardo Alfonzo (who, it seems, was switching positions almost constantly). At first, it looked like Fonzie was going to be another one of those light-hitting utility infielder types that the Mets so often rewarded with the starting third base job. But he quickly proved to be better than that: In 1997 he smacked ten homers and drove in 72 runs to go along with a fine .315 batting average; the next season saw him improve his power numbers to 17 home runs and 78 RBI. The following season, of course, saw him switching positions.

In 1996, which almost escaped notice, the man who spent most of the time at third base was former second baseman Jeff Kent--you saw that coming, right? But Kent, who went on to have a potential Hall-of-Fame career (at second base, of course), was ineffective at third, and was traded to the Indians midseason.

In 1999, the Mets finally went back to a third baseman who actually belonged there, signing former AL All-Star Robin Ventura as a free agent. And Robin had a superb first season with New York: 32 homers, 120 RBI, a .301 average, and placing sixth in the NL MVP voting.

But who was the third baseman of the decade? According to the calculations used by the NY Mets Hall of Records, the best single season belonged to 1999's Robin Ventura, narrowly edging Howard Johnson's stellar 1991 campaign. But HoJo, with three seasons at third, must have nosed out Ventura's single season for decade honors, right? Well, yes, he did. But that third season of poor production in 1993 actually cost him the decade crown.

With three seasons of his own, featuring consistently good production--even though none of his single seasons featured the eye-popping totals of Ventura's 1999 or HoJo's 1991--Edgardo Alfonzo prevailed as the best NY Mets third baseman for the decade of the 1990s. Interestingly enough, we will see him again in a couple of months when I reveal the best second baseman of the 2000s … unless something unforeseeable happens, like Luis Castillo suddenly swatting fifty home runs.

Three Signings of Greater or Lesser Significance

(originally posted 1/23/09 on Preaching to the Choir)

This week the Mets signed three players who might or might not even appear for them this year.

First there was the perpetually underachieving lefty Casey Fossum, a former first-round draft pick by the Red Sox about a decade ago. Despite a decent strikeout rate, the Blade has given up nearly 5½ runs per game throughout his career. Knowing the Mets' recent history, he'll probably show up in the bullpen sometime during the season, or perhaps make an emergency start if he's doing tolerably well for Buffalo.

Next there was outfielder Cory Sullivan. One wonders why? It's not that he's a terrible player; it's just that the Mets already had two of him on the roster, in Jeremy Reed and Angel Pagan. Now, three of the same outfielders on one team would be a great thing if we're talking about three Carlos Beltrans; less so if we're talking about three Cory Sullivans.

Finally, just last night, there was the announcement that the Mets had reached a deal with former stud pitcher Freddy Garcia, who has been destudified by injuries for the past couple of years. Early reports say it's a minor-league deal that could be worth up to nine million dollars if incentives are reached. I am intrigued by the possibilities here. If the Chief can regain his former studliness and earn that nine mil, he would be a formidable Number Two indeed; his career ERA+ of 111 is more impressive than I had anticipated, and his most comparable pitchers on Baseball-Reference.com were all decent pitchers in their day.

GM Omar Minaya continues to reshape the club with mostly solid moves, despite the impatience and dissatisfaction of many fans. Here's hoping he still has one big trick left up his sleeve this winter. Personally, I would prefer Ben Sheets over Oliver Perez, but I would quite likely be wrong. In the meantime, I am practicing patience, and trying to celebrate the Casey Fossums and Cory Sullivans along the way.

The All-Time NY Mets: 1980s Third Baseman

(originally posted 1/16/09 on Preaching to the Choir)

Recapping our two previous exercises, the decade of the 1960s saw Felix Mantilla win a hotly-contested race of moderately successful candidates to be named the All-Time Mets Third Baseman of the '60s, albeit by a whisker. In the '70s it was a slightly different story, as steady Wayne Garrett overcame a field of really terrible challengers by virtue of his relative competence and longevity.

In the 1980s, however, three quite accomplished players emerged to contend for the honor of being named the third baseman of the decade, after stuttering at the beginning of this particular ten-year span with another of what had been (to this point) typical Mets third-base seasons.The Mets' starting third basemen of the '80s were (according to Baseball-Reference.com) Elliott Maddox (1980), Hubie Brooks (1981-84), Ray Knight (1986), and Howard Johnson (1985, 87-89).

Elliott Maddox had been mostly a fourth outfielder for the Mets for a couple of seasons before being asked to hold down the hot corner in 1980. Maddox was the very definition of an average big-league hitter, posting a career OPS+ of exactly 100. In 1980--Elliott's final season--he logged over 450 plate appearances, posting nearly-invisible counting stats of 4 home runs, 34 runs batted in, and a .246 average. He was also caught stealing nine times in ten attempts, which is all the more remarkable when you consider that just two years earlier, he had been caught eleven times in thirteen attempts; who gave him the green light to run ten times in 1980? In any case, he is not your Third Baseman of the Decade.

Enter Hubie Brooks. Though not blessed with any more power than previous Met third sackers (his first three years as a full-time player saw home run totals of 4, 2, and 5), he could at least hit a little bit. Hubie batted .307 in 1981--the highest batting average of a Met third baseman to that date--and twice during his tenure posted OPS+s of over 110. He was, perhaps, the All-Time Mets Third Baseman up until 1985.

In 1985, though, a young all-or-nothing slugger arrived from Detroit. He briefly gave up his starting role in 1986, but we'll hear more about Howard Johnson in a moment.

Ray Knight's first full year with the Mets was also 1985, and it proved to be an unqualified disaster, as he batted a powerless .218 in about a half-season's worth of work. But he won the starter's job in the championship season of 1986 and batted a nice .298 with 76 RBI, good for an OPS+ of 115, and was named Most Valuable Player of the World Series. He was considered a possibility for seasons beyond, but departed as a free agent for what turned out to be pastures less green. Funny that the perception exists that Knight was a better player than Elliott Maddox--Ray's career OPS+ was 98.

But the story of this decade was, of course, Howard Johnson. After moderate success in '85 and '86, HoJo took over in 1987 with a season that dwarfed that of any Met third baseman up to that time: 36 home runs, 99 batted in, and an average of .265. He also stole 32 bases, becoming the Mets' first 30/30 man (tied with Darryl Strawberry, who did it that same year). In 1989 HoJo was even better: 36 HR, 101 RBI, .287, and 41 steals. His 169 OPS+ that year was the highest for any Met regular for the first three decades of their history. He is the Mets' All-Time Third Baseman of the 1980s. Howard Johnson, take a bow.

Welcome, Alex Cora

(originally posted 1/14/09 on Preaching to the Choir)

The Mets are apparently on the verge of adding utility infielder Alex Cora to their 2009 ballclub.

Here's a fact you probably didn't know: As soon as Alex takes the field for the Mets, he will immediately zoom into the Top 15 All Time List for anybody who's ever appeared for the Mets in that all-important category of Times Hit by Pitch, joining such notably bruised luminaries as Don Baylor, Ron Hunt, and Fernando Vina.

Other than that, he's a utility infielder. How much harm can he do?

Welcome, Tim Redding

(originally posted 1/10/09 on Preaching to the Choir)

In what is actually a rather astute move by the Mets, New York is set to add right-handed starter Tim Redding to the mix for the 2009 rotation.

Tim's record of ten wins and a 4.95 ERA for the Nationals in 2008 was not overly impressive ... until you consider what the Mets have been using for fifth starters the past few years.

In 2006, Mike Pelfrey, Dave Williams, Alay Soler, Oliver Perez, Victor Zambrano, Jeremi Gonzalez, and Jose Lima combined to make a whopping 36 starts for the Mets covering almost 185 innings, resulting in a 9-14 record and a bloated ERA of 6.53.

In '07, the fifth starter slot was even worse (if you can imagine that), featuring such luminaries as Pelfrey again, Brian Lawrence, Philip Humber, Jason Vargas, Chan Ho Park, and Dave Williams again. That group made a total of 24 starts--more than 125 innings--going 4-13 with an astonishingly bad ERA of 7.42.

In 2008 it wasn't quite so bad ... not quite. Nelson Figueroa, Claudio Vargas, Brandon Knight, a depleted Pedro Martinez, Jonathon Niese, and Tony Armas tallied 36 starts covering more than 225 innings. The 14-12 record and 5.38 ERA weren't too terrible for fifth starters, at least by 2008 standards. But remember, the Mets lost out on a playoff spot by just one game.

Tim Redding's ten wins for the last-place Nationals don't look too shabby in comparison now, do they? A performance like that from the fifth rotation spot may have provided a substantial improvement over the disappointing finishes of the past three years. Decide now that you're going to cheer him, Mets fans!

Farewell, Dave Roberts

(originally posted 1/10/09 on Preaching to the Choir)

1981 Mets pitcher Dave Roberts has died. The full story can be found here.
Dave had some seasons where he knew considerable success--not with the Mets, unfortunately. He finished his career with the '81 club, losing three games without winning, and posting a 9.39 ERA.

Even though he was not a significant contributor to the Mets, Dave still was an honored member of the orange-and-blue fraternity, and his passing is solemnly noted here.

The All-Time NY Mets: 1970s Third Baseman

(originally posted 1/9/09 on Preaching to the Choir)

As we did with the 1960s, let's begin by looking at just who the starting third basemen were for the Mets in the decade of the 1970s, courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com. Chronologically speaking, your Metsies third sackers were Joe Foy (1970), Bob Aspromonte (1971), Jim Fregosi (1972), Wayne Garrett (1973-75), Roy Staiger (1976--kind of surprised not to see Joe Torre there), Lenny Randle (1977-78), and Richie Hebner (1979).

Third base has traditionally been a power-hitter's position, in addition to being a demanding defensive position. It is worth noting that, for the 1970s Mets, in seven out of the decade's ten years, their starting third sacker totaled no more than six home runs, nor did they reach as many as 38 RBI; in six of those years, their batting average didn't rise above the .230s. Yikes.

In 1970, following the retirement of Ed Charles and the anemic stickery of Wayne Garrett in 1969, the Metsies imported their first of three similarly unproductive third-base experiments. In '70 it was Joe Foy, obtained from the Royals at the bargain cost of pitcher Bob Johnson (who would strike out more than 200 American League hitters that year) and minor-league outfielder Amos Otis (whose presence would adorn the AL All-Star team for the next decade). Foy hit 6 home runs and drove in 37, while batting .236 in his only season with the Mets. In his defense, he did steal 22 bases and achieve an excellent on-base percentage of .373. But he was gone the next year, drafted by the Senators, and his drug abuse led to an early departure both from the big leagues and this world.

In 1971, the experiment was creaky veteran Bob Aspromonte, who had once played for the Brooklyn Dodgers and the expansion Houston Colt .45s. Aspro turned in a similar offensive line to Foy's--5 HR, 33 RBI, a .225 average--though without the baggage of the stolen bases (Bob had none) or the OBP (.285). Another one-and-done.

For 1972, the Mets imported former AL All-Star shortstop Jim Fregosi to man third base, getting him in trade for no less than four players: Leroy Stanton, Don Rose, and Francisco Estrada, all of whom played in the big leagues. Oh, and Nolan Ryan, who, as I understand it, went on to have some degree of success as a pitcher. For their pains, they acquired an almost-identical stat line to the departed Aspromonte's: 5 HR, 32 RBI, a .232 average, 0 steals, a .311 OBP.

For the next three years, the Mets turned third base back over to 1969 regular Wayne Garrett, who had served as a utility man ever since. More on him later.

When Garrett was finally traded away in 1976, most of the at-bats went to Roy Staiger, in the season that saw him get almost all of his big-league experience. Two homers and 26 RBI in over 300 at-bats, to go along with a .220 average. Next!

1977 saw the arrival of Len Randle, who turned in a surprisingly good year (at least, for the Mets of that vintage). Lenny batted .304 and stole 33 bases, also leading the '77 Mets in runs, hits, triples, total bases, on-base percentage, and even slugging percentage, despite having almost no power. He was named the Mets' Hitter of the Year for 1977 by the NY Mets Hall of Records, and received similar (and more prestigious) awards from the writers of the day. Lenny's '77 season was the best for a Met third baseman in the decade ... but then there was 1978. Back to normal: two home runs, 35 RBI, and a .233 average in over 500 plate appearances. Next!

For the final campaign of the decade, third base belonged to former Pirates and Phillies hitting star Richie Hebner, who did fairly well, leading the club in runs batted in with 79, to go along with his .268 average and ten home runs. But he was reputed to have a rather disagreeable temperament in the New York clubhouse, and was gone after only one year.

Which brings us back to Wayne Garrett. He was there for the Miracle of 1969, he was there through the abortive trials of Foy, Aspromonte, and Fregosi, and when the Mets finally gave him the third-base job again, he was up to the task in a way few of his predecessors had been. He smacked 16 homers in 1973, he almost broke the club record with 89 walks in '74, he had a fine .379 OBP in '75. He was fifth on the entire ballclub for decade totals in homers, RBI, and total bases, and his 442 walks in the 1970s was the most of any Met. He ranked in the top ten in almost every offensive category for the 1970s club, and he is your All-Time Met third baseman for the decade: Wayne Garrett.

The All-Time NY Mets: 1960s Third Baseman

(originally posted 1/2/09 on Preaching to the Choir)

Let the debate begin.

I will start off by saying that I could agree with any of four different choices as the Mets' third baseman of the '60s ... but the calculations are what they are, and (even though I may feel somewhat of a conflict with my own results) a suitable honoree is declared at the end of this article.

The nominees for this coronation are found at the indispensable Baseball-Reference.com, which lists the most frequent starters by position for every year of every team's history. The Mets' starting third basemen for their first calendar decade are Felix Mantilla (1962), Charlie Neal (1963), Charley Smith (1964-65), Ken Boyer (1966), Ed Charles (1967-68), and Wayne Garrett (1969).

Let's start by dispatching the pretenders to the throne. Charlie Neal had a terrible season in '63, accumulating only 3 home runs and 18 RBI as the starting third baseman, and Wayne Garrett (though he would prove useful in the '70s) was even worse in 1969, totaling one home run and 39 RBI to go along with a .218 average in 400 at-bats. Garrett's figures calculate out to an almost unthinkably-low OPS+ of 56 (with 100 representing the "average" player) and a Batting Runs figure of -23.1 (the linear weights calculation).

Let's turn then to the leader in the traditional counting stats. Charley Smith hit 20 home runs in 1964 to lead the club, and recorded 62 RBI the next season, again a team-leading figure (he also led the '65 club in slugging percentage). But his low batting average combined with his unwillingness to take a walk to produce a cumulative on-base percentage of only .274--a certain killer to his candidacy. Still, if you like homers and RBI, you could make a case for Charley as the third baseman of the first decade.

Following Charley Smith as the Mets' starter was the once-great Ken Boyer, and if Ken had had one of his Cardinals years with the Mets, he would surely be your winner. But Boyer totaled just 14 homers and 61 RBI in his only full season with New York--pretty good but not outstanding for the '60s. He is penalized (perhaps unfairly) by beginning the next season with the Mets but being soon traded away, thus depressing his per-season totals (one of the components of the ultimate calculation). If you want to make a case for Ken Boyer as your third baseman of the '60s, I hear you.

Ed Charles was a platoon starter at third for the next three seasons, and is the obvious sentimental choice for the honor, most likely for being the third baseman when the Miracle Mets clinched the World Championship--the photograph of him leaping for joy as nearby Jerry Koosman vaults into Jerry Grote's arms is well-known. And he did have one pretty good year with the bat, too. In 1968 he smacked 15 homers and batted .276 in only 369 at-bats, making him the leader among our contestants for single-season OPS+ and Batting Runs. But in both 1967 and 1969, he was really pretty bad, posting an OPS+ of less than 80 in each season. Still, as the iconic third baseman of the Mets' first few years, you could make an argument.

That leaves us with Felix Mantilla. Even though he appeared in the Mets' first-ever Opening Day lineup as the shortstop, batting second, he spent most of the season at third, and his totals showed him to be the third-most valuable hitter on the team that year (behind outfielders Frank Thomas and Richie Ashburn). Using the NY Mets Hall of Records calculations (which include value relative to the team he played on as well as to the rest of the league), Mantilla posted the best single season of any 1960s Met third baseman as well as the best cumulative score for the decade. His '62 counting stats of 11 HR, 59 RBI, and a .275 average were all pretty good for the 1960s, even if they appear hopelessly pedestrian by today's standards. He was gone by 1963, traded to the Red Sox for three players, and in his three years with Boston, he crushed the ball, posting OPS+s of 133, 144, and 119. The Mets surely could have used that kind of production in their early years, as their own starting third basemen for the same seasons tallied OPS+s of 79, 91, and 89. An unheralded player, one of the Mets' earliest in their long record of poor trades, and your third baseman of the 1960s: Felix Mantilla.

The NY Mets All-Time Team

(originally posted 12/30/08 on Preaching to the Choir)

The New York Mets have been in existence for parts of five different decades now, beginning with most of the 1960s and continuing on through this present decade that ends in 2009. (Or 2010, depending on your definition of what constitutes a decade. For the purposes of this discussion, though, decades run from 0-9.) In any case, that's a significant batch of history.

Over the course of the next twelve months, I will be announcing the all-time greatest Mets by position for the first five decades of their history, as chosen by my companion site The New York Mets Hall of Records. The calculations used to make these determinations are recorded elsewhere and are way too complex to bother with here; if you need to know, post a question in the "comments" section. Suffice it to say that they utilize traditional statistical measures and are balanced by more advanced calculations like linear weights, and they align pretty solidly with medium-level metrics like OPS+ and ERA+.

Beginning next week, I will start with 1960s third basemen, followed each week decade-by-decade until we reach the present, then following that up with a post for the Mets' all-time third sacker. Then we'll continue with 1960s shortstops, and move on from there.

Disclaimer: I didn't factor defense into the equations, and for the purposes of this exercise it didn't really seem to matter all that much. Unless you consider Rey Ordonez to be the Mets' all-time greatest shortstop, that is. Which he isn't.

I hope this creates a little bit of interest in the older players, as well as provoking some conversation regarding the selections. If you disagree with some of the choices, that's fine--just be ready to back your arguments with something of statistical substance, not merely your feelings.

Introduction

Greetings!

I had already been posting New York Mets content on my primary blog, Preaching to the Choir, but have decided to separate the content to make them both more palatable for my varied potential audiences. You are heartily encouraged to visit my other blog, as well as my Mets website, The New York Mets Hall of Records, and its companion sites.

Since there are already dozens of Mets sites devoted to breaking news and game-by-game recounts, this one will focus more on the historical aspects of Met fandom.

I will begin by immediately re-posting the entire Mets content from Preaching to the Choir in order to bring the Mets-only readers up to date. And so it begins!