A Different Kind of Mets Top Ten Leaderboard (Hitters)

As I was perusing through the Saturday New York Times sports section, I came across an article by Tyler Kepner on the recent signing of David Wright.  Kepner poses an interesting question when he asks: "Has there been a single important Met before this decade who did not play in the World Series?"

Of course, David Wright has never played in a World Series for the Mets, coming closest in 2006 when the Mets fell one game short of the Fall Classic.  But Kepner's article got me thinking about other Mets who performed well for the team but never got a chance to participate on baseball's greatest stage.

If you're a regular reader of Studious Metsimus, you know that I enjoy discussing the Mets' all-time leaderboards.  But what would those leaderboards look like if they consisted of only those players who never played in the World Series for the Mets?  It would look very interesting indeed, and in some cases, quite shocking.

So sit back, kick off your Mets slippers and enjoy this special Mets leaderboard, which lists the top ten in each hitting category using only Mets players who never appeared for the team in the World Series.  (Thanks to baseball-reference.com for the leaderboard assistance.)  You might need to borrow one of Davey Johnson's old bottles of Rolaids after reading the list.

(For the pitching leaders who never played in the World Series, please click here.)

Hitting Leaders For Mets Who Never Played In The World Series


Batting Average
 

Rank	Player	Batting Average	Plate Appearances
1.	John Olerud	.315	2018
2.	David Wright	.301	5453
3.	Dave Magadan	.292	2483
4.	Jose Reyes	.292	1742
5.	Daniel Murphy	.292	4840
6.	Steve Henderson	.287	2029
7.	Angel Pagan	.284	1646
8.	Ron Hunt	.282	1887
9.	Carlos Beltran	.281	3640
10.	Roger Cedeño	.279	1614

On-Base Percentage
    

Rank	Player	On-Base Pct.	Plate Appearances
1.	John Olerud	.425	2018
2.	Dave Magadan	.391	2483
3.	David Wright	.381	5453
4.	Carlos Beltran	.369	3640
5.	Steve Henderson	.360	2029
6.	Bernard Gilkey	.357	1567
7.	Bobby Bonilla	.356	2040
8.	Cliff Floyd	.354	1884
9.	Carlos Delgado	.351	2023
10.	Ron Hunt	.344	1887

Slugging Percentage
 

Rank	Player	Slugging Pct.	Plate Appearances
1.	Carlos Delgado	.506	2023
2.	David Wright	.506	5453
3.	John Olerud	.501	2018
4.	Carlos Beltran	.500	3640
5.	Bobby Bonilla	.495	2040
6.	Cliff Floyd	.478	1884
7.	Bernard Gilkey	.461	1567
8.	Kevin McReynolds	.460	3218
9.	Dave Kingman	.453	2573
10.	Jeff Kent	.453	1992

Games Played
 

Rank	Player	Games Played	Plate Appearances
1.	David Wright	1262	5453
2.	Jose Reyes	1050	4840
3.	Rey Ordoñez	916	3216
4.	Carlos Beltran	839	3640
5.	Todd Hundley	829	2904
6.	John Stearns	809	3081
7.	Kevin McReynolds	787	3218
8.	Dave Magadan	701	2483
9.	Dave Kingman	664	2573
10.	George Foster	655	2610

Runs Scored
 

Rank	Player	Runs Scored	Plate Appearances
1.	David Wright	790	5453
2.	Jose Reyes	735	4840
3.	Carlos Beltran	551	3640
4.	Kevin McReynolds	405	3218
5.	Todd Hundley	340	2904
6.	John Stearns	334	3081
7.	Dave Kingman	302	2573
8.	George Foster	290	2610
9.	John Olerud	288	2018
10.	Dave Magadan	275	2483

Base Hits
 

Rank	Player	Hits	Plate Appearances
1.	David Wright	1426	5453
2.	Jose Reyes	1300	4840
3.	Carlos Beltran	878	3640
4.	Kevin McReynolds	791	3218
5.	Rey Ordoñez	720	3216
6.	John Stearns	695	3081
7.	Hubie Brooks	640	2620
8.	Todd Hundley	612	2904
9.	Dave Magadan	610	2483
10.	George Foster	602	2610

Doubles
 

Rank	Player	Doubles	Plate Appearances
1.	David Wright	322	5453
2.	Jose Reyes	222	4840
3.	Carlos Beltran	208	3640
4.	Kevin McReynolds	153	3218
5.	John Stearns	152	3081
6.	Todd Hundley	118	2904
T-7.	Daniel Murphy	115	1742
T-7.	Rey Ordoñez	115	3216
9.	Dave Magadan	110	2483
10.	John Olerud	109	2018

Triples
 

Rank	Player	Triples	Plate Appearances
1.	Jose Reyes	99	4840
2.	Steve Henderson	31	2029
3.	Lance Johnson	27	1023
4.	Doug Flynn	26	2269
5.	Angel Pagan	23	1646
6.	David Wright	19	5453
7.	Joel Youngblood	18	2103
T-8.	Rey Ordoñez	17	3216
T-8.	Carlos Beltran	17	3640
10.	Lenny Randle	15	1093

Home Runs
 

Rank	Player	Home Runs	Plate Appearances
1.	David Wright	204	5453
2.	Dave Kingman	154	2573
3.	Carlos Beltran	149	3640
4.	Todd Hundley	124	2904
5.	Kevin McReynolds	122	3218
6.	Carlos Delgado	104	2023
7.	George Foster	99	2610
8.	Bobby Bonilla	95	2040
T-9.	Cliff Floyd	81	1884
T-9.	Jose Reyes	81	4840

Runs Batted In
 

Rank	Player	Runs Batted In	Plate Appearances
1.	David Wright	818	5453
2.	Carlos Beltran	559	3640
3.	Kevin McReynolds	456	3218
4.	Jose Reyes	423	4840
5.	Todd Hundley	397	2904
6.	Dave Kingman	389	2573
7.	George Foster	361	2610
8.	Carlos Delgado	339	2023
9.	John Stearns	312	3081
10.	Bobby Bonilla	295	2040

Stolen Bases
 

Rank	Player	Stolen Bases	Plate Appearances
1.	Jose Reyes	370	4840
2.	David Wright	166	5453
3.	Roger Cedeño	105	1614
4.	Carlos Beltran	100	3640
5.	Vince Coleman	99	978
6.	John Stearns	91	3081
7.	Frank Taveras	90	1583
8.	Angel Pagan	87	1646
9.	Kevin McReynolds	67	3218
10.	Lance Johnson	65	1023

The Wright Signing Reminds Me Of Santana's No-Hitter

After weeks of speculation regarding the future of the Mets’ franchise player, the team’s fans can finally exhale.  David Wright will indeed remain in orange and blue, as the third baseman has signed a seven-year, $122 million contract extension that will keep him in New York through the 2020 campaign. (Wright’s 2013 option that was picked up by the Mets in effect makes the deal eight years and $138 million.)  By the time his contract expires, Wright will have been a Met for 17 seasons, one year shy of Ed Kranepool’s franchise record for longevity.

Although I am happy that the Mets are finally keeping a homegrown player for the majority, if not the entirety of his career, I can’t get something out of my head.  What if David Wright’s signing is like Johan Santana’s no-hitter?  Allow me to elaborate.

On June 1, 2012, as we all know, Johan Santana became the first Met to throw a no-hitter.  But he needed 134 pitches to complete his gem.  Had Santana allowed a hit earlier in the game, manager Terry Collins likely would have taken him out of the game long before he reached that excessive number of pitches.  Also, if any other Met had authored a no-hitter in the team’s first 50 seasons, perhaps Collins would have removed Santana after six or seven innings, even with the no-hitter still intact.

But given the historic implications of the event, especially with everyone involved knowing that no Mets pitcher had ever hurled a no-no, Collins went against his usual modus operandi and left Santana in the game to chase history.  Santana did get the no-hitter, but at a cost.

The heavy workload, especially after missing the entire 2011 season and the final month of the previous year, brought about a marked change in Santana’s performances on the mound.  After keeping the Cardinals hitless through nine innings on June 1, Santana became quite hittable.  At the time of his gem, Santana was 3-2 with a spectacular 2.38 ERA.  When his season was cut short after 21 starts, his record had fallen to 6-9 and he sported a dismal 4.85 ERA.

Mets fans wanted a no-hitter badly.  They got one on June 1.  And they got it from a pitcher who was a fan-favorite.  But it came with a price, one that coincided with the team’s struggles in the second half.

That brings us back to David Wright and his long-term contract extension.

David Wright's tongue will be earning a total of $138 million through the 2020 season.

 For years, Mets fans have been wanting a homegrown player to remain with the team for his entire career.  The last homegrown player to spend as many as ten years with the Mets was Mookie Wilson.  And he’s been an an ex-Met player since 1989, when Juan Samuel (ugh!) replaced him in the outfield.

David Wright will become the first homegrown Met in nearly a quarter century to spend a decade with the team.  But will his contract end up becoming a financial burden for the Mets, especially once his skills begin to deteriorate?

Mike Piazza signed a seven-year contract to stay with the Mets after the 1998 season.  He was a shadow of his former self during the last three years of the deal.  When Piazza was entering the final year of his contract, Carlos Beltran was playing the first of his.  But Beltran’s seven-year deal was also one that produced a fine start (years two through four were among the best by any player in Mets history), but after Shea took its last breath in 2008, Carlos Beltran went down with the stadium.  Beltran missed huge chunks of the 2009 and 2010 campaigns due to an assortment of injuries before having a good bounceback half-season in 2011, which allowed him to be traded for über-prospect Zack Wheeler.

I understand that the Mets had to re-sign David Wright.  After all, attendance has suffered since Citi Field opened in 2009 and without Wright, Citi Field would have resembled Grant’s Tomb, which was the morbid name given to a mostly empty Shea Stadium after M. Donald Grant started counting his pennies in 1977.  But I only hope the Mets didn’t give Wright too many years to remain the face of a franchise that’s trying to save its face with the fans.

On June 1, Terry Collins kept Johan Santana in the game too long in pursuit of a moment fans had clamored for.  Santana gave the Mets a temporary moment of elation before going down for the count.  Now with the signing of David Wright through the 2020 season, the fans are getting another early present under their blue and orange tree.  Let’s hope this moment of elation lasts longer than the one Santana provided.  The Mets can’t afford to have another present break before its time.

B.J. Upton's Offensive Numbers Remind Me Of...

B.J. Upton's bubble will never burst after signing a lucrative deal with the Braves.

The Atlanta Braves made quite a splash on Wednesday, signing former Tampa Bay Rays outfielder B.J. Upton to a five-year deal worth $75.25 million.  The 28-year-old is coming off a year in which he missed a 30/30 campaign by two homers (28 HR, 31 SB), but only hit .246 and reached base at a paltry .298 clip.

Upton is now the highest-paid Brave on a team that features veteran players like Dan Uggla, Brian McCann and Tim Hudson.  But let's look at his numbers since his breakout year in 2007, a year in which he hit .300 with 24 HR and 82 RBI.

In 2008, Upton only hit nine homers, but stole a career-high 44 bases.  He followed that up with a Beltran-like post-season, hitting seven homers and stealing six bases in 16 games for the American League champion Rays.  He also averaged exactly one run scored and one RBI per playoff game (16 runs, 16 RBI).  But over his next four seasons (2009-12), an average Upton season has consisted of a .242 batting average, .316 on-base percentage, 82 runs scored, 69 RBI, 32 doubles, 20 HR, 38 stolen bases and 162 strikeouts.

Let's put those numbers together with the five and six-year averages of three other players who will remain nameless at the moment.

• Upton ('09-'12): .242 BA, .316 OBP, 82 runs, 69 RBI, 32 doubles, 20 HR, 38 SB, 162 K
• Player #1 ('90-'95): .273 BA, .348 OBP, 95 runs, 95 RBI, 27 doubles, 29 HR, 30 SB, 103 K
• Player #2 ('99-'04): .252 BA, .347 OBP, 87 runs, 81 RBI, 30 doubles, 23 HR, 28 SB, 148 K
• Player #3 ('87-'91): .258 BA, .347 OBP, 96 runs, 95 RBI, 31 doubles, 31 HR, 32 SB, 113 K

Upton leads all three anonymous players in stolen bases and doubles, but not by much.  However, he has a lower batting average, lower on-base percentage, has scored fewer runs, driven in fewer runs, hit fewer homers and has struck out more than all three players.  In some cases, he trails the other players by quite a bit.

If Upton will be averaging a little over $15 million per season for the duration of his five-year contract with the Braves, then how much would Ron Gant, Mike Cameron and Howard Johnson make in this era?  (And yes, those are the identities of the formerly unnamed players listed above.)

HoJo can't believe the amount of money B.J. Upton will be making with Atlanta.

Here are four more things you may not have known about Upton.  He's never been an All-Star, he's never won a Gold Glove, he's never earned a Silver Slugger Award and he's never received an MVP vote.  Meanwhile, Gant, Cameron and Johnson combined to make five All-Star teams, win three Gold Gloves and three Silver Slugger Awards, while earning MVP votes in nine separate seasons.

Despite their impressive statistics and postseason accolades, neither player was considered the best player on his team nor was any of them the highest paid.  But Upton - who has a bunch of zeroes next to his All-Star selections, Gold Gloves, Silver Slugger Awards and MVP votes - can now brag about some more zeroes, namely the ones on his contract that make him the highest paid member of the Atlanta Braves.

Maybe B.J. Upton will play well in Atlanta.  But is he truly deserving of the $75-plus million he'll be receiving until he's 33, especially for a player who's never been the best at anything he does, and in various offensive categories, is well below average?

Ron Gant, Mike Cameron and Howard Johnson are probably shaking their heads right now knowing how much they could have earned had they been in their prime in 2012.  B.J. Upton is just shaking his checkbook.

Some Mike Piazza Video Love

Earlier today, former Mets legend Mike Piazza was among the dozens of players named as first-time candidates for enshrinement to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.  Piazza is one of a number of players who might be making a trip to Cooperstown next July.  Other notable first-timers on the ballot include Craig Biggio, Curt Schilling and a number of players who have the steroid cloud hanging above them, such as Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa and a certain pitcher who was originally drafted by the Mets in 1981 but chose not to sign with the team.

I can go on and on about Piazza's unprecedented offensive numbers for a catcher, which should make him an easy first-ballot Hall of Famer.  (Of course, that's assuming the voters don't lump him in with the steroid class.)  But instead, I'd rather show you what made Piazza so great.  Perhaps a video or five might stir up those memories.

In order, we have Mike Piazza's debut with the Mets in 1998, followed by his game-tying home run against the Braves in Game 6 of the 1999 NLCS.  The third video is his healing home run against the same Braves in the first game at Shea Stadium after 9/11.  Video No. 4 is Piazza's home run in 2004 that broke the all-time record for homers by a catcher, while the final video is of Piazza hitting his first two home runs as a visiting player in 2006, earning him a standing ovation from the Shea faithful.

I hope you enjoy all five videos.  Although the Hall of Fame vote won't be announced until January 9, you know I'll be seeing you in Cooperstown on July 28.  Just make sure to pack your No. 31 jerseys.  You know you'll be wearing them...

Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Davey?

The David Wright contract extension.  That's what on the minds of all Mets fans today, especially with conflicting reports that Wright has been offered a long-term extension.

Over at ESPNNewYork, Adam Rubin's sources claim that the Mets have offered Wright a seven-year extension that would allow him to remain a Met until 2020.  But MLBTR is reporting that no such deal has been offered.  In fact, Wright himself was quoted on the site, saying:

"I have said from Day 1 that I want to play my entire career with the New York Mets.  I remain hopeful that goal can be achieved.  However, I am disappointed by the reports that I have read today which are inaccurate."

Wright's "now you see the extension, now you don't" news comes a day after the Tampa Bay Rays gave homegrown third baseman Evan Longoria a six-year extension worth $100 million.  Earlier this year, the Nationals signed the man in their hot corner to a similar deal, keeping Ryan Zimmerman in Washington through 2019, with a team option for 2020.

Both six-year, $100 million extensions were signed after each player was coming off an injury.  Zimmerman's deal this spring came after he played only 101 games in 2011 and posted the worst power numbers of his career (12 HR, 49 RBI).  Similarly, Evan Longoria signed his extension after missing 88 games for Tampa Bay in 2012.  Both Zimmerman and Longoria were 27 years old at the time their new contracts were signed.

David Wright will turn 30 in three weeks.  He was not injured in 2012 and posted fine numbers (.306, 41 doubles, 21 HR, 93 RBI).  However, his production fell off during the second half, as it has over the past few seasons in which he was fully healthy.

Zimmerman and Longoria are just entering their prime.  Wright will soon be leaving his.  If the Mets do offer Wright a seven-year extension, which would not begin until the 2014 campaign, that would keep him in New York through 2020, his age 37 season.  Will he be worth the amount of money the Mets would be paying him that year?

Carlos Beltran was given a seven-year deal by the Mets at age 27.  He played well until he was 31, then started to miss large chunks of time with injuries.  Before Beltran, there was Mike Piazza, who also signed a seven-year deal to remain a Met after the 1998 season.  Piazza had his last .300 season in 2001 at age 32 (the third year of his seven-year deal) and his final 30-homer season at age 33 (his fourth year).

If the Mets are truly going to give Wright a seven-year deal, they have to make sure they don't backload it with a high salary that will make it difficult to bring in other players once Wright starts to slow down, whether it be through injuries (like Beltran) or age and a demanding position (like Piazza).

Is Wright going to remain a Met for life?  Conflicting reports are confusing the issue.  But one thing the Mets should not be confused about is letting Zimmerman and Longoria's deals affect what they're going to do with Wright.  Both players are younger than Wright and should get more money because of it.  But Wright's best season may already be behind him.  It's up to the Mets to notice that before they talk dollars and cents with their third baseman.

The Worst Way To Lose A No-Hitter (The Sequel)

On March 13, 2010, I wrote a piece called "The Worst Way For The Mets To Lose A No-Hitter", which I have copied and pasted below this piece for your reading enjoyment.  Of course, since that piece was written, Johan Santana has become the first Mets pitcher to actually record a no-hitter.  (In a delicious twist of irony, Santana was used in the aforementioned piece as the pitcher who lost a hypothetical no-hitter in the ninth inning.)

In the above scenario, Santana lost the no-hitter in the ninth inning as the 27th out was recorded, but the Mets still won the game.  But what if a pitcher was one out away from a no-hitter, then gave up a walk-off hit, losing his gem and the game simultaneously?  It's actually happened, and it occurred when the whole country was watching.

Floyd "Bill" Bevens

On October 3, 1947, the New York Yankees and Brooklyn Dodgers were playing in the fourth game of the World Series, with the Yankees holding a 2-1 series lead.  Floyd Clifford "Bill" Bevens (not to be confused with former Met Cliff Floyd, who has no Bevens blood in his family tree) was due to start Game 4 for the Yankees and was a little wild, to say the least.

Bevens walked two batters in the first.  He then walked one batter in the second and third innings, before finally recording a one-two-three inning in the fourth.  In the fifth inning, Bevens walked two more batters, allowing one of them to score after a sacrifice and a fielder's choice.  The walk party continued with another base on balls in the sixth and one more in the seventh, followed by his second one-two-three inning in the eighth.

Eight innings.  Eight walks.  But still no hits.  And Bevens was allowed to pitch the ninth inning, despite his wildness and the Yankees' slim 2-1 lead.

Bevens gave up a deep fly ball to Dodger catcher Bruce Edwards, the owner of ten major league home runs at the time.  Two outs to go.  Bevens then issued his ninth walk of the game, issuing ball four to Carl Furillo.  Spider Jorgensen then fouled out to first base.  One out to go.

Bill Bevens was the architect of 40 major league victories at the time but had never pitched a no-hitter.  In fact, no pitcher had ever thrown one in World Series history.  All that stood between him and baseball immortality was Pete Reiser.  Perhaps Bevens had this on his mind as pinch-runner Al Gionfriddo was taking his lead off first base.  A lead that grew.  And grew.  Hey, where did Gionfriddo go?  Oh, there he is!  Gionfriddo stole second.

With the tying run now on second, Bevens went against the unwritten baseball book that has a chapter on how one should never put the winning run on base intentionally.  Bevens filled the open base by issuing his tenth walk of the game, putting Reiser on first while Gionfriddo remained on second.

Ten walks.  Still no hits.  One out away from immortality.

Up stepped the veteran Cookie Lavagetto to pinch hit for second baseman Eddie Stanky.  Lavagetto had barely played in 1947, collecting only 18 hits in 69 at-bats during the regular season.  But with one swing of the bat, he removed the immortal tag from Bevens and placed it on himself.

Lavagetto ripped a double to right field, scoring both Gionfriddo and Reiser to give the Dodgers a 3-2 victory.  The walk-off hit would be the only hit surrendered by Bevens in the game.

Whereas most pitchers who lose a no-hitter with two outs in the ninth get a chance to redeem themselves after their near-miss, Bevens never got that chance.  He never started another game in the major leagues.  But although the no-hitter and the game was lost with one swing of the bat, Bevens did go out on top, as the Yankees rallied to win Game 7 and the World Series title.

Johan Santana lost a no-hitter in the hypothetical situation I wrote about two years ago (see that post below), but eventually pitched one non-hypothetically on June 1, 2012.  Bill Bevens almost became the first player to pitch a no-hitter in the World Series, but then lost one in the worst way, one that could've cost his team a championship.  He got his ring, but never got another chance.  I'm sure he thought about his near-miss with baseball immortality every day for the rest of his life.


(Here is the original piece that inspired this one, written two years before the date no Mets fan will ever forget.  Enjoy!)


The Worst Way For The Mets To Lose A No-Hitter

Every young boy with aspirations of being a major league pitcher dreams of tossing a no-hitter. The thrill of recording out #27 before giving up hit #1 is one of the biggest joys in sports. However, this thrill has never been felt by a New York Met.

The Mets are one of four teams to have never pitched a no-hitter. Two of the other three teams are recent expansion teams (Tampa Bay Rays and Colorado Rockies). The other team is the San Diego Padres, who came into existence in 1969. The closest they came to a no-no was in 1972, when Steve Arlin's bid was broken up by the Phillies' Denny Doyle with two outs in the ninth inning. That's closer than any Mets pitcher has come.

Of the 33 one-hitters thrown by Mets pitchers (two of the 33 were of the rain-shortened variety), only two were no-hitters entering the ninth inning. Both were thrown by The Franchise, Tom Seaver, and both were broken up with one out in the ninth inning. Jimmy Qualls of the Chicago Cubs broke up Seaver's perfect game bid with a one-out single on July 9, 1969 and the Padres' Leron Lee singled to break up Seaver's no-hitter on July 4, 1972. Since then, the longest any Mets pitcher has carried a no-hitter is 7 2/3 innings.

Both Tom Glavine and John Maine had their bids for baseball immortality dashed with two outs in the eighth inning. Glavine's 2004 bid was broken up with a double into the right field corner by Rockies' catcher Kit Pellow and Maine's 2007 no-no ended when Marlins' catcher Paul Hoover hit a slow roller to third reminiscent of the excuse-me single hit by the Cubs' Keith Moreland to break up Dwight Gooden's no-hitter in 1984. (Side note: This Studious Metsimus blogger was present at the Glavine and Maine games. There is no truth to the rumor that I turned to my neighbor and said "do you think we'll finally see a no-hitter today?" in each game's eighth inning.)

As seen by the above examples, the Mets have lost no-hitters late in games by hard-hit line drives and little dribblers. But what would be the worst way for the Mets to lose a no-hitter? Studious Metsimus has the answer.

Say Johan Santana is mowing down the Phillies and becomes the first Mets pitcher not named Tom Seaver to take a no-hitter into the ninth inning. (What, did you expect it to be Maine or Perez? Neither of them is capable of pitching into the ninth inning, let alone carrying a no-hitter into the ninth.) Santana retires Jimmy Rollins and Placido Polanco to start the ninth inning, making him the first Mets pitcher to come within one out of a no-hitter.

The next batter is Chase Utley, but he draws a walk. The Phillies now have a baserunner, but the no-hitter is still intact as Ryan Howard steps up to the plate. Howard hits a routine grounder towards Luis Castillo that appears to be the third out of the inning, but the ball hits Utley as he's running to second base. The umpires immediately call Utley out for being hit by a batted ball in fair territory and the game is over.

Could it be? Has Johan Santana become the first pitcher in Mets history to toss a no-hitter? The players on the field seem to think so, as they're celebrating with Johan on the mound. But let's borrow the Major League Baseball Official Rule Book from the official scorer and take a look at two rules.

• Rule 7.08 (f): Any runner is out when he is touched by a fair ball in fair territory before the ball has been touched or passed an infielder. The ball is dead and no runner may score, nor runners advance, except runners forced to advance.


• Rule 10.05 (a) (5): The official scorer shall credit a batter with a base hit when a fair ball that has not been touched by a fielder touches a runner or an umpire, unless a runner is called out for having been touched by an Infield Fly, in which case the official scorer shall not score a hit.

While Johan Santana and his Merry Men were all celebrating his apparent no-hitter, the official scorer noticed that Utley had been called out because he was touched by a fair ball in fair territory before the ball was touched or passed Castillo (Rule 7.08 (f)). By Rule 10.05 (a) (5), the official scorer had to give Ryan Howard a base hit since there was no Infield Fly involved when the ball hit Utley.

Therefore, at the exact moment Johan Santana recorded the 27th out of the game, he also lost his no-hitter. Imagine the shock on his face when the scoreboard flashed the "1" in the hit column. Gary Cohen and Howie Rose would have been sick to their stomachs. If Bob Murphy were still alive, he'd be spinning in his grave while saying "and Santana loses the damn no-hitter", Ron Darling would have analyzed how losing a no-hitter this way would affect Santana's psyche and Keith Hernandez would have said that we shouldn't have female official scorers.

The Mets will pitch a no-hitter ... someday. But I wouldn't be surprised if they lost one in the way detailed above before they actually completed one.

"Give Me Something To Write On..."

Hey, I heard you missed us, we're back! I brought my pencil Give me something to write on,

Read more: VAN HALEN - HOT FOR TEACHER LYRICS

Hey, I heard you missed us, we're back! I brought my pencil Give me something to write on,

Read more: VAN HALEN - HOT FOR TEACHER LYRICS

"Hey, I heard you missed us, we're back!
I brought my pencil.
Give me something to write on..."

-- David Lee Roth (who doesn't feel tardy)

So this is what it's like to be a Mets fan this off-season.  I have to resort to gimmicks like using classic Van Halen videos and lyrics to attract an audience.  And why do I have to do that?  Because the Mets aren't giving me anything to write on!

David Wright and R.A. Dickey have still not been signed to contract extensions.  As each day passes, I'm starting to believe that the NHL will have a resolution to its labor impasse before the Mets bring Wright and Dickey up to the podium to announce their new contracts.

Since Angel Pagan, Marco Scutaro and all the other former Mets on the San Francisco Giants completed their sweep of the Detroit Tigers in the World Series almost a month ago, this is the extent of the Mets news:

• Jason Bay goes bye-bye.
• R.A. Dickey wins the National League Cy Young Award.
• Johan Santana's reward for pitching the first no-hitter in team history is a sweet new Mets blue jersey.
• Team signs pitchers Greg Burke, Scott Rice, Carlos Torres, Wanel Mesa, outfielder Jamie Hoffman and second baseman Brian Bixler, apparently because the Bad News Bears wouldn't take a flyer on them.

See what I mean?  There are no trades to report on and no big-name free agent signings.  Basically, the Mets are putting the "off" in the off-season.  So all I can give you today is a Van Halen video and a false report on the Bad News Bears' roster.  (Contrary to my report, they actually did take a flyer on Jamie Hoffman when incumbent outfielder Kelly Leak left the team, riding away on his motorcycle.  Leak eventually returned to the team, having left only to buy a pack of cigarettes, thereby making Hoffman expendable.)

Unlike yours truly, other more talented Mets bloggers have found material to write on.  Below are links to a number of those posts:

• In a post on Mets Merized Online, John Delcos discusses why Jonathon Niese is as "untouchable as any Met can get."

• With the Marlins going through their semi-annual fire sale, Steve Rogers of Mets360 brings back painful memories of the times when the Mets shipped off their players without giving them any lovely parting gifts.

• The always wonderful Metstradamus doesn't predict what will happen, but does toss around the idea of the Mets trading R.A. Dickey for a top prospect on a team desperately seeking a top-notch starting pitcher.

• The Tom Seaver of Mets bloggers, Greg Prince of Faith and Fear in Flushing, reminds us that we'll have "80 other opportunities" to see the Mets at Citi Field in 2013, especially if you don't want to shell out three Andrew Jacksons and three George Washingtons to see one Lucas Duda and one Josh Thole.

• And speaking of ticket prices, someone who writes on Kiner's Korner going by the obvious nom de plume "The Coop" (never heard of him/her) gives his/her take on holiday tickets, season tickets, and how the Mets are using the All-Star Game to get fans to pay up as soon as possible.

On behalf of David Lee Roth, the recently unemployed Jason Bay, all the former ex-Mets who have won World Series rings since leaving New York, Kelly Leak, and people who use pen names in their blog posts, I'd like to wish you all a happy Thanksgiving weekend.

Maybe I can be thankful soon for some new material, provided the Mets finally give me something to write on...

Hoping The 2013 Mets Don't Turn Into The 1974 Mets

In 1973, the Mets won the National League pennant despite a mediocre 82-79 record.  They did so with a light-hitting catcher in Jerry Grote (.256, 1 HR, 32 RBI), a first baseman (John Milner) who led the team in home runs but left a lot to be desired in the batting average department (.239, 23 HR, 72 RBI) and a 29-year-old with multiple All-Star Game appearances (Rusty Staub) who led the team in doubles, RBIs and on-base percentage.  They also played musical chairs in the outfield, with only one player (Staub) collecting more than 400 at-bats.

On the pitching side of things, the Mets had that year's Cy Young Award winner on their starting staff (Tom Seaver) who led the league in strikeouts and complete games.  Unfortunately, they also had a bullpen that left a lot to be desired, as closer Tug McGraw's ERA was near 4.00 (a high number for that era) and six other relievers had ERAs north of 6.00.

The team did not do much to improve their roster that off-season, despite obvious flaws with the offense and bullpen.  As a result, the 1974 Mets faded miserably, finishing the year with a 71-91 record - their first losing mark since 1968 and their first 90-loss campaign since Tom Seaver's rookie season one year earlier.

Although the Mets recovered to post two winning seasons in 1975 and 1976, the cracks were clearly visible on a team that had won two pennants and one World Series championship over a five-year stretch.  The death of Joan Whitney Payson and the rise of M. Donald Grant to power ushered in a dark era in Mets baseball that lasted for almost a decade.

Why is this important now in 2012?  Because if the Mets aren't careful, history could repeat itself in 2013.

Like their 1973 counterparts (minus the pennant, of course), the 2012 Mets employed a light-hitting catcher (Josh Thole), a first baseman who led the team in homers but had a low batting average (Ike Davis) and a 29-year-old All-Star who paced the team in a number of the major offensive categories (David Wright).  In the outfield, only one player (Lucas Duda) reached the 400 at-bat plateau.  Similarly, the 2012 Mets also produced the Cy Young Award winner who led the league in strikeouts and complete games (R.A. Dickey) and had a bullpen that left a lot to be desired (you name him, he probably sucked).

Let's look at the 1973 and 2012 Mets, position by position, to see the eerie similarities in their production:


Catcher
Jerry Grote: .256, 1 HR, 32 RBI, .294 OBP
Josh Thole: .234, 1 HR, 21 RBI, .290 OBP

First Base
John Milner: .239, 23 HR, 72 RBI, team leader in strikeouts
Ike Davis: .227, 32 HR, 90 RBI, team leader in strikeouts

Second Base
Felix Millan: .290, 3 HR, 37 RBI, .332 OBP
Daniel Murphy: .291, 6 HR, 65 RBI, .332 OBP

Shortstop
Bud Harrelson: .258, 0 HR, 20 RBI, .348 OBP
Ruben Tejada: .289, 1 HR, 25 RBI, .333 OBP

Third Base
Wayne Garrett: .256, 16 HR, 58 RBI, team leader in stolen bases
David Wright: .306, 21 HR, 93 RBI, team leader in stolen bases

Outfield
Cleon Jones, Don Hahn, Rusty Staub, Willie Mays (combined stats): .254, 34 HR, 170 RBI
Jason Bay, Andres Torres, Lucas Duda, Scott Hairston (combined stats): .233, 46 HR, 169 RBI

Starting Pitcher (Ace)
Tom Seaver: 19-10, 2.08 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 251 Ks, Cy Young Award
R.A. Dickey: 20-6, 2.73 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 230 Ks, Cy Young Award

Starting Pitcher (Next Three)
Jerry Koosman, Jon Matlack, George Stone (combined stats): 40-34, 2.96 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 438 Ks
Jonathon Niese, Johan Santana, Dillon Gee (combined stats): 25-25, 3.99 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 363 Ks

Closer
Tug McGraw: 25 saves, 3.87 ERA, 1.36 WHIP
Frank Francisco: 23 saves, 5.53 ERA, 1.61 WHIP



Pretty similar in many categories, huh?  The 1973 Mets were fortunate to play in one of the weakest divisions of all time and used it to their advantage.  The 2012 Mets were not as lucky, as they were stuck in the same division as the team with the best regular season record in baseball (Washington) and the top wild card team (Atlanta).

After coming within one win of their second World Series title, the Mets went into the 1974 season with high expectations but the same players.  Almost all of them underachieved.

John Milner had fewer homers and RBIs in 1974 even though he had 57 more plate appearances.  Wayne Garrett's numbers went down across the board, except for his strikeouts, which went up by 30%.  Rusty Staub's batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage all decreased from his 1973 numbers.  No starter hit higher than Cleon Jones' .282, and Felix Millan was the only other starter who hit higher than .258.  The team finished last or next-to-last in the National League in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, runs scored, hits, doubles, triples and stolen bases.  In other words, they stunk more than the swamp Shea Stadium was built on.

Even during the 1973 World Series, John Milner could tell that things were going to stink in 1974.

Because of the lack of hitting, Tom Seaver finished with his first non-winning season, going 11-11 despite a 3.20 ERA and his standard 200-plus strikeout season.  Jon Matlack tossed seven shutouts and had a stellar 2.41 ERA.  All that got him was a 13-15 record.  The bullpen was atrocious, with Harry Parker and Tug McGraw combining to pitch 61 games in relief.  They finished with seven saves and 23 losses.

The combination of weak hitting and subpar relief pitching caused the Mets to go from the penthouse to the outhouse in the span of one season.  The 2012 Mets were nowhere near the penthouse.  However, they only won eight fewer regular season games than their 1973 counterparts with a lineup and bullpen that was eerily similar to the pennant winners.

The 2013 Mets won't begin their season for another four months, but already there are rumblings that the team will go through another losing season.  The front office has to improve the offense.  They also have to put together a relief corps that will at the very least be serviceable instead of the human land mines that trotted out to the mound in 2012.

The 1974 team was a portent of things to come.  The 2013 team can't repeat history.  It's already been a dark first four seasons at Citi Field.  The light switch has to come on sooner or later (preferably sooner).