Rain, rain go away. Losing an entire weekend of baseball is forced exile into other, lesser sports, like the NFL Draft, or worse, hockey and basketball (what a friend of mine used to call “the back-and-forth sports”). While I respect those who veer off into these diversions, I cannot understand those who believe in the primacy of those other endeavors. There is simply nothing like our game.
To make up for the lack of live action, SNY substituted with Mets Yearbook episodes, highlights from years past that can make you smile about the passage of time. There are a few years that will automatically enliven the memories of Mets fans: 1969 and 1986 are highlight reels for fans of any age. Other playoff run years, 1973, 1988, 1999, 2000, 2006, 2015, 2016 and last year’s team, have their place in Mets lore. But my favorite non-playoff year is 2005.
This was an incomplete team – but you could see it coming. They needed a few more pieces, which they ultimately landed the following off-season. The Mets lost their first five games of the 2005 season – three to the Reds and two against the Braves – thanks in part to the fact that Braden Looper was the team’s closer. He was ill-suited for the role. In the first game of the season he blew a masterpiece thrown by newly acquired Pedro Martinez. The Reds won the Opening Day game and then swept the Mets to start the season. The Mets quickly turned things around, winning six in a row. They were an up and down team all year, but they never quit. They finished tied for third with the Marlins – with a 83-79 record. They were 6-13 against the Braves – no kidding – and should have won more games with a run differential of +75.
The 2005 season was the one where we got our first real look at the player David Wright was about to be. He put up wonderful numbers: .306 BA; 27 HRs and 102 RBIs. He stole 17 bases with a .912 OPS. Nestled in a lineup with Cliff Floyd (who had a monster season himself: 34 HRs, 98 RBIs, .863 OPS) and an injury plagued (and probably pressing) Carlos Beltran, Wright showed everyone what was to come for the next decade. (His bare-handed catch in San Diego was a highlight reel staple for weeks on ESPN.)
There was some melancholy too. Mike Piazza was a shell of his glory days. Often hurt and with a slower bat, Piazza batted only .251 with just 16 HRs. But true to form, he played his heart out from start to finish. His last game as a Met player was a love fest from the Shea faithful. They fittingly cheered his every at-bat. When he came out of the game in the last inning, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
One humorous episode interrupted a Martinez start: the sprinklers came on in the middle of the game. It took about a half hour to restore order.
Dae-Sung Koo was a spot starter against the Yankees and Randy Johnson. Batting left-handed with Johnson throwing gas, Fox announcer Tim McCarver termed it “the biggest give up at bat” – right up until Koo ripped a double to right center. Jose Reyes bunted him to third – but Yankees catcher Jorge Posada strayed too far from home in fielding the ball – leaving home plate vacant. With a headfirst slide and outstretched arms, Koo beat Posada to the plate to score the run. It was maybe the most fun trip around the bases in Mets history.
As a September call-up, Mike Jacobs hit a three-run home run in his first Major League at-bat. In 30 games to end the season, Jacobs hit 11 HRs. He never hit as well for the balance of his career, but it was enough to convince the Marlins that he could be the centerpiece of a salary dump trade – the Mets acquired Carlos Delgado for the 2006 season.
2005 was also the last season Tom Seaver spent in the broadcast booth. Fans of my generation were initially upset about the team’s failure to bring The Franchise back to the booth. As it turns out, Seaver was in declining health and the determination was probably mutual. As a harbinger of things to come, Seaver’s departure cleared the way for the teaming up of the greatest trio in the game: Gary, Keith and Ron have been with us ever since.
The following off-season, General Manager Omar Minaya pulled out all the stops and put together a great team. Paul LoDuca replaced Mike Piazza behind the plate. Carlos Delgado became a Met and played magnificently at First Base. Little noticed was the signing of Jose Valentin – whose clutch hitting and wonderful fielding was an outsized contribution from the veteran Second Baseman. The acquisition of Billy Wagner solidified the bullpen and 2006 was a great year for the Mets – finally deposing the Braves as NL East Champs. But it was the 2005 team that played its heart out that set the stage for that great 2006 squad.
2005 was still memorable even though we didn’t reach the playoffs that year. It kind of led the way for the great 2006 season (albeit it didn’t end well) that we had. I know Beltan struggled that year, but seeing Pedro still dominate when he was healthy, and the development of Wright and Reyes, gave us hope.