Quirks of 2019

[G-Fafif]

Sunday 4/21 marked the fourth time in Mets history in which four solo home runs accounted for all their scoring. They've never won any of those games. The first three were in each of their home parks: the Polo Grounds in 1962; Shea Stadium in 1997; Citi Field in 2017. Sunday's was the first road game.



The margin of defeat, in chronological order, has descended incrementally: 9-4 in 1962; 8-4 in 1997; 7-4 in 2017; 6-4 yesterday. So we're making progress.

[G-Fafif]

Read more about the surfeit of solo home run futility http://www.faithandfearinflushing.com/2019/04/22/cant-any-bunny-here-play-this-game/here.

[seawolf17]

That is a *fantastic* little stat. Love it.

[Edgy MD]

Solo homers in games where a team is trying to come back can be excruciating things.



The keep-the-line-moving offense of a week or two ago... that was beautiful.

[G-Fafif]

I was moved to look this up by the thought that with four home runs -- including two that were so colorful (Pete's and Noah's) -- there should be happiness throughout the land. Yet that was at odds with my gut feeling that solo home runs, despite each counting for one run, are spiritually useless. As tiebreakers, they're fantastic. As building blocks, they can be inadequate.

[G-Fafif]

With Zack Wheeler's long ball Tuesday night, Mets pitching staffs of the 2010s have now outhomered the Mets pitching staffs of all other Metsian decades.



1962-1969: 7

1970-1979: 9

1980-1989: 14

1990-1999: 13

2000-2009: 3

2010-2019: 15



That's 61 home runs in all, matching Roger Maris in 1961 and every Met going in 1980.



Learn more about the decennial phenomenon (and enjoy a modest oral history thereof) http://www.faithandfearinflushing.com/2019/04/24/power-pitchers-of-the-2010s-a-modest-oral-history/here.

[G-Fafif]

When the 2019 Mets fell to 13-13 on Saturday, they became the fourth-latest club in Mets history to reach the .500 mark for the first time (not counting 0-0). Thirty-one times, a Mets team has gotten to .500 by going 1-1. Eight other times, they've won or lost their first two before losing or winning their next two (to get to 2-2).



The rest of the roads taken to .500:



1977: 3-3

1978 & 2005: 5-5

1987: 6-6

2013 & 2014: 7-7

2012: 8-8

1994: 9-9

1981 (2nd half): 11-11

1973: 12-12

2019: 13-13

1997: 18-18

2018: 25-25

1991: 57-57



For all but three of these editions, the first time to .500 represented a hot start cooled off, such as we saw from the 9-4 Mets this year or the 12-2 Mets last year (here's hoping post-.500 tells a better story this year). The break-even mark looked a lot better to the Mets from 1997 (who started 8-14), 2005 (0-5) and 2014 (0-3).



The 1991 Mets defied gravity for an awfully long time, but losing 19 of 23 after peaking at 53-38 pulled them down to earth (before they continued to plunge to a 77-84 finish).



Six Mets teams never spent a day at .500. Dreadful starts doomed the first four Mets clubs to look up at so-so all season long. On the other hand, strong starts propelled the 1985 and 2007 Mets to records immune to touching down at anything worse than winning percentages above .500...though I imagine if they gave the '07 Mets a few more weeks, they would have found a way.



A few more .500 thoughts http://www.faithandfearinflushing.com/2019/04/28/we-inevitably-pass-this-way-again/here.

[Benjamin Grimm]

http://leaptoad.com/mets/above_below_500_graph.php?year=1991>

[G-Fafif]

With Zack Wheeler's long ball Tuesday night, Mets pitching staffs of the 2010s have now outhomered the Mets pitching staffs of all other Metsian decades. 1962-1969: 7 1970-1979: 9 1980-1989: 14 1990-1999: 13 2000-2009: 3 2010-2019: 15 That's 61 home runs in all, matching Roger Maris in 1961 and every Met going in 1980. Learn more about the decennial phenomenon (and enjoy a modest oral history thereof) http://www.faithandfearinflushing.com/2019/04/24/power-pitchers-of-the-2010s-a-modest-oral-history/here.

Syndergaard's second of the season and sixth of his career raises the 2010s total to 16 and the lifetime power pile to 62.



Eat your heart out, the late Roger Maris.

[Benjamin Grimm]

My Schaefer vote will be very straightforward for today's game:



Syndergaard 6

[G-Fafif]

Noah becomes the seventh Met starter to win a 1-0 game while driving in the only run. The others were Jerry Koosman and Don Cardwell in the doubleheader of legend in 1969; Buzz Capra in 1972; Ray Sadecki in 1974; Nino Espinosa in 1977; and Zack Wheeler in 2018. Kooz, Ray, Nino and Noah all completed their shutouts. Only Syndergaard, you may have heard, homered.

[G-Fafif]

The Mets have now lost the penultimate game of their annual Miller Park series eleven consecutive seasons. The last time they won their second-to-last game in Milwaukee was September 2, 2008, when rookie Jonathon Niese, in his major league debut coughed up five runs in three-plus innings but was rescued by the sturdy Mets pen of Nelson Figueroa, Duaner Sanchez, Brian Stokes, Pedro Feliciano, Joe Smith and closer Luis Ayala. Met runs were driven in by Carlos Beltran (3-run HR), Endy Chavez, Damion Easley and father of future rookie sensation Fernando Tatis, Jr., Fernando Tatis, Sr.

[G-Fafif]

Thirty-six games into the 2019 season, Pete Alonso has more home runs (11) than Edwin Diaz has saves (9).

[seawolf17]

=G-Fafif post_id=9441 time=1557305621 user_id=55]
Thirty-six games into the 2019 season, Pete Alonso has more home runs (11) than Edwin Diaz has saves (9).

[Centerfield]

I don't know if this is a quirk, but I meant to mention another reason why Gary Cohen is awesome. As if you needed another one.



The other night, when they were talking about Petco Park, Gary Cohen referenced the Padres old home a few times. Like he has every time I've ever heard him, he called it Jack Murphy Stadium. I remember when he and Bob Murphy were a duo, they would always refer to it as Jack Murphy Stadium ("We are live from Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego..."), even years after it had been re-named "Qualcomm". But even now, in 2019, 15 years after Bob's passing, Gary has stuck to it. We should acknowledge that this is not a mistake. Gary Cohen is a stickler about things, and especially names, even painstakingly making an effort to pronounce everything correctly. This is an intentional act of respect to his former broadcast partner.



I think that's cool. I try to do it too. But sometimes catch myself.



Anyway, for those keeping track at home:



Mentioning Qualcomm when it's not relevant: Douchiest thing ever



Refusing to mention Qualcomm even when you're supposed to: Greatest guy in the world

[G-Fafif]

Wilson Ramos, wearing No. 40, put the Mets up 4-0 with a grand slam in the first inning on May 14, 2019, exactly 47 years after Rusty Staub, wearing No. 4, put the Mets up 4-0 with a grand slam in the first inning on May 14, 1972. Staub's accomplishment was lost in the later heroics of Willie Mays, who homered in his first game as a Met (against his old team, the Giants). Likewise, Ramos had to at least share star-of-the-game honors with his pitcher, Noah Syndergaard, who flirted with a no-hit bid.



Take a modestly deep dive into this particular quirk http://www.faithandfearinflushing.com/2019/05/15/the-big-four-oh/here.

[G-Fafif]

Four Mets who seemed to have played their final games as Mets on September 29 would later return as second-termers: Bob Miller (1962; 1973); Brady Clark (2002; 2008); Anderson Hernandez (2007; 2009); and Carlos Gomez (2007; 2019).



When he debuted for the 2019 Mets, Gomez became the 234th player to play for the Mets in this decade, and the 30th to play in both the 2000s and 2010s.



Carlos Gomez and Jason Vargas debuted as Mets on the same homestand in 2007 as the 811th and 812th players in franchise history, respectively. They both went more than a decade between Met appearances and, pending Vargas's return from the DL (and Gomez's imminent staying power), will play in a game together as Mets in 2019 for the first time since July 3, 2007. It looms as the longest gap between two Mets being on the same field as Mets. The reigning record-holders appear to be Bob L. Miller and Ed Kranepool, who were starters on September 23, 1962 (the occasion of Krane's first hit), and then not on the field together again until May 7, 1974, when Miller relieved in a game Eddie started in left and never departed...though Krane pinch-hit in the first game Miller 2.0 pitched, on September 26, 1973, and they shared a few more box scores in early '74.



I can't believe I'm saying this, but I look forward to Vargas coming back, if only for this reason.

[G-Fafif]

Also in the shared gap conversation: Tom Seaver and Mike Jorgensen were on the field together as Mets on September 30, 1971, and then not again until April 20, 1983.

[Edgy MD]

Tom Seaver and Mike Jorgensen played together for the Mets on September 29, 1968, and then not again until April 5, 1983. And OH SHIT YOU BEAT ME TO THE PUNCH!

[G-Fafif]

This is the second consecutive season during which the Mets have added a player born on October 19, 1980, same day the Phillies defeated the Royals in Game Five of the World Series (winning pitcher, Tug McGraw): Jose Bautista in 2018, Rajai Davis in 2019.



Sadly for this thread, Jamie Quirk did not play in that World Series.

[G-Fafif]

LONGEST GAPS BETWEEN SAME METS IN SAME GAME (as measured in regular-season Mets games)

J. Vargas/C. Gomez: 1,913 (7/3/2007 - 5/25/2019, per tonight's starting lineup)

B.L. Miller/E. Kranepool: 1,780 (9/23/1962 - 9/26/1973)

T. Seaver/M. Jorgensen: 1,720 (9/30/1971 - 4/5/1983)



LONGEST GAPS BETWEEN SAME METS ON SAME FIELD (as measured in regular-season Mets games)

J. Vargas/C. Gomez: 1,913 (7/3/2007 - 5/25/2019, per tonight's starting lineup)

B.L. Miller/E. Kranpeool: 1,810 (9/23/1962 - 5/7/1974)

T. Seaver/M. Jorgensen: 1,728 (9/30/1971 - 4/20/1983)



Distinction between "same game" and "same field" in case it's not self-evident: same field means both players in the game at the same time, one pitching, one on defense. Same game means, obviously, they played in the same game, but weren't on the field or in the lineup together at the same time.



Few Mets fans have ever looked forward to seeing Jason Vargas pitch, but I'm pretty stoked at the idea that Vargas can turn around toward his outfielders and see Gomez just as he did one night nearly twelve years ago and not since.



Of course the Mets got blown out that night at Coors Field, so maybe only so stoked.



In Miller's second tenure, he never started. In Seaver's second tenure, Jorgensen never started. Who would have guessed Jason Vargas and Carlos Gomez would have that lane to themselves by several miles?

[batmagadanleadoff]

What about Ron Hodges and Rusty Staub (6/13/73-9/30/84)? Staub appeared in Hodges's first and last major league games, which were all as a Met. Close? Top three? If I wasn't so lazy, I'd calculate the games myself being that I already know the dates.

[G-Fafif]

I wasn't looking at the gap between first and last games together, rather the gap between appearances together. Hodges and Staub played together on September 28, 1975, and next on April 19, 1981. That's about 820 games.



As for longest stretch between first and last games together (as measured in regular-season Mets games), it's likely Reyes/Wright, with Seaver/Jorgensen close behind. Though the years are similar (slightly past middle of 2004 to end of 2018 vs. late 1968 to June 1983), Jose and David might have the edge because of no games lost to strike or even rain.

[batmagadanleadoff]

=G-Fafif post_id=11095 time=1558812801 user_id=55]
I wasn't looking at the gap between first and last games together, rather the gap between appearances together. Hodges and Staub played together on September 28, 1975, and next on April 19, 1981. That's about 820 games.



As for longest stretch between first and last games together (as measured in regular-season Mets games), it's likely Reyes/Wright, with Seaver/Jorgensen close behind. Though the years are similar (slightly past middle of 2004 to end of 2018 vs. late 1968 to June 1983), Jose and David might have the edge because of no games lost to strike or even rain.

[G-Fafif]

It's cool. That was my next calculation anyway.



Reyes and Wright first played together on July 21, 2004, and last played together on September 29, 2018; 2,335 regular-season Mets games transpired in between.



Seaver and Jorgensen first played together on September 14, 1968, and last played together (on the field at the same time) on May 11, 1983; 2,244 regular-season Mets games transpired in between.



Seaver and Jorgensen were in the same game for the last time, though not on the field at the same time, on June 7, 1983, making the gap between first and last 2,267 regular-season Mets games if you choose to view it through that prism.

[G-Fafif]

MET CG SHUTOUTS AT CITI FIELD, 2014-Present

Noah Syndergaard 2

Jason Vargas 1



MET CG VICTORIES (9 IP) AT CITI FIELD, 2014-Present

Noah Syndergaard 2

Jacob deGrom 1

Jason Vargas 1

[Benjamin Grimm]

Was there a day when the Mets had to finish a suspended game and had their starter for the regularly scheduled game take the mound for the resumption of the previous night's game? I think it may have been Seaver, and he ended up pitching one inning in the suspended game and getting a win, and then getting a second win that day in the "nightcap". Am I remembering correctly? (If only I had access to a database where I could look this kind of stuff up...)

[G-Fafif]

That was when Seaver was a White Sock. He completed their 25-inning win over the Brewers, then went out and beat 'em in the scheduled game.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Right! That was when he was closing in on 300 wins!

[Edgy MD]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Was there a day when the Mets had to finish a suspended game and had their starter for the regularly scheduled game take the mound for the resumption of the previous night's game? I think it may have been Seaver, and he ended up pitching one inning in the suspended game and getting a win, and then getting a second win that day in the "nightcap". Am I remembering correctly? (If only I had access to a database where I could look this kind of stuff up...)

Kevin Kobel did this, I believe. 1979-ish.



The Mets were cruising to a victory the night before — Pete Falcone was working on a shutout — when the last out was seemingly made. Folks started celebrating, shaking Falcone's hand, and walking off the field, when the second-base ump called his comrades together and let them know that, wait a minute, I had called time.



The shortstop or secondbaseman or somebody had asked for time and it was granted before the final pitch was thrown.



So everybody was called out on the field to finish up that last out. After three more pitches, somebody finally realized there was no firstbaseman. Ed Kranepool had headed into the clubhouse, jumped into the shower, and was too busy cleaning Little Krane to realize nobody else was around him. I mean, I assume this is what he was doing. I had occasion some years later to ask him where he had gone. He chose to take the focus off himself and turn the question around: "What was the first base umpire doing? What was he thinking? Three pitches and he doesn't realize he's alone out there? You can't blame the first base coach, because he's probably hoping nobody notices we're a fielder short, but that ump was asleep on the job."



He even remembered which ump it was. I'm thinking Ed Montague, but that's probably not right.



So, realizing the game had grown farcical, and the typical 1979 crowd of a few thousand had dwindled to a few hundred, it was decided to finish the game the next day before the start of the scheduled game. Pete Falcone, being in recovery mode by this time, was unallowed by Joe Torre to finish his shutout. Kobel took the mound, got the last out, and then continued on to start the regular game.



Here we go:

• https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN197908210.shtmlThe suspended game.


• https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN197908220.shtmlThe regularly scheduled game the next day.