1986/2006 Parallels

[Guest Edgy DC]

Both Mookie Wilson and Julio Franco have wives named Rosa, who each credits with turning his life around.

Both teams had switch-hitting secondbaseman who struggled against lefthanded pitchers.

Both had managers in their first assignment who played second base for combatative --- but respected and successful --- managers in their playiing days.

Um, both years end in 6.

That's all I got.

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

With a magic number of 1, both teams were swept in series in Pennsylvania but then clinched on the first game of the ensuing homestand.

[Guest cooby]

Both had Vice Presidents named Johnson.


No, wait, that was just Davy...

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

Both years celebrated major anniversaries. The 1986 Mets celebrated the 25th anniversary of the franchise. The 2006 Mets celebrated the 20th anniversary of the 1986 Mets.

[G-Fafif]

I was pretty tired the day after the '86 clinching.
I'm pretty tired today.

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

My parents had tickets to Game 6 and gave them to my brother.

If that's repeated this year, there will be Hell to pay!

[MFS62]

Both teams had highly touted rookie left fielders with weird hair styles.

Later

[HahnSolo]

Both teams were running away with their divisions by July 1.

Both teams had a starter whose last team was the Red Sox.(Ojeda/Pedro)

Both teams had an opening day outfielder who was shipped out by the end of the season. (Foster/Nady)

Both teams brought back one-time Mets for the stretch run (Maz/Bert).

Both teams caused Jay Horwitz to fret.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Kevin Mitchell?

I don't recall him being either highly touted or weirdly coiffed.

[MFS62]

Edgy DC wrote: Kevin Mitchell? I don't recall him being either highly touted or weirdly coiffed.

By season's end, those 12 HR in limited playing time started the touting for "the future". But you're right. He wasn't that highly touted when he jopined the club.

Wasn't he the one who gave Strawberry and others clubhouse haircuts that caused snickers from others? They said they wanted their hair to look like his.

Hey, in a thread like this, you gotta' give folks some leeway. We're trying to think back 20 years.

Later

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Both had Dominican shortstops.

Both had thirdbasemen whose name rhymes with Bite.

[RealityChuck]

Both had lefthanded closers.

Played home games at Shea Stadium.

Had 25 players on the roster (40 in September).

[stevejrogers]

ScarletKnight41 wrote: With a magic number of 1, both teams were swept in series in Pennsylvania but then clinched on the first game of the ensuing homestand.

Magic number was 2 heading into Philly, Mets won a game in St Louis (two game series) that knocked it down to 1.

[stevejrogers]

Both teams spent the summer being "chased" by the Phillies as the defending East champs sputtered out of the gate and never were a real factor in the division race all year

Both teams accquired their starting 1Bman and catcher who both provided good offensive and deffense as well as clubhouse leadership

Both teams set Met records for most players sent to an All Star Game

Both teams feature a crafty veteran lefty to augment the fireballing ace righty (Glavine/Ojeda)

[metirish]

Who's the fireballing ace righty on the current staff?

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

I assume he means Pedro Martinez.

[stevejrogers]

metirish wrote: Who's the fireballing ace righty on the current staff?

Pedro

[MFS62]

That's a relief.
Mr. Martinez will be happy to know that you have found his fastball. Seems he lost it about midway last year.

Please pack it up immediately and send it to him at Shea Stadium.

Later

[stevejrogers]

HA! True, true. Hey these aren't all EXACT 100% matches

Both teams featured first year Cable Color guys who played on their last Divisional Championship teams

Another stretch but Both teams had Howie Rose employed by the flagship radio station (Rose was Sports Director and Morning Show (Jim Kerr I THINK) anchor on WHN in 1986)

[seawolf17]

="SteveJRogers"]Both teams featured first year Cable Color guys who played on their last Divisional Championship teams

Now that's impressive work, Steve.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Pedro Martinez and Lee Mazzilli, both married to chicks on the fringes of broadcast journalism.

[Frayed Knot]

]Had 25 players on the roster (40 in September).

Actually, 1986 was the year of the "voluntary" 24-man roster.

[Guest Edgy DC]

A rare year when a team didn't have that in common with other teams.

[soupcan]

'86/'06 - first Mets postseason appearance since a World Series loss.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

There's only one parallel that will really matter, and we won't know whether that will happen until October.

[Willets Point]

1986-Through means beyond his control, Willets Point is unable to watch the game where the Mets clinch the NL East.
2006-Through means beyond his control, Willets Point is unable to watch the game where the Mets clinch the NL East.

Eerie.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Wow! I just felt a chill!

[stevejrogers]

Both teams' GMs are famous for making small deals, stock-piling very good spare parts like relievers, middle infielders and the like

[Guest Edgy DC]

I don't think of the Mets of 1986 and their stockpile of good middle infielders. I guess if you mean having Kevin Mitchell and Howard Johnson backing up. But that wasn't Frank Cashen being famous for stockpiling, but Davey Johnson being famous for trying hard-hitting thirdbasemen at shortstop.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Gary Carter played the last month of 1986, and then the post-season, with a torn ligament in his thumb.

Paul Lo Duca --- while he won't get an MRI to confirm --- is believed to be playing out the 2006 season, and hopefully the post-season, with a torn lignament (or ligaments) in his thumb.