Category: Sports News

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Just last summer, Bryce Eldridge wasn’t sure where to position himself on relays from the outfield. He lacked other fundamentals that only come with experience at first base, such as tracking the batter, not the ball, when a pitch is on the way.

The Giants’ top prospect didn’t make their Opening Day roster, but the 21-year-old first baseman believes he put to rest this spring any doubts about his defensive future.

“My defense was always something that was kind of a question mark to these guys,” Eldridge told the California Post hours before he was optioned out of camp Thursday. “I think I played a damn good first. If you put me up with some of the best, I think I’m an above-average big-league first baseman.”

Whether or not Eldridge could crack the Opening Day roster was poised to be one of the most intriguing questions of Tony Vitello’s first spring training as the Giants’ manager.

Eldridge made his MLB debut last September, but he still only has 84 games above Double-A.

Despite his lack of experience, Eldridge made the decision about more than his defense.

“I think everyone was wondering about (his) position,” Vitello said. “But I think he showed real potential to not just be over at first base, but to be a quality defender at first base.”

In a twist, the prospect known for his prowess at the plate looked more uncomfortable in the batter’s box than he did on the infield dirt. The Giants would like to see Eldridge strike out less than his 38.7% rate this spring and, as Vitello said, “as big and strong as he is, just to be more dangerous at the plate.” Meaning: More consistently laying off pitches outside the zone.

“I think he showed he is a major-league player,” general manager Zack Minasian told the Post. “We’ve talked about him defensively, just getting more comfortable at first base in all facets. I think he’s done a good job there. Offensively, it’s huge, huge upside. I think him putting the ball in play consistently is a big deal.”

The assignment to Triple-A Sacramento should allow Eldridge to get everyday reps in at first base, in the batter’s box — and on the base paths, his next area of improvement. Base running mechanics are all the more important with Eldridge’s large, lanky frame, and he wasn’t on first base much this spring with six of his nine hits going for extra bases.

“It’s hard to keep your body under control when you’re this long and this big,” Eldridge said. “Learning how to run and use good mechanics isn’t something I’ve ever practiced, kind of like how I had never really practiced first before.”

In that case, the Giants should feel good about Eldridge’s ability to pick it up.

Vitello’s first interaction with Eldridge came when he was still a teenager and the Giants manager was attempting to recruit him to Tennessee. At the time, Eldridge was still splitting time between the mound and the outfield. He didn’t pick up a first baseman’s mitt until his first full professional season, in 2024, as he climbed from A-ball to Triple-A in the same year.

Eldridge initially struggled to make some routine plays. This spring, he made some that were only possible for somebody with an athletic, 6-foot-7 build and an understanding how to use it.

“There were several plays that I don’t know many other first basemen make,” Vitello said, commending the improvements in his footwork and the intent behind his work.

Eldridge has taken part in Ron Washington’s famously intense infield drills. He has been coached up by another legendary Giants first baseman in Will Clark. Last year, he struck up a close bond with J.T. Snow, a six-time Gold Glove winner at first base — four with the Giants.

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Snow visited Eldridge twice in Sacramento, where he told the Post that the young first baseman “opened up” about his defensive shortcomings and “got better” because of it.

“Everybody in the organization agreed he was better than day one,” Snow said. “That’s because we worked really hard. … We really got close in Sacramento.”

Eldridge told him he was confused about cutoffs and relays. Snow told him to read the third-base coach to see whether the runner is being waved home. Eldridge would set up before the pitch and lock in on the ball as it traveled to home plate.

“I said, no no no. We don’t do that,” Snow said. “We watch him wind up and we shift our eyes to the hitting zone. You focus on the catcher and the hitting zone. He never knew that because he signed out of high school and he’s 20 years old.”

Eldridge now has more than 200 games at first base under his belt. He added another 19 this spring. He would have had to contend with Rafael Devers for playing time at first base with the big-league club, but there should be no obstacle to him playing the field in Sacramento.

As for those little things he worked on with Snow, Eldridge said, “I definitely feel like I got all those things down.”

“Those are things that, over time, you don’t have to think about as much,” he said. “It’s just gonna take experience and reps, and I’m getting to that point where I’ve had pretty decent experience and taken a lot of reps.”

If there was any doubt about how seriously Eldridge was being considered for the Opening Day roster, look no further than his playing time: Only one player logged more plate appearances.

The Giants were determined to give him a serious look.

They saw enough to be confident that it won’t be long until they see him again.

Vitello said Eldridge took it “like a pro” when he delivered the hard news on Thursday.

“He’s gonna be with us at some point,” Vitello said. “We want him to be ready to rock and roll. I think he will be based off his work ethic and character.”

In the 2022 MLB Draft, Gavin Cross was taken ninth overall by the Kansas City Royals. The Virginia Tech outfielder had just wrapped up an outstanding three-year career with the Hokies.

In his “freshman” season in 2020, he started all 16 games and hit .369, recording seven multi-hit performances before the pandemic cut the season short.

His next season was considered his true freshman campaign, and he became the first freshman in program history to earn All-ACC First Team honors. He also led the team with a .345 batting average. The talent was obvious, and he looked destined for the big leagues. After another strong season, the Royals selected him ninth overall.

Cross carried that success into his first professional season, slashing .312/.437/.633 between the ACL and Columbia with the Fireflies.

At that point, he appeared to be moving quickly through the minors, with the potential to become the next big thing in Kansas City. He opened the 2023 season in High-A Quad Cities and even reached Double-A Northwest Arkansas by year’s end. However, he struggled mightily, hitting just .206/.300/.383.

It didn’t add up. How does a hitter who had posted .300-plus seasons for four straight years suddenly look lost at the plate?

The answer came later. Cross made three separate trips to the emergency room before doctors diagnosed him with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, a serious tick-borne illness. Though he was treated with antibiotics, the disease left him physically drained and effectively derailed his season.

The illness is relatively rare, affecting only a few thousand people in the United States each year, according to the CDC.

In other words, a rare condition cost Cross one of the most important developmental seasons of his career and set him back on his path to the majors.

Since then, Cross has somewhat rebounded, spending the last two seasons in Double-A and putting together respectable numbers, hitting .261 and .241 with 32 combined home runs.

Now entering his age-25 season, time is beginning to feel like a factor. Prospects such as Jac Caglianone and Carter Jensen have surged up the system, and Cross has faded from the spotlight.

However, with players away for the World Baseball Classic this spring, Cross received an extended opportunity in Arizona—and he made the most of it. He hit .281/.324/.500 with two home runs. The 14 strikeouts are a concern, but elevated strikeout rates are common in today’s game.

He won’t open the season in Kansas City. More likely, he returns to Double-A, though he seems close to breaking through to Triple-A Omaha.

And given the Royals’ outfield struggles over the past two seasons, opportunities could arise. If players like Starling Marte or Lane Thomas fail to produce, or if injuries hit, Cross could finally get his chance to reach the majors and live up to his draft status.

It would make for a compelling comeback story, especially after the lost season caused by Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. The earliest realistic timeline for a call-up would be late July or early August, but he’s an easy player to root for, and one who still has a chance to fulfill the expectations placed on him four years ago.

Although it ultimately came down to a two-horse race, the National League West fielded four teams in 2025 that showed flashes throughout the year. Those four squads started hot and held a winning record as July kicked off. While the Los Angeles Dodgers would ultimately hold serve throughout September, the San Diego Padres were within just a couple games of first down the stretch in a race that was closer than many expected. 

The San Francisco Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks were in the mix for a good portion of the year, but would fall out of the race for first and into a battle with each other for third by August. Neither was a Wild Card threat. Even still, both had their moments.

Hey, even the Colorado Rockies found success, in that they avoided posting the worst record of all time. (It’s the little things.)

Heading into 2026, pitching looks to be a common thread that will define the division. Teams around the West focused their offseason on acquiring pitching talent, for a variety of reasons.

• The Padres looked to replace departing aces, the Dodgers bolstered an already strong squad.
• The Diamondbacks sought relief for a struggling unit across a number of stats.
• The Giants held steady and will generally rely on the pieces they had.
• The Rockies tinkered with the philosophy behind their staff. 

In a tough division with little margin for error, each team’s adjustments could result in big changes for how the standings shake out. 

Arizona Diamondbacks

2025 Record: 80-82 | PECOTA 2026 Projection: 78.4 wins

Key Additions: 3B Nolan Arenado, SP Merrill Kelly, SP Michael Soroka, 1B Carlos Santana

Key Departures: OF Jake McCarthy, SS Blaze Alexander, RP Jalen Beeks

The D-Backs aimed to shore up a pitching staff that was bottom-10 in both ERA and hits allowed, re-signing Zac Gallen to anchor their starting rotation and bringing in Kelly and Soroka to slot in. Kelly will start the season on the IL after an injury in early March, but will look to make his 2026 debut soon enough. 

Much of the Serpientes’ success came on the offensive side. Their bottom-10 pitching was countered by an offense that was top-10 in just about every batting category. They got on base, scored a lot of runs, drew a lot of walks, and hit a lot of homers. Things were clicking.

They acquired two new starters in Arenado and Santana, both of whom are coming off of down years at the plate relative to their usual production. Arenado slashed .237/.289/.377, each the lowest in his career. Santana posted .219/.308/.325 across two teams, and while those weren’t career lows, they were big dips from recent years. Both hope to rebound, but bring uncertainty to their new team. Keeping this steady are a core of solid hitters in Geraldo Perdomo, Corbin Carroll, and Ketel Marte.

The D-Backs still have some question marks and might not emerge as one of MLB’s top teams, but they certainly are positioned to push for the playoffs if they see a return to form for Gallen and some improvements to their pitching numbers overall.

However, an uptick in pitching could unfortunately pair with a regression in batting, threatening those chances. 

Colorado Rockies

2025 Record: 43-119 | PECOTA 2026 Projection: 61.0 wins

Key Additions: UTIL Willi Castro, SP Michael Lorenzen, SP Tomoyuki Sugano, SP José Quintana, 2B Edouard Julien

Key Departures: SP Germán Márquez, 1B Michael Toglia, INF Kyle Farmer

After you’ve flirted with the likes of the 2024 White Sox and the 1899 Cleveland Spiders, any improvement feels welcome.

The 2026 Rockies won’t yet be looking for their first winning season in eight years. They probably aren’t even looking at their first sub-100 loss season. But bringing the losses down from 119 to 101, as PECOTA suggests, would feel like a massive win. Again, the bar is low. 

Following 103-, 101-, and 119-loss seasons, the biggest improvements the club made in the offseason might be those in the front office. The team is young in positions and approaches related to club management, baseball operations, analytics (FINALLY!), and scouting. Obviously, time will tell how the new philosophies take shape, but for the time being it feels like the Rockies are actually headed in any direction. 

The year ahead will be one of evaluation and development, understanding what the Rox have in the pipeline across the roster (see our 2026 State of the Position series for a look at each position in more detail!) and tinkering with organizational philosophies. That is evidenced by the number of one-year deals the Rockies have taken on as they try to avoid being tied down by any more big contracts or players who aren’t a long-term fit. 

Obviously, as the Rockies try to shore up talent and work through the growing pains of young players playing who may or may not be around in a couple years, their outlook to compete in the division is very rough. What they can’t bring in wins, they hope to bring in exciting prospects and fun. The Rockies have not been a fun team to watch in a while, but several young cornerstone pieces and bright spots in camp could change that. A double-digit improvement in wins would be a very nice cherry on top. 

Los Angeles Dodgers

2025 Record: 93-69 | PECOTA 2026 Projection: 103.9 wins

Key Additions: OF Kyle Tucker, RP Edwin Díaz, UTIL Kiké Hernández

Key Departures: SP Clayton Kershaw, OF Michael Conforto, RP Kirby Yates

I think the Dodgers may have broken the PECOTA Standings… 

They come into the year with the highest win projection in all of MLB and the best percentage chance to win their division (98.7%) of any projected division winner. On top of that, PECOTA gives them a 100% chance to make the playoffs and a 21.6% chance to win the World Series. So, yeah, I guess the back-to-back champs are in okay shape. 

They came into 2025 with similarly high expectations and while they fell behind the Philadelphia Phillies and the Milwaukee Brewers for a postseason bye, that was a lost battle on their way to winning the World Series war. 

Any concerns about Los Angeles’ outlook can be deferred until a later date. Having Shohei Ohtani and adding some of the year’s top free agents will squash any worries. The 2026 Dodgers had a rich-get-richer offseason, and the defending champs look even stronger with the addition of Tucker and Díaz. On paper, it’s a roster with very few holes. As heavy favorites, the Dodgers will look to put a little more distance between themselves and the Padres in locking up the division and securing the 1-seed on the way to another NL Pennant. 

Ultimately, last year’s season is a recipe that should comfort LA. While they didn’t hit the stellar projections many thought they would, they weathered injuries and made it to the dance, where they could unleash a loaded rotation of Cy Young-caliber stars and flash depth in the field that helped them withstand a very good Toronto Blue Jays team that outplayed them for much of a series. In short, all of their talent gives them enough wiggle room to the point that the regular season finish won’t make or break their disgustingly high floor. 

San Diego Padres

2025 Record: 90-72 | PECOTA 2026 Projection: 80.8 wins

Key Additions: SP Michael King, 3B/OF Miguel Andujar, INF Sung-Mun Song, RP Ty Adcock

Key Departures: SP Dylan Cease, 1B/2B Luis Arráez, 1B/OF Ryan O’Hearn, RP Robert Suárez

The Friars came surprisingly and agonizingly close to their first division title since 2006. In a West that was thought to belong to the Dodgers, the Padres were just three games out when all was said and done, even coming a game and a half within the lead in the final week of the season. It was a year of “so close, yet so far”, as they would end up falling to the Chicago Cubs in the Wild Card Round. 

San Diego rode the wave of a top-notch pitching staff in 2025, finishing first in the league in hits allowed and saves, and third in ERA. They’ll look to plug some holes to hit those marks again after losing their top starting pitcher and relief pitcher in the offseason. Cease headed north of the border to join the AL Champs in Toronto, after giving San Diego 32 starts (8-12, 4.55 ERA) last year. Suárez may be even harder to replace, joining the Atlanta Braves after 56 games finished (40 saves, 2.97 ERA) for the Padres. 

That’s a lot of games, and San Diego will face an uphill battle in filling them. Yu Darvish is out for the full season following elbow surgery, so the team will have more spots to fill. Germán Márquez looks to be a new addition to their projected starting rotation, as is Randy Vásquez (acquired from the New York Yankees in the Juan Soto trade) after a strong spring. They may look to hop in the trade market to acquire another starter, with rumors that they could be in on Kodai Senga if he’s moved. Mason Miller, the closer acquired at the 2025 trade deadline, will look to take Suárez’s role. 

On the other side of things, the Padres bring back a top-heavy lineup led by Fernando Tatís Jr., Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts, and Jackson Merrill. They’re likely to miss Luis Arráez, who pitched in a team-high 181 hits on .292/.327/.392 batting. Gavin Sheets and newcomer Miguel Andujar will look to contribute, but the team’s fate will rely on how those core guys look this year. 

Big change at key positions and the wear-and-tear of the NL West gauntlet will test San Diego’s playoff hopes. PECOTA has them as the biggest fallers in the division, but they’ll look to keep their window of contention forced open in spite of the turnover. 

San Francisco Giants

2025 Record: 81-81 | PECOTA 2026 Projection: 81.9 wins

Key Additions: OF Harrison Bader, 1B/2B Luis Arráez, SP Adrian Houser

Key Departures: SP Justin Verlander, C Andrew Knizner

The 2025 Giants were the third horse in the divisional race for a big stretch of the season until things went downhill after the All Star break. Evidently, the club’s brass liked what they saw, adding just a few key pieces to the club that went .500 last year. They laid the groundwork in past seasons with the acquisition of Rafael Devers and Willy Adames, so the quiet path forward looks to build on that. 

The Giants will welcome the production that the Padres are losing in Luis Arráez. A three-time batting champion, his on-base percentage and batting average have been very consistent and very reliable throughout his career, to say the least. San Francisco will add that production right into their starting lineup with Arráez projected to bat leadoff, along with some improved outfield defense via Harrison Bader. Bader also brings a wealth of postseason experience, and his bat wasn’t too shabby last year either, as he posted career highs in batting average, hits, and homers. 

Beyond those acquisitions and new starting pitcher Adrian Houser, the Gigantes kept things fairly steady and will work with what they’ve got, hoping a few splashes will go a long way. With a rotation of Logan Webb, Robbie Ray, Landen Roupp, Houser, and free agent acquisition Tyler Mahle, they’ll look to rely more heavily on more innings from their starters to preserve their bullpen, contrasting with the “opener” approach they’ve used in the past.

While the last four seasons haven’t necessarily marked steady improvement for San Francisco (at least in terms of their record), they also haven’t sounded any alarm bells. They’ve finished at or just under .500 in each of those years. If they can finally move further north of that mark, they’ll show that the path they’ve taken is the right one.

Will the Dodgers win their 13th NL West title in the last 14 years? Will the Giants or the D-Backs leapfrog the Padres in the race? How much will the Rockies improve? Let us know how you think the West will be won!

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

For a detailed explanation/FAQ regarding this tournament, click here.

QUADRANT 1

1986(1)vs 1962 (16)
G1: 5-3, ’86
G2: 8-2, ’62
G3: 6-2, ’86
G4: 12-3, ’86
Series MVP: Ray Knight

I know what you’re thinking: How did 1962, the team with the second-most losses in the modern era, possibly steal a game from 1986? It seems like a miracle. It took a 3-RBI day from Frank Thomas (not the HOFer), a stunning homer from Joe Pignatano (who never hit one during his actual Mets career), and a Jesse Orosco implosion which yielded five runs in the ninth. But aside from that surprising blip, the ’86 Mets performed as expected, getting a walk-off homer from Howard Johnson in Game 1 and outscoring the ’62 squad 18-5 in the series’ final two games. World Series MVP Ray Knight came through with a homer in Game 4 to give the Mets a lead they would not relinquish, and Orosco redeemed himself with a clean outing. A Richie Ashburn groundout to Rafael Santana at short sent the ’86 team advancing, and sent ’62 packing — just like we all expected.

2010(8)vs 1991 (9)
G1: 9-1, ’10
G2: 9-4, ’91
G3: 11-2, ’10
G4: 9-7, ’91
G5: 6-4, ’10
Series MVP: José Reyes

A seesaw series of two near-seeded teams, the advantage in this series ultimately proved to be 2010’s starting pitching staff. Johan Santana collected two of the team’s three wins, tossing a complete game in Game 1 and handing a quality start off to Francisco Rodriguez in Game 5. 2010’s pitchers even came through with the bat, as Santana had a pair of RBI singles and Jon Niese notched a solo homer. On the flipside, 1991’s staff led by David Cone struggled to hold 2010’s bats at bay — especially José Reyes, who batted .542, but also Angel Pagan and Carlos Beltran, who were extra-base hit machines. Though 1991 won’t be advancing in the tournament, we must still offer a footnote to the absurd heroics of catcher Mackey Sasser, who delivered a whopping nine RBI. His efforts will not be forgotten.

1998 (5)vs 2009(12)
G1: 13-4, ’09
G2: 7-6, ’09
G3: 12-6, ’98
G4: 15-3, ’09
Series MVP: José Reyes

The opening and closing games of this series were an absolute massacre by 2009’s lineup. They had an eight-run inning in the fifth inning in Game 1, and collected eight extra-base hits in Game 5. Much like the ’09 team’s actual first game at Citi Field, Game 3 immediately got off to a shaky start when Edgardo Alfonzo hit a two-run homer before an out had been recorded. 1998 didn’t let up from there, pouncing on John Maine and earning a clean win led by center fielder Brian McRae on offense. The only truly competitive contest was Game 2, during which ’09 trailed 5-3 entering the bottom of the eighth inning before a Josh Thole RBI single, Luis Castillo RBI double, and José Reyes two-run homer gave them a lead late.

2008 (4)vs 1983(13)
G1: 14-2 ’08
G2: 6-2 ’83
G3: 13-12 ’83
G4: 8-7 ’83
Series MVP: George Foster

Things looked all too promising for the 2008 Mets — and then their hopes turned to disaster. Where have I heard that one before? Game 1 was a blowout, with back-to-back homers from Carlos Delgado and Ramón Castro setting the tone early (Castro would finish 4-for-4 with two homers on the day), but the subsequent three games each ended in more devastating fashion than the last. In Game 2, 1983 trailed by a score of 2-1 in the top of the eighth, when George Foster crushed a go-ahead three-run homer. In Game 3, ’83 went ahead 8-3 and 13-6, but ’08 kept coming back, with homers from Carlos Beltran, Fernando Tatís, and Castro (yes, he did it again); but despite 12 runs and 15 hits, it ultimately wasn’t enough. In Game 4, ’08 seemed en route to a cathartic win, with a pair of David Wright homers giving them a 7-3 lead entering the bottom of the ninth inning. That’s when Billy Wagner had a nightmarish meltdown. Foster hit a two-run double, a wild pitch scored a run, and a Brian Giles RBI single tied the game. The only out that ’08 recorded in the ninth inning was the John Stearns walk-off sac fly which put them out of their misery.

2024 (3)vs 1982 (14)
G1: 6-3 ’24
G2: 5-0 ’24
G3: 5-3 ’82
G4: 6-1 ’82
G5: 8-6 ’24
Series MVP: Pete Alonso

This series was a tale of two flipped scripts. It started out as an “OMG”-style party, with nothing but magical vibes through the first two games at Citi Field. In Game 1, Sean Manaea was dominating, Jose Iglesias was getting hit after hit, and Edwin Díaz’s trumpets summoned a clean save. In Game 2, everyone was homering while Luis Severino took a no-hitter into the ninth inning before George Foster dunked a floater into left for the only ’82 hit of the night. When ’24 got ahead early in Game 3, and it seemed a sweep was in their sights. Then, the unthinkable happened. After a scoreless David Peterson outing, 1982 stormed back with five runs off Tylor Megill in the eighth inning. In Game 4, with Pat Zachry in command, ’82 kept Grimace’s forces at bay to force a winner-take-all Game 5. Ron Hodges stunned the Citi crowd with a grand slam down the right-field line to give ’82 an early lead. But the ’24 team simply can’t be counted out. Winker homered. Taylor homered. And with two on and two out in the fifth, Alonso delivered what ultimately proved the decisive blow. Dave Kingman and ’82 tried to claw their way back, but Díaz shut the door in the ninth, and the team perhaps most fit for a tournament called “Mets Madness” lived to sing another day.

2005 (6)vs 1968(11)
G1: 6-3, ’68
G2: 14-12, ’68
G3: 7-4, ’68
Series MVP: Ed Charles

Despite it being “The Year of the Pitcher,” it was actually 1968’s offense which took center stage in this upset sweep. Lots of players stepped up — Ron Swoboda hit .429, Ken Boswell blasted a three-run homer off lefty Tom Glavine, and Tommie Agee provided key insurance with a homer in Game 3 — but Ed Charles separated himself from the pack, batting .571 with 6 RBI and hitting a three-run homer of his own. In fact, of the four elite pitchers who took the bump in this series (Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, Pedro Martinez, and Tom Glavine), Seaver was the only one who avoided getting shelled, tossing a dominant 8.1 innings of one-run ball. 2005 did manage an unusual feat in Game 2, getting back-to-back homers from Carlos Beltran and Marlon Anderson as well as José Reyes and Mike Cameron, but this was ’68’s series all the way.

2025 (7)vs 2002 (10)
G1: 3-1, ’02
G2: 6-2, ’25
G3: 6-5, ’25 (f/11)
G4: 1-0, ’02
G5: 7-4, ’02
Series MVP: Al Leiter

Make no mistake: 2002 did a lot to make this upset possible. They got a surprise scoreless gem of an outing from Jeff D’Amico in Game 4, saved at the last second by a Roberto Alomar diving play in the top of the ninth inning. Their stars showed up at the right times on offense, with Mike Piazza hitting a three-run homer and Edgardo Alfonzo hitting two solo shots in the winner-take-all Game 5. Even Mo Vaughn got in on the action, crushing a homer onto the Shea Bridge off Nolan McLean. And Al Leiter was gutsy as ever, striking out nine in five innings of one-run ball in Game 1 and tossing a complete game in Game 5 (even more impressive when considering the 2025 home-field stamina settings). But when all is said and done, as with their real-life season, the 2025 Mets beat themselves more than anything else. The big bats did their best, with Pete Alonso, Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo, Francisco Alvarez, and Mark Vientos all homering (the Polar Bear also had a three-hit performance Game 2), but aside from a Brett Baty walk-off single in Game 3, they had no knack for stacking hits together or coming through in the clutch. This tournament was yet another blown opportunity for the talent-rich 2025 squad.

1973(2)vs 1993 (15)
G1: 5-4, ’73
G2: 8-6, ’93 (f/16)
G3: 4-2, ’73
G4: 6-3, ’73
Series MVP: Willie Mays

Despite 1973’s series win, the undisputed best game of this series was Game 2 — a 16-inning affair which had everything from game-saving catches (two of them, actually, from left fielder Dave Gallagher and right fielder Jeromy Burnitz in the bottom of the twelfth inning) to RBI from starting pitchers (one from Dwight Gooden, one from Jim McAndrew). The game lasted so long that Jon Matlack, ’73’s starting pitcher slated for the subsequent game, came on in relief, ultimately yielding the Jeff McKnight RBI single and Todd Hundley sac fly that gave 1993 the edge. But ’73 bounced back, with spot starter George Stone delivering a stellar outing in Game 3 and Matlack then heroically tossing a complete game on short rest in Game 4. Willie Mays, who had already put a mark on the series by getting a go-ahead hit late in Game 1, fittingly delivered the decisive blow in Game 5 when he hit an epic grand slam to left-center at Shea, handing “the worst team money could buy” an early exit from the tournament. And of course, Tug McGraw did his part by notching a pair of saves. Ya Gotta Believe!

QUADRANT 2

1969 (1)vs 1963 (16)
G1: 11-2, ’69
G2: 4-2, ’69
G3: 4-3, ’69
Series MVP: Donn Clendenon

The Miracle Mets’ path to a first-round victory was, unsurprisingly, stellar starting pitching. I mean, just take a look at these beautiful final lines:

Tom Seaver: 9.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, 6 K
Jerry Koosman: 8.0 IP, 9 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Gary Gentry: 8.0 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

Meanwhile, on the offensive side, Donn Clendenon hit .727. That’s not a misprint. He went 8-for-11 with three home runs and seven RBI. The ’63 team used their only ounce of magic late in Game 3, when Jesse Gonder hit an unlikely three-run, inside-the-park home run to give ’63 their first lead of the series. But Ken Boswell responded with a two-run double into the right-center-field gap in the top of the ninth, seizing the momentum right back. It may have been a less miraculous victory than they’re used to, but the 1969 World Champions can still celebrate a clean series win to advance onto the next round.

1994 (8)vs 2018 (9)
G1: 4-3, ’18 (f/10)
G2: 4-3, ’18
G3: 6-4, ’94
G4: 10-9, ’18
Series MVP: Yoenis Céspedes

The first two games of this series were both pitchers’ duels. Jacob deGrom and Bret Saberhagen were in command during Game 1, with Jeff McNeil finally hitting a go-ahead homer in the top of the tenth to turn the game in 2018’s favor. The ’18 bullpen also came up clutch, getting a combined six innings of scoreless relief from Robert Gsellman, Seth Lugo, and Daniel Zamora in Games 1 and 2. 1994’s lone win came in Game 3, headlined by homers from Bobby Bonilla (who is technically a salaried member of 30% of the teams in this tournament) and first baseman David Segui. Game 4 was a classic, with Steven Matz cruising and ’18 leading 6-0 before the local left-hander suddenly fell apart, surrendering a seven-run seventh inning (aided by another Bonilla homer). Todd Frazier tied it with a no-doubt homer into the second deck at Citi Field in the bottom of the frame, but a Jeff Kent base hit misplayed by left fielder Yoenis Céspedes in the top of the ninth caused ’94 to retake the lead. Minutes later, Céspedes got his redemption by delivering a game-tying hit off John Franco, before Austin Jackson — who delivered the game-winning hit during David Wright’s emotional final game that season — fittingly capped off the series with a walk-off RBI single to center. 

2007 (5) vs 2017(12)
G1: 7-6, ’17
G2: 5-3, ’17
G3: 9-7, ’17
Series MVP: Juan Lagares

And just like that, the 2007 team’s devastating stretch of six losses in seven games extends to nine losses in ten games. To add insult to injury, ’07 was close to winning all three contests in this series. In Game 1, Carlos Beltran hit an electrifying game-tying homer in the eighth, but Michael Conforto put 2017 back ahead with a double off the wall in the top of the ninth, and ’08 couldn’t muster a second comeback. In Game 2, ’07 nearly overcame a John Maine disaster (the right-hander walked and hit a batter to drive in two runs), but ’18’s defense stole the show with a vintage Juan Lagares leap, a Travis d’Arnaud caught stealing, and a Yoenis Céspedes diving catch accounting for three of the final six outs. In Game 3, the ’07 team had a 7-3 lead at the seventh-inning stretch off a homer by Beltran and a pair of homers by Carlos Delgado (one of which went to the back of the seven-line section off Jerry Blevins). But José Reyes — the 2018 José Reyes — hit a surprise three-run homer, and Céspedes hit a bases-clearing double down the left-field line. A.J. Ramos induced a Lastings Milledge popup to end it, and seal yet another disappointing finish for the ’07 Mets.

1997 (4)vs 1980 (13)
G1: 8-1, ’97
G2: 8-3, ’97
G3: 15-6, ’97
Series MVP: Edgardo Alfonzo

This was about as lopsided an affair as any in Mets Madness’ opening round. 1997 outscored the 1980 squad 31-10, riding the bats of Bernard Gilkey, John Olerud, and especially Edgardo Alfonzo, who hit a pair of homers and drove in seven runs. They also received strong outings from Rick Reed and Dave Mlicki, leaving little work for the ’97 bullpen. The couple of bright spots which ’80 boasted came courtesy of Lee Mazzilli and right fielder Butch Huskey, each of whom delivered a homer in Game 3 and had respectable results at the plate all series.

1985 (3)vs 1966 (14)
G1: 8-4, ’66
G2: 3-0, ’66
G3: 5-4, ’85 (f/10)
G4: 5-3, ’85
G5: 6-1, ’85
Series MVP: Keith Hernandez

In one of the most shocking starts to any first-round series, the 1966 Mets had 1985 staring down the barrel after just two games. The ’66 squad outscored ’85 11-4, blindsiding Dwight Gooden in Game 1 and getting a gem from right-hander Dennis Ribant (who put up a respectable 3.3 bWAR that season) in Game 2. But the heavily-favored ’85 Mets dug deep and pulled out a pair of tense wins, taking Game 3 on a go-ahead homer by Keith Hernandez in the tenth inning and hanging on to a shrinking lead in Game 4 thanks to a Lenny Dykstra diving catch in center field. Gooden redeemed himself in Game 5, allowing ’85 to hold a narrow 2-1 lead before Hernandez hit another homer to put the game out of reach. The ’66 team put up a valiant fight, but their goals of pulling off an upset and advancing in the tournament ultimately came up short.

1976 (6)vs 1996 (11)
G1: 5-2, ’96
G2: 6-4, ’76
G3: 6-2, ’76
G4: 6-3, ’96
G5: 5-2, ’76
Series MVP: Joe Torre

This MVP award could just as easily have gone to Dave Kingman, who racked up eight RBI and hit the only home run of the series for either side. Had his team been victorious, the award certainly would have gone to Lance Johnson — owner of an oft-overlooked 7.2 bWAR season in ’96 — who was raking with the bat and made a game-saving catch with two on in the ninth inning of Game 4. But it was future Hall of Fame manager Joe Torre who delivered when it mattered most, getting the go-ahead hit for the 1976 Mets in Games 2 and 5. Both teams received stellar starting pitching performances, with Rick Reed outlasting Tom Seaver in Game 1, Jon Matlack throwing a complete game for ’76 in Game 3, and 23-year-old Jason Istringhausen showing his future promise with a dominant Game 4. When their rematch came in Game 5, Seaver outdueled Reed, tossing eight innings of two-run ball and securing a series win for the veteran ’76 squad.

1971 (7)vs 2023 (10)
G1: 8-0, ’71
G2: 5-3, ’71
G3: 6-3, ’23
G4: 9-8, ’23
G5: 7-6, ’71 (f/10)
Series MVP: Bud Harrelson

Ending with arguably the best Game 5 in Mets Madness’ first round, this series saw quite the pendulum swing. Tom Seaver (8.1 IP) and Nolan Ryan (back-to-back strikeouts of Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso) combined for a shutout in Game 1, while Bud Harrelson and Donn Clendenon each hit two-run homers to power a Game 2 victory for 1971. 2023 bounced back, with Game 3 featuring a Lindor grand slam and Justin Verlander complete game, while Game 4 saw them hang on despite a 4-0 and 7-3 leads turning to 9-8. Finally, we arrive at the main attraction: a winner-take-all showdown of three-time Cy Young Award Winners Tom Seaver and Max Scherzer. The score was knotted at 1-1 through six, with a Cleon Jones sac fly and Francisco Alvarez solo shot providing the only runs. In the seventh, the chaos started. Out of nowhere — and I can’t believe I’m writing this —  DJ Stewart hit a go-ahead two-run homer off Seaver. ’71 immediately answered with three runs to retake a 4-3 lead. In the top of the eighth, Brandon Nimmo hit a three-run homer off Danny Frisella, making it 6-4 ’23. In the bottom of the eighth, Jerry Grote hit a ball that Nimmo misplayed in center, leading to two runs scoring and tying the game at 6-6. The score was locked until the bottom of the tenth, when Bud Harrelson stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and one out against Kodai Senga, who was on in emergency relief. Harrelson tapped a dribbler in front of the mound. Senga pounced in to try and shuffle it to Omar Narváez at home. Jones dashed for the plate. The rest is (simulated) history.

1988(2) vs 1967 (15)
G1: 2-1, ’88
G2: 3-2, ’88
G3: 5-3, ’88
Series MVP: Kevin McReynolds

1967’s starting staff, led by a rookie Tom Seaver, held their own against the mighty 1988 offense; but ’88’s starting pitching was somehow even better, with David Cone, Dwight Gooden, and Bob Ojeda combining for 23.2 innings pitched and only five earned runs allowed. Despite all three games being decided by a margin of two runs or fewer, the only contest which felt truly contested was Game 2. After a Kevin McReynolds two-RBI double and early solo homers from left fielder Tommy Davis and pitcher Don Cardwell, the score remained tied until the bottom of the ninth inning, when Mookie Wilson came to the plate with Dave Magadan at third. Mookie hit a ground ball to Bud Harrelson at short, who made a tremendous diving stop and got to his feet to throw home, but Magadan was already crossing the plate. ’88 will certainly need the big bats of Darryl Strawberry and Howard Johnson to step up if they wish to advance further in the tournament, but for now, ten runs in three games was all the offense they needed for a first-round sweep.

QUADRANT 3

2000 (1)vs 1965 (16)
G1: 5-4, ’65
G2: 7-3, ’00
G3: 9-6, ’00
G4: 5-2, ’65
G5: 12-2, ’00
Series MVP: Mike Piazza

The 1965 Mets proved a more frustrating opponent than the 2000 team anticipated, pushing them to five games. ’65 pulled off a surprising late comeback in Game 1, thanks to a game-tying double from third baseman Charley Smith and a go-ahead single from Ron Swoboda. ’00 appeared to have found their footing with which to stomp ’65 in Games 2 and 3, but 23-year-old Dennis Ribant kept the N.L. Champions’ bats at bay in Game 4 (see “1985 vs 1966” for details on another surprising Ribant gem in the tournament). In Game 5, the ’00 team resoundingly silenced any rumblings of an upset, thwacking ’65 by a score of 12-2 in a blowout punctuated by a 455-foot, three-run homer to left-center field from Mike Piazza in the fourth inning.

2014 (8)vs 2011(9)
G1: 5-3, ’11
G2: 5-4, ’14 (f/12)
G3: 4-2, ’11 (f/11)
G4: 7-3, ’14
G5: 7-6, ’11
Series MVP: Daniel Murphy…?

If you like chaos, this series is dedicated to you. If you like Daniel Murphy, this series is also dedicated to you. In Game 2, 2014’s Murphy ended the game in the twelfth inning with a walk-off single to right field. In Game 3, Murphy ended the game with a two-run walk-off homer in the eleventh inning — only this time, it was 2011’s Daniel Murphy. Over the subsequent two games, ’11’s Murphy drove in two more runs, while ’14’s drove in three. But enough about the Murphies. This series was a sloppy showing from the ’14 squad, who made a total of eight errors and managed to (characteristically) lose both games pitched by Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom. The ’11 team didn’t make it easy on their defense, especially batting champion José Reyes (who hit a whopping .571 across the five games), but between the extra innings loss in Game 3 and the pair of deGrom losses, this certainly feels like a series ’14 should have won.

2016 (5)vs 1974(12)
G1: 5-0, ’16
G2: 13-5, ’74
G3: 6-4, ’16
G4: 10-5, ’74
G5: 7-4, ’74
Series MVP: Ed Kranepool

After getting shutout by Noah Syndergaard in Game 1, the 1974 Mets absolutely teed off in this series, scoring 34 runs over the subsequent four games. They were led offensively by Cleon Jones and Wayne Garrett, both of whom were sizzling hot. The 2016 team was on a slight power surge of their own, hitting 14 homers over the five-game series (including four from Curtis Granderson), but the series’ biggest blast came off the bat of Ed Kranepool. With the ’74 team narrowly winning 1-0 in the seventh inning of a Game 5 pitchers’ duel between Syndergaard and Jon Matlack, Kranepool stunned the Citi Field crowd with a grand slam off the Shea Bridge. As in real life, the 2016 Mets’ plans were foiled by a late homer to right-center field in a winner-take-all game.

1990 (4)vs 1978 (13)
G1: 7-3, ’78
G2: 6-1, ’90
G3: 11-3, ’90
G4: 8-4, ’90
Series MVP: Howard Johnson

The post-Midnight Massacre Mets didn’t quite have the power or the pitching to pull off an upset here, despite scrappy hitting from Steve Henderson, Willie Montañez, and Joel Youngblood. The 1990 starting pitchers were untouchable, with Frank Viola, David Cone, Dwight Gooden, and Sid Fernandez all throwing at least seven innings while allowing no more than one earned run. Viola’s Game 1 gem was spoiled by a bullpen implosion and defensive miscues, but ’90 didn’t make the same mistakes in the subsequent three contests, with Howard Johnson and Darryl Strawberry slugging enough (combining for three homers in the final two games) to keep so much as a lead well out of 1978’s reach.

1987 (3)vs 2003 (14)
G1: 7-6, ’03 (f/11)
G2: 11-5, ’87
G3: 7-3, ’03
G4: 4-1, ’87
G5: 7-3, ’87
Series MVP: Tim Teufel

How was this series possibly as close as it was? The 2003 Mets won two of the first three games, stunning 1987 in Game 1 with an epic Mo Vaughn game-tying homer in the eighth and a clutch go-ahead single from future MLBPA leader Tony Clark in the eleventh. In Game 3, they rode a strong eight-inning performance from Tom Glavine and a big homer from Cliff Floyd. But the ’87 team found themselves just in time, with David Cone and Jesse Orosco combining to three-hit ’03 in Game 4 and Dwight Gooden doing his job as an ace in Game 5. The big boppers for ’87 were exactly the pair we all predicted: Darryl Strawberry and…wait for it…Tim Teufel, both of whom hit three homers in the five-game set. That’s 8.6% of the homers Teufel hit in his entire six-year career with the Mets.

2019 (6)vs 1992 (11)
G1: 7-0, ’19
G2: 3-2, ’19
G3: 9-7, ’19
Series MVP: J.D. Davis

These three games really summed up all the chaos and charm of the 2019 Mets — except for the part where they ended up winning all the games. In Game 1, that season’s Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom was his usual deGrominant self, tossing six scoreless innings before Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman completed the shutout. In Game 2, the team’s “LFGM” side showed itself, with ’19 getting an exhilarating RBI hit off the bench from, of all people, Jed Lowrie. And in Game 3, their absolutely catastrophic bullpen made its presence felt, nearly blowing a 9-3 lead built by homers from J.D. Davis, Brandon Nimmo, and starter Noah Syndergaard. When Daryl Boston hit his second homer of the game in the bottom of the ninth, it seemed the ’92 team might be able to pull off a comeback of Kurt Suzuki-esc proportions, but Edwin Díaz came through, striking out future Mets manager Willie Randolph to end it.

1975 (7) vs 2021 (10)
G1: 2-1, ’75 (f/10)
G2: 5-0, ’21
G3: 4-3, ’21
G4: 6-5, ’21 (f/14)
Series MVP: Michael Conforto

This series kicked off with the pitchers’ duel to end all pitchers’ duels: prime Tom Seaver versus prime Jacob deGrom. It did not disappoint. DeGrom threw seven innings of one-run ball, while Seaver carried a shutout into the ninth before Michael Conforto suddenly took him deep to tie the game. An inning later, center fielder Del Unser reached on a J.D. Davis error, and future Hall of Fame manager Joe Torre drove him in with a walk-off sac fly. But that was all the 1975 team would get, as 2021 answered by winning a trio of thrillers. In Game 2, Marcus Stroman somehow threw 8.2 scoreless innings while allowing 13 baserunners. In Game 3, a late rally led by RBI from Francisco Lindor, Conforto, and Pete Alonso helped them overcome a mammoth 471-foot, three-run homer from Dave Kingman. And in Game 4, a fourteen-inning extravaganza which saw ’75 come back from down 5-1 against Edwin Díaz and the ’21 bullpen, it was Conforto who once again came through with a walk-off single to right to clinch a series victory.

2006 (2)vs 1981 (15)
G1: 9-7, ’81
G2: 18-6, ’06
G3: 6-5, ’81
G4: 4-3, ’06
G5: 7-5, ’06
Series MVP – José Valentín

For a team that outscored its opponent 41-29, the star-studded 2006 Mets came dangerously close to blowing this one. The 1981 squad made a strong statement right out of the gate, going up 6-0 after two innings of play due to a pair of Dave Kingman homers (he would finish the series with a total of four). The ’06 team made a pair of comeback attempts, tying the game in the fifth on a Lastings Milledge single and trying to tie it again in the ninth with runners on — but a diving grab by Ron Gardenhire ended the bid. ’81 earned another win on a Hubie Brooks walk-off single in Game 3, putting them one game from a stunning upset, but ’06 was able to fend off Kingman’s hot bat and secure a pair of tense wins. It wasn’t quite how they drew it up. Well, except for Game 2, which is exactly how they drew it up: an offensive explosion that featured 18 runs and two-homer days from Carlos Beltrán and José Valentín, who also homered in Game 4. But ’06 advances nonetheless, with a chance to prove themselves the champions we hoped they’d be.

QUADRANT 4

2015(1) vs 1964 (15)
G1: 3-1, ’15
G2: 4-2, ’64
G3: 10-1, ’15
G4: 8-6, ’15
Series MVP: Wilmer Flores

This performance was true to character for the magical 2015 team, and there are a few key reasons why. For one, their young starting staff was phenomenal. Jacob deGrom racked up nine strikeouts in 7.2 innings of one-run ball in Game 1, Matt Harvey dominated despite ultimately being pinned with a loss in Game 2, and rookie Noah Syndergaard struck out ten in a scoreless Game 3 outing. For another, they did most of their scoring via the long ball, with Yoenis Céspedes, Lucas Duda, Daniel Murphy, and Curtis Granderson all hitting multiple homers in the four-game series. Most importantly, it felt true to 2015 because Wilmer Flores was at the heart of the action, batting .467 and adding a homer of his own in the Game 3 blowout. The 1964 squad put up a tremendous battle in Game 4, with Ron Hunt ripping a grand slam off Steven Matz and right fielder Joe Christopher hitting a late game-tying homer. But it was David Wright who delivered the final blow, mustering a two-out, go-ahead hit in the top of the ninth inning to eliminate the original Shea Stadium squad.

2001 (8) vs 1995 (9)
G1: 5-1, ’01
G2: 8-3, ’01
G3: 2-1, ’01
Series MVP: Mark Johnson

The 2001 rotation absolutely dominated in this sweep, with Al Leiter, Kevin Appier, and Steve Trachsel all tossing at least 6.2 innings while allowing no more than one earned run. Offensively, the ’01 squad saw strong showings from Robin Ventura, Mike Piazza, Edgardo Alfonzo, and Jay Payton, who delivered a clutch go-ahead home run off a cruising rookie Jason Isringhausen in Game 1. But it was 33-year-old utilityman Mark Johnson who stole the show despite only appearing in (*checks notes*) the final two innings of the series. He entered as a pinch hitter in the eighth, breaking up a 1-1 tie by dunking an RBI center into center field off future Phillies All-Star Paul Byrd. He then moved to right field, where he made a spectacular diving catch to turn a Carl Everett game-tying hit into the final out of the series. Talk about being ready off the bench.

1989 (5)vs 2004 (12)
G1: 1-0, ’89
G2: 5-2, ’04
G3: 7-2, ’04
G4: 8-5, ’89
G5: 3-2, ’04
Series MVP: Mike Cameron

This series was bracketed by a pair of spectacular Dwight Gooden/Tom Glavine pitchers’ duels. Gooden won the first one with no margin of error, tossing a complete-game shutout while 1989’s only run came off a Juan Samuel RBI single. But Glavine got the last laugh, allowing just two runs in Game 5 while the 2004 lineup jumped on Gooden for three runs early. ’04 was led in Game 2 by a two-homer performance from Mike Cameron, and received a fine pitching performance from Kris Benson in Game 3. ’89 pulled off a Game 4 comeback thanks to big hits from Howard Johnson and Kevin Elster, but was unable to do the same in Game 5 despite bringing the tying run to the plate in the ninth.

1984 (4)vs 2020 (13)
G1: 5-4, ’84
G2: 14-3, ’84
G3: 7-4, ’20
G4: 5-1, ’20
G5: 4-3, ’84 (f/10)
Series MVP: Keith Hernandez

1984 seemed completely in command at this series’ outset, lighting up Jacob deGrom in Game 1 and exploding for a 14-3 victory in Game 2 thanks to a 10-run seventh inning. But the 2020 squad stormed back, winning both games in their cardboard-cutout-filled stadium. Game 3 was punctuated by a Dom Smith bases-clearing triple to give ’20 the lead in the eighth inning, while Game 4 was all about rookie David Peterson, who tossed 8.1 innings of one-run ball. Game 5 was one of the best in all of Mets Madness’ first round, beginning as a pitchers’ duel between deGrom and Dwight Gooden which kept the score glued at 1-1 through seven. In the bottom of the eighth, Wally Backman slapped a two-run double over the third base bag and down the left field line, seeming to prove the nail in the coffin for a ’20 team struggling to break through when Wilson Ramos suddenly hit a mammoth two-run home run in the top of the ninth to tie it. Seth Lugo somehow sidestepped a jam in the bottom of the ninth, and was on the cusp of evading similar trouble in the tenth with the help of a spectacular Michael Conforto diving catch, but a George Foster dribbler snuck through a scurrying Jeff McNeil on the right side of the infield to finally give ’84 a hard-fought victory.

2022 (3)vs 1977 (14)
G1: 7-6, ’22 (f/11)
G2: 5-4, ’77 (f/13)
G3: 3-0, ’22
G4: 2-0, ’77
G5: 2-1, ’77
Series MVP: Steve Henderson

Much like in real life, the 2022 Mets somewhat collapsed under pressure when seemingly on the cusp of greatness. Games 1 and 2 saw ’22 and 1977 trade a pair of wild extra-inning victories, with Eduardo Escobar delivering a walk-off double to right-center in Game 1 and mid-season “Midnight Massacre” acquisition Steve Henderson notching the go-ahead hit for ’77 in Game 2. The ’22 squad earned a clean victory behind a Mark Canha two-homer performance and scoreless Chris Bassitt outing in Game 3, appearing poised to advance as anticipated; but that’s when their bats went completely silent. Over the final two games of the series, ’22 was held to just one run and six hits, with longtime Met Craig Swan befuddling them in Game 4 and Jerry Koosman narrowly outdueling Jacob deGrom in Game 5. The turning point once again came courtesy of Henderson, who hit a 400-foot homer down the left-field line off deGrom in the sixth inning. Henderson would finish the series with a pair of homers, having driven in five of ’77’s 13 runs scored.

1972 (6)vs 2013(11)
G1: 4-0, ’72
G2: 4-1, ’72
G3: 2-0, ’13
G4: 4-3, ’13 (f/14)
G5: 3-2, ’13
Series MVP: Zack Wheeler

This exhilarating, mind-bogglingly insane series was defined by two things: starting pitching and defense. Every single game was a legitimate pitchers’ duel, with only 23 total runs scored across the five games. In the opening two at Shea, Tom Seaver and Jon Matlack both fired complete games for the 1972 squad (a shutout for Seaver and a one-run performance for Matlack), outlasting Matt Harvey and Jon Niese. In G3, it was 2013’s turn, with rookie Zack Wheeler outdueling Jerry Koosman in a scoreless, eight-inning performance. Game 4 was an extra-inning marathon, which could have ended at multiple points if not for the phenomenal center field play of Juan Lagares and Tommie Agee, both of whom made spectacular catches (Lagares also made a pair of highlight-reel plays in Game 1. It finally ended in the way we’d all expect: with an Anthony Recker lead-off, walk-off home run in the bottom of the fourteenth which barely scraped over the left-field fence at Citi Field. In Game 5, Seaver and Harvey matched up once again, but this time the All-Star Game starter was up to the task, allowing two runs in 7.1 innings pitched while the franchise allowed three runs over eight innings pitched. It’s safe to say that the ’13 team advances to the next round with some of the most unexpected, unbridled momentum of the tournament — not just because they pulled off an upset, and not just because they won three straight after going down 2-0, but because of just how energizing those wins were.

1970 (7)vs 2012 (10)
G1: 7-3, ’70
G2: 2-0, ’70
G3: 6-5, ’12 (f/10)
G4: 5-3, ’12
G5: 4-3, ’70
Series MVP(s): Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman

You could say that the 1970 Mets won all three games while playing at Shea Stadium, but it would be more apt to say they won all three games while their two aces (and this round’s only co-MVPs) Tom Seaver and Jerry Koosman were on the mound. Seaver twice outdueled 2012’s Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey, throwing a complete game while allowing three runs in both Game 1 and Game 5. Kosoman, meanwhile, threw a five-hit, complete-game shutout in Game 2. When those two weren’t on the mound, ’12 was able to compete. They won Game 3 after being down 5-1 in the seventh, with a Josh Thole two-run single and Daniel Murphy two-run double tying the game before Scott Hairston dunked a two-out, walk-off single into right field in the tenth. David Wright hit a homer in Game 4 while rookie Matt Harvey and 22-year-old Jenrry Mejía shut down the ’70 offense. Wright seemed to have provided a series-defining moment when he hit a three-run, go-ahead homer off Seaver in a battle of franchise icons late in Game 5, but Bobby Parnell suffered a nightmarish meltdown in the bottom of the ninth, walking two batters and perhaps getting flustered by a Bud Harrelson bunt single. When Ken Boswell hit a two-run walk-off single to right field, the phenomenal five-game series came to an end. It’s also worth noting: Art Shamsky was inexplicably on fire, driving in nine of the ’70 team’s 21 runs while throwing out a runner at the plate.

1999(2)vs 1979 (15)
G1: 11-7, ’99
G2: 12-11, ’79
G3: 16-1, ’99
G4: 12-5, ’99
Series MVP: Robin Ventura

You want offense? Boy, do I have the series for you. Let’s just take a minute to marvel at these numbers: the 1999 Mets scored 50 runs and got 61 hits over the course of four games. They spread it out remarkably evenly, too, scoring at least 11 runs in all four affairs, while getting contributions out of everyone from Mike Piazza (3 homers, 7 RBI) to Edgardo Alfonzo (.333 average) to Darryl Hamilton (an insane .533 average) to Robin Ventura, who hit 4 homers, racked up 10 RBI, and recorded a 1.200 OPS. How, you ask, did ’99 manage to lose a game under these circumstances? Believe it or not, the 1979 lineup gave them a run for their money in the early going, managing to outlast them in a see-saw Game 2. ’99 came back from being down 6-1 to take an 11-6 lead, but ’79 surged back to score six unanswered runs aided by a two-homer performance from third baseman Richie Hebner and capped by a go-ahead homer from John Stearns. ’99 looked in position to walk it off with runners at the corners and one out in the ninth, but Skip Lockwood struck out John Olerud looking and then induced a pop out from Mike Piazza to end the slugfest. Still, all’s well that ends well for the ’99 squad, which absolutely put the rest of the tournament on notice with its incredible offensive outpouring.

1900
The still-minor league White Sox purchase second baseman Dick Padden from the Washington Senators. In truth, Padden was sold to Detroit, but in some transaction lost to time, Padden ended up on the South Side, as the White Sox’s first player-manager. (Charles Comiskey is regarded as the 1900 team’s manager, but player-managers were the norm at the time, so at most the two men co-managed the White Sox.)

Padden, then 29, had his best season — unsurprising having moved “down” from the National League to the then-minor American. He hit a career-best .284 with another career high, 36 steals, while playing in 130 of Chicago’s 135 games.

Oh, and Padden led the White Sox to the first AL pennant, with an 82-53 record.

When the White Sox moved into the major leagues in 1901 and enticed pitching ace Clark Griffith to jump to the AL, part of the proviso was granting Griffith the manager’s role. Thus Madden re-jumped back to the National League, and the St. Louis Cardinals.

2006
The White Sox pull off what turns out to be a terrific deal, in a swap of blue-chippers. Seattle sends its ballyhooed southpaw Matt Thornton to Chicago for outfielder Joe Borchard.

Borchard was a first round (No. 12 overall) pick in 2000 but beyond hitting what is still the longest home run in new Sox Park history (504 feet) in 2004 never had a single positive-WAR season. He lasted for six games in Seattle before being placed on waivers in May.

Thornton, the No. 22 overall pick in 1998 by the M’s, fell under the tutelage of pitching coach Don Cooper, conquered his control issues, and became a dominant reliever for the better part of a decade. Right away, he contributed to White Sox success, with an outstanding 1.7 WAR and 3.33 ERA in 2006. Over his seven-plus years in Chicago he tallied a 3.28 ERA/3.02 FIP and 10.8 WAR over 512 games, and was named an All-Star in 2010.

2009
The White Sox swapped shortstop Sergio Santos — signed as a minor league free agent on January 12 — to the San Francisco Giants. Whether explicitly plotted or not, this deal seemed to be predicated on giving Santos one final shot to make it in baseball as a hitter. Support for this hypothesis comes in the form of Santos failing to make an impact with San Francisco at the end of Spring Training and getting shipped back to Chicago on April 1 — at which point his transformation from hitter to relief pitcher began.

Just one year later, Santos broke north with the White Sox — as a key setup man in the bullpen.

2011
Just two weeks after his unprecedented return to the field after lat surgery, Jake Peavy’s rotator cuff put his status to make the Opening Day roster in question. He’ll end up missing the first month-plus of the season with soreness, allowing Philip Humber to make his mark on the season. The rotation pitches so well in Peavy’s absence that upon his return the White Sox briefly adopt a six-man rotation, novel for the time.

On the season, Peavy is medicore, going 7-7 with 18 starts and a 1.1 WAR. His 4.92 ERA looks horrible until considering his 3.21 WHIP. In 2012, Peavy will come back and pitch the best non-Cy Young season of his career, with 5.0 WAR.

Paul Mirabella pitched in the big leagues for 13 years, tossing nearly 500 innings for six different teams, mostly in relief. He was never an All-Star, never a league leader, never a closer, and never appeared in the playoffs. Considering those facts, his longevity is a remarkable achievement and a testament to power of a lefty arm that teams can dream on.

Paul Thomas Mirabella
Born: March 20, 1954 (Belleville, NJ)
Yankees Tenure: 1979

Mirabella was born just 20 miles from his future home at Yankee Stadium, in Belleville, NJ. A standout at Parsippany High and Montclair State University, the Rangers made the youngster their first-round pick in the 1976 MLB Draft. Mirabella rose quickly through their system, making his big-league debut in his third professional season. He struggled in a cup of coffee with Texas, allowing 18 runs in 28 innings.

That offseason, the 24-year-old would be a central figure in a blockbuster deal. Despite winning the Cy Young Award in 1977, the following season Sparky Lyle lost his closer job to Goose Gossage, making him expendable (and personally interested in a change of scenery regardless). The Yankees spun the reliever to the Rangers in a nine-player trade that also brought back Dave Righetti, who would spend 11 years in New York, winning Rookie of the Year honors in ’81, throwing a no-hitter in ’83 and making two All-Star teams after converting to closer a few years later.

Central to the deal was Mirabella himself. With Lyle departing, the Yankees needed to replace the sole lefty in their bullpen. And, while Mirabella could not reasonably be expected to replicate the three-time All-Star’s performance on the mound, he helped the Yankees fill an area of need.

Despite his status as the team’s lone lefty reliever, Mirabella was not guaranteed a spot on the Yankees’ roster out of spring training camp, instead competing with several others for a final bullpen slot. “If I do get sent on to Columbus, I’m going to be disappointed,” said Mirabella at the time. “It will be a letdown, but I’d have to pick up the pieces and do well. Whatever decision they make, I’ll accept it. I won’t fight it. I won’t tell them I’m going to go home. I’ll do what they say.”

He would win out, debuting in the season’s fourth game on April 10th. Brought on to face the left-handed Al Bumbry, he allowed a single that loaded the bases and was promptly removed. It was a sign of things to come. As our own Matt Ferenchick detailed a few years back, Mirabella’s time in New York was a disaster. He allowed 14 earned runs in 14.1 innings, putting up an astonishing -1.0 bWAR in limited action, and would end up spending most of the year down at Triple-A Columbus after all.

That offseason, Mirabella was once again involved in a memorable transaction. This time, he joined erstwhile playoff hero Chris Chambliss and up-and-comer Dámaso García in shipping up north to Toronto in a deal that brought back catcher Rick Cerone, a fellow New Jersey native who would finish seventh in MVP voting the following season and end up spending seven years with the team. (Incidentally, Cerone would be dealt for Brian Fisher, who by sheer coincidence, we profiled two days ago for his birthday.) For his part, Mirabella would embark on a nomadic career that took him back to Texas, then to Baltimore, then Seattle, and finally Milwaukee. It was on that last stop that he posted a career year in 1988 at the age of 34, recording a 1.65 ERA in 60 innings for a Brewers squad that missed the playoffs by just two games.

Mirabella hung up his cleats after the 1990 season. While his time in New York was a lowlight in his career, the left-hander bounced back admirably to have a long run in the show. Join us in wishing a happy 72nd birthday to Belleville’s own, Paul Mirabella.

See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.