2006 N.Y. Mets - 103-69 (97-65)
N.Y. Mets Season Wrap-Up
Regular Season Record: 97-65 - 13 Heartbreakers
Playoff Record: 6-4 - 2 Heartbreakers
Overall Record: 103-69
After all was said and done, the Mets battled and left it all on the field. In the game of baseball, the two things you can ask for are opportunities and effort. There were many opportunites that were seized (Oliver Perez, John Maine) and some that weren't (Cliff Floyd, Carlos Beltran), but the 2006 New York Mets were surely a team to be remembered as one of the best in franchise history. Although there was a sour ending to a beautiful season in New York, lots of positives and memories will remain (National League East dominance, 10 Grand Slams, Reyes' cycle and monster season, Beltran's 41 homers, Wagner's 40 saves, The "double tag", Endy Chavez, etc.) After a long wait, the Mets are once again a team to be feared in the National League. There is tons of faith that Omar Minaya and Willie Randolph will make the necessary adjustments to field a World Series Caliber team for the upcoming season. Here's to a tremendous year of baseball and a successful hot-stove season. Let's Go Mets!
2007 Outlook
Starters
Pedro Martinez - After a 5-0 start, injuries derailed him. Won't be ready 'till mid-07' and health is crucial to Met success.
Tom Glavine - Outstanding year from the crafty left-hander, not much more you could ask for. Should be back.
Orlando Hernandez - Ended the year well but injured calf might have paid his ticket out of town.
Steve Trachsel - 15 wins but high e.r.a. and terrible postseason. Solid Met career but return is unlikely.
John Maine - Tough rookie with a lot of heart. Certainly looked good as a big game pitcher. Definite shot as starter next year.
Oliver Perez - Showed great progress in postseason. Might have pitched his way onto next years pitching staff.
Victor Zambrano - Did not pitch well and injured for most of the season.
Brian Bannister - After solid start in April, torn hamstring pretty much cost him his spot on the roster.
Dave Williams - Kept the rotation together during the dog days of August and September.
Mike Pelfrey - Showed promise during the season and will most likely compete for starting spot on next years rotation.
Philip Humber - Minimal contribution, may compete for role in spring training.
Bullpen
Darren Oliver - Great year from the long-man out of the pen. Kept the Mets in many games and should return next season.
Duaner Sanchez - Didn't allow a run almost the entire first month. Mets best reliever until season ending injury in July.
Roberto Hernandez - Acquired b/c of injury to Sanchez. Was not used much due to strong bullpen and acquisition of Mota.
Pedro Feliciano - Mets situational lefty out of the pen. Rough numbers with inherited runners but great year overall.
Chad Bradford - Right handed part of Met "tag-team." Put together a great year and did the job majority of the time.
Aaron Heilman - A productive season with shaky outings at times. Good reliver but may be traded during the offseason.
Guillermo Mota - Diamond in the rough found by Minaya. Showed great promise and should return next year.
Billy Wagner - Handful number of blown saves but established himself as one of the top closers once again.
Starting Lineup
Jose Reyes - Monster season. Most exciting player in baseball.
Paul Lo Duca - Tremendous hitter. Heart & Soul of team. Fierce competitor.
Carlos Beltran - Outstanding season. Played hurt last 2 months of the season. Tied club record for hr's.
Carlos Delgado - Face of Met offense. Quick start, slumped, but finished strong. Chased high fastballs. Great during playoffs.
David Wright - Amazing first half and All-Star Weekend. Slow second half and playoffs.
Cliff Floyd - Injured most of season and cost Mets big bat in the lineup.
Lastings Milledge - Showed great promise but lots of raw talent. May or may not be traded. Might start in LF in 2007.
Xavier Nady - Great start to season but struggled somewhat thereafter. Although traded in July, big part of team success.
Shawn Green - Decent season (15 hr's) and above average playoff performance. Power is gone. May not return next season.
Anderson Hernandez - Great first week of season (amazing catch) but injury cost him starting role. Below average hitter.
Jose Valentin - After month-long slump, took over starting role and put up nice numbers (18 hr's). Great defense all year.
Endy Chavez - Sensational defensive player and scrappy hitter. Crucial part of Mets success in 2006.
Bench
Ramon Castro - Decent season but injuries cost him much of the year.
Chris Woodward - Played hurt and season not as successful as ones in the past. May not return.
Julio Franco - Professional. Stepped up numerous times during the season. Crucial to success, as well.
Michael Tucker - Late addition to Mets, but good professional ballplayer. Left-handed bat off bench played well.
Management and Coaches
Another outstanding season of managing by Willie Randolph. One of the best managers in baseball. Great coaching all year as well (Acta, Manuel, etc.) Omar Minaya will continue to make big moves and improve team.
2007 Outlook
Barry Zito - Top starter on the market. Mets will be a contender but agent Scott Boras may break the bank.
Jason Schmidt - Great arm, free agent during offseason. Will Minaya make the move?
Alfonso Soriano - One of top players in baseball. After rejecting $70M offer, will he be next years starter at 2B?
Carlos Lee - Bad defense, good hitter.
Mets will need to add starting pitching, maybe a hitter or two. Minaya will do the job.
Regular Season Record: 97-65 - 13 Heartbreakers
Playoff Record: 6-4 - 2 Heartbreakers
Overall Record: 103-69
After all was said and done, the Mets battled and left it all on the field. In the game of baseball, the two things you can ask for are opportunities and effort. There were many opportunites that were seized (Oliver Perez, John Maine) and some that weren't (Cliff Floyd, Carlos Beltran), but the 2006 New York Mets were surely a team to be remembered as one of the best in franchise history. Although there was a sour ending to a beautiful season in New York, lots of positives and memories will remain (National League East dominance, 10 Grand Slams, Reyes' cycle and monster season, Beltran's 41 homers, Wagner's 40 saves, The "double tag", Endy Chavez, etc.) After a long wait, the Mets are once again a team to be feared in the National League. There is tons of faith that Omar Minaya and Willie Randolph will make the necessary adjustments to field a World Series Caliber team for the upcoming season. Here's to a tremendous year of baseball and a successful hot-stove season. Let's Go Mets!
2007 Outlook
Starters
Pedro Martinez - After a 5-0 start, injuries derailed him. Won't be ready 'till mid-07' and health is crucial to Met success.
Tom Glavine - Outstanding year from the crafty left-hander, not much more you could ask for. Should be back.
Orlando Hernandez - Ended the year well but injured calf might have paid his ticket out of town.
Steve Trachsel - 15 wins but high e.r.a. and terrible postseason. Solid Met career but return is unlikely.
John Maine - Tough rookie with a lot of heart. Certainly looked good as a big game pitcher. Definite shot as starter next year.
Oliver Perez - Showed great progress in postseason. Might have pitched his way onto next years pitching staff.
Victor Zambrano - Did not pitch well and injured for most of the season.
Brian Bannister - After solid start in April, torn hamstring pretty much cost him his spot on the roster.
Dave Williams - Kept the rotation together during the dog days of August and September.
Mike Pelfrey - Showed promise during the season and will most likely compete for starting spot on next years rotation.
Philip Humber - Minimal contribution, may compete for role in spring training.
Bullpen
Darren Oliver - Great year from the long-man out of the pen. Kept the Mets in many games and should return next season.
Duaner Sanchez - Didn't allow a run almost the entire first month. Mets best reliever until season ending injury in July.
Roberto Hernandez - Acquired b/c of injury to Sanchez. Was not used much due to strong bullpen and acquisition of Mota.
Pedro Feliciano - Mets situational lefty out of the pen. Rough numbers with inherited runners but great year overall.
Chad Bradford - Right handed part of Met "tag-team." Put together a great year and did the job majority of the time.
Aaron Heilman - A productive season with shaky outings at times. Good reliver but may be traded during the offseason.
Guillermo Mota - Diamond in the rough found by Minaya. Showed great promise and should return next year.
Billy Wagner - Handful number of blown saves but established himself as one of the top closers once again.
Starting Lineup
Jose Reyes - Monster season. Most exciting player in baseball.
Paul Lo Duca - Tremendous hitter. Heart & Soul of team. Fierce competitor.
Carlos Beltran - Outstanding season. Played hurt last 2 months of the season. Tied club record for hr's.
Carlos Delgado - Face of Met offense. Quick start, slumped, but finished strong. Chased high fastballs. Great during playoffs.
David Wright - Amazing first half and All-Star Weekend. Slow second half and playoffs.
Cliff Floyd - Injured most of season and cost Mets big bat in the lineup.
Lastings Milledge - Showed great promise but lots of raw talent. May or may not be traded. Might start in LF in 2007.
Xavier Nady - Great start to season but struggled somewhat thereafter. Although traded in July, big part of team success.
Shawn Green - Decent season (15 hr's) and above average playoff performance. Power is gone. May not return next season.
Anderson Hernandez - Great first week of season (amazing catch) but injury cost him starting role. Below average hitter.
Jose Valentin - After month-long slump, took over starting role and put up nice numbers (18 hr's). Great defense all year.
Endy Chavez - Sensational defensive player and scrappy hitter. Crucial part of Mets success in 2006.
Bench
Ramon Castro - Decent season but injuries cost him much of the year.
Chris Woodward - Played hurt and season not as successful as ones in the past. May not return.
Julio Franco - Professional. Stepped up numerous times during the season. Crucial to success, as well.
Michael Tucker - Late addition to Mets, but good professional ballplayer. Left-handed bat off bench played well.
Management and Coaches
Another outstanding season of managing by Willie Randolph. One of the best managers in baseball. Great coaching all year as well (Acta, Manuel, etc.) Omar Minaya will continue to make big moves and improve team.
2007 Outlook
Barry Zito - Top starter on the market. Mets will be a contender but agent Scott Boras may break the bank.
Jason Schmidt - Great arm, free agent during offseason. Will Minaya make the move?
Alfonso Soriano - One of top players in baseball. After rejecting $70M offer, will he be next years starter at 2B?
Carlos Lee - Bad defense, good hitter.
Mets will need to add starting pitching, maybe a hitter or two. Minaya will do the job.
posted by Dereck at 3:44 PM
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