Start date 1999 | ||
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Local television Similar 2000 New York Mets season, 1997 New York Mets season, 1996 New York Mets season, 1993 New York Mets season, 1990 New York Mets season |
The New York Mets' 1999 season was the 38th regular season for the Mets. They went 97-66 and finished 2nd in the NL East but won the NL Wild Card by beating the Cincinnati Reds in a one-game playoff. The Mets advanced to the National League Championship Series, where they were defested by the Atlanta Braves.
Contents
- Offseason
- Regular season
- Mercury Mets
- Opening Day starters
- Notable transactions
- Starters by position
- NLDS
- Game 1
- Game 2
- Game 3
- Game 4
- Game 5
- Game 6
- Farm system
- References
The Mets were managed by Bobby Valentine, who entered his fourth year as skipper. They played home games at Shea Stadium.
Offseason
Regular season
The Mets' 97 victories were their highest total since they won 100 games in 1988. They were led offensively by catcher Mike Piazza, who compiled a .303 average with 40 home runs and 124 RBI in his first full season with the team. New third baseman Robin Ventura put together a .301 average, 32 home runs, and 120 RBI while second baseman Edgardo Alfonzo hit .304 with 27 home runs and 108 RBI. First baseman John Olerud continued his consistent hitting, hitting .298 with 96 RBI, his third straight year with 90 or more runs driven in. Offseason acquisitions Roger Cedeno and Rickey Henderson recorded the two highest batting averages on the squad at .315 and .313 respectively. Benny Agbayani, a semi-regular outfielder who got more playing time as the year progressed, contributed 14 home runs.
The Mets' pitching staff was again led by Al Leiter with 13 wins. Orel Hershiser matched that total, with Masato Yoshii recording 12 wins and Rick Reed 11. Rookie Octavio Dotel went 8-3 in fourteen starts, and late season acquisition Kenny Rogers won five of six decisions while leading the team in complete games. The rotation was not as strong as keeping runs off the board; the team's four main starters recorded ERAs above 4.00.
The offseason acquisition of Armando Benitez from the Baltimore Orioles ended John Franco's tenure as the team's closer. Franco did manage to record nineteen saves and broke the Major League Baseball record for saves by a lefthander, but Benitez' 1.85 ERA and twenty-two saves ensured the closer role would be his for the foreseeable future.
Mercury Mets
As part of the now-infamous Turn Ahead the Clock promotion the Mets changed their name to the "Mercury Mets" while hosting the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 27, 1999.
Opening Day starters
Notable transactions
Starters by position
Note: Pos = position; G = Games played; AB = At Bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting Average; HR = Home Runs; RBI = Runs Batted In
NLDS
New York wins series, 3-1
Game 1
October 12: Turner Field, Atlanta
Game 2
October 13: Turner Field, Atlanta
Game 3
October 15: Shea Stadium, Flushing, New York
Game 4
October 16: Shea Stadium, Flushing, New York
Game 5
October 17: Shea Stadium, Flushing, New York
Game 6
October 19: Turner Field, Atlanta
Farm system
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: GCL Mets