Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
December 27, 2006
Top 50 Mets

Amazin' Avenue amazes me by starting off his top 50 Mets with Rey Ordonez at #50. While he makes his case for Ordonez's contributions with his glove, I'm wondering if this is really possible. I mean, without even getting into hitters, I'm pretty sure the following will be in the top 50:

  • Tom Seaver
  • Jerry Koosman
  • Jon Matlack
  • Dwight Gooden
  • Tug McGraw
  • Sid Fernandez
  • Ron Darling
  • John Franco

Then, again, off the top of my head and in no particular order, from the position players:

  • Darryl Strawberry
  • Cleon Jones
  • Tommie Agee
  • Jerry Grote
  • Duffy Dyer
  • Donn Clendenon (unofficial record holder for n's in a name)
  • Ron Swaboda
  • Rusty Staub
  • Ed Kranepool
  • Lenny Dykstra
  • Mookie Wilson
  • Ray Knight
  • Howard Johnson
  • Gary Carter
  • Keith Hernandez
  • Hubie Brooks
  • Tim Teufel
  • Wally Backman
  • Kevin Mitchell
  • Kevin McReynolds
  • Mike Piazza
  • John Olerud
  • Jeff Kent
  • Robin Ventura
  • David Wright
  • Carlos Beltran
  • Cliff Floyd
  • Jose Reyes

That's over 30 players right there, and I'm sure there have been bit players over the years like Richie Ashburn, Roger Craig, Wayne Garrett, Nolan Ryan and such that contributed somewhat more than Rey Ordonez. If very interested to see where he puts Bud Harrelson in that list. The Book Blog appears to agree with me.

Hat tip, MetsBlog.com.

Update: Added Jerry Koosman to the list of pitchers. I don't know how I forgot him.


Posted by David Pinto at 01:36 PM | Players | TrackBack (0)
Comments

Don't forget Koosman on the "obvious" list, who was a helluva pitcher

Posted by: TenAleTilt at December 27, 2006 02:34 PM

Bobby Bonilla
Al Leiter
Jesse Orosco
Todd Hundley

Posted by: bmc at December 27, 2006 04:14 PM

Dave Kingman

I'm serious.

No. Really.

Posted by: bmc at December 27, 2006 04:15 PM

Was Rickey Henderon on the Mets long enough to be considered for this?

Amazingly, Nolan Ryan doesn't even make this list. I'm sure he'd be #1 on the list of ex-Mets though.

Posted by: Devon at December 27, 2006 04:34 PM

I don't think the Man of Steal qualifies but he single-handedly got them into the post season with his game 163 performance against the Reds in '99.

As for Ordonez, oh how the Mets faithful loved him dearly. After all, he was/is a better SS than Derek Jeter. And quite frankly, that's all that matters.

Posted by: crg at December 27, 2006 06:34 PM

Duffy Dyer? No way.

I agree with the rest of Dave's list, and with subsequent suggestions of Leiter, Orosco, and Hundley.

I would add Pedro Martinez and Jesse Orosco to the pitchers.

Additional position players have to include Ron Hunt and Frank Thomas. On the bubble: Lee Mazzilli (good OBA but took himself off base with poor SB%), Ed Charles (for character and team chemistry, I admit), Ken Boswell (excellent fielder). Arguable: John Milner.

I understand the reluctance to include Ordonez; his offense was pitiful. But he was amazing at shortstop, and I don't mind him being #50.

If Dyer is subtracted, that leaves four spots to fill. Perhaps managers will be included. Certainly Casey Stengel, Gil Hodges, Yogi Berra, and Davey Johnson were more important to the Mets than some of those players.

Posted by: Steve H at December 27, 2006 08:19 PM

Pumpsie Green
Choo Choo Colemen
"Firecracker" Coleman
Roger "You gotta be a good pitcher to lose 20" Craig
Bobby Klaus, the all-world flash-in-the-pan

Hey, and don't forget the duke and gil....

Posted by: ed at December 27, 2006 08:22 PM

i know he didn't actually play for the mets, but ralph kiner should be there just for his broadcasts.

Posted by: andy at December 28, 2006 02:26 PM

crg, some Mets fans loved Ordonez. Some of us loathed him. His damage to the offense easily offset his value with the glove.

Posted by: Crank at December 29, 2006 11:26 AM
Post a comment









Remember personal info?