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Friday, August 28, 2009

SNY: Salfino: Comparing the 2009 Amazins to the misery of 1979

Misery of 1979? Sure, it’s on the Kinks Low Budget LP…the one with “Catch Us Now We’ve All Fallen at Once” on it or something.

We commemorated the 1969 World Champs last week. But it’s more fitting to compare this team to another anniversary squad—the 1979 edition that typified the franchise’s post-Seaver futility. I’ve gone into the way-back machine with the help of two old school buddies who lived with me through those very lean years—Scott Marsh of Blooming Grove, NY and Steve Corn of Emerson, NJ.

...In left, ‘79 Met Steve Henderson has a 128 OPS-plus, but missed most of the second half with injury. But Gary Sheffield (118) hasn’t been the picture of durability, either. Henderson was 13-for-18 on the bases. Advantage: ‘79 Mets.

In center, Lee Mazzilli (135 OPS-plus with a .395 on-base percentage and 34-for-46 stealing) faces the Carlos Beltran/Angel Pagan duo. Beltran’s OPS-plus was 150 and Pagan’s amazingly has been 110. But even with poor defense, slight edge: ‘79 Mets.

In right, Joel Youngblood trashes the Ryan Church/Jeff Francoeur duo. Youngblood in ‘79 had a 116 OPS-plus and was an incredible plus-13 runs in the field. “How sad that the ‘09 Mets are trounced by Joel Youngblood at a corner outfield spot, and not even due to injuries,” says Marsh.

Repoz Posted: August 28, 2009 at 05:34 PM | 13 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: history, mets, sabermetrics

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1. TerpNats Posted: August 28, 2009 at 05:54 PM (#3307804)

I recall seeing quite a few games of the '79 Mets, especially September twi-night doubleheaders at Shea when you could get great seats and have few neighbors. That was a pretty miserable team, without the injuries and goofiness of this year's team or the malevolence of the '93 Mets.

2. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: August 28, 2009 at 06:36 PM (#3307845)

First base is a battle between Stearns and Daniel Murphy.

Even if you don't want to take Montanez, who startedd 104 games at 1B, Ed Kranepool played more games (26) at first than Stearns (14).

I totally forgot/had no idea Jeff Reardon and Mike Scott began their careers at Mets.

3. John DiFool2 Posted: August 28, 2009 at 06:37 PM (#3307846)

I'll go with a variation on Roger Ebert's movie truisms: a team with a player named "Youngblood" on it will never anything.

4. Crispix Attacks Posted: August 28, 2009 at 06:42 PM (#3307852)

Lee Mazzilli sure looks excited in that photo. That must have been taken after he started taking huge doses of Haldol to suppress his homicidal urges.

5. JE

Posted: August 28, 2009 at 07:00 PM (#3307875)

Lee Mazzilli sure looks excited in that photo. That must have been taken after he started taking huge doses of Haldol to suppress his homicidal urges.

Yeah, that photo had to have been taken in '86. Note too Maz's shorter hair and the bright stripe on the shoulder part of the uni.

6. The cushions are crowded for Edmundo

Posted: August 28, 2009 at 07:03 PM (#3307883)

In right, Joel Youngblood trashes the Ryan Church/Jeff Francoeur duo. Youngblood in ‘79 had a 116 OPS-plus and was an incredible plus-13 runs in the field.
Happy 58th birthday to Joel Youngblood and to me. The only player with whom I share a birthdate. Looks like year 27 was a good one for Joel.

7. Loren F. Posted: August 28, 2009 at 07:06 PM (#3307885)

For the '09 Mets:

"Surely there must be a way
For me to change the shape I'm in
Dissatisfied is what I am
I want to be a better man"

I listened to that 'Low Budget' LP hundreds of times.

8. Sam M. Posted: August 28, 2009 at 08:13 PM (#3307961)

1979 wins. You know why? That team wasn't cruel enough to ever, once, fool me into believing it was going to contend even for a week. If you need a tie-breaker, that will suffice.

Plus, you know, I was 17 years old and heading off to college. 1979 wins.

9. Greg Goosen at 30 Posted: August 28, 2009 at 08:57 PM (#3308033)

I remember the 1979 Mets were actually on NBCs Game of the Week once. Must have been the July 28th game. Going into the 9th they had a 6-4 lead with future drunk Neil Allen on the mound to record his first save. NBC broke away in the top of the ninth to show some track events which Bryant Gumbel told us were so important for the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
Thank heavens Doubleday and Wilpon bought the team the year after and it's been nothing but good times since.

10. MSalfino Posted: August 28, 2009 at 09:53 PM (#3308090)

Even if you don't want to take Montanez, who startedd 104 games at 1B, Ed Kranepool played more games (26) at first than Stearns (14).

I needed to get the best plausible non-Montanez 1B out there so I could get Trevino out there and put a whuppin' on Santos.

11. Swoboda is freedom Posted: August 28, 2009 at 11:29 PM (#3308146)

Joel looked like he was 58 when he was 27. First player I remember being bald.

12. AndrewJ Posted: August 28, 2009 at 11:55 PM (#3308163)

The 1980 Mets were actually in contention until early August, IIRC.

13. TerpNats Posted: August 29, 2009 at 12:09 AM (#3308172)

Another Met moment from '79: Tied with the Pirates on a Friday night in May at Shea. The leadoff batter in the bottom of the ninth triples...and then a thick fog comes in from Flushing Bay. The game is called.

Also, let's not forget Mettle, the mule mascot for a few months. Not exactly Charlie O.

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Friday, August 28, 2009

SNY: Salfino: Comparing the 2009 Amazins to the misery of 1979

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