Mets #11

The New York Mets
Here are Met #s 11 - 20 of all time using the Bill James Win Share system.

An asterisk (*) after a Win Share total indicates that this was the leading total for the team that year. In other words, the player was probably the team MVP or close to it that year.

#11
Mike Piazza (C) / Player’s Score = 108

When Mike Piazza came to the Mets it was big, big news, and for four years Mike delivered all the way to the World Series. He suffered several injuries which turned his 8 years with the Mets into about 5 good playing years. James ranks him as a C+ catcher while ranking Yogi as an A. Yogi is still the best catcher of all time by a long way at 375 career WS to Piazza's 318 WS. I gave Piazza 0.7 points for his 2000 World Series performance. The only question left is will he be in a Met hat for his Hall of Fame plaque? (Probably not).
Plate Appearances: 3,941

Piazza's annual Win Share totals in a Met uniform are:
1998 (24); 1999 (21); 2000 (28); 2001 (21*); 2002 (19 ); 2003 (10 ): 2004 (12);
2005 (13).

Here is his Win Share ranking calculation as explained here:
18.52 (career total) + 24.33 (avg. three best yrs.) + 22.6 (avg. five best consecutive yrs.) + 16.8 (age adjustment) + 2.7 (subjective factor) = 85.0

Piazza’s annual Wins Above Replacement totals in a Met uniform are:
1998 (5.2); 1999 (4.0); 2000 (4.9); 2001 (4.2); 2002 (2.7); 2003 (2.0); 2004 (-0.1); 2005 (-0.1) = 23

#12
Jon Matlack (LHP) / Player’s Score = 99

Jon was the 1972 NL Rookie of the Year and made the 1-2 punch of Seaver and Koosman that much better. The Mets went into a long funk after the 1973 World Series and Jon toiled on for the Mets as their #3 starter in some fairly lean years. Jon finished his 7 year stint with the Mets with a cumulative 3.03 ERA. He led the Mets in shutouts 5 times and ERA twice. Jon gets +1 for his 1973 World Series performance (1-2 with a 2.16 ERA).
Innings Pitched: 1,448

Matlack's annual Win Share totals in a Met uniform are:
1971 (1); 1972 (22*); 1973 (16); 1974 (24*); 1975 (12); 1976 (18); 1977 (6)

Here is his Win Share ranking calculation as explained here:
14.18 (career total) + 21.33 (avg. three best yrs.) + 18.4 (avg. five best consecutive yrs.) + 15 (age adjustment) + 5 (subjective factor) = 73.91

Matlack’s annual Wins Above Replacement totals in a Met uniform are:
1971 (0.1); 1972 (5.8); 1973 (4.1); 1974 (8.8); 1975 (1.5); 1976 (3.9); 1977 (0.9) = 25.1

#13
Kevin McReynolds (LF) / Player’s Score = 94

Kevin McReynolds had a relatively short major league career. The good news? Almost all his good years in the majors were with the Mets. McReynolds had a break-out year with the Padres in 1986 and then was acquired by the Mets for the 1987 season. For the next five years he put up almost the same (excellent) numbers: about 24 homers, 90 RBIs, .270 average, 250 total bases. In 1988 he had his best major league season and polled 3rd in the MVP voting (behind Kirk Gibson and his right field playing partner Darryl Strawberry). Kevin was traded to the Kansas City Royals after the 1991 season and more or less immediately fell apart. His ranking on this list is the result of 5 consistently good years.
Plate Appearances: 3,218

McReynolds' annual Win Share totals in a Met uniform are:
1987 (19); 1988 (31*); 1989 (21); 1990 (21); 1991 (17); 1994 (5).

Here is his Win Share ranking calculation as explained here:
15.66 (career total) + 24.33 (avg. three best yrs.) + 21.8 (avg. five best consecutive yrs.) + 15.9 (age adjustment) + 2 (subjective factor) = 79.69

McReynolds’ annual Wins Above Replacement totals in a Met uniform are:
1987 (2.3); 1988 (4.2); 1989 (3.4); 1990 (3.4); 1991 (0.8); 1994 (0.2) = 14.3

#14
Cleon Jones (LF) / Player’s Score = 93

       Jones had his best year in 1969 when he hit .340, was an All-star, and polled 7th in the MVP voting. A year like that is almost always good enough to be the Win Share team leader, except when you are competing against Tom Seaver.
       He had a relatively short major league career (parts of 13 seasons), a low OBP, C+ fielding, and didn't hit with much power in a power hitter's position. However, he had a .281 career batting average and had several respectable seasons in the late 1960s and early 1970s. I gave Jones +0.86 subjective factor for his 1969 World Series performance.
                                              Plate Appearances: 4,683

Jones's Win annual Share totals in a Met uniform are:
1963 (0); 1965 (1); 1966 (15); 1967 (7); 1968 (20); 1969 (30); 1970 (14); 1971 (24); 1972 (7); 1973 (9); 1974 (14); 1975 (0).

Here is his Win Share ranking calculation as explained here:
18.03 (career total) + 24.67 (avg. three best yrs.) + 19 (avg. five best consecutive yrs.) + 14.2 (age adjustment) + 0.86 (subjective factor) = 76.76

Jones’ annual Wins Above Replacement totals in a Met uniform are:
1963 (-0.3); 1965 (-0.6); 1966 (0.9); 1967 (-0.5); 1968 (4.0); 1969 (6.9); 1970 (2.0); 1971 (4.4); 1972 (-0.9); 1973 (-0.6); 1974 (1.4); 1975 (-0.3) = 16.4

#15
Mookie Wilson (CF) / Player’s Score = 92

Unfortunately, Mookie's career has been distilled down to the 1986 World Series Game 6 roller that he hit through Bill Buckner's knees. Mookie is rated by James as an A- fielder, he was a .276 hitter, and he stole 281 bases as a Met. On the down side: Mookie struck out too much and walked too little for a lead-off hitter, and, subsequently, didn't score enough runs. However, Game 6 gets him +1 subjective factor. Go ahead, try arguing with it.
Plate Appearances: 4,307

Mookie's annual Win Share totals in a Met uniform are:
1980 (2); 1981 (9); 1982 (19*); 1983 (17); 1984 (23); 1985 (12); 1986 (16); 1987 (15); 1988 (17); 1989 (2).

Here is his Win Share ranking calculation as explained here:
17.28 (career total) + 19.67 (avg. three best yrs.) + 17.4 (avg. five best consecutive yrs.) + 15.6 (age adjustment) + 3 (subjective factor) = 72.95

Mookie’s annual Wins Above Replacement totals in a Met uniform are:
1980 (-0.1); 1981 (1.4); 1982 (1.6); 1983 (2.1); 1984 (3.5); 1985 (2.4); 1986 (2.8); 1987 (2.4); 1988 (2.1); 1989 (0.8) = 19

#16
Al Leiter (LHP) / Player’s Score = 90

Al Leiter was the ace on the Met pitching staff for most of the seven year stretch during the great Met teams of the late 1990’s and early 2000s. He led the team in victories five times, strikeouts six times, shutouts four times, and ERA four times. Leiter was the steady veteran on a highly changeable rotation during those days and could always be counted on for a solid performance. He was selected to the All-star Team in 2000. He finished his Met career with a W-L record of 95-67 and an ERA of 3.42. Leiter gets a subjective factor of +1 for his nice World Series performance (0-1, 2.67 ERA) in 2000.
Innings Pitched: 1,360

Leiter’s annual Win Share totals in a Met uniform are:
1998 (21); 1999 (11); 2000 (17); 2001 (14); 2002 (11); 2003 (10); 2004 (12)

Here is his Win Share ranking calculation as explained here:
13.87 (career total) + 17.3 (avg. three best yrs.) + 14.8 (avg. five best consecutive yrs.) + 16.5 (age adjustment) + 1 (subjective factor) = 63.47

Leiter’s annual Wins Above Replacement totals in a Met uniform are:
1998 (6.5); 1999 (2.2); 2000 (4.5); 2001 (2.8); 2002 (2.3); 2003 (3.4); 2004 (4.7) = 26.4

#17
Lee Mazzilli (CF) / Player’s Score = 87

As a good-looking New Yorker, Mazzilli got a lot of attention when he came up to the Mets. Between 1977 and 1980 Lee had four good years (including selection as an All-star in 1979) and then was terrible in 1981. He was traded after the '81 season and wound up as a part-time player with Texas, the Yankees, and Pittsburgh. The Pirates dumped him mid-way through the 1986 season and the eager Mets brought Mazzilli home. He was a defensive sub, spot starter and pinch-hitter in the second half of the '86 season and had two hits in 5 at-bats in the 1986 World Series. I gave him 0.2 points for those two World Series hits.
Plate Appearances: 3,496

Mazzilli's annual Win Share totals in a Met uniform are:
1976 (2); 1977 (13); 1978 (21); 1979 (25*); 1980 (24*); 1981 (8); 1986 (3); 1987 (5); 1988 (0); 1989 (3)

Here is his Win Share ranking calculation as explained here:
14.69 (career total) + 23.33 (avg. three best yrs.) + 18.2 (avg. five best consecutive yrs.) + 15.5 (age adjustment) + 4.2 (subjective factor) = 75.92

Mazzilli’s annual Wins Above Replacement totals in a Met uniform are:
1976 (-0.1); 1977 (1.0); 1978 (3.1); 1979 (4.7); 1980 (3.0); 1981 (-0.9); 1986 (0.6); 1987 (0.9); 1988 (-1.2); 1989 (0.3) = 11.4

#18
Sid Fernandez (LHP) / Player’s Score = 84

Sid Fernandez often gets complimented as being one of the best pitchers in the major leagues for five or six innings. I decided to look into Sid’s ability to complete games vs. the other pitchers on this top 20 list. Here it is in terms of percentage of starts completed in a Met uniform: Seaver 43%, Koozman 31%, Matlack 33%, Gooden 22%, Fernandez 9%, Leiter 5%. Now, everyone knows that pitchers have been pitching steadily fewer games per season and fewer innings per game for the last 50 years or more. Sid’s 9% CG rate would be considered pretty good in 2011. Anyway, back when Sid was pitching his CG rate may have been a little lower than the norm for a #2 or #3 pitcher, but not really that much. Sid was a two time All-star as a Met and gets +1 for his WS performance in 1986. He led the team in wins twice, strikeouts twice, and ERA twice. He finished his Met career with a W-L of 98-78.
Innings Pitched: 1,584

Fernandez’ annual Win Share totals in a Met uniform are:
1984 (5); 1985 (12); 1986 (12); 1987 (8); 1988 (11); 1989 (16); 1990 (9); 1991 (3); 1992 (16); 1993 (9)

Here is his Win Share ranking calculation as explained here:
14.4 (career total) + 14.67 (avg. three best yrs.) + 11.8 (avg. five best consecutive yrs.) + 16.2 (age adjustment) + 1 (subjective factor) = 58.07

Fernandez’ annual Wins Above Replacement totals in a Met uniform are:
1984 (0.9); 1985 (3.6); 1986 (2.4); 1987 (1.3); 1988 (2.7); 1989 (3.0); 1990 (2.1); 1991 (0.9); 1992 (5.9); 1993 (3.2) = 26

#19
Tommie Agee (CF) / Player’s Score = 82

Bill James ranks Agee as an A+ fielder. To go along with his outfielding skills Agee had power, speed, and hit for a decent average. Agee was the Rookie of the Year in 1966 who fell on hard times in '67 and was traded to the Mets before the '68 season started. He had an awful 1968 with the Mets, hitting .217 with 15 walks against 103 strikeouts. For the next two years Agee returned to the form demonstrated during his rookie season and became one of the best center fielders in the NL. The two famous catches made in the '69 World Series earn him a +1 subjective factor.
Plate Appearances: 2,687

Agee's annual Win Share totals in a Met uniform are:
1968 (5); 1969 (28); 1970 (23); 1971 (19); 1972 (11).

Here is his Win Share ranking calculation as explained here:
12.79 (career total) + 23.3 (avg. three best yrs.) + 17.2 (avg. five best consecutive yrs.) + 14.2 (age adjustment) + 1 (subjective factor) = 68.49

Agee’s annual Wins Above Replacement totals in a Met uniform are:
1968 (-0.2); 1969 (5.1); 1970 (5.1); 1971 (3.2); 1972 (-0.1) = 13.1

#20
Gary Carter (C) / Player’s Score = 81

Gary Carter is one of the top ten catchers in the history of baseball. However, most of Carter's good years were with the Expos. The first two years Carter was with the Mets were his best. In 1985 he was an All-star, polled 6th in MVP voting, and was the Silver Slugger at his position. In 1986 he was an All-star, polled third in MVP voting, and was Silver Slugger as well. In 1987 and 1988 Carter made the All-star team, but it is questionable as to the merit of his selection. In 1989 he hit a miserable .183 in 50 games with two homers and was released after his fifth year as a Met. Carter has made several overtures to become the Mets manager, but it was not to be. Carter gets +1 subjective factor for his 1986 World Series performance. We say so-long to Gary in 2012. We knew him well.
Plate Appearances: 2,448

Carter's annual Win Share totals in a Met uniform are:
1985 (33*); 1986 (23); 1987 (13); 1988 (12); 1989 (2).

Here is his Win Share ranking calculation as explained here:
12.46 (career total) + 23 (avg. three best yrs.) + 16.6 (avg. five best consecutive yrs.) + 15.4 (age adjustment) + 3 (subjective factor) = 70.46

Carter’s annual Wins Above Replacement totals in a Met uniform are:
1985 (6.6); 1986 (3.3); 1987 (0.8); 1988 (-0.1); 1989 (-0.3) = 10.3

Honorable Mention

John Olerud

John Olerud spent three amazing years in a Met uniform: 1997, 1998, and 1999. Each of these three years Olerud easily performed at an All-star level although he never made the All-star team in that timeframe. Olerud’s Wins Share totals for those three years are 27, 34*, and 26. His Wins Above Replacement (WAR) values are 3.8, 7.3, and 5.4. As a Met Olerud had a .315/ .425/ .501 slash line. His .425 OBP over three years is the best of any Met, ever. Add to this the fact that Olerud was a strong defensive asset for those three years and you have a really special performance in a Met uniform, but a performance of only three years. When I think of the great Mets of the past, I don’t think of the name John Olerud, but maybe I should.