New York Mets: The Wright Way

[Gehrig493]

AUGUST IN REVIEW

New York Mets: 70-64 (18-10 in August), 6.5 GB in NL East, 5.0 GB in WC
AVG: Richard Hidalgo - .307
HR: Richard Hidalgo – 30
RBI: Richard Hidalgo - 101
SB: Luis Castillo, Juan Pierre - 54
W: Aaron Heilman, Al Leiter - 10
ERA: Aaron Heilman – 3.53
K: Aaron Heilman - 155
SV: Danny Kolb - 41

After the best month this season, we gained no ground in the division, but we did gain 4 games through the wild card. With our division so tight, it doesn’t appear as if I will be making the division, it does appear as if I have a chance at the Wild Card, though.
Chicago, Philadelphia, and San Diego are all tied for first, so if I can pass the Phils, I have a slim chance to sneak into the playoffs. I also have Atlanta and Houston in front of me. I have 7 games between Wild Card teams, 4 with Houston, and 3 with San Diego. Let’s see if we can pull off a shocking comeback.

Standings






League Leaders




Mets Stats




LEAGUE NOTES
PUJOLS STILL 4 MAJOR LEAGUE TRIPLE CROWN!!!

Trades
If you think any of these deals should be overturned, let me know. 3 Either way, for, or against it, decides the trade’s fate!

Extensions
SFG: SP. Brett Tomko (85) – 3 Years
COL: RP. Brian Fuentes (88/93) – 2 Years
LAD: CF. Milton Bradley (84) – 3 Years
PHI: SP. Randy Wolf (85) – 3 Years
MON: CF. Endy Chavez (80/85) – 2 Years
TOR: SP. Ted Lilly (87) – 3 Years
MON: LF. Juan Rivera (82/85) – 2 Years
PIT: SP. Kris Benson (85) – 2 Years
CWS: 3B. Joe Crede (82/89) – 3 Years
SFG: C. Yorvit Torrealba (76/84) – 2 Years

Milestones


Retirees
Julio Franco
Todd Ziele
Russ Springer

Looking at the Farm System
In AAA, Reyes is hitting .299 with 9 homers, 55 RBI, and 39 steals. Carlos Gomez is hitting .333 with 17 steals in 34 games. Milledge has hit 6 homers, with 35 RBIs, and an average of .344.
Brian Bannister is 3-4 with an ERA of 3.89, striking out 29 in 74 innings (12 games). Pelfrey has pitched 47 innings in 8 games, posting an ERA of 3.26, with a record of 1-2, and 29 strikeouts.
In Binghamton, Joe Smith has pitched in 17 games, starting 5, throwing 33 innings, and posting a record of 0-1 with a 4.16 ERA.
Phil Humber is 4-1 for St. Lucie in 10 starts, appearing in 31 overall, posting an ERA of 2.94, with 61 strikeouts. Joba Chamberlain has pitched in 14 games, starting 3, striking out 24, and losing 4. Mets first round pick Yovani Gallardo has started 9 games for St. Lucie. Gallardo’s record is 3-2, thanks to an ERA of 4.04, and has fanned 34.

[Gehrig493]

Rivas Extends Deal
9.1.04
Luis Rivas sealed his fate for the following 5 years, resigning for 6M, including this year. Rivas will be the Met’s back-up first basemen, while Punto will back-up for the rest of the infield.
It has been speculated that the Mets will sent the 25-year old Rivas down to AAA to develop his skills a bit more, and maybe take over the starting job at first, sometime in the future.

Mientk - Whatever His Name Is - Extended Thru Next Season
9.5.02
Doug Mientkiewicz is going to be a Met until at least the end of next season. The former gold glove winner is going be challenging Luis Rivas to start at first base, assuming the Mets don’t get one during free agency.
Earlier today, the Mets beat the Pirates, 4-1, to get there third straight win.

Sheffield Gets Milestone
9.7.04
Sheffield got his 400th Home Run, helping carry the Mets to a 1-run win.

Back-to-Back One Run Wins
9.8.04
The Mets pulled off back-to-back 3-2 wins of the Pittsburgh Pirates, keeping there hopes alive for the Wild Card.

Reyes Gets Second Chance
9.10.04
Luis Castillo went down with down with a forearm stress fracture, and will be out a week. Jose Reyes was bating .299 with 39 steals in 95 games at AAA since being sent down earlier this year. With Castillo’s injury, Reyes is getting a second chance. He will be playing second base, and hitting second while Castillo is out, Pierre is leading off.

Mets Return Favor
9.13.04
After a complete game, 2-hit shutout thrown by Roy Oswalt yesterday, Aaron Heilman returned the favor, striking out 10 Astros in 8 shutout innings today, with Kolb getting save 45 for the year. With 16 games left this year, and the Mets being 5 out of the playoffs, it appears they are done. Kolb has 16 more games to get to 50 saves. Had Kolb not blown already 4 saves with the Mets, and an additional 4 with the Brewers, he’d be there, and beyond.

Mets Eliminated
9.22.04
The Mets are eliminated from any possible hope of playing in the playoffs this year after a 9-6 loss to the Padres. With a week left in the season, there are a couple close division races, that could go down the last day.
Two games separated the Expos, and the Phillies in the NL East. They final two series are not against each other, so the Phillies need timely playing, and luck on there sides for the division. Philadelphia has a 2 game lead over the Padres in the Wild Card, so if they can’t get hot enough to win the division, as long as they can hold on, and not collapse, there in the playoffs.
Then in the AL West, in what was an 8 game lead about 2 months ago, has now been shrunk to 2 by the Athletics.
In the last week, the Mets are 2-5.

Danny Kolb Forgoes Arbitration; Signs 3-Years
9.26.04
Kolb, who the Mets obtained from Milwaukee earlier this season, has saved 14 games for the Mets, and 41 overall, second in the Majors - to Trevor Hoffman. Because of this performance, the Mets decided they wanted him to be here for a while. Kolb agreed to forgo his arbitration years for 6M, he will be here until at least 2006. He may have to compete for his closer job with set up man Heath Bell come Spring Training.

Too Little, Too Late
October 1st
The Mets surged to win 5 of there last 6 games, but it was just too late. Lets hope they can carry this pace into next season.

[Gehrig493]

SEPTEMBER IN REVIEW

New York Mets: 86-76 (16-12 in August), 8 GB in NL East, 8 GB in WC
AVG: Gary Shefield - .302
HR: Mike Piazza – 36
RBI: Richard Hidalgo - 116
SB: Juan Pierre - 70
W: Aaron Heilman - 15
ERA: Aaron Heilman – 3.24
K: Aaron Heilman - 194
SV: Danny Kolb - 49

Well, we didn't win enough, and we miss out on the the playoffs for another year.

Standings






League Leaders




Mets Stats




LEAGUE NOTES
PUJOLS STILL WINS MAJOR LEAGUE TRIPLE CROWN!!!
Pujols led the league in Average (.354), Home Runs (55), and RBI (181). Second place for all average was Frank Catalanotto (.337), Manny, Giambi (45) in Home Runs, and Garret Anderson in RBI (131). Not only did Pujols win the triple crown, but he was far ahead of those who played second fiddle to him.

Trades
If you think any of these deals should be overturned, let me know. 3 Either way, for, or against it, decides the trade’s fate!

Extensions


Milestones
Jeff Kent - 1000 Runs
Gary Sheffield - 400 Home Runs
Woody Williams - No Hitter
Jeff Bagwell - 1500 RBI
Trevor Hoffman - 400 Saves
Ivan Rodriguez - 1000 RBI
Garrett Anderson - 1000 RBI

Retirees
Andres Galarraga

Looking at the Farm System
See last month.

[PotatoOfCouch13]

At least everyone stepped up to prevent Pujols' Triple Crown.

Good first season. Here's to more success in Y2!

[Gehrig493]

Thanks, POC. Next season I'll be implementing a bit more realism with a trade limit, and such. Hopefully the added realism will lead to more readers.

[Gehrig493]

New York Yankees @ Anaheim Angels
The Yankees were the best team in the league, behind the Yankees, but the Angels team ERA is almost .60 points lower than the Yankees. There team BA is only a point lower than the Yanks.
Angels are going to be missing Washburn for the playoffs, same with Moose for the Yankees. Both teams missing there second best pitcher, the other 3v3 makes me say the Angels win this.
Angels in 5

Chicago White Sox @ Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox weren't the best team in baseball this year for nothing. With the AL Leader in Homers, two guys at the top of the lineup with 30+ skills, there first five hitters with double digits homers, and best pitcher in baseball. Even though the White Sox had arguably the best power attack in baseball, with 5 guys over 30 home runs, only there ace appears to have a chance to hold down the Sox, and against Pedro, that's not happening. Pedro, the Red Sox ace, was .12 ERA off of a pitching triple crown, and will lead the Red Sox to the World Series.
Red Sox in 3

~
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Philadelphia Phillies @ St. Louis Cardinals
Led by the major league leader in Average, Homers, and RBI, Albert Pujols, as well as having 4 guys in double digit Homers, 3 with at least 20, and having good enough pitching, with a solid bullpen, the Cardinals will still lose.
The Phillies pitching was the best in best baseball, as only one guy had an ERA that didn't begin with a '3'. When you pair the stellar pitching with a trio of great hitters, and the best closer in baseball (in terms of saves), the Phils should win this one.
Phillies in 4

Los Angeles Dodgers @ Montreal Expos
The Dodgers had the second best staff in the majors, behind the Phils. They also feature the best closer in the game, in Eric Gagne. Gagne has a 1.31 ERA and was 45/48 in saves. Despite Green, and Beltre, who both have 20+ home runs, they are void of hitters, and will have to focus on there great pitching to win.
The Expos have a very potent lineup, a good, balanced rotation, and one of the best late-inning bullpens in the game. And because of this, I can see the Expos pulling this one off.
Expos in 5

[Gehrig493]

Results
ALDS
Angels (3-0)
Red Sox (3-1)

NLDS
Phillies (3-0)
Expos (3-1)

[Gehrig493]

ALCS
Anaheim @ Boston
Again, Boston is simply an overpowering team. Thes best hitter in the AL, and the best pitcher in Baseball. A great, very threatening lineup, with a very good rotation led by the best in baseball.
The Angels are good, but there not Boston good.
Boston in 5

NLCS
Philadelphia @ Montreal
A battle of division rivals. The division was set at a tie, but Montreal had the tiebreaker, and will have home field advantage. With these two teams, that may be all it takes, though, I won't be surprised if Philly wins.
Montreal in 7

[Gehrig493]

Results
AL Champions: Boston Red Sox (In 6)
Boston looks to 'Reverse the Curse' this year. The Red Sox have not won a World Series for 86 years. We all know the story about the selling of Babe Ruth, and what happened afterwards, so no need giving a history lesson. Is this the year the Sox reverse the curse? Stay tuned to find out...
NL Champions: Montreal Expos (In 7)
The Expos made MLB History last night. After being down in the ALCS 0-3, the Expos came back and won the next 4, including 2 in Philadelphia to make it to the World Series for the first time in there history.

[TheBigBomber]

X-POS! If Expos win, don't move them to Washington.

[DarthJaker]

Leave them in Montreal

[Gehrig493]

Leave them in Montreal

No quote regarding the Pujols triple crown?
Anyways, I am going to do something with them. I'm not going to change them to the Nats, because I hate the Nats, but I may move them somewere were they can get more fans maybe and make money to upgrade there s***ty stadium.

Jeffy must not have gotten on yet, or he isn't reading this. He'd surely have something regarding Prince Albert.

[DarthJaker]

PUJOLS Triple CROWN!!!!!

[Gehrig493]

Surprised it didn't come sooner!

Anyways, I will post the World Series stuff soon. I was just taking a break from the Dynasty to build up some suspense.

[Gehrig493]

By the way, If someone can guess the World Series MVP [correctly] after I post the rosters, you can send me details for your prospect!

You guys can start now, if you want, based on the end of the season league leaders. It is first come, first serve. First to pick Manny, or Pedro, should you guys decide to pick one, will go to the first who picked that player. Choose wisely!