A remark in the comments section in the previous entry, noting that slugging middle infielder Omar Quintanilla had become the Mets’ first Q surname and the 25th letter represented overall, inspired the following attempt to field a team of Mets using each letter of the alphabet only once. Thanks for the inspiration and the post-list suggestions. I like this team’s chances even if Seaver might have to sit to get Strawberry’s bat in the lineup. Isn’t that so Metly?
Starting pitchers (5)
Gooden, SP
Koosman, SP
Leiter, SP
Seaver, SP
Viola, SP
Relievers (6)
Dotel
Franco
Innis
McGraw
Orosco
Zachry
Catchers (2)
Carter
Piazza
Infielders (6)
Alfonzo, 2B-3B
Hernandez, 1B
Quintanilla, SS-2B
Reyes, SS
Teufel, 2B
Wright, 3B
Outfielders (6)
Beltran
Everett
C. Jones
Nieuwenhuis
Unser
Youngblood
Submitted by metsilverman.com (not verified) on Wed, 05/30/2012 – 12:29pm.
Great job. Quintanilla is the only scrub on the list–though Zachry tempts me–but I would take that team over any team, Mets or otherwise, in the last 50 years.
Submitted by Ranjrz5 on Wed, 05/30/2012 – 2:47pm.
Can we replace Everett with Evans just because he lasted that long in #6?
Submitted by Jon Springer on Wed, 05/30/2012 – 3:08pm.
We could move Zeile to the infield, insert Ron Taylor in the bullpen, and bench Zachry and Teufel.
No Nick Evans on this list!
Submitted by gored82 on Thu, 05/31/2012 – 1:07pm.
Per my comment in the earlier string, how about making it a 26-man roster with Xavier Nady, since there’s never been a MLB player with an X surname?
Submitted by Alan (not verified) on Thu, 05/31/2012 – 8:19pm.
I think I would trade Orosco for John Olerud. We have lefty bullpen surplus with Franco and McGraw. Then do the Taylor Teufel swap.
Another issue is that John Franco doesn’t have a number with Piazza and McGraw on the team. Too bad.
Submitted by Doctor Worm (not verified) on Mon, 06/04/2012 – 7:38pm.
How does Octavio Dotel, who only appeared in 19 games as a Met (14 as a starter) with a 5.38 ERA, make the team as a reliever? The only rationale is that you are evaluating the player’s entire body of work, not just his performance as a Met. But if so, where is Willie Mays?
I’d swap out Dotel and Leiter for Darling and either Lockwood or Looper. Actually, the most deserving “L” reliever is probably Leach. But since Innis has to be on the roster, there is no point in also including his mirror image in Leach.
Or you could just make it a straight Dotel/Darling swap and make Leiter your long man in the pen.
Submitted by Doctor Worm (not verified) on Mon, 06/04/2012 – 11:18pm.
If we were to redo this list based on each player’s overall body of work, rather than their accomplishments as a Met, we have some VERY tough positional decisions to make:
Seaver or Spahn?
Hernandez or Hodges?
Alfonzo or Alomar (Roberto)?
Leiter or Lolich?
Beltran or Berra? (Yogi did play outfield quite a bit.)
Teufel or Torre? (That one’s not so tough. Sorry Teuf.)
One thing is certain IMO, you start with Willie Mays and figure out the other 24 from there. Mays is the best player ever to wear a Met uniform, in the same sense that Babe Ruth is the best player ever to wear a Boston Braves uniform.
Submitted by gored82 on Sun, 06/10/2012 – 6:09am.
Assuming you’re not including Hodges’ work as a manager, then it’s Keith, hands down. Sorry Gil.