In the early 2000s, the New York Mets were a fairly competitive baseball team that occasionally made the playoffs. However, their success early in the decade was hit or miss, as they were inconsistent with their winning in the regular season. Needing to load up on talent that could carry them into the playoffs more consistently, the Mets acquired talent via trades and free agency to better position themselves for a deep postseason run. Those moves paid off during the 2006 Mets season, when the roster overhaul finally clicked.
A Dominant Regular Season
In the 2006 season, the New York Mets went 97-65, winning the National League East by 12 games over the Philadelphia Phillies. The Mets went 50-31 at their home ballpark of Shea Stadium while going 47-34 on the road. The team was solid through almost every month of the regular season, going 16-8 in April, 16-12 in May, 15-12 in June, 16-9 in July and 19-9 in August. In blowout games decided by a margin of five or more runs, the Mets went 34-17.
During the 2006 Mets season, the team also put together an eight-game winning streak. The streak began on June 7 with a 9-7 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers and ended on June 15 with a 5-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.
Offensive Firepower
Everyday Lineup
Catcher Paul Lo Duca was traded to the Mets from the Florida Marlins on December 5, 2005. Lo Duca batted .318 with 163 hits and 39 doubles. Third baseman David Wright batted .311 with 26 home runs and 116 RBIs off 181 hits, 40 doubles, 5 triples and 20 stolen bases. Outfielder Endy Chavez batted .306 with 108 hits, 22 doubles, 5 triples and 12 stolen bases in 133 games. Shortstop Jose Reyes batted .300 with 19 home runs and 81 RBIs off 194 hits, 30 doubles, 17 triples and an amazing 64 stolen bases. Center fielder Carlos Beltran batted .275 with 41 home runs and 116 RBIs off 140 hits, 38 doubles and 18 stolen bases. Second baseman Jose Valentin batted .271 with 18 home runs and 62 RBIs off 104 hits, 24 doubles and 3 triples.
Corner Additions Anchor the Attack
First baseman Carlos Delgado was traded to the Mets from the Florida Marlins, along with cash, in exchange for first baseman Mike Jacobs, pitcher Yusmeiro Petit and minor league player Grant Psomas on November 24, 2005. Delgado had 38 home runs and 114 RBIs off 139 hits and 30 doubles, and he would go on to receive the Roberto Clemente Award. Left fielder Cliff Floyd had 11 home runs, 81 hits and 19 doubles in 97 games. Right fielder Xavier Nady was traded to the Mets from the San Diego Padres in exchange for outfielder Mike Cameron on November 18. Nady had 14 home runs, 70 hits and 15 doubles.
Pitching Staff Built for October
Starting Rotation
New York’s starting rotation was solid enough to not only go deep into games, but also to wear down opposing offenses with a wide variety of pitch types. Starting pitcher Tom Glavine went 15-7 with 131 strikeouts and a 3.82 ERA. Steve Trachsel went 15-8 with 1 complete game. Pedro Martinez went 9-8 with 137 strikeouts. Orlando Hernandez went 9-7 with 112 strikeouts and 1 complete game. John Maine went 6-5 with a 3.60 ERA, 1 complete game and 1 shutout.
Bullpen Depth
The bullpen was also a strength for the Mets, as pitchers often shut down opposing offenses before they could get anything going. Closer Billy Wagner went 3-2 with 40 saves, a 2.24 ERA and 94 strikeouts. Relief pitcher Chad Bradford went 4-2 with 2 saves and a 2.90 ERA. Pedro Feliciano went 7-2 with a 2.09 ERA. Duaner Sanchez went 5-1 with a 2.60 ERA. Aaron Heilman had a 3.62 ERA despite going 4-5. Darren Oliver went 4-1 with a 3.44 ERA.
2006 NLDS: Sweeping the Dodgers
In the National League Division Series, the Mets made quick work of the Los Angeles Dodgers, convincingly sweeping the series three games to none.
Game 1: Mets Survive a Slugfest
In Game 1 on October 4 at Shea Stadium, the Mets beat the Dodgers 6-5. In the top of the 2nd inning, left fielder Marlon Anderson had an RBI double for the Dodgers. In the bottom of the 4th, both Carlos Delgado and Cliff Floyd hit solo home runs. In the bottom of the 6th, David Wright had a 2-run double. In the top of the 7th, shortstop Rafael Furcal had an RBI single for Los Angeles, and first baseman Nomar Garciaparra followed with a 2-run double. Delgado then had an RBI single in the bottom of the 7th, and Wright followed with an RBI double. In the top of the 9th, pinch-hitting infielder Ramon Martinez had an RBI double.
Game 2: Glavine Steadies the Rotation
In Game 2 on October 5, the Mets won 4-1. Tom Glavine pitched 6 innings and gave up 4 hits and 2 walks while recording 2 strikeouts. Jose Reyes, known for sparking offensive rallies with his speed, had an RBI groundout in the bottom of the 3rd inning. Paul Lo Duca had a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 5th to score Jose Valentin. In the bottom of the 6th, first baseman Julio Franco grounded into a forceout at second base to score Floyd, and Reyes followed with an RBI single. Corner infielder and shortstop Wilson Betemit hit a solo home run for the Dodgers in the top of the 8th.
Game 3: New York Completes the Sweep
In Game 3 on October 7 at Dodger Stadium, the Mets completed the sweep with a 9-5 victory. In the top of the 1st inning, Wright, Floyd and outfielder Shawn Green all had RBI singles. Green then came back in the top of the 3rd to get an RBI double. First baseman James Loney had a 2-run single for Los Angeles in the bottom of the 4th, and second baseman Jeff Kent belted a 2-run home run in the bottom of the 5th. Loney would follow by drawing a bases-loaded walk to score outfielder J.D. Drew. In the top of the 6th, Reyes, Lo Duca and Beltran all had RBI singles. In the top of the 8th, Lo Duca came back for another RBI single, and Delgado followed by reaching on an error to score Lo Duca.
2006 NLCS: A Hard-Fought Series Loss to St. Louis
The Mets had reached the National League Championship Series, but they ran into a St. Louis Cardinals team with just as much talent. The Cardinals ultimately eliminated the Mets from the playoffs, four games to three.
Game 1: A Statement Shutout
The NLCS started out well for the Mets, as they shut out the Cardinals 2-0 in Game 1 on October 12 at Shea Stadium. Tom Glavine pitched 7 innings, giving up 4 hits and 2 walks while recording 2 strikeouts. The only runs the Mets needed came off the bat of Carlos Beltran, who smashed a 2-run home run in the bottom of the 6th inning.
Game 4: Offense Erupts in St. Louis
In Game 4 on October 15 at Busch Stadium III, the Mets beat the Cardinals 12-5. In the bottom of the 2nd inning, catcher Yadier Molina had an RBI single for the Cardinals, and in the top of the 3rd, both Beltran and David Wright hit solo home runs. In the bottom of the 3rd, right fielder Juan Encarnacion had an RBI triple. In the top of the 5th, Carlos Delgado blasted a 3-run home run, and in the bottom of the 5th, shortstop David Eckstein hit a solo home run for St. Louis. Delgado then had a 2-run ground-rule double in the top of the 6th, Shawn Green followed with an RBI single, and Jose Valentin added a 3-run double. In the bottom of the 6th, center fielder Jim Edmonds and Molina both hit solo home runs. In the top of the 7th, Beltran hit another solo home run.
Game 6: New York Forces a Game 7
In Game 6 on October 18 at Shea Stadium, the Mets beat the Cardinals 4-2. John Maine pitched 5.1 innings and gave up 2 hits and 4 walks while recording 5 strikeouts. In the bottom of the 1st inning, Jose Reyes hit a solo home run. In the bottom of the 4th, Shawn Green had an RBI single. In the bottom of the 7th, Paul Lo Duca had a 2-run single. Pinch-hitting outfielder So Taguchi had a 2-run double for the Cardinals in the top of the 9th.
Unfortunately for the New York Mets, this one chance at championship success was only a single blip on the radar. The 2006 Mets season would remain the high point for years to come, as the team took a dive in winning and production for the next eight years before finally returning to postseason play in 2015.
