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The 2006 New York Mets are most remembered for their final moment. Carlos Beltran striking out looking at the end of Game 7 of the NLCS against the St Louis Cardinals. Yet prior to that game or even that series, there was plenty of injuries to the pitching staff that could lead a Mets fan to ask, what if? Pedro Martinez and Orlando Hernandez both missed the postseason due to injuries, significantly impacting the Mets starting rotation. Prior to those injuries however, the Mets lost a key reliever due to an accident that took place off the field. When Duaner Sanchez infamously separated his shoulder in a taxicab accident.

Sanchez was in the midst of a career year prior to the injury, becoming a key set-up man for closer Billy Wagner. Sanchez was traded to the Mets in the offseason in a deal that sent Jae Weong Seo and Tim Hamulack to the Los Angeles Dodgers. In his first year with the Mets, Sanchez got off to an amazing start as he did not allow a single run until May 9th, in his 16th appearance of the season. In his first year with the Mets, Sanchez got off to an amazing start as he did not allow a single run until May 9th, in his 16th appearance of the season. Across his 49 appearances in 2006, Sanchez only yielded runs in nine of those contests. He recorded 14 holds and won five games out of the Mets bullpen. Then early in the morning on July 30, 2006, Sanchez’s taxicab was hit by a drunk driver on interstate-95 in Miami, Florida. Sanchez had to be flown to New York City to undergo season-ending surgery to repair his separated shoulder.

Sanchez’s shoulder would never be the same, as he suffered a hairline fracture in spring training the next year, costing him the 2007 season as well. The right-hander did appear in 66 games for the Mets in 2008, but pitched to a 4.32 ERA. Sanchez’s last big league appearance came in May of 2009 with the San Diego Padres. At 29 years old, less than three years removed from the accident, his career was over. - metsmerizedonline.com by Ryan Finkelstein

Redid the facegen. Shown with the Pirates.