Meet the Mets, meet the Mets--dynasty est. 1962

[rjl518]

Game 1) NYM 5 CHC 4
The NY Mets score three runs in the bottom of the ninth to win the 1st game of the NLDS 5-4 @ Shea Stadium.
Jerry Reuss got the complete game in the win.
Dave Parker went 3 for 4 in his first playoff game as a Met.
But it was Gary Thomasson who hit the GW-Single to score Wayne Gross from 3rd to allow the Mets to complete a great comeback win.

Game 2) CHC 2 NYM 1
A great pitcher's duel between Vida Blue and CHC John Candelaria occurred.
But it was the Cubs who came out on top 2-1 to tie the NLDS at one game apiece.
The Mets could only get 4 hits off of John Candelaria, and barely scrape one run across.
Tough game to lose.

Game 3) NYM 5 CHC 4
It was a lot closer than i would have liked, but the NY Mets pull it out of their A$$.
A 6-5 win over the CHI Cubs, puts the Mets back into the NL Championship Series.
I knew that the Cubs would be very tough in this series.
I wouldn't expect any less from a team that we seem to play almost every year in the NLDS.
But the Mets got the win.
Steve Carlton went 8 innings and struck out 4 batters.
Tug McGraw got the save, albeit he did give up a run.
Carew, Parker, Bench and Gross all got 2 hits today.
We move on once again to play for the Pennant.

NY Mets Win NLDS 2-1

[rjl518]

1976 NLCS Preview:

For the NLCS, the NY Mets will play the CIN Reds.
Tough series coming up.
Fred Lynn, Mike Schmidt, Gary Matthews, Jim Sundberg, Richie Hebner, Rudy May and Ken Forsch.
This Reds team looks like a different version of the old "Big Red Machine".
We are gonna have to play hard and mistake free if we want to get back to the World Series.
Stay tuned Mets fans...
The 1976 NLCS is up next!

[packerman120]

You definitely inspired me to start my own personal Mets game, and dang is it fun. I actually won my first WS in 1969, so that was fun. Stargell got me 68 and 69 MVP's. It's very fun so far, and I wish you luck in winning the 76 crown

[rjl518]

Game 1

The first game of the 1976 NLCS does not go our way.
The CIN Reds win the game 7-4 to take a 1-0 series lead.
CIN Richie Hebner and Mike Schmidt hit a pair of HRs for the Reds, as Jerry Reuss gives up 7 runs on 6 hits.
Even though the Mets jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, the Reds came right back and tied it up in the next inning.
Johnny Bench hit a HR in the loss.
We must bounce back in Game 2.

CIN Leads NLCS 1-0

[rjl518]

Game 2

The NY Mets knew that they couldn't go to Riverfront Stadium down 2-0.
So they get a great win over the CIN Reds 3-2 @ Shea Stadium.
Vida Blue pitches very well and is able to hold off the Reds lineup.
Tug McGraw gets the save.
Dave Parker is the hero of the game as he goes 1 for 4.
But the one hit is a 3-run HR which put the Mets ahead for good.
Al Bumbry went 2 for 4 in this game.
On to Cincy for Games 3 and 4.

NLCS Tied 1-1

[rjl518]

Game 3

Steve Carlton strikes out 12 batters and only gives up 2 hits as the NY Mets win 3-1 over the CIN Reds @ Riverfront Stadium.
Steve pretty much pitched the game of his career with tonight's showing.
Tug McGraw gets his 2nd save of the playoffs.
The hero tonight at the plate was Bucky Dent.
Bucky goes 4 for 5 with 2 RBIs, courtesy of a big double in the 2nd inning.
The Mets did leave 14 men on base, but it was a good thing that Carlton was on his game tonight.
Can we finish this series off in four?

NY Mets Lead NLCS 2-1

[rjl518]

Game 4

Sometimes you have to go with your gut.
Jerry Reuss was up next to pitch.
But at 89% rested, and the way he was clobbered in Game 1 of this series, i decided to take a gamble.
Don Sutton was 0-3 against the Reds this year with a 6.75 ERA.
I gave him the ball and he looked at me and said, "Watch this."
Sutton shuts out the Reds, as the NY Mets are heading back to the World Series since 1973 with a 4-0 clinching win @ Riverfront Stadium.
Don gives up 6 hits and that is all the "Big Red Machine" could muster.
The Mets get offensive help from Keith Hernandez, who smacked his 1st HR of the playoffs.
The Reds committed two crucial errors, which allowed the Mets to score a couple of key runs.
We clinch our 4th NL Pennant!
But our work is not done yet.

NY Mets WIN NLCS 3-1

[rjl518]

1976 WS Preview:

The NY Mets have played 3 WS in their history and all against the AL West.
The MIN Twins, CAL Angels and TEX Rangers.
We play our 1st opponent from the AL East in the form of the DET Tigers.
With players such as Dave Winfield, Dave Concepcion, Dwight Evans, and Carlton Fisk, i know this team is capable of scoring runs.
If we want to win this thing, we have to get through their pitching, which on paper is not as good as ours, however, anything can happen in the World Series.
Another tough adversary is approaching and its time to play ball.
Can we get off the skid and win our 2nd Championship?
We shall find out as the 1976 World Series is up next!

[rjl518]

Game 1) DET 6 NYM 1

Its the DET Tigers who draw first blood in the World Series with a 6-1 win over the NY Mets @ Shea Stadium.
Steve Carlton, once again, has playoff troubles as he gives up 6 runs on 4 hits, including a HR to ex-Met Dave Concepcion.
DET Doug Rau was on point tonight as the Mets lineup just couldn't get through him.
Keith Hernandez was 2 for 4 tonight.
I sometimes wonder why this HOF rotation i put together has troubles in the postseason.
Well, we need to tie the series up in Game 2.

DET Tigers Lead World Series 1-0

[rjl518]

Game 2) NYM 3 DET 1

For the 2nd game of the WS, it was all Don Sutton as he pitches another gem in the postseason.
Sutton gives up no runs on four hits as the DET Tigers leave Shea Stadium baffled and the WS now tied at 1-1.
Dave Parker goes 3 for 4 which makes him the MetMan at the plate.
The NY Mets belted 12 hits off of DET Jim Umbarger.
Tug McGraw picks up his 4th postseason save.
Now its on to Tiger Stadium for Games 3, 4 and 5.

World Series Tied 1-1

[rjl518]

Game 3) DET 7 NYM 2

Not much to report here.
The DET Tigers clobber the NY Mets 7-2 @ Tiger Stadium.
Vida Blue was just not ready to pitch.
But the Tigers were ready to hit.
It seems that my left-handers are just having a lot of trouble lately.
Might have to make a pitching change to see if i can tie this series up again.

DET Tigers Lead WS 2-1

[rjl518]

Game 4) NYM 4 DET 1


I give the ball to RHP Fergie Jenkins, and he does not disappoint me.
The NY Mets take the 4th game of the WS 4-1 over the DET Tigers.
With the series tied at 2-2, a return trip to Shea Stadium is assured.
Question is...who will be facing elimination in Game 6?
Fergie had a great night, only giving up 1 run on 6 hits.
Rod Carew had a breakout night, going 3 for 4 and scoring 2 runs.
Hal McRae, who has been pretty cold in the postseason thus far, went .500 for the night and had an RBI.
Johnny Bench, twinged a muscle in the game also, but he will be just fine for Game 5.
Should i stay with the right-handers?

WS Tied 2-2

[rjl518]

Game 5) DET 6 NYM 0

The series just keeps on going back and forth.
Once again, the DET Tigers out hit and out run the NY Mets with a 6-0 shutout @ Tiger Stadium.
Don Sutton gives up only 2 runs on 7 hits, but then, Will McEnaney gives up 4 runs in relief.
But it was DET Jackie Brown who kept the Mets lineup quiet, only allowing 4 hits.
We go back to Shea, facing elimination.
Can we somehow save our season?

DET Tigers Lead WS 3-2

[rjl518]

Game 6) NYM 7 DET 2

There will be a Game 7 as the NY Mets hold off for another night with a 7-2 victory over the DET Tigers @ Shea Stadium.
Steve Carlton got it together as he pitches a complete game giving up 2 runs on 6 hits.
Keith Hernandez goes 3 for 4, scoring twice and bringing in a run.
But there is bad news.
Dave Parker is injured making a play in the outfield and will not play the seventh game.
So far in this dynasty, the Mets are 0-2 in Game 7s.
Losing to the Twins in 1967 and the Rangers in 1973.
Can we put that nasty trend to rest for good?
Once again...ONE game for all the marbles!!!

WS Tied 3-3

[rjl518]

Game 7) NYM 6 DET 2

Pop the champagne Mets fans!
We have pulled it off!
I gave the ball to Fergie Jenkins to pitch the biggest game of his life.
He goes 8 innings, gives up 4 runs on 2 hits and gets the win.
I give credit to Gary Thomasson also, who goes 2 for 3 in place of the injured Parker.
Wayne Gross also has a good night, going 2 for 4 and scoring a big run.
The DET Tigers were an awesome opponent, but this time, its the GOOD GUYS who win it all once again.
Our 2nd World Series title, and our 1st since 1970!
This is a statement that will NEVER get old with me.
THE NY METS ARE THE CHAMPIONS OF THE BASEBALL WORLD!!!

NY Mets WIN World Series 4-3

[rjl518]

This NY Mets team has had its ups and downs over the years.
But when you finally win it all, it makes you reflect over those tough years, knowing that all it took was some hard teamwork and determination to hoist the World Series Trophy once again.
OOTP gave the WS MVP Award to Rod Carew, who was very deserving.
He went 11 of 28 for a .393 batting average.
But instead, i gave the World Series MVP Award to Fergie Jenkins.
He went 16 innings, 2 wins, no losses, he won Game 7, and finished with a 1.69 ERA.
His pitching kept us alive in this series, and it gave us the championship.
To Keith Hernandez, Rod Carew, Johnny Bench, Steve Carlton, Don Sutton, Tug McGraw, Dave Parker as well as the rest of this team...
I thank you all for a great championship run in 1976 and we look forward to a strong campaign in 1977.
We are going to enter the first year of free agency in MLB.
So what does that mean?
It means dynasties are gonna be a lot harder to create and maintain since players can now go where they like.
But for now...everyone get on your feet, drink the champagne and shower yourself with it and congratulate...

THE 1976 NEW YORK METS!!!
WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS!!!
Off-season report coming soon.

[rjl518]

As we enter the 1976 Off-season, we see the history of the NY Mets.
Now with TWO championships for the franchise, i feel a little bit more vindicated that i have put together a winning dynasty.
But, there are more titles to win...so lets get to it.

[rjl518]

Here are the 1976 Award winners for the NY Mets.
Keith Hernandez--Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Award.
Johnny Bench--Silver Slugger Award
Robert L.--Manager of the Year (ME)
Steve Carlton--Cy Young Award

[rjl518]

When you have the best record in baseball, you draft last.
I lost Fergie Jenkins and Phil Niekro to FA, so i took Matt Keough and Lenn Sakata in the first two rounds.
Lost out on players such as Whitaker, Murray, Trammell, Landreaux, & Puhl, among others.

[rjl518]

Jim Bunning is inducted into the HOF.
Good for him.