Bad Lineups Throughout Mets History

The Mets scored a run last night! Actually five runs!

It was the first time they pushed a player across the plate since Saturday, and the first time a non-pitcher drove in a run since Friday.

Having to watch the Mets’ meager offense every day brings back memories of other feable lineups throughout Mets history. Of course this year’s version is due to injuries, while some of the lineups from the days of yore were just plain bad.

Lenny Dykstra just filed for bankruptcy, maybe the Mets’ offense can do the same thing.

In the last game before the 2000 All-Star break, the Mets threw this lineup out on the field.

Melvin Mora SS, Derek Bell RF, Edgardo Alfonzo 2B, Todd Zeile 1B, Benny Agbayani LF, Robin Ventura 3B, Jay Payton CF, Todd Pratt C

With Mike Piazza out of the lineup, they look pretty thin, but on a total of six hits they beat the Yankees, 2-0. And, of course, they went all the way to the World Series with this cast of characters.

That’s what good pitching, timely hitting and Bobby Valentine will do for you.

Just before opening day of 1998, all the talk centered around how the Mets lineup was so weak that there was a very good possibility that they would get no-hit by Curt Schilling of the Phillies that day. Here was the Mets lineup.

Brian McRae CF, Edgardo Alfonzo 3B, Bernard Gilkey LF, John Olerud 1B, Carlos Baerga 2B, Butch Huskey RF, Todd Spehr C, Rey Ordonez SS

Well, they managed seven hits and won the game. It took them 15 innings to do it, but they scored one run and beat the Phils, 1-0.

Piazza would soon be on the way to add the big bat that they needed.

I once worked with a girl whose friend was dating Todd Spehr that season.

“You’re a Mets fan?” she said to me. “Todd Spehr’s in my friend’s apartment right now. I’ll call her and you can talk to him.”

Before I could say anything she was dialing the phone. Nobody answered, though. I wasn’t really clear on what I was supposed to say to Spehr.

“Hi Todd. Umm...why does Carlos Baerga stink?”

On the last day of the 1982 season, with the dark days of franchise history seemingly without end, the Mets were forced to use these players.

Mike Howard CF, Ron Gardenhire SS, George Foster LF, Dave Kingman 1B, Rusty Tillman RF, Hubie Brooks 3B, Brian Giles 2B, Ronn Reynolds C

Rusty Tillman? That team lost 4-1 to the Phillies and could only muster four hits. 1982 was bleak, but hope (and Keith Hernandez) was right around the corner.

And let’s go back to the Midnight Massacre of 1977. Here’s the lineup the day after Tom Seaver

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