The Mets Killers Team: Closers

by Matthew Callan on Jan 13, 2011 12:00 PM EST

For a full explanation of this little project, see my introductory post here.

The Reader's Digest version: I'm working on a piece for the upcoming Amazin Avenue Annual about an imaginary team made up solely of Mets Killers, to see how such a team would fare when forced to play a full schedule against teams other than the Mets.

We close out, fittingly, with closers. I have a feeling I know how this one will go, almost as much as I feel a 3B poll would. (Again, 3B is the only position we're not polling, 'cause, I mean, c'mon.) But I do want to open the floor to debate and promote democracy to the fullest extent. I'm not going to poll any other kind of relievers, because I feel there's very, very few such pitchers who face another team frequently enough to qualify as Mets Killers. But if you disagree, please comment away.

Also, I know there were some technical issues with the Starting Pitchers poll. They have now been fixed, so please take a second to cast your ballot in that as well. Every vote counts!

Poll

Among active players, who is the biggest Mets Killer closer of them all?

Mariano Rivera

193 votes

Heath Bell

228 votes

Billy Wagner

121 votes

Mike Gonzalez

27 votes

Takashi Saito

14 votes

583 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 15 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Mariano

Have we ever gotten to Rivera? I dont remember ever doing so.

"There’s talent in these here waters. Alderson just has to clear up the algae around the edges." - RJ Anderson / Fangraphs

by Dandy Salderson on Jan 13, 2011 12:59 PM EST reply actions

Nevermind

Three career losses vs Mets.

"There’s talent in these here waters. Alderson just has to clear up the algae around the edges." - RJ Anderson / Fangraphs

by Dandy Salderson on Jan 13, 2011 1:03 PM EST up reply actions

I voted Rivera, but Saito has absurd career numbers against the Mets if I'm not mistaen

There is no hope.... there is no future....there is only GRISSIONZ

The 2011 Mets- Rock bottom: We haven't reached it yet

by Syler on Jan 13, 2011 1:11 PM EST reply actions

Saito

Has absurd career numbers against most teams, FWIW. 200 lifetime ERA+, 366 Ks in 299 1/3 innings. Obviously he doesn’t have anything like the innings to match Nomo, but he has been the best Japanese pitcher by most rate stats.

by TedBerg on Jan 13, 2011 4:01 PM EST up reply actions

Mike Gonzalez has a killer pitching windup motion.

“The Cobra” or “Gonzo,” which always makes me laugh.

by nelsonc on Jan 13, 2011 2:45 PM EST reply actions

Bell

Seems to have that extra “omph” against us (and who can blame him).

Save Jenrry Mejia!

by Ogre39666 on Jan 13, 2011 5:13 PM EST reply actions

Armando Benitez

by tinski on Jan 13, 2011 7:08 PM EST reply actions 2 recs

This

by JavaJoe on Jan 13, 2011 8:02 PM EST up reply actions

For a 7th comment

Yeah, this is great.

It's a triumph of number crunching over the human spirit...aaaaaand, it’s about time. -- Play-by-Play Announcer, The Simpsons.

by MookieTheCat on Jan 13, 2011 10:28 PM EST up reply actions

I don't know about Mets killers

But K-Rod is a convicted assaulter, I vote K-Rod, Mets Assaulter.

by ScottfromPeekskill on Jan 13, 2011 11:49 PM EST reply actions

I think it was Wagner when he pitched por Philly, noone ot of these pitchers pitched more against the Mets, that was the main reason Mets got Wagner, to get him away from Philly, and remmeber when Wagner pitched for the Mets, against Phillies all the saves were much more special than all the other ones

by Steve Kol on Jan 14, 2011 3:12 AM EST reply actions

Makes you wonder

how a team like the mets, with its huge pay roll, has been absolutely horrible developing pitching talent. There was a time, they had so many great pitchers, they could give away a HOF pitcher for a washed up infeilder

by bob c on Jan 14, 2011 8:00 AM EST reply actions