To commemorate September 9, 2009 (9/9/09), Major League Baseball released polls to determine the best single-season performance by position in each team's history. The Mets ballot can be found here. Unsurprisingly, the only statistics listed next to the players are batting average, home runs RBI, runs and stolen bases. There is no mention of on-base percentage or slugging percentage, as well as any adjustments for era, park factors, or playing time. Defense is not a factor in this poll and each player is eligible for just 1 nomination. Here is a breakdown of the options as well as my choice for each position (check out Metsmerized for another ballot). Players are listed in order from best wOBA to worst, although that was not the only statistic used to make the selections:
Pitcher
Player | Year | wOBA | wRAA | OPS+ |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jason Isringhausen | 1996 | .304 | -1.5 | 87 |
Dwight Gooden | 1992 | .291 | -1.5 | 84 |
Mike Hampton | 2000 | .264 | -5.6 | 53 |
George Stone | 1973 | .248 | -2.7 | 52 |
Selection: Isringhausen
Catcher
Player | Year | wOBA | wRAA | OPS+ |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mike Piazza | 2000 | .422 | 38.8 | 155 |
Todd Hundley | 1996 | .376 | 21.4 | 140 |
Gary Carter | 1985 | .369 | 25.5 | 138 |
John Stearns | 1978 | .354 | 15.2 | 121 |
Paul Lo Duca | 2006 | .343 | 5.5 | 102 |
Selection: Piazza
1st Base
Player | Year | wOBA | wRAA | OPS+ |
---|---|---|---|---|
John Olerud | 1998 | .429 | 54.1 | 163 |
Keith Hernandez | 1986 | .383 | 32.2 | 140 |
Donn Clendenon | 1970 | .378 | 20.1 | 129 |
Carlos Delgado | 2008 | .364 | 20.4 | 127 |
Eddie Murray | 1993 | .344 | 9.3 | 111 |
Selection: Olerud
2nd Base
Player | Year | wOBA | wRAA | OPS+ |
---|---|---|---|---|
Edgardo Alfonzo | 1999 | .386 | 28.4 | 125 |
Gregg Jefferies | 1990 | .347 | 14.2 | 111 |
Luis Castillo | 2009 | .346 | 7.2 | 103 |
Wally Backman | 1986 | .343 | 7.8 | 113 |
Ron Hunt | 1964 | .341 | 13.4 | 118 |
Jeff Kent | 1993 | .335 | 3.7 | 104 |
3rd Base
Player | Year | wOBA | wRAA | OPS+ |
---|---|---|---|---|
David Wright | 2007 | .420 | 53.3 | 150 |
Howard Johnson | 1989 | .416 | 50.6 | 169 |
Robin Ventura | 1999 | .386 | 28.4 | 129 |
Len Randle | 1977 | .351 | 12.9 | 117 |
Ray Knight | 1986 | .344 | 9.9 | 115 |
Selection: Wright, with Johnson a very close 2nd
Shortstop
Player | Year | wOBA | wRAA | OPS+ |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jose Reyes | 2006 | .367 | 21.3 | 115 |
Kazuo Matsui | 2004 | .320 | -4.2 | 88 |
Frank Taveras | 1979 | .288 | -20.8 | 76 |
Selection: Reyes
Outfield (pick 3, obviously)
Player | Year | wOBA | wRAA | OPS+ |
---|---|---|---|---|
Darryl Strawberry | 1987 | .415 | 47.6 | 162 |
Carlos Beltran | 2006 | .412 | 42.4 | 150 |
Cleon Jones | 1969 | .406 | 38.4 | 151 |
Bernard Gilkey | 1996 | .404 | 38.4 | 155 |
Rickey Henderson | 1999 | .399 | 26.3 | 127 |
Lee Mazzili | 1979 | .382 | 31.9 | 135 |
Lenny Dykstra | 1986 | .375 | 21.6 | 129 |
Kevin McReynolds | 1988 | .375 | 28.7 | 142 |
Roger Cedeno | 1999 | .374 | 15.2 | 106 |
Bobby Bonilla | 1993 | .372 | 21.5 | 132 |
Cliff Floyd | 2005 | .369 | 22.2 | 126 |
Lance Johnson | 1996 | .369 | 20.6 | 125 |
Rusty Staub | 1975 | .368 | 23.5 | 131 |
Tommie Agee | 1969 | .362 | 22.8 | 122 |
Frank Thomas | 1962 | .360 | 19.0 | 118 |
Dave Kingman | 1976 | .357 | 15.6 | 128 |
Selection: Strawberry, Beltran, Jones (with Gilkey choice 3a; tie goes to Jones because of the 1969 World Series)
Keep in mind this isn't necessarily a collection of the best offensive seasons by position (for instance, Alfonzo's 2000 was better than his 1999). It's the best lineup selected from MLB.com's ballot.