Tea for Two

In their win over the Yankees in the Bronx yesterday, the Mets won while using only two pitchers in the game. That has become an unusual event.

In 1984, the Mets had 44 wins in which they used exactly two pitchers. In 2006 the Mets had only 3 such wins and last year it was 7. The Cubs led the NL in two-pitcher wins last season with 16, while the Cardinals trailed the league in this category with just 2 two-pitcher games all season in 2007.

In 1974, the Dodgers had 52 two-pitcher wins -- that season Mike Marshall, their "closer", pitched in 106 games, all in relief, with an astounding 208 IP.

Bronx Cheers

With the Mets playing at Yankee Stadium this weekend, a few Yankee-related facts:

In 32 regular season and post-season games at the current Yankee Stadium, the Mets are an unhappy 10 wins and 22 losses, a .313 winning percentage, with (barring a Subway Series in October) three games left to play. The Mets have averaged 4.5 runs a game and the Yankees 5.5 (the Mets' pythagorean expectation based on their runs scored and surrendered in these games is a bit better than their actual performance: 13-19 instead of 10-22).

Al Leiter has 4 wins for the Mets in the Bronx, no one else has more than one. Leiter, Trachsel and El Duque have each lost 2 games pitching for the Mets at Yankee Stadium -- they are the only multiple losers. Mike Piazza has 13 runs scored for the Mets in the Yankees home park, Reyes has 10 and is thus within reach of getting by Piazza in the remaining three scheduled games at the current Yankee Stadium . Piazza has 14 RBIs as a Met at Yankee Stadium, Reyes is right behind with 13 RBIs.

Over the last three years, 2005 to 2007, the Mets have been more competitive at Yankee Stadium: 4 wins, 5 losses (.444), compared to 6-17 (.261) in the early years of interleague play (1997-2004). Compare the Mets .444 percentage in the Bronx over the past three seasons to the .363 percentage for all other teams playing in Yankee Stadium over that same period, 2005-2007.

Most Win Shares as A Yankee Since 1962 (the "Mets Era"):
1. Bernie Williams 311 (7th all-time in Yankees history)
2. Derek Jeter 307 (8th all-time in Yankees history)
3/4. Don Mattingly and Roy White 263 (tied for 10th all-time in Yankees history)
5. Willie Randolph 251 (13th all-time in Yankees history)
6. Jorge Posada 225 (17th all-time in Yankees history)
7. Thurman Munson 206 (20th all-time in Yankees history)
8. Graig Nettles 204 (21st all-time in Yankees history)
9. Bobby Murcer 191 (25th all-time in Yankees history)
10. Mariano Rivera 188 (27th all-time in Yankees history)