Binghamton Mets
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For current information on this topic, see 2008 Binghamton Mets season |
| Binghamton Mets Founded in 1992 Binghamton, New York |
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| League titles | 1992, 1994 | ||
| Division titles | 1994, 2000 | ||
| Owner(s)/Operated by: David Maines, William Maines, George Scherer, Michael Urda | |||
| Manager: Mako Oliveras | |||
| General Manager: Scott Brown | |||
The Binghamton Mets are a minor league baseball team based in Binghamton, New York in the United States. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the New York Mets major-league club. The Mets play in NYSEG Stadium, located in Binghamton.
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[edit] History
The current franchise began as the Williamsport Bills in 1987, but was affiliated with several different major-league teams during its five seasons. The parent New York Mets bought the Bills franchise in late 1990 and announced they would move the club a short distance north to Binghamton. The Bills played out their final season in Williamsport in 1991 while a new stadium was constructed. Then, in 1992, minor league baseball was back in the Triple Cities for the first time in 24 years. (The Binghamton Triplets, a New York Yankee affiliate, had played at Johnson Field in nearby Johnson City until 1968.)
In their first year as the Binghamton Mets, the team set a still-standing attendance record by drawing just over a quarter-million fans to the ballpark. They also proceeded to win the Eastern League championship.
In 1994, the New York parent club sold ownership of the team to a group of local investors led by Michael Urda. That year, the team went on to another EL title and a league-best record of 82-59. Binghamton also hosted the Double-A All-Star Game in July of that year. Former Mets farmhand Blaine Beatty, who was the losing pitcher in that All-Star Game, would serve as the B-Mets' pitching coach in 2005.
The Mets alternated between 2nd- and 4th-place finishes for the next four years, and although they made the playoffs with their runner-up showings in 1996 and 1998, they were eliminated in the first round both times.
After a dreadful season in 1999 where the team finished 38 games out of first place, the Mets pulled off a "worst-to-first" turnaround in 2000, winning the EL Northern Division but losing to New Haven in the playoffs. Binghamton posted identical 73-68 records in both 2001 and 2002 but failed to make the postseason.
The B-Mets made it back to the postseason in 2004, winning the EL Northern Division with a 76-66 record before losing in the first round of the playoffs to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats who, like the B-Mets, would go on to win the EL championship in their inaugural season.
A new video scoreboard was installed at NYSEG Stadium in time for the 2007 season and, despite finishing in last place, the B-Mets drew 230,053 fans, their best attendance figure since 1992.
[edit] Notable alumni
- Outfielder Benny Agbayani
- Third baseman Edgardo Alfonzo
- Outfielder Jason Bay
- Outfielder Jay Payton
- Outfielder Preston Wilson
- Pitcher Octavio Dotel
- Pitcher Cory Lidle
- Pitcher Jason Isringhausen
- Pitcher Bobby J. Jones
- Pitcher Scott Kazmir
- Pitcher Paul Wilson
- Pitcher Aaron Heilman
- Shortstop Rey Ordóñez
- Shortstop José Reyes
- Third baseman David Wright
- Catcher Alberto Castillo
- First baseman Brian Daubach
- Catcher/First baseman Jason Phillips
- Outfielder Lastings Milledge
- Outfielder Carlos Gomez
[edit] Current roster
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Binghamton Mets roster
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Pitchers
† disabled list |
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
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Manager
Coaches
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[edit] Season records
(Place indicates finish in Eastern League 1992-93, in Northern Division from 1994)
- 1992: 79-59 (2nd), manager Steve Swisher
- 1993: 68-72 (5th), manager Steve Swisher
- 1994: 82-59 (1st), manager John Tamargo
- 1995: 67-75 (4th), manager John Tamargo
- 1996: 76-66 (2nd), manager John Tamargo
- 1997: 66-76 (4th), manager Rick Sweet
- 1998: 82-60 (2nd), manager John Gibbons
- 1999: 54-88 (6th), manager Doug Davis
- 2000: 82-58 (1st), manager Doug Davis
- 2001: 73-68 (4th), manager Howie Freiling
- 2002: 73-68 (3rd), manager Howie Freiling
- 2003: 63-78 (5th), manager John Stearns
- 2004: 76-66 (2nd), manager Ken Oberkfell
- 2005: 63-79 (6th), manager Jack Lind
- 2006: 70-70 (3rd), manager Juan Samuel
- 2007: 61-81 (6th), manager Mako Oliveras
[edit] Playoffs
- 1992 season: Defeated Harrisburg, 3-1 in first round; defeated Canton-Akron 3-2 for league championship.
- 1994 season: Swept New Haven, 3-0 in first round; defeated Harrisburg 3-1 to win second league title in three years.
- 1996 season: Lost to Portland, 3-2 in first round.
- 1998 season: Lost to New Britain, 3-1 in first round.
- 2000 season: Lost to New Haven, 3-1 in first round.
- 2004 season: Lost to New Hampshire, 3-1 in first round.
[edit] External links
- Binghamton Mets official site
- Binghamton Mets page at MiLB
- Photographs of NYSEG Stadium, home of the Binghamton Mets - Rochester Area Ballparks
- The 2008 Binghamton Mets
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| AAA | AA | A | Rookie |
| New Orleans Zephyrs | Binghamton Mets |
St. Lucie Mets Savannah Sand Gnats Brooklyn Cyclones |
Kingsport Mets Gulf Coast Mets DSL Mets VSL Mets |
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