2000 New York Mets vs St Louis Cardinals NLCS Highlights

October 11-16, 2000
The Mets defeat the Cardinals in 5 games to advance to the World Series against the Yankees
NLCS MVP: Mike Hampton
Thanks ‪@espn‬

[@cbod14]

Funny looking at these highlights and remembering that most of the postseason was once on broadcast television

[@chrisuncleahmad]

2007 was the turning point

[@MattBryant2792]

Thanks for uploading this. Timo is all over these highlights lol

[@chrisuncleahmad]

"THE MONSTER'S OUT OF THE CAGE!"

[@ckendall67]

The Cardinals, after such a great season, came unraveled in this series; brutal pitching, subpar defensively, Rick Ankiel's wildness got even worse. Only in their Game 3 victory did the Cardinals seem like they had a chance to make it a more compelling NLCS. But the Mets just overwhelmed the Cards and got everything the Cards didn't; solid pitching and far better defensive play throughout. Not to mention just about every time the Mets hit the ball it went for extra bases. Mike Hampton was a beast for the Mets in his 2 appearances, and that's what secured him the NLCS MVP.

[@cdelano81]

For the first time in 10 years, the NLCS did not feature a tomahawk chop. Instead, it's the New York Mets who are in against the upstart Cardinals. In Game 1, Mike Piazza "got out of the cage" with an RBI double in the first as the Mets scored twice off Kile. Mike Hampton took care of the rest, keeping the Cardinals in check all night long with 7 shutout frames, as the Mets took the opener, 6-2. Come Game 2, the Redbirds' fans tried not to fear the worst when Rick Ankiel took the mound. But the fans' fears were realized as Ankiel threw wildly to Timo Perez on the first pitch of the game. Two walks and two wild pitches led to two early runs, and Ankiel leaving the game. Though the Cards' tied it in the 8th, the Mets scored in the top half to win 6-5 on Jay Payton's RBI single, and take a two games to none lead back to Queens. The Cards bounced back to beat Rick Reed and the Mets in Game 3 in Flushing, 8-2, but the Mets answered back in Game 4 with an offensive outburst of their own by scoring 6 in the first two frames en route to a 10-6 win. Timo Perez went two for four with three runs scored, and stole a base. Subbing in place of the injured Derek Bell, Perez tied an NLCS record by scoring 8 runs in the series. One win away, the Mets turned to Mike Hampton to pocket the pennant for them. The NLCS MVP did just that, holding the Cardinals to four hits and no runs in a 7-0 win. And for the first time since 1986, the Mets were headed to the World Series.

[@hmhm856]

Timo Perez and Jay Payton have just been great in the first two rounds for the Mets. I really wanted my Mets to face Atlanta again in the NLCS. 14:08 Cards also used Ankiel in game 5, and more ouch moments.

[@cdelano81]

@@hmhm856 In total, ANkiel threw 9 wild pitches in less than 5 innings of postseason play. Ankiel never recovered as a pitcher. But rather than sell woman's shoes a la Al Bundy, Rick did reinvent himself as a hitter and an outfielder for several years in the late 2000s and early 2010s. And in Game 2 of the 2010 NLDS, Ankiel--now a Braves' OF--hit the game winning home run at San Francisco.

[@mattstaebel3543]

What are you talking about? The Braves never made 10 straight NLCS. They made 8 in 9 years

[@iamhungey12345]

Looks like Mike Hampton will remain as a beloved player for the Mets for years to come.

[@southbeachtalent]

The Rockies threw the bag at every free agent pitcher. Why else would you pitch in the worst atmosphere in baseball? Ruined the careers of some decent players

[@hmhm856]

5:09 Nice play by Timo, to run all that

[@chrisuncleahmad]

I'll never understand why the White Sox just let Robin Ventura walk as a free agent. Even the 95-win team of 2000, 3B was a rare offensive hole. You think they would rather have Ventura than Herbert Perry?

[@kapo2012fb]

This and 2015 NLCS is most dominant the mets were ever in the championship series Complete domination

[@hmhm856]

1969 they swept Atlanta in the NLCS

[@hmhm856]

7:45 This is not be the only time in this 2000 postseason that a Mets hitter will be involved in a play like that, where a ball starts foul but then goes fair before it reaches the bases. (Game 1 2000 World Series)

[@redpillfreedom6692]

5:30 Unfortunately for the Mets, Perez would forget to hustle like that in the World Series.

[@JahNuhThunDeeTheOneAndOnly]

Only game where the Cards really had a chance was game 2…besides that they were DOMINATED by Mets pitching throughout the series

[@chrisuncleahmad]

they did win game 3

[@hmhm856]

So my Mets spanked the Cardinals in 5 games. And of course, game 2 almost went to extra innings, because we need more Mets drama. Mike Piazza and Mike Hamptom are just unstoppable. Timo Perez and Jay Payton were just great for the Mets in 2000 postseason Me, as a Mets fan, I really wanted to face Seattle, Oakland, or the WSox. That would have been really fun, especially against the A's in a 1973 WS rematch (which almost occurred in 1988). The Yankees just bored me honestly, what a boring team they were under Joe Torre

[@hmhm856]

5:27 Timo with the mad-dash

[@hmhm856]

7:08 WOW, they charged Ventura with an error on that play????/ I know hes the best defensive third basemen in the history of baseball, BUT DAMN, did he set the standards high for himself on scorekeepers.

[@ManiaxOnYTZeus]

What a dominant performance by the Mets, how would they fare against the crosstown rivals and back to back reigning champs, the Yankees?

[@KC2MFCs]

Does anyone know where I can find samples of the background music used in these highlight videos? I've tried searching and came up with nothing.

[@hmhm856]

14:25 Cards turning into sore losers

[@iamhungey12345]

Wouldn't be their first time *looks at Game 7 of 1985 WS* If they haven't been pissy over Game 6, they may still have a shot in Game 7.

[@hmhm856]

Will Clark, who was playing for the Cards in 2000, has retired.

[@stephendouglas4343]

My favorite player growing up. He had 102 RBI this year

[@stephendouglas4343]

Filled in for Mark McGwire

[@hmhm856]

14:00 Amazing play by the greatest defensive thirdbasemen in the history of baseball

[@chrisuncleahmad]

I'll never understand why the White Sox just let Ventura walk as a free agent

[@southbeachtalent]

Bold claim. I'm still relatively young and can't speak to the past days but Scott Rolen was the best I've seen

[@hmhm856]

@@southbeachtalent well, to be fair, i said that mainly since im a Mets fan. But the greatest defensive thirdbasemen I ever saw were Ventura-Rolen-Caminiti. I never got to see the trio of Mike Schmidt - George Brett - Wade Boggs. I saw Boggs play, but in his later years with the Yankees and then with the Rays

[@Surfer041]

Too bad the Yankees were waiting to remind the Mets who they are.

[@Surfer041]

@@chrisuncleahmad the were winning with clutch hits, disciplined abs, and a great pen.

[@michaelguaman5907]

Bill Pidto?

[@voicevitality7197]

1:17 - NOT an all-out effort.