The 2016 Mets: A Forgotten Playoff Story

[@BaseballAF]

I remember this team, it was such an 'against-all-odds' scenario that was led by Thor and Bartolo.

[@themaskedmet3097]

Gsellman and Lugo looked like 2 aces down the stretch as well

[@Mr.Jtea3]

Cringe. It seems like every year after the Mets finish 81-81 met fans always go “this team had potential” yeah their record really shows it. Everyone says 81-81 is an old joke but it always reigns true.

[@ryanwilson7241]

@@Mr.Jtea3 damn someone’s a Nationals fan

[@henrycalde1991]

@@themaskedmet3097 yes I remember that year the Mets were lifted by Lugo and Gsellman down the stretch.

[@henrycalde1991]

@@Mr.Jtea3 Mets finished 86-76 that yr kidd. Thats easily a WC spot in a any normal yr

[@kenip9800]

That Asdrubal Cabrera bat flip has gotta be in the all time Top 5.

[@futuregohan4837]

Asdrubal Cabrera Has Been In The MLB For Years

[@luhgeekyperc]

@@futuregohan4837what

[@blue387]

Also, the 2016 NL wildcard game gave us the song Ode to the Mets by The Strokes so something good came out of it at least

[@emotionallesbian3503]

Good song

[@MikeJr9284]

As a Mets fan, this makes me sad.

[@donnysavitsky967]

Yes! I feel like the 2016 Mets story has never gotten the proper coverage in the years since and it makes the crash to 73 wins in 2017 all the more painful bc this core should have been more compteitive

[@BXMarathoner26]

Curtis Granderson is a rare player who is beloved in both NY teams. Loved Grandy's contribution to the team and was really the only other player (aside from Conforto) who hit in the 2015 World Series. The injuries piled up like I've never seen: 3/4 of the Rotation, Best Power Hitter, Captain and that Wilmer Flores late in the season injury took him out for that Wild Card game where we could've used a hitter who mashes Lefties. I'll remember this day personally because it would be the last time I spoke with my mother over the phone. She was dying from Cancer and I took a rare evening off from visiting her after work. I called her just after the Giants took the lead to talk to her; She said "I wish they (The Mets) could win for you one day." 24 Hours later I'd be at her bedside as Doctors said it would be a matter of time, she passed away the morning of October 7th 2016. That one day when they do win, I'll get to tell my mom "your wish for me came true."

[@drewskidayosh]

The Gillaspie Homer hurt so much more considering how the Mets had gotten to that point. Sure, we probably weren't beating the Cubs in the Division series, but it would have made an already exciting, improbable run better if the Mets could have won just the WC game. Really even more sour considering Thor's incredible outing and Addison Reed (possibly the most underrated Met ever, imo) getting out of a bases loaded jam in the 8th to keep it tied. Gotta get back to the postseason eventually

[@pikapal91]

They actually played really well against the 2016 Cubs during the regular season.

[@drewskidayosh]

@@pikapal91 youre not wrong, I actually forgot they went 5-2 vs the Cubs in the regular season

[@SFGiantsfan9797]

@@pikapal91 playoffs are different.

[@jayjayfrmstatefarm9363]

@@pikapal91 Cubs went 7-0 against Mets in 2015 & got swept in NLCS. Reg season has no bearing on post

[@dannydorito8019]

That Asdrubal homer will always bring joy to my heart.

[@randomthunk]

Cubs fan here, I stumbled here by way of the algorithm. This was an informative watch, since my boys' 2015 season was ended by these guys, and then of course knowing how 2016 went. Seeing this is like taking one of the other quest lines in a game; I'm so familiar with my favorite route that looking at something else was an interesting ride.

[@eliyahuzidele721]

Imagine a healthy team that had Degrom Matt Harvey Thor Steven Matz Zach Wheeler

[@turkwendell6904]

I did they still lost and reveling in fiction isn't healthy or productive.

[@Alex-sf9bo]

All under 500 without cespedes

[@wateriswet0510]

*Bartolo Colon*

[@TheIcemancometh13]

That late season series against the Phillies was my first time going to an MLB game. I was just excited that the game went into extra innings but that home run by Cabrera...what a cherry on top.

[@kheelsWRLD]

Can we get a player video analysis on some of the upcoming top prospects in the game? You would make that video way better than the others I've seen. Your knowledge of the game is impeccable. Keep it up Jolly Olive!

[@logangrodsky4349]

The second half of the 2015 season was what taught to love baseball, and the 2016 season was my first true season as an invested fan. This particular Mets team are still basically the Mets that I conjure up in my head. They have a really special place in my heart.

[@Em-Jayyy]

Another excellent video and I think a great follow up video in the same vein could be the story of the 2013 Rays. They got eliminated by Boston in the ALDS but they might be the only team that's ever played a tiebreaker game and the Wild Card game, winning both of them on the road

[@Flatlands_Zombie]

To give some context to Lugo and Gsellman's Las Vegas numbers, las Vegas was notorious for it's altitude and being extremely hitter friendly compared to pitcher friendly Citi Field.

[@kapo2012fb]

That 2016 season was crazy ... but it ended as fast as we got there..

[@Jessica_Roth]

Still get tears in my eyes. Can't believe you left out Terry's "Las Vegas" speech, though. Flew in from LA for my annual visit home, got to see the Grandy-switch-hits-HRs-in-extras game, went back the next day, and on the 3rd pitch of the game (2-0 to Brian Dozier) "caught" the only foul ball of my LIFE. (I lost it on the way down, but it plugged in the empty seat next to me. Whatever, I got it, I count it.) So much fun, even some the losses. Did we WANT to be swept by the Braves? No, but that last out you showed, where Future Met Ender Inciarte went above the wall to rob Cespi of a 3-run walkoff, was memorable. And how about two games after the Asdrubal bat flip, where we spotted the Phils a 10-0 lead and nearly made it all the way back? (Winning run at the plate in the 9th.) 2015 will live forever, what with curb-stomping the Cubes, 1-2-3-4. (They never even got a LEAD, hehehehe.) But 2016 was pretty sweet. Until Connor F***ing Gillaspie, anyhow.

[@nymetsfan9121]

for me that was the moment that turned that season around

[@KidFresh71]

As a Giants fan, I enjoyed watching this video form a different perspective. After dispatching the Mets in a hard fought Wild Card game, the Cubs beat the Giants in the next round. Even though the NLCS vs. Chicago only went 4 games, the matchup was a lot tighter than it looked on paper. The Giants club was constantly coming back from crazy series deficits, and didn't know the word quit. Game 5 would've featured an insanely dominant Cueto on the mound for SF vs. the Cubbies. I wasn't the only Giants fan believing the Giants "even year" dynasty was going to continue through 2016. Who knows? Maybe if the WC matchup vs. the Mets isn't such a tight game, then Bumgarner gets more rest, and can be deployed more often in the NLCS. Butterly effect and all that. That's why baseball is the greatest game ever invented. Nice video!

[@KalvinSingh]

I was there at the 2016 AL wild card when Encarnacion walked it off. Till this day, i still have no idea why Buck Showalter picked Ubaldo Jimenez over Zach Britton

[@mkultrax5]

Yea that was one of the worst decisions I've seen live

[@steveschmidt3961]

7:09 now that is a strange sight. The mets and marlins are tied for second....both with winning records. The nats are in first and the braves are in last and 27 games under .500 *sigh* what a time it was lol

[@steveschmidt3961]

I'm a DIE-HARD Mets fan and i remember 17:59 so vividly.... you said it perfectly man, Cabera is the player that I think of too when I think about the 2016 Mets, and it is because of this moment right there. It was amazing. I was certain that this team was going to dance right into the playoffs and just stun everyone and get back to the series.... But of course, they ran into Bumgarner on an even year in the 2010s.....and every baseball fan knows what that meant back then...... Done-zo

[@galatslice]

I remember that team well. Went into the year extremely excited about the Mets future because of all of the pitching. The injuries were quite disheartening, though we did not know that Harvey and Matz would never be the same, and Thor's development was wonderful. That playoff game against the Giants was brutal, I still have a grudge against those earlier-mid 2010s Giants and Bumgarner. Syndergaard was masterful for 7 innings, but that home run was a dagger, and we never had a chance against Bumgarner.

[@alexvandierendonck3317]

I'm not a mets or a phillies fan but that Asdrubal Cabrera walk off homer lives rent free in my head forever

[@nickkowal619]

This video was incredible! Needed more Jerry "The GOAT" Blevins in it though.

[@flumffdragon]

I got recommended this video after I've been watching the channel for a while. I immediately hated it for the Trent Grisham miss for the Brewers in 2019. Still great video, underrated baseball content creator, and look forward to more in the future

[@risingodyssey8427]

This was easily the most frustrating season of baseball I ever watched. I’ll never forget it

[@TheBallclubNYM]

I was at the Cabrera game. I probably almost left early 3 or 4 times.

[@Rymann_23]

Jolly you or Foolish or SRS needs to do a video about last year's AL Wild Card race at some point. Maybe let some time go by, but we need to remember the 2021 Mariners just like the 2016 Mets because I think they are very similar teams.

[@jdorffer]

Great video, wow it's been 6 years already, LGM, I'll never forget the Bart home run

[@blue387]

Another great Mets video, Jolly Olive!

[@WardyNYM]

YES JOLLY LFG

[@bon_tyler9256]

I was at the DeGrom 1 hitter and was a base hit up the middle by the pitcher

[@Neckrollios18]

Jolly Olive sure does love his Mets lol

[@RyanDepauloDegenerateGambler]

The Mets after 2015 is why it’s so frustrating when everyone said after World Series “they’ll be here for a while with their core” that’s not true. People get injured. Stuff changes. There’s never a such thing as a “core” you can safely predict and count on

[@JWD1992]

I remember watching that Wild Card game and thinking, "Damn, they just had to face the Giants in an even year." I assumed the Giants were headed for their fourth "every other year" World Series.

[@willg7836]

Awesome video. Stumbled in my suggested after I got home from Nats-Mets and said hi to Seth Lugo in the bullpen

[@retro_retro_retro]

Jolly Olive Thumbnails have this weird magical ability that makes your brain want to click on the video very bad.

[@sampilcher7196]

“As long as your team wasn’t involved”😂😂

[@jaycrazi87]

Great video! I really did forget the odds that 2016 Met team had to face.

[@alex36burbidge]

What a conflicting day for Mets youtube. You upload this on the 2016 and Foolish Baseball also just uploaded a video on the 2020 team’s woes

[@lloydfeng947]

Thanks for making this vid man 🤙

[@JabroniBaseball]

I see a Mets video and hit that like button. Great video as always bud!

[@metsfan9298]

Of course as a die hard Mets fan I remember this team because it stands out as such an unexpected and exciting run though cut short, the mets oddly enough played obviously well above .500 by after mid august, after a injured average start and mid season

[@Peterpasq]

Great video as usual Jack

[@elangorhamsiegler9393]

Dude your videos are really good

[@steveschmidt3961]

Yo man your right with the fact that the wild card really has given me and obviously you some of the best memories. The one i remember the most was the triple by archie bradley. Lol and its truly memorable because he probably was the last reliever to ever record an extra base hit in the postseason. Im not sure but hopefully!

[@zachhopkins56]

I’m a big royals fan and I felt the pain of the Mets as we basically had the same team minus Johnny Cueto and we finished literally .500 after winning the World Series the year before

[@_stevenschwartz_]

I was at that first game against the Twins, I was so happy to see bartolo colon pitch lol

[@blakespicer9234]

I’m not even a Mets fan but the wild card is the worst idea MLB has ever had for a post season format

[@samssportsshop]

This team had so many players that unexpectedly played so well

[@CharmCityGamer]

Jolly, my man! Love me a good sleeper team and that was these guys!

[@nickparent427]

This video gave me PTSD of Antonio Bastardo

[@dr.manhattan4537]

During that Giants series in SF the Mets were 60-62. After that they went on a tear 27-13.

[@CyndromApparel]

Excellent video

[@therealking69]

The 2016 mets and 2022 Giants actually have a lot in common (so far in 2022, but anything could happen). coming off great unexpected years, and riding that momentum into an amazing april, before falling to mediocrity in the next few months. They had a young ace, and solid pitching (though the Giants bullpen has not been good this year). The offense had 1 great hitter, while the rest were good but streaky. They both dealt with lot's of injuries and adversity, oh and they both had Wilmer Flores. The Mets bounced back in the end to make the playoffs, so I really hope my Giants do the same.

[@jah2827]

What’s crazy is that this 3 team race for the wildcard had a 3 time champion, 2 time pennant winner and recent pennant winner in that decade, but they’re race for the wildcard resulted in 1 NLDS win

[@KevoCubbies3747]

Cubs were just destined for the title that year...

[@jah2827]

@@KevoCubbies3747 yeah, and the Giants and Cardinals were getting their last playoff appearances in

[@CharlesNYR]

I will never forget watching them clinch the playoffs on my birthday

[@C0rnvillain]

2006 and 2015 were so exciting

[@turkwendell6904]

No it wasn't it was disappointing and they lost. 2nd place is the 1st loser. I can't believe the Mets Kool-aid stuff.

[@TheTEN24]

Why is there so much depressing mets content today? I’ll never forget how this season ended man….

[@mike.og13]

I think back to this season and have no idea how this team hosted a playoff game

[@jonarbuckle2490]

Lugo and gsellman were so clutch

[@evilpeach2]

I followed T.J. Rivera throughout his minor league career. I saw him hitting well for average and was very happy when they promoted him. Too bad injury shortened his time with the Mets.

[@warlordofbritannia]

"Expectations were high for the Mets" Well, you see, that's the first thing which went wrong...

[@nomercyinc6783]

i was at that game in the first clip. taylor hitting that walk off was epic. loudest event ive ever been to

[@BennyintheBoothPodcast]

I was at the opener of the Mets Cubs series at Citi Field

[@Jose_Hunters_EWF_Remixes]

What were the Mets missing in 2016? The JdG they had from 2018 - 2021 IP: 581.1 ERA: 1.94 K/9: 12.0 W/9: 1.8 ERA+: 205 FIP: 2.14 WHIP: 0.881 HR/9: 0.7 CYA: 2018 & 2019

[@turkwendell6904]

Analytics aren't the real world.

[@jah2827]

The Mets could’ve faced the Cubs again but the Cubs were hungry for revenge and probably would’ve swept the Mets this time. We didn’t even have Daniel Murphy, that would’ve been enough for the Cubs to sweep us.

[@KevoCubbies3747]

The Cubs were also a far better team than the 2015 squad. They led the league in walks and nobody was able to slow the offense down that year.

[@twotone5833]

14:52 guy just casually bare hands that 110 mph Cespedes bomb 😂

[@jaynordiaz4609]

Nothing tops the 2015 team and ride, but those last two months in 2016 was soooo fun

[@shapshooter8669]

“Proper defensive shortstop” Let’s not go that far with AC now… loved the guy as a Met but damn

[@swishy_bluez]

I was at at the game where Astrubal hit the walk off homer but we had to leave in the 9th 🥲

[@KRittz-yy1el]

So many good memories associated with this team. Can’t believe we haven’t been back to the playoffs since

[@turkwendell6904]

You can't believe they've been back yet? They were one of the worst run organizations ever in multiple ways and remain only slightly better due to money and Buck. But still things are way too leaky.

[@KRittz-yy1el]

@@turkwendell6904 only because of how good and young that rotation was I thought when they all got healthy we’d have at least one more run, I really don’t think that’s crazy. And to say that we’re still a poorly run org is ridiculous, Cohen changed everything when he took over

[@turkwendell6904]

@@KRittz-yy1el @071KesselBloxk420 Imo the only thing different is they're spending a lot of money. In terms of getting the quality back they're doing a bad job in terms of making decisions they're doing a bad job in terms of the bullpen it's horrible, in terms of getting enough for the lineup they're terrible, In terms of understanding this is a win now team they're clueless, trade deadline clueless. Sandy Alderson his son all those guys have no idea how to put a team over the top and they proved it for their entire careers, it's a complete joke and so's Eppler. And every other team GM laughs at them literally laughs at them while Mets fans cover all day for this crap. Most gms with this kind of spending ability would be able to easily put this team over the top. If the Atlanta Braves, front office was in charge of the Mets they would have the best team in baseball. And some of this is definitely Cohens fault for having faith in people that haven't ever delivered and don't deserve the opportunity. And don't get me wrong I realize they're better than most of the other teams in the majors but when you have what you have and blow it the way they're gonna blow it it's just like what could have been and it's too bad and if all the fans were on my side about this they might actually feel they need to make better decisions but instead it's just cover for arrogant pompous Sandy Alderson.

[@colin5484]

The Mets have the best random stories in mlb history, all of their good seasons have been so damn interesting

[@dangeejr]

Trent Grisham stepped his game up exponentially out there in center after his mishaps. Gold glove now, but still has troubles at the plate.

[@iblizzard7573]

I've always hated the expanded playoffs. Should only be division winners.

[@doanbot3000]

"Good moments and worse things that immediately follow" only applicable here...

[@joshuacookingham2171]

I miss TJ Rivera

[@RyanDepauloDegenerateGambler]

Jay Bruce was the new Jason bay

[@aguynamedguy309]

I grew up loving the Mets, mainly because my dad is a braves fan, but I stopped seriously watching around 2000. I would keep up with them, but not drown myself in it like I do now... started back again in 2007 and that damn near killed me, but this 2016 is the team that made me fall back in love with the team... they were awful, but good enough, they were losers, but won.. It was a beautiful disaster, and I mean that in the best way. I loved watching that team.

[@themaskedmet3097]

If they win 163 that granderson catch becomes legendary

[@turkwendell6904]

Huh? They only play 162 games. The granderson catch was game 7 NLCS.

[@themaskedmet3097]

@@turkwendell6904 lol no it wasn't it was in the one game win n advance wild card game against San Fran bruh

[@toneriggz]

I saw three games at Citi Field that year. Including the David Wright walk off single as the rain came pouring down. But you could tell this team wasn’t as good as the 2015 team. And that WC game was poorly played by the team. They let MadBum go the distance. Cespedes was great when he wasn’t injured. I remember people saying Thor was the ace but I always believed DeGrom was. Particularly for his demeanor and his ability to keep the game close.

[@RSanchez111]

The Strokes song Ode to the Mets is dedicated specifically to this Mets team

[@TheRandalHandle]

You had me at "Bartolo"

[@giantblossom2349]

That Terry Collins ejection was why he was loved so much

[@maskedwolf1760]

Bartolo hit ing a bomb saved the padras because shield was traded for tatis

[@jonarbuckle2490]

Asdrubal was always banged up and always played through it

[@jackmcd1375]

All I have to say, is Ty Kelly

[@jackmcd1375]

LGM!!!

[@philnation715]

0:43 I argue it does give a chance to other good teams to compete in something they couldn't do with the wild card. The worst teams of the playoffs deserve the hardest to actually know if they're capable of playing some of the best teams.

[@TheEdReilly]

@jolly olive I’m not sure if anyone else mentioned this but that wild card game inspired “Ode to the Mets” by The Strokes

[@eastonowen6458]

i think one of the most underrated teams ever was the 2017 diamondbacks they just ran into an amazing dodgers squad who was hot

[@evilpeach2]

That game made me very sad.

[@glucosaminecondroitan9135]

Dang, Mets Videos by Jolly and Foolish Baseball? Good day.

[@dominickpolicastro7136]

I remember not wanting to sign Murphy because he didn’t impress me before his World Series run, but they’re the miracle Mets for a reason.

[@turkwendell6904]

But that season didn't end in a miracle that ended in them losing and not wining the World Series, no miracle.

[@jimwerther]

Sandy sucked

[@ChalkInTheLand]

Cleveland (Indians back then) Guardians fans aren't surprised Asdrubal Cabrera hit that homer. He was our best clutch hitter during his time in Cleveland

[@PoeticProphetic]

I also consider the Jose Fernandez - Dee Gordon home run a Mets moment as well. Bartolo threw a meatball

[@craigrazzz]

This team has always been cursed for years and it still continues they just can’t stay healthy and that haunts them they should be at the top of the league

[@zackaryhaselius2226]

2015 Mets Playoff run: Daniel Murphys playground.

[@jmentone]

I’m afraid very few will remember this team at the end of the day. 16’ belongs to the Cubs.

[@JohnReedy07163]

Reminds me of the 2013 Indians team, a team that literally jump started a pretty great decade of Indians/Guardians baseball (even if they didn't get a title)

[@matthewcollins8602]

I rooted for this team the whole way because I knew they really weren't a good team and shouldn't have been in the playoffs that year. It was an incredible run but their luck ran out just like the Mets luck ran out last season. The Royals and the Braves made the Mets look like little league players once the good luck was gone.