Cursed, Antiquated Structure Can Not be Evacuated Fast Enough for the New York Mets
Today marks the Mets first trip to Atlanta in 2016, the final year for the stadiums vile, painful, and wretched existence as a baseball stadium. After the final regular season game for the Atlanta Braves on October 2nd, barring a playoff appearance (LOL), the city of Atlanta had plans to demolish the building to make room for development. Met’s fans, I’m sure, would happily have manned the cranes and wrecking balls to tear down what has been correctly dubbed a ‘House of Horrors.’ Sadly, the Georgia State Football Team but in and 11th hour bid to have the stadium reconfigured.
The Mets record at Turner Field is 60-106, including an 0-3 mark in the postseason. Any true fan remembers the 3 1999 NLCS losses in the 6 game series by a total of 4 runs. But you may have to dig a bit deeper to understand the true ominous presence of this ballpark in Mets lore.
The ballpark was constructed to host events of the 1996 Summer Olympics. After some revamping, the Braves moved in prior to the 1997 season. The Mets put up a respectable 3-3 record there in ’97, which speaks to just how bad things would get in the years to come. In the subsequent three years, the Mets went a combined 3-15 at Ted’s house.
Entering the final weekend of the season in 1998, the Mets were in need of one win in their final series to guarantee a tie for the wild card. The win, though, would have to come at Turner Field. The Mets were swept by a combined score of 17-7 in their final three games, being eliminated by the Braves from playoff contention on the final day of the season.
And of course, that fateful NLCS in 1999 would follow a year later. Don’t remember how it ended? Well, I still, 17 years later, can not stomach to write about it. So you can watch it here …..So that’s why they called him the gambler?
In 2000, the Mets lost the division to the Braves by one game after going 2-4 against them on the road …but eventually advanced to the World Series after not having to face ATL in the playoffs.
Other notable seasons include the 2008 campaign where the Mets were an embarrassing 1-8 in Atlanta. You may remember, they missed the playoffs by ONE GAME that year. The Mets have only finished over .500 at Turner field in four seasons: ’06, ’07, ’11 and ’14.
One last specific game that I remember too well, occurred on July 31, 2004. Why was it special? There were many reasons. First, at the start of the series, the Mets were clinging to very slim playoff hopes sitting six games behind the first place home team Bravos. A series win would move them back into contention for the division. Prior to the first game of the series, the Mets showed they were willing to ‘go for it’ by trading for solid starting pitchers Kris Benson and Victor Zambrano. The Mets traded for Benson specifically, as he was known to handle the Braves extremely well in his career. Benson, acquired the day prior, was flown on a private jet to meet his new mates and start the second game of the series. The result? Benson gave up seven runs in five innings in what was arguably the worst start of of his career to that date. The Mets were swept into obscurity a day later.
Well, at least they went for it, right? WRONG. What did the Mets give up in the above stated deals, highly touted lefty prospect Scott Kazmir, who would win 99 games in his solid career, and future All-Star Slugger Jose Bautista, who would debut later that year and only average 33 homers and 99 RBI annually.
But remember, the Mets got Benson, AND his wife, so at least the Mets Christmas party wasn’t boring that year…
Hey Mr. Turner, let me know if you need any help exiting the House of Horrors, because October 2nd can not come soon enough…
