NY Mets: The three Braves players that I despise the most

The New York Mets have gone 372-424 against the Atlanta Braves in their franchise history. The Braves are one of the Mets biggest rivals and a team that I can’t stand. The Braves have been one of the more consistently successful teams in the National League East and have won the most division titles in division history. The Braves have also won the last three division titles and are well equipped to win a fourth straight this season.

There have been two playoff series between the teams, but I was not alive for one and was an infant for the other. Hopefully, with both teams looking like they will compete this season and, in the future, there is another series to come which could really intensify the rivalry.

There have been some good moments and some bad moments for the Mets in this inner-division rivalry.

One thing that immediately sticks out to me that I, unfortunately, didn’t watch was the 10-run inning. On a June evening in 2000, in a year that both teams were among the favorites to represent the National League in the World Series, the Mets were trailing 8-1 in the eighth inning and scored 10 runs capped by a Mike Piazza three-run home run to give the Mets an 11-8 lead, a lead they would not relinquish.

Another game that comes to mind that I unfortunately missed was the first game back after 9/11. Mike Piazza hit another clutch home run to give the Mets a lead in a game they would win.

While I have missed my share of good games, there are also plenty of good times and bad times I have watched myself.

One moment I won’t forget for a while, was a September game in 2015 when the Mets were on their way to making their first playoff appearance since 2006 and the Braves were rebuilding. They were on the verge of sweeping the Braves but were down 7-4 with two outs and nobody on in the top of the ninth.

Daniel Murphy ended up tying this game with a three-run home run which prompted Gary Cohen to say “this team just doesn’t know how to lose!” It was the first time in so long I had gotten the chance to enjoy the Mets as a contender, and that quote made me appreciate just how fun that team was.

They ended up winning that game, their seventh in a row, inching them closer to a division title.

With the good is always some bad, and the bad memories I have involving the Braves are in large part due to the three individuals listed in this article.