Mets Opening Day starters after the GOAT at each position left

There isn’t much debate in regards to who is the best player at each position in New York Mets history. The difference between the number one player at each spot and number two is large enough for us to not get into that argument today.

Instead, I want to take a look at something else. It’s replacing those GOATs.

Replacing a legend is never easy nor is it simple to step in and fill the void left behind. Just ask Ryan Minor. He’s the guy who stepped in to start in place of Cal Ripken Jr. when he finally ended his consecutive games played streak. It is what he became known for.

Although the Mets have no such streak in their history, they have also had some trouble replacing the GOATs. Position by position, this is what the club did on Opening Day once the greatest at each position was gone or at least no longer available to start for them.

The Mets replaced Tom Seaver on Opening Day with another legend

Jerry Koosman finally got his Opening Day start for the Mets in 1978. At long last, with Seaver now with the Cincinnati Reds, Koosman could take the bump for the first game of the season.

Although Koosman wasn’t a direct replacement of Seaver because of the position they played, he did end a streak that started in 1968. Every game number one of the season, the Metropolitans called upon Tom Terrific to start. It wasn’t until after he was traded that someone else got their chance.

The Mets did things right when Mike Piazza left

Mike Piazza was the Opening Day catcher every season from 1999-2005. The two sides parted ways before the 2006 season as Piazza’s career wound down.

The Mets weren’t ready to settle behind the plate. They pulled off a trade with the Florida Marlins to acquire two years of Paul Lo Duca’s services. It turned out to be a great move with Lo Duca providing the Mets with two productive years behind the dish all starting with a spot in the Opening Day lineup.

While Koosman and Lo Duca took over admirably for a short period of time, not all GOAT replacements would do the same.

You probably don’t remember who replaced Cleon Jones in left field

Cleon Jones was the starting left fielder for the Mets every year from 1969-1974. In 1975, someone else got the call. His name was Gene Clines.

If you don’t remember Clines, join the club. He spent only the 1975 season with the team, batting .227/.269/.286 with zero home runs. A part-time player for much of his career, this was one of the biggest drop offs at any position in franchise history.

Carlos Beltran’s Opening Day starts ended early

Carlos Beltran represented the Mets in center field on Opening Day for the final time in 2009. In 2011, he was in right field. In 2010, he was injured. So depending on how you want to look at it, we have two options.

In 2010, Gary Matthews Jr. was the Opening Day center fielder. He played only 36 games for the team and batted .190. If you want to go with Pagan as your answer, it’s a little better. Coming off of a good year in 2010, he spent his final season with the Mets in 2011 batting .262/.322/.372. The next two Opening Days would feature Andres Torres and Collin Cowgill at the position until Juan Lagares took over.

There was no immediate answer from the Mets to replace Darryl Strawberry

Darryl Strawberry left the Mets in free agency after the 1990 season and the 1991 Mets opened with a familiar name in right field. Hubie Brooks was brought back to town. No longer an infielder as he was in his early days, Brooks had transitioned to right fielder over the most recent seasons.

Brooks hit for decent power, smacking 16 home runs in only 407 trips to the plate. This didn’t compare to the production Strawberry had given them for so many years prior. The Mets saw this. And the following offseason, the Bobby Bonilla in Queens storyline began.