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Monday, October 9
Series notes: Mets vs. Giants
Mike Hampton, 0-1 with a 5.09 ERA in three postseason starts, is 9-0
in his career against San Francisco. ... Giants swept four-game
series at home in May -- their first four-game sweep of the Mets
since June 1-3, 1962, at the Polo Grounds -- before losing three of
four at Shea Stadium in August. ... Teams tied for best home record
in majors at 55-26. ... East Coast vs. West Coast feud is
recognized by Giants fans: Mets get bigger boos in San Francisco
than any team except Dodgers. ... Two bench-clearing fights in four
days highlighted the series, which produced brushbacks, beanballs
and plenty of hard feelings. ... Piazza hit .467 with two homers
against San Francisco. Payton batted .400. ... Bell (.143, 1 RBI)
and Ventura (.174, 2 RBIs) struggled against Giants. ... Cook
allowed seven runs in two innings and also sparked the benches to
clear when he hit Benard in first series. ... Bonds hit .450 in
wins and .091 in losses to Mets. ... Kent burned his former team,
hitting .414 with a game-winning homer on May 3 against Wendell and
a two-run shot the next day against Benitez. ... Ortiz is 4-0
lifetime against Mets. ... Leiter struck out 12 in 2-0 win Aug. 2.
Mets
Recovered from September swoon to qualify for postseason in
consecutive years for first time in team history. Lost seven of
eight to open the month, but finished season by winning nine of 11.
... Contracts expire after season for manager Bobby Valentine and
GM Steve Phillips. Postseason performance could determine their
future. ... Hampton, acquired to be a playoff ace, also can leave
at end of season and is auditioning for big-bucks deal. ... Piazza,
the team's biggest offensive weapon, hit .222 with five homers and
12 RBIs after Sept. 1. ... Have deep rotation with five 11-game
winners for first time since 1988. ... Perez has brought speed
element since callup in late August and could fill similar role to
Melvin Mora in last year's postseason. ... Team is playoff tested
after taking Atlanta to six games in 1999 NLCS. ... Alfonzo hit
seven homers in September.
Giants
Cruised to baseball's best record with strong performances
in September. ... Back in the postseason for the first time since
1997. Giants still haven't won a playoff game under Dusty Baker,
despite his two NL Manager of the Year awards (likely three when
current year's award is handed out). ... For first time in years,
San Francisco has big home-field advantage thanks to sold-out
Pacific Bell Park. Giants would love to christen gorgeous new park
with pennant. ... The park is new, but swirling winds and chilly
October conditions of Candlestick Park remain the same. San
Francisco clinched NL West two weeks ago in breezy, blustery
weather. ... Bonds and Kent both strong MVP candidates. Bonds
established new career-high with 49 homers, while Kent broke Rogers
Hornsby's 75-year-old record for RBI production at 2b over a
four-year period. ... Capable bench features rookie Damon Minor,
who's hit three homers in nine at-bats since being recalled from
minors. ... Solid rotation gives way to Nen, who hasn't blown a
save since early June and has allowed just one run in August and
September.
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