Remembering Mets History (2000) Newcomer's Mike Bordick, Bubba Trammell & Rick White Immediately Contribute to Two Mets Victories

Mike Bordick HR

Saturday July 29th 2000: At this point in the 2000 season, Bobby Valentine's New York Mets were in second place, five games behind the Atlanta Braves & in the front runner for the Wild Card spot.

The Mets had lost their main short stop Rey Ordonez for the rest of the season & were not willing to gamble on the young Melvin Mora to get them to the playoffs.

In a deal with the Baltimore Orioles, the Mets dealt Mora, Mike Kinkade & Leslie Brea in exchange for solid veteran; Mike Bordick.

It was a good short term move, as Bordick solidified the position, hit well enough & did help get the Mets to the World Series. 

In the long term Bordick left via free agency signing back with the O's. Melvin Mora went on to a fine ten-year career in Baltimore, making two All Star team's the Orioles' Hall of Fame. In his career he hit .277 with 171 HRs 283 doubles 93 stolen bases & 754 RBIs & 794 runs scored.

Mike Bordick arrived in New York to suit up for a Saturday afternoon matinee at Shea Stadium in front of 50,726 as the Mets hosted Tony LaRussa's first place St. Louis Cardinals (57-46). The starters were Rick Reed (5-2) for New York & Andy Benes (10-5) for the Cards.

In the 2nd inning, Ray Lankford put St. Louis up 1-0 with a solo HR. 

In the 3rd inning, in his first New York Mets at bat, Mike Bordick delivered with a solo HR tying the game & winning the NY fans over. The fans gave him a huge standing ovation. Bordick was fitting in the Big City right away. It was his 17th HR of the year.

Andy Benes issued three walks in the inning & Mike Piazza's RBI single put the Mets up 2-1. 

In the Cards 4th inning, Jim Edmonds blasted a two run HR putting St. Louis up 3-2.

In the home 6th, Mike Piazza hit his 29th HR of the year, a solo shot off Andy Benes tying up the game & exciting the big crowd. 

In the top of the 7th, Dennis Cook relieved Rick Reed. Rick went six, allowing three runs on three hits striking out five & walking two. With two men on base Ray Lankford hit a fly to center field Jay Payton made the catch & threw home to nail Fernando Vina at the plate for the inning ending double play.

In the home 8th, Robin Ventura who led off with a walk from new pitcher Mike James. Bordick followed with a base hit, his second hit of the day. Benny Agbayani then drew a walk from Heathcliff Slocumb to load up the bases.

Bobby Valentine sent up one of his secret bench weapons, the reliable Lenny Harris. Harris delivered with a single to right field scoring Ventura in what was the games winning run. 

The day before the Mets also acquired relief pitcher Rick White & Outfielder Bubba Trammell in a deal with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The Rays got Paul Wilson & Jason Tyner. 

Rick White's Mets debut also came in this game, entering the game in the 8th inning. He walked two & struck out one, earning the win to get to 4-6 on the year, of course it was his first win as a Met.

Armando Benitez earned his 25th save & the Mets were on a five game win streak.

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Sunday July 30th 2000: The next day 45,733 came out to Shea Stadium for Sunday afternoon baseball. In this game Bobby Jones (4-5) got the start for New York against Garrett Stephenson (11-6).

This afternoon, the other new Met, Bubba Trammell got the start in rightfield & batted eighth. Trammell began his career in Detroit in 1997 & then was drafted by the new Tampa Rays in 1997. He batted .285 in his three years with the Rays. 

In his 36 games with the 2000 Mets he batted .232 with 3 HRs two doubles & 12 RBIs. He was a good pinch hitter & extra outfielder. In the World Series he batted .400 (2-5) driving in three runs. In Game #1 his 7th inning pinch hit single off Andy Pettitte tied up the game. He added an RBI  sac fly in Game #3.

Bubba Trammell

The Mets got on the board first as Benny Agbayani led off the Mets 1st inning with a HR, his 8th of the year.

In the bottom of the 2nd inning, Todd Zeile drew a lead off walk & Jay Payton singled to left. Bubba Trammel came to bat with two on & made a tremendous Mets debut himself, hitting a three run HR to put New York up 3-0. It was his 8th HR of the season, after he had hit seven with the Rays.

In the top of the 5th after Bobby Jones struck out the first two batters, a walk a base hit & an error he committed on a grounder to him, loaded the bases. Jones got pinch hitter Thomas Howard to strike out looking to get out of the inning.

Jones got out of jam in the 6th as well, after the first two Cardinals got on with a single & double, he struck out Jim Edmonds looking. He then got Eric Davis to ground out but surrendered a run then ended the inning as Lankford popped out to Short.

They went on to a 4-2 win as Bobby Jones pitched the complete game win, his only complete game of the year. Jones allowed two runs on just four hits, striking out a season high nine batters. 

The 2000 Mets were now on a six game win streak.

At the end of the season, the Mets traded Trammell to the San Diego Padres for Donnie Wall. It was a terrible trade, Wall went 0-4 for the Mets in 32 appearances, posting a 4.85 ERA. Trammell would hit 25 HRs & drive in 92 runs for the 2001 Padres. His career was cut short by a meniscus injury.