[the 'stache]

Yes, I knew that. The 1983 season was a complete loss for the Mets. They also had a managerial change mid season. With George Bamberger, the Mets were 16-30. Frank Howard took them the rest of the way, going 52-64.

A lot of good things happened to the Mets in a very small period of time. The addition of Hernandez was so incredibly important for a few different reasons. He had a huge impact defensively. With him at first base, other teams stopped bunting because he was so good at rushing in, and beating the lead runner to second base. His range was incredible, and his arm was strong and accurate. Davey Johnson has said that the Mets actually changed how the Mets did their relay throws because Hernandez was so good. He brought a strong bat to the top of the lineup. But most importantly, he brought confidence to a team that had none. He made other players around him better. He was instrumental in helping the young players on the team believe they could win.

Davey Johnson started his managerial run with the Mets in 1984, too. He came to the club at the right time, as the team received a tremendous infusion of young talent that he would be able to mold. Darryl Strawberry was the NL Rookie of the Year in 1983. Then Dwight Gooden came up. The Mets had their own Bob Feller. Doc quickly became the most dominant pitcher in the National League. Not to be overlooked, the Mets added two other outstanding starting pitchers-Sid Fernandez, who the Mets acquired from the Dodgers, and Ron Darling, who the Mets had signed and developed. Darling threw in 5 games in 1983. In 1984, he would win 12 games, and Fernandez 6. In 1985, Fernandez would win 9 and Darling 16. In 1986, the year they won the World Series, Gooden would win 17, Fernandez 16 and Darling 15. Bob Ojeda, who the Mets acquired from the Red Sox would win 18. Rick Aguilera would win 10, and their dynamic left-right bullpen duo of Jesse Orosco and Roger McDowell would combine to win 22 games, and save 43.

That '86 team won 108 games. To this day, I am still amazed that Mets group only won one World Series.

Originally Posted by rats60

Keith Hernandez played 95 games with that 83 Mets team. Dwight Gooden arrived in 1984. In my opinion, he was just as important to the Mets turnaround. He won ROY and finished 2nd in CY Young voting. Hernandez and Gooden had similar WAR. Hernandez higher on Baseball Reference, Gooden higher on Fan Graphics.