Editing New York Mets (section)

===2000s: The Subway World Series and new ballpark===
In [[2000 New York Mets season|2000]], the Mets finished the season with a 94–68 record andclinched a wild card spot in the playoffs. In the [[2000 National League Division Series|NLDS]], the Mets defeated the [[San Francisco Giants]] 3–1 in the series and the [[St Louis Cardinals]] in the [[2000 National League Championship Series|NLCS]]. After winning the National League pennant, the Mets earned a trip to the [[2000 World Series]] against their crosstown rivals, the New York Yankees, for a "[[Subway Series]]". The Mets were defeated by the Yankees in five games.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2021/07/02/what-would-have-happened-if-mets-won-2000-world-series/|title=Mets winning Subway World Series 'would have changed a lot of lives'|last=O'Connor|first=Ian|date=July 2, 2021|website=[[New York Post]]|access-date=July 2, 2021}}</ref> The most memorable moment of the 2000 World Series occurred during the first inning of Game 2 at Yankee Stadium. Piazza fouled off a pitch which shattered his bat, sending a piece of the barrel toward the pitcher's mound. Pitcher [[Roger Clemens]] seized the piece and hurled it in the direction of Piazza as the catcher trotted to first base. Benches briefly cleared before the game was resumed with no ejections.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2020/10/21/roger-clemens-bizarre-mike-piazza-bat-throw-is-still-shocking/|title=Roger Clemens' bizarre Mike Piazza bat throw is still shocking|last=Davidoff|first=Ken|date=October 21, 2020|website=[[New York Post]]|access-date=August 2, 2022}}</ref>

During the [[2001 New York Mets season|2001 season]], the Mets finished with a record of 82–80 finishing third in the division.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYM/2001.shtml|title=2001 New York Mets Statistics|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=August 24, 2022}}</ref> After the [[September 11 attacks|September 11 terrorist attacks]] [[Shea Stadium]] was used as a relief center and then saw the first sporting event in New York City since the attacks, in a game vs. the [[2001 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta Braves]] on September 21. In the bottom of the 8th inning the Mets were trailing 2–1 when Mike Piazza came to bat with a runner on first. Piazza dramatically sent Shea into a frenzy by crushing a home run to give the Mets a 3–2 lead and the eventual win. The game is considered to be one of the greatest moments in the history of the franchise.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/32164769/20-years-later-enduring-legacy-mike-piazza-home-run|title=20 years later, the enduring legacy of the Mike Piazza home run|last=Hockensmith|first=Ryan|date=September 8, 2021|website=[[ESPN]]|access-date=August 24, 2022}}</ref>

In 2002, despite the off-season signings of [[Tom Glavine]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/06/sports/baseball-veteran-glavine-picks-veteran-|title=Baseball; Veteran Glavine Picks Veteran Mets|last=Chass|first=Murray|date=December 6, 2002|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=September 11, 2022}}</ref> [[Mo Vaughn]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/28/sports/baseball-mets-land-vaughn-with-a-twist-and-a-tug.html|title=Mets Land Vaughn With a Twist and a Tug|last=Chass|first=Murray|date=December 28, 2001|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=September 11, 2022}}</ref> and [[Roberto Alomar]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/11/sports/mets-acquire-alomar-from-clevel|title=Mets Acquire Alomar From Cleveland|last=Curry|first=Jack|date=December 11, 2001|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=September 11, 2022}}</ref> the Mets finished the [[2002 New York Mets season|2002 season]] with a 75–86 overall record and last in the NL East.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYM/2002.shtml|title=2002 New York Mets Statistics|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=September 11, 2022}}</ref> During that same season the Mets dealt with off field distractions when co-owners Wilpon and Doubleday were in a legal battle which was later settled with Wilpon becoming the sole owner on August 23 that year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2019/12/05/the-wilpons-worst-and-best-moments-as-mets-owners/|title=The Wilpon's worst and best moments as Mets owners|last=Braziller|first=December 5, 2019|website=[[New York Post]]|date=December 5, 2019 |access-date=September 11, 2022}}</ref>

In the aftermath of the 2004 season, the Mets hired a new general manager, [[Omar Minaya]], who immediately turned the franchise around by signing pitcher [[Pedro Martínez]] and hiring a new manager, [[Willie Randolph]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=1947207|title=Physical passed four-year deal finalized|date=December 15, 2004|website=ESPN.com|publisher=[[Associated Press]]|access-date=November 7, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/how-the-mets-signed-pedro-martinez|title=How the Mets lured Pedro to Queens|website=MLB.com|publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]|access-date=December 16, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/04/sports/baseball/randolph-is-named-to-lead-the-mets.html|title=Randolph is Named to lead the Mets|last=Jenkins|first=Lee|date=November 4, 2004|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=April 10, 2022}}</ref> The Mets finished 2005 four games over .500, and the franchise's resurgence was complete by 2006 as they won 97 games and the NL East title behind new acquisitions [[Carlos Beltrán]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-jan-10-sp-beltran10-story.html|title=Beltran is New King of Queens|last=Brown|first=Tim|date=January 10, 2005|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=April 10, 2022}}</ref> and [[Carlos Delgado]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/24/sports/baseball/in-swing-of-fortune-mets-finally-get-delgado.html|title=In Swing of Fortune, Mets Finally Get Delgado|last=Shpigel|first=Ben|date=November 24, 2005|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=April 10, 2022}}</ref> as well as young superstars [[José Reyes (shortstop)|José Reyes]] and [[David Wright]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://risingapple.com/posts/ny-mets-david-wright-jose-reyes-duo|title=David Wright and José Reyes: A duo cut too short|last=Mincolelli|first=Mark|date=March 31, 2023|website=Rising Apple|access-date=December 18, 2023}}</ref> The Mets eventually succumbed to the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] in Game 7 of the [[2006 National League Championship Series|National League Championship Series]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2021/10/17/oral-history-of-2006-mets-nlcs-game-7-endy-chavez-game/|title=A condensed oral history of the 2006 NLCS and a Mets team that came so damn close|last=Davidoff|first=Kevin|date=October 17, 2021|website=[[New York Post]]|access-date=October 17, 2021}}</ref>

In 2007, the Mets entered the final 17 games in the season with a seven-game lead in the NL East. But the team went on an ill-timed losing streak, losing 11 of the next 15 games, resulting in the Philadelphia Phillies winning the division by one game.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/01/sports/baseball/01mets.html|title=Mets Complete Stunning Collapse|last=Shpigel|first=Ben|date=October 1, 2007|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=October 1, 2007}}</ref>

The Mets held a more modest 3.5-game lead after 145 games of the [[2008 New York Mets season|2008 season]], their final season at Shea Stadium. On June 16, Omar Minaya fired Willie Randolph, [[Rick Peterson]], and [[Tom Nieto]]. [[Jerry Manuel]] was named interim manager.<ref name=randolph-fired>{{cite news | last = Shpigel | first = Ben | title = Mets Fire Manager Willie Randolph | work = [[The New York Times]] | date = June 17, 2008 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/sports/baseball/17cnd-mets.html | access-date = June 17, 2008}}</ref> While their 7–10 mark down the stretch was better than the previous season's 5–12, it still allowed the Phillies to pass them once again for the division crown.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/hard-mets-collapse-article-1.319998|title=It's hard to believe Mets collapse again|last=Lupica|first=Mike|date=September 28, 2008|website=[[New York Daily News]]|access-date=September 28, 2008}}</ref>

In 2009, the Mets moved into the newly constructed [[Citi Field]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/14/sports/baseball/14mets.html|title=On Crisp Night, Mets Open Their Snappy New Ballpark|last=Shpigel|first=Ben|date=April 13, 2009|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=April 13, 2009}}</ref> On April 17, [[Gary Sheffield]], who just days earlier was signed by the Mets as a free agent, hit his [[500 home run club|500th home run]] against the [[2009 Milwaukee Brewers season|Milwaukee Brewers]]. Sheffield became the first pinch hitter to reach this milestone, as well as the first to do it in a Mets uniform.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=4078752|title=Sheffield reaches rare milestone|date=April 17, 2009|website=[[ESPN]]|publisher=[[Associated Press]]|access-date=August 2, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://risingapple.com/2019/04/17/mets-gary-sheffield-500-home-run/|title=Mets Once in a lifetime moment: Gary Sheffield's 500th home run|last=Lennon|first=Edward|date=April 17, 2019|website=Rising Apple|access-date=August 2, 2022}}</ref> The [[2009 New York Mets season|season]] was mainly a tough one for the Mets which was marred by numerous injuries suffered by its players, with 20 of them having been on the [[disabled list]] at one point or another during the season and losing star (and also replacement) players like [[J. J. Putz]], [[John Maine]], [[Óliver Pérez]], José Reyes, Carlos Beltrán, David Wright, Carlos Delgado, [[Johan Santana]], and [[Gary Sheffield]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/mets/2009/10/nelson_figueroa_tosses_complet.html|title=Nelson Figueroa tosses complete-game shutout as Mets finish season with 4-0 win over Astros|last=Costa|first=Brian|date=October 4, 2009|website=NJ.com|access-date=December 12, 2024}}</ref>

As a result, the Mets finished in fourth place, with a record of 70–92 and failed to qualify for the playoffs for the third straight season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYM/2009.shtml|title=2009 New York Mets Statistics|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=September 19, 2022}}</ref> Mets players spent more than 1,480 days in the disabled list in 2009, more than any other team in the majors. Second-half turnarounds of [[Jeff Francoeur]] and [[Daniel Murphy (baseball)|Daniel Murphy]] helped the Mets finish the season with the best batting average in the National League, tied with the [[2009 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles Dodgers]].<ref>{{cite news|title=After Quiet Finish, Mets Are Planning For Busy Off-Season|date=October 5, 2009|first=Ben|last=Shpigel|newspaper=The New York Times|page=D6}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2009/10/who-killed-the-2009-new-york-mets|title=Who Killed The 2009 New York Mets (Besides Madoff, Barabooey, And The Late D.J. AM)?|last=Windolf|first=Jim|date=October 3, 2009|website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]|access-date=September 19, 2022}}</ref>