The Mets connection to 1986 can be seen from third-base coach Tim Teufel to Triple-A manager Wally Backman to the broadcast booth where Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez reside next to Gary Cohen.
The temptation is to compare the growth of these Mets to their Mets, a team that grew from the depths of the NL East in 1983 to contenders in ’84 and ’85 to champions in ‘86.
“What I do know is those teams were getting better and performing better and I feel the same way about this ball club, too,” said Darling, who will be in the TBS booth for the Mets’ postseason return, which comes Friday night against the Dodgers.