Is Ron Darling the best Mets player of the 1980s? Maybe.

Is Ron Darling the best Mets player of the 1980s?  Maybe.

You don’t trade Lee Mazzilli for just anyone, so let’s take a close look at Ronnie.

Now immediately you’re going to start with a comparison to Gooden.  OK let’s do that.

206 starts.  Ronnie took his turns.  More turns than anyone that decade.  If you watched the Mets this decade you know that’s important.

24 complete games.  Less than half of Gooden’s…but again let me know when Generation 2K gets to four complete games.  Ronnie was a stud.

Most innings pitched.  2nd in wins to Doc.   2nd in strikeouts.  2nd in shutouts.   To Doc.

Is Ron Darling the best Mets player of the 1980s?  Probably not….but maybe.  Regardless, one hell of a Met who just ran into his generation’s Next Seaver who was more of a Next Seaver than the Next Next Seaver ever was.