 Neither the Mets nor the Reds had made the playoffs the previous season . The Mets finished the 1998 season with an 88 – 74 record , while the Reds finished below .500 at 77 – 85 . The Mets had been tied with the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants in the 1998 wild @-@ card race as late in the season as September 25 at 88 – 72 . However , the Mets did not win another game that year and finished their season one game back of the Cubs and Giants who tied at 89 – 73 . The Cubs and Giants played a tie @-@ breaker in 1998 , with the Cubs ultimately winning the wild card . Sports writers said the Mets " blew " their lead and " collapse [ d ] " , later comparing their 1998 season to the Mets ' troubles late in the 1999 season . Rickey Henderson and Robin Ventura joined the Mets prior to the 1999 season and spent the year as their starting left fielder and third baseman . The Reds added right fielder Michael Tucker , center fielder Mike Cameron , and starting pitchers Denny Neagle and Steve Avery during the offseason . 
