The Mets began 1996 with great anticipation. They ended it with another year of disappointment. In-between saw one of their players hit for the cycle, another break the record for home runs by a catcher and a managerial change that probably came too late. “We expect to be there,” general manager Joe McIlvaine said when asked about the postseason, just as spring training was about to begin. “I’d be disappointed if we didn’t do well,
