(Not So) Way Back Machine - 6/17/01

[Centerfield]

Found this writeup while searching for a pic for another thread:

http://www.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_news_story.jsp?article_id=mlb_20010617_nyynym_news&team_id=mlb

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

I was at that game.

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

I was there too. Great tailgate party. Great game. I had no voice for two days after that!

[Frayed Knot]

That was the HR off the tent behind the picnic area.

When Torre finally came out to remove pitcher Carlos Almanzar after that 8th inning, I think the Yanx had filed his release papers with the league before he had reached the dugout.

There's a typo in the boxscore in that linked article. It shows that Benitez pitched a scoreless 9th ... with 2 Ks and 0 BBs ... with a 1-run lead ... against the Yanquis.
I was told those things didn't happen. Must not have been a BIG game.

[seawolf17]

Two quick observations on that game:

1) That was a power-packed lineup. Bet the MFYs feared it when the McEwing-Relaford-Ordonez-pitcher-Agbayani-Shinjo section of the lineup came around.

2) Remember Cook & Wendell? And Rick Reed? Loved those guys.

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

seawolf - don't get me started....

[Guest sharpie]

Randy Choate getting two at bats when he pitched 1 2/3 innings is pretty weird.

[seawolf17]

sharpie wrote: Randy Choate getting two at bats when he pitched 1 2/3 innings is pretty weird.

Especially considering he had a grand total of three ABs, in only five games, in 2001 -- and only five total ABs in his career (one in '02, one in '04).

[Guest Edgy DC]

Carlos Almanzar and Alberto Castillo --- two Yankees released the day after failing against the Mets. I wonder if there are any others.

[MFS62]

Hey! Alberto Castillo is a free agent. If Omar really wants a good catch and throw catch ..., never mind.

Later

[Frayed Knot]

Enrique Wilson didn't get released, but after proving in a game against the Mets that he was no outfielder, George went out and immediately demanded Raul Mondesi; a day I believe Blue Jays mgmt still considers a secular holiday.

[Elster88]

I love it.

[Theoldmole]

I don't remember Shinjo ever getting up over .280 as a Met.

Don't knock Castillo. He was a good backup, and he was trilingual, which counts for a lot these days.

[Valadius]

Carlos Almanzar - suspended for steroids after this season.

[Farmer Ted]

I have the ticket stub from that game. Mrs. Sponge/Ted asked if we could leave early. I was reluctant but caved. I am a weak man.

[nymr83]

anyone else remember the "rumors" about this game at the time, that Joe Torre had left Carlos Almanzar in the game to face Piazza to "make a point" that he needed another good reliever?

[Guest SI Metman]

I was at that game too. I was hoping MLB still had the video working for that game. I think that was the second longest homer I ever witness in person (Mo Vaughn's 505 ft scoreboard shot being #1). I didn't even see Mikey's land.

The play of the game was Sparkle running out the double play grounder to keep the inning alive for Piazza's heroics.

[G-Fafif]

An overlooked/underrated game in the pantheons of Subway Series and Mike lore. (Except on CPF, naturally, where it gets its due.)

Written about in comment form here a few months ago:

http://mets2005.myblogsite.com/blog/_archives/2005/8/4/1109148.html#362105

[Guest Edgy DC]

Not knocking Castillo, so much as reactionary Yankee management.

[Centerfield]

Great writeup Greg.