Video Jackpot

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I am in love with JPhillips. See his whole collection, all added in recent days.

[seawolf17]

The all new Nissan Sentra! Available at your Datsun dealer! Funny.

Who the hell is Mike Howard? I think WWOR made him up.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I drove a Nissan Sentra with a Datsun nameplate on it.

[Guest AG/DC]

Ralph in mid-season form, calling "USA Today" "US Today." Did Ralph really not know who the governor of New York was? Also, that looks like Cuomo standing next to Koch, but Tim is claiming that the governor isn't in the park.

Amazing that they took their time getting around to the real story, Seaver's return.

Doug Sisk won that game with three shutout innings in relief. Mike Howard started in right, got the game-winning hit, and it was the last RBI of his career.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I remember Mike Howard starting in right, but didn't remember Bob Bailor started at shortstop. They really undersell the Seaver return vs. what they would do today, which is completely murder it with coverage. My video boyfriend also has the Kiners Korner postgame of that day.

[Guest AG/DC]

Invite your boyfriend for a swim. Jeez.

The semi-platoon system at catcher during the era was that the number one was Ortiz and then Fitzgerald, but Hodges would bail them out against especially difficult righties. It sucked for Ron that he finally got a role and it was to play whenever Mario Soto or Nolan Ryan or Steve Rogers was pitchng.

Nonetheless he draws the start against the lefty Carlton. I guess opening day is veteran's privilege.

The season opened with Howard and Heep platooning in right, but I think it was supposed to be Mark Bradley and Heep, but Bradley wasn't ready for opening day due to his drug suspension. Howard quickly disappeared, giving the job to Heep entirely until Bradley came back. When Darryl arrived, Heep got knocked to the bench and Bradley to oblivion.

One of Davey Johnson's main complaints about the Bambi/Howard regime that preceded his was the amount of playing time given to Bob Bailor.

In my dream, I get to Final Jeopardy! and the category is "1983 Mets."

[Valadius]

That is indeed Mario Cuomo. I met him once at my synagogue when he came to speak.

[G-Fafif]

Ortiz wouldn't join the platoon 'til the middle of June. His acquisition (for Marvel Wynne) was kind of lost in the Mex shuffle.

jphilips41 is the gift that never stops giving, as evidence by 1977 Old Timers Day (aka, the day that inspired Willie, Mickey & The Duke):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwt-hA4Z9Hg

[Guest themetfairy]

Mario Cuomo spoke at my college graduation. He was a pretty new governor at the time, but he should have been recognized nonetheless (even with Koch hogging the spotlight).

I am hoping that jphilips41 posts the pregame show from August 21, 1977 (Seaver's return to Shea as a Met) - that would be incredible.

[Guest AG/DC]

G-Fafif wrote: Ortiz wouldn't join the platoon 'til the middle of June. His acquisition (for Marvel Wynne) was kind of lost in the Mex shuffle.

Wow, I bet the farm on Final Jeoparady! and go broke finding there are still things I've forgotten about the 1983 Mets. Junior was a mid-season acquisition? Really?

What other catcher was on the opening day roster? Ronn Reynolds?

[G-Fafif]

First catcher to see duty besides Hodges was the late Mike Bishop, who started the eighth game of the year. Ronn Reynolds didn't make his '83 debut 'til April 27. Lots of bad weather that April (recall the spate of makeup doubleheaders that came in late June).

[Frayed Knot]

Valadius wrote: That is indeed Mario Cuomo. I met him once at my synagogue when he came to speak.

That's funny, he doesn't look ...

[Guest AG/DC]

I know about the paperwork snafu that made Bishop a Met, but I didn't realize it came so early in the year. He wasn't on the opening day roster.

Lunchbucket is the Mike Bishop expert.

The way I'm piecing it together is this...

1. Hodges and Reynolds open the season while they wait for Stearnsy to heal.



2. Stearns get activated after about five days.



3. They realize Stearns isn't ready and they can't ride Hodges alone so they try to recall Reynolds.



4. They find out Reynolds is ineligible to be recalled so soon.



5. Bishop gets lucky and gets the call.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

That is about right as I recall it.

[G-Fafif]

themetfairy wrote: Mario Cuomo spoke at my college graduation. He was a pretty new governor at the time, but he should have been recognized nonetheless (even with Koch hogging the spotlight).

Election Night 1982: Ralph kicks back and relaxes with a cocktail in Palm Springs (it is guessed here). Misses the many ample opportunities provided by the likes of Dan Rather to pick up on pronunciations of newly elected officials. Probably doesn't get his own freshly minted governor, George Deukmejian, either.

Well, maybe the George part...

[Guest AG/DC]

When Whitey Ford comes out for the 1977 Old Timers Day, I wanted to throw a pretzel.

What an ovation for Campy.

[G-Fafif]

Didja catch the first OT introduced by Lindsey? Bill Wambsganss. BILL WAMBSGANSS! Not that the Mets do OTDs anymore anyway, but that was the way to do it, by bringing in a) OLD timers and not submitting them to purity tests. If there was one day of the year I could stand to look at an MFY, it was OTD.

[Guest AG/DC]

Agreed, I just liked the pretzel image.

Ol' Bill had been retired 51 years at that point. Or about how long Jackie Robinson has now been retired.

[Guest AG/DC]

Checking Bill's stats, in his last season, he batted .352!

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I am pretty sure I was at that OTD; I know I went to one of them. I don't remember anything except the fact the Dodgers were the opponent.

I found the whole thing strangely unsatisfying as a promo, and I was disappointed to discover how cavalierly these old men took their "game" but I really wanted to to see it as a kid.

[Guest AG/DC]

Lenny's mom: trashy-cute.



I remember how they used to use clips from Lou Reed's Rock 'n' Rol Animal as fade-out music, but I was starting to mistrust my memory. Thanks, JPhillips!

[Valadius]

Cuomo grew up with my former rabbi in Queens.

[apmorris]

its not cool anymore



found this trolling for the orignal opening (b&w) sequence for the channel 9 million dollar movie - cant find it.

[Guest cooby]

I was going to say "I could hum it for you", but I found this, if this is the one you mean.

BTW, I'm pretty sure that song is from "Gone With the Wind" The first time I saw "Gone With the Wind" I thought they were playing the Million Dollar Movie song

[Guest themetfairy]

Yes - it's called Tara's Theme.

[metirish]

It was great to hear Ralph in his pomp , I've really only known him with his voice not at it's best so that was a treat for me.

[soupcan]

I will always associate 'Tara's Theme' with Lincoln Center because of the Channel 9 Million Dollar Movie opening.

metirish wrote: It was great to hear Ralph in his pomp , I've really only known him with his voice not at it's best so that was a treat for me

In his 'pomp'?

I hadn't realized that Ralph's been impaired for that long.

[metirish]

In his pomp = In his prime.

[soupcan]

metirish wrote: In his pomp = In his prime.

I figured.

[G-Fafif]

Parts I and II of the Mets' cheap-ass but fascinating 1979 Old Timers ceremonies have been added to YouTube by the greatest person who has ever lived, jphilips41.

Part I:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=3ZDVF9erP2A

Part II:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=XhRGOLc6cwc

I'm hoping Part III is in the offing, wherein audio messages from Seaver, Koosman, McGraw and Harrelson are played over the loudspeaker.