Thoughts on the game: Have to say it was nice

[Guest Edgy DC]

...having a ballpark where there was never any ambiguity regarding what was or wasn't a homerun.

[Gwreck]

Chris Jones called and says that's not quite always true.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Never is a strong word. Perhaps too strong.

Other thoughts.

1) John Maine fields pretty well for a big guy.

2) It's stunning how Wright is piling up walks this season.

3) I don't know that it's any easier to find a third-base coach that the fans approve of than it is to find a closer, but Shines made a rough call there. Two outs, so there's cause to go for it if you have a 50% chance, but I warned you all about Kearns' arm before the series.

[Guest Swan Swan H]

When Shea was new there were a number of disputed HR calls down the lines, as the home run line was painted on a brick wall, prompting the erection (settle down, Fman) of the inner walls that shortened the measurement from 341' to 338'.

Once that was done the frequency of disputes approached never, if it didn't quite get there.

From the Mets' web site:

1978 The outfield fences were extended foul line to foul line, cutting the distance in the corners from 341 feet to 338 feet on the advice of then manager Joe Torre. Prior to his suggestion, the corners had a brick wall with an orange line. If the ball hit above the line it was a home run; a ball hit under the line was in play.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Joe Torre gave us a gift and we threw it away.

[Guest Swan Swan H]

Actually, we re-gifted it to MeiGray.

[Guest Edgy DC]

A high school classmate writes today:

The song does not go... "The Mets are really socking the ball, hitting those home runs over the orange line."