The Happiest Recap (Mets Win! They Win!)

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Damion Easley wants a recount.

[G-Fafif]

Close call. Committee found return of Scott so soon after '86 irresistible (and was probably put off by umpteenth airing of Endy bunt on Mets Classics).

[G-Fafif]

Semi-incidental Giants pedigree to today's Happiest Recap:

022: 1967 -- Jack Fisher goes deep
023: 2002 -- Shawn Estes nears perfection
024: 1972 -- Willie Mays comes home

The undercard:

022: 1966 -- All the singles hitters! (all the singles hitters!)
023: 1991 -- Mackey, Mark with the good vibrations
024: 1962 -- Gil caps off one sweep day

[G-Fafif]

Incredibly powerful edition of The Happiest Recap:

025: 1991 -- Darryl returns as a Dodger
026: 1989 -- HoJo takes it to Dibble
027: 2004 -- Mike surpasses Pudge

The honorably mentioned:

025: 1999 -- Matt Franco hustles home
026: 2000 -- Insurance run policy cashed at Coors Field
027: 1962 -- Gil Hodges + Polo Grounds = ITPHR

[G-Fafif]

As recent as it can possibly get:

028: 2011 -- The real world filters into Citizens Bank Park
029: 2006 -- Mets go through a lot of bullpen in a late night vs. Atlanta
030: 2006 -- Looks like Mets will need more arms next day vs. Atlanta

Honorably mentioned:

028: 2007 -- Julo Franco was very old but very effective
029: 1982 -- Rusty gets powerful as he pinch-hits
030: 1992 -- Rodney McCray doesn't run through a wall

[G-Fafif]

April showers bring the blossoming of Mets youngsters...

031: 1983 -- Darryl goes deep for the very first time
032: 1970 -- Gentry gives up almost no hits whatsoever
033: 2010 -- Ike! Ike! Ike! His third unbelievable catch

Fine games in their own right...

031: 1963 -- Kanehl takes one for the team that gives up twelve
032: 1994 -- Cangelosi, Orsulak & Linton, the three horsemen of respectability
033: 1995 -- John Franco screws Bobby Jones; Chris Jones makes up for John Franco

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I love three-packs like this one, where you get three different eras rubbing up against each other and gettin' friendly.

[G-Fafif]

Today...

034: 1996 -- FIGHT! (On John Franco Day)
035: 1994 -- ANOTHER FIGHT (On John Cangelosi Day, Sort Of)
036: 1969 -- FIVE HUNDRED! (But Tom Seaver Doesn't Care)

Also...

034: 1970 -- Boy do the Mets have great pitching.
035: 1981 -- Carlton strikes out a lot of Mets but deja loses
036: 1980 -- Overtime! Big Win! 5-4 For the orange and blue! Both of them!

[G-Fafif]

It's a rainy night in Flushing, but not at The Happiest Recap.

037: 1973 -- Mets win in 19 in L.A., which makes it very late or early in N.Y.
038: 1981/1 -- Lousy team pounds world champs; fan self-esteem briefly rises
039: 1981/2 -- Mookie Wilson called it "the most exciting game of my life," and it's still pretty electric

Honorably mentioned:

037: 1997 -- Everett! Huskey! BAM! BAM!
038: 2004 -- Piazza takes a W away from Clemens, the creep
039: 1986 -- Memo to Niedenfuer: Don't hit Ray Knight because you can't get out George Foster

[G-Fafif]

Questions are the theme today...

040 -- 1964: 19 Runs? Did they win?
041 -- 1999: Two grand slams in one doubleheader? Anyone else do that before?
042 -- 2009: It hit over the line! They are gonna change the call, aren't they?

And at the same eventful juncture of other years...

040 -- 2007: Five runs in the ninth flatten the Cubbies
041 -- 2006: Randy Johnson's really no better than Geremi Gonzalez
042 -- 2002: Steve Trachsel talks sex in his own hopelessly boring way

[G-Fafif]

Some schmuck went and continued this series.

043: 1971 -- Nolan Ryan strikes out 16 (for the Mets)
044: 1999 -- Curt Schilling goes the distance (and pays for it)
045: 1998 -- Mike Piazza just shows up (and it's all good)

Undercard:

043: 2005 -- Mister Koo's Wild Ride
044: 2000 -- Doubles and homers cut the Big Unit down to size
045: 1969 -- Four walks, a bunt, a grounder, a stolen bases is all you need.

[G-Fafif]

Today we have firsts!

046: 1977 -- Joe Torre's first game as a manager (and, technically, player-manager)
047: 1966 -- Dick Rusteck's first game as a pitcher (and he throws a shutout)
048: 1969 -- Mets' first double sweep of their ancestral tormentors (and first time two over .500)

And as your alternates...

046: 2009 -- Murph homers...or does he?
047: 1985 -- Doc's in a jam...or is he?
048: 1982 -- Mets are on their way...but to where?

[G-Fafif]

Cheer a homer! Cheer a homer preceded by two balks! But don't stand up and boo. To Recap...

049: 1988 -- Gooden goes deep, Elster goes deeper
050: 2007 -- Reyes distracts Benitez, Delgado crushes him altogether
051: 1987 -- Spider-Man's wedding is curiously upstaged by the Doctor's return from rehab

Alternately...

049: 2000 -- Zeile to Cardinals -- Eff You for Trading Me to Everybody
050: 1989 -- Magadan saves Aguilera much as (sort of) Mookie once did
051: 2008 -- Holy Tatis! Mets reel in Marlins!

[G-Fafif]

Depth from a trio with nothing to do with each other otherwise. That's how The Happiest Recap rolls.

052: 1976 -- Kingman reaches the Sky three times in L.A.
053: 1964 -- Bearnarth goes deeper than any Met reliever ever
054: 1986 -- Teufel needs a fly ball and delivers so much more

Undercard:

052: 1969 -- Mets go to 11 for the first time
053: 1988 -- McReynolds just wants to go home
054: 1978 -- L.A. leads by six...and we all know even seven-run leads aren't safe against the Mets

[G-Fafif]

It's Time Machine Tuesday at The Happiest Recap.

055: 1980 -- The Magic comes Back, per Steve Henderson
056: 1979 -- Ten Runs come home, per Doug Flynn
057: 1990 -- Wrigley barely stands, per Buddy Harrelson's blistering offense

And these aren't too unhappy, either:

055: 1963 -- The Duke of Upper Manhattan reigns
056: 2011 -- Reversing a 7-0 deficit makes for a calm Collins
057: 1963 -- Mets try to give away a game; Cardinals regift it to Mets

[bmfc1]

If you want to read something really good, I mean goose-bump good, read the Happy Recap for Game 55.

[Willets Point]

It's Time Machine Tuesday at The Happiest Recap. 055: 1980 -- The Magic comes Back, per Steve Henderson 056: 1979 -- Ten Runs come home, per Doug Flynn 057: 1990 -- Wrigley barely stands, per Buddy Harrelson's blistering offense And these aren't too unhappy, either: 055: 1963 -- The Duke of Upper Manhattan reigns 056: 2011 -- Reversing a 7-0 deficit makes for a calm Collins 057: 1963 -- Mets try to give away a game; Cardinals regift it to Mets

Wow, we talked about my first Mets game and my son's first Mets game in the IGT but it's pretty cool that they're almost the same game of the season.

[G-Fafif]

Crazy, I tell you, what goes on in this edition!

058: 1977 -- Could Tom Seaver be pitching his final game as a Met?
059: 1999 -- Is that Bobby Valentine in the dugout even though he was ejected?
060: 2000 -- Mike Piazza can't tell Roger Clemens from Todd Erdos; can you?

Alternately...

058: 1998 -- Rick Reed flirts with perfection
059: 2003 -- John Olerud returns in a strange uniform
060: 1985 -- Ron Darling starts turning the tables on the Cubs

[G-Fafif]

Mets' Happiest Recap winning streak reaches 63.

061: 1965 -- Jim Maloney strikes out 18, gives up no hits for ten and loses to Johnny Lewis
062: 2005 -- Marlon Anderson huffs, puffs, blows bubbles and PHITPHRs against K-Rod
063: 1984 -- You Gotta Believe II, as Rusty and Ron recharge the spirit of '73

Also...

061: 1988 -- Cone keeps going 10
062: 1963 -- Snider goes for 400
063: 1985 -- Mets go for -- and get -- 4 from the Cubs

[G-Fafif]

Friday I've got my Recap on my mind...

064 -- 1982: Keith Hernandez and Mike Scott in strange uniforms
065 -- 2006: The Mets travel well.
066 -- 1990: Another day, another win.

Right behind them...

064 -- 1999: Mets eat or perhaps inject their Wheaties.
065 -- 1962: A one-hitter? How novel!
066 -- 1977: The Steve Henderson trade pays almost immediate dividends.

[G-Fafif]

It's the bulldog edition of The Happiest Recap, on the stands Monday night already:

067: 1997 -- Mlicki (as if you need another clue)
068: 1970 -- Mets, 4-for-4 in Chicago, attempt to make like Brubeck and take five
069: 2003 -- Maximum pleasure from minimum Marlins

Also...

067: 2002 -- Shawn Estes pitches and hits very well, no matter who he didn't hit with a pitch
068: 1994 -- Doc Gooden wins (though he doesn't anymore after this)
068: 2001 -- Mets keep Carlos Almanzar awake

[G-Fafif]

More winning!

070: 1972 -- Everybody but Leron Lee cooperates with Tom Seaver
071: 1963 -- Everybody but Jimmy Piersall puts one foot in front of the other
072: 1964 -- Everybody but Warren Spahn doesn't start an 8-run inning against the Mets

Also...

070: 1990 -- Eleven wins in a row for the fourth (and thus far last) time ever
071: 1969 -- Move over Little Al, here come George Thomas
072: 1962 -- Sixteen Bases on Sixty-Four Balls...received by the Mets

[G-Fafif]

Come on over and read about three Mets teams on uncommon rolls:

073 -- 1990: Darryl Strawberry reaches new heights
074 -- 1986: Ray Knight upstages the Grucci Brothers
075 -- 1997: Carlos Baerga is eighth-inning thunder, ninth-inning lightning

Also...

073 -- 1997: No starting pitcher, but lots of Carl Everett
074 -- 1963: Harkness on the edge of town
075 -- 1989: Pitching and three-run homers, both from Ron Darling

[G-Fafif]

You knew these games were coming; you might be surprised they arrived in rapid succession. This is the Mets Majesty edition of THR.

076: 1985 -- Fireworks Night in Atlanta/Fireworks Morning in Atlanta
077: 2000 -- Mets losing 8-1 middle of the 8th; Mets winning 11-8 top of the 9th
078: 2008 -- Delgado gets hot, day-night doubleheader gets off to a fantastic start

And...

076: 1988 -- Putting some Pirate punks in their place
077: 1998 -- Doing with difficulty what Jim Palmer once did with ease
078: 2004 -- NOW who's got the best Matsui in town?

[bmfc1]

What an incredible trio of games. A must read.

[G-Fafif]

We reach the halfway point of the best (albeit jury-rigged) year ever with games in which the Mets stand up to a couple of bullies.

079 -- 2004: Shane Spencer prevails, for us, in a 10-9 Subway Series thriller
080 -- 1969: Don Young can't handle a couple of fly balls, Mets handle Cubs
081 -- 1969: Tom Seaver can't be any more perfect, at least until Jimmy Qualls bats

Also very great:

079 -- 2002: Mets score all afternoon at Yankee Stadium
080 -- 2004: Ty Wigginton wields the biggest broom in town
081 -- 1984: Five-game sweep of Reds sends cap-tossing Mets into ASB in first

[G-Fafif]

Mets go where Mets generally didn't in this Happiest Recap.

082 -- 1968: Tom Seaver goes to the bullpen and comes out to get his only regular-season save.
083 -- 1996: Alex Ochoa goes on a tear that crests with a cycle in Philadelphia.
084 -- 1980: Mets go, at last, to .500 as Lee Mazzilli goes for Al Hrabosky's throat.

On the undercard...

082 -- 1986: Gary Carter slams David Palmer, rest of team joins in, Sid Fernandez cruises from there.
083 -- 1991: David Cone strikes out 13 Padres, extends Mets winning streak to 10, keeps alive illusion of perpetual contention.
084 -- 2010: Johan Santana takes two balls, fouls off nine pitches, belts his first home run and joins Pete Falcone in a very exclusive club.

Welcome to the Falcone-Santana Club. May I see your membership card?

[G-Fafif]

Mets blogging's deepest, most relentless twice-weekly history feature doesn't take the All-Star break off. It just gets deeper and more relentless.

085 -- 1995: Bret Saberhagen showcases his skills for the scouts
086 -- 2007: Carlos Beltran shows he's one of the Hill people
087 -- 1978: Jerry Koosman shows up ahead of Tom Seaver

Also...

085 -- 1986: Champion Mets never gear down
086 -- 1985: Ronn Reynolds fills in while Gary Carter's knee gets examined
087 -- 1979: Lousy current Mets perhaps inspired by their ten-year predecessors

[G-Fafif]

It's the Fasten Your Seatbelts edition of The Happiest Recap, with three absolute epics in our Friday spotlight.

088 -- 1999: Matt Franco vs. Mariano Rivera at Shea
089 -- 1973: Tug starts, Willie finishes in Atlanta
090 -- 1986: Roger in RF; Jesse in RF; Gary at 3B; Ray TKOs Davis; Parker E-9; HoJo 3-Run HR

Order now and get these BONUS games!

088 -- 2007: Mets lead off with a home run and another home run
089 -- 1975: Sky King soars twice as Mets roar from behind
090 -- 1997: Mets make themselves immediately home at the Ted

Don't be shy: click and read.

[G-Fafif]

These things happened once and not since.

091: 1975 -- Jerry Koosman steals second base after Joe Torre grounds into four double plays.
092: 2006 -- Mets score 11 runs in an inning on two grand slams.
093: 1990 -- The Mets Win The Damn Thing and Bob Murphy reports it as such.

Also...

091: 1991 -- Dwight Gooden strikes out Darryl Strawberry at Shea Stadium.
092: 1978 -- Skip Lockwood pitches three innings, gives up a homer and hits a homer.
093: 2003 -- Tug McGraw returns to Shea for the final time