The Happiest Recap (Mets Win! They Win!)

[bmfc1]

"They win the damn thing!" Thanks for the great memories.

[G-Fafif]

Extras! Extras! Read all about them!

094: 1984 -- Keith comes through four times, the last of them late.
095: 1970 -- Tommie steals home in the tenth.
096: 2001 -- Bobby V knows best in the fourth so the Mets can win in eleven.

Also...

095: 2008 -- How many Mets does it take to pitch a one-hitter? (Five.)
096: 1965 -- How many games does Casey Stengel win? (None after this one.)
097: 1984 -- How high were the Mets after Doc took the series-opener from Chicago? (Very.)

[G-Fafif]

Big moments from two Mets all-timers and one just-in-timer.

097: 2005 -- Jose Reyes gets a great jump
098: 1994 -- Rico Brogna strikes before everybody does
099: 1985 -- Doc Gooden lets one get away, keeps everything else in order

Also:

097: 2011 -- Carlos and Angel find GKR in the Pepsi Porch
098: 1979 -- Dave Kingman's 3 of a kind trumped by a pair of Stearns and Mazzilli
099: 2000 -- Too soon for Grant Roberts but never too late for Matt Franco

[G-Fafif]

One last-place and two first-place triumphs:

100: 1993 -- Anthony Young stops losing, does the other thing
101: 1988 -- Bobby Ojeda and Kevin Elster make John Smiley walk the plank
102: 2008 -- Carlos Delgado shows up on time, Jimmy Rollins is unfashionably late

Also...

100: 1962 -- Richie Ashburn shows off his legs (and Gene Woodling his wood)
101: 2004 -- Eric Valents grows less obscure
102: 1978 -- Pete Rose and Tommy Holmes take a bow, Craig Swan takes the win

[batmagadanleadoff]

One last-place and two first-place triumphs: 100: 1993 -- Anthony Young stops losing, does the other thing

[G-Fafif]

Spec-bleeping-tacular visuals. Thanks for adding!

[batmagadanleadoff]

G-Fafif wrote: Spec-bleeping-tacular visuals. Thanks for adding!

My pleasure.

[Edgy MD]

Anthony, how would you describe your... CAHNfidence?

This would actually make a nice cable show: Confidence Now, with Fran Healy.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Anthony, how would you describe your... CAHNfidence? This would actually make a nice cable show: Confidence Now, with Fran Healy.

Here's an easy quiz: Try and guess what Healy's first three questions to AY were in that post-game interview. You should come up with the same answers to tihis quiz whether you play this one straight or for laughs.

[G-Fafif]

Duels of a sort here:

103: 1985 -- Tom's 300th vs. Doc's 11th straight
104: 1983 -- Mookie's speed vs. a ground ball (with Torrez vs. DeLeon)
105: 1995 -- Izzy's promise vs. Nomo's hype

Also:

103: 2000 -- Bobby Jones with an unforeseen Greatest Moment
104: 1985 -- Darryl strikes thrice before the players strike for two days
105: 2001 -- Turk looks strange, Robin looks great

[Edgy MD]

Anthony, how would you describe your... CAHNfidence? This would actually make a nice cable show: Confidence Now, with Fran Healy. Here's an easy quiz: Try and guess what Healy's first three questions to AY were in that post-game interview. You should come up with the same answers to tihis quiz whether you play this one straight or for laughs.

1) What were thinking?

2) What's it been like for you?

3) It had to have been a boost to your confidence, no?

How does Fran Healy lose his job interviewing the Anthony Youngs of the world and end up exclusively interviewing Hall of Famers? Where do I sign up for the falling-upward plan?

[batmagadanleadoff]

Anthony, how would you describe your... CAHNfidence? This would actually make a nice cable show: Confidence Now, with Fran Healy. Here's an easy quiz: Try and guess what Healy's first three questions to AY were in that post-game interview. You should come up with the same answers to tihis quiz whether you play this one straight or for laughs. 1) What were thinking? 2) What's it been like for you? 3) It had to have been a boost to your confidence, no? How does Fran Healy lose his job interviewing the Anthony Youngs of the world and end up exclusively interviewing Hall of Famers? Where do I sign up for the falling-upward plan?

"1) What were [you] thinking?" ----- "What was on your mind when ....?" is what Healy actually asked, but your answer's good enough for game credit.

2) What's it been like for you? ----- Another correct answer though Healy actually asked: "What did it feel like.....?"

3) It had to have been a boost to your confidence, no? ----- Does it even fucking matter what Healy's third question was? You win this quiz. You know Fran Healy.

[Edgy MD]

My first three questions:

1) You're wearing Tim Foli's number. You've gotta wonder how you're ever going to win jack in 19, right?

2) Look at that swoosh on your shirt. Are you a Met or Pepsi representative? Good God!

3) Is Dallas Green taking this team anywhere or is he just a placeholder? What have you heard about Bobby Valentine?

[G-Fafif]

Read all about three of the greatest wins in the history of your favorite team...

106 -- 1966: Swoboda takes win away from Marichal, deals loss to Bill Henry
107 -- 1962: One Bob Miller starts, a second Bob Miller finishes
108 -- 1988: Keith Hernandez steps off the DL and plunges a dagger into the Pirates' hearts

And three more...

106 -- 1999: Billy Taylor says hi, Chuck McElroy gets acclimated & Pat Mahomes hits
107 -- 1997: Billy Wagner and John Franco blow saves, believe it or not
108 -- 1986: Mets demoralize Expos, who start packing for Washington right then and there

Enjoy the details here.

[Guest themetfairy]

Read all about 108 -- 1986: Mets demoralize Expos, who start packing for Washington right then and there here.

D-Dad and I were at that one - it was the second game of our first road trip.

Most of the Expos fans had left with one out in the 9th, and even more were gone with two out. So after the game, we were going down the ramps, in a foreign country, with a huge cohort of Mets fans yelling, "We're Number One!" and "Let's Go Mets!" It was amazin'!

[G-Fafif]

I'll take potpourri for 109, 110 and 111, Alex.

109: 1983 -- Walt Terrell gets his power on at old Fergie Jenkins' expense
110: 1998 -- Franco blows it in 9th, Mets forced at home twice in 10th...but don't lose
111: 1971 -- From the launching pad, Mets send 20 runs into orbit

Also...

109: 1989 -- Straw and McReynolds are flashier, but Jeff Innis saves the long day
110: 1975 -- Roy McMillan has the heavens pour and smile down upon him
111: 2007 -- Some dude wins his 300th game

[G-Fafif]

Time marches on...

112: 1985 -- Young Doctor K vs. Old Jerry K
113: 1982 -- Ellis Valentine steps on his own storyline
114: 1963 -- Roger Craig maintains his sanity, receives deliverance

Also...

112: 2006 -- Padre Piazza grows increasingly less popular with each swing
113: 2005 -- What David does for an encore after his bare-hand catch
114: 1988 -- Gary Carter, no longer stuck on 299

[G-Fafif]

Three wins, no waiting up 'til two in the morning.

115: 2000 -- Benny Agbayani's misplaced generosity
116: 1979 -- Lee Mazzilli livens up the dog days in Atlanta
117: 1969 -- By the time we got home from Woodstock, the Mets swept the Pads

Oh, and three more:

115: 2010 -- That eloquent knuckleballer flirts with a no-hitter
116: 1993 -- Bobby Jones starts well, Tim Bogar finishes too early
117: 1985 -- Doc reacquaints himself with the K Korner

[G-Fafif]

Lot of offense, not quite enough hitless pitching edition.

118: 1987 -- Mets converge on home plate harmonically and often
119: 1988 -- Mets pound Giants for nine runs, agree to play eight more innings
120: 1999 -- Octavio Dotel comes kind of close to history, Edgardo Alfonzo all over victory

Also...

118: 1969 -- Juan Marichal pitches into the 14th. Did he win? No.
119: 2009 -- And the hits just keep on coming -- for one inning anyway
120: 1964 -- Dennis Ribant bursts onto the scene, Larry Doyle presumably wishes him well

[G-Fafif]

You want Met wins? Three of the best are here.

121: 2004 -- The San Francisco Treat that needed a catchy name (like maybe the San Francisco Treat)
122: 2006 -- The 1986 champs drop by to check on their legacy
123: 1972 -- Eight-run deficit? Two innings to go? Dave Marshall as de facto DH?

Oh, look -- three more wins:

121: 1975 -- Jerry Koosman, Seaver reliever
122: 1989 -- Talking with his left arm in those days
123: 1979 -- Mets win! Mets win! Mets win! Seriously, it takes three third outs for the Mets to win.

[G-Fafif]

Three wins to get you through any storm.

124: 2006 -- DELGADO, Pujols, DELGADO, Pujols, BELTRAN
125: 2001 -- Schooling Mike Hampton on how to make a graceful return
126: 2005 -- Mike Jacobs, not sent down, can't be stopped

Ooh, and three more!

124: 1999 -- McGwire busts Shea lights, Mets break Card hearts
125: 1963 -- The Mets' first pitching phenom and his one win
126: 1962 -- Most Marvelous Coach Ever

[G-Fafif]

Defense and pitching, in that order.

127: 1986 -- Just your routine 8-2-5 double play.
128: 1969 -- I'll see your 8-2-5 and raise you a 4-3-8 and a 7-2-3-5.
129: 1965 -- Sandy Koufax ain't so great; just ask Tug McGraw.

Also...

127: 1992 -- Bobby Bonilla gets the vest of Rob Dibble.
128: 1998 -- Armando Reynoso bigger than Big Mac.
129: 1962 -- Don Drysdale succumbs to Marvelous Marv, Hot Rod & Choo Choo

[G-Fafif]

Some years used to feature pennant races around now.

130. 1988 -- Jefferies emerges while Cone rolls.
131. 1974 -- Tug the last Met to take on Hammerin' Hank
132. 1999 -- Fonzie Times Six.

Also...

130. 1990 -- Herr, O'Brien, Tabler, Valera...meet your new Mets.
131. 1985 -- Kid goes deep thrice before going deep twice more.
132, 1974 -- Jon Matlack asks, "Do I have to pitch a shutout to get a win?" and learns, yes.

[G-Fafif]

Two thrillers bracket a milestone, read about 'em here.

133: 1985 -- Doc vs. Fernando en route to a 13-inning conclusion
134: 1969 -- Tom goes for Twenty
135: 1985 -- Mookies wraps up a classic trip with a 14th-inning swing

Also...

133: 1973 -- Mets hop from sixth to fifth; you might wanna believe there's more
134: 1976 -- Kingman vs. Schmidt for the badass championship of the world
135: 1984 -- John Stearns takes his first cuts in more than two years

[G-Fafif]

The greatest pitcher and the clutchest hitter in Mets history bracket one of the nicest gestures in today's edition.

136: 1975 -- Tom piles up the strikeouts all year, every year
137: 1996 -- Lance tells Mookie, "No, YOU'RE No. 1!"
138: 1985 -- Keith comes up/through with first place on the line

Also...

136: 1985 -- Hernandez gets an ovation, HoJo orders a salami
137: 2010 -- Tejada slides into third on an outside-the-park home run
138: 1969 -- Hands not so smooth; Kooz much smoother

[G-Fafif]

History, and lots of it...

139: 1969 -- What has four legs, hates Cubs and is almost in first place?
140: 1969 -- Look Who's No. 1
141: 1984 -- The Mets' first no-hitter, unless you believe the official scorer

Also...

139: 2006 -- Jose-Jose-Jose-Jose runs for four bags
140: 1970 -- Mets claw back toward where they once belonged
141: 1973 -- A long and satisfying Friday night in Quebec

[batmagadanleadoff]

I'm gonna go out on a real thin limb and guess that there's gonna be a heavy dose of 1969 and 1973 in the upcoming installments. But what an amazin', amazin' series this is. You must realize that with all the back-story and exposition you provide in the game recounts, you're essentially giving Mets fans a thorough, if not complete, history of the franchise, but without having to re-live any of the Mets' frustrating and heartbreaking losses. Sometimes, life can be a box of chocolates where you know you're gonna get a delicious piece.

If I wasn't a Mets fan, I'd hate to be the fact-checker for this project when it gets published. (It will get published. Right?)

[G-Fafif]

Much appreciated, batmags. You limb-going won't send you for a fall, but there are some other seasons with highlights to come.

[G-Fafif]

An awaited return, a veritable farewell and an early ending to a season that started late, all here.

142: 2007 -- Pedro Martinez goes five, tips cap
143: 1990 -- Darryl Strawberry goes deep, tips cap
144: 1995 -- Post-Strike Mets go to eleven, tip caps

Also...

142: 2009 -- Another Damn Thing won in Philly
143: 2001 -- A surge extended in Miami
144: 1969 -- Two 1-0 wins, two RBIs from pitchers...nah, too unbelievable

[G-Fafif]

Every gosh darn one of these games qualifies as Amazin', Amazin', Amazin', et al...

145: 1986 -- Just before panic sets in, Mets clinch their division
146: 1976 -- Quite possibly the only comparison anyone has ever made between Walter Mondale and Jerry Koosman
147: 1997 -- Carl Everett and Bernard Gilkey highlight perhaps the most exciting four-game series Shea ever hosted

Also...

145: 2000 -- When the Mets knew how to quit collapsing
146: 1984 -- Young Doctor K and yet another milestone for the ages
147: 1969 -- Carlton strikes out 19 Mets...did he win?