Benjamin Grimm

The nearest thing I can think of in Mets history is Darryl Strawberry, who was, of course, a bit less likable than Pedro. I was at Shea when Darryl made his first appearance as a Dodger in New York, but I don't remember what the reaction from the fans was. I suspect it was probably a lot more booing than cheering. But I don't recall Darryl having any nice parting words for New York when he left. Another free agent I can think of who could have returned but chose not to was Mike Hampton. And he didn't have a long history with the Mets, and his crap about the quality of local schools pretty much clinched an unfriendly return for him. Who else is there? John Olerud? He probably would have gotten a nice hand, but I don't think he ever returned to Shea. Sid Fernandez? I can't remember the circumstances of his departure. He signed as a free agent with Baltimore, but I don't know if the Mets tried to keep him. Piazza and Alfonzo didn't really have the option of staying, so they can't really be "blamed" for leaving. What other star free agents have the Mets lost? There really haven't been that many.

Hence this "deathwatch".

If that happens, at least we'll have clean clocks.

You'd have to pay me $1,000 to watch that Nacho movie.

And maybe it's just as well that my last post came at the bottom of the previous page.

] sleepy-eyed look of his and while munching ever-so-slowly on a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup I don't know if it's intentional or not, but it sound a bit racist to me. Sleepy-eyed and slow-moving? Makes Lastings sound like a caricature from a minstrel show.

I'd pass on all three. If I had to choose, I'd go with the one that has the shortest running time. Anniston's not my favorite celebrity Jennifer, but I wouldn't call her a dog. (I prefer Connally and Lopez, but not Garner or Love Hewitt.)

Maybe he can't handle being compared to Pia Zadora.

Even if Valentin cools, I don't think he'll revert to awful. He can always drift down to the 8th spot in the lineup and the Mets will still have a strong offense. If I were to make a deadline deal, I'd want to import a starting pitcher to put into the mix. It doesn't have to be a Dontrelle or a Barry, either. But I'd like to add someone experienced, reliable, and in his 30's who won't cost us prized prospects, if such a deal can be made.

If you keep Lastings when Floyd is activated, you have to demote Marrero, Chavez, Woodward, or a pitcher. Which would you choose?

Wow, I just reread this thread. I had promised another fun game the following day, but never followed through.

I had to disable that a month or so ago. The process that was building that information stopped working because of a server "upgrade." I put in another way to build the info, but it crashed the database. The reason it crashed the database has supposedly been fixed, so I plan to restore that feature. However, I don't want to do it until after my upcoming vacation, in case something else goes wrong. I don't want the database to be down for a week or more while I'm getting chased by bears in Alaska.

Can anybody with keys to the Wayback Machine dig up that 1988 David Cone column? I'd be interested in reading it again with 18 years of hindsight. I don't buy his, "don't assume anything's off the record" excuse, by the way. The column had his name on it. He should have insisted that he have the right to review the column before publication. His name, his responsibility.

I don't care to hear any more cliches. But it does protect the player a bit. If he spouts cliches instead of what he really thinks, he won't talk himself into trouble. I still remember that column that had David Cone's name on it during the 1988 NLCS. I wish it had been more cliche-ridden. The Mets might have three of those World Series trophies.

I have no problem with Milledge going back to Norfolk when Floyd returns. We know where to find him if we need him again. But I do like the idea of recalling him in time for August 31. I think a taste of the postseason will be good for his development.

I spotted him on TV during last night's game. One sign I remember read "Oooops!" If I was a full season ticket holder, I'd consider picking up the Sign Man's torch. I'd make it a real tribute to him, though. I'd use the same orange block letters on a black background. I'd even try to get a similar funny little hat.

Yes. The definition of "championship" may be a little fuzzy. (For example, does a wild card count?) But by any definition, the Mets haven't won a championship during Reyes' time with the team.

First place team, yes. Championship team, no. Not yet, anyway.

That's funny. (Sort of.) In October 1986 I had a bad case of bronchitis, and tickets to Mets post-season games. Every time I started to feel better, I'd go to an October night game at Shea, and I'd immediately get worse again. (I went to NLCS Game 4, and WS Games 1, 2, and 6.) I suspected that my poor attention to my health that month had made the bronchitis chronic. For years afterward, I'd get it every year. I called it my "World Series Bronchitis." The last time it recurred was in 1993. By then, the Mets were so far removed from their glory that it probably killed the germs that had been living inside me.

SteveJRogers wrote: In other words why have something like this in the first place? Because it's not about honoring the best fan, it's about getting people to go to Modell's. (Or whoever's hosting the contest du jour.)

Verducci says "Call off the deathwatch!"

An Ed Kranepool memory from the UMDB: ] Tunis35 February 24, 2006 I was at Modell's on E 42nd St in Manhattan just before the Subway Series in 2000 and Modell's was having a contest for the best all time Mets fan. The judge was Ed Kranepool. I made the finals along with the old women who used to sit behind home plate and spin her arms in a circle. First prize was a $500 gift certificate, a television appearance with the greatest Yankee fan and tickets to all the games. I dressed up in Mets glasses, a Mets beach shirt, had on blue and orange sneakers and sang the song Meet the Mets. I had the the entire audience, which was quite large, singing and dancing and by far got the biggest applause. The older lady then got up and in a barely audible voice said "I love the Mets" and spun her arms in a circle. Much to the disbelief of everyone in attendance, Ed Kranepool awarded her first prize. He got booed out of the store. I later found out from the store manager that the women also babysat for several of the Mets players. After 6 years I've been waiting to to tell this story and state the following; "Drop Dead Ed". How sad that one of our most loved Mets would cheat and fix a contest. What a creep.

Not at the present time.

Cool article. I had no idea that he returned for one game in 2002. If When the Mets are in the playoffs this year, they should give him field level boxes and let him come in with a collection of signs.

I was one of the Valentin voters.