G-Fafif

1) Francisco Lindor 2) Mark Vientos 3) Pete Alonso 4) Jose Iglesias 5) Jeff McNeil 6) Luisangel Acuña 7) Brett Baty 8) Zack Short 9) Joey Wendle 10) Eddy Alvarez

1) Francisco Alvarez 2) Luis Torrens 3) Tomás Nido 4) Omar Narváez 5) Joe Hudson

1) Edwin Diaz 2) Dedniel Nuñez 3) Reed Garrett 4) Jose Butto 5) Ryne Stanek 6) Phil Maton 7) Danny Young 8) Jorge Lopez 9) Adrian Houser 10) Yohan Ramirez

Despite shattering “Memories” protocol by acknowledging a Met as a former Met before he signs elsewhere, I'll add that “churve” emerged as my least favorite baseball word of 2021. I didn't care for “sweeper” in 2023, either, but it didn't land as harshly on the ears. Joey the Churve soaking up the last start of 2024 as the Mets waited to pop champagne will always be appreciated.

Once in a while in my early morning fog, I jumble categories and thought today, as IG asked for Brewers and All-Stars, it wanted a Brewers All-Star. It did not, yet I mindlessly entered slugging MIL OF Gorman Thomas in the All-Star/3B box. Turns out Thomas played exactly 1 inning as a third baseman (and made 1 error). Rarity score on that accidental pick at one point today registered as 0.0000%.

1. Sean Manaea 2. David Peterson 3. Jose Quintana 4. Luis Severino 5. Jose Butto 6. Tylor Megill 7. Paul Blackburn 8. Christian Scott 9. Joey Lucchesi 10. Kodai Senga

Bob Costas retiring from MLB Network and Turner Sports baseball play-by-play. Will still drop in as a host/talking head.

Another world champ, Kevin Kiermaier, indicates this postseason was his last baseball.

Canning stymied us in Anaheim in August. Revenge will be ours up to four times next year.

Two-time world champion reliever Daniel Hudson quits while ahead, announcing his retirement in the aftermath of the Dodgers doing with him in 2024 what the Nationals did with him in 2019.

Doug Bird, Royals closer pre-Quisenberry, 74.

=Centerfield post_id=177488 time=1729874879 user_id=65] Thank you guys! And especially the CPF hosted ones. I can't wait to listen to you then come back and make fun of your voices.

A new offseason, a new thread, a name familiar to “transactions “ aficionados to start us off. Yohan Ramirez as a 2024 Met has the resonance of those NFL players whose only games were of the replacement variety in 1987 — yet it counts.

The PBP: Voices of Baseball, Lost Ballparks and Black Diamonds are all favorites of mine.

Rudy May, dependable MFY pitcher in two stints (though forever an Angel in my baseball card mind), 80.

I saw him pitch against the Mets twice, almost bookends to his career: at the height of Fernandomania in May of 1981 and as he hung in there as a Padre in May of 1996. To mark it further in time, the starters he opposed were, respectively, Mike Scott and Jason Isringhausen. The '81 start was a happening, drawing almost 40,000 to Shea when 5,000 was the rule. The “magic” moment giveaway, in which some lucky section received 50 bags of peanuts, subbed in tortilla chips. That game, won by L.A. 1-0, was the night Valenzuela's eye roll to the heavens was picked up on by Bill Webb, becoming a trademark of how Fernando would be covered by the cameras. During that stint in '86 when Gary Carter was confined to the DL and therefore driving everybody crazy in the Met dugout, Channel 9 invited Kid into the booth for a few innings in L.A. to comment on another Valenzuela start, one the Mets won. Gary called Fernando “Freddie,” which took Tim and Steve by surprise. Yeah, Gary said, that's what the players call him. Along with the brilliant rookie campaign and the gutty World Series outing and the no-hitter on the same night as Dave Stewart and the marquee matchups with Doc and the stealth longevity, I always think of that when I think of Valenzuela.

Remember Paul Blackburn? I doubt I did more than fleetingly during the postseason.

One of these autumns, I'd like to wake up after a Met postseason is done with no trace of a grimace. [media=youtube]u_TXLq8aAyM[/media]

LGKH.

I can report that it was indeed cold and late at Citi Field tonight. Also rather futile. Still, I feel lucky to have experienced 2024 Mets postseason baseball up close. Never saw it coming five months ago. Let's at the very least inconvenience L.A. and make them play a little longer.

Late and cold — I'll be there!

J.D.will have opportunity to put up rather than shut up.

Ohtani DH Betts RF Freeman 1B Muncy 3B T. Hernandez LF Lux 2B Smith C Edman SS K. Hernandez CF Buehler P

vs RHP Walker Buehler (1-6, 5.38) Lindor SS Vientos 3B Nimmo LF Alonso 1B Marte RF Martinez DH Iglesias 2B Taylor CF Alvarez C - Severino RHP (11-7, 3.91)

Vince Lombardi is the first guy.