G-Fafif

BTW, is "Mets-connected" your way of saying not necessarily two Mets seasons?

Lance Johnson 1996?

Bernard Gilkey 1996?

The 1970 cover is rare in that its photography features nighttime action. Kinda gritty for what usually strives to present a sunny image. Not that everybody's not happy (though maybe not the ushers). Seems chaotic. It was chaotic. Jubilant, but chaotic. Reminds me of those Nixon ads from 1968 trying to convince America that it needs him to calm things down. Oh to be riled up like we were on September 24, 1969. The baby's much better behaved than those crowds, but he was just getting his bearings. Give him seven years and he'll be running around everywhere. Isn't it enough that he's standing up already? Went against Mullin's first in favor of the 40th anniversary cover, which I thought was exceptional. The feat the 1970 cover celebrates was exceptional, but the execution lacks the majesty the moment deserves. As in 1987, it's as if the Mets weren't quite to capturing what they'd captured. I do like the concept, but geez, it's the 1969 World Championship. Maybe they were too close to it to fully appreciate it. The baby captured the moment in 1962. He captures my vote this time around.

TransMonk wrote: Shit sandwich. You never know who'll win that wacky sausage race.

Cabrera 2B Conforto CF Flores 3B Bruce RF Gonzalez 1B Bautista LF Nido C Wheeler P Rosario SS

CF Cain RF Yelich LF Braun 1B Aguilar 3B Shaw 2B Perez SS Saladino C Kratz P Anderson

LF Nimmo 2B Cabrera 3B Flores RF Bruce CF Conforto C Mesoraco 1B Gonzalez SS Reyes P Vargas

Calling Casey Kasem... 169. Jose Bautista 05/25/2018 168. Luis Guillorme 05/11/2018 167. Todd Frazier 03/29/2018 166. Phil Evans 09/17/2017 165. Travis d'Arnaud 08/16/2017 164. Neil Walker 08/09/2017 163. Asdrubal Cabrera 07/22/2017 162. T.J. Rivera 08/10/2016 161. Jose Reyes 07/06/2016 160. Ty Kelly 05/24/2016 159. Matt Reynolds 05/17/2016 158. Kelly Johnson 10/03/2015 157. Juan Uribe 07/25/2015 156. Danny Muno 05/25/2015 155. Ruben Tejada 05/14/2015 154. Anthony Recker 04/14/2015 153. Eric Campbell 06/05/2014 152. Omar Quintanilla 09/15/2013 151. Wilmer Flores 08/06/2013 150. Zach Lutz 06/27/2013 149. Vinny Rottino 05/28/2012 148. Ronny Cedeño 04/10/2012 147. Josh Satin 09/28/2011 146. Nick Evans 07/17/2011 145. Daniel Murphy 05/31/2011 144. Willie Harris 05/12/2011 143. Luis Hernandez 08/31/2010 142. Mike Hessman 07/29/2010 141. Justin Turner 07/19/2010 140. Wilson Valdez 08/25/2009 139. Andy Green 08/19/2009 138. Fernando Tatis 06/17/2008 137. David Newhan 09/29/2007 136. Ruben Gotay 09/07/2007 135. Damion Easley 04/19/2007 134. Julio Franco 09/10/2006 133. Eli Marrero 07/02/2006 132. Jose Valentin 05/26/2006 131. Miguel Cairo 04/21/2005 130. Chris Woodward 04/13/2005

I voted for 2002 because it was everything I could have wanted out of a commemorative cover (and I continue to be amazed the Mets pulled off something that savvy) but I'm not at all sorry to see the baby toddle onward.

We'll always have October 11, 1986. I choose to compartmentalize that Dykstra from the Dykstra since June 18, 1989. Wearing a Phillies uniform often brings out the worst in a person.

Centerfield wrote: The Mets better make the most of these games against the Marlins. I took a peek at the Mets upcoming schedule. Absolutely brutal. I guess they didn't.

With his seventh Citi Field home run, Nimmo climbs into a five-way tie for 21st place, sitting alongside Rene Rivera, Anthony Recker, Marlon Byrd and Jordany Valdespin.

Centerfield wrote: This thread title is misleading. Tonight is pretty brutal. Yeah, go figure.

In games in which Conforto and Rosario record at least two hits apiece this year, the Mets are 1-0. In game in which Conforto and Rosairo record at least one hit apiece AND one of them records at least two hits, the Mets are 3-0. Bottom line: Conforto and Rosario haven't hit much in the same game this year.

Nimmo LF Cabrera 2B Conforto CF Bruce RF Mesoraco C Gonzalez 1B Guillorme 3B deGrom P Rosario SS

Not much impact, except that it propelled him into an exclusive club: The Mets signing the released-by-Houston Alex Trevino in 1990. Negligible effect on the Mets' fading fortunes in the NL East race, but Alex joined the three-decade club, heretofore populated only by Mike Jorgensen and Tom Seaver.

I attended 24 games at Shea that season, several in the heart of Piazza's alleged unpopularity, and I don't remember any remarkable torrent of boos. Some GIDP expressions of frustration, perhaps, but no "we're gonna run ya outta town" reaction. The sound I mostly remember was the collective pinching of selves that Mike was here. And some bat meeting ball.

If we're counting waiver claims, Mike Phillips was a nice pickup from the Giants as 1975 got going.

Heckuva trade, despite losing Preston Wilson in the deal.

41Forever wrote: Lenny Randle was the most valuable player of a godawful year after Texas couldn't keep him around, what with his having clocked his manager. I thought about Randle, too. Technically he was traded, sez Baseball Reference: April 26, 1977: Traded by the Texas Rangers to the New York Mets for a player to be named later and cash. The New York Mets sent Rick Auerbach (May 20, 1977) to the Texas Rangers to complete the trade. But the concept is the same. No way he was continuing with Texas. I had either forgotten or didn't realize that's how Randle became a Met. Thanks for checking. I mostly remember Rick Auerbach as a baseball card I got too often. Acquired by the Mets a couple of months before being traded for Lenny, but never played for us.

Kind of a marginal impact, but Bobby Abreu was let go by the Phillies late in camp in 2014. We gave him a standing ovation when he left the field after recording what he and we knew was his final big league hit on the last day of the season. If you can't go out with a world championship, that's not a bad exit.

In the second-time-around vein, a la Mazzilli, the Mets grabbed Marlon Anderson in the summer of 2007 after the Nationals let him go. Marlon belted a PH three-run homer one August night versus the Patres as part of an electric six-run uprising SNY might still play to this day had the Mets held on to the 7-6 lead they took on Anderson's swing. But they didn't. It was 2007.

Useful pinch-hitter Jesus Alou was released by the A's prior to the Mets signing him in 1975.

Orel Hershiser was released by the Tribe in ST '99, scooped up by the Mets moments later, significant part of a playoff-bound pitching staff.