G-Fafif

Actual: Original Shea vendor Mike McNamara reveals 36. Oughta Be: The lights stay on and we commemorate the night they went out. It's the 31st anniversary of the blackout of 1977, when the Mets were playing the Cubs and, right in the middle of the action, Shea was plunged into the same darkness that enveloped the rest of New York. (Gawd, I hope it doesn't happen tonight.) To peel the number, we have: � 1977 Met Bob Apodaca (who is conveniently on hand as pitching coach of the Rockies and was a part of the Met organization forever) � 7/13/77 home plate ump Harry Wendlestedt � Eventual winning pitcher when the game was resumed in September -- he was on the mound for the Cubs when things grew dark -- future Met Ray Burris And leading the way... he was the Mets third baseman enjoying a banner season in '77 but had the misfortune of being at the plate when Shea went dark. His thoughts, he later related, were, "God, I'm gone. I thought for sure He was calling me. I thought it was my last at-bat." Obviously, he had some more at-bats and plenty of life left. Please welcome home to Shea Stadium, Lenny Randle.

My glove, the only glove I've had since Juy 3, 1972, is a Bobby Murcer model. It wasn't until Lunchbucket threw me the old pepper one day that one of its laces was ruptured. Spalding made a good glove and Bobby Murcer's name is on it. RIP.

Gave Gary the biggest hand I'd given out all year.

Oughta Be 36: Announcers from '86 (if not all of them): McCarver (presumably in town for Fox), Thorne, Zabriskie and, in a spurt of generosity, Healy.

Glimpse of him in pen appeared to reveal No. 40.

"Five to four to three, as pretty as can be!" Hagin just called the double play. This guy has grown on me big time since the season started.

This truly sucks for the guy. ]Record columnist hurt in baseball game Friday, July 11, 2008 BY JASON TSAI STAFF WRITER The Record�s baseball columnist Bob Klapisch may have suffered permanent damage to his right eye after being struck by a one-hopper while pitching for a semi-professional baseball team in Morris County Thursday night. Klapisch was pitching in relief for the Morris Mariners at a Parsippany baseball field when a ground ball took an errant hop and caught him in the eye around 10 p.m., he said today from Morristown Memorial Hospital. The accident broke four orbital bones around that eye and may require doctors to reattach its retina, he said. �I�m going to need multiple surgeries,� Klapisch said. �[Doctors] don�t know how much vision I�m going to get back now.� Klapisch, 50, was pitching in the fifth inning against the New Jersey Royals at Smith Field when the incident occurred. He was taken to the hospital, where he underwent three hours of emergency surgery early this morning to repair a lacerated cornea, he said. �The whole team came to the hospital and stayed overnight,� he said. �They were still here at 6 a.m.� Doctors said he�ll most likely have to undergo surgery again in seven to 10 days to reattach his retina, he said. He�ll also need reconstructive surgery to fix, among other things, a broken eye socket and cheekbone. Klapisch, who is wearing an eye patch, said he expects to return to his Westwood home sometime this afternoon. He has been a member of the Morris Mariners, which is part of the United States over-30 Baseball league, since 1996. He has also pitched for the Hackensack Troasts, another semi-professional team, since 1989. Klapisch played baseball for his alma mater, Columbia University, and Leonia High School. He joined The Record in 1996.

AG/DC wrote: The main problem with Beltran as a Met has been the guys on the left and right of him. Tom Harkin and Sam Brownback?

Anthony was sidling up to Fonzie at the 2000 ASG on that year's highlight tape, Millennium Mets.

Tonight at Shea for 38: Cal Lieper, "original Shea season ticket holder". Can't complain about this one. Tonight in fevered imagination for 37: a salute to select Mets All-Stars: � Bobby Bonilla ('93, '95) � Pat Zachry ('78) � Frank Viola ('90) � Bret Sabheragen ('94) � Todd Hundley ('96, '97) And closing out our All-Star salute is one of the great closers in Mets history. Best known for closing out the last Mets world championship, he held onto his glove in the 1983 and 1984 midsummer classics. Let's hear it for the southpaw who pitched forever. Ladies and gentlemen, Jesse Orosco.

Beltran = Modern-Day DiMaggio in terms of gracefulness minus the myth. Closest thing we'll ever have.

Mets Walkoffs remembers notable Met pitching performances in the ASG, including one that matched immortals: Tom Seaver versus Mickey Mantle under the Astrodome roof.

metsguyinmichigan wrote: ="metirish"]Wright said he wanted Rivera to play a few innings at third for him. Now, the question is do they play Billy Wagner's entrance music when Rivera runs out to third? And do they play it when Wagner enters the game? If Wagner enters, American League bombs will fall like a soft rain over the fence.

soupcan wrote: Thought these were cool... You thought right!

David will wear 2 as a tribute to The Captain, correct?

I'm guessing he was local. Stearns wore a reddish chest protector when he got to catch the bottom of the ninth. Mighta been orange, but the Mets didn't wear orange chest protectors then (except for Charlie O'Brien, can't remember if they ever did). His gear looked no more shielding than the stuff I wore in pee-wee league. Today Brian Schneider is a gladiator by comparison. Maybe Stearns borrowed one from Bench or Simmons. Actually, the MFYs may have loaned him one. Their catchers used to wear red (and their star catcher used to see it).

Well, it's been ten minutes since my last KTE on the Rox. Let's check in and see if they're up to anything new. Still in it? Barely, by N.L. West standards: 7-1/2 out in fourth place, a tick behind the Giants, and we saw what the Giants could do. Still lousy? By conventional standards. They are 15 under and have been outscored by 77 runs to date. They lead the N.L. West in runs but also runs allowed. Nobody in that division has differential of better than +6. Pythagorean weeps. Still hitting? You might recall the fireworks from the Fourth of July at Coors when they pulled that 18-17 thriller off over the Marlins, coming back from 13-4. They followed up by smashing the Fish 12-6. In the five games since, they've scored 21 runs; most of that was in Milwaukee (eight in one game), so away from Coors, they're vulnerable. Still healthy? Not so much. Tulo and Spilborghs on DL. Jeff Francis, too. The Mets haven't seen the Rox at full strength in their myriad battles with them. Neither, one supposes, has the N.L. Still on Holliday? Matt the All-Star (and feverishly rumored future Met) had a quiet series in Milwaukee, but is batting .343 and leads the Rox in HR and OBP, just behind Atkins with 51 RBI (Garrett has 54). Wow, those are pretty low power numbers to lead a team that plays in Coors. Still fast? Willy Taveras is. He's got 39 bags. But only 41 runs. By comparison Jose Reyes has stolen 32 bases but has scored 67 times. Yorvit Torrealba still suck? Yes. I need no evidence to back up that assertion. Still pitching? Aaron Cook is, intermittently. The All-Star of anonymity threw a shutout at the Padres two starts ago before getting lit up at the end of that Marlin series (lit up, a relative phrase in Coors). 11-6, 3.66 ERA, 1.29 WHIP -- he's one of the good ones this year. He's good at Shea most years. He shut us down in May, we got to him in June. Ubaldo Jimenez is, too. He started rounding into form against Pedro and has stayed there. His last two starts have seen him go at least 6 IP and he's won both (though he walked five Brewers last time out). Career seat filler Mark Redman hasn't been dazzling anyone of late. He beat the Marlins with a respectable outing the night before the 18-17 thrill ride but has mostly been Glendon Rusching it out there. Come to think of it, Rusch is a Rockie these days. Pitching matchups Ollie vs. Cook Friday; Pedro vs. Jimenez Saturday; Redman vs. Pelfrey (with a 20% chance of Santana) Sunday. Past history Mets won thriller on Endy drag bunt then the Rockies dispatched in the next two they played at Shea. Year before Mets swept 'em, highlighted by '86 reunion night. Year before Mets won final Thu-Sat, lost season finale but nobody cared 'cause it was Mike Piazza's final game as a Met. Mets seem to find ways to ignore the Rockies. It caught up with them last year. But the Rockies aren't what they were last year and the Mets are becoming more than they've been this year. (More on COL @ SHEA history this weekend, I hope.) Final word From "Rox Girl" at Purple Row during the Rockies series in Milwaukee: ]I always thought that the Brewers, Cardinals and Rockies should have some sort of award - similar to the Commander in Chief trophy given to the winner of the Air Force/Navy/Army football duels - for the team with the best overall record in the season series between the clubs with beer vendors as their stadium sponsors. So in my imagined world, this would be a great opportunity to pick up points in the Brewmaster's Keg series.

Do try to catch the rebroadcast of the '77 ASG on YES as they play it over and over these next few days. The ovation for Tom Terrific is terrific. The indifference toward Willie Randolph and hostility toward Reggie Jackson is hilarious. The uniforms (Dave Parker tops his all black get-up -- different from the gold he wears in the picture -- with a Padres helmet...and later borrows one from a Cardinal) are to tie for. Richie Zisk and Bob Lemon as American League reps from the Comiskey crime family are worth the price of admission.

Hurdle probably wants to select Tatis.

Someday, some player (quite possibly Billy Wagner) will praise Jerry Manuel's successor for tightening up the ship, instilling a professional attitude and getting those bleeping kids out of the clubhouse.

Benjamin Grimm wrote: ="G-Fafif"] --Game 3 NLDS, Benny in 13! (10/7/00) One of my all-time favorite Mets moments. My wonderful little daughter owes her very existence to this home run. So who's the father: You or Agbayani?

The drama has been endless between ex-NY (NL) and forever more NY (NL) at Shea. Actually it ends this afternoon at Shea. Some highlights -- there are so many I assume I'll miss something good. TOP OF THE ORDER TAKE... --Game 3 NLDS, Benny in 13! (10/7/00) ...THAT! --Game 4 NLDS, Bobby in 9 with 1! (10/8/00) HISTORICALLY OVERWHELMING ALL DAY AND ALL OF THE NIGHT --The 32-inning doubleheader (5/31/64) HOMEWARD BOUND (5/14/72) --Willie abandons SF, powerfully embraces NY AND A WHOLE LOT OF THAT WHICH IS AMAZIN' ROCKY WINS (8/4/66) --Swoboda three-run walkoff shocks Bill Henry KOOZ DEBUTS (4/17/68) --Jerry shuts out Jints in Home Opener, throws down rookie gauntlet; JK's first Shea win SWEEP! SWEEP! SWEEP? (6/1/69) --First Mets sweep of PG forebears at Shea; fourth game of eventual eleven-game winning streak; winning rally in ninth was a walk, a bunt, an FC groundout, an intentional walk, a steal, a walk, a walk. CAGEY AGEE (8/19/69) --14th inning, 0-0, Marichal STILL pitching, Tommie swings and ends it 1-0; Gentry went 10, McGraw the next four THE SKY IS FALLING (8/25/71) --Dave Kingman's first Shea Stadium home run and, if I'm not mistaken, the legendary shot in which he breaks a bus window WHAT'S A BULLPEN? (8/24/73) --Koosman, Marichal duel into the tenth. Felix Millan singles home Ken Boswell who had been bunted into scoring position by...Willie Mays THE GREAT COMBINATION (8/17/75) --A 3-0 Mets win, Seaver goes 7-1/3, he's picked up by...Jerry Koosman? Indeed, Kooz gets the save, second of his career, part of Roy McMillan's brief experiment that gets Jerry on track for '76 (as I remember it) WELCOME BACK CHICO (7/14/79) --'69 Old Timers reunion, featuring Garrett Morris HENDU DID IT (6/14/80) --The Magic Was Back as Steve Henderson capped 0-6 comeback with three-run ninth inning blast off Allen Ripley to win 7-6; the curtain call may or may not have been invented that Saturday night NEXT TIME START SOONER (5/5/81) --Mets spot Giants nine runs, score seven in ninth, bring Mike Cubbage up as potential winning run; ends 9-7 RUSTY'S ANYTHING BUT (5/9/82) --Walkoff HR for Staub off Greg Minton OPERATION SUCCESSFUL (8/20/85) --Doc strikes out 16 Giants, rises to 19-3 I CAN SEE! (8/22/85) --Terry Leach makes spot start, three-hits Giants for 7-0 win...which is swell, but what I really remember is this was the first SportsChannel game I watched after getting hooked up for cable TAKE NOTHING FOR GRANTED (5/30/86) --Pop fly spectacularly mishandled by Giants infield in tenth MITT A LITTLE HELP (9/3/86) --Keith bounces to Terry Mulholland, ball sticks in Mulholland's glove, Mulholland throws ball and glove to first, Hernandez out; Mets win anyway NO NO-NO, BUT OTHERWISE YES (5/11/87) --Sid Fernandez takes no-hitter off mound in sixth with a knee injury; Sisk surrenders hit(s); in upper deck boxes, I have first date with someone seeing her first ballgame; we're married a long time now ROARING SUCCESS (8/20/87) --Down 4-3, day game catcher Barry Lyons launches a grand slam, sealing (with 4 IP in relief from David Cone) 7-4 win, capping spectacular run in which Mets have gone from 10 back less than a month earlier to 2-1/2 back (how did we not overtake the Cardinals?) THE NATURAL (8/28/88) --Gregg Jefferies called up, starts at third, singles and doubles in first two ABs, proceeds directly to Cooperstown GOOSE COOKED (5/19/89) --Still hanging on long after his peak effectiveness, Rich Gossage walks Howard Johnson to load the bases and Darryl Strawberry to lose the game in 10. Earlier baserunners Dykstra and Teufel were walked by Craig Lefferts -- with two out THE ERA OF BRIEFLY GOOD FEELING (9/1/90) --Julio Valera starts, Charlie O'Brien catches, Tommy Herr homers, Mets old and new win their fifth in a row to maintain first place as September dawns I CALL THESE TWO PINCHY (5/4/91) --Trailing 4-2 in ninth, Buddy Harrelson sends up pinch-hitter Mackey Sasser to lead off and he homers; then pinch-hitter Mark Carreon and he homers; HoJo, who started, homers in twelfth to win it (I listened to the end through earphones while at the movies -- "Defending Your Life") WHAT A BARGAIN (6/1/92) --Bobby Bonilla drives in six; of course he does; Mets win 14-1; of course they do GRUCCI REDUX (7/3/93) --Dave Telgheder wins third straight decision to start career on fireworks night and 44,000+ do the wave and pretend it's not 1993 FOREVER AND EVERETT (8/21/95) --Rookie Carl Everett blasts two homers, rookie Bill Pulsipher throws seven solid innings, rookie Paul Byrd gets win in extra innings (while Shea sells soda in cups with picture of veteran Brett Butler, traded over the weekend) HEARTS ON FIRE (8/31/96) --Bobby V gets first Met managerial win ONE FOR MOOKIE, ONE FOR TOMBY (9/1/96) --Wilson inducted in Mets Hall; Lance Johnson, wearing 51 for the day, goes 3-for-5; Mets win in 10, Andy Tomberlin doubling and scoring SNEAKING INTO TOWN (4/13/97) --Having postpone Home Opener so as not to conflict with MFY flag-raising Friday and having been rained out Saturday, Mets open Shea season with dreadful twinbill loss on Sunday in front of nobody with little pomp (saving it all for JR Night two nights hence) BONDS MARKET FIZZLES (8/5/98) --Barry hits into 3-6-3 triple play THAT MASKED MAN (5/1/99) --John Franco honored for 400th save with a motorcycle; dude driving it takes off hemet and reveals himself to be Tug McGraw; Lee Smith flies all night to join surprisingly festive festivities Brian McRae hits grand slam; Mets win 8-4 as Franco is deprived save opportunity CONTINUE TO TAKE NOTHING FOR GRANTED (5/2/99) --Mets honor '69 Old Timers by channeling a play from '86: tied at 0-0 in ninth, Matt Franco scores on windblown pop fly over the shortstop's head...from first! YOU COMPLETELY LOVED HIM THEN (9/6/99) --Kenny Rogers throws first CG of Mets season, wins 3-0 on Labor Day WHAT A NICE YOUNG MAN (8/12/00) --Benny makes putout in fair territory, tosses ball to kid in stands, starts trotting off field...forgetting it was the second out and that there are runners on; takes ball back from kid who looks shocked and disappointed; I still wonder what's wrong with a kid who doesn't say "HEY, THERE'S TWO OUT!" Mets win anyway HE COULD DO IT ALL ONCE IN A WHILE (8/25/01) --Rey Ordonez walkoff single in eleventh keys Mets' third straight win early in their run toward 2001 almost-glory BARRY WAKES UP (8/27/01) --En route to 73 HRs, Bonds homers on Monday afternoon off Kevin Appier, first Shea dinger since 1995; Mets screwed on terrible call late in game SCENE STEALER (8/12/03) --Edgardo Alfonzo's return to Shea overshadowed by two Barry Bonds homers, Aaron Heilman's crafty start SCENE STEALER BACK (8/13/03) --Mike Piazza emerges from lengthy stay on DL with third-inning homer, just because he can KING OF THE KATCHERS (5/5/04) --Piazza sets backstop HR record, can now go on to long and fruitful career at 1B STILL SWINGING, STILL CATCHING (5/6/04) --Catcher Mike blasts 11th-inning shot to win it HE'S NOT GONNA MAKE IT HERE, IS HE? (5/5/05) --Kaz Matsui's best chance at redemption -- bases loaded, two out, Mets down by five...he strikes out and is booed relentlessly until being traded more than a year later; in nightcap, however, Cliff Floyd takes out frustrations for everybody with two homers in 12-1 romp GENIUS MANAGING (6/3/06) --In second game of twinbill where anybody who stayed is shivering, Willie Randolph inserts Lastings Milledge to pinch run at third, and Milledge scores on Chris Woodward's short sac fly REACH OUT AND OFFEND SOMEBODY (6/4/06) --Milledge hits two-run homer with two out in tenth to tie game off Armando Benitez; accepts congrats from fans in right field in top of eleventh; tsk? ARMANDO, WE TOTALLY KNEW YE (5/29/07) --Called on to preserve 4-3 lead in 12th, Benitez walks Reyes, balks Reyes...twice and surrenders moonshot to Carlos Delgado; Mets 5 Giants 4; Mets start rolling downhill from there, but what a peak

Real Life: Joe Pignatano, a worthy choice whom I think got drenched in a rainout earlier this year (we had him at 62). Delusional Oughta Be: 38 to be removed by a group with a lot of experience of standing around Shea -- they played key roles in the Mets-Giants doubleheader of May 31, 1964, the one whose second game lasted 23 innings...seven hours and twenty-three minutes. --HOF starter and winner from Game One Juan Marichal --Game Two Mets starter Bill Wakefield --Met hitter who tied it in seventh with three-run homer Joe Christopher --Met reliever (9 IP) Galen Cisco --Met reliever (making his final MLB appearance) Craig Anderson --HOF winning pitcher (10 IP in relief) Gaylord Perry

seawolf17 wrote: Greg -- How could you like Doug Sisk more than Danny Heep? Pity, probably.

="Bunt the First Two"]Talkin' Lincoln! A giant Navigator Talkin' Lincoln! The Town Car's so much greater A 48 month basic warranty I swear that it gets 15 MPG On the Cross Bronx..., Throg's Neck, and LIE /dropping everything in order to applaud with two hands...