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Uni Watch meeting Mets By The Numbers is like watching some spectacular collision of trucks leaving a fabric and a numeral warehouse, respectively. Nobody gets hurt but you can't take your eyes off it. Great interview. ]What I don�t like is being introduced to people as �the guy with the web site.� I�d be just as happy if people didn�t know. Ah, that would explain the cringing circa 2002. Sorry 'bout that.

I was hoping the thread title refered to Sports Illustrated.

cooby wrote: A rock concert has more historical significance than a baseball team who has played in the same stadium for 40+ years and has won two World Series there. Please update the World Series won total between now and 2009.

Yancy Street Gang wrote: I think one of the first rules in designing an efficient parking lot is that you should make sure to clutter it up with a lot of statues of baseball players and replicas of rock concert stages. Just take care that the parking space where it got through Buckner doesn't become a cracked reservoir for puddles and, otherwise, leave room for, ou know...cars.

Edgy DC wrote: And it's not about the pope. The Mets are bigger than Jesus. How about something to commemorate how often "Oh Christ!" was uttered at the sight of John Franco?

Iubitul wrote: The Hernandez fielding the bunt and throwing out the runner at third play in Cincinnatti with Carter at third... Wright's dive into the stands last year should be on it Ordonez throwing the runner out at the plate from his knees... In early '98, at Shea against the Reds, Rey dove for a grounder to his left and then, still on the ground, lunged for second base and tagged it with his glove ahead of the runner. God, he was beautiful. Great call on the Hernandez/Carter bunt play. Another nominee from '86: The 8-2-5 double play, Dykstra to Gibbons to HoJo, in San Diego. "Out at home! Out at third!" Mex had a signature highlight reel play that year against the Astros that ended with him in foul territory yet nailing the runner. Jay Payton climbed a wall in San Francisco in 2000 to great effect. The short-lived Pat Howell did something similar in center at Shea that was, perhaps, even more breathtaking. Both Mackey Sasser (1991) and Eli Marrero (2006) made startling catches in right, startling probably because they were literally out of position. Woodward did something like that in left during Pedro's first Shea start. Mike landed on his head at Dodger Stadium in 2000 to catch a foul pop. Beltran dove across center to rob a National in April '05. And Cliff went over a side fence last July. Oh, and Cameron on his belly reaching up and grabbing a sinking liner against the Diamondbacks in June. What an embarrassment of riches!

seawolf17 wrote: ="Willets Point"]Considering Shea history, a Beatles sing-a-long would be a great tradition. Can I nominate "I Saw Her Standing There"? "Woooooooooooo!" Or, for Trachsel, "I Saw Him Standing There." A point of dissent regarding "Sweet Caroline." The Mets used it in lieu of "Lazy Mary" during the seventh-inning stretch on two consecutive Jewish Heritage Days ('cause ya gotta match the ethnic theme to the music, apparently). I've heard it at Cyclone games (Neil Diamond being from Brooklyn). And we lustily sang along with it in bars years and years ago long before "Fever Pitch" came out. I don't consider its use as an XM promotion a total Red Sox ripoff in context. If the Mets start leading us in a chorus of "Tessie," that's a whole other matter.

I heartily endorse probably every touch you would add, yet, having stood (not sat, but stood) through it, I can say with a few days' hindsight, that I wouldn't change a thing about Saturday night. Davey, Doc, Ray...sure. But even without them, even with the numbers slightly askew, even without optimal staging and inclusive casting and blockbuster production values, it was one of the most beautiful evenings I've ever experienced inside that ballpark. If I've got that, I'm not changing it one hair.

]You with the sad eyes don't be discouraged oh I realize it's hard to take courage in a world full of people you can lose sight of it all and the darkness inside you can make you fell so small But I see your true colors shining through I see your true colors and that's why I love you so don't be afraid to let them show your true colors true colors are beautiful like a rainbow Show me a smile then don't be unhappy, can't remember when I last saw you laughing if this world makes you crazy and you've taken all you can bear you call me up because you know I'll be there And I'll see your true colors shining through I see your true colors and that's why I love you so don't be afraid to let them show your true colors true colors are beautiful like a rainbow No. 1 on Billboard, the weeks ending October 25 and November 1, 1986

< I've got Davey Johnson, Ray Knight, Roger McDowell, Lee Mazzilli and Dwight Gooden. How about coaches? I assume Vern Hoscheit's not travelling these days, but I read that Bill Robinson was there. Cuh-yule. Did Tim Corcoran get his moment?>> Only '86 postseason roster personnel plus Harrelson, Robinson and Cashen were there. The four players mentioned above and manager were the glaring omissions but too bad no love for the just-passing-throughs, just-coming-ups, just-saying-goodbyes. In other words, no That said, awesome ceremony to bear witness to. I will cherish it.

Faith and Fear remembers October 2, 2005... http://faithandfear.blogharbor.com/blog/_archives/2006/8/8/2208824.html

Willets Point wrote: An aged former Brave joining the Mets long after his most effective days are past him, making short starts that tire the bullpen, and not really improving the team? I get this feeling of deja vu. When will people finally get off Warren Spahn's back?

What do you suppose they'll do wrong? I don't mean what architectural flair won't be to one's respective liking, but what do you suppose they'll out and out screw up? 'Cause you know something will go awry. Seats not facing home plate? Forget the press box? No bullpens or commensurate relief warmup space? Build a monument or statue with some key fact misstated? Put the outfielders in the sun? All of the above have happened elsewhere. It's hard to imagine the Mets being perfect at a craft that has eluded others. I'm guessing they'll spell Shea wrong when they name it, but that's another story.

Agree that the hill in Houston is stupid but there is a reason behind it. It's a tribute of sorts to the longtime Astro exec (advisor by the time Enron Field was being built) Tal Smith and his Cincinnati background/fondness for the hill at Crosley. Not much of a reason, but it wasn't ordered up at random from the Ballpark Quirks catalogue.

MFS62 wrote:David Wright a Blue Jay?edit: lost the link. I'll post it shortlyThe link:http://torontosun.com/Sports/Columnists/Elliott_Bob/2006/07/16/1686900.htmlJust think of what would have been posted in the current third base history thread.Good god. I guess we should be glad Steve Phillips "only" mindlessly dealt Jason Bay instead of David Wright that summer.

Deleted. Once.

]Apparently it's happy homecoming week in Mets land. First Omar Minaya re-signs fan favorite Edgardo Alfonzo to a Triple-A contract. Now word filters up from Dixie that the Mets and Braves are looking at a five-player deal that would return two-time Cy Young winner Tom Glavine to Atlanta, along with former Brave utilityman Eli Marrero, in exchange for Mets alumni Todd Pratt, Mike Hampton and John Thomson. The key, sources say, is Pratt, a player "Omar loved when they were both in New York in the 1990s." Minaya is said to have "gone hard" after Pratt in the offseason only to press the panic button and grab Lo Duca when he became available in the Marlins' fire sale. The Mets GM is said to be unnerved by Lo Duca's history of second-half swan dives and "wasn't happy" that his All-Star catcher threw so many pitches to David Wright during the Home Run Derby. "Omar didn't care for his arm to begin with," the source says. "Now he fears it's a wreck." Though Glavine ran off winning streak of nine games earlier this year and had emerged as the Mets' most dependable starter, the Hall of Fame-bound lefty is said to be "lonely for Atlanta," missing buddy John Smoltz and manager Bobby Cox. "Tom is convinced Cox knew how to get the most out of him. Also, he's been friendly with [braves pitching coach] Roger McDowell dating back to their Rock 'n' Jock Softball days. His relationship with [former Braves coach Leo Mazzone] was overblown." It's said it would mean everything to the entire Glavine family if his 300th win came at Turner Field in an Atlanta uniform. "If you see those 'Discover Queens' commercials," the source noted, "you see an uncomfortable person." Minaya has been respectful of Glavine's accomplishments since taking the general manager's job in New York, but it is widely known that Steve Phillips, and not Omar Minaya, signed the hurler to the contract that put him in a Mets uniform. Minaya was running the Montreal franchise then, now known as the Washington Nationals. Braves GM John Schuerholz "likes the way the salaries fit" and wants to "make it up" to Glavine after the two publicly disagreed this spring on why the southpaw left Atlanta in the first place. "John wants to make sure Tom wears that 'A' on his [Hall of Fame] plaque," an industry insider says. Marrero would replace Pratt in a reserve role for the Braves. Glavine's spot in the Mets' rotation would be taken by Hampton, the 2000 NLCS MVP on the Mets' last pennant winner. As he has been racked by injuries, the Mets' medical staff would need clearance on his condition. "He is closer to 90% well than you've heard," one pitching guru says. "And 90% of Mike Hampton beats most pitchers most days." Thomson, briefly a Met in 2002, is also said to be "recovering" from a variety of ailments. He would slot in where Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez has been pitching. "Omar really loves Duque in middle relief," one scout says. A bonus for the Mets, word has it, is that Hampton and Thomson are both excellent hitters as pitchers "and Willie [Randolph, Mets manager] craves that versatility." A rotation of Pedro Martinez, Steve Trachsel, Mike Pelfrey and a healthy Mike Hampton and John Thomson is one that might be formidable enough to compete in the postseason. "Omar doesn't want to rely on John Maine," one source with deep roots in both leagues advises. This trade is considered a possibility if not a probability to take place by the July 31 deadline. If it happens, and the Braves maintain their recent turnaround, the NLCS could have a distinctly New York-Atlanta feel of a very familiar kind.

]Soon we'll be debating if Lisa Loeb is hot or not. ]Don't forget Sandra Oh. Put me down for two yea votes. But only because there's no baseball until 2:20 tomorrow.

Elster88 wrote: Did anyone figure out who Captain Red-Ass is? That name slightly spoils a great cover. Lo Duca is indeed Captain Red Ass for all the reasons presumed upthread. David Wright is Visine (he's "eyewash"). Julio Franco is Moses (not hard to figure out). The whole gang is super fun, super wise, just super. Nothing like having a good record for making the press find you colorful.

There is a pix of Mettle in the '80 yearbook, the player-family page. I think the Swan family has a young'n atop the condemned ass. Wouldn't be in '79 because Mettle wasn't on the scene in '78. (My god, will this All-Star Break ever END?)

Or SI, in mailboxes tomorrow: Beltran, Wright, Lo Duca, Reyes, Delgado. Article by Tom Verducci. Excerpt follows. ]Through the doors to the New York Mets' clubhouse enter the young and the ancient, the slow and the swift, the homegrown and the mercenary, the charitable and the thrifty, the beautiful and (by official team balloting) the ugly, but never, for goodness' sake, the easily insulted. "Welcome," catcher Paul Lo Duca says, "to Rip City, where we get on each other all the time." True to their home city's heritage, the Mets are a melting pot of cultures, customs, languages and, yes, occasional off-color salutations that somehow works. Backed by owner Fred Wilpon's money, shaped by a childhood dream of general manager Omar Minaya, who was born in the Dominican Republic and reared in Queens, and ably guided by second-year manager Willie Randolph, the Mets are the rare sports team that has found instant success after a nearly complete overhaul. Of the 29 players on the active roster and disabled list at week's end, 16 joined the major league club since the end of last season. Only eight played for the Mets before Minaya was named G.M. 22 months ago. And yet, in a veritable New York minute, the Mets have become the best team (53-36 through Sunday) in the weakest league in years, with by far the biggest lead in baseball (12 games in the otherwise loser-filled NL East) and the thickest skins this side of a Friars' Club roast. "Look at the personalities they brought in here," says closer Billy Wagner, an 11-year veteran who signed as a free agent last winter. "We're all extroverts. Me, Lo Duca, [Carlos] Delgado, Pedro [Martinez].... It's not like guys came here and were afraid to say something. I think that's why we clicked right away. This is the best clubhouse I've ever been involved in. And the secret is that guys can say anything they want to anyone at any time." That's not to say that communication is always clear. There was the time, for instance, when backup catcher Ramon Castro ("the class clown," as Lo Duca calls him) visited Wagner on the mound in a crucial situation against the Blue Jays. "How about a coo-ba here?" is what Wagner, born in the rural mountains of Virginia, heard his Puerto Rican catcher say. "A what?" Wagner asked. "Coo-ba," Castro said. "Curveball?" Wagner finally deciphered. "I don't have a curveball!" "Well, O.K.," Castro said. "We're not throwing that anyway." Castro is even better known for his portrayal of ample-bottomed lefthander Darren Oliver, a vaudevillian impersonation that he performs on charter flights -- with the help of two airline pillows stuffed into the seat of his pants. Not even Martinez, the three-time Cy�Young winner, is immune from catching grief. After Martinez overslept for a game in Toronto this year, he was greeted in the clubhouse by Wagner, who took one look at Martinez's garish-colored outfit and bellowed, "I sure hope you're not late because you were out shopping for that." Another time Martinez returned to his locker after batting practice to find his wildly styled loafers strung up from his locker, a team custom to mock fashion statements that invite ridicule. "A lot of times you'll see somebody's shirt hanging in the middle of the clubhouse," Martinez says. "Cliff [Floyd], his stuff seems to be hanging a lot." Floyd also has drawn attention for the music that accompanies each of his at bats at home: the theme to Sanford and Son. The tune was picked by Lo Duca, who thought it apropos for the oft-hobbled leftfielder. And then there's Wagner, who still hasn't lived down the time he asked the clubhouse caterer if he could have a gallon of milk to take home to Greenwich, Conn. "You're making $10�million a year, and you won't spring for a gallon of milk on the way home?" Lo Duca told Wagner. "Reach into that wallet once in a while, will ya?"

Roger Kahn on Steve Garvey, A Season in the Sun (written in 1976): Steve Garvey, the Dodgers' best ball player is intelligent, handsome and so accommodating that I later asked Vin Scully, the broadcaster, if he could be as nice as he appeared. "His is truly exactly that nice," Scully said. "And he hits and he has a beautiful wife and lovely kids. In fact he's so nice some people who aren't so nice resent him for it." Bill James on Steve Garvey, The New Bill James Historical Abstract (published a quarter-century after Kahn's assessment): Garvey was a good player. When he was active, I always thought he was a selfish player, and I probably never said a good word about him. After he retired, however, one of his managers (Dick Williams) wrote that he was a selfish player, and his ex-wife wrote a book in which she said he was a selfish everything and gave interviews in which she compared him to Ted Bundy. His image changed so much that a lot of people almost forgot about the things that he could do. He used to get to 200 hits a year, regular as colockwork and they weren't 200 singles. I'm not exactly sure what any of this has to do with David Wright, but perceptions can change, especially as events warrant. I have only the anecdotal evidence I've heard and read, same as the rest of you, regarding David Wright the pillar of society. He doesn't come off, in my judgment, as a goody two shoes. He comes off as not an a**hole, and we're so used to either that or guys overdoing their non-a**hole images that we probably overestimate the goody-two-shoesness factor. He's not Hernandez. He's not Carter. He's not Staub. He's David Wright, so far, so good. Regarding Garvey, his career had a whole other trajectory from Wright's. He floundered for quite a while (3-1/2 seasons) as a third baseman and didn't start performing like a star until he was 25, the year after he was moved to first to make room for Ron Cey (the Dodgers were almost Metsian in their search for a third sacker). His non-pitching teammates in the golden age of Garvey were pretty much his peers. Almost all of them came up through the system at the same time. Not sure if it means anything, but David is learning the ropes alongside some of the great veteran character guys in the game. Garvey, probably more than Carter (it helped he was in L.A.), seemed to seek out the BIG spotlight. I don't get that impression from Wright. The spotlight will find him. And he gives every indication (as inferred by me, anyway) that he'll be a human being about it.

If only Walter Alston hadn't been so shortsighted in 1975, Del Unser would have driven in a dozen runs himself. According to my 12-year-old self anyway: http://faithandfear.blogharbor.com/blog/_archives/2006/7/10/2097664.html

="Edgy DC"]Ninety-seven percent of me is all about that essay. Three percent, based in and around my stomache, says stuff like "He hasn't been locked up yet," and "Nobody's that perfect" and "Re-read Bill James's refelctions on Steve Garvey" and "Don't go falling in love there, Edgy." And I'm not in love. So don't forget. It's just a silly phase I'm going through. It's always good to keep 3% in reserve for just-in-cases, but look at it this way: If I were inventing the blog at the end of 1985 and then blogging that "Dwight Gooden is clearly at least the second best starting pitcher in Mets history," there would be much that would go wrong in the next 21 years, but the statement would still stand the test of time (all due respect to Kooz who came before him anyway). That is to say there is no denying that Wright has accomplished a great deal in a short time. Going out on the limb of supposition to believe it will continue and improve? If we can't do that for Diamond Dave, then who? What were James' reflections on Garvey?

A Boy Named Seo wrote: Nicely done. Minor brain flap: ]Last year, Chris Woodward and Miguel Cabrera played third as Mets for the first time. It wasn't a story that the tally of Met third sackers had reached 131. Even Cabrera can't take the job from Wright. WHOOPS! Good catch, will fix. But, y'know, it's SO easy to confuse Miguel Cabrera and Miguel Cairo. Especially if you've never watched baseball.