metirish

3. Game 3 of the World Series: I pinch-hit into a force play. Darryl Hamilton ph for Reed in the 6th forcing Agbayani. Good quiz #44 - Piazza

That's a fair point 86, remember when the Padres played the MFY's in 98(?), they seemed happy to just be there, heck most of them made visits to monument park.

Watching Torre cry on the Fenway mound saturday nearly swayed me..yeah right, FU MFY'S, Angels to spank the yanks

Hard to root for either, no preference.

Boston for me, although they are not as compelling as last year.

I'll go with mild preference for the Padres, I really can't think of any reason to not like them, on the other hand I can think of a few reasons to dis-like St.Louis, LaRussa, Edmonds, best fans in the game bullshit...

I doubt Piazza thought that,it's not his way I think. I thought is was pure class that the Rockies stood to applaud Mike like they did, I can't imagine a player that's done with his contract with his team but not done playing ever got that, nice touch by them.

Yeah is was a curious move, Willie had a tough time explaing the reason for it, made some references about this is how he used Mike all year, he seemed to get a little edgy when talking about the move...he also siad that it was his plan to give Mike 2 or 3 AB's and lift him, except if it was a close game...certainly took everyone by surprise.

Question, the Giants have been on the WFAN all day, so did Gary and Howie get to do this game at all?

Mays went 0 for 24.

Willie on the post-game said he and Mike had talked about lifting him late in the game if it was out of reach, he wanted the fans to get that last chance to show the love.

Congrats Anderson, picked a great day to get his first hit.

Val set your VCR or DVR or whatever you have, FSN will repeat the game at 1:30AM Sunday night/Monday morning.

Great tribute to a great Met and a great person, emotional stuff that was, Bye Mike.

i was hoping Anderson would get that hit in his last AB, hopefully Willie will play him Sunday and he gets it, I swear his stance at the plate is a dead ringer for Reyes, little wiggle of the bat and all.

Seo - 3 Wright - 3 Padilla - 3 R. Hernandez - 1 I would have given Anderson Hernandez 6 if he got a hit...

Yeah I was hoping you did, could have really busted your balls on that.

It's ok KC, we know your not nuts.. http://cybermessageboard.ehost.com/getalife/viewtopic.php?t=1161

This was a big story here at the time,I'll look for the thread.

I went with Bobby Valentine, but I never saw the others in action.BV was a great tactician and knew the rule book inside out, won a few arguments with umps IIRC,great manager.

Nope, you're right about that, but I'm not worried about Jose and his legs now, he seems to have gotten past that point, thankfully.

Yeah it was a crazy play, great fun though, especially the flailing body of Ardoin trying to tag Jose, if he had not already been called out by the ump that would have been an embarrassing play for the Rockies.

Mike will work first round playoff games for ESPN, teaming up with the awful Chris Berman and the even more awful Rick Sutcliffe, it's impossible to watch a game Berman is doing.

Fred Wilpon speaks.......... ]Wilpon puts Piazza in past Hopes his career 'goes on' BY ADAM RUBIN DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER Mike Piazza has bat and fate in hands, as pending free agent is unlikely to return. The Mets will show a video tribute to Mike Piazza on Sunday. Principal owner Fred Wilpon offered his own toast yesterday. "He, in my opinion, is going to be the second Met Hall of Famer," Wilpon said at the introductory news conference for the team's new network, SportsNet New York. "... I think he loved being here and was certainly the star of the team. No matter who we had here, I think Mike was always the centerpoint. But things change, which I think is good. I hope Mike goes on and plays out as long as he wants to play out." The Mets and Piazza officially haven't ruled out a return, though it's seemingly a longshot at best - unless both sides exhaust their other options. The catcher will search for AL jobs where he also can serve as DH. And the Mets will search for an alternative so Ramon Castro can remain the backup, with San Diego's Ramon Hernandez and Anaheim's Bengie Molina the most attractive pending free agents. "I like Mike a lot as a person," Wilpon said in rare public comments. "He was a great player here. There's no question. We certainly hope Mike goes on and keeps playing. It remains to be seen where that's going to be. I don't know whether that can be here." Wilpon had kept a low profile this season, declining nearly all interview requests. "One of our players just said to me, 'Where have you been, Freddy?'" Wilpon said. "I've been at every game. I just don't go down to the clubhouse and I'm not on the field. Frankly I like it that way better. We have very good baseball people and it's their job." He didn't want to use the phrase, but yes, Wilpon is happy the Mets played meaningful games in September. "I think it's progress," Wilpon said. "I'm not sure it's success unless you are in the playoffs, and we're not in the playoffs. So that part is a disappointment. I think we made a lot of progress in the entire organization this year. "I think the guys have responded very well. We had times where we were in similar positions in years past and you didn't see the same vibrancy on the field I think you do now." Wilpon committed $172 million to Pedro Martinez and Carlos Beltran last winter. "He's been a great citizen," Wilpon said about Martinez. "He's been a great pitcher. With a little break here and there, he might have won 20 games this year. Everything we've asked him to do, he has done 120%. He's a man of his word. He's a man of character." Regarding Beltran, Wilpon offered: "I certainly have been satisfied with his effort - 110%. He's not satisfied with his performance and he knows he can do better. He knows he will do better. He's a real pro. I mean, he was banged up pretty badly and there was no way he wasn't going to play. I didn't think he was going to play last night because he's got a little tweak in his arm or bicep. ... He's a gamer. It takes time to get adjusted in New York." Wilpon heaped praise on GM Omar Minaya and Willie Randolph. "I think what Omar has done and what Willie has done is they've made it attractive for players to want to play here in New York," he said. "And that was not necessarily always the case. Players are now coming up to Willie and coming up to Omar and they want to be here. And that's exciting."

Steve are you saying that the Mets treated Piazza in a bad way all year?.. IMO the Mets and Pizza have played this just right, Piazza has been nothing but class about the situation, who knows what the winter will bring, maybe Pizza does come back but if not then we move on and wish Mike the best.