Saying Goodbye to the Mets and Mike Piazza
For the first time since 1997, as a Met fan, I can say I'm fairly satisfied at the way the season ended. In 1998, they blew a playoff spot on the last day. In 1999, they nearly fought their way back down 3 games to the Braves in the NLCS, only to lose Game 6 10-9. (It took me weeks to get over that) We all know what happened in 2000 (I still haven't gotten over that) 2001, they had a great September, but were never really that close. The last 3 years, I stopped caring by August.
But in 2005, they were up and down all year, then had a horrible 10 game road trip in early September that effectively knocked them out of contention. Still, they played hard the rest of the way, and ended up 4 games over .500. One game that will stand out for me during this winter will be one they played last Monday night in Philly.
They Mets were all but eliminated from the wild card, while the Phillies were battling the Astros for the last playoff spot. There was an almost 2 hr rain delay, and the when play resumed, the Phillies took a 4-1 lead. The teams exchanges runs in the 7th to make it 5-2, but the Mets scored 4 times in the eighth and held on to win 6-5. It was a game the Phillies had to have and after sitting through a rain delay during a meaningless game who could have blamed the Mets for mailing it in.
But they didn't. They battled. And unlike Art Howe who said they battled when they actually laid down and died, these Mets really did fight. And yes, I give Willie Randolph a tremendous amount of credit for that.
The other thing that made me smile was the tribute the fans gave Mike Piazza on what will be his last season as a Met. After I wrote my little tribute to him back in July, he got huge ovations every time he stepped to the plate at Shea these last few weeks. Seems like I wasn't the only Met fan who appreciated what this man did for the Mets. There wasn't much if any talk about how the Mets didn't win the World Series while he was here, simply because it wasn't for his lack of effort that they didn't.
And while he was here, he had to put up with all the Roger Clemens stuff, the gay rumors, and a host of other nonsense. He handled it with class and dignity.
One night in the early summer of 2001, I was sitting in O'Casey's Bar on 41st Street, and I was talking to an old timer named Brian who told me he was a Yankee fan since 1948. I was having a great time talking to him, he was a nice guy and he had seen alot of baseball in his day. Talk got around to the 2000 World Series, and he heaped praise on the Mets, how tough they were, how every game was close and that as a Met fan I should have no shame. I appreciated that.
But then he said "except for that pee-aza. What a crybaby he is. Man, what's his problem." I could feel my blood pressure starting to rise. "Complaining that he got hit by a pitch. It happens. It's part of the game.."
That's when I lost it. "HOW ABOUT GETTING A BAT THROWN AT YOU? IS THAT PART OF THE GAME TOO?"
I left shortly thereafter. I felt bad because he really was a nice guy, but what can I say, it struck a nerve.
My sister Katie points out that after the Mets lost their last game in 1998, I said of Piazza "Good riddance." amongst other things. Mainly because I thought he was going to sign with the Angels. Instead, when he re-signed with the Mets, he said it was because he enjoyed New York, and wanted the chance to win here. I believe the Orioles offered him more money, so it wasn't just a money issue either.
I hope Piazza signs with a team in the east, even if its the Yankees. He's one baseball player I'd pay to see.
But in 2005, they were up and down all year, then had a horrible 10 game road trip in early September that effectively knocked them out of contention. Still, they played hard the rest of the way, and ended up 4 games over .500. One game that will stand out for me during this winter will be one they played last Monday night in Philly.
They Mets were all but eliminated from the wild card, while the Phillies were battling the Astros for the last playoff spot. There was an almost 2 hr rain delay, and the when play resumed, the Phillies took a 4-1 lead. The teams exchanges runs in the 7th to make it 5-2, but the Mets scored 4 times in the eighth and held on to win 6-5. It was a game the Phillies had to have and after sitting through a rain delay during a meaningless game who could have blamed the Mets for mailing it in.
But they didn't. They battled. And unlike Art Howe who said they battled when they actually laid down and died, these Mets really did fight. And yes, I give Willie Randolph a tremendous amount of credit for that.
The other thing that made me smile was the tribute the fans gave Mike Piazza on what will be his last season as a Met. After I wrote my little tribute to him back in July, he got huge ovations every time he stepped to the plate at Shea these last few weeks. Seems like I wasn't the only Met fan who appreciated what this man did for the Mets. There wasn't much if any talk about how the Mets didn't win the World Series while he was here, simply because it wasn't for his lack of effort that they didn't.
And while he was here, he had to put up with all the Roger Clemens stuff, the gay rumors, and a host of other nonsense. He handled it with class and dignity.
One night in the early summer of 2001, I was sitting in O'Casey's Bar on 41st Street, and I was talking to an old timer named Brian who told me he was a Yankee fan since 1948. I was having a great time talking to him, he was a nice guy and he had seen alot of baseball in his day. Talk got around to the 2000 World Series, and he heaped praise on the Mets, how tough they were, how every game was close and that as a Met fan I should have no shame. I appreciated that.
But then he said "except for that pee-aza. What a crybaby he is. Man, what's his problem." I could feel my blood pressure starting to rise. "Complaining that he got hit by a pitch. It happens. It's part of the game.."
That's when I lost it. "HOW ABOUT GETTING A BAT THROWN AT YOU? IS THAT PART OF THE GAME TOO?"
I left shortly thereafter. I felt bad because he really was a nice guy, but what can I say, it struck a nerve.
My sister Katie points out that after the Mets lost their last game in 1998, I said of Piazza "Good riddance." amongst other things. Mainly because I thought he was going to sign with the Angels. Instead, when he re-signed with the Mets, he said it was because he enjoyed New York, and wanted the chance to win here. I believe the Orioles offered him more money, so it wasn't just a money issue either.
I hope Piazza signs with a team in the east, even if its the Yankees. He's one baseball player I'd pay to see.
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