"Simply Amazin !"
I was at Citi Field last night. It wasn’t for the Pepsi/Fathead giveaway, nor because it had been a year since I had some Blue Smoke and pomme frites. No these tickets were part of the select a game package that I had purchased before the season had started, and I am glad I was there.
There was a somber feeling in the air at Citi Field before last nights 7:10 starting time. General consensus was that the Mets, fifth place in the Wild Card standings are pretty much out of any playoff chase. But the fans are pining- and hoping that this team can at the very least finish over .500 for the first time since ’08.
I was sitting in the Pepsi Porch along with my wife, about five sections away from where Gary Keith and Ron were doing their remote broadcast. The buzz amongst the fans in my section were about Carlos Beltran – and where will he land.
The general consensus amongst the Mets faithful was they would hope it wasn’t to either the Braves or Phillies, but if they got a good return for Carlos , they would live with him being a 3 month rental to our fiercest competitors.
R.A Dickey started out shaky, giving up 4 runs in the first 3 innings that he pitched. He would soon get into a groove, and he even had 2 hits and a rbi to help his cause.
But seeing Carlos Beltan play last night made me feel sentimental . I thought back to when the Mets first signed him to that big contract 7 seasons ago, and I felt that he would lead this team to their third Championship. He did propel them deep into the playoffs in ’06 before taking that third strike from Wainright- a pitch that even had he swung probably would have been strike three ( it was that nasty).
But in some respect I think Beltran made up for that call strike three when he launched a momentum shifting, game tying 2 run homer ( his 15th homer of the season – and the 148th of his Mets career). It was a shot into the Pepsi Porch. It landed a few rows from where Gary Keith & Ron were sitting. Needless the say elation and jubilation erupted from the Mets faithful.
I too was high-fiving people I had never met before and hugging my wife. But then it hit me – “This was more than likely the last homer that I would see Carlos hit as a Met in person”.
The Cards would go ahead in the seventh inning, but the Mets would comeback and eventually win it on Angel Pagan’s game winning homer in the bottom of the tenth.
Yes I was long gone by then ( we left in the eight inning – work and all you know), but this will always be a game that I will always remember.
And if it was the last time that I will ever see Carlos at Citi Field in a Mets jersey – I would just like to thank him for the seven seasons of highlights . they were worth it .
And with that said….. HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!!
Mets alumni celebrating a birthday today includes:
Reserve third baseman from the ;81 season, Mike Cubbage is 61 (1950). Mike was also the third base coach for the Mets from 1990-1996, and briefly managed the Mets in 1991 after the firing of Bud Harrelson. I still say he has laid a curse on this franchise – THE CURSE OF THE CUBBAGE !!!
Shortstop from the ’00 season, Mike Bordick is 46 (1965). Bordick was brought in at the trade deadline to replace then shortstop Rey Ordonez ( the human highlight reel), who had fractured his leg. Bordick started his Mets career on a high note – hitting a homer in his first at bat, but he proved to be ineffective down the homestretch of the season, and his bat, along with his glove proved to be non existent during the postseason against the Yankees. He would resign with the Baltimore Orioles that off season.
Reserve first baseman from the ’04 season, Brian Buchanan is 38 (1973).
Spot starter from the ’01 season, Brett Hinchliffe is 37 (1974). He pitched in only one game for the Mets that season, and went 0-1 with a E.R.A of 36.00. Needless to say he never appeared in a Mets uniform ever again.
The New York Mets traded catcher, Jesse Gonder to the Milwaukee Braves for reserve outfielder/first baseman, Gary Kolb on July 21, 1965.
On this Date in 1975, Mets third baseman, Joe Torre grounded into four straight double plays. The player who was on base all four times ? Felix Millan !
The New York Mets traded popular third baseman, Wayne Garrett and reserve outfielder, Del Unser to the Montreal Expos for reserve outfielders, Pepe Mangual and Jim Dwyer on July 21, 1976.
The New York Mets traded middle reliever, Jason Jacome and minor league pitcher, Allen McDill to the Kansas City Royals for pitcher, Derek Wallace, and minor leaguers, John Carter and Geno Morones on July 21, 1995.
Mo Vaughn ate his weight in Shake Shack Burgers last night – and no he was not the idiot of a fan who temporally made the outfield at Citi Field look like the closing credits of the Benny Hill Show !
17 comments
Patrick
7/21/2011-10:29am at 10:29 am (UTC -4)
Benny Hill reference score!
MetsFan4Decades
7/21/2011-10:54am at 10:54 am (UTC -4)
Not sure what it was about yesterday – maybe it was all the rumors heating up – but the consensus around the blogs yesterday was pretty much the same thing.
We had one night of Jose and Carlos back in the lineup on Tues and everyone was happy. Come Wed night the mood shifted to one of ‘here’s hoping Carlos is still here Friday when Wright gets back so we can see them play together one last time’.
I, for one, will hate like hell when the Beltran era comes to an end.
Anonymous
7/21/2011-11:19am at 11:19 am (UTC -4)
I posted this before but this is my take on the subject:
Since minor league roster fillers, AAAA players and major league bench players are readily available during the offseason I don’t think it makes sense to trade Beltran unless you get something significant in return. The additional revenue from the increase in attendance to see a competitive team that wins occasionally will (at least partially) offset the salary owed to Carlos the rest of the season. The idea I have seen espoused by some is that you must at least trade him for even a bucket of balls otherwise he leaves and the Mets receive zero in return is ludicrous (and not the rapper).
Anonymous
7/21/2011-11:25am at 11:25 am (UTC -4)
I agree. Unless they are truly dumping salary, to free up money for say Nimmo and some top IFAs, no point in getting a couple more Chris Carter’s back.
MetsFan4Decades
7/21/2011-12:39pm at 12:39 pm (UTC -4)
Sounds logical to me, especially with the way Beltran has been playing and the Met fan’s response to same.
I guess we’ll know very shortly what the plan is.
MetsFan4Decades
7/21/2011-11:29am at 11:29 am (UTC -4)
Buster Olney reporting:
In conversations with sources at Citi Field Wed., it’s
very clear that the Mets are intent on insisting on a high-end prospect
for Beltran.
**************************
I wonder what Sandy believes are high end prospects and what happens if no team offers such?
Anonymous
7/21/2011-11:37am at 11:37 am (UTC -4)
I assume if he wants an A, an no team offers one up, he might settle for say 2-Bs. But just as likely, if they don’t offer anything better than filler parts, he might just keep Beltran and play up that angle, hoping for more ticket sales (and that the team keeps winning).
Damned, I miss ike. Imagine if he had been OK and kept up his pace, and murphy was hitting like this at 2B?
rustyjr
7/21/2011-11:44am at 11:44 am (UTC -4)
I think Sandy has the leverage to get what he wants – Beltran will be gone by next Sunday
Anonymous
7/21/2011-12:38pm at 12:38 pm (UTC -4)
I agree, unless something unforeseen happens.
trade deadline is really getting close. It’s getting late early now!
MetsFan4Decades
7/21/2011-1:24pm at 1:24 pm (UTC -4)
Which means today is the last game Carlos plays before the hometown crowd.
MetsFan4Decades
7/21/2011-12:41pm at 12:41 pm (UTC -4)
Agree about Ike. Of all the dumb luck.
Would have been much better if they both dropped the ball and didn’t run into each other. Even if they looked stupid doing it and it cost us a game. It would have been long forgotten by now.
Anonymous
7/21/2011-12:43pm at 12:43 pm (UTC -4)
I personally hope they can somehow snag Minor from the Braves. I know it’s a pipe dream, but getting Minor allows for my other pipe dream of shipping Big Poof off to some far off land…
Anonymous
7/21/2011-11:42am at 11:42 am (UTC -4)
This is my favorite Benny Hill sketch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCYpk0ivqjo
rustyjr
7/21/2011-11:51am at 11:51 am (UTC -4)
That one was a classic I always loved the wheelchair races
SaltyGary
7/21/2011-1:30pm at 1:30 pm (UTC -4)
LOL my mom used to get so pissed when I watched that show. I guess something about a perverted 7 year old wanting to see the girls get chased around didn’t sit well.
SaltyGary
7/21/2011-1:30pm at 1:30 pm (UTC -4)
LOL my mom used to get so pissed when I watched that show. I guess something about a perverted 7 year old wanting to see the girls get chased around didn’t sit well.
Anonymous
7/21/2011-6:13pm at 6:13 pm (UTC -4)
Bittersweet is only possible if you’ve tasted sweetness..What exactly have Mets WON w/Beltran?