Yeah, it’s been difficult being a Mets fan these last few seasons. But that doesn’t mean we don’t love our team. Here are a few things I am thankful for as we celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday tomorrow:
David Wright, Carlos Beltran and Johan Santana: Yes, Wright forgot how to hit home runs, and the other two guys missed a big chunk of 2009, but we still have a nice core of all-stars. Some teams don’t.
The 1986 Season: Watching that run to a championship was one of the greatest periods in my life. I remember going to Game 3 of the NLCS and feeling like the stadium was going to collapse after Lenny Dykstra hit that home run off Dave Smith. I also remember the World Series Game 6 tenth inning…. easily one of the greatest comebacks in sports history, and thankfully we were on the winning end. Imagine what the other side of that must have felt like.
More memories: I was too young to appreciate 1969, but I do remember watching Tom Seaver pitch, and I remember going to see Dwight Gooden pitch at Shea. In fact, I think I went to every home game he pitched in 1984 and 1985, when he would positively blow hitter away and those guys would hang K’s in left field. We also had one of the great catchers in history in Mike Piazza. And how about Darryl Strawberry’s sweet home run stroke?
Opening Day: Every year we start out with hope, and 2010 will be no different. That is, until we get to June and we’re 10 games behind the Phillies, who are going to be strong for a few more years. But there is always the wild card, right?
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MIKEY, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO BE THANKFUL FOR, IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, IS THE OWNERSHIP’S WILLINGNESS TO RELOAD AFTER FAILURE. THE ONE SEASON WE FAILED TO DO THIS IN RECENT YEARS WAS 2001 WHEN PHILLIPS DID NOT DEEM 2000 FOR WHAT IT ACTUALLY WAS, A LUCKY SCENERIO THAT MOST EMBARASSINGLY PITTED A “NOT READY FOR PRIMETIME” ROSTER AGAINST THE NYY IN THE WS. ANY OTHER OPPONENT CERTAINLY WOULD’VE BEEN PREFERABLE; BUT THAT ONE DISPROPORTIONATLY ADDED TO OUR MISERY. OH TO HAVE FACED THEM IN ‘86 OR EVEN ‘06, THE ONE TIME BOTH FRANCHISES REACXHED THE PINNACLE UNFORTUNATLY WAS NOT GOOD FOR US. THAT ‘00 TEAM REMENDS ME OF THE STL TEAM OF ‘06; BUT LESS. WHILE NYM RARELY SATISFY EVERYONE WHEN RELOADING, THIS YR WILL BE NO DIFFERENT. UNDER THE WILPONS THE METS WILL NEVER BE A “NO LIMITS” TEAM LIKE NYY. THAT IS OUR PLIGHT IN LIFE.
I TAKE EXCEPTION TO YOUR PREDICTION OF “BEHIND THE PHILLIES” EARLY SINCE THE PHILLIE TREND IS JUST THE OPPOSITE. THEYY LAG THEN CATCH. CHECK IT OUT!
Great positive post until your last paragraph, why is it some fans are giving up before the first pitch is even thrown.
I know far too well, what is going on, but please, lets the season start before we give up.
Tug McGraw (RIP) is turning over in his grave with these attitudes, please YA GOTTA BELIEVE.