One of my greatest wishes as a relatively young Mets fan is wanting to have seen Tom Seaver pitch.

Sure, I’ve seen the highlight videos and World Series tapes that portrayed his dominance, but it’s still not the same as seeing the best pitcher in Mets’ history actually toe the rubber.

However, albeit still very early, we younger Mets fans are seeing firsthand what it was like when Seaver took the mound in the form of Matt Harvey – just throwing it out there that I was also too young to remember Doc Gooden as well.

Harvey has been dominant this year, and his body of work is very similar to that of Seaver.

Harvey has a slightly bigger build than Seaver when he pitched, but Seaver still fit the mold of a powerful right-hander.

Both have explosive fastballs and aren’t afraid to challenge hitters up in the zone – again going back to at least what I’ve seen from Seaver on the tapes.

Both have at least one good secondary pitch: Seaver mostly a slider and Harvey a curveball, slider and change-up. Harvey already has shown great command of each of these pitches, just like Seaver demonstrated with his slider.

Certainly, the mental approach by each pitcher resembles one another. That “bulldog” mentality if always wanting to win allowed each to experience success very early in their careers – and we naturally hope Harvey’s success continues for plenty more years.

But of all the similarities between the two, the fact that each came up with an inept offensive team is just uncanny.

The Mets really have never been known as an offensive team, but to not somehow scratch together a run when your pitcher is working on a perfect game really is embarrassing. Yes, Hector Santiago threw a very good game Tuesday night for the White Sox, but that’s where you have to dig deep and dent the plate at least once.

I looked at Seaver’s rookie year in 1967 and compared it with the first few months of Harvey’s career. Seaver made 34 starts during his Rookie of the Year campaign and finished with a 16-13 record.

However, he had just a 2.76 ERA, and in those 34 starts, he only gave up four or more runs eight times. He also threw 18 complete games, but we’ll overlook that for now since today’s game is much different than back then – especially when dealing with pitch counts and innings limits.

As for Harvey in 17 career starts, he’s given up four or more runs in a start just once and has a collective 2.07 ERA. Yet his career mark is only 7-5.

Now I don’t want to only point the finger at the offense for a lack of production. There likely were times – albeit few – that the Mets actually scored a comfortable amount of runs for Seaver, and the same will be true for Harvey eventually.

It may not even out fully, but there will be times when Harvey doesn’t have his best stuff and the Mets score enough runs to get him the win.

But just imagine if Seaver and Harvey had any sort of consistent run support. Is it so much for a pitcher to ask his team to score four runs per game? If that was the case for Harvey, he could potentially be 11-1, not to even mention the no-decisions.

Ok, it’s definitely not as cut and dry as that, but what I’m saying here is that it’s just the typical Mets way to have an ace-type pitcher yet not be able to score a single run.

Let’s hope that changes as Harvey continues to progress. Based on what we saw Tuesday night, he may only need one run per game.

Luckily, he’s a decent hitter too, so he should be able to help himself at the plate. Like a typical Little League superstar game, Harvey could pitch a complete game shutout and hit a home run to win the game.

That might be his only chance to consistently pick up wins.

After these individuals won a special place in our hearts forever, they all wound up playing for that other team, wearing those stupid pin stripes. Doc pitched a no-hitter in 96, a decade after he won a World Series ring with us. In 1999, David Cone pitched only the 14^th Perfecto in history–and yes, while pitching for the Yankees.

Through our five decades, the role of our arch rival has changed. Over the last several years, it’s been the Phillies. We spent the 1990’s hating the Braves and Chipper Jones. In the 80’s it was the Cardinals. In the 70’s, it was the Pirates.

The longest standing rivalry, however, is the one we have with the Yankees. It’s not just due to the somewhat recent advent of inter-league play or the endless competition for the back page of the newspaper. It goes back to 1961, when the New York Mets were only a concept. And the Yankees sought legal action to prevent NY baseball retuning to the NL.

All in all, there’ve been 111 players who’ve played for both teams. And yes, it sometimes hurts. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who nearly threw up the first time I saw Darryl in that stupid Yankee uniform.

The Yankees have always been adept at replacing one legend with another. Bill Dickey retired in 1946 and was replaced behind the plate by Yogi Berra. One year after Babe Ruth was gone, his cleats were filled by the great Joe DiMaggio. And as DiMaggio’s career wound down, he gave way to some kid named Mantle. Even recently, as the Yankees saw an aging Reggie Jackson produce less, they brought in another future Hall of Famer in Dave Winfield to lessen the blow of losing Reggie.

The Yankees, once again, are facing the end of another legend. In just over one month, Derek Jeter will be 37. That’s tough for any ballplayer, but especially for the every day rigors of playing shortstop. It’s safe to say that Jeter’s best days are behind him. Yes, he’ll flash some brilliance now and then and he does show signs of life. But #2 has quickly become a very old 36.

Enter the Mets. We’re a team that is struggling, a team that is on the brink of rebuilding. A team that, somehow, has no money. We all know that Reyes and Beltran are on borrowed time, as well as possibly David Wright. Or even Santana, if he was healthy.

The prospect of Jose ultimately playing SS in The Bronx is downright disgusting. No, the Mets wont trade him directly to the Yankees. But if, in fact, Reyes is sent packing at the deadline and then can not come to terms with his new team, he would enter the Free Agent market. And you know the Yankees would be waiting with open arms…and an open check book.

Assuming Jeter would agree to move to another position (and knowing his team loyalty, he most likely would), replacing a Yankee legend such as he with a Jose Reyes would again lessen the blow to Yankee fans. Unlike Chuck Knoblauch, Reyes is fully capable of handling the NY media.

And, in all honesty, wouldn’t the Yankees brass just love shoving that in our face? As of now, Jose is leading the team in BA, hits, doubles and triples. He is the Mets all-time leader in Runs, triples, SB’s, 4^th in hits and 5^th in doubles.

We are 37-54 against them in inter-league play. In the last 15 years, we have won one wildcard, one division and one pennant. Over that same time frame, the Yankees have won 3 wildcards, 11 divisions, 7 pennants and 5 World Championships. Hell, they even like their new stadium while we complain and blame Citi Field for our woes.

The Yankees have taken this city. And relegated us to second class citizens. They seemingly dominate the media, dominate October. While they battle the Red Sox and Rays, we struggle with the Nats to stay out of last.

Could the Yankees manage without Reyes? Absolutely. But knowing them, wouldn’t they secretly just like to throw that in our face, just twisting the knife into our gut a little deeper?

Next year is going to be a tough year for the New York Mets.  There might not be a lot of fun to be had at Citi Field in 2011.  In October when the season is over it would be nice to look at some fun times that the 2011 season produced.  One of the few fun experiences for me at least in 2010 was the Mets Hall Of Fame Induction.  Seeing Darryl Strawberry, Dwight “Doc” Gooden, Davey Johnson and Frank Cashen is something that I’m glad I got to see at Citi Field in 2010.  It also gave me something to look forward to as the season was getting away from the Mets in 2010.

The Mets have only retired 3 numbers in their history.  37 for Casey Stengel, 14 for Gil Hodges and 41 for the Franchise Tom Seaver.  Of course the Mets like the rest of Major League Baseball have retired 42 for Jackie Robinson.  Only one of the numbers retired is from a player.  I believe Keith Hernandez deserves to be the next player to join that elite club.

Keith played before I can really remember watching baseball.  I know to some younger than I am they know him from his Seinfeld episodes as well as being part of the best broadcasting team on TV.  Keith was one of the best first baseman to ever play this game.  I personally think he should be in Cooperstown.  He helped Daryl and Doc when they came up.  There is no way the Mets would have won a World Series without Keith.  Today he informs and entertains us in the broadcast booth.  He’s a New York Met for life.

When I would see Fernando Tatis grounding into double plays wearing number 17 I wanted to pull my hair out.  Keith has earned the right to have his number retired. It would be fun to look forward to and I’m sure the ceremony would be fun to experience in 2011.  The Mets did promise that when they moved to their new park more numbers would be retired.  I think it’s time to retire Keith’s 17 once and for all.

On Thursday, a judge in Chula Vista, CA ordered the 48 year old Mitchell to stand trial from an incident at the Bonita Golf Course. In July, Mitchell allegedly punched another golfer in the head repeatedly, nearly causing the man to suffer a concussion. The individual, whose name has not been released, was confronted by Mitchell for supposedly making ‘disparaging remarks’ about him.

The former NL MVP is no stranger to the legal system. Growing up in San Diego the one time gang member had been shot 3 times in his youth. In 1991, he was arrested for rape but the charges were dropped. In 99, he was arrested for assault after beating up his father. While managing the Sonoma County Crushers in 01, Mitchell was involved in a bench clearing brawl in which he punched the owner of the opposing team in the head. As a result he was suspended 9 games. The following year he was suspended 7 games after beating up his own 3^rd base coach. He currently owes the state of California almost $5.2 million in unpaid taxes. Former teammate Doc Gooden claimed that during the 1986 season an ‘enraged’ Mitchell physically held him hostage and forced him to watch as he decapitated his girlfriend’s cat. Mitchell adamantly denied these accusations.

Mitchell only appeared in 115 games for the Mets, mainly as a utility player. Gary Carter nicknamed him ‘World’ cause he could play everywhere. In 328 AB’s he hit 275 with 12 HR’s and knocked in 44 RBI’s. But he is best remembered for his role in Game 6.

As the Mets trailed 5-3 going to the bottom of the 10^th Mitchell returned to the clubhouse and began changing out of his uniform. When he was advised that Davey Johnson wanted him to pinch-hit in case Carter was able to get something going with 2 outs, he was already in his street clothes and on the phone making plane reservations to go home for the winter. Urban legend has it that he did not dress completely for his At-Bat, not having time to put on his cup. It was Mitchell who ultimately scored the tying run on Bob Stanley’s wild pitch.

He caused a huge dilemma for GM Frank Cashen. There was no doubt that Mitchell had the talent to be a great player. But with that talent came the fact that he was known to be hot-headed, volatile and short-tempered. Two months after getting that big hit, Mitchell was traded to San Diego along with Stan Jefferson and Shawn Abner for Kevin McReynolds, Gene Walter and Adam Ging.

Halfway through the 87 season Mitchell was traded to the Giants. In 1989, Mitchell helped lead San Francisco to the Pennant. He hit 291 with 47 HR’s and 125 RBI’s and became the first Giant to win the MVP since Willie McCovey 2 decades earlier.

However, 89 was the peak of his career. He was a 2-time All-Star but his indifferent attitude on the field combined with off-field distractions and numerous problems in his personal life caused friction with teammates and team owners. He frequently arrived in Spring Training 30-35 pounds overweight. In 1995, he played in Japan, becoming the highest paid ballplayer in that nation’s history. But he quickly wore out his welcome there as well. When he needed to have knee surgery, he refused to let the Japanese doctors operate and chose to fly back to the US, a move that was seen as a huge slap in the face to the proud Japanese people.

Mitchell left the game in 1998, a career 284 hitter with 234 HR’s, 760 RBI’s and 630 Runs. In his brief but memorable 13 year career, he played for 8 different teams.