Skip to main content

Save the Last Dance

In the interest of preventing guilt feelings, apparently I'm not the only Mets blogger to title his post in this way. See Metstradamus for another such perspective.

So we substitute die-hard Mets fan Julia Stiles (it says so in her IMDB.com bio) and her eephus-ball first-pitch for another Hollywood actress, Alyssa Milano and we get another walk-off win. Here's hoping Julia stuck around through the rain drops as my sister did to witness walk-off win #337.

* It was the 4th walk-off RBI for David Wright this season (2 singles, a double and a sac fly). He's one shy of the Mets record of 5, set by George Foster in 1983 (CORRECTED VIA METS TELECAST ON 5/30). We can call him Mr. Walk-Off (or perhaps NY Post writer, Phil Mushnick, not a fan of the term, would prefer "Mr. Game-Ender). We can also call Paul Lo Duca "Mr. Memorial Day" as he's 13-for-18 for his career on that holiday.

* Wright is now halfway to Kevin McReynolds Mets record of 8 career walk-off "somethings."

* It was the 7th walk-off win this season and the 6th this month (6 in a month is a Mets first). The seven this season have taken place in five different ways (1B, 2B, HR, SF, E1) against seven different opponents

* It's the 3rd walk-off win against the Diamondbacks, including the postseason, and the first since May 21, 2000 (Derek Bell game-ending single).

* It's the first to take place on a May 29th. May 30th only has one (1986 vs Giants) as well.

* Duaner Sanchez is the 5th Mets pitcher with a walk-off win this season. Billy Wagner has 3. Sanchez, Darren Oliver, Chad Bradford and Jorge Julio each have 1.

* It's the 10th to end with an 8-7 final score and the second walk-off to end with such a score this season (May 5 vs Braves). It's the third 8-7 walk-off that was decided in the 9th inning.

* Jose Valverde is the 4th pitcher whose last name starts with "V" to lose a walk-off game to the Mets. Valverde joins Bob Veale, David Veres and most recently, Brad Voyles (June 21, 2002 vs Royals).

* There are other notes and more comprehensive research I plan to pursue on this game (such as Memorial Day walk-off wins), but I have some things going on that preclude further research, for the moment. Perhaps in the near-future.

True Metiles know...That we could write about Mets walk-off wins using the titles of movies in which Julia Stiles has appeared.

Such as

"Right before his line drive double, Endy Chavez hit a Wicked line drive foul."

"I felt that Jose Reyes getting a hit after failing to bunt twice was The Omen that this was gonna be a good night."

"Many managers are making lists regarding David Wright. They call them Ten Things I Hate About You."

"If the Mets make it to the Promised Land, this will be a well-remembered triumph."

"My sister was fast asleep when Carlos Beltran hit his 16th inning home run the other day, having bailed after the 15th. She was Wide Awake for this one."

"A Mets walk off-win is like A Little Trip to Heaven."

"What's the fascination with these walk-offs? It's A Guy Thing."

Comments

Anonymous said…
And this morning we all wear a Mona Lisa Smile.

Wretched movie. Awesome game.
Anonymous said…
Thanks for this write-up. You said that this season, Mets walk-offs "have taken place in five different ways (1B, 2B, HR, SF, E1) ". I have two questions : is it possible to have a walk-off triple? Is there any other way to have a walk-off than a single, double, homer, sac, error or BB?

Thanks.
metswalkoffs said…
hi elliot

yes, u can have a walk-off triple if you have a speedy batsman and a slow baserunner. has happened once in mets history (saving the story for another time).

There have also been walk-off wild pitches and even one HBP, but nary a walk-off passed ball, balk (though the Mets have lost in such a manner) or catchers interference...yet.
Anonymous said…
hey, I'm pretty sure Wright's walkoffs this seasons have been three 1Bs and a sac fly.

All have been "deep singles" and the one agains Atlanta bounced over, but I think all three are credited as just base hits.
Anonymous said…
Thanks, walkoff-meister. I just wasn't thinking clearly about the HBP, Balk, passed ball and catcher's int. The triple possibility I did not know about. I am eagerly awaiting your story on the Mets walk-off triple.
Another walk-off tonight! Mark, I don't know if you've posted this already, but are we getting awywhere close to a year-walkoff record, or are we on a pace to get there?

Dave

Popular posts from this blog

Walk-Offs in Movies, TV, and Other Places

Note: I'm leaving this post up through the end of the week, a) because I don't have time to pump out something new and b)because I was hoping to build a really good list of entertainment industry walk-offs...so if you're looking for something new, check back on Monday or so... Of course, if there's a major trade or move, I'll adjust and try to post something... In the meantime, click on the "Table of Contents" link as well. It has been updated. SPOILER ALERT: Read at your own risk Caught the ending of "A League of Their Own" on one of the movie channels the other day and it got me to thinking that it would be fun to compile a list of walk-offs from movies, television, and other forms of entertainment. Here's the start, and only the start, as I spent about 30 minutes or so thinking it over Help me fill in the blanks by filling out the comments section. "A League of Their Own"-- Racine beats Rockford for the All-American Girls Profess

The best Mets ejections I know

When you think of the Mets and famous ejections, I'm guessing you first think of the famous Bobby Valentine mustache game, when after Valentine got tossed, he returned to the dugout in disguise. You know it. You love it. I remember being amused when I asked Bobby V about it while we were working on Baseball Tonight, how he simply said "It worked. We won the game." (true) But the Bobby V mustache game of June 9, 1999 is one of many, many memorable Mets ejection stories. And now thanks to Retrosheet and the magic of Newspapers.com , we have a convenient means for being able to share them. Ever since Retrosheet's David Smith recently announced that the Retrosheet ejection database was posted online , I've been a kid in a candy store. I've organized the data and done some lookups of media coverage around the games that interested me post. Those newspaper accounts fill in a lot of blanks. Without further ado (and with more work to do), here are some of my findings

The 'Duca of Earl (and walk-offs)

If I told you that the Mets had just obtained a guy who is a career .316 hitter with runners in scoring position? How about if I told you that the Mets just traded for a hitter who has consistently ranked among the toughest in baseball to strike out? Or if I mentioned that the Mets just dealt for a player who was selected to the NL All-Star team the last three seasons, with the last honor coming via a vote by his peers? So, although he's on the down side age wise, his throwing arm isn't as good as it used to be, and he doesn't provide much power, there are a lot of good things that Paul Lo Duca brings to the New York Mets. For example: He'll sacrifice his body for the good of the team The Dodgers and Braves squared off on August 23, 2002 and Lo Duca made an impact both on the start and finish of this game. Three pitches after being dusted by Greg Maddux, Lo Duca made him pay with a first-inning home run. The Braves rallied to tie the game, 3-3 in the ninth, but their bu