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Showing posts from August 20, 2006

Happy Shawnukkah

It's an easy trick to remember Shawn Green's career total of eight walk-off RBI, since it coincides with the number of nights in every Jewish youngster's favorite holiday. Just in case you're having trouble, here's some helpful reminders. August 19, 1995 vs Royals, pinch-hit single (Jeff Montgomery) On the first night of Shawnukkah celebrate...That Shawn had 6 hits in his first 43 career pinch-hitting appearances, but since has gone 7 for his last 12. This is the only walk-off pinch-hit of his career to this point September 28, 1997 vs Red Sox, 2-run double (Tom Gordon) On the second night of Shawnukkah, celebrate...That this was the last day of the baseball season, and thus the last day in the playing careers of both Pete Rose and Ryne Sandberg May 28, 2001 vs Rockies, single (Ron Villone) On the third night of Shawnukkah, celebrate...That current teammate Paul Lo Duca, who was 6-for-6 in this 11-10 triumph, scored the winning run. September 20, 2001 vs Diamondback

Ya Gotta Deceive

"Look over there in the corner of this wing. Right next to the one for Pete Rose. What's that, you may ask? It's Vince Coleman's Hall of Fame plaque. Yes, it's rather lengthy, but appropriately so. I'll read it to you... Overcame the adversity of having to play at Shea Stadium for five seasons to steal 1,492 career bases. The only player in baseball history to steal 100 or more bases in three straight seasons for two different teams, Coleman rejuvenated his career upon signing with the Mets prior to the 1991 season. Sparked miraculous efforts to win NL pennant in 1991, 1992, and 1993. His competitive spirit inspired teammates and fans alike, a la Jackie Robinson. Coined (and trademarked) the rallying cry "Ya Gotta Deceive!" If we're gonna talk Mets and Cardinals we have to talk a little Vince Coleman and the "Ya Gotta Deceive" Mets teams of 1991, 1992 and 1993. I was thumbing through "The Worst Team Money Could Buy" a while bac

Me and Julio Down By the Ballyard

One of two posts for Wednesday, the other of which will recap Tuesday's win. It can be found here http://metswalkoffs.blogspot.com/2006/08/oy-vey-what-game.html It's August 23, so that means that we wish a happy 48th birthday to Julio Franco, a current Met whose exploits we previously chronicled rather tidily in the offseason at this link http://metswalkoffs.blogspot.com/2005/12/needle-in-haystack.html Unbeknownst to us at the time, Old Man Baseball actually has five walk-off hits, though he's been waiting more than 10 years since his last one. Anticipation was actually the theme of his most recent walk-off, back on July 2, 1996. Franco sat out that day with a bum hamstring against the last-place Royals and his teammates struggled a little bit with the bats against Tim Belcher. Indians starter Chad Ogea kept his team in the contest, despite 3 hits by current Met Michael Tucker and 2, with an RBI from wannabe Met Jose Offerman. The Indians took a 2-1 lead in the 8th when Oma

Oy Vey, What a Game

One of 2 posts on Wednesday, with the other celebrating Julio Franco's 48th birthday, which can be found here... http://metswalkoffs.blogspot.com/2006/08/me-and-julio-down-by-ballyard.html Anyone know the Hebrew or Yiddish translation of Walk-Off Home Run? * Carlos Beltran's 2nd walk-off home run of the season (4th of career) gave the Mets their 341st walk-off win and 11th such win this season. Most walk-off wins in season Mets history 1971 14 1983 12 2006 11 1963 11 1969 11 *includes postseason* 1986 11 *includes postseason* 1995 11 *includes rain-shortened "asterisk" game* (5 seasons with 10) 2 Walk-off HR in Season Mets history Marv Throneberry 1962 Jim Hickman 1963 Tim Harkness 1963 Jerry Buchek 1967 Cleon Jones 1971 Steve Henderson 1980 George Foster 1983 Bobby Bonilla 1993 Chris Jones 1995 Chris Jones 1996 Carlos Beltran 2006 * It is only the 2nd time in their last 59 walk-off wins that the Mets got the winning hit while trailing (the other was Cliff Floyd's

A 'Mitch' In Time Saves Nine

Let's extend the feel-good 1986 flashback for one more day, since it beats the alternative of pontificating about blood clots, Piazza-beaners, and Albert Pujols. Of the Mets 30 walk-off wins against the Cardinals, the one that's relevant to this particular subject matter took place in the first game of a doubleheader on August 14, 1986, a "Mitch-mash" as the New York Daily News referred to it the following day. I don't believe this game was referenced in any way this past reunion weekend and that may be because of what followed- a 4-game losing streak, the only such skid of that season. The hero of this particular contest was among those who returned to Shea Stadium for this past Saturday's festivities, Kevin Mitchell. The Mets most versatile player during that memorable season (he played six positions), Mitchell was in the No. 2 spot in the batting order, but in this game, he was second to none. With Ron Darling and the Mets trailing 2-1 in the 7th inning, M

The Quickies

So, yesterday at work, I heard a colleague commenting about some piece of baseball minutiae that intrigued him (the Marlins having a good record in series finales since the All-Star Break). His last words on the subject, before moving on to other matters were: "I don't know what that means, but it's an interesting fact." That's kind of how I feel about what I'm going to share with you today, which feels particularly pertinent since I'm still a little groggy from watching last night's Yankees-Red Sox debacle. Be forewarned that this is a rather lengthy tale that begins with the following piece of information. True Metophiles know: 3 of the 5 quickest walk-off wins in Mets history ( asterisk game not included) took place on August 21, and they occurred over three consecutive seasons (1971, 1972 and 1973). We got cutesy a couple months ago and wrote about the quickest of the quick, a 1-hour, 58-minute affair that took place against the Dodgers on August 2