Photo: BaseballBacks (Flickr.com)

There has been talk recently as to what numbers the Mets should retire (or should have already retired).

There are the usual suspects: Keith Hernandez and Mike Piazza, but then there has been Gary Carter.

Now, I’m not doubting that Carter was a great contribution to the Mets, both on the field and in the clubhouse. He will forever be a fan favorite. I question the timing of the fans requesting that his number be retired.

Carter has been battling Stage 4 brain cancer since May, and it was announced in the past week that his health is rapidly declining. I wish Carter the best, and nothing would be better than to hear that he will survive this, but should a cancer diagnoses lead to the retiring of his number?

At this point, I feel that retiring his number would just be for sympathy, not because of his years as a Met. That, in my opinion, would be an insult to Carter.

If I were him, I wouldn’t want this to happen because I am sick and the fans feel like they need to do this for me. I would want this honor because I truly deserved it.

Mike Piazza was interviewed during last night’s Knicks game at MSG, and was asked what cap he would like to be wearing to Cooperstown.

msg.com

I agree that he should enter as a member of the Mets. Unfortunately for Piazza, he has no say in the matter. The Hall of Fame will make that choice for him.

After watching this clip, I am left questioning Piazza’s judgment somewhat. I mean, Armando Benitez was one of the most impressive pitchers you ever caught? I can’t believe that.

As for dying your hair…need I remind you of the last time you went blonde?

Photo: sportshair.com

Gross. Don’t do it, Mike.

The 2011 Mets are hovering around .500 right now, and they will probably finish the year around .500 too.  Fitting, given that this team has been oddly snakebitten.  Jose Reyes was in the middle of his best offensive season and is now on the disabled list for the second time with a recurring leg problem.  Daniel Murphy joins him on the DL after establishing himself as a starter with a breakout year.  Last year’s breakout Ike Davis hasn’t seen the field in months, and won’t until next year.  Ace Johan Santana will be lucky to see game action in 2011, and may never be the same after shoulder surgery.  David Wright has been hitting well since missing time, leading one to wonder how he would have performed over a full season.  Ditto for the departed Carlos Beltran.

So I decided to perform a little experiment.  What if everyone on the 2011 Mets had performed at the peak of his career? What if every starter had his best historical season – forget that, how about taking every Mets star from the last decade, sticking them on the field and seeing how they would perform at their absolute apex.

The ultimate Mets fantasy team of the 2000s, instead of the also-ran 2011 edition.

» Continue reading “The Ultimate Mets Lineup”

Here are a few of the best and/or worst moments involving the Mets and Yankees from over the years (in no particular order).

1. Dave Mlicki: For years Mets fans had heard that their team was inferior to the big bad Yankees. Heading into the first every Subway Series in 1997, the Mets sent Mlicki to the mound against a young Andy Pettitte. Mlicki went on to prove it’s okay to root for the underdog, shutting out the Yankees 6-0 in the Bronx.

2. The Mike Piazza-Roger Clemens Saga: First Roger Clemens beaned Mike Piazza. Then he threw a broken bat at him as he ran down the first base line. If you wanted to find a guy whom Mets fans and players alike loathed, Clemens was your guy.

3. The drop heard ’round the world: In 2009, Luis Castillo dropped an otherwise easy pop-up off the bat of Alex Rodriguez. It would have been the game-ending play, instead the error prolonged the inning and led to an eventual Mets loss. I think this was the first time I ever actually threw something while watching a game.

4. The disaster that was the 2000 World Series: For the first time ever, I along with many other fans, was actually going to see the Mets in the World Series…and against the Yankees to boot. Too bad if you blinked it was over. In five quick games, the Yankees won the series 4-1.

Let’s hope the Mets give me something to add to the list of best moments as the Subway Series continues tonight at 7:10 p.m.

Fora little Yankees perspective on the best and worst moments of the Subway Series, check out Ashley Teatum’s thoughts over at Spreadin’ the News.