centerfield maz

Tuesday September 17th, 2024: With just a dozen games to go in the regular season, the Mets were a game ahead of the Atlanta Braves for the third wild card spot entering tonight's game hosting the Nationals at Citi Field.  The Mets (82-68) were 14 games over .500. Tonight, they'd be without their leading hitter, Francisco Lindor who was sidelined with injury for the second straight night. Team Meeting: Before the game, Mets GM Davis Sterns & manager Carlos Mendoza addressed the team to continue in the direction they need to be going, even with Lindor out of the lineup.  Pete Alonso was the only player to speak, saying in his rookie year of 2019 the Mets fell short so he couldn't celebrate. In 2022 they had a good season but after a rough series in Atlanta fell out of first place, missed out on a divisional tile & although they made the playoffs, were eliminated in the wild card round. This year he wants to celebrate with his team. With his contract up at the end o...

Monday September 18, 2006:  On this night Shea Stadium was filled with 46,729 fans hoping to see the Mets clinch their first NL Eastern Title since 1988.  There had been two wild card clinchers since then, but this was more special, after 18 years, finally a Divisional Title. On April 26th, 2006, the New York Mets took over first place never losing possession of that spot. Coming into this game they were on a three-game losing streak but still holding a 13.5 lead over Philadelphia. Tonight, Willie Randolph's Mets (91-58) hosted Joe Girardi's Florida Marlins,  as  Steve Trachsel (14-7) went up  against   Brad Moehler (7-8). At the time, Steve Trachsel was the longest tenured Met, having been with the club since 2001, the year following the teams last pennant & post season appearance.  The first two innings went by scoreless. In the bottom of the 3rd inning, Shawn Green was hit by a pitch to start the ...

W ednesday September 17th, 1986: The 1986 Mets had been in first place since April 24th, which was their tenth game of the season. By June 14th they went up ten games ahead of the second place Montreal Expos & ran away with the division. The magic number countdown for clinching the NL Eastern Division began back in August. By this night New York had a 19-game lead over the second place, Philadelphia Phillies. It seemed kind of funny, but the fans were actually happy that the Mets had just gotten swept in a weekend series at Philadelphia, then split a two-game set in St. Louis, putting them on a streak of six losses in their last eight games.  All it meant was that they would have the chance to clinch the divisional title at home in Shea Stadium.  Personal notes: Back that afternoon I got my ticket at an A&S Ticketron outlet on my lunch break. centerfieldmaz was on hand with 47,823 other paid crazy, excited Mets fans. Us lifers had been waiting...

Monday September 17th, 2001: After the tragic attacks of 911, MLB stopped play for one week as New York City & the rest of the country tried to recover best it could.  The New York Mets players worked at various relief efforts & points around the City. Shea Stadium's parking lot was used as a supply drop off point & as well as other various areas of support.  Players like Bobby Valentine, Mike Piazza, John Franco, Al Leiter, Robin Ventura & Todd Zeile visited victim's families, fire houses & Ground Zero at the World Trade Center site. Todd Zeile Starts Cap Honoring Tradition: A dark blue NYFD cap was sent to Mets player Rep. at the time; Todd Zeile from a widow of a rescue worker who died at World Trade Center on 911. Zeile began wearing the hat to work outs & around town at the various events he visited.  Other Mets players asked where they could get similar hats. Next thing you knew caps of NYPD & FDNY were coming for all the player...