ExWNYer

Is this a euphemism for 'self-gratification'? Does it include 'shellacking the banister'?

Can't wait until Bears 'homer' Adam Rank tells the world for the umpteenth time how improved and underrated the Chicago offense is...

Relievers are people, too...or are they? I am right there with you. Other than Diaz (and sometimes Ottavino), this year is a prime example. The bullpen has been maddening and shows why relievers are the hardest to predict from year to year although the Mets FO did a poor job addressing this weakness prior to the season, IMO. A good example of reliever volatility is Aaron Loup. I was really disappointed when the Mets did not re-sign him but he's having a bad year for the Angels (who doesn't though)? On a side note, the careers of Trout and Ohtani are being completely wasted in the barren wasteland that is Anaheim. How do you roster them and Rendon and still find a way to be complete trash? Nice to hear that you can root with your kids, too. It makes it more fun. Maybe our kids just wanted to emulate us because we are great dads. 😉 I said to my boys when they were younger, "I'm glad you like the teams you do because if you were Dolphin or Patriot fans I'd probably disown you." 😂 My family has always rooted for the same teams, even when I was growing up. It seems weird to me to have split households. I wouldn't want somebody in my own house gloating when I was in misery after a loss. My wife didn't really follow football when we met because she didn't understand the rules. I taught her and it was like a light bulb went off...she likes the sport now and is a Bills fan with the rest of us. I have enjoyed the back and forth, as well. I will definitely check out Old Timers Day. Thanks for the heads up. Let's get that sweep against the Buccos today! LGM!!!

Unfortunately, I didn't catch any of Old Timers' Day as I was at my nephew's wedding. I did hear that Henderson and Mookie still looked like they could lace 'em up and play. That event was long overdue as is the old 'Banner Day'. I'm not exactly sure what my first Mets memory was but I have to believe it was either the '69 Miracle Mets in the WS but more than likely it was the '73 Mets in the WS. I wish I had a more definitive and vivid memory. As I stated earlier, they weren't on TV much so if it wasn't one of those World Series then it had to be the 'Saturday Game of The Week' because it was those home pinstripe unis that hooked me. Also, they were a NY team and Buffalo didn't have a team. My dad was from Dunkirk and he was the reason my little brother and I became diehard Bills, Sabres, and (Buffalo) Braves fans. He wasn't a fan of any baseball team but my brother and I became diehard Mets fans. When we got cable in the '80s here in VA, our package included WOR, TBS, & WGN, all of whom carried the Mets, Braves, & Cubs games free. We watched the Mets on WOR every chance we got and my dad became a Mets fan because of my brother and me which was an opposite twist from the norm and I found cool (there's that word again). Both of my sons are Bills, Sabres, and Mets fans but it's my younger son who is the real sports nut. I didn't force them into the torture that is following these teams but I'm glad we share the same rooting interests. The first Mets games I ever attended were against the Pirates at the old Three Rivers Stadium (what a dump) in 1987 with my brother, a friend of ours who was a Mets fan, and another friend who liked the Orioles. We saw two games from the left field seats and during one of them we witnessed Kevin McReynolds hit a grand slam, which was awesome. I still have the ticket stubs from those games. I think admission was like $5 or $8...definitely less than $10. I didn't see another Mets game in person until the mid/late '90s when I saw them at Camden Yards (gorgeous ballpark) against the Orioles in Baltimore. They lost that game. I remember when a co-worker (and fellow Mets fan) got the tickets, I told him "I hope Steve Trachsel is not pitching when we go." I couldn't stand Trachs. He always seemed to lose...badly. Guess who pitched? You got it...Steve Trachsel. lol To this day, the Mets pitchers I despise the most are Steve Trachsel and Doug Sisk (also always seemed to suck). Awesome story about your father and grandfather. I love hearing stories like that and how the love of the sport is often passed down from generation to generation. I guess I was an aberration since my dad was not a baseball fan until later in life but I love sports and as a kid with no cable or internet, sports were the lifeblood for many of us. I know I'm old but I wouldn't change living thru that era for anything. LGM!!!

I was hoping when it was over that he would yell, "DEEZ NUTS! GO POKES!!"

I'm 58 (59 in October). I remember all of those guys and some, as you said, were very good. - Neil Allen...the key piece in one of the best trades in franchise history which brought over Keith Hernandez from the Cardinals. Thank you, Frank Cashen! -Terry Leach...he of the mustache...nice side-armer. -Tim Leary...great unrealized potential. 'Sigh' indeed. -Ed Lynch...solid arm, later went to the Cubs. - Jesse Orosco...nuff said. He and Roger McDowell manned the back-end for the legendary '86 squad. - Jeff Reardon...turned out to be one of the best relievers in baseball after he was traded. I remember being bummed when he was shipped and that was before he became 'Jeff Reardon'. - Mike Scott...almost cost the Mets the '86 NLCS with his cheating ball scuffing for the Astros. What is it with that franchise, anyway? lol -Craig Swan...as we already discussed, a becon in the darknes of the '70s and early '80s. BTW, another player the Mets acquired who was supposed to be great and never amounted to anything for them...Steve Henderson. Woof.

Same. Concert tickets only, several years ago...but I received them.

Haha! I only have these memories because I'm old. I do remember that incident where Zachary hurt himself. Very 'Metsian'. Here are some other names that might kick something else loose for you...Doug Flynn, Willie Montañez, Ellis Valentine, Alex Treviño, Wayne Garrett, Lenny Randle... As far as your trivia question, this is just a guess. I did not look it up (Scout's honor). I remember '81 being a strike shortened year and likely cost Gary Carter and the Montreal Expos a WS title. That said, the only pitcher from that era who comes to mind is Randy Jones whom I remember/associate mostly with the San Diego Padres.

That's an awesome memory with your dad. I can see why Milner is special to you. What's odd is that I associate him more with the 1979 'We Are Family' WS Champion Pirates even though he came up with the Mets. Weird the things that get stuck in your head from childhood. Good call on Canha...maybe the Youngblood thing is why I like him, too. You are correct about Jorgie, sir. He came up with the Mets in the late '60s & early '70s and then returned in the early '80s which is where most of my memories of him originate. Rusty Staub (another of my all-time faves) was also a two-time Met but I'm sure you knew that. Oddly, I associate both Rusty and Jorgensen with the Montreal Expos like I do Milner with the Pirates. I loved Craig Swan, too! He was a beacon of light on some dismal teams. Too bad he didn't get a chance to play for any good Met squads. I liked Pat Zachary, too, and also wanted him to do better. He came over in the awful Tom Seaver trade and could never meet expectations. It wasn't his fault that he was traded for 'The Franchise'. I know a lot of jersey numbers but probably nothing like you. It's probably because, when I was little, there were no names on the backs of the jerseys and you had to learn the numbers to know the players. Collecting baseball cards helped in that regard, too. Without cable or internet, it was much tougher. I rarely saw Met games as a kid growing up in WNY and have never been to NYC but I fell in love with the team because of their uniforms. I love the pinstripes, the scripted 'Mets' and especially the logo that is comprised of the city silhouette in a baseball. Just gorgeous. Those '70s & '80s teams were mostly awful but I love them to this day. They formed the bond I have for this team and my love of the game. Bad Met teams now just piss me off. lol Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

I really liked John Milner but me, personally, I'd go with a #12 Stearns. When I think of him, I always think of #12 just like I always think of #16 with Lee Mazzilli even though he also wore #13, including when he came back mid-season for the 1986 World Series Champion team. A #16 Stearns would be a cool conversation piece though. There are so many old ones I think would be cool, with the first being Rusty Staub. I think Willie Mays would also be cool even though he's rally thought of as a Giant and not a Met. Other guys who most would never think of that I think would be cool are Mike Jorgensen & Joel Youngblood (I don't know why I liked them so much, lol), Felix Milan, Dave Kingman, and Ed Kranepool. Edit: I just realized that I used the word 'cool' way too many times. Not cool. 😂

My favorite Mets as a kid were Tom Seaver and Lee Mazzilli. John Stearns was up there, too. As bad as the Mets were when I was growing up, there were a lot of players I loved. I guess that comes with falling in love with the sport during your formative years and those first player memories that come with it. 'Lovable Losers' has been the Mets moniker for most of their existence, pre-Steve Cohen.

Sad news...one of my favorite Mets as a kid, John Stearns, has passed away. He had been battling prostate cancer. He was a tough as nails catcher who at one time held the NL record for most stolen bases in a season by a catcher. He was drafted into baseball by the Phillies and came to the Mets as part of the Tug McGraw trade and he always held a special place in my heart because he was also selected by the Bills in the 17th Round of the 1973 NFL Draft but opted to play professional baseball instead. He also served on the 2000-2001 Mets coaching staff. RIP, Mr. Stearns...and thanks for the childhood memories. @Gugny not sure if you're old enough to remember him or have seen him play. @SinceThe70s I'm sure you are. "John Stearns, a catcher who played with the Mets for 10 years (1975-1984) and earned four All-Star selections, died late last night in Denver after a long battle with cancer. Stearns also coached on the Major League staff with the Mets from 2000-2001. He was 71. He is survived by his son, Justin, brothers, Richard and William and his sister, Carla." Lee Mazzilli - teammate: “I am heartbroken. John was just a joy to be around. He loved the game so much. I was amazed when he went to the batting cage on Old Timers’ Day. That just showed you how much of a competitor he was.” https://www.mlb.com/mets/news/john-stearns-passes-away https://nypost.com/2022/09/16/john-stearns-ex-mets-all-star-catcher-dead-at-71/

This would have been a MUCH better choice...

Pimpin' 💯 (I suddenly have a weird urge for some mint chip ice cream)

But the Jest gonna Jest.

Carroll said that Jamal Adams "has a serious injury". Quad tendon.

Well, he did learn under the best...

Let. Russ. Lose.

There's one from the archives. Great reference!

Haha! In the end, Carroll wins despite himself and Nathaniel can't Hackett...

From a dumb coach.

More like two goal line fumbles.

Another Pete Carroll choke job is a mere 4:02 away...