Sunday night, the Mets will open their season - and the 2007 MLB season - against the Cardinals.
Over the years, the Mets have innaugurated their season against the Cards six times, and enjoy a 4-2 record (lets not talk about their 11-20-1 2007 spring training record).
The most significant of those opening day games was in 1962, when the Mets played their first game ever against the Cardinals, in St. Louis. The Cards crushed the Mets 11-4. Portentously, The Mets gave up their first run ever on a Roger Craig balk. Listen to the play-by-play. Lindsey Nelson can barely stifle his disdain as he calls the action on that historic day.
Lets hope tomorrow night goes better. At least we don't have Carl Pavano taking the mound.
The Mets are 10-20 as they prepare to break camp. And this week, players have begun breaking down - physically and mentally.
Duaner Sanchez is now lost for much of the year. And his late-inning bullpen pal Aaron Heilman admits he will be battling painful tendinitis all year. Burgos is our best bet to fill in the gap. Enough said.
Now comes word of some anonymous griping out the clubhouse. A deep-throat complained to Marty Noble Wednesday: ""It just doesn't feel the same as it did last year. Last year, we were primed. I don't it feel now."
We know the grouser can't be Delgado, who has not been in camp since his son's birth last Friday. And Valentin is also out of camp attending a funeral.
Who do you think it is? I suspect Pedro. He is never one to filter his comments, especially when he's bored. And last week, he (prophetically) criticized the Mets handling of Sanchez's rehab
For ages, ethicists have argued over when life actually begins for a stadium. For some, life starts at the groundbreaking ceremony. Others don't recognize the existence of a stadium until the official opening day. There are even those who argue life only commences once all the luxury boxes are full.
If you're like me, then you believe stadium life begins at legislation. Which makes today a special day in Shea history.
Forty-six years ago today, the New York State Assembly voted in favor of a bond issue allowing the building of a 55,000-seat municipal stadium in Flushing Meadows, near the site of the 1939-1940 World's Fair. This was the last step in assuring New York's new National League team would have its own home.
Four days later, the Yankees announced they would not let the Mets share Yankee Stadium while their new home was constructed, forcing the new team into the antiquated Polo Grounds. Yet the Mets would lend the Spankees some space in the mid-70's, while their ballpark was modernized. Go figure.
Happy birthday Shea!
A reminder: Opening day at Shea is three weeks from Monday. The Mets are 5-10 and looking a bit anemic at the plate. However, there is still plenty of meaningless March baseball to play and plenty of time for the boys to get into form.
Of greater concern: cowbell man's conditioning. How does he prepare for the gruelling 81 home game campaign? Does he bang pots & pans all winter to stay in shape? Do the Mets allow him into Shea in the off-season to walk each level and work on new beats?
As cowbell man is not a welcome presence in Loge 13, a little intelligence on his training regimen would be handy. Our section's occupants may need to work on some off-season heckling so we are prepared come April 9, when the clankorous cowbeller plots down the aisle, spreading mindless misery for real fans and vacuous joy for the tourists.
If you have any insights on cowbell man's current whereabouts and training habits, please share. My guess is he is somewhere in Yankee camp.
Looking forward to see Beltran vs. Wainwright again. How'd that work out for you guys last time?