I know, Lou. I know.

It's just that for the first time this year they're showing some heart.

One game out because the National League sort of, what's the word I'm looking for? - sucks.

Sorry, couldn't help myself. Glad they're turning it around.

Yeah. Even clueless Joe has a shot with his Dodgers.

Poor Joe. Exiled to LA. Let's have a pity party for him and his millions!

Who here was impressed with the astonishing young talent of the Giants? Talk about a bright future!

On a side note, will Mets fans miss Shea stadium?

Shea will always have a lot of memories for me. I've been there countless times in the last 30+ years to baseball and football games. But, it has to go. It really is a dump. I will miss it though, and will be very sad when I see it being torn down.

That's how I felt about Candlestick (although it is still being used for the 49ers ). I was very sad to see the Giants leave the stadium, but it sure is nice to have a nice park with nice view and modern stuff.... in other words it's nice not having to piss in a trough with ten other guys.

I still have fond memories of the old park like you said, but you'll love having a brand new stadium. I can't wait to see it. I'm hoping it is nicer than the new Yankee stadium

The new Mets' home is going to awesome.
Citi Field

If I were a Yankee fan, I wouldn't be happy about a new stadium.
I hate to see the old parks go. It was even sad seeing them tear down Tiger Stadium this week.

I'm not happy about the NY Giants building a new stadium either. I've been to 95% of every Giants' game ever played there, and I like the stadium.

I agree actually. When I first heard the Yankees were getting a new stadium I was shocked. Their old stadium has so much history it seems crazy to leave it.

I believe the only reason the Yankees are getting a new stadium is because they heard the Mets were getting a new stadium and the Steinbrenner's didn't want to be outdone by another New York club. That's why I hope the Mets new stadium is better than the Yankees new stadium.

I'm hopeful that I'll be able to visit New York someday to judge the two myself. I had always hoped to go to the old stadiums but my time has run out on that.

So it goes.

If Wrigley and Fenway are ever shut down it will be the end of a baseball era that shouldn't be forgotten.

As Lou said, lotsa memories for me too.

The first really big game that I recall going to was an early 10th birthday gift from my Dad. I was born on October 25th, 1959. So when the Mets made it to the World Series in '69, I was as gleeful as a ten year old baseball fan could be.

Anyway, the series fell a week or so prior to my birthday, but my Dad wangled tickets to game 3 at Shea. It was awesome; the Mets won 5-0. Gary Gentry (who?) got the win over Jim Palmer's Orioles. Tommy Agee and the Bronx's own Eddie Kranepool hit home runs. A youngster named Nolan Ryan got the save. And a ten year old Pizzaboy had one of the great days of his childhood, spent with his Dad.

I liked your story, pizzaboy.

Relive the memory a little below.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN196910140.shtml

Fantastic, Klyd!!

I just printed that out to bring up to my Dad this weekend.

I hope you guys can share some happy memories.

That was cool Klyd! I need to figure out how to use that baseball reference site. It's overwhelming for me every time I try to go there, but there was a particular game I went to as a kid that I'd like to find and print out like that one Pizzaboy went to.

The game I went to my Dad decided to leave early because the Giants were losing 7-2, I think. As a kid all I wanted was to see Kevin Mitchell hit a homerun but it was the end of the game so we left early to beat the traffic (He's an ex-Dodger fan so go figure) and when we turned on the radio to listen to the end of the game the Giants came back and won in the ninth including a Mitchell homerun. I was so mad and bring it up as often as I can to tease my Dad about it. We never left a game early ever again and I still annoy my own family now when the game is a blowout and they are cold and tired but I insist on staying to the last out.

Sorry to tell a Giants story but I was inspired by PB's story and it got me thinking about my Candlestick memories with my Dad.

Blibble, Try this:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN198909200.shtml

Can this be the game you're talking about? September 20, 1989, Dodgers at Giants? John Wetteland, who later became one of the finest closers of the 90s, started in his rookie year with the Dodgers, who led 7-0 after 3 innings. The Giants scored 3 in the 6th, and then 5 in the ninth...without recording a single out! Mitchell started the ninth with a homer.You missed a hell of a finish if this was the game.

A few weeks before this game the Phillies scored about 10 in the ninth to beat the Dodgers, who had a 9 run lead.

1989, as you know, was the year the Giants beat the Cubs to get to the world series, which is probably best known for the earthquake that hit before the game was to start.

That's it! I love you Klyd!!! Wow, how did you find that?!

That home run by Ernie Riles earlier in the game landed three rows down from us. I seriously can't believe you found that with such little information I gave you. I can't wait to show this to my Dad. Maybe I'll frame it and give it to him as a Father's Day gift next year

It wasn't too hard. I knew Mitchell played in SF from '88 to about '92. 1989 was his mvp year w/47 homers, so I researched the schedule for the '89 Giants, and scrolled down their home games, in which they scored 8 or more and their opponents scored 7 or more. This was the second game that fit those conditions.

By the way, the first two major league games I ever went to were the Giants at the Phillies, a year apart.

Back to the Mets on topic. They seem to have it going on right now. The NL East should be an interesting race, especially if the Marlins hang and the Braves get back in.

Don't look now Kly, but the Phils are only a 1/2 game up on the Metropolitans.

"Well get there, Pop. We'll get there."

All even in the loss column. It should be an exciting second half. It will be interesting to see how the Marlins and Braves do also.

I don't know Pizzaboy, there was just too much time, too much time. [Vito lamented how things would have been different in 2007 if the season was 154 games. He didn't know until that night that it would be the Phillies and not the Braves.]

Any thoughts on how Willie Randolph's dismissal has now (positively) affected the Mets' performance?

Coincidence?

The Mets quit on Randolph. It remains to be seen whether the Mets can get the lead and hold it though They're having a nice run now though.

Team chemistry is one of those intangibles that is the subject of debate. Was it Willie's fault? Some will argue that he doesn't swing the bat, pitch the ball or make the put-out, but......

I think team chemistry has a lot to do with success in team sports. How do you explain the Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays? How do you explain the Giants winning the Super Bowl? There are innumerable examples. Intangibles play a large part and it is a part that sportscasters tend to downplay because they can't explain it. And what is the power and attraction of a sports cast?.....Knowledge and prediction; chemistry takes that leverage away from them.

Joe Morgan said it best Sunday night. The Mets just seem looser under Manuel, which is surprising since Randolph wasn't exactly a disciplinarian. I think the huge pitching turnaround is due to Peterson being gone. He was an ass. He truly believed he was a genius.

Ten in a row!

First place Mets!

Klyd, my boy, they ain't lookin' back either. It's just too bad the Phillies couldn't capitalize last year, and you know, actually win a playoff game.

The Phillies made a good move picking up Blanton. He's been bad so far this year, but he's a decent starter if he gets straightened out.

Ahh...the trick isn't getting to first place. It's staying there and ending up there in October.

Well, the Phillies are back in first and the Mets are one game out.