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Well, I got some grief yesterday for posting about a pennant the Mets clinched at Shea in 2000 before losing to the Yankees. So today let’s remember the Grand Slam Single of 1999. I was also there, and I had a new job and tons of work to do and here I am at the game and it’s going on forever and I have to be 100 miles north tomorrow morning and they’ll probably lose anyway and… wait a minute, this is one of the best games I’ve ever seen. It didn’t matter that we were drenched, that the game was more than five hours old, that the Mets hadn’t scored since the first inning, or that Atlanta owns us. Live in the moment, Mets fans! Even if the moment is 20 years old!! Stop comparing yourself to Yankees fans!!! That’s what I told myself that afternoon at Shea and was rewarded with a moment I will never forget it. Neither should you!

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Back when there were no Nationals, just the scruffy, cuddly Expos, whose parents were cruelly cheap but they did speak French, the Mets took the Wild Card and then took the pennant in a dominant display over the Cardinals. Mike Hampton was brilliant, pitching AN ACTUAL COMPLETE GAME SHUTOUT IN A POSTSEASON GAME (the second in as many series by a Met that fall). Shea Stadium shook like I’d never experienced before, as Todd Zeile cleared the bases with a double and you knew that Game Five was going to be the clincher and you were going to see it happen. It was wonderful, beautiful for about 24 hours. And then some pushy guys from the Bronx clinched the other pennant and you came to realize that the next two weeks would either be the best of your baseball life, or it was going to feel like putting a beloved pet to sleep. Goodbye, Hampton.

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The 1973 Mets went from last to first in a month’s time to take an NL East division no one seemed interested in winning. Beating the Big Red Machine in the best-of-five NLCS was another matter. The rules of the day had home-field assigned on a rotating basis with the same team hosting Games Three, Four, and Five. The Mets took full advantage  of this scheduling. Pete Rose may have won the fight, but the Mets won the war. The riot at Shea Stadium that followed the pennant clinching was a whole different matter.

I look at the significance of the game, the day, and the year against a tense political backdrop in Swinging ’73 and in a piece I wrote today for Rising Apple.

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This is a challenge to summarize all that happened during the Rose-Harrelson brawl. I spent at least a month crafting this part of Swinging ’73 and talked to as many Mets as I could find, from Jerry Koosman, who was the mound and remembered little of it, to Rusty Staub, who was running in from right field and saw the commotion out of the corner of his eye, to Ron Hodges leading the bullpen charge, to Jon Matlack, who was in the bathroom and came out wondering what the hell was going on! I got some input from George Theodore, Wayne Garrett, and Buzz Capra, who were in the middle of the action—Theodore, still recovering from a broken hip, was just trying to break it up and not break something else.

Somehow, no players were ejected. Fans pelted the field with debris when Rose came out to left field for the next inning. WFAN’s Bob Heussler was a college freshman in the front row in the loge: “When you saw the whiskey bottle come flying onto the field, you knew this was pretty much out of control.” Sparky Anderson pulled the Reds off the field. A contingent of Mets—manager Yogi Berra, Willie Mays, Tom Seaver, Cleon Jones, and Staub—came out to left field to calm the fans and avoid a possible forfeit. And a full scale riot.

I went out to the Long Island Ducks ballpark to talk to part-owner Bud Harrelson in 2012. What a gentleman! We talked in between him pitching batting practice to the Ducks and he provided the back-story of the bad blood that ensued after Matlack limited the Reds to two hits in Game Two in Cincinnati. Like Mookie Wilson and Bill Buckner years later, the autograph circuit actually brought Rose and Harrelson closer together as time wore on. Not friends—like Mook and Billy Buck became—but accomplices in a long ago time.

You may have heard that this is the 50^th anniversary of the 1969 Mets. Well this month marks 50 years since the Mets raised the flag high and Fans for the Cure is holding a celebration for the Miracle Mets on Monday, October 21, at the SVA Theater at 333 W. 23rd Street in New York.

On hand will be 1969 Mets Cleon Jones, Art Shamsky, Ron Swoboda, and Ed Kranepool to help raise money to help raise awareness of prostate cancer. Mets great and manager of the league champion Brooklyn Cyclones Edgardo Alfonzo—why isn’t he in the Mets Hall of Fame?—will be a special guest. It is organized by Ed Randall of Talkin’ Baseball on the FAN and Sirius XM. He is the founder of Fans for the Cure.

Ed has always been generous with his time and done interviews of me and for me, providing some great insight in what it was like in press row during the 1986 World Series and his story of flying over Shea during an ’86 postseason game was included in Shea Stadium Remembered. I met Ron Swoboda at a Mets-Marlins game on the last homestand and he was awesome. Ed Kranepool is a true gentleman and an original Met who invited me to his house and whose photos decorate my book and my office. Cleon Jones and Art Shamsky nailed down the outfield corners at Shea—with Rocky Swoboda taking over against lefties.

Here is a link to how you can take part. I also donated a book for the auction and will try to be there. There is a reception at 6 p.m., an hour before the event. It is the night before this year’s World Series, but regardless of this year’s matchup it can’t touch the magic of the ’69 World Series. Fifty years flies by in a snap!

Well, this was the day I was supposed to celebrate my Favorite Nonplaying Met, the player I annually feature whose butt is stuck to the bench because the manager didn’t give the guy a chance. We’ll do the FNP Mets Award another day. The fact that I have such an award says that I have a long history of second-guessing Mets managers.

I have disliked most of them. Joe Torre, whose poor decision-making and making a bad club worse ruined the 59,000 years he managed the Mets between my sixth and 11th grade years. I despised him long before he took over the Yankees. I still spit whenever someone mentions Torre’s replacement, George Bamberger, who quit on the Mets like a nightshift clerk at a convenience store after a robbery. Art Howe was arguably the worst Mets manager I’ve seen in the past 30 years. I kind of liked Dallas Green—maybe because I covered his clubhouse a little in 1995. He didn’t dicker around.

Bud Harrelson was a great guy and a bad manager. Same for Frank Howard. Jerry Manuel had a nice little run there until the 2008 bullpen exploded—that group actually made this year’s pen look reliable. But I quickly grew weary of Jerry in the years that followed. Willie Randolph lost me for good during those last 17 days of 2007. I never liked Terry Collins’s decision making, but the guy did have guts. I thought T.C. deserved the Manager of the Year in 2015 and 2016. And this comes from someone who thought he should be fired as late as July of ’15. By ’17, though, it was so over.

Davey Johnson and Bobby Valentine were the gold standard of Mets managers in my time. Most of the others I judge by the fact that no one since Johnson has been hired to manage another club for more than one season. Except for Jeff Torborg, who was abysmal and was hired by a friend and somehow managed both Montreal and Florida. Into the ground.

And then along came Mickey. I don’t care who they hire to manage the team, so long as that guy can take the Mets to a world championship. They do that and I will hang that man’s picture in my man cave. I’ll hang the GM’s picture, too. Then I’ll start selling off my baseball belongings because I’ll be sure that there isn’t much more to see on this earth. Because I have severe doubts that this team will ever win another title in my lifetime.

Mickey was terrible. Maybe that sounds harsh, but even the things he did right felt like accidents. The players liked him, but I’m pretty sure they really want to win, too. (At least I hope they do!) I thought Callaway was in over his head from the beginning. I would like to see the Mets hire someone who knows what he’s doing. And if the GM or the chief operating officer are texting the manager about who should be pitching the eighth inning—especially if they do this before the game even starts—they need to stop. Let the manager manage. Then you blame him when things go wrong. That is how the game has worked forever. If you are calling the shots, then you are the ones to blame, Brodie and Jeff. One of you can be fired. The other is the reason I have such doubts about another championship while I’m alive.

Baseball managers need to be former baseball players. Is that some kind of “ism” line that I’ve crossed? Like nonballplayerism? Whatever, the players respect people who know how hard it is to play the game and constantly dealing with the pressure that someone can take their job at any time. Unless they have a large contract. And then Cano is batting third every day because the GM got him that contract as his agent. And then traded the farm to get him and someone who created Ninth Inning on Elm Street.

Where was I? Oh, yeah, it seems crazy for the Mets to fire a manager who won 86 games, but this team should have won 96 games. (The Mets Pythagorean W-L, a formula based on the team’s run for and against, was also 86 wins. Anyone who watched this team, however, knows that Mickey screwed the pooch on at least half a dozen games this year because he: 1. used a pitcher too soon, 2. used him too late, 3. pulled a starter who was going great and hadn’t thrown too many pitches, or 4. let Edwin Diaz work it out on the mound with the game on the line when anyone from a million miles away could see the dude was in the middle of a classic sore-arm, down year after a good year, brain-lock meltdown funk. I hope it’s one of those things because the Mets gave up way too much to Seattle just to give up on Diaz and let him figure it out for another team and make Mets fans even crazier than they already are.)

That parenthetical sequence there went on about as long as a ninth-inning with Mickey in the dugout. I had hoped that a pitching coach turned manager would make the staff better. Nope. Jacob deGrom may well win two Cy Young Awards on Mickey’s watch, but the fact that the Mets were only 14-18 in deGrom starts in each of those two seasons is a major reason why Callaway will not be at Citi Field next year. Life is short. And so was his tenure.

I have been a Mets fan for a long time, and the 2019 season goes right up there with 1984, 1997, and 2005 as my favorite Mets seasons where the team did not make the postseason. As 1984 broke a string of losing seasons that extended back to childhood—and it kicked off the most prosperous period in Mets history—it can’t be surpassed in my eyes. But seeing how crappy this 2019 team looked the last time I got out the grading book (as a refresher, they were 40-50 and then lost the first game of the second half to moribund Miami), this season is a revelation. And if Pete Alonso isn’t the slugging version of Dwight Gooden in 1984, I can’t wait to see who’ll top that some day.

I have actual hope for next year. Even in 2016—after letting Daniel Murphy walk after proving he was an All-Star capable of carrying the team when it truly counted—I did not hold out hope the Mets would get back to the World Series. They didn’t.

I am still not sold on the current manager—or the general manager—but I have real hope. Whether or not Yoenis Cespedes comes back at all. There will be others who won’t come back: Wheeler? Syndergaard? Frazier? (That was a joke, the best thing about the Toddfather was an occasional flash of power and his “Fly Me to the Moon” walkup song.) They are stuck with Edwin Diaz and Robinson Cano. Let’s hope they can make the best of them and keep that trade from being one of the worst trades in team history—a category already so full, it does not need any recent additions.

Batters have to have at least 50 plate appearances to receive a grade—or they qualified for grades in half number one due to reduced requirements. So that keeps us from handing out grades to the likes of the anemic Aaron Altherr, the trying Travis d’Arnaud, reliable relic Rene Rivera, recycled Ruben Tejada, missing person Jed Lowrie, the pinch-running stylings of Sam Haggerty, and the wizened bench mojo of Rajai Davis (more on him later this week).

As for the pitchers, they need at least 20 innings or had to qualify in the first half. So we won’t hear about pariah Paul Sewald, battling Brad Brach, cranky Chris Mazza, crushable Chris Flexen, lame Jacob Rhame, damnable Daniel Zamora, heinous Hector Santiago, tepid Tim Peterson, Brooks “How’d he get a win?” Pounders, cursed Corey Oswalt, Ryan “What was so bad about Sgt.” O’Rourke?, ditto for Donnie Hart, and the ever-burning question: who the hell is Stephen Nogosek?

Now here’s everyone else in this season of great disappointment and greater joy.

Second-Half 2019 Report Card

                   1H 2H Final 

Pete Alonso A  A  A Years from now fans will still be talking about his rookie year. The next Mets captain.

Jacob deGrom A- A+ A 7-1 and 1.44 ERA in 2H; led NL in K’s. And that’s with pen giving away his wins. cyGrom redux.

Jeff McNeil  A  B+ A- Battled injuries and batted 63 points lower in 2H, but 31 of last 61 hits were XBH. Squirrel power!

J.D. Davis B A A-To whomever makes out lineup in 2019: J.D. must play. Dominant at Citi and in 2H. Only 99 starts.

Wilson Ramos B- A- B+ Monster at plate in 2H. Handled Thor situation with class and kept hitting. Batted .307 with RISP.

Seth Lugo D+ A B One reason Callaway should go is how long it took him to see that Lugo was only option to close.

Michael Conforto C B+ B Stats were similar in two halves, except for batting average. Different guy after walkoff vs. Nats.

Amed Rosario C A B Killer 2H showed what he is capable of .319/.351/.453 after break, Defense was far better in 2H.

Zack Wheeler C+ B+ B If you’re going to pay a boatload of dough for a pitcher with a B average, it should be Thor.

Noah Syndergaard C+ B B Yes, his ERA is lower with backup catchers, but he acted like an ass. He should dominate!

Dominic Smith B+ C  B Showed he belonged. Best cheerleader in NL despite injury. Epic walkoff HR to end ’19!

Brandon Nimmo D+ B C+ Redeemed lousy start by returning from injury to reach base in 40 of 93 PA. Great attitude!

Robinson Cano F B C Despite injury, Cano much better in 2H. Can’t hit lefties, or bat third.

Todd Frazier C C C Not a fan, but I don’t think he cares. Had 21 HRs, 40 BBs, 12 errors. McNeil can make that up.

Steven Matz C- C C Better in 2H, but LI kid needs Mets more than they need him: 2.31 ERA at Citi; 6.62 elsewhere.

Robert Gsellman D C+ C Was pitching better in 2H. When he got hurt, no safety net in pen. Terrible at Citi; solid on road.

Juan Lagares D C+ C Witnessed both his Citi Field HRs this year—in same game. Better in 2H, but contract done; so’s he.

Tomas Nido C+ D- C- Bat .093 in 2H? You bet Ramos catches everybody. Wilmer nailed higher percentage of runners, too.

Jeurys Familia F D D- Better in 2H, but still not good enough to pitch in meaningful spots other than as experiment.

Edwin Diaz F F F Arguably the worst season ever by a Mets closer; 26 saves proves how bogus save rule is.

Only Appeared in One Half as Met

Justin Wilson   B+ Didn’t qualify for 1H due to injury, but Mets surged after his return. Lefty & Lugo only reliable relievers.

Marcus Stroman  C+ Patchogue-Medford kid was pretty bad at first, but settled in to be a worthy mid-season pickup.

Jason Vargas C+ Vargas did got 3-1 after All-Star break before trade to Philly.His tough guy act was BS.

Joe Panik       C+  Great grab off waivers. Hopewell Junction kid only 28, but no position and arbitration make him ex-Met.

Luis Avilan  C+ Like Panik, snagged off waivers. Bad in April, hurt in May, perfect in July, godsend in August So-so in Sept.

Luis Guillorme   C  Louie, Louie, Louie, Louie—you’re not so bad: .246/.324/.361; hit .300 in 2H and .263 as PH.

Adainy Hechevarria C- Had vendetta against Mets. If he’d done that in NY against another ex-team, might still be a Met.

Carlos Gomez D   Nice to see his smile back in Mets uni. Stole 4 bases, hit 3 HRs before falling off OF merry-go-round.

Wilmer Font D- When Mets traded for Font in May, 2019 seemed done. Sold to Jays on 7/17; Mets 43-25 afterward.

Tyler Bashlor   D-  0-3 for second straight year. Didn’t qualify in 1H despite logging all 3 L’s. Blowout losses only, please.

Drew Gagnon D- Pitched sparingly in NY after June, but ERA still rose to 8.37—worst of any Met with 10 innings.

Walter Lockett   D- His 8.34 ERA nearly topped Gagnon. Came in Plawecki trade. Bombed in finale, Dom saved the day.

Keon Broxton F   If Aaron Altherr qualified, he’d be worst position player of 2019, but Mets wasted 53 PA on Keon.

Manager/GM

Mickey Callaway F B C Players respond to him, but overwhelmed in tight moments. Mets don’t make next step with him.

Brodie Van Wagenen F C+D+ Like Callaway, I don’t think he takes Mets to championship. Stop trading for old clients!

My sincere thanks to Steve Somers for having me on WFAN to talk about Shea Stadium Remembered. For someone who has spent many hours listening to the FAN over the years, it is always a thrill to match wits with the Schmoozer. And special thanks to his update partner, Bob Heussler (Mr. Met), who made sure it happened. I met both of them after the last Mets game of 2010 on a frigid day when Oliver Perez walked in the winning run in the 14th inning. I knew who they were and had to go over to shake the hands of true hardcore fans!

If you missed it, or want to hear it again, here is the interview on WFAN. And his Shea monologue to open the show is a classic as well.

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This would normally be where I tell you all about the Black Cat game of 1969. Half-century old spoiler alert: the cat dragged in the Cubs and the Mets won the game and every other blessed thing in 1969. But there is a 50-year-old story I just came across this week from friend of the site Paul Lukas (of Uni Watch fame) at his new gig at a little outfit called Sports Illustrated. Never knew any of this inside stuff he found, but the Cubs were more spooked than I ever thought, and I’ve researched this story many times over the years. Favorite. Cat. Story. Ever.

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For the first time since their first game at Shea in 1964, the Jets open the football season at Shea Stadium. The 14-year wait does not go unnoticed. The Jets, Mets, the city, and the courts wrangled long and hard to grant the Jets early access to Shea. As primary tenant the Mets maintained priority and would not agree to have a Jets game at Shea until the baseball season ended, leading to the Jets continually starting on the road, sometimes spending the first month away from Shea. A home game was even shifted to Pittsburgh during the Mets’ 1973 postseason run. In 1977 the Jets played their first home game at Giants Stadium. The addition of two games to the NFL schedule in 1978 brings the Shea issue to a head, but the rancor will eventually lead the Jets to find a new roommate.

Despite horrific traffic thanks to the holiday weekend and U.S. Open Tennis next door, 49,000 see the Jets upset the Dolphins, 33-20, as Richard Todd tosses three touchdowns. Donned in new uniforms, Walt Michaels’s club will collect their most wins since 1969, but the Jets will drop their final two games to finish 8-8 and out of the playoffs for the eighth straight year.