There are 15 teams who are National League opponents of the Mets. If you’re trying to list them, I’ll bet I know which one you tend to forget.
The Pirates have faded so far from their glories of the ’70s and early ’90s, become such a non-factor in the competitive scheme of things and, most relevantly, been scheduled at such odd intervals against us that they’re pre-eminently mind-slippable.
But remember a few things as if you need motivation beyond that “1” that just sits there and sits there and sits there.
The Mets have been clinched against five times in their regular-season history, twice at the hands of the Pirates. They won their first and last division titles in our faces in 1970 and 1992 at Three Rivers Stadium. Worse yet, the ’70 loss eliminated us (and the Cubs) simultaneously.
(The other three? Expos mini-division in ’81, the Braves’ 10th consecutive division in ’00 and the Marlins’ Wild Card in ’03.)
PNC Park, the most beauteous of any in the senior circuit, has produced little of value to the citizens of Metsopotamia. We opened the joint in an exhibition series in ’01, where the Mets learned of the death of Brian Cole. They were there on 9/11 and returned there a week later to play the first games that followed a national tragedy. The Mets swept but, honestly, who cared that much?
In September 2004, we were introduced to Jason Bay as we were saying goodbye to Art Howe. A nice confluence of everything that had gone wrong for the Mets in the previous couple of years: a budding superstar frittered away in a dopey trade was sticking it to his old team while a manager who never should have been hired and who had just been quasi-fired was sticking around essentially for the free trip to his hometown.
And of course July 8, 2005, probably the most injurious loss, mentally speaking, of the Faith and Fear era.
We need a new memory, a good memory from this place. Tonight.
The family was there for that second exhibition game at PNC. I'll send you a photo of us that was taken right before we learned of Brian Cole's death during a moment of silence before the game.
It's a gorgeous park (my favorite one, actually), but that's a sad association with the place.
Let's Go Mets!!
That's all I have to say. For now.
One of the earliest games I recall going to with my father was a game in 1973 where the Mets moved into first place in September for good against the Pirates. They had come all the way from last place.
I think it was this game.
Ya gotta believe!
JoAnn
OK, I tried. But admit it, Greg, you knew I wouldn't be able to do it…
JULY 8, 2005!!! DON'T GET ME STARTED!!! I have rarely been so screaming, shouting, blazing, stuff-throwing ANGRY at this team. It was months before I could hear the word “Pittsburgh” without flying into an incoherent rage.
For God's sake.
I know exactly where I was that night. We were at an open air concert in Philly – The Philadelphia Orchestra was playing the music of John Williams, and we had lawn seats. We were following the game on my Sidekick, and went from glee to dejection during the Harry Potter soundtrack :(
BTW, July 8, 2000 was another bad date in Mets history. Not Pittsburgh related, but awful nonetheless.
Or tomorrow afternoon, as the case may be.
Of course! I knew Milledge's 12 pitch at-bat yesterday was reminiscent of something! Tike Redman….I'll be damned. That was a truly horrible game. Remember when there was actually some question about whether Redman or Endy would be our fourth outfielder? Ha.
P.S. No clinching tonight. Again. This is getting a wee bit frustrating.
Ray,
Hope you're sticking around tonight. It's be a shame to waste all those frequent flier miles fruitlessly.