I’m still in shell shock so this is more of a memory dump than an organized thought.
I’ll start with the happy thoughts.
The ceremony was very nice. I heard the organization getting grief for having it after the game, but that’s how you close a stadium. The Mets saw the awkwardness coming and asked MLB if they could change the start time of the game but MLB said no. Sure the Mets could have scheduled the pregame for 11am, but it was pouring rain and would have gotten messed up. Ever been to an Old Timers Day when it rains? It sucks. (By the way Mets, bring back Old Timers Day).
So I’m not going to kill them for having it afterwards. In fact I applaud them because that’s how you do it.
It was very cool to see Yogi & Mays, Stearns & Swan…and Lee Mazzilli in his proper #16 (that settles that once and for all). Nice that Dwight Gooden showed up. Nice to chant Dar-ryl. I think the fans are a little carried away with the 2000 Mets and apparently Robin Ventura is the 4th most popular player in Mets history.
Seaver walking down the right field line brought me back to Opening Day 1983, and it was very fitting to have him throw one last pitch (even if it bounced half-way home). That was a good way to close out the mound. Seaver & Piazza nearly hand in hand walking out to centerfield, the lights go out, we go home. Very nice. A mind’s eye picture I won’t forget.
That’s how I’d like to remember Shea.
Now let’s head backward through the day for some not so happy thoughts:
After they blew the playoffs they made us sit there for half an hour so they could line up some bizarro black & white pictures. They actually had measuring tape to line them up in some precise formation and then proceeded to ignore the pictures during the ceremony.
– Then they kicked it off by introducing executives nobody ever heard of. Was also lame in pregame to have vendors. Nobody cares.
– No mention of McDowell, Cone or even the king of second place Bobby V?
– Ray Knight where were you?
– Mookie why the baby attack. Show up.
– Davey same thing.
– coulda done more for Bob Murphy & Lindsey Nelson
Then there’s the game. What a shock, the bullpen blew the season. We all saw this coming a week ago – several posts right here on The Mets Police about it. They blew a game, we all booed, and it sucked the life out of the ceremony. That sucks.
Looks like Omar gets his 4 year extension. Omar says Jerry is staying. That’s cool. Time to root for the Rays-Torre World Series.
Bye Shea – it wasn’t pretty but it was often fun.
