centerfield maz

Sunday September 1st, 1985: Davey Johnson's Mets (77-52) were two games out of first place, behind the St. Louis Cardinals. Today they were playing the rubber game of a three-game set in San Francisco against Jim Davenport's last place Giants (51-77). The Mets starter was Ed Lynch (10-7) going up against the Giants Dave LaPoint (7-11) in front of a small crowd of 9,975 at Candlestick Park.   Homecoming: For Keith Hernandez it was always special coming to play in the Bay Area where he grew up. Hernandez lived 30 minutes south of San Francisco in Pacifica, California. He enjoyed playing against the team he rooted for as a kid when his father would take him & his brother to games at Candlestick Park.  Tonight, Keith would not get the start at first base, as Gary Carter got the start at the position. The Mets were in a funk as they had just lost four of five games, but after today would go on a five-game win streak, taking the next seven of...

Monday August 30th, 1999: Bobby Valentine's New York Mets (80-52) were 2.5 games behind the first place Atlanta Braves, at this point of the season. But t he Mets had the second-best record in the NL & were leading the wild card race by three games. On this road trip, the Mets had lost two of three games in Arizona, whom they would end up facing in that year's NLDS.  Tonight, was the start of a three-game set in Houston, facing Larry Dierker's first place Astros (78-54).  The Astros had a half game lead over the Cincinnati Reds who were right behind the Mets in the Wild Card race.  Tonight, a crowd of 28,032 came to the Astrodome as the Mets sent Masato Yoshii (8-8) to the mound to face Shane Reynolds (14-10). At this point in the season, all these games were very important as the season was about to enter it's final month. In the top of the 1st inning, Edgardo Alfonzo came to bat miring in a 3-30 slump.  But he snapped out of it as he hit a on...

After the Pennant- 1974: After their pennant season, the Mets struggled the next season. McGraw was no exception. On Opening Day, he gave up a walk off HR to Mike Schmidt in Philadelphia. He did earn his first save the next day. On April 14th, he took an extra inning loss at Shea, this one to the Phillies as well. On May 5th the Padres tagged him for two runs, to come from behind in a 5-4 win, earning him another loss. By May 15th, his ERA was an enormous 9.00. In a June 30th double header he gave up HRs in both ends, taking the loss in the night cap, when Bake McBride hit a 10th inning HR.  It wasn't until July 28th, when he earned his first win. In August he did win four games but also blew two games where he took the loss.  Player of the Week: On August 27th he was given a start at Shea against the Astros. He gave up just one run in six innings to earn the 4-2 win. On September 1st, he threw his only career shut out. It came against the Atlanta Braves in a 3-0 win, wher...

1973 Mets N.L. Pennant Season:   Tug started out the season with another Opening Day save, after relieving Tom Seaver to finish off ta shut out of the Philadelphia Phillies.  At the end of April, he had four straight saves and was posting a 1.59 ERA, just like the Tug McGraw of old.  But in May he began to struggle, on May 4th he entered a tie game against the Astros, with the bases loaded in the 8th inning. He walked three runs in & had to be removed, the Mets lost it in extra innings.  On May 6th, he came  into  the game in the 6th inning, with two on & the Mets up on the Astros 7-3. He gave up a double to Cesar Cedeno & a three run HR to Bob Watson tying up the game. In the 7th, he gave up two hits & then walked two batters blowing the  four-run  lead having to be removed again. The Mets blew the game losing 14-8. Tug did get a bit on track saving three games until May 19th, when he served up HRs to the Pirates Bob Rob...