centerfield maz

Tuesday July 30th, 2024:   The Mets came into the game six games above .500 at 56-50 having gone 16-9 in July after having started the month at .500.  Tonight, in front of 27,767 fans at Citi Field, the Carlos Mendoza's Mets hosted Rocco Baldelli's second place Minnesota Twins (58-47).  On the mound Sean Manea (6-4) went up against the Twins David Fest (1-1). In the top of the 1st inning, Sean Manaea issued his only walk of the game, a two out walk to Royce Lewis. He then struck out Jose Miranda for his first of the night to end the inning. After retiring the next four batters, Manea gave up a base hit to Brooks Lee the first of only two hits he would allow on the night. Manaea struck out Byron Buxton to end the inning. In the top of the 4th inning, Manea struck out Royce Lewis & Jose Miranda for his third straight strike out. Carlos Santana then singled for the last Twins hit of the game. In the bottom of the 4th, David Festa walked Brandon Nimmo, then balked & t...

Wednesday July 30th, 1969: Gil Hodges second place Mets (55-42) were playing good baseball thru July, chasing the first place Chicago Cubs. But on this day, they dropped a twin bill to the team that gave them the most trouble in 1969, the Houston Astros. The Mets manager Gil Hodges demanded that his players gave it 100% at all times, no matter what the score or situation was. He also demanded discipline from his team as well. On this day, he sent a message to his team, that no slacking off would be tolerated, not even from his team's best hitter, who was chasing the NL batting title. The incident has become legendary in Gil Hodges lore & in the 1969 Mets story. Harry Walker's fifth place Houston Astros (52-49) came in to play a double header in a wet rainy Shea Stadium in front of 28,922 fans.  First Game: In the first game of this twin bill, the Astros pummeled the Mets 16-3. The game was highlighted by an eleven-run top of the...

Charles Dillon Stengel was born on July 30th, 1890, in Kansas City Missouri. His parents were German Irish & originally lived in the Illinois-Iowa, Quad Cities area. The five foot eleven Stengel batted & threw left-handed. He was a star athlete in high school playing baseball, football as well as basketball. He would play on semi pro baseball & sandlot leagues all around the Kansas City area. Eventually he was offered a contract with a Kansas City minor league team that earned him more money than his father was making.  Casey had a backup plan in case baseball didn't work out, he attended Western Dental school since he always wanted to be a dentist. He would later tell stories about how difficult it was as a left hander to use the right-handed dental equipment. His dental school background also helped him negotiate a contract in baseball.  Casey Stengel Brooklyn Superbas Originally,  he was signed as a pitcher, but he ran fa...

Tuesday July 29th, 1986: Today the Mets played a double header at Shea Stadium, with the first game being a rescheduled game from a July 19th rain out. The Mets had won their last two games, five of seven including the previous night's series opener with the Cubs. They were riding high in the NL East with MLB's best record (65-30) & a 16.5 game lead over the second place Expos. Today Ron Darling started the first game for the Mets. On July 13th, Darling had thrown a complete game shut out over the Braves at Shea Stadium. In his next two starts he gave up two runs in each game splitting the decisions, winning the latter in Cincinnati. In the top of the 1st, the Cubs started the game with back-to-back base hits from Jerry Mumphrey & Ryne Sandberg. With Thad Bosley at bat, Ron Darling caught Mumphrey leaning & picked him off at second base for the first out. It was the third pick off out Darling had made on the season.  Gary Carter then threw out Sandberg trying to st...

Saturday July 28th, 2001: Bobby Valentines reigning NL Champions Mets (48-57) were  having a rough follow up the pennant. They were lingering in fourth place, eleven games behind the rival Atlanta Braves.  In the off season the Mets did not make any big signings, only coming up with former A's pitcher Kevin Appier. In July they had gone 12-10, a mid month five game win streak was followed up by losing five of seven leading up to this afternoon's matchup.  A good crowd of 38,972 came out to support the Mets as they hosted Larry Bowa's second place Philadelphia Phillies (57-47). New York's  Al Leiter (6-8) went up against one of the leagues winningest pitchers, Omar Daal (10-3). In 2000 after winning 16 games the previous year, Daal led the NL with 19 losses then  rebounded in 2001 to go 13-7. In the bottom of the 1st, Todd Zeile doubled to left field. Mike Piazza then drew a walk. Jay Payton & Benny Agbayani followed with back-to-back RBI singles giv...