centerfield maz

Monday August 24th, 2015: Terry Collins first place New York Mets (68-56) were up 5.5 games on the Washington Nationals. The Mets were on a roll in the midst of a seven-game win streak. They went 8-1 on a successful road trip through Baltimore, Colorado & Philadelphia. Tonight, the Mets were in Philadelphia taking on Pete Mackanin's last place Phillies (50-75) who were 18.5 games behind the Mets. Tonight's pitchers were Jacob deGrom (12-6) who was on a personal four game win streak, while winning nine of his last eleven decisions dating back to mid-May.  His opponent was the Phillies' rookie Adam Morgan (4-4) in front of 23,744 fans. It looked like a bad start for the Mets as Jacob deGrom gave up three early HRs. In the bottom of the 1st, Ryan Howard hit a three run HR. In the bottom of the 2nd, Cameron Rupp hit a solo shot & in the 3rd, Dominic Brown hit another three-run shot. It was deGrom's shortest outing of the year as he was g...

2015 was an up & down year for Bartolo Colon, he began the year at 4-0 and got as good as 6-1 with a 3.30 ERA by mid-May. By mid-June he was at 9-4 until he hit a snag and lost his next six decisions. As August began, he finally earned a win in Miami, allowing just one run in seven innings. His next starts were up & down as he was 10-11 with an ERA near five by late August, then the ageless wonder went on a record setting roll. August 26th: On this night Bartolo Colon took the mound for the first place Mets (70-56) in Philadelphia, against Pete Mackanin's last place Phillies (50-77). The Mets gave Colon a quick 3-0 lead as they jumped on starter Jerad Eickhoff in the 1st inning. Curtis Granderson reached on an error; Yoenis Cespedes then reached on an infield single. As Daniel Murphy grounded out, Grandy scored making 1-0. Michael Cuddyer doubled down the left field line scoring Cespedes & Cuddyer would score on a Michael Confort...

Friday August 13th, 1999:   Bobby Valentines first place, New York Mets (70-47) had just swept a series with the San Diego Padres at Shea Stadium. In the series, Mike Piazza had three hits & drove in three runs. This started a streak where he would drive in at least one run in ten straight games.  The Mets were hot,  winning ten of their last fourteen, as they came to San Francisco to open their West Coast Road  trip.   Friday August 12th, 1999:   A crowd of 25,533 came out to see Dusty Baker's Giants (59-56) host the Mets at 3com Park.  The Giants won the opener 3-2, as Russ Ortiz beat Masato Yoshi.  In the top of the 4th inning, Mike Piazza hit his 24th HR of the season. It began another hot hitting a stretch where Piazza would homer in four consecutive games. In this game, he collected three hits, for his second straight multi-three hit game as his average went up at .314. Saturday August 14th, 1999:   This Saturday matin...

John Harden Stearns was born August 21, 1951, in Denver Colorado. His parents were Carle & Joan Stearns, had four children, three sons as well as a daughter. Their father worked in the Denver school system & encouraged his family to play sports. At one time he played football at the University of Colorado. Athletic Family:  In 1971 his older brother Bill, was drafted by the AL New York club, as a catcher but never made the big leagues. He would spend 1974-1977 in AAA ball. Younger brother Rick played football for the CU Buffaloes & sister Carla was a softball catcher at the University of Northern Colorado. At high school he was chosen to be the catcher, because he was the best athlete on the team. In 1969, at age 17, John was originally drafted by the Oakland A's but chose to attend the University of Colorado like his dad.  Stearns became a star baseball & football player at the University of Colorado.  Honors: He would get elected to the C...