Monday Morning — September 22nd, 2003
The end of the season is almost upon us. After today's off day, the Mets welcome the Pirates to Shea to finish up the last homestand of the year. Then they travel down to Florida to finish off the season with three games against the Marlins.
Saying Goodbye To a Legend - FSNY teamed up broadcaster Bob Murphy and Ralph Kiner last Friday, which was Murphy's 79th birthday, so that the two colleagues could call one final game together. Both men have called Mets games since the team's inception in 1962. In recent years Murphy has broadcast exclusively for the radio while Kiner has called the games for television, but in the past the two used to alternate between the mediums as a team. In honor of this event, FSNY aired the game with graphics that were used back in 1973 and abandoned the centerfield camera in order to give the broadcast a retro feel. It was touching seeing these two Mets legends and Baseball Hall of Famers reunited one last time.
Fans will have one final opportunity to say goodbye to Murphy on Thursday, the Mets' final home game of the season, when the team hosts Bob Murphy Night festivities prior to the game against the Pirates.
Roster Notes - On September 12, the Mets called up first baseman Mike Glavine, younger brother of Tom Glavine, as well as outfielder Matt Watson. The Glavines have the distinction the first brothers to ever to appear on the Mets' major league roster together. When Mike Glavine pinch hit for Tom on September 14, that was the second time this season that one brother has pinch hit for another -- the first time was on June 21 when Anaheim's Benjie Molina pinch hit for his brother, Jose.
Watson, meanwhile, should fit right in with new dads Jaime Cerda (see below), Joe McEwing and Jason Phillips -- Matt and his wife, Nicole, are expecting their first child in November. Watson is also the first Xavier University player to make the major leagues since Jim Bunning.
To make room on the 40-man roster for these moves, Jose Reyes was transferred to the 60-day disabled list, and Jason Roach was designated for assignment.
Jason Middlebrook has cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk.
Hazing the Rookies - In what has become an annual tradition, the Mets veterans hazed the rookies by making them dress up in odd costumes before clearing customs and flying home from Montreal last Sunday. Jae Weong Seo was an aging Elvis Presley; Jason Anderson was Supergirl; Aaron Heilman was Snow White; Danny Garcia was Superman; Jeremy Griffiths was Scooby Doo; Prentice Redman was Spiderman; Dan Wheeler was Cleopatra; Jeff Duncan was SpongeBob Squarepants; Matt Watson was Wonder Woman; Mike Glavine was an Arabian Princess; and Edwin Almonte started out as the Little Mermaid, but quickly traded his bra and tail for a She-Devil outfit. First year coach Nelson Silverio was dressed as a French Maid, and Seo's translator, Daniel Kim (who was previously Tsuyoshi Shinjo's translator and, thus, really shouldn't have been treated as a rookie) was Catwoman.
Grimace-Gate - The press had made a big story out of the fact that Tom Glavine was visibly disappointed on the mound on September 14 when Roger Cede
Men of the Month - Jose Reyes was named the John Gerald Jewelers Mets Player of the Month for the month of August. Meanwhile, Tom Glavine took home the honors as the Sharp Mets Pitcher of the Month for August.
And The Awards Go To - Last week the Mets announced the winners of their minor league awards. Organizational Player of the Year was Binghamton catcher Mike Jacobs, while Pitcher of the Year honors went to St. Lucie's Matt Peterson. The Mets also announced their Sterling Awards, which went to the MVPs of each minor league team. The 2003 Sterling Award recipients are:
Norfolk - Jeremy Griffiths
Binghamton - Rodney Nye
St. Lucie - David Wright
Capital City - Aaron Baldaris
Brooklyn - Ian Bladergroen
Kingsport - Tyler Davidson
Congratulations - To Jaime Cerda and his wife, Cindy, on the birth of their first child, a daughter. Maliyah Nicole Cerda was born on September 19 and clocked in at a healthy 8 pounds, 1 ounce.
It's Official! - We've always known that Joe McEwing is a good guy, and now it's official. The New York Press Photographer's Association selected McEwing as this year's Good Guy Award winner.
Back to School - Congratulations to 12-year-old Matthew Zay, who won Sports Authority's "Take Al Leiter to School" sweepstakes. Leiter accompanied Zay to I.S. 119 in Glendale, Queens last Friday.
Remembering September 11th - Although the Mets were idle on September 11, they commemorated the terrible events of 2001 the previous day. Before the afternoon home game there was a picnic for 9/11 organizations. A tape of Yolanda Dowling performing the National Anthem at Shea on August 4, 1996 was played before the game - Dowling was one of those who perished in the World Trade Center. Five family members who were affected by the attack were chosen to throw out ceremonial first pitches. Eight Mets players wore caps from different service organizations who lost members on that day. Mike Piazza, John Franco, Al Leiter and Tom Glavine donated $5,000 apiece to the Tuesday's Children Fund to benefit children who lost parents on 9/11, and the Mets Foundation matched that donation with an additional $20,000.
A Birthday Present - Grant Roberts recorded his first major league save on September 13, which was also his 26th birthday. But he didn't get to keep the game ball from this milestone - rookie Prentice Redman mistakenly tossed it into the stands after the game's final out.
You CAN Go Home Again - Illinois native Jeff Duncan enjoyed playing games at Wrigley last week, where he watched countless games as a youngster. Duncan's father, Mark, rented a bus and purchased 100 bleacher tickets for last Wednesday's game.
In the Community - Al Leiter was the spokesperson for the Second Annual Let Freedom Run on September 13. Proceeds from the race benefited Rusty Staub's New York Police and Fire Widows and Children's Benefit Fund.
Leiter was also the Mets' nominee for this year's Marvin Miller Man of the Year award.
Meanwhile, John Franco, who turned 43 years old last Wednesday, is the Mets' recipient of the Roberto Clemente Award for 2003.
Yesterday was the "Take The Jerseys Off Their Backs" promotion, where fans at the game purchased instant win tickets. The winners received autographed jerseys that the players had worn that day following the game. All proceeds from this event benefited the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
The Mets, the National Prostate Coalition Center (NPCC) and Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith have teamed up to Take A Swing Against Prostate Cancer, which is a campaign to educate men about the risks of prostate cancer. Smith will be at Shea for a press conference prior to tomorrow's game, and fans in attendance will receive blue ribbon pins as well as Take A Swing Against Prostate Cancer cards featuring Smith.
In the Minors - Congratulations to the St. Lucie Mets, who defeated Dunedin to win the Florida State League Championship.
Danny Garcia, the first player for the Brooklyn Cyclones to play in the major leagues, threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Cyclones' championship game against Williamsport of September 10. Unfortunately, the Cyclones' dream of a 2003 championship was dashed that night when they lost to Williamsport 4-3 in 11 innings.
In other minor league news, outfielder Angel Pagan and pitcher Orlando Roman have been chosen to play on the Puerto Rican Olympic Qualifying Team.
Rest in Peace - To Channel 11 broadcaster Sean Kimerling, who died of testicular cancer on September 9 at the age of 37. In his memory, Sean's family has established The Sean Kimerling Testicular Cancer Foundation. For more information, or to make a donation to the foundation, please write to the foundation at 29 Broadway, Suite 1412, New York, NY 10006.
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Unless otherwise stated, these stories have been extracted from reports on www.nydailynews.com, www.nypost.com, www.nytimes.com, www.njo.com, www.newsday.com, www.bergenrecord.com, AP , and www.mets.com reports.
