The Dark Knight Returns
- Thread starter mjmaherjr
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beast of the east
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Keith Hernandez
beast of the east
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I once heard someone say that it could be the most impossible outfield catch of all time, but also should never have been attempted because it was only a single, but had he missed it, the balled likely would have rolled to the wall for at least 3 bases.
My pick for now is Ordonez. 100-game error-less streak. The thing with Lagares is that he makes them look so easy, sometimes it's hard to appreciate it fully. He's the best CF in the game, though. No doubt. I think his most impressive catch ever was a few days ago on the double-turn over-the-(wrong)-shoulder stab. Having played some CF, I can tell you that would have been impossible for me to come close to after choosing the wrong shoulder once...let alone twice.
I also think CF has an advantage because of the buildup the extra hang time gives us fans. Great plays at short happen so quickly that we can only appreciate them on replay.
JackofVirginia
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Outfield - Lagaras
Infield - Hernandez
Spocky Ramone
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Endy Chavez, NLCS game 7, 2006. I was convinced that Destiny pointed towards the first base dugout after I saw that catch.
14th inning of a mid summer game though, so not as dramatic as Endy and Swboda.
beast of the east
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I was there. Light rain. Late innings. Needed every inch of his vertical leap to grab that ball and actually went far above the wall and appeared to pull the ball back into the ballpark after it had gone beyond the fence. Agree - you thought that Mets would find a way to win after that.
I know I'm biased because opening day 1969 at Shea was my first ever baseball game (extra innings in the Expos first game, my stupid cousin got sick and we missed the end) but I still go with Swoboda.
Guys lay out all the time now, often times unnecessarily looking for web gem status. If you watch Swoboda's, even if it wasn't absolutely necessary, he is absolutely at full extension and catches the ball about 3 inches above the ground. Astounding.
Watch from the 1:15 mark and stick around for the replay.
beast of the east
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I forget the score, but the Expos beat the Mets that day.
Coco Laboy, a career minor leaguer was their first star. Rusty Staub their first legitimate star. The Mets packaged a bunch of players, notably Ken Singleton, in the deal that brought Staub to NY.
I love Swoboda, who sent my son a nice birthday card a few years back. I believe he lives in New Orleans. Was and is a really good guy, and embodied the Mets in the years 65-70 or so. When he broke out of the gates with 16 home runs by June of 65, we thought we had found our first true star. Then they fed him a diet of steady curves away. He ended up with 19 home runs and never approached that number again.
However, in the magical 1969 season, Steve Carlton fanned something like 19 Mets, but lost the game as Swoboda swatted 2 home runs. It was in games like this that the Mets began to do something magical almost every day, including a doubleheader sweep where they won 2 1-0 games, with Don Cardwell throwing one of them.
beast of the east
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Hey Austour,
Thanks for posting this. It brought back memories just to hear Curt Gowdy's voice, and of course Lindsay Nelson, even the PA announcing Elrod Hendricks. Priceless video, striking how young Harrelson and Swoboda look in the post game celebration. Boys of Summer - eternal.
Just a reminder. Most WS games then were played during the day. Most of us never saw the actual games during the week unless you had a cool teacher who would roll in a tv set.
beast of the east
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tough day for the Dark Night. Maybe he shouldn't pitch day games
Even tougher news with David Wright. Spinal Stenosis ? Ughhhhhhh
Everyone goes sour, every now and then...
As for David Wright, there are varying degrees and perhaps his will be manageable. He's a good man - hope for the best.