Baseball's back!

The 2007 baseball season is upon us and it couldn't have come any sooner. It should be another big summer in New York with the Mets and Yankees geared up for another big season. Last year, the Mets and Yankees both posted the best won - loss record in baseball - 97 wins and 65 losses. Unfortunately, both teams lost in the playoffs...the Yankees going out in the first round to the eventual American League champion Detroit Tigers and the Mets taking the eventual World Champion St. Louis Cardinals to the seventh and deciding game of the National League Championship Series.

This year's regular season could be a repeat of 2006. The Mets are the premier team in the National League and the same is probably true of the Yankees in the American League. Both team's possess the strongest offenses in their respective leagues. The Mets will probably have decent to strong competition from the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League's East division while the Yankees' old nemesis the Boston Red Sox will be up their nose all year. The Toronto Blue Jays may make a little noise as well in the American League's East division.

Many of you know what I huge Mets fan I am! That's right, this Bronx guy is a Mets fan! I am pumped and primed for what I think will be a huge year for the Amazin's. It is also a bit of a bittersweet time for me personally because it is the next to last season that the Mets will be playing at my beloved Shea Stadium. The Mets are building a new home, and while I look forward to seeing games there, it can never replace that great horseshoe on the outskirts of Flushing Meadows - Corona Park. I love Shea. I've loved it since stepping inside for the first time in the early 1970s. I know all the bashing it has taken over the years. I know all of it's shortcomings. I know it's the sixth oldest stadium in major league baseball (behind Dodger Stadium, RFK Stadium, Yankee Stadium, Wrigley Field and Fenway Park). I've heard all of the things that are wrong with Shea. I still love it. I always will. And I also don't think it deserves the bashing it takes. There is a great history to Shea. A unique history. The Mets won and lost there in legendary ways! The Beatles played live there more than once. There were other legendary concerts as well. Pope John Paul II appeared there. The Jets played there for many years (1964-1983). Even the dreaded Yankees "soiled" Shea, calling it their temporary home!

Anyway, I got off track! The 2007 Mets, right! It'll be a big year! It's root, root, root for:
Moises Alou, Carlos Beltran, Ambiorix Burgos, Ramon Castro, Endy Chavez, Carlos Delgado, Damion Easley, Pedro Feliciano, Julio Franco, Tom Glavine, Shawn Green, Aaron Heilman, Orlando Hernandez, Paul LoDuca, John Maine, Pedro Martinez, Lastings Milledge, Guillermo Mota, David Newhan, Mike Pelfrey, Oliver Perez, Jose Reyes, Duaner Sanchez, Scott Schoeneweis, Aaron Sele, Joe Smith, Jose Valentin, Billy Wagner and David Wright. Manager Willie Randolph and his coaches Sandy Alomar, Sr., Rick Down, Guy Conti, Howard Johnson, Jerry Manuel, Tom Nieto and Rick Peterson. Oh, and Mr. Met, too!

(Many of you also know how much I hate the Yankees! So, it's Let's Go Mets and yes, the Yankees Suck!)

Darren DeVivo
4/4/07