The Last Game At Shea: How A Marlins Fan Saw It

By Pat McCabe

Let me start this post by saying that I bleed Marlins’ turquoise and silver, and have being proudly doing so since 1993. Sure, I was just a little kid who liked the team because the logo was really cool, but the connection I have with the Marlins quickly developed, and I have been locked in for the entire ride. I’ve seen the best and worst of times, and as any true Rays fan can tell you, seeing your team on the brink of the World Series after having the worst record in baseball a couple of years ago gives true meaning to the phrase “die-hard fan.”

Now, all that being said, this die-hard Marlins fan has to confess that for one day (and one day only!) I had to go against my Marlins. I needed time since September 28, 2008 to decide why I was rooting against the Marlins, but finally, I’ve got it. Now, its not my extreme hatred of those Philadelphia Phillies, nor is it the fact that roughly seven of the Marlins on the field during that game won’t be back next season, but it comes down to the fact that, because I live in New Jersey, Shea Stadium is the stadium I’ve called home. For my entire life.



The last game at Shea was certainly an example of the hardnosed, spikes up approach that the Marlins have played the Mets since they came into the league. The games are close, high intensity, and always end with a bang. Sure, I loved seeing Wes Helms and Dan Uggla club back-to-back jacks and take the lead, but when Matt Lindstrom retired the last Mets' batter, I realized that the stadium I have been to the most in my life is now...gone.

Now, a Mets victory wouldn’t have kept the stadium open for more seasons, but had the Mets made the playoffs, Shea would have received a fitting end to its long run. This idea holds true for the Yankees as well...both New York teams deserved to retire their stadiums after one final season of October baseball

Next year, when the Mets open their beloved Citi Field, I hope the Marlins come into town and win the game 10-0. But for one game, that last game at Shea, hearing the phrase, “Goodbye Shea,” will stay with me much, much longer than a Gary Cohen letting “the Marlins win" close out SNY's last ever broadcast from Shea.



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Should I Stay or Should I Go Now ?

By Jeremiah Sullivan

Mets fans in and around the tri-state area are probably left asking themselves that question after an abysmal end to 2008. However, the one bright side of the weekend was Santana. Johan, thank you for that.

I checked my calendar three times during the latter part of the Mets'4-2 season-ending loss to the Florida Marlins on Sunday...just to make sure I was reliving a 'groundhog day' in 2007. There was no aging southpaw trying to paint the corners to no avail. Or an eight run deficit for a team to climb out of. Rather, it was a close game until the eighth, when the ball was handed over to the bullpen. Yikes.

The Mets have dropped the ball for a second year in a row. A new stadium is already being transitioned for next season; the former house being picked a part by wrecking-balls and scavengers. What's left of the '08 season is a bunch of...'overachievers'?



C'mon now, an organization calling such a large market home, combined with a hefty payroll and bills to pay thanks to the brandy-new Citi Field is going to call themselves overachievers ? For Mets fans across the country, that...is a slap in the face. Piece by piece, the Mets farm system has been depleted and necessary role players have been traded away in hopes of improving this team. However, far too often do the Mets find themselves in a position saying, 'Well if only we hadn't done that deal...'

A little late for that.

Does frustration begin to describe the feeling of Mets fans after the last game at Shea. How deflating an experience to splurge on tickets for the game, get the family out there, root your heart out...for a season-ending loss to a third-place team. The same team that beat you last year. In the same fashion. On almost the same day. Sure fans got to sit back afterwards and watch some of the Mets greats dance across the field. tipping their final cap to Shea before it comes crashing down.

But could they really, actually enjoy that type of ceremony? I know I watched it out of respect but did little to enjoy the moment. The sting of a deflating defeat after a promising season did enough damage. Hopefully SNY will replay the ceremony later in the week. Or later in the month. Or later in the year.

Why? Because quite frankly few actually know how long it's going to take to get over this one.


Your 2009 New York Mets
Ramon Castro
Brian Schneider
Jose Reyes
David Wright
Carlos Beltran
Johan Santana
Mike Pelfrey
John Maine
Nick Evans
Daniel Murphy
Jerry Manuel
Joe Smith

The rest are anyone's guess...



The opinions mentioned here are solely those of the author of this post and are not shared by other posters on this site or the site creator