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.



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

Petrone Powers SHU Men's Team

By Pat McCabe

If you hear a loud rumbling on the campus of Seton Hall University this coming Friday around four in the afternoon, don’t be alarmed. The noise is probably the roar of the crowd that will be gathered to watch the men’s soccer team take on their first Big East opponent, DePaul. After suffering a 3-1 loss at the hands of Princeton, and a 2-0 setback to Penn earlier, the Pirates look to rebound against the Blue Demons as Big East Conference play begins and get back to their winning. If the Pirates hope to make a statement when they open conference play, they will surely be relying on sophomore-transfer Samuel Petrone to lead them.



Petrone, a Glen Rock, New Jersey native and transfer from Clemson University, has scored eight goals and racked up a ridiculous total of 17 points in just six games thus far. Petrone has been the spark for this Pirate team, as he scored four goals against St. Peter’s, one goal against Richmond, and a hat trick against Virginia Commonwealth University. This amazing week did not go unnoticed, as Petrone scored not only the honor of Big East Offensive Player of the Week, but College Soccer News named the 5’9” forward National Player of the Week. Oh yeah, Petrone was also named Most Valuable Player of the tournament hosted by VCU.

After a disappointing 2007 3-8 in-conference record, the Pirates will face DePaul, who they did not play last season. Coming into Friday’s match up, DePaul is 1-2-2 and looks to get back on track after playing to a 0-0 tie against Butler on September 14. Looking ahead the Pirates will face a tough USF team in South Orange on Sunday, September 21st, before hitting the road and taking on Villanova next week.

So this Friday when the Pirates take on DePaul, don’t be surprised to see the stands of Owen T. Carroll Field filled to capacity. The Seton Hall fans are coming out in great numbers to support this men’s team, and the players seem to be feeding of their enthusiasm. And if things continue the way they have, Samuel Petrone will give the fans plenty to cheer about.



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Guess What? I'm Still Picking the Yanks

By Pat McCabe

The last time the New York Yankees did not make the playoffs, Bill Clinton was in the 5th year of his presidency, OJ Simpson was trying on gloves in a courtroom, and the first DVD was released.

Now with just 19 games remaining, the Yankees sit 8.5 games behind division rival Boston for the AL Wild Card spot. What does this mean? Well for the first time since I have followed baseball in my life, I may not see the Yankees playing in October. However, for as long as I have followed baseball, I can't recall so much buzz surrounding a team almost 9 games out of the playoff hunt. So, as baseball fans we must ask, “can they do it?”



Now my answer may seem odd to a lot of Yankee fans, but when responding to this question, the Yankees should look to their crosstown rival Mets for the answer: “Ya Gotta’ Believe.” Looking up and down the Yankees roster there I see baseball greats capable of making the seemingly impossible...possible.

I cannot say that the Yankees will ride the arms of Sidney Ponson or Carl Pavano to the postseason. However, I can say that Jeter, Giambi, Rodriguez, Damon, and Abreu have the potential to spark this team to the greatest September comeback story in baseball history.

Really?

Yes. Really.

This road to the postseason will be tough for the Yankees. With games against Anaheim, Boston, Toronto, and the Chicago White Sox, this is clearly no walk in the park. Anaheim has the youngest player ever to reach 200 career saves lurking in their bullpen in K-Rod. Rodriguez will be looking to pick up at least two saves to tie Bobby Thigpen for most in a season all time and sure-up the AL West when the Yanks are in town. Boston is only a game out of the top spot in the AL and will be itching to beat-up their favorite rival in an effort to surpass the Rays. Toronto just swept Tampa and would love to finish ahead of the Yanks. As for Chicago, their potential AL MVP candidate Carlos Quntin is now out for the season with a broken wrist, but that team sure can still hit some homers.

However, when I was coming up with how I would predict the Yankees to finish, I thought, if this feat was to be accomplished by a baseball team, this Yankee team is the one to do it.

As the Yankees move into their three game series tonight in Anaheim, it is clear that this is crunch time. Now for my bold prediction for you readers to hate or love: the New York Yankees will win two out of the three games against the Angels and begin a run that will catapult them into the wild card spot.

Yes. There will be baseball in Yankee Stadium come October



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