Mr. 300
(Note: The latest in our Section 423 column on the Knicks appears immediately beneath this post from A.F.O.M.G.)
I've been thinking a lot about Tom Glavine lately. It began on Sunday as I drove home from Boston. I was listening to my iPod through one of those jacks that goes through the cigarette lighter when all of a sudden the music cut out and a frowny face appeared on my iPod's display.
The face couldn't be talked to or reasoned with; instead, it's pixelated look of infirmaty taunted me, and I was forced to the indignity of terrestrial radio. Finding nothing worth listening to on I-90, I quickly made the jump to WFAN, where none other than Tommy the Spy was being interviewed.
Glavine was at some awards function or another along with Carlos Delgado and Ryan Howard, among others.
Like virtually every other interview he's given in a Met uniform, Glavine's interview ultimately touched upon his quest for 300 wins. There was nothing new here; Glavine mentioned that yes, he was excited; no he wouldn't let it overshadow the team; more of the same.
All of it got me thinking though as to how I expect the fans to react when Glavine records win No. 300, whenever that is. Tommy will get a standing ovation one way or another, that's obvious. But when he finally reaches the plateau, will we, as Mets fans, feel any ownership over that record?
It's an issue that comes up rather frequently in the era of free agency. Here are some highlights from last season:
1. Mike Piazza hits career home run No. 400... as a Padre.
2. Billy Wagner records save No. 300... as a Met.
3. Randy Johnson records strikeout No. 4500... as a Yankee.
All three of these guys have somewhat complex lineages. Ask a random group of fans what team they identify Piazza, Wagner or Johnson with, and chances are you'll get different answers. (I'd guess mostly Mets with Piazza, 50-50 split for Wagner Philly/Houston, mostly D-Backs for Johnson, some Mariners).
In any case, not one of those players would be identified as members of the teams they set their personal milestones with. None of that stopped the fans in San Diego from giving Piazza a rousing ovation when he hit his 400th career HR, but was their heart in it? Could it possibly have been?
(Note: I just gave a quick search on YouTube for the video of Piazza hitting that homerun off of Trevor Hoffman way back in the day. My search came up empty, but when you search for "Mike Piazza", on the second page of videos is one titled "Holy Homosexuals Part 3 of 3" -- that guy just can't win.)
It's not those fans' fault that they weren't there for any of the first 397 homeruns, but it leaves them at a loss when the big 4-0-0 comes around. When the big moment comes they stand and applaud, but they don't own the moment the way the fans at Shea would have owned Piazza's 400th.
Will it be the same for Glavine? By the time Glavine becomes a member of the 300-club, a grand total of 58 of his career victories will have come as a member of the New York Mets, slightly less than 1 in 5.
Glavine's career was clearly defined by his tenure with the Braves. I think a lot of Mets fans think of Glavine as one of their own by this point, but I doubt many of them kid themselves into thinking that Glavine will wear a Mets cap on his Hall of Fame plaque someday.
Nevertheless, I find I feel a sense of ownership over Glavine's pursuit of 300. A not insignificant part of that ownership is likely thanks to the fact, mentioned earlier, that talk of 300 wins has surrounded Glavine since he signed with the Mets.
At the start of 2003 we wondered if he had enough good years left to reach the milestone. Before 2004 it looked like it would take a miracle. Before 2005 we reminded ourselves of Glavine's strong first half a year earlier, and decided he might have a chance if he pitched like that again. Before 2006 we reminded ourselves about his strong second half a year earlier and decided it'd take his first half of '04 and his second half of '05 to put him back in serious contention. And that's what he did.
The point is that we've been talking about this whole chase for as long as Glavine's been a Met. So when the day comes this June (hopefully) or July (perhaps more realistically) when Glavine notches career win No. 300, I expect the Shea faithful to give Glavine a rousing, heartfelt cheer.
It shouldn't be the same as it might have been had Piazza hit No. 400 as a Met -- many of Glavine's wins came at our expense after all, and that doesn't even touch on any playoff victories he earned against us (Game 3, 1999 NLCS, anyone?).
But in suffering along with us in 2003/2004 and being the ace of the staff during the best season we'd seen in 18 years, Glavine deserves his respect. And when the big moment arrives and Glavine puts win No. 300 in the record books, we as Mets fans deserve to feel like we've earned it, too.
- A.F.O.M.G.
(Note: Images appear courtesy of mlb.com)
I've been thinking a lot about Tom Glavine lately. It began on Sunday as I drove home from Boston. I was listening to my iPod through one of those jacks that goes through the cigarette lighter when all of a sudden the music cut out and a frowny face appeared on my iPod's display.
The face couldn't be talked to or reasoned with; instead, it's pixelated look of infirmaty taunted me, and I was forced to the indignity of terrestrial radio. Finding nothing worth listening to on I-90, I quickly made the jump to WFAN, where none other than Tommy the Spy was being interviewed.
Glavine was at some awards function or another along with Carlos Delgado and Ryan Howard, among others.Like virtually every other interview he's given in a Met uniform, Glavine's interview ultimately touched upon his quest for 300 wins. There was nothing new here; Glavine mentioned that yes, he was excited; no he wouldn't let it overshadow the team; more of the same.
All of it got me thinking though as to how I expect the fans to react when Glavine records win No. 300, whenever that is. Tommy will get a standing ovation one way or another, that's obvious. But when he finally reaches the plateau, will we, as Mets fans, feel any ownership over that record?
It's an issue that comes up rather frequently in the era of free agency. Here are some highlights from last season:
1. Mike Piazza hits career home run No. 400... as a Padre.
2. Billy Wagner records save No. 300... as a Met.
3. Randy Johnson records strikeout No. 4500... as a Yankee.
All three of these guys have somewhat complex lineages. Ask a random group of fans what team they identify Piazza, Wagner or Johnson with, and chances are you'll get different answers. (I'd guess mostly Mets with Piazza, 50-50 split for Wagner Philly/Houston, mostly D-Backs for Johnson, some Mariners).
In any case, not one of those players would be identified as members of the teams they set their personal milestones with. None of that stopped the fans in San Diego from giving Piazza a rousing ovation when he hit his 400th career HR, but was their heart in it? Could it possibly have been?(Note: I just gave a quick search on YouTube for the video of Piazza hitting that homerun off of Trevor Hoffman way back in the day. My search came up empty, but when you search for "Mike Piazza", on the second page of videos is one titled "Holy Homosexuals Part 3 of 3" -- that guy just can't win.)
It's not those fans' fault that they weren't there for any of the first 397 homeruns, but it leaves them at a loss when the big 4-0-0 comes around. When the big moment comes they stand and applaud, but they don't own the moment the way the fans at Shea would have owned Piazza's 400th.
Will it be the same for Glavine? By the time Glavine becomes a member of the 300-club, a grand total of 58 of his career victories will have come as a member of the New York Mets, slightly less than 1 in 5.
Glavine's career was clearly defined by his tenure with the Braves. I think a lot of Mets fans think of Glavine as one of their own by this point, but I doubt many of them kid themselves into thinking that Glavine will wear a Mets cap on his Hall of Fame plaque someday.Nevertheless, I find I feel a sense of ownership over Glavine's pursuit of 300. A not insignificant part of that ownership is likely thanks to the fact, mentioned earlier, that talk of 300 wins has surrounded Glavine since he signed with the Mets.
At the start of 2003 we wondered if he had enough good years left to reach the milestone. Before 2004 it looked like it would take a miracle. Before 2005 we reminded ourselves of Glavine's strong first half a year earlier, and decided he might have a chance if he pitched like that again. Before 2006 we reminded ourselves about his strong second half a year earlier and decided it'd take his first half of '04 and his second half of '05 to put him back in serious contention. And that's what he did.
The point is that we've been talking about this whole chase for as long as Glavine's been a Met. So when the day comes this June (hopefully) or July (perhaps more realistically) when Glavine notches career win No. 300, I expect the Shea faithful to give Glavine a rousing, heartfelt cheer.
It shouldn't be the same as it might have been had Piazza hit No. 400 as a Met -- many of Glavine's wins came at our expense after all, and that doesn't even touch on any playoff victories he earned against us (Game 3, 1999 NLCS, anyone?).
But in suffering along with us in 2003/2004 and being the ace of the staff during the best season we'd seen in 18 years, Glavine deserves his respect. And when the big moment arrives and Glavine puts win No. 300 in the record books, we as Mets fans deserve to feel like we've earned it, too.
- A.F.O.M.G.
(Note: Images appear courtesy of mlb.com)
posted by A Friend of Mr. Glass' at 12:47 PM
5 Comments:
This is a pretty phenomenal and spot-on entry.
Kudos
I'm on board with Happy Will.
The closest experience we've had (as Met fans) was Carlos' 400th gopher. I remember thinking it was pretty cool, but it would have been nothing compared to Piazza, had he done it in 2005 (or even on his return in '06).
Of course, I was at game 3, 1999 NLCS. Sure, Glavine was vintage. But what I remember most was some guy across the stadium who, after a Brave would K, hung up a picture of Larry from the Three Stooges.
Just another reason why Met fans rock!
Met Fan Since 75 - I wasn't at the game 3 in 99, but I do remember seeing that sign on TV. I still call Larry Jones "Larry Fine" sometimes.
Mike WOULD have hit his 400th as a Met if Omar did what he SHOULD have.
No one wnated to see pIazza as a catcher on Defense everyone would have been trying to steal on him...just cuz..his release is long and slow(pause)
John Kruk would get 5 SBs a year with Piazza as the backstop.
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