Monthly Archives: September 2014
Citi Recap: 9/27/14 vs. Houston Astros

What was the weather like?
It was a beautiful night, very nice temperature.
What was the final score?
Mets lost 3-1
Were there any notable stats/events?
-Curtis Granderson hit a deep home run in the fourth inning
-Matt den Dekker faced off against his first cousin, Kevin Chapman, in the 6th inning. MdD drew the walk.
-Lucas Duda made an excellent play at first, snagging a hot liner after a dive
What were the scoring plays?
–Astros: (Top 6) Robbie Grossman scores on a Jose Altuve single to right field. (Top 6) Jose Altuve scores on a Chris Carter double to left field, Anthony Recker applied tag, but dropped the ball. (Top 6) Chris Carter scores on a Matt Dominguez single to right field.
-Mets: (Bottom 4) Curtis Granderson homers on a deep line drive to right field.
How was the atmosphere?
Very loud, but not quite a packed house. Lower level was filled to capacity, but the upper two levels were nearly empty.
What did you eat?
As usual, I ate at the Pat LaFrieda’s Chop House in the Delta Club. That sandwich is REALLY good…
Did you get any autographs?
Yep! As soon as I walked into the stadium, I saw George Springer signing, so I got his autograph. A few minutes later, I got Jose Altuve, which was awesome! John Franco, the Mets legendary reliever, was on the field talking to the Astros manager, so my friend and I called him over, and he signed a baseball for each of us. Later on, we see him talking to someone and we realize that it is EDDIE MURRAY! That’s right, the same Eddie Murray who is in the Hall of Fame, and is one of the best players in baseball history. After waiting around for several minutes, as he was talking to Franco and another man, he turned around and signed for us! It was awesome! Still have no idea why he was there, but still awesome. A few minutes later, as we were about to leave to get something to eat, Chris Carter walks over to sign. For those who don’t know Carter, because this is his first season as a really good player, he has 37 home runs, good enough for 2nd best in the entire MLB. It goes down in my book as probably the best autograph-seeking Mets game thus far…
Any celebrities in attendance?
-John Franco was there. Brooklyn-born Mets legend. Played for the team from 1990-2004. Team captain from 01-04. 2x Rolaids Reliever of the Year. 4x All Star. Led the MLB in saves three times. Mets Hall of Famer. Overall one of the premier relievers in league history.
-Eddie Murray was there. 504 HR, 3,255 hits, 1,917 RBI, .287 batting average. 1977 ROY. 1983 WS Champ. 8x All Star. 3x Gold Glover. 3x Silver Slugger. First Ballot Hall of Famer in 2003.
-There were two guys from some TV show that were there, but I couldn’t quite catch their names or the name of the show.
Overall, it was a fun night, but a sucky game to watch- particularly as a Mets fan. Nerve-racking moment in the 6th, when Jon Niese left the game with an elevated heart beat- hoping that he’s okay. That was my last Mets game of the season, so I just have to wait for next season…
Interview With Mike Puma

Mike Puma has been the Mets’ beat writer for the New York Post for many years now. You can check out his articles here: http://nypost.com/author/mike-puma/… Mike was kind enough to partake in an interview with us!
Kings of Queens: Do you expect Jacob deGrom to win Rookie of the Year? Why or why not?
Mike Puma: I think deGrom will win; he is peaking in September and getting noticed. Billy Hamilton has faded.
KOQ: When, if ever, do you expect that Mike Piazza will finally be inducted into the Hall of Fame?
MP: I think Piazza will get in, but probably 4-5 years from now, as voters gradually become more acceptant of players they suspect may have used PEDs w/o evidence
KOQ: What has been the most enjoyable/memorable experience in all of your years covering the Mets?
MP: I actually began covering the Mets in the late 1990s at the Connecticut Post and enjoyed watching their rise under Bobby Valentine, the Piazza hom run after 9/11, etc … As the beat writer for the NY Post, the Santana no-hitter certainly stands out.
KOQ: Dilson Herrera has looked very good since coming up this season. Do you expect him to be in the opening day lineup next season? Why or why not?
MP: I expect Daniel Murphy to be in the starting lineup at 2B next Opening Day, with Herrera at Las Vegas. He’s only 20 years old and could use further seasoning.
KOQ: Is David Wright starting to decline, or is he just having a down season, due to injury or some other reason?
MP: Wright’s shoulder gives him a partial pass for his dropoff this season, but I’m not sure we’ll ever again see an All-Star level David Wright. But he can still be a productive player.
KOQ: Do you believe that Terry Collins will be the manager of the Mets come next April? Why or why not?
MP: I would be surprised if Collins doesn’t return. He has a good working relationship with Sandy Alderson and the organization likes his evaluation skills with the young players.
KOQ: Which ex-Met, who has recently (within the last 5 years) left the team, do you miss the most? What do you miss about them?
MP: Jeff Francoeur was one of my favorite players to cover. Just a colorful, free-spirit who was great with the media and made the job fun.
KOQ: Which Mets prospect do you think the most underrated, or overlooked, guy in the system?
MP: We haven’t heard a ton about Steven Matz yet, but I get the sense he could be something special.
KOQ: The Mets have a surplus of starting pitchers, with Harvey, Wheeler, deGrom, Gee, Niese, Colon, Montero, Matz, and Syndergaard. What do you think the Mets starting rotation will be come next August?
MP: Harvey, deGrom, Wheeler, Niese and Syndergaard.
KOQ: Will the Mets make a splash this offseason? Who are three names to keep an eye out for, whether it be through trade or free agency?
MP: Melky Cabrera, Javier Baez and Michael Cuddyer – but I wouldn’t bet on them making more than one high-profile acquisition..
KOQ: The Mets also have a surplus of closer-type talents, with Familia, Mejia, and Parnell. Who will be the closer next season, and what will happen with the other two?
MP: I see Familia as the closer, with Parnell in the setup role and Mejia perhaps traded.
KOQ: What percent chance would you give the Mets of finishing above .500 this season?
MP: I give them a 10 percent chance of finishing above .500 this year.
KOQ: Who will be the next Met to have his number retired?
MP: Piazza
KOQ: How is your relationship with the other Mets beat writers? Do you guys feed off of each other?
MP: I have a good relationship with just about all the reporters covering the team. And, yes, we feed off each other. It’s a very competitive situation.
KOQ: Finally, you have a lucrative job in the sportswriting industry, as the NY Post’s Mets beat reporter. What key steps did you ultimately take to reach that point?
MP: I was just persistent. I spent 15 years working at newspapers in Connecticut and another three as a backup baseball writer at the NY Post. I treated just about every assignment like I was covering Game 7 of the World Series.Work hard and don’t be afraid to take calculated risks. And let your personality shine through your words.
Thanks again to a great guy, Mike Puma! Make sure to check out his work in the NY Post!
Happy 46th Birthday, Mike Piazza

Mike Piazza had a phenomenal career in the MLB, particularly with the Mets, and he turns 46 today! Due to his playing in the Steroid Era, he hasn’t been inducted to the HOF in his first two years of eligibility. He’s arguably the best Mets player ever, the best offensive catcher of all time, and one of the best overall catchers in league history! He definitely deserves a spot in Cooperstown, and to prove this, as well as honor his birthday, here are 46 Hall of Famers that he had a better career than…
- Roger Bresnahan
- Mickey Cochrane
- Ernie Lombardi
- Ray Schalk
- Biz Mackey
- Rick Ferrell
- High Pockets Kelly
- Bill Mazeroski
- Freddie Lindstrom
- Monte Ward
- Chick Hafey
- Lloyd Waner
- Tommy McCarthy
- Jesse Haines
- Red Schoendeinst
- Travis Jackson
- Ross Youngs
- Rube Marquard
- Catfish Hunter
- Bruce Sutter
- Luis Aparacio
- Pee Wee Reese
- Phil Rizzuto
- Joe Gordon
- Joe Tinker
- Johnny Evers
- Frank Chance
- Rabbit Maranville
- Candy Cummings
- Kirby Puckett
- Tony Perez
- Ted Lyons
- Clark Griffith
- Billy Herman
- Joe Medwick
- Goose Gossage
- Heinie Manush
- Herb Pennock
- Jim Rice
- Jim Bottomley
- Jake Beckley
- George Kell
- Bid McPhee
- Max Carey
- Ross Youngs
- George Sisler
Happy Birthday, Mike! Hope you enjoyed your day, and best of luck with this upcoming HOF election! We’re rooting for you…