Pete Alonso of the Mets couldn't hit himself out of a paper bag for weeks. So you knew it was only a matter of time for him to get a big hit in a big moment last night... and good for him.
For me, I'm not a Mets fan. I don't have any feeling for them good or bad. For me, they are just the Mets. That's how it's been for a long, long time. When Derek Jeter made that remark about the team recently, it just made sense for me. They ARE just the Mets. I don't particularly root for them, I don't boo them... I just watch them. And that's about it.
Last night, I was leaning Brewers just because of the fact that I long for the 80's, the Robin Yount, Gorman Thomas, Paul Molitor days. It was nostalgic for me. Plus, my kid's a Christian Yelich fan so it just made sense. But to be honest, I went to bed not really caring who won, but I do have to say, it was a good game.
But the moment that Alonso had made us all bring us to those great moments in baseball. It is what makes baseball truly great. A home run when a team needed it most, the moment, the feeling, the triumph, the defeat on the other side. It was baseball at its best. Happily, as Yankee fans, we have had many of those and they all made us feel incredible... especially during big games.
Jim Leyritz remembers saying that out loud when the Yankees' sixth-inning rally in Game 4 of the 1996 World Series still left them trailing 6-3, only nine outs away from going down three games to one to the Atlanta Braves....Two innings later, Leyritz changed Yankees' fortunes and pinstriped history with one swing, a game-tying, three-run home run off Braves closer Mark Wohlers. The Bombers would go on to win the game in extra innings, tying the series."
And how about the true team effort of Yankees in 2001 when the Yanks needed them most. Cronkite News writes:
"Those three nights included President George W. Bush delivering a perfect strike for the first pitch before Game 3, Tino Martinez and Scott Brosius hitting two-run home runs in the 9th inning off Diamondbacks closer Byung-Hyun Kim in back-to-back games, Derek Jeter walking off Game 4 in the 12th, earning his title Mr. November, and the rookie Alfonso Soriano delivering a walk-off hit in Game 5 for the 3-2 New York series lead over Arizona."
The home runs when we need them most is vital to the fabric of the game of baseball and so great for the true baseball fan. Last night was fantastic for Mets fans. It was important for Alonso, and we all felt it for a few minutes. Life for the true Met fan was glorious. But what happens next...
While the big home run is incredible, it depends on WHEN it takes place. As all Yankee fans know, losing the 2001 World Series was a heartbreaker. The Yankee homers came at the right time and in bunches... but it wasn't enough. In fact, a bigger moment came for the Diamondbacks against the greatest closer of all time when Luis Gonzalez hit that blooper to win the game. Another moment in time that for the true baseball historian is just incredible. For the Yankee fan, it was gut wrenching.
For Leyritz, he would have several of those home run moments. The one in 1995 against the Mariners was incredible, but we didn't win that series. Obviously 1998 Scott Brosius was on fire against the Padres, and in that World Series those moments were significant, we WON that. But again... it's WHEN these moments happen that allow teams and their fans to truly love and appreciate being a fan.
Pete Alonso did something great last night. It should not be dismissed. But the Phillies are no slouch. The big question for the Mets is can the use that momentum to keep going, or was the highlight, as great as it was, only be a highlight that sits on a shelf, like Aaron Boone's homer against the Red Sox. Something that we recall, but years later doesn't mean much. It's a question every team clawing toward the World Series needs to think about.
I love big moments in baseball... we've had plenty as Yankee fans. But it's how a team keeps going that is vital for the makeup of that team and what truly makes them a champion. Mets fans are happy today. I respect that. What I don't respect is the trash talk, rudeness, slapping down of Phillies fans before they even show up. You are only as good as the game you played. When a new day comes, a new game comes. The Phillies are not about the roll over. Mets fans need to take the homer, praise Pete, applaud the team, but then reset.
Oh... and stop praising Grimace. How about you root for your team instead of rooting for a false vibe? That's the problem with Mets fans... they don't "believe in their team"... they believe in something fabricated to help them through the brutal fandom they've dealt with all these years. That's no way to be a fan.
Big baseball weekend coming. Go Yanks! Let's get some. Oh... and to the Mets, the Phillies... good luck.
Well, it's here. With the Yankees consistently winning and every night breaking the consecutive home run record I have decided to step away from that world for a moment and talk about that card collecting dude on YouTube. We got the interview!
After that we snagged an interview and here we are. Love this one very much, I think you will too. Here he is, a very opened conversation with my man Mikey from the YouTube channel, Chasing Donnie Baseball.
BYB: When did you start collecting baseball cards?
Mikey: My earliest memory goes back to 1977. I had an older brother who collected all the 1977 Yankees cards: Thurman Munson, Chris Chambliss, Graig Nettles, Bucky Dent, Rob Guidry, Don Gullett, Ken Clay, etc - he has them all and so did I.
I can still see those cards as clear as day in my mind. I was only 6 years old.
2. Obviously this is passion of yours. I collect too, but my collection is unique to me. I don't go looking for perfect cards, but rather cards for my own collection. What are some of the more interesting cards you have in your collection?
Mikey: I collect too, but my collection is unique to me. I don't go looking for perfect cards, but rather cards for my own collection. What are some of the more interesting cards you have in your collection? I really love this question because, as you said, many of my favorite and most interesting cards have zero monetary value to me no matter what Beckett's has it listed at. Well, for starters, I am obviously a Don Mattingly card and since I have over 1,500 of his cards I will leave them out of this answer.
From my older collection cards like my 1956 Jackie Robinson and Hank Aaron are both in terrible condition but I don't care. I love pulling them out often and just looking at them. Especially the Robinson card because he is a historical figure. The late 1970s and early to mid-1980's are the bulk of my collection. So my Topps Ron Guidry rookie from 1977 is a prized possession. I love my two 1979 Topps Danny Ainge "error" cards (see pic). Again very little value but they were so cool to own back then.
I was a huge Dale Murphy and love his 1977 Topps Rookie Card. Whenever I see a Gorman Thomas or Cecil Cooper card from early 80' with the Brewers I have to buy them. Sometimes at a flea market when I asked "how much" the person usually just says, "you can have them for free". Lol. I don't know why, but those two cards just remind me of my childhood years of card collecting. My 1981 Topps Rookie card of Fernando Venezuela is another one that brings back great memories. It was the card EVERYONE wanted in 1981. Fernando-Mania was everywhere. Now they are worth maybe 25-cents but I always buy it when I see it. 3. This idea is brilliant and I love this idea of breaking open packs on YouTube. Why did you come up with this idea?
Mikey: I cannot take any of the credit for the idea. About 8 months ago I happen to click on a video on YouTube from a channel called "Jabs Family". 5 minutes into the video I was hooked. Here was this guy, all you see is his hands and the cards, and you hear him just talking about the cards he was opening on camera. It was a live stream so people were interacting, He was so great. Really easy to listen to and was very interactive. It was fascinating to me and seemed like so much fun. So after that night, I started to do some research on how I could start my own channel and 8 months later, "Chasing Donnie Baseball" was born. There are now many others on YouTube doing the same thing but each with their own spin. But the biggest difference we all bring to our channels is one thing: Ourselves. People will either like to hear you talk as you open packs or they won't. I'm hoping people enjoy listening to me an I share my own memories of card collecting as I open packs. I have a lot to learn but in the meantime, I am having a blast! 4. Obviously your favorite player is Don Mattingly. With Donnie as your first top player, give me your top 9 after Mattingly.
Mikey: #9 Cody Bellinger #8 Christian Yelich #7 Curtis Granderson #6 Freddie Freeman #5 Bernie Williams #4 Rickey Henderson
5. You mentioned in one of your videos that you had Muscular Dystrophy. Why do you want people to know this about you?
Mikey: Wait! I do?! LOL, kidding :) So when you watch my videos after a few minutes you will quickly realize there is something off with the way my hands move; the way I grab the box and cards; very little hand strength. Plus I am much slower than the guys on the other channel and it's not by choice. So I just wanted to be real with my viewers. Look, I never have been one to shy away from my disability. When people meet me they are usually very comfortable asking about my disability because they can see I am very comfortable discussing it. So why not be that open and honest with the viewers on my channel? I tell them I'm not letting them know as some excuse, but to just make them aware as to why I may be struggling or going a bit slower than most. The other reason s I hope maybe someone will see one of my videos and hear me mention my disability and just maybe it motivates him or her. Perhaps someone is feeling sorry for themselves and sees my video and it inspires them to get going, move forward. If you are motivated and enjoy doing something, NOTHING should ever prevent you from pursuing it. 6. What's the one thing you want people to take away from these card videos?
Mikey: Card collecting should always be about having fun. I am NOT doing this for monetary gain (their isn't any, lol!) - I am doing this because collecting cards brings me joy. Plain and simple Sure I mention the prices of cards and we are always looking for the big "hits, however, in the end, my viewers and I have to be having fun. The day it stops being fun I will turn the lights off on the channel.
7. Side track. Big Yankee fan? What do you think about the Yankees this season?
Mikey: Love the question cause I'm always ready to talk Yankees baseball. The obvious equation for them to hold onto this high level of play is to get their studs back, it's that plain and simple. However. what these young men have done filling the shoes of Judge, Stant, Didi, etc is beyond remarkable. I don't know if it happens like magic when you put on a Yankees uniform but this crops of players EXPECT to win, not just compete and I love that! But, I think unless we get 90%-100% healthy this ride with this group of incredible players may end come October baseball. Just my opinion.
8. Final question, do you ever read BYB? Did you ever hear about us before we did that surprise post for you?
Mikey: I have read BYB for years, and I'm not just saying that because you did a write up on Chasing Donnie Baseball or because you are interviewing me now. In fact, if you watch the quick video I made on my channel after I discovered your article you will hear me explain how surprised, humbled and honored I was to get recognized by such a reputable site. I absolutely love what you stand for, like a family. That is exactly what I am hoping attracts subscribers to Chasing Donnie Baseball. BYB is absolutely my go-to site for Yankees news and analysis. want to personally thank you, Robert Casey, for giving Chasing Donnie Baseball such a large platform to share who I am and what we are all about. Maybe we can flip a few piles of some old 1982 Topps I have laying around?
I had a lot of fun with Mikey and this interview. You can always see Chasing Donnie Baseball on YouTube, here's Mikey's page. Subscribe. It's a really clever concept and I personally love and endorse it. CHASING DONNIE BASEBALL.
I hope you all enjoyed this as much as I did. Happy Tuesday... stay dry if you're living in the Tri-State. Hey... go look through your old baseball cards. Maybe you'll find a few gems!
