Posted: Monday, 12 May 2008 12:30PM
Schwei's Vision: The Cycle And The Subway Series
John Schweibacher
mets@wfan.com
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New York, NY (WFAN) -- The Mets face the division rival Washington Nationals for the third time this season before they head to the Bronx for their first meeting with the cross-town rival Yankees.
The Mets have won four of the five games they've played against the Nationals so far in 2008, a three-game sweep at Shea and a split of the two-game set in D.C. Once again, the Mets will not face Paul Lo Duca. The former Mets catcher missed all five of the previous games between the his old and new clubs last month and is on the disabled list with a fractured hand, his second stint on the D.L. this season. Lastings Milledge has appeared in all five games against his ex-club, hitting just .188 (3 for 16) with one double. The Nationals will not return to Shea again until September.
Last week Carlos Gomez, who the Mets dealt to the Twins in the Johan Santana trade, hit for the cycle in a Minnesota victory over the White Sox in Chicago. Gomez became the 7th player to hit for the cycle after playing for the Mets. The previous six were: Tim Foli (Expos 1976), Gregg Jefferies (Phillies 1995), Tony Fernandez (Yankees 1995), Jeff Kent (Giants 1999), John Olerud (Mariners 2001) and Gary Mathews, Jr. (2006). Gomez also became the second one-time Met to accomplish the feat for the Twins. Mike Cubbage hit for the cycle with Minnesota in 1978 before joining the Mets.
This weekend, the Mets will play their final regular season series against the Yankees in the current Yankee Stadium. The Mets have played 10 series in the Bronx since interleague play began in 1997 (The home-and-home series did not begin until 1999).
Here are 10 trivia questions based on the Mets' visits to the Stadium:
1997: Dave Mlicki won the first-ever regular season game between the Mets and Yankees. Who were the Mets other two starters in that first "Subway Series"?
1999: Name the three Mets coaches who were fired during the series and who were the three coaches that replaced them?
2000: Who was the Yankees catcher in the game in which Roger Clemens beaned Mike Piazza?
2001: What Mets starter threw eight shutout innings, allowing just four hits in the Mets' 3-0, 10-inning win in the middle game of the series?
2002: Against which Yankee pitcher and catcher did Roger Cedeno steal home in the middle game of the series?
2003: What Mets rookie pitcher started against Roger Clemens in the day portion of the day-night, Yankee and Shea Stadium doubleheader?
2004: Which Mets pitcher and catcher wore the wrong uniforms in the Sunday night game of the series?
2005: Which Yankee delivered the game-winning hit in the 9th inning of the Sunday night game, denying the Mets a three-game sweep in the series in the Bronx?
2006: Who were the two Mets pitchers who each gave up eight runs in the Yankees' 16-7 win in the finale of the series?
2007: Who was the only Yankees pitcher the Mets defeated in the three-game series at the Stadium?
The Mets first-ever visit to Yankee Stadium was back on June 20th, 1963 in the inaugural Mayor's Trophy Game. A crowd of 50,742 saw the Mets defeat the Yankees, 6-2. The annual exhibition game was discontinued after 1983.
Trivia Answers:
1997: Armando Reynoso & Rick Reed
1999: Bob Apodaca, Tom Robson & Randy Niemann were fired. Dave Wallace, Mickey Brantley & Al Jackson replaced them.
2000: Chris Turner
2001: Kevin Appier
2002: Ted Lilly & Alberto Castillo
2003: Jeremy Griffiths
2004: Jose Parra & Tom Wilson (both wore the black "Mets" jersey instead of "New York").
2005: Jason Giambi
2006: Alay Soler & Heath Bell
2007: Roger Clemens |
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