I blame my late grandfather, Joseph Caramella. He never forgave the Giants and Dodgers for moving out west. He became a Mets fan in 1962 and never looked back. He hated the Yankees with all his heart. He took me to my first Mets game when I was 5 years old in May 1977, before most of the 2006 Mets were born. I remember it like it was yesterday, the Mets lost to the San Diego Padres, I still have the ticket stub.

 

Joseph taught me well. I grew up hating the Yankees and loving the Mets. What else is a boy from Queens suppose to do? I never hated the Dodgers, I did not feel betrayed, it all happened before I was born.

 

Until 18 years ago tonight. The 1988 National League Championship Series started 18 years ago tonight. Gooden vs Hershiser in an amazing pitchers duel. I was working at Shea Stadium and of course worked Games 3, 4, and 5, alongside our recent mystery vendor. Joseph died just before the 1988 season and I was now the carrying the family burden of being the die-heart Mets fan. But Orel Hershiser and Kirk Gibson defeated the Mets. Now the Dodgers again! Joseph and I need closure.

 

So as The Tank indicated, yes I was on the ledge with the news of Pedro out for the season, then 1/2 of next season, then family problems for Steve Trachsel, then Cliff Floyd’s ankle, then Carlos Beltran’s quad, then El Duque’s calf injury. I did not eat, sleep, shave or go to work for days.

 

The Tank tried everything. Only one thing worked. I went here. I remembered these words, words that still bring a tear to my eye and chills down my spine:

“Behind the bag, it gets through Buckner, here comes Knight and the Mets win it!!”

 

That got me out of bed, shaved, dressed (in my Mr. Met run to Home Plate Tee Shirt) and ready to head to Shea! You Gotta Believe!!!

 

The emotion is why I am a Mets fan! Years of suffering make the winning so much sweeter. The Yankees are all business and pretty boring. They just keep winning and winning. The Mets just mess with your mind. Panic is all part of being a Mets fan, if you can’t handle the panic, the ups and downs, then go root for the Yankees.

 

The Yankees may have 26 rings, but they will never have the Miracle ’69 Mets, Tug McGraw ’73, Mookie Wilson/Bill Buckner ’86 and Robin Ventura’s Grand Slam Single in ’99.

 

The Yankees always win. The Mets sometimes win. But when they do, it is written up in the history books and we all go crazy. Let’s hope that the 2006 NLDS vs the Dodgers is no different! It is NEXT year. I’ve been waiting.

 

Posted by Steve, off the ledge, on his way to Shea Stadium with the Tank for Game 1.

I planned to spend most of tonight's entry talking about Tuesday's Division Series but I had to talk Steve off the ledge after the news of El Duque's calf injury while working out Tuesday at Shea.

What could I say to him? As a close friend, business partner, and fellow Antarcticamaniac, he deserves more than a comforting word. Which motivational tool in the Tank's Arsenal, i.e. Tony Robbins, The Hulkster Hulk Hogan, Matt Foley "Motivational Speaker" (as played by the late great Chris Farley) would I use to talk Steve off the ledge?

All of the above.  Most importantly, the Tank met up with a couple of attractive mid 20 something women, Antonia and Jenna, at this past Saturday's Eric Clapton concert at Madison Square Garden.  Steve and I are big fans of the blues, especially Clapton.  Furthermore, the Tank's love life is usually pretty bluesy and depressing but some nights are better than others and I had some legit material to talk him off the ledge.  Though drinking three plus glasses of wine and counting, Steve promised not to kill himself in order to hear the story while we go to Wednesday's Mets - Dodgers game at Shea.

Since this is Steve's hour of need and we haven't set up the premium area of our site yet, he'll be the first to hear the Clapton concert details during Wednesday's Mets - Dodgers game.  I plan to share them with you at a later date.

As for the games themselves,

Jeter was 5-5 and Wang pitched great. The Yankees thankfully won 8-4.

The As beat the Twins in a pitchers duel 3-2.

Albert Pujols and the Cardinals upset the Padres 5-1.

Go Mets! / Yankees! / Steve and The Tank!

Posted by The Tank in NY.

 

The matchups are now all set after much anticipation and uncertainty. Without further ado, please find the Tank's picks below: Yankees beat the Tigers in four games though a sweep hopefully happens. Mets beat the Dodgers in four games. Glavine versus Maddux in NLDS Game 2 should be a classic. The As beat the Twins in five games. This is the hardest series to pick because Santana will pitch Games 1 and 5 but in Oakland. The Padres will beat the Cardinals in four games. OK, I am being nice to Pujols and my headhunter buddy in Saint Louis that they'll win one game at home. Go Yankees! / Mets! / Dreaming of a Subway Series! Posted by The Tank in NY. Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Will Randy Johnson be able to pitch in the playoffs?  Randy threw lightly on Saturday and is going to be evaluated on Sunday, the day of the Yankees regular season finale against the Blue Jays.
                            
Is CNBC's Maria "Money Honey" Bartiromo the Yankees new secret weapon if Randy Johnson can't pitch due to a herniated disc in his back.  Maria threw out the first pitch, a high changeup, in Saturday's game.  Will she be on the 25 person roster?  Randy threw 41 pitches in a session before the game.  If Randy feels okay tomorrow (God Willing), he'll start in Friday's ALDS Game 3.  If not, Maria is ready to go.
                                                   
Since the Tank has been on every continent, I am the Yankees "Out-of-the-Box" Scout without portfolio.  If you have talent, the Tank will find you.  I am developing a couple of Martians in Area 51.  The Red Sox won't know what hit them.                          

Speaking of the Red Sox, they are neck and neck with the Blue Jays for second place which comes with a small pool of money.  This is a tremendous conflict for the Tank.

Will Derek Jeter win the batting title?  The Twins Joe Mauer sat out Saturday's game so Derek close to within about a point and a half of Mauer after hitting 3-3 on Saturday.

Derek Jeter had a single in his first AB and struck out in the second and at .34516.  Mauer struck out and is down .34556.

Robinson Cano hit a double in the fourth to raise his average .344.  Cano advances to third on a wild pitch.  Jeter unfortunately grounds out to second to get his 97th RBI and close the gap to 4-2.
                   
Bobby "El Como Dulce" ("Just Like Candy") Abreu singles to right.  Posada homers to right to tie the game at 4-4.

Miguel Cairo singles to center.  He steals second as Andy Phillips is up but strikes out to end the inning.

Cano's grounds out to the first base to the pitcher.  Tied at the end of 5.

The Blue Jays scored a run while the Tank looked for a friend who brokers post-season tickets and went to get something to eat.
                      
Jeter grounded out.  Darn it!   Melky Cabrera doubled. Kevin Thompson singled to score Melky and got to second on the air-mailed throw home.                           

Jeter strikes out to end the eighth.  Double darn!  Still tied at 5-5 going into the 9th.

Joe Mauer finished 2-4 and at .347 and will be the first catcher to win the batting title.  Congratulations Joe.

Manager for the Day "Bern Baby Burn" Williams replaces Jeter with Andy Cannizaro.  Jeter gets a standing ovation.  Let's hope he wins the MVP. 
                     
I am trying to educate these people on the ramifications of Kansas City Royals underbelievable comeback from 6-0 to take a 8-7 lead.  Minnesota is winning 4-1.  Go Royals and home of the world's best ribs!  I would rather face Kenny Rogers and the Tigers instead of Johan Santana and the Twins.

Rios singles and Adam Lind hits a two run home run to center to give Toronto a 7-5 win. 
  
Great to be Manager for the Day.  "Bern Baby Bern" Williams comes up with two outs.  Bernie hits a double to right center in front of the Tank.  Phillips strikes out to end the game.  The Yankees lose 7-5.  Does it matter if the Red Sox play in the rain?  They are in third place and it's football season in New England.    

Detroit unfortunately ties the game 8-8 but thankfully lose 10-8.
                       
Thank You Royals! / Go Yankees! / Go Mets! / Subway Series Closure! / Closure for the Tank's many issues!

Posted by the Tank live from Yankee Stadium.                                      

Though the Tank has endured his share of injuries (IT Band, back, Achilles, tendonitis, knee, etc) in running eight marathons (ran the NYC Marathon twice) on all seven continents over the past two years, the Tank should take Steve's wise advice and retire.  Even though I am too injured, too heavy, and too crazy to run, I am running November's NYC Marathon on Fred's Team for those who can't -- children with cancer.  At Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, doctors and researchers are working on clinical trials that have the potential to increase the survival rates.  In recent years, the overall survival rate of children with cancer has increased from 55% to 70%. 

Though a very worthy cause, I am only about 40 percent of the way there ($1,760 of my $4,500 goal).  I have to raise $2,250 by October 15 to get my uniform for the NYC Marathon and $4,500 by December 15 as to not to have to pay the difference.  Long story even for me and you know how I like to write.

All proceeds go to cancer research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and are 100 percent tax deductible.  Please feel free to share the following fundraising link with friends, family, colleagues, etc.

If you wish to donate offline, please use the following address:

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
P.O. Box 27432
New York, NY 10087-7432
Attn: Fred's Team

Please make the check out to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and write my name, runner ID, and race code (Tomislav Djurdjevich, 999035640, E06MPDNY) in the Notes area of the check.

If you wish to donate by fax or snail mail, please provide a fax number or a snail mail address and I'll send you a donor form.

Whichever way you donate, any and all contributions are greatly appreciated.  Thank you very much! 

Posted by the Tank running the NYC Marathon against cancer.

There are several great races and possibilities going into the final MLB regular season weekend.  Will the Cardinals replace the 1964 Phillies as the biggest collapse ever?  Can the Astros rally to win the NL Central?  The Reds still have a chance.  Can the Phillies get the Wild Card?  Will the Dodgers or the Padres win the NL West?  Will the Tigers or Twins win the AL Central? 

The dust should be settled by the end of the weekend but the Giants may have to fly to Saint Louis on Monday to play the Cardinals in a rain make-up to break a tie.  Will there be another tie to break after that? 

Most importantly, will the Tank be able to get out of work for Game 1 of the NLDS as his manager stated Friday morning: "You need to pray that no one else asks for those days (October 3 or 4) since you did not lock them in."?  The Tank can not lock in his vacation day request because the TV schedule has not yet been set.  The Tank is low on vacation days with the last two vacation days of the year for Game 1 of the NLCS and Game 4 of the World Series, touch wood depending upon the Mets advance.  Keep your fingers crossed for the Tank catching Game 1 of the NLDS with Steve at Shea.

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Though the Tank is in full baseball mode, he doesn't want to forget football.  Please find my picks below:

#1 Ohio State beats #13 Iowa in a close game at Iowa City.

#11 Virginia Tech beats #24 Georgia Tech.

Syracuse beats Wyoming.

The Bills lose to the Vikings.

The Jets give the Colts a tough fight but lose and cover the 10 1/2 point spread, 27-17.

The Giants have a bye this week.  Time to lick their wounds.

Posted by an anxious Tank in NY.

After Steve hit the "Panic Button" earlier this evening after Pedro's season ending injury which was announced during the game, the Tank had a brief OMG moment but settled down. The surprising part of the injury is it was the left calf, not the previously injured right calf.

Boston Bob reminded me of the Mets success since June without Pedro. The Mets winning formula is great offense, solid starters (other than Pedro), and one of the best bullpens in baseball. NLDS Game 1 Starter El Duque thankfully had a solid start with nine strikeouts and only earned run this evening and is one of the best post-season pitchers. Tom Glavine is a veteran with lots of playoff experience. Steve Trachsel isn't an ace but is one of the NL leaders in wins. John "Remember the Maine" is young but solid.

The WFAN announcers also discussed the Mets success since June without Pedro.

Steve then settled down after hitting the panic button and now thankfully feels better.

If the Mets are going to go far, they are going to have to rally like they did in June when Pedro went down. Pedro shouldn't be used as a crutch but a lightning rod to rally around.

Voting and Praying for Pedro and the Mets!

Posted by the Tank in NY.

As reported in many outlets earlier today, Dallas Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens reportedly attempted suicide Tuesday evening in Dallas after overdosing on 35 pills. T.O. held a press conference Wednesday afternoon to deny this saying that it was an "allergic reaction". According to his publicist Kim Etheredge, "Terrell has 25 million reasons why he should be alive." This is in reference to his three year, $25 million contract with the Cowboys. It is not rational for someone to kill themselves but T.O. has exhibited irrational behavior over the years from various verbal altercations from San Francisco 49ers to not wanting to play for the Baltimore Ravens to redefining the term "Team Cancer" with the Philadelphia Eagles last season. Would T.O. try to kill himself? Probably not, but with T.O. you never know for certain.  Only time will answer that question.  Let's see if T.O. will play those very Eagles next Sunday, October 8.

Since the Mets have had a tough week, Steve is starting to hit the panic button after the loss at Atlanta and is unfortunately too depressed to blog tonight. Since the Tank has been through really down times over the years including hair loss and relationship issues, I advised him to practice yogic breathing (pranayama) as I have been doing for the last five years.  Sometimes care givers like Steve and I overexert ourselves. For instance, Steve and I have been channeling the spirit of Tony Robbins to telepathically help A-Rod through his issues this season. I advised Steve to rest tonight and prepare for the NLDS next week.

Yes, as tough as we look on the outside, we can be fragile on the inside.  I am normally a nervous superstitious wreck in October during baseball playoffs.  Chin up Steve and T.O.  Keep fighting and breathing properly!  Ooomm.  Namaste! 

Posted by the Tank in NY.

"Good morning America How are you?

"Don't you know me I'm your native son,

"I'm the train they call the City of New Orleans..."

to quote ESPN's Chris Berman citing the great Arlo Guthrie song titled "The City of New Orleans" during the Monday Night Football as the NFL returned to New Orleans.  New Orleans took a 20-3 halftime lead and went on to beat Michael Vick and the Falcons 23-3.

Like the Bills, the Saints are one of the possible teams to be moved to Los Angeles after their lease ends at the SuperDome in 2010 according to Yahoo Sports.

As much as the Tank actually likes LA, it is a college football town as people root for USC or UCLA. On Sunday, they watch their hometown teams as many of them are transplants from other parts of the country. If a team with a strong local and national fan base like the Raiders couldn't make it in LA during the 1980s when they were good, would the "LA Bills" (God forbid), "LA Saints" (double God forbid), or another team make it there?

The billion dollars that the NFL would fetch for an LA franchise doesn't mean as much football means in economically depressed areas like New Orleans and Buffalo which has yet to recover from the industry that left since the 1970s. Not only because of the jobs and money it brings to their respective areas, these people live for and need football in their lives as something to look forward to. Football is one of the Tank's Fundamentals of Life: Faith, Family, Fitness, Fun, Food, and Football (regardless of what it is called around the world: American, Australian, Canadian, Rugby, and Soccer).

Join the Tank in keeping the Saints in New Orleans not only for post-Katrina reconstruction but for generations to come.

Posted by The Tank whose heart is in the Bayou.

Football is kicking into gear and the Tank had a good weekend with his picks except the Jets winning at the Bills. The Giants didn't show up until the second half but it wasn't enough at Seattle.

Ohio State convincingly beat Penn State.

Notre Dame made an incredible comeback at Michigan State. They don't call it the Luck of the Irish for nothing.

Cal routed Arizona State.

Though the Tank didn't pick the Broncos-Patriots game, he was happy to see the much maligned Jake Plummer and the Broncos win 17-7. As formidable as Brady, Bruschi, and Bellichick are, the loss of Deion Branch, Adam Vinatieri, and others are too much for the Patriots to get back to the Super Bowl. Yes, the Patriots will win the relatively weak AFC East, but they have too many question marks.

Last and most importantly, I am looking forward to football returning to New Orleans Monday where the Saints host the Michael Vick and the Falcons. The Big Easy needs the moral and financial support. Go Reggie Bush and the Saints!

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As for baseball, the Mets and Yankees both lost on Sunday. The only good part about it was that new 1B Gary Sheffield got more experience for a position he hasn't played in the pros. Granted, the plays didn't always go his way but he needs to known what to do in different situations. Sheffield made a great fielding play on Jeter's errant throw though the running was safe. Let's hope Mike Mussina's hand gets better.

As much as I dislike the Dodgers, Nomar Garciaparra had an incredible grand slam walk off home run off the Pirates.

Houston impressively swept the Cardinals to close within 3.5 games. I don't want Houston to make the playoffs because I am scared of their pitching but they are going make the Cardinals work to make the playoffs. That said, I hope the Cardinals make it because Looper is their closer and I hope the Mets can "reward" him for the games he blew last year. It made you wish for Armando Benitez.

Posted by The Tank in NY.