How incredibly lucky (and of course dedicated enough) that you were able to live out your dream. 

If only everyone was as incredibly lucky (and determined)!

BTW, those same Seattle Mariners are kicking the snot out of my beloved Mets.  Although to be fair, my daughters and their friends would be able to shutout the Mets on this road trip.

Obviously it's something I'll never forget

The mets will turn it on, they just need a heated leader in the clubhouse.

the heated leader is Pedro...but a pitcher can only do so much.  I thought Beltran would be this...but he isn't.  Neither is Floyd or Piazza.  Honestly, it's David Wright, but as a sophmore there is only so much he can do. 

When Piazza departs (and possibly Floyd) then Wright can take over.

Starting Tuesday, the Mets and the Phils will battle twice before the end of June.  Perhaps the Mets will sweep the Phillies in the 6 games and get back in the race!! 

The press is saying that the Mets will give Pedro an extra day of rest which means that he'll miss BOTH Phillies series and instead face the Yankees.  That's gotta be a stupid move.  If Pedro pitches on normal rest he'll face the Phils on the 23rd and then again on either the 28th or on the 29th (with an extra day of rest).

I'd love to go down to Philadelphia this week.  I have yet to go to Citizens.

I can only imagine how that would feel to see your name up there.  Wow!

Well since I played with Griffey and ARod, it was strange to see myself up there along with superstars like that hehe.

That must have been alot of fun though.   I found out recently that my grandfather (now deceased for a few years) was offered a contract with the Boston Red Sox in his younger days.  He turned it down, why, I don't know. No one seems to know that I've talked to.

I'm a Sock for life!

You must have been elated when they won the World Series last year. 

The feeling would be so intense.  What was it like playing w/those guys?  Did you play w/Jay Buhner too?

Yep, I played with Jay.

It was great playing with Griff, Arod, Johnson, Edgar, and the rest of the gang.  They're such a great group and so many hall of famers, it was great to be along for the ride!

I was going to ask about Edgar, and Johnson too.  It'd be great to just be around those guys. 

that's right... i forget about you playing with arod... back before he bacame a yankee and i had to start hating him.    that certainly has to be an amazing feeling.    much better than when i was on the one in royals stadium with peanuts up my nose.

have a nice day

Yeah, he's such a great guy and friend.  He got a bad rap about the contract situation but you can't blame him for what he did.  Look at Beltran spurning a seemingly better team and situation and going to the Mets.

Yeah, he's such a great guy and friend.

that's really cool to hear... it occured to me as i was writing my comment that you probably do know him well...  we as fans so often think of the players as if they aren't human... after interacting with you on the blog, and watching others do the same (as well as a few others players i've gotten to have actual conversations with) i've gotten to see a more human side... and it certainly is refreshing... and so it really causes me to think in terms of how i root against a guy like a-rod simply because of the uniform he wears...

and as you said, i never did blame him for that contract... i don't like the system where an athlete makes millions and a teacher makes nothing... but man, i wouldn't turn down that contract if i were him. 

have a nice day

Your head is huge!  (well on the Jumbotron, haha)  Since I've been reading you, you certainly come across as genuinly nice, respectful of your achievments as a player and a community giver.

It's a pleasure to know you, JohnnyMarzInPhillly...

Hopefully everyone thinks that it's just big on the jumbotron heh.  My family keeps me grounded

The pleasure is all mine Wendy!!!

Once again, I have to thank Philly for Polanco......Walk off! 

I would have rather kept him and put him at third!

He's a great hitter.  With Carlos Guillen hurting, and Infante struggling, he fit the bill for Detroit perfectly.  I couldn't bring myself into dealing away a player like that, even though Urbina is a darn good pitcher.  I don't know too much about Ramon Martinez though.  I hope they work out.

Yeah we really needed Urbina.  But you're lucky folks to get Polanco.  Let's hope he signs a long term deal with you guys!

I'm definately crossing my fingers!