"One pitch, one at bat, one play, one situation, think ‘small’ and ‘big’ things result, tough at-bats, lots of walks, stay up the middle with men on base, whatever it takes to ‘keep the line moving’ on offense, 27 outs on defense, the Mets know you’re better than they are. They remember last year. You guys are never out of a game. Welcome the challenge that confronts you this weekend. You are the stars. Good luck. #20."
-Mike Schmidt, in an e-mail to the Phillies before Friday night's 3-0 Met defeat.
Thankfully, the Mets family showed that once you leave the Mets, you never really leave the Mets. And they responded after the game with a flood of e-mails in support of the current team:
"Gosh golly boys, you can do it! Gee whiz! And just know that if you need me to manage, I'm a phone call away." -Gary Carter
"Hey you need that extra motivation against the Phillies. You need that second gear. Hey, tough guys, you need ... Shave Zone!" -Lee Mazzilli
"If they ain't startin', you ain't departin." -Garry Templeton
"Hey, just letting you know that now that my team is out of the running, that I'm rootin' for ya ... take 'em to school like that school was in Colorado!" -Mike Hampton
"F**k Whitey! F**k the f**king Cardinals. Wait, what? They're playing the Phillies? Oh. Hey, you need stock tips?" -Lenny Dykstra
"Show 'em the Bronx!" -Bobby Bonilla
"Hey guys, I know how to make this loss hurt a whole lot less ... if you're interested." -Tony Tarasco
"Does Von Hayes still play for them? No? Oh, good. Go get 'em boys! -Calvin Schiraldi
"As long as you battle you'll be winners in my book! -Art Howe
"I wish you the best of luck." -Brent Gaff
P.S. Yes, I did play for the Mets. Does anybody remember me?
"Gregg Jefferies sucks!" -Roger McDowell
"Don't worry about not scoring runs tonight. Your offense is so good you'll come out this series and explode ... like that M-80 that I hurled towards a school girl." -Vince Coleman
"Hey, you still need bullpen help?" -Toby Borland
"Just keep 'em off the scoreboard in the first inning next time and you'll be fine." -Tom Glavine
"What the hell is 'e-mail'?" -Kevin McReynolds
