Endy Chavez - The Strength to Be There.

This image isn't going anywhere, and neither will the memory. Endy Chavez was that bit of 2006 we were all holding onto. Holding onto it with hopes that our Metropolitans would mold it into something different. Unfortunately for us, the ending hasn't changed the last 2 seasons - as a matter of fact it's grown more dismal. 

Now we've sent Endy, "the catch," and all hope that came with it three thousand miles away. It had to be done in order to move away from our failures and improve upon where we have come up short. It's a move like this that is so hard for a fan to swallow - the loss of a favorite. The player that creates the moments you'll never forget

 October 19th, 2006, I was on my couch at my old apartment in the village. My friends, who were converted Mets fans for the evening, and I were clutching onto the World Series tickets that I had "won" the opportunity to buy. Hopes were high that night, and they had to be - Ollie P. was on the mound. Much unlike his 3-13 regular season record (and 6.55 ERA) had spoken, Ollie was brilliant that night (maybe brilliant is overdoing it and sufficient is more appropriate, but this is nostalgia here - overdoing it is mandatory). 

Things got dicey come the 5th, but Willie was going to "stick with his guy" and weather the storm with Ollie at the helm. Ollie got Mr. Pujols to pop out and end the tumultuos inning. 

With Scott Rolen up, one down, and a man on in the 6th, it happened (as called by Gary Cohen):

"Perez deals. Fastball, hit in the air to left field - that's deep. Back goes Chavez, back near the wall...leaping and he...MADE THE CATCH! He took a home run away from Rolen! Trying to get back to first, Edmonds; he's doubled off! And the inning is over! Endy Chavez saved the day! He reached high over the left field wall, right in front of the Mets' visitor's bullpen, and pulled back a two-run homer. He went to the apex of his leap, and caught it in the webbing of his glove - with his elbow above the fence. A miraculous play, by Endy Chavez, and then Edmonds is doubled off first, and Oliver Perez escapes the sixth inning. The play of the year, the play maybe, of the franchise's history for Endy Chavez. The inning is over."

I dropped my ticket, banged on the walls, gave high fives, and screamed out the window "double play! double play!" That moment felt like destiny. We were going to get to the World Series...I was going to go to the World Series, and scream about double plays and miraculous catches with fellow fans, and not to strangers innocently walking below my apartment window.

I'll skip the play by play of the rest of the evening, as we all know how the night ended. This isn't about the failure of the evening (which ironically enough is being sent the same distance away). 

Endy Chavez and the catch represented the team, the time. I'm glad we're moving past that year and building upon our shortcomings. More importantly, I'm glad I have my memory of October 19th, 2006. So thank you Endy and farewell...oh and what the heck - one last time:

"EN - DY  CHA - VEZ" clap - clap - clap, clap, clap "EN - DY CHA - VEZ"