My first ever contribution to this blog, a long time coming considering my buddy Pete is our host. Let me back Pete up and say, it ain't over til it's over (It's ok to use Yogi's mantra, it applies to all). So, yes, your Orange and Blue are giving you blue balls right now, but that's ok, because the payoff will be that much sweeter, if not painful in the process. This all suddenly reminds me of Pete's High School Year book quote. I'll put it here for you; let me go get it. Ok, I've just grabbed my 26 year old year book, noting that it's starting to get a bit cruddy as is the Mets pitching, but let me stick to the point, which is that the quote our moderator had submitted as a young buck will never get old. I submit it to you now, just not for the purposes of holding down your lunch during this tight pennant race, but for application to what remains of your glorious Met Love'n Life (MLL). Attributed to Roger Angell: Since baseball time is measured only in outs, all you have to do is to succeed utterly; Keep hitting; Keep the rally alive, and you have defeated time. You remain young forever. I won't make believe I understand that any better now than when I first read it in 1981, but I do know it's something pretty darn deep. Perhaps it has nothing to do with baseball, perhaps everything, and how we experience the ups and downs in life and in the pennant chase, and ultimately, a reminder to live in the moment. Give yourself a break, don't assume the worst, enjoy the at bat, enjoy the race, and remember that first place isn't the worst place to be. -Lebow