Extra Innings by Joe Boesch

Now that the baseball season is in the final days, besides the weather in New York, here's a look at the upcoming MLB calendar of events: Oct. 1 — Regular season ends. November TBA — Last day for club to make a qualifying offer to an eligible former player who became a free agent, fifth day after World Series, 5 p.m. EST. Nov 7-9 — General managers meetings, Scottsdale, Ariz. Nov. 14 — Last day for player to accept a qualifying offer, 4 p.m. EST. Nov. 17 — Last day for teams to offer 2024 contracts to unsigned players on their 40-man rosters. Dec. 3 — Hall of Fame Contemporary Baseball/Managers-Umpires-Executives Committee vote announced, Nashville, Tenn. Dec. 3-6 — Winter meetings, Nashville, Tenn. Until then see ya at the park! — Joe Boesch

A look at some Yogisms to make for a great week: "When you come to a fork in the road.... take it." "You can observe a lot by just watching." "It ain't over till it's over." "We made too many wrong mistakes." "No one goes there nowadays, it's too crowded." "Baseball is ninety percent mental. The other half is physical." — Joe Boesch

Two men had an argument on who was the best baseball team in New York. "You know the Yankees are the best," the friend replied. "No way, the Mets are…remember Tom Seaver?" The friend lashed back. "Why don't you jump on the Red's bandwagon while you're at it?" "I resent that!" An older man heard what the two friends were arguing about. He replied: "You're both wrong. The Brooklyn Dodgers were the best baseball team in New York. Case closed." — Joe Boesch

I just try to do what I have to do and let the people out there do what they have to do, which is have fun, scream, yell and jump around. I try to do what I have to do, which is play baseball, and I can only play in that piece of area there, so that's what I try to do.   — Pedro Martinez — Joe Boesch

"Pain is only bearable if we know it will end, not if we deny it exists." — Viktor Frankl New York had to recover. Be revived as freedom was briefly halted.  That awakening came from baseball on September 21, 2001 at Shea Stadium in New York City where the Mets were playing the Braves in the first game since the 9/11 attacks in New York. It was the eight-inning and Mike Piazza was at-bat with the fans unsure should they cheer or not? What happened next could be remembered as the "Second Shot Heard Around the World," as Piazza hit a mammoth home run against Steve Karsay and awakened the fans to cheer and chant U-S-A. This is a story to remember what America stands for. This is a story to never forget 9/11. As usual, America was going about its business on this Tuesday morning. The sun was shining, the economy thriving and this greatest nation was going to be dealt a serious blow never seen, since the invasion of Pearl Harbor, on American soil. America, and what it st...

  As the Yankees continue toward the end of a disappointing season, it seems all of a sudden the team is coming to life - a day late and dollar short. But put that aside as Giancarlo Stanton set a milestone record by hitting his 400 home run of his career.   According to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, he became the fastest in fewer games.  Here’s Hoch’s post on X (formerly Twitter): Fastest to 400 homers in terms of games played:  1. Mark McGwire - 1412  2. Babe Ruth - 1475  3. Alex Rodriguez - 1489  4. Giancarlo Stanton - 1520  5. Albert Pujols - 1523 It doesn’t make the Yankees any closer to the playoffs as they sit at 18.0 games out with a 69-69 won/loss record. So, until then see ya at the park.

In life, so many things are taken for granted, but one thing I can honestly say is that I took every day, enjoyed the game of putting on that uniform and playing the great game of baseball.   — Wade Boggs — Joe Boesch

— Joe Boesch