With the 2000's gone, I'd like to talk quickly about the games of the decade that stand out in my mind.

Game of the Decade

Without question, I'm giving the overall best game of the decade to October 16th, 2000. It was Game 5 of the 2000 NLCS, Series MVP Mike Hampton pitches a complete game three hit shutout, Todd Zeile's three run double in the 4th put the Mets up 6-0. Rick Ankiel throws two more wild pitches in the 7th (after throwing 5 pitches to the backstop in the first inning of game two) effectively ending his pitching career. The Mets dominated the whole game winning 7-0 and taking home the NL Pennant for the first time since 1986. I was there. From the fourth inning on, big Shea was electric as everyone anxiously awaited the pennant. There was nothing like it.

Best Regular Season Game

The best regular season game of the decade goes to June 30, 2000 (The 10 run inning). Three games back of the Braves for the division, the Mets were trailing the Braves 8-1 in the bottom of the 8th inning on fireworks night at Shea, on any other night many of the fans would have gone home. Mets tie the game on a series of hits and four straight walks, Mike Piazza comes up to the plate with the go ahead run on base, and you just knew it, Piazza caps the inning with a three run homer to go ahead 11-8, Mets win and pull to within two games of the Braves. I was there for that one too...

The best game in a losing effort

As much as this game might be the worst game of the decade, that we still have yet to recover from, on October 19, 2006, the Mets played in one of the most exciting games in all of baseball for the entire decade. Of course the Mets lost Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS on Yadier Molina's two run homer off of Aaron Heilman and Carlos Beltran's subsequent bat on the shoulder, but Mets fans will remember this game for one defensive play by Endy Chavez, at the time dubbed the "play of the franchise" by Gary Cohen, and a surprise gem from Oliver Perez. Oh right I was at that game too... I'm still waiting for Beltran to swing.

Honorable Mention

The first game in NY after 9/11 with the Piazza home run
The Benny Agbayani homer in the 2000 NLDS
The 2006 clincher
Maine near no hitter before the 07 collapse (which included a brawl)
Santana's gem before the 08 collapse
10/22/2006: The Mets trailed 7-1 and Delgado hit a grand slam for his 400th home run, and trailing 7-6 in the 9th, Beltran wins it with a two run walk-off

Those are just some of the games that stick out in my mind... thoughts?