Mike McCann's Field of Fotos

It was perfect football weather -- in late April. Winds gusting over 30, sun obscured by low clouds. And the resurgent Mets ran their winning streak to seven, capping a homestand where they won 9 of 10 games with a 10 - 5 win over the Dodgers. This was our first game sitting in the upper (promenade) deck. Sure, it's the top of the stadium, but being nearly behind home plate pays off in a better view of the field. The Mets jumped on the scorboard with four second inning runs. Here, a double scorched to deep left by Alex Cora. Below, Mets rookie Ike Davis wonders whether this is worth swinging at. He took this pitch, then flied out to center field. The Mets' turnaround has featured strong pitching. Today, it was John Maine's turn to impress -- with nine strikeouts. Only one question, with things going so well for the resurgent boys of Flushing, why does Mister Met look so worried?

After complaints last year about its new ballpark lacking a Mets image, the club has moved the Shea Stadium home run apple (virtually buried last year in an out-of-the-way area behind the right field stands) to a prominent spot near Citi Field's entrance. The ballclub's slow start certainly held down attendance last night. I'm guessing that no more than 15,000 people were on hand to see the Mets and Cubs. The night belonged to pitcher Mike Pelfrey. The tall righthander threw seven shutout innings, and made a nifty slide to score on Jose Reyes' triple. Reyes, out injured most of 2009, looked like his old self with four hits and that aura of intimidation on the basepaths. This shot of the Mets dugout was a good test for the zoom lens on my new Canon digital SLR. Above: newly recalled Mets rookie Ike Davis, who walked to start a 8th inning rally that was capped by pinch hitter Fernando Tatis' home run.

Part of the deal that enabled the Yankees to build the new Stadium across the street from the old was a land swap. The "new house" stands on what had been playing fields and parkland. And the ballclub agreed to replace the lost recreation areas. With the ruins of the old Stadium in the background, neighborhood residents can use the new fields, which are built on top of a new garage serving the Stadium. Mostly soccer and (American football) from what I saw. While city parks officials want to avoid aspiring sluggers connecting with motorists driving just below the fields, couldn't they see the irony of placing this sign across the street from Yankee Stadium?

With the demolition of the old Yankee Stadium moving steadily along, I knew I had to visit and to capture the final chapter of its story. Seeing the new stadium through the rubble of its predecessor is a reminder that baseball continues at 161st Street and River Ave. The games, the stars and yes, the ghosts all moved comfortably across the street. The last remaining section is the outer wall behind what were the right field seats. It's just a shell -- the seats, aisles and anything else built out from the main structure came down weeks or months ago. Still, there's a sadness that one can't avoid during the long drawn-out demolition process. With implosions not permitted in New York, it's an extended goodbye. The shot below might be the most poignant. Look carefully at the broken panel that used to be displayed near the top of the stadium's exterior -- proclaiming to those driving past on the Major Deegan Expressway that they were seeing the Home

Just after the Cubs-Padres exhibition I caught last month, I noticed Lou Piniella chatting with a big guy whose profiled seemed a bit familiar. It should, as it was Dave Winfield -- his Yankee teammate during the early 1980s. And Winfield, now an ESPN contributor, still casts an imposing figure even just walking across the field..

If it's my blog, shouldn't I be the one to stick out my neck? While it's not exactly going out on a limb, I'll say the 2010 World Series winner plays here: My crystal ball reads: AL: East-YANKEES, Central-TWINS, West-RANGERS, W-C RAYS NL: East-PHILLIES, Central-CARDINALS, West-GIANTS, W-C BRAVES World Series - YANKEES over PHILLIES 2010 also appears ready to deliver a bumper crop of impressive NL rookies -- Jason Heyward of the Braves, Aroldis Chapman with the Reds, Steven Strasburg, who'll hopefully energize the Nationals. A young player who caught my eye in Arizona is Cubs outfielder Sam Fuld. Young American Leaguers about to break through include Orioles pitcher Brian Matusz, Rangers reliever Neftali Feliz, Yankees catcher (and potential DH) Jesus Montero and Rays outfielder Desmond Jennings. Perhaps this food stand makes the Phils feel a little too much at home when they visit the Bronx. After all, they did win both the first regular s

One of baseball's best-regarded young pitchers is Texas Rangers fireballer Neftali Feliz. He made waves in the Cactus League for reaching 101 mph in pre-season action.

We're a couple hours before the first pitch at Camelback Ranch as the Rockies get ready to meet the Dodgers. Just a handful of fans come early enough to catch the players take their practice swings.