Getting ideas for the annual New Year’s cartoon is tough, especially when it’s practically the same scene every year - a big ball drop in Times Square.

 

Then I happened to remember the biggest ball drop this year: Mets second baseman Luis Castillo’s ball drop in the bottom of the 11th inning in game one of the Subway Series at Yankee Stadium!

 

Also a game I happened to be attending, by the way.  I’ll never forget the scene behind me as a Met father and his two sons - who were about 9 and 12, I think - K-Rod on the mound, A-Rod pops up, hits his bat in the dirt at home plate in frustration as he runs to first, Castillo goes back... still back... and the ball pops out of his glove and onto the field!  Jeter scores!  Teixeira running all the way from first rounds third and the Yanks win!  And I just looked back and the utter shock and disbelief on their three faces; their mouths agape as if to say “What. The. Heck. Just. Happened?!?!”

 

And I just said a little sympathetically, knowing how painful it is to be a Met fan and that it wouldn’t be the first time they experience this kind of thing:  “Welcome to your baptism, kids.”

 

Anyway, have a Happy 2010 everybody!