The Mets Police

My Usual Off-Day Warning To New York Mets Fans

Shannon Shark, Mets Police Chief

The Mets were swept by the Phillies.

Monday is an off-day.

That means two days of lunatics calling WFAN and guys like Carton (who I love) fanning the flames.

Just keep the radio off.

This team does not need to make a trade. There's no one player who can fix this. The season may be lost because the reinforcements never come back, but unless you are trading Santana or Wright for like 6 players - forget it. Picking up "Aubrey Huff" ain't fixing this.

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Most Popular On Mets Police (Updated July 5th)

Shannon Shark, Mets Police Chief

mets

Here's our weekly recap of the most popular articles from the past week, mixed with those that I think went under-read....and since nobody was around all weekend I'm going to try to give second life to a few things.

While you were at the beach, ESPN ranked the Mets as the #82 (out of 122) pro franchise.

Anyone heard of the "Branca's Bullpen" Mets pregame show from 1963?

I thought more people would be upset at Jack Clark talking poorly of the mid-80's Mets....which further makes me think most Mets fans are about 24 years old. Nothing wrong with that, it just means that most people's perspective doesn't go back before Piazza.

Are the Mets stupid or liars when it comes to injuries?

Howie Rose ripped the noise guys.

Not from this site but I appreciated that the Kiner's Korner blog hates the red hats.

Also not mine but I liked Bitter Bill's all time Mets busts.

Some other blogs you should check out.

Follow us on twitter.com/metspolice

Always popular: Inside the Acela Club, Inside the Caesar's Club and the overall collection of Citi Field pics including obstructed views and also pics of the Delta Club and out tour of the Mets team store.

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Our Tour Of The New York Mets Team Store So Far

Shannon Shark, Mets Police Chief

new york mets team store

This is a re-cap post that makes my life easier.

Recently my son and I toured the New York Mets Team Store....here's what we found.

Part One. Dodgers Stuff.

Part Two. Dan Warthen game worn jerseys.

Part Three. Dumb fonts.

Part Four. Ugly Caps.

More this week.

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More New York Mets Than Yankees On All-Star Teams

Shannon Shark, Mets Police Chief

all star game

Jeter, Wright lead locals on All-Star teams

Wright, Beltran, K-Rod, Santana. Teixeira, Jeter, Rivera.

New York Yankees Jeter Answers The Question...Sort Of

Shannon Shark, Mets Police Chief

derek jeter

Good stuff in the Post...the "A" being Jeter.

Q: Can you envision yourself playing another position for the Yankees than shortstop?

A: Can I envision? No.

It wouldn't be fair to the Post to print the rest so click the link. I'd love to hear the audio of this because the Captain's text reads kind of douchey. If A-Rod gave answers like these....

Bitter Bill's All Time New York Mets Busts

Shannon Shark, Mets Police Chief

bobby bonilla, richie hebner

See I wasn't kidding when I said the 1939 Mets would have signed Lou Gehrig in the off-season...Bitter Bill has a great list of Mets busts (free-agents/trades).

I totally forgot Tony Fernandez played for this team.

You kids won't remember Richie Hebner. I'm convinced that 95% of Mets fans are 24 years old and only know who Keith Hernandez is because he's on TV. Nothing wrong with it, but some days I feel like the old man on the mountain, and I ain't that old.

Here's Bill's list.

Oh and Bill - to answer your question whether it was more amazing that they brought Bonilla in the first time or the second....clearly the second. The first time he seemed good (having Barry Bonds in your lineup tends to bring out the best in hitters), the second time the Mets were fools. Shockingly they didn't understand their fanbase. Imagine.

One hour until we start complaining about All Star Teams, can't wait!

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Urinals In The Caesar's Club At Citi Field

Shannon Shark, Mets Police Chief

citi field

Mets Walkoffs has been to the urinals in the Caesar's Club at Citi Field - seems like rich folks get to have dividers between their urinals. Walkoffs is a great site so read about the bathrooms, and poke around about some other stuff.

Although I would prefer dividers, at least there is space between the urinals. Much better than the troughs at Citi Field.

I'm more disturbed by the wet spot between my feet at every urinal. No, I'm not making it but some of y'all either can't aim or need to visit the urologist.

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Opinion: Flipping the 33 percent (Metsblog)

Shannon Shark, Mets Police Chief

mets

Over at Mets Blog they speak of several things wrong with the 2009 Mets including a lack of fundamentals. I like beating my dead horse so once again I will observe that 16 of the players were not in camp during the spring. You can't prepare your team if the players are off playing in the WBC. The 2013 Mets should just tell the WBC to go mets itself and refuse to participate. What a fun sports-radio debate that would be. I'd love to see a prime-of-his-career David Wright say something like "the most important thing is to stay here and help the Mets win a championship. I remember back in '09...."

Here's Metsblog: Opinion: Flipping the 33 percent

Fox Baseball Coverage Was Hideous Yesterday

Shannon Shark, Mets Police Chief

fox, kenny albert, lou gehrig, manny ramirez

Wow, once again I'm glad I taped the game so I could watch it later. Kenny Albert sure made me miss the SNY guys. Kenny must have a famous father or something because there's no way he earned a national play by play baseball gig. He is terrible. I know I'm supposed to genuflect at the Altar of Albert but I'm not. I wonder if that is his real speaking voice or if he puts on a Marv-lite impression?

What was the point of showing me Manny Ramirez at bats. It was his second game back, and good job out of McCarver on calling out Fox on hyping the return of someone from susupension. I wanted to watch lots of Manny at-bats this season but Omar wouldn't let me.

I'm glad baseball hyped the Gehrig thing - I tuned into the Yankee radiocast at 1pm to not hear it. Maybe they aired it in the pregame, but I sort of expected to hear it. Did they do it later?

I hate the way Sterling sits there in silence making Suzyn vamp right before first pitch. He will not say a word until the first pitch is on the way and she does her genuflecting before him. Truly nauseating. Put on the game today right at 1pm to see what I mean. You can switch over to Howie right at first pitch.

Finally, the Media Goon asks if the Toronto (Canada) Blue Jays were happy to wear the Stars & Stripes? It really makes no sense if you think about it.

I'm pretty sure the red hats are universally hated, no?

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Sports Blog Index: Top 15 MLB Blogs

Shannon Shark, Mets Police Chief

amazin avenue

Some more generic stuff for your holiday reading. Congrats to Amazin' Avenue for making this list!

14. Amazing Avenue - Mets fans have a lot to be happy about right now. Their offense and some guy named Santana are pacing them atop the NL East, and they cracked our top 15 based on strong support from fans both in traffic and an abundance of comments.

Sports Blog Index: Top 15 MLB Blogs

New York Mets Pelfrey And Cora At The Nintendo Store Monday

Shannon Shark, Mets Police Chief

alex cora, mike pelfrey

IGN has details...

Date:
Monday, July 6

Location:
Nintendo World Store
10 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10020

(646) 459-0800

Schedule:
12:00–3:30 PM – Home Run Pinball Tournament registration
4:00 PM – Event introduction
4:10 PM – Mike Pelfrey and Alex Cora of the New York Mets to faceoff in The BIGS 2
4:15 PM – Tournament begins
6:00 PM – Tournament concludes

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Blue, Orange And Pink (New York Mets)

Shannon Shark, Mets Police Chief

blue orange and pink

Hey guys....not much support from neither y'all nor the Mets for the Stop Black/Fight Cancer cause. Just sign up. At the rate the Mets are going it's going to cost you like $5 to prove a point, and maybe help someone.

2009 Making Strides of Paramus, NJ
Blue, Orange, and Pink

What is this? Blue, Orange, and Pink: an effort by Mets fans, in conjunction with the American Cancer Society, to get the New York Mets to return to their traditional uniform colors and fight breast cancer at the same time.

How does it work? If you're looking to join the cause, click the "Join Our Team" button right above this. Fill out your information (you are not required to make a donation when you join) including your e-mail address. From that point on, every time the Mets wear blue and orange caps at home, with either pinstripes or white uniforms, or blue and orange caps with gray uniforms away, you will be asked to donate $1 to Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, a subsidiary of the American Cancer Society. The American Cancer Society minimum for donations is $5, so you will receive an e-mail every fifth game that Mets wear blue and orange, asking you to come to the page and make a donation. All of the money we raise, as well as all of the money you personally donate, will be tracked on this website.

Where is the money going? Can I trust this? Every donation is completely voluntary (we will never automatically deduct any money, nor do we have the ability to), and goes directly to the American Cancer Society, through this page, which is part of their official website. Neither myself, nor any third party plays any part in the direct transaction between you and the American Cancer Society.

What is your end goal? Our goal is to have 100 team members, and, if the Mets cooperate, up to 100 opportunities this season in which to donate. So at a maximum cost of $100 over the course of the entire season (or less, depending on how many games the Mets comply) you can do your part to help raise $10,000 in the fight against cancer, and the fight to put the New York Mets baseball club back in blue and orange.

When does it start? We will start sending out e-mails for the Mets first home series in June, starting against the Philadelphia Phillies on the 9th.

Ok, I want in, but I still have some questions. Not a problem. Send any questions you have to blueorangeandpink@gmail.com

Wait, you want to put the Mets back in their traditional uniforms? Huh? What exactly are you talking about? For those of you who have just stumbled across this site, and aren't entirely sure just what we're talking about, let's start way back at the beginning:

New York City has a long and rich history of National League baseball, including one of its founding members in 1875, Mutual of New York. Mutual of New York soon folded, but the New York Giants joined the National League in 1883, and the Brooklyn Dodgers joined soon after in 1890. (American League baseball wouldn't come to New York until 1904)

For 68 years the Giants and Dodgers would entertain New York City with their cross town, National League rivalry, helping to make New York City the center of the baseball world. That is, until 1957, when both teams picked up, and moved out to California.

New York City was crushed. And for the first time since 1882, it was without National League baseball.

A few years later, the New York Mets came along. Founded in 1962 to bring National League baseball back to New York City, the Mets were named for the New York Metropolitans who played in New York in the 1880's. New York's new team was an homage to its old; they wore the blue of the Brooklyn Dodgers and the orange logo of the New York Giants. In short, the Mets were an effort to keep alive the great traditions of New York baseball.

As the Mets played their first two seasons in the Giants old home, the Polo Grounds, while waiting for the new Shea Stadium to be built, fans who saw the blue and orange knew that those colors meant something. It meant that, yes, National League baseball in New York had a long and glorious past, but now, with the Mets, it also had a future.

Fast forward to the late 1990's, when, for the last few years, the Mets hadn't been doing so well on the field, and sales of their merchandise started to suffer. According to Dave Howard, the Mets’ executive vice president of business operations, market research at the time showed that black sporting merchandise sold better. Younger generations were more likely to buy black baseball hats and jerseys, irregardless of the team that was on it. So just like that, the Mets began to sell out over 100 years of baseball history in an effort to make more merchandise sales.

As one blogger poetically put it: "The Mets, always seeking new ways to alienate their loyal fanbase," are "taking a sport steeped in tradition and taking a dump on it."

And to a certain extent, this is perfectly understandable. Alternate uniforms, particularly black ones, sell. (And many teams started to figure this out. At one point, it seemed that every single professional sports team, from the Detriot Lions to the Kansas City Royals, had alternate black uniforms.) But people can wear black Mets hats and shirts all they'd like. I'm not going to argue with you that blue and orange are easier to match with street clothes than black is. (I own many, many black articles of clothing. Very little, outside of baseball gear, that is blue and orange.) But plenty of organizations sell "alternate" colors without actually wearing them. Check out MLB.com, and you can buy a Yankees or Dodgers hat in black, or just about any color. In fact, I ran into a friend of mine today with a black Yankees cap on. "I like to wear black." he said, "but I would kill them if they ever wore this during a game."

Just because something is selling and is trendy at the moment, doesn't mean it needs to be worn on the field (Unless we want the Mets to start wearing Uggs. No, wait, I'm kidding. Please, Mr. Wilpon, don't actually do that.)

The difference is, on the field, you respect the history and tradition of the organization.

What uniforms never look dated? Uniforms like the Yankees, Giants, Dodgers, and Red Sox. They're the same (more or less) as they've always been, and they'll never go out of style. They look as good now as they did in the 1940's and as good as they will in 2040.

What uniforms are the most embarrassing? When teams follow fashion trends, only to be left with horribly outdated uniforms ten years later (see: the White Sox and Astros of the 80's). The black uniform trend of the late 90's, when it seemed like every baseball team wore black, are already starting to look dated; even the Royals have figured that out.

Much like modern architecture would in the heart of Paris, wearing trendy uniforms doesn't make us look cool, it makes us look like we don't understand the importance of the history that surrounds us.

To me, there's a big difference between teams who take their history seriously (see: Yankees, Giants, Dodgers, Cubs, Cardinals, Red Sox, Tigers) from expansion, small market, or small budgeted teams who are desperate to sell merchandise anyway they can (see: Orioles, Blue Jays, A's, Marlins, Pirates, Diamondbacks, and Rockies, all who have alternate black uniforms.)

Which do the Mets want to be?

And this seems to be representative of a larger problem within this organization. The Mets are a storied franchise with a history to be proud of, and instead we act like an expansion team who's more interested current gimmicks and trends, as if we have no traditions or history to celebrate, and are desperately vying for anyone's attention.

We don’t use our own theme song anymore (though we'll save the Sweet Caroline discussion for another website), there’s nothing in the stadium dedicated to the team or its championships, we’re, perhaps, the only team in Major League Baseball who has their pennants hidden from sight, and we can’t even wear our own uniforms or proper colors anymore. Quite frankly, its embarrassing.

Tradition is not something that’s innate; it needs to be learned and passed down from generation to generation. And right now, its falling through the cracks. It saddens me to think that we’re loosing an entire generation to marketing and trends.

(If we must wear alternates, may I suggest doing what the Phillies and Indians do, and make them "throwbacks" and a nod to history. Wear them, but as alternates, that is, one day a week. That way the Mets can sell more uniforms, but still respect tradition.)

I look back on the 47 years of Mets pinstriped history, from the first team picture in the Polo Grounds, to the '69 and '86 championship teams, and feel immense pride. The blue caps with the best logo in baseball, the orange NY, a symbol of New York's National League baseball tradition started in 1883 that we continue on today.

Then, I look at today's team in black and blue caps and black jerseys in an effort to look trendy and cool, and feel confused and saddened. I'm not an old man. In fact, I'm too young to even remember the Mets winning a World Series (I was three in 1986), but its the sense of history and tradition that makes baseball so special, and separates it from every other professional sport in America.

We as baseball fans are lucky to have it. We as New Yorkers are even luckier than most. Why deny ourselves of it?

The Mets are a first class baseball organization, both with our play on the field, and our continuation of over 125 years of National League baseball in New York City. Let's start acting, and dressing, like it.

Remember, "The fans stay true to the orange and blue!"

What is breast cancer? Breast cancer is a malignant (cancerous) tumor that starts from cells of the breast. The disease occurs primarily in women, but men can get breast cancer as well.

A woman’s breast is made up of glands that make breast milk (lobules), ducts (small tubes that connect lobules to the nipple), fatty and connective tissue, blood vessels, and lymph (pronounced limf) vessels. Most breast cancers begin in the ducts (ductal carcinoma), some begin in the lobules (lobular carcinoma), and the rest in other tissues.

Lymph vessels are like veins, except that they carry lymph fluid instead of blood. Lymph is a clear fluid that contains immune system cells and waste products. Lymph vessels lead to small, bean-shaped collections of tissue called lymph nodes. Most lymph vessels of the breast lead to lymph nodes under the arm. These are called axillary (AX-uh-lair-ee) nodes. If breast cancer cells reach the underarm lymph nodes and continue to grow, they cause the nodes to swell. Once cancer cells have reached these nodes, they are more likely to spread to other organs of the body.

Aside from being female, age is the most important factor affecting breast cancer risk. Moderate or vigorous physical activity, maintaining a healthy body weight, having first child before age 30, breastfeeding, and avoiding alcohol or drinking less than 2 drinks each day are all associated with a lower risk of breast cancer.

To learn more about breast cancer, please visit www.cancer.org/breastcancer call us toll-free at 1-800-ACS-2345, anytime, day or night.

Click the link, or else it is your fault that the Mets dress poorly.

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July 4th (and 5th) 1985: New York Mets Defeat Braves In 19

Shannon Shark, Mets Police Chief

fireworks, mets

I think of this one every year.

Thanks to the NY Post for this recap from 2007:

ATLANTA MARATHON

At 4:01 a.m. on July 5, 1985, the fireworks finally went off over Fulton County Stadium. The Mets and Braves had just played a game that featured two rain delays and six hours, 10 minutes of playing time. When Ron Darling struck out Rick Camp at 3:55, the Mets 16-13 victory was complete.

It was Fireworks Night, and even though only about 100 people were left in the stadium, the Braves decided to set them off. Atlanta residents, asleep for hours, panicked that the city was under attack.

It was a fitting finish to a bizarre night. The game had 19 innings, 29 runs, 43 players, 114 outs, 615 pitches, 45 hits, 23 walks, 22 strikeouts, five errors and 37 stranded base runners.

That was the most bizarre game I ever played in - bizarre and fascinating, depressing and great, thrilling and boring, Darling said last week. It was all of those things mixed in. It would have been a story but Rick Camp made it a big story.

The Mets had taken a lead in the top of the 18th inning, and they were ready to go home. Then Camp, a relief pitcher with a .060 career batting average, came to the plate. He hit a two-out, two-strike Tom Gorman pitch out of the ballpark for his only career home run to tie the game.

The Mets broke through in the 19th to put the game away and Darling closed it out. Keith Hernandez hit for the cycle in the game, and Gary Carter caught all 19 innings - 305 pitches.

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Some New York Mets Blogs to Check Out

Shannon Shark, Mets Police Chief

mets

Yeah this is a rerun....holiday....low traffic on the site today....

Here's a look around the blogoverse...mostly Mets sites, but a few other things you may find to be pretty cool. It's a mix of big sites, small sites, sites tied to traditional media. Since Mets Police has started we've gotten a few links from bigger sites which were and are tremendously appreciated...and as Mets Police gets bigger I'm happy to help anyone that we can.

In no particular order and with apologies in advance of I leave off anyone who has been good to us....

Mets Walkoffs and Other Minutiae: I love this site. I've never met this guy but he's always good to get back to me quickly when I need information like "How many times did John Pacella's hat fall off in that game against the Pirates?" One Friday it was a list of 99 players who played for the Mets and Red Sox. Every time I go there I wonder, "Who knows this stuff?"

Centerfield Maz. Maz writes what my friend Tony used to call "scorecard stories." Maz is more likely to post about the day Ed Kranepool went two for four than he is about last night's game. Good retro site that lets us borrow entire articles when we can't think of anything to write....or when faking-the-blog on a holiday weekend.

Bitter Bill: one of the sports blogs on the Daily News website. Bill has a good tone that's a mix of "Joe Fan" and professional sports-writing. Anyone who calls Jeremy reed "Baba Booey" is riding the fence just right. Bill writes as if he is one blown save from killing himself.

Mets Blog; you probably know about this one. The biggest one, the grandaddy of them all, and with ties to SNY a good source of official information without being propaganda the way mets.com is I've become a fan of "the least you should know" which is a quicky game recap that will let you bluff some water cooler talk with your friends if you missed the game.

Amazin' Avenue is another biggie. They seem to enjoy razzing Mets Blog but I stay out of all that stuff. I'm a big fan of their daily Applesauce links, and if you're lucky enough to get them to link to your blog on Applesauce you see your traffic go way up.

Always Amazin' is the Mets blog on nj.com A nice mix of news, opinion and a healthy dose of links. I'll bet if you live east of the Hudson that this is off your radar. Bookmark it.

The Kranepool Society. Another biggie that will move the numbers if they link to you. Plus they know who Ed Kranepool is, which should be one of the questions you need to answer to enter Citi Field.

Uni Watch. If you like our complaining about uniforms, this takes it to an entirely different level.

New Stadium Insider - a Yankee blog but my vote for blog of the year. Some people have called NSI the "cousins" to the MP. They write about the same kinds of things that we do (just Yankees-centric) like obstructed seats and annoying owners. Even if you don't care about the Yankees it is worth visiting them every day. Extra credit for live-streaming video from the Citi Field exhibition games.

Flushing 9: Imagine if there were a newspaper (like the old "National") that did nothing but cover the Mets. Nice layout and not as "bloggy" as some sites including mine.

Flushing University: another magaziney blog...each day there is a featured column from a different writer, and I am the Monday columnist.

Checked Swing: "A Frequently Irreverent Look At Baseball From A British Fan." Thomas is a frequent commenter here on MP and knows his stuff.

Faith and Fear In Flushing. He got a book deal. That alone deserves respect.

Never Forget 69 This one was off my radar, so I'm glad I asked people to send in links. A nice back and forth of a recap from the most recent '09 game and the same-date game in 1969.

The 'Ropolitans. Oh to be young again. Steady content from a guy who I think is still in college. Often love blogs the weekday day games which is fun while at work.

On The Black He's promised me he's changing the color scheme, but I've linked to his videos in the past. Another blog I'm under-familiar with but happy to include.

Section Six: is pretty upset about the LF overhang. I like miltant Mets fans.

Remembering Shea: thorough site from a die-hard. Keeps up on the other blogs a little better than I do (darn "real job.")

Subway Squawkers: A Mets fan and a Yankees fan fight. 'Nuff said!

Phil Mushnick The granddaddy of complaining and calling people on the carpet. Our hero. Even was the first one to complain about black uniforms, well before the Mets had their own.

Neil Best writes "Watchdog" for Newsday. I find myself linking to him often and hopefully Cablevision won't put Newsday.com behind a 50 foot wall known as subscription.

NY Post Mets Blog it gets confusing sometimes because google lists the Post's site as mets blog (not to be confused with the Mets Blog mentioned above) but there's good stuff in here all the time.

LoHud Yankees Blog - probably the "Mets Blog" of Yankeedom.

Scott Proctor's Arm . Another Yankees blog...but another blog that posts obstructed views, so I dig it.

Again, apologies in advance. I probably left someone out. If you'd like to be included next time hit me up at shannon@metspolice.com

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Why there will never be another Lou Gehrig - MLB - SI.com

Shannon Shark, Mets Police Chief

Why there will never be another Lou Gehrig - MLB - SI.com

New York Mets ESPN Ultimate Franchise Ranking: We're #82!

Shannon Shark, Mets Police Chief

new york mets

Your introduction to the Ultimate Franchise Ranking only teases the story from ESPN Magazine, so all I have is by way of the Post which says the Mets are:

#82 of 122 overall - because of high prices. The Angels are #1 and the Clippers #122, the Knicks #121.
#52 for stadium experience. (How is New Yankee better?)
#112 for affordability.
#100 for bang for the buck.

Wow, you add all that up and it sounds like the Mets should hire some long time fan to help them with the overall ballpark atmosphere and general fan friendliness. Where would they ever find such a person?

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Email whatever to shannon@metspolice.com (including job offers to consult to your major league baseball organization)
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Post: New York Yankees Plummet Thanks To Stadium

Shannon Shark, Mets Police Chief

new york yankees, yankee stadiumm

Since I am the king of Told Ya So....told ya so.

From the Post. I want to do the Yankees stuff while I enjoy Sterling on my sunny deck, then we'll get to the Mets stuff next posting.

Sure, the new crib has double-wide concourses that circle the park. Yeah, the seats have as many as 10 inches more legroom, and the 101-foot-wide scoreboard is seven times larger than its predecessor. Plus there's a Hard Rock Cafe and cupholders and family bathrooms. So what's missing? A certain je ne sais quoi."

Full article in The Post.

Survey here on espn.

You know how people talk about how they never should have torn down old Penn Station....this is the 21st century equivalent. As we say in Queens, "Nice head."

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"Branca's Bullpen" New York Mets Pre-Game Show?

Shannon Shark, Mets Police Chief

kiners korner, ralph branca

Over the weekend I finally finished the book "The Echoing Green" which is about the New York Giants (you know the team with the NY that played in the Polo Grounds, won 10 pennants but nobody mentions) and in the book they referenced "Branca's Bullpen?"

Anyone know anything?

The Echoing Green: The Untold Story of Bobby Thomson, Ralph Branca ... - Google Books Result

by Joshua Prager - 2008 - Sports & Recreation - 498 pages
Branca had in winter left TV station WOR, let lapse both his job with Cosell and Branca's Bullpen, a Met pregame show he had hosted in 1963. ...

Faith & Fear mentioned it too...

Faith and Fear in Flushing :: The Summer Wind

In 1963, Ralph Branca hosted "Branca's Bullpen" which went on prior to the pre-game Kiner's Korner. In 1964, Branca's show was replaced by "Dow ...

Which brings me to two additional points:

1. Have something for Ralph Kiner at Citi Field while he's still around.
2. SNY should show some old Kiner's Korners. I mean OLD. I wanna see some 60's/70's if any exist.

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New York Yankees Fan Ejected For Entering The Moat?

Shannon Shark, Mets Police Chief

new york yankees

Some Yankees Stuff.

Mr. Sunshine (the Yankee friend who always thinks they are going to come back, and to his credit never gave up on Torre in 2007 even after I worked the math out for him and showed him it was "impossible.") has written this morning:

Yanks lost b/c Sabathia didn't get to warm up effectively because of the rain delay with no tarp.

He also sends this from http://nyyfans.com/. I cannot confirm if it is true.

Around the fourth inning tonight someone fouled a ball into the "moat" corridor behind the visitors dugout. A fan tried to jump into the moat to go for the ball from the field level seats and was ejected from the park. Now I know if you go on the field during a game you will be ejected but I guess in YS the area of ejection has now been enlarged to include the "moat" area.

Meanwhile The Captain is drinking the Kool Aid. Come on Derek, you know better:

As a matter of fact, you can drop the word "new" from Yankee Stadium. It finally has the feel of home.

"It's taken a little time, but everybody is comfortable," saidDerek Jeter. "It's like when you get a new apartment or a new house it takes awhile to settle in."

Read more:in the Daily News

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I Want These Jones Beach Nike Sneakers

Shannon Shark, Mets Police Chief

jones beach

This is a completely self-indulgent off-topic nothing to do with anything post - but it's my blog and I'm lucky enough to have a few readers.

Nike put out these super limited edition Jones Beach sneakers. I'm trying to find a pair in 10.5 Maybe I get lucky and someone both owns a shoe store and hates black Mets uniforms. Worth a shot. Hit me at shannon@metspolice.com if you know of such a pair to be in the wild.

Newsday has more about the sneakers if that interests you. The four stores you'll find if you google them are sold out except for men's 8's.

We now resume complaining about baseball.

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Mets Police Apologize To This Man And His Cool Cap

Shannon Shark, Mets Police Chief

new york giants

Last week when I recapped my latest trip to Citi Field I mentioned this guy's cap and shirt.

I love the shirt. It's a "Hawaiian" shirt with all Mets stuff and would make a nice present if you ever want to buy me something.

Then I cracked wise about the cap, saying that we should keep it away from the Wilpons because it looked "Dodgery" with a white NY on a blue cap. I feared that the Wilpons would further Dodgerize the club.

Boy was I wrong! It isn't Dodgery at all...in fact it is a ...

New York Giants 1936-39 Cooperstown Fitted Cap
by American Needle Own a little piece of history with American Needle's New York Giants 1936-39 Cooperstown Cap, a precise replica of what the legendary pros once wore.

This dude is super-cool and I apologize for goofing on his hat. He has a kicking shirt and a groovy Giants cap on!

What's also interesting is not one reader nailed me on it. You know why? because nobody knows anything about the NY Giants because this whole darn town is Dodgers obsessed. Of course you don't know what the Giants wore in '36, how would you? By looking at the Mel Ott rotunda?

I bought the Ott jersey for my self. It's too nice looking. If you see a dude in Citi Field with an Ott jersey, heck if you see anyone on Earth in the 21st century with an Ott jersey I'm sure it is me - come say hi.

One of my goals for the weekend is to start accumulating all mentions of the New York Giants to this site. There's very little out there about them, I have no claim on them (before my time), and I don't really know anything about them - but stuff should live on the internet somewhere so why not here.

If you're in a Giants mood now, here's an old link.

Mr. Cool shirt and classic Giants cap, I am sorry. I hope you are there the next time I actually use my weekday tickets instead of stub-hubbing them, and I will come shake your hand.

(By the way, if you're about to send me some link from mlb.com that this is indeed a modern New Era Mets variant don't crush my dreams. Let me live the lie. His blue is a little lighter isn't it.)

www.metspolice.com
@metspolice

Steve Phillips Signs Lou Gehrig To 1939 New York Mets

Shannon Shark, Mets Police Chief

lou gehrig

Back in the Steve Phillips days I used to joke about this with friends...had the Mets existed in 1939 they surely would have signed Lou Gehrig as a free agent. (Yeah I know there wasn't free agency..roll with the bit, ok?)

I can picture it now....Steve and his prized free agent standing in front of a black Mets logo at the Polo Grounds. The Mets selling us season tickets based upon the idea that we're going to start winning now...the Iron Horse never misses a game, hit .295 with 29 home runs in 1938 etc....

I mean no disrespect to Mr. Gehrig, but it seems exactly the kind of signing this franchise has a tendency to make.

I think it's cool that baseball is replaying the speech tomorrow...I hope someone broadcasting the Yankee game gets in a good dig about how "it was just over there across the street where..."

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Apparently No Demand On New York Jets Tickets Either

Shannon Shark, Mets Police Chief

new york jets

Look what Mets Police Junior got in the mail yesterday.

You may remember that earlier in the year he was offered Giants tickets which meant that the list had gotten all the way to someone whose name when on the list the day after they won the Super Bowl. So much for the 50 year wait. Since he didn't have $60,000 he had to pass.

Now the Jets want him. That's interesting because I openly hate the Jets (49ers are my team) and I sure as hell didn't pay $50 to put him on the Jets list. Did the Giants share their database?

I know one Jets fan who told me this week that after 19 years he told the Jets to go punt themself - he used to have seats on the 50 (uppers) but now they want to move him to the 20 and charge him more. Looks like plenty of people are moving from the lower bowl to the upper bowl to avoid the PSLs.

The bubble has burst folks. Fans have finally had enough. It took 25 years but the great prophet Mushnick was right.

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@metspolice

I've Got Your Leadership Right Here!

Vegas Rich

As we watch the Mets struggle with injuries and put secondary players into the everyday line up, the never ending talk of leadership reared it's ugly head yesterday when David Wright responded to a comment made by former Mets closer and hometown son, John Franco.

In a rather gentle way which is the (W)right was David basically told John that he does not go what goes on in the Mets clubhouse so he really isn't qualified to make that kind of statement.

Rather than adding fuel to that debate I thought we should look back at Mets in the past that were gritty players that defined leadership to the nth degree.

My earliest memory of such a player was the first tough, gritty, no nonsense type of player who Mets fans immediately identified as a player they could call their own.

That player; Ron Hunt.

He was born on Feb 23rd 1941 in St Louis Missouri. He broke into the major leagues as the second baseman for the New York Mets in 1963 and played there through the 1966 season.

Ron's speciality was to get hit by the pitch. In 1963 the Mets needed base runners and Casey Stengel didn't care how that happened. Ron has told reporters that they even had a signal that Casey would flash from the dugout to the 3rd base coach which actually called for Hunt to be hit by the pitch. Ouch, very big ouch. This became his signature trademark and contribution to the game.

Ron has attributed this to be his motto, "Some people give their bodies to science; I give mine to baseball.” During his years with the Mets Ron was hit 45 times. From 1968 through 1974 he led the league in this painful category with a total of 192 HBP. In 1971 he was hit a ridiculous 50 times falling one HBP short of the major league record.
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In 12, what had to be very sore, seasons Ron's had some very respectable statistics.

He played in 1487 games. In 5235 at bats he collected 1429 hits with 223 doubles, 23 triples and 39 hr's. He drove in 370 runs with 65 stolen bases with 555 walks and 382 strike outs. Striking out 7 times out of every 100 at bats is a huge statistic. Add 243 HBP and you'll find that Ron Hunt was not an easy out.

Overall his lifetime BA .273 with a .368 OBP and .715 OPS. Those are very respectable career numbers.

The following is copied from Ron Hunt's Instructional Baseball Program.

Since 1986 Ron Hunt has been teaching the fundamentals of baseball at his facility in Missouri. He is now offering group and one-on-one instruction either at his facility or he will travel to your hometown.

Dedicated players and coaches of all ages are taught all aspects of the game 'personally' from Ron Hunt, 12 year major league veteran.

Philosophy:

Over the years Ron Hunt's players and coaches have had one thing constant ….. discipline! He teaches the mental aspects of the game as well as the physical regimen. Ron's students may not always have the most ability on the field, but they do have the most heart, desire, and dedication towards the game. His credo: executing basic fundamentals on routine plays, not committing mental errors, and maintaining a never give up attitude.

What are the benefits of his program?

Ron Hunt teaches the game of baseball personally to each and every player and coach and will provide exposure to college and professional scouts if warranted.

Along with the fundamentals of baseball, there are many other principles of life that are part of the learning experience in his program. These include self-discipline, getting along with others, taking responsibility upon oneself, being a team player, and equality.

Since 1986, 95% of Ron's summer program players have received college scholarships (20 of which that did not play high school baseball) and 11 have been drafted. Nineteen players from other organizations have received scholarships through association with the Ron Hunt Eagles Baseball Association, and 9 have been drafted.

Ron Hunt was the right player for the right team at the right time. Maybe, just maybe when one of these 10 million dollar a year players get into a rut at the plate and can't hit himself out of a paper bag, he will let the pitch take a chunk out of his hide and I bet that slump ends the very next at bat.

Ron Hunt. Now there was a leader.