The Mets Police

Mets fans, I speak of this every off-season. The great myth of the Jose Reyes manufactured run.

You know the one.

He leads off the game with a single, steals a base and scores on a sacrifice.

It actually happened last night (stealing third not second) and the Mets won a game! Imagine that.

I agree it’s a great plan, I just never see it happen. I didn’t see it last night because my DVR is full and there are other things to watch than 2011 spring training games with a lame duck manager.

I’m aware my Reyes criticisms make people sad. Is there a better option at SS? Nope. Does he maximize his talent? Nope. He even admitted lapses in concentration last week.

Would I move him? Yep. See Boston 2004. Jose is probably the only moveable piece you would get anything in return for and we’ve proven this mix doesn’t work.

Will he then win the AL MVP? How long have you been a Mets fan? Of course he will.

There are a few goals I have for the blog:

1. Try to change things for the better. I throw out some ideas, maybe some of them are good, hopefully the Mets win the World Series while dressed nicely and I write one last column about the ticker tape parade and shut the thing down and call it a day.

2. Have some fun.

3. Be different. You want news, there are plenty of sites. You want to read about oddball statistics like UZR and KGB there are sites. Randy does humor, Paul does cards, Kerel does video, Greg writes in proper sentences. I do a mishmosh.

4. Fan advocacy. I think the site rocked on that front in 2009. 2010 has strayed from that premise a bit because the first half went well. I suspect we’re gearing up for another winter of being the cranky site with me as leader of the frustrated. I actually prefer when things are going well and I secretly wonder if I’m letting some if my blog heroes down (thats you Matt) when I write about caps and silliness….but believe me if they raise ticket prices we shall have a field day.

Tomorrow I have an awesome Strawberry video and a guest post calling for a fan protest. A nice mix.

5. With the above being said, I enjoy giving a voice to the good that happens in Flushing. I don’t want this to be the Bitch Blog. I like when I can share things like the below because most mainstream media won’t have room for such things.

I hope you enjoy what we do over here at Mets Police. There are days I’m not even sure what the site is about but I do enjoy doing it.

We’ll be doing the podcast on Sunday at 6:30 if you’d like your actual voice to be heard. I will post more about that in Friday.

METS TO HOST 34TH ANNUAL NATIONAL WHEELCHAIR SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT
THIS THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY AUGUST 19-21 AT CITI FIELD

Top Wheelchair Athletes in the World to Compete on 14 Teams From Across the Country;
Many Men and Women Are Wounded Veterans, Paralympic Medalists

Citi Field is the First Major League Baseball Venue to Host the Championships;
First Time Tournament Will Be Played in New York

FLUSHING, N.Y., August 18, 2010 – The New York Mets, the Wheelchair Sports Federation, and New York City Department of Parks & Recreation today announced the 34th Annual National Wheelchair Softball Tournament will take place Thursday, Friday, Saturday August 19-21 at Citi Field, marking the first time a Major League Baseball ballpark has hosted the event.

The top wheelchair athletes from around the world will compete on 14 teams from across the country. Many of the men and women playing in the tournament are veterans who were wounded in battle, and many have competed and won medals at the Paralympics.

The Mets sponsor a Queens wheelchair softball team of their namesake, and have teamed up with the Wheelchair Sports Federation to host the Major League Baseball Wheelchair Softball tournament for the past nine years. This year’s National Championship will mark the first time the event has been played in New York.

“We’re proud to be a part of this inspiring and historic competition, the first time the best wheelchair softball athletes in the country are competing at a Major League Baseball venue,” said Jeff Wilpon, Mets COO. “The Mets throughout the year support wheelchair softball in New York as part of our ongoing community outreach efforts, and we salute the Wheelchair Sports Federation and United Spinal Association for their efforts in our hometown and nationally.”

“Having the best Adaptive Athletes in the United States come to New York City and compete is a great honor and we are happy to be a part of this historic event and look forward to many more.” said John Hamre, President, Wheelchair Sports Federation.

Mets sponsors Pepsi, Dunkin’ Donuts, Modell’s Sporting Goods, SUBWAY and Wise Foods Inc. all have donated their products to help feed and equip the more than 300 men and women participating in the tournament. More than 50 volunteers – many from the New York City Office of Emergency Management – will donate their time to help run the event.

The Mets, Wheelchair Sports Federation, and NYC Department of Parks & Recreation are coordinating the tournament in conjunction with the National Wheelchair Softball Federation, United Spinal Association, Wounded Warrior Project, Paralyzed Veterans of America and Major League Baseball.

Teams will compete for the Division I and Division II National Championship in a double-elimination tournament played in the Citi Field parking lots. The semi-finals and finals will take place Saturday, August 21 followed by an awards banquet.

The following are the teams competing for the national title:

Columbus Pioneers (Columbus, Ohio)
Confluence Center Coast Tar Wheels (Indian Trail, North Carolina)
Courage Rolling Twins (Brooklyn Park, Minnesota)
Nebraska Barons (Omaha, Nebraska)
Midwest Flyers (Dolton, Illinois)
MPVA Flamethrowers (Duluth, Minnesota)
Nassau Aviators (Nassau County, New York)
New York Mets (Queens, New York)
New York Yankees (Bronx, New York)
RIC Cubs (Chicago, Illinois)
Rollin Red Sox (Boston, Massachusetts)
Shepherd Sluggers (Atlanta, Georgia)
Tampa Bay Rays (Tampa, Florida)
WPVA Warhawks (Waukesha, Wisconsin)
All games will take place in Citi Field parking lots F and D. Teams will play Thursday, August 19 and Friday, August 20 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. On Saturday, August 21, the semifinals begin at 9:00 a.m. followed by the championship game at 11:00 a.m.

Some links:

In the Post, Kevin Kernan suggests the Mets raid the Yankees for boss types.. Hmmm, I feel like I heard that idea yesterday.

Jimmy sent me a note:

Shannon,

Today’s paper
Page A51 (Inside Back Cover)

Blurb called “THERANT”

Credited to Roy Steiner in Woodbury:

“Maybe someone should arrange a clubhouse fight
between Ollie Perez and Luis Castillo and void
both their contracts”

Think Roy reads Metspolice?

Keep smilin’
Jimmy the Met Fan

I don’t know. I hope he does! The more my crazy ideas get out there the better we’ll all be.

Eventually, Jeff will have my cellphone number and be able to bounce ideas off me. “Hey Shannon, gonna send u over some pics of our mockups for white caps. Let me know what you think.” That sort of stuff.

In the meantime we’ll just all gather here on the site and if others spread the gospel, awesome.

The Mets invite you to take part in the 2011 Fantasy Camp. And if you are over 30 and are OK making the major league minimum, heck you could in theory wind up on the 2011 roster.  I wonder if they’ll let me put a C on my jersey.

Trade in that business suit for the uniform you’ve dreamed of wearing your entire life!

If you are over the age of 30 and a baseball enthusiast, especially a Mets fan, than the Mets Fantasy Camp is for you. To sign up or to learn more, click on the link above (or below).

Your Mets Fantasy Camp Package includes:

• The chance to hit against and pitch to former Mets greats
• Mets home and road uniforms, official Mets dugout jacket, hat, t-shirt, and other accessories
• Your own clubhouse locker
• Personal attention from Mets legends
• Clubhouse staff and Mets trainers
• Round-trip airfare from NY Area
• Six days/five nights hotel accommodations in Port St. Lucie, FL.
• Ground transportation to and from Digital Domain Field

Personalized baseball cards

Over at NJ.com Matt Artus has a must-read about a Mets focus group.

The group, which consisted of thirtysomethings and up from across the tri-state area, certainly covered the bases you’d expect them to cover. The consultant asked about the Citi Field experience, which induced responses about the awfully loud music, obstructed sightlines, and need for more Shake Shacks. The consultant asked about the cost of tickets, which the group felt was worth half what the Mets charge and made inexplicably complicated by the team’s variable pricing structure. The consultant asked about the face of the franchise, which the group designated as “no one” because David Wright hasn’t quite made the leap yet while a minority still bought into the fallacy that the Mets have a pro-Latin bias.

More details here!!!

Matt writes a great blog, if it’s off your radar you should add it to your rotation.  Great job Matt!!!!