Mets attendance down: not news to me

You may have picked up that I’m fascinated by the whole newspapers/blogs dynamic – and this morning I find myself writing about something I feel like has been well covered over here…but since the Times published an article about it today it will be “news” (and that’s not meant to be a diss at Times, it’s just the nature of the beast)…so I feel compelled to comment.

First the story…

Mets Lead the Majors in Declining Attendance
By MICHAEL S. SCHMIDT
Published: May 13, 2010
After 22 home games, attendance at Citi Field is down 6,852 fans a game, which translates to 31,892 fans at games this season.

The article talks about the bad 2009, the weather, stadium fatigue and even some analysis from David Howard that I agree with.

My take:  yep.  2009 was a disaster, “new stadium” isn’t that exciting after all (whether this one or the one in the Bronx or the unnecessary one in the Meadowlands, and I am LMAO at the Jets.  Good luck selling 10,000 PSLs.  Coming up at 1pm, Bills vs Dolphins!), people don’t have disposable income, and May has been wintry.

Solution:  win.  You know when there were lots of Mets fans?  1970, 1987, 2007 (strangely 2001 dipped from 2000).

You kids won’t believe how many “Mets fans” there were in the second half of 1986.   If you are looking for them now, they are the folks with the Jeter jerseys with the name on the back.

Follow folks like @ericfishersbj or @bizballmaury on twitter and you would have read about this a week ago.   Again I don’t mean to dump on the newspapers, it’s just a different medium.    It takes time for stories to bubble up to the mainstream – and here at Mets Police I assume most readers are superfans or you wouldn’t come back day after day to read about a fat guy’s man-crush on Lee Mazzilli.   Similarly, it’s not like I don’t read interesting things in the papers or the beat reporters don’t break news.  Read matthewcerrone.com for more on this type of discussion.

I’m @metspolice by the way, I hope you’ll follow.

Keith Hernandez, wiseguys, arm breaking….

The weird week in the world of Keith Hernandez continues:  A former Red Sox player threatened to have…well just watch this video.

“I knew some people, and I had $2,000, and I asked them to break his arms. He said, ‘We’ll do it in two or three years if you want it done, but we’re not going to do it today, Bernie. If we went and broke his legs today, or broke his arms, you don’t think they would understand that you are the one that had it done?’”  Bernie Carbo, on his actions after former teammate Keith Hernandez testified Carbo had introduced him to cocaine

Citi Field Tours start Memorial Day weekend

METS TO LAUNCH CITI FIELD TOURS TO KICK OFF
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, FRIDAY, MAY 28

Mets Clubhouse, Dugout and Mets Hall of Fame & Museum Among Highlights

Individual Ticket and Group Sales Available Now
At Mets.com/tours or (718) 507-TIXX

FLUSHING, N.Y., May 13, 2010 – The New York Mets today announced the launch of Citi Field Tours, offering fans a guided behind-the-scenes look at their home, including the Mets Clubhouse, Dugout and the Mets Hall of Fame & Museum. Group Tours begin Friday, May 28 and regular Tours start Saturday, May 29 to kick off Memorial Day Weekend.

Tickets can be purchased at Mets.com/tours or by phone at (718) 507-TIXX. Citi Field Tours are free for Season Ticket Holders making advance reservations with the Mets Ticket Office at (718) 507-TIXX. In-person ticket sales start Thursday, May 27 at the Citi Field Advance Ticket Windows located outside the Jackie Robinson Rotunda.

Fans will tour the press box and productions areas, visit the Empire and Sterling Suites, step onto the field on the warning track (weather permitting), visit the Bullpen, take photos in the Mets Dugout, and see the Mets Clubhouse. The one-hour tour will conclude at the Mets Hall of Fame & Museum.

Individual tickets are $10 for adults, and $7 for children 12 and under and senior citizens 60 and over. Tickets for groups of 10 or more purchased in advance are $8 for adults, and $5 for children 12 and under and senior citizens 60 and over. (Internet and phone orders are subject to service fees.) Thursday and Friday tours are only available for groups. Saturday and Sunday tours are open to individuals, plus groups with advanced reservations. Additional ticket information including a schedule of Citi Field Tour dates is available online at Mets.com/tours or by phone at (718) 507-TIXX.

“We are launching Citi Field Tours to provide our fans with a behind-the-scenes experience of Citi Field,” said Dave Howard, Executive Vice President, Business Operations, Mets. “We’ve had great interest from our fans since opening the ballpark last year, and we are delighted to be able to provide them a closer look at their team’s home.”

Saturday and Sunday tours depart every 30 minutes, beginning at 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. from the Jackie Robinson Rotunda. Complimentary parking for all tours is available in the Citi Field Official Lot (Lot G), with the entrance on 126th Street off of Roosevelt Avenue.

100 Things Mets Fans Should Know And Do Before They Die (Revised and Updated)

First up, an apology to Maple Street Press.  In March they were kind enough to send me the Maple Street Mets Annual which was and is a really excellent resource for Mets fans – and the excuses don’t matter, I blew it and never did a proper review.  I don’t have a time machine and can’t do anything to fix it.

I’m not going to make that mistake again.  I got home last night and had mail.  Since I hadn’t ordered any jerseys or caps this week (I have a problem) I was surprised to have a package waiting.  I opened it and…

Wow this is cool.   I haven’t had time at all to read it but I thumbed open to a random page and saw #13 The Seaver Deal followed by #14 Keith Hernandez.   Later in the book I found…wait for it…..you guessed it, Lee Mazzilli.

Right there, this won me over.  I hope to spend more time on this over the weekend, but at first glance I encourage you to go grab the revised and updated version of 100 Things Mets Fans Should Kmow & Do Before They Die by Matthew Silverman.  (Triumph Books).

(I think the feds put in some rule where I’m supposed to let you know I got a free copy of the book.  I got a free copy of the book.)