Meet the Mets Bloggers: Dana Brand’s Mets fan Blog

Another installment of Meet the Mets Bloggers.

1.  Who are you and what’s the name of your blog?

I’m Dana Brand. I’m a Professor of English at Hofstra University and I’m the author of two books about Mets fandom: Mets Fan (McFarland, 2007) and The Last Days of Shea: Delight and Despair in the Life of a Mets Fan (Taylor Trade, 2009). I am also the co-chair of “The Fiftieth Anniversary of the New York Mets: A Conference at Hofstra University,” which will be held on April 26, 27, and 28, 2012.

The title of my blog is “Dana Brand’s Mets Fan Blog” and you can find it at danabrand.com/blog

2. What kind of things can we find on your site?

My blog pieces are essays about the experience of the Mets fan. I write about the ballpark, the heritage of the team, the experience of family and community, and the mood of the fanbase. I write about the lyricism and humor of the Mets fan. I write about the way in which being Mets fans connects with all of the other ways in which we live our lives. As far as I know, I am the oldest Mets blogger. I am 55 and I remember listening to the very first game the Mets played. This gives me a unique perspective. I also have a unique perspective because I am a Professor of English, like Bart Giamatti, who was my mentor at Yale, and with whom I often discussed baseball. As my books demonstrate, I believe that baseball needs to be taken seriously as a profound personal and cultural experience.

3. Expectations for 2010?

I expect an interesting season. I hope for a successful one that will redeem what we have suffered since Adam Wainwright’s curveball dropped two feet at the very last second.

Most popular on Mets Police (March 21)

This was an interesting week.  Strangely feisty at times.  Most importantly we had a good discussion.  Before I recap the most-popular from the week, it seemed a good time to re-post some information about me and the site.

This is a site that mixes fan advocacy with a general love of the Mets, often daydreaming about the 70’s and 80’s.   There are plenty of Mets blogs out there who provide news or insight into last night’s game.  Here, we’re less likely to complain about a pitching change than we are likely to complain about what the pitcher was wearing.

We’d like the team to always treat the fans with respect.

We’re just regular old Mets fans like you who have migrated from the uppers to the Promenade where we were saddened when we found plexiglass. Finally, for all our complaining we just want the franchise to win the World Series (while nicely dressed).

Who am I?   I’m a fan.  Why do I do this? I don’t get rich doing this.   I like doing it, and yeah wouldn’t it be awesome if somehow this turned into something that gave me the financial freedom to not travel into Manhattan every day?  I’d like that.  Wouldn’t you like to watch Mets games and sleep in?  I sure would.

So why do it?   Once the site found its voice, I found that I really enjoy when Mets Police can help fellow fans.  The day Albert asked me to call him because a Mets ticket rep called him a bad fan?  A few hours later he had his apology.  It made the mainstream press.

I think of The Mets changing the name of the ticket plan from “Saturday” to “Saturday Plus” after me complaining about if for a year, yeah that felt good and yeah I’m taking credit on that one.

I enjoy posting pictures of Obstructed Views and getting on Dave Howard for not admitting they exist.  Dave went on WFAN  and said fans overreacted.  Well Dave, I’m here for the other side of the story, the side of the customer.

Around all this forms a community.   I hope you’ll be part of it.

Mets Police in no way claims to be news nor accurate, including anything to which we link. It’s just a blog. Read the blog and/or take our advice at your own risk.  We strongly encourage everyone to support the New York Mets and their business partners, just don’t wear a black jersey while doing so.
  • Metsblog threw MP a link, so the top read item was these  pictures of McFadden’s, under construction at Citi Field.  I think these pics show where the new fan bricks are going.
  • Another discussion centered around the Mets not including a physical Media Guide with this year’s 15 game plans.  Personally, I hope they will go with an opt-in solution where those who want a guide can get one.

Older but popular:

The C fell off the Citi Field sign.

Here’s some pictures of Yankee Stadium’s demolition. It’s too bad there’s no way to partially gut a stadium and make it newer.

From a 2009 videogame, Citi Field with blue walls.

Here’s the info for Single Game Tickets and Promotional Dates

Luis Castillo’s baseball card is pretty funny.

The Mets have quietly admitted there are obstructed views, a story now picked up by the Times, NBC, and Post.  Dave Howard, where’s my apology?

This regularly gets clicked: It might make financial sense, but it sure is annoying to think Bobby Bonilla will get $1 million a year from the Mets from 2011-2035.

I was surprised people clicked on this one, I thought I was just being cranky: Do the Mets bosses really think this uniform looks good?

Pictures from the 1986 Tickertape Parade

The Mets respond to a letter from The Mets Police

Pictures of Citi Field gate modifications

Big thank you to Jimmy the Met fan for sending these over:

Encountered workers installing tile murals over the first base and left
field VIP entrances.

First base mural is Gil Hodges and left field is Casey Stengel.

Mary the Met Fan found out from one of the workers that the next one in line to be put up is Tom Seaver.


Jimmy has provided some of the best hook-up pics over the years. Much thanks!

Meet the Mets Bloggers: The Real Dirty Mets Blog

Another installment of Meet the Mets Bloggers

1. Who are you and what’s the name of your blog?

Eric King (TRS86) The Real Dirty Mets (We have about 15 very dedicated authors)

2. What kind of things can we find on your site?

A constant flow of breaking Mets news and fresh opinions, courtesy of an incredibly dedicated writing staff of 15 authors who have various personalities and traits.  The Real Dirty Mets authors strive to use facts and statistics to back up their opinions and almost every post is sprinkled with a bit of light humor. TRDM also features the only blogging Mets meteorologist, making TRDMB the hot-spot for all Mets-related weather information. Along with dedicated authors, TRDM features a smorgasbord of dedicated and knowledgeable commentors who discuss and debate the latest Mets hot topics. The site is built upon TRDM motto: By the Fans For the Fans.

3. Expectations for 2010?

I think David Wright said it best: ““We feel like we’re going to go out there and win the National League East and go deep in the playoffs and win the World Series”

Now obviously that response is not very rational. My rational side thinks that it will be a very competitive division where the Mets will have to play very well to achieve their goals. I do believe that the WC winner will come out of the East this season and while on paper the Mets do not compare well to the Phillies I believe they do compare very well to teams like the Braves, Marlins, Giants, Cubs, Rockies or whoever those 2nd place teams in each division are. So my expectation is for the Mets to be in the same position they were in 2007 and 2008 with a chance to reverse those fortunes.

To Personalize or Not To Personalize

So the question is, is it cool to have a personalized team jersey with your last name on it or is it a pathetic and sad attempt to pretend you could be a major leaguer?

I recently received a 20% discount code towards any replica jersey on mets.com. While on the site I played around with the idea of getting a home snow white jersey with my name and the number 11 (my old CYO number). Part of me thought it would be really cool amd fun to have a Twohig jersey (for the record there has never been a Twohig on the majors) But them I started thinking was it really cool or does wearing a jersey with my name on it make me a wannabe? Seriously the last time I played on an organized team was when I was 15 on that CYO team.

Shannon is 100% on the it’s cool side. My brother is completely against. I’m somewhere on between. I haven’t yet purchased the jersey though I am leaning yes. If I do get it you will see me wearing it when the Blue Cap Army meets on Opening Day,

Thoughts?