The Mets Police

An idea from Jesse:

Hi here’s an idea to pass on to the site. You know the yankees have (has) that big bat in front of the stadium and many fans used as a meeting place. Mets should set up a eight foot wide outfield wall replica exactly where the 410 foot centerfield wall was at shea. Could be a meeting place and maybe a concession area. Also be another nice marker of shea. What you think?

I like it.  Anything that remembers team history is cool.  I’d like to meet at the Seaver statue, but I wouldn’t mind meeting you at the 410.  What’s everyone think?

Nothing revolutionary here, but Adam Rubin posted the Mets spring training numbers, and I like to look carefully to see what numbers are not issued.

8. Not issued.  The great Mets by the Numbers tells us the last Met to wear #8 was coach Matt Galante in 2002, and player Desi Relaford in 2001.  Since then it is parked.  Obviously someone is thinking long-term about possibly retiring it for Hall of Famer Gary Carter.  Gary was elected to the Hall of Fame in January 2003

17. Once again issued to Fernando Tatis, best known for threatening to punch Jesse Orosco in the face in Game 6 of the 1986 NLCS.   That was him, right?

21. Last worn by Carlos Delgado.   I guess there’s no reason to rush handing this one out.  You never know.  Conspiracy theory: the Mets know that all of baseball will retire #21 to honor Roberto Clemente.

24. I really don’t get this one.  Retire it or use it.  This one has been mostly parked since Willie Mays, who is great and all but not a great Met, and then Kelvin Torve got to wear it for 10 inexplicable days in 1990, then only Rickey Henderson got to wear it.

31. Last worn by Mike Piazza, and before that the best Met of the 1990’s John Franco (sad but true).   The belief is the Mets are waiting to see which cap the Hall of Fame assigns Piazza before pulling the trigger on hanging a 31 on the fence…but then again, Carter is an Expo and they are holding 8.

All other numbers through 51 are either retired or in use.  (Thanks to Walter for the idea)

From Brian Costa in the Star Ledger:

When Mets players walked into the major-league clubhouse here for the first time Thursday, there were large signs posted in the clubhouse that read: “Prevention and recovery.”

It’s an interesting story...check it out.

I love this post, it looks like Steve Keane is my kind of guy.  He’s still bothered by a Mets loss in 1975!

You’d have to think that Yogi Berra would have his bullpen up and have a fresh arm ready to close out the last five outs and preserve the win. Well, Tate stayed in the game and then walked the next batter Pepe Mangual to bring the tying run to the plate and still no movement from the manager. Tate then gave Berra a false sense of security by striking out Jim Dwyer, so with two out and one on up stepped Gary Carter, rookie Gary Carter. Again no change in pitcher and Tate is now up into the high 120’s in his pitch count as he gives up a single to Carter that plates Lyttle to make it 3-1 Mets. So the no-no and the shutout are gone and the go ahead run in former Met Mike Jorgensen is strolling to home plate. Still no pitching change by Yogi Berra.

I would love to know what was being said in the Mets dugout as this was playing out on the field. Rube Walker was still on staff as pitching coach and of course Tom Seaver was there as well. I can’t believe that Walker wasn’t looking to get his pitcher out of the game and get a new arm in the game, just from reading the play by play of this game I’m breaking out in a cold sweat.

This is great! This is why scientists invented the internet – so that we could complain about a Mets loss 35 years later, and obsess over uniform colors.  Good job scientists, and good job Steve!

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Single game Phillies tickets went on sale this morning (imagine that, individual game sales!  I wonder if the Mets will get around to that?) and reports are that it’s very hard to get through.

Since I’m a capitalist, and it’s an easy enough drive from Mets Police HQ I thought I’d scoop myself up some Mets tickets…I too find myself in an endless queue.

I wonder if we will find the same troubles in Flushing when they put tickets on sale (probably in March).   I suspect that outside of Opening Day you won’t have much trouble finding a seat.