The Mets Police

November 28, 2009

Mets Blog Links

Every now and then I tinker with the code and last time I did I wiped
out the blog links.

If you have a Mets blog (or something along the lines of what we cover
here, say uniforms or cards) I'm happy to add. Drop me a line at
Shannon at metspolice.com.

Much thanks to Metsblog who links here a few times a week. Yesterday
was the biggest day for visitors yet, much of that fueled by a link
from metsblog. So thanks Matt and happy to pass along love to other
sites.

Sent from my iPhone

November 28, 2009

Five Questions For An Average Mets Fan (Fan #44)

Wearing a number you should never choose as a Met unless you are a young Ron Darling (see Ryan Thompson, Lastings Milledge, the bad version of Hojo, Tim Redding) is #44…Rusty from The Real Dirty Mets Blog

1. When did you start following the Mets?

My first game was the ’73 World Series when I was 1 ( obviously I have no recollection of it ) otherwise It would have to be the ’77 season

2. What is your favorite Mets memory?

Thanks Rusty day – Rusty was always my idol and i was crushed when he retired but thankfully I was at the game that honored his contributions as a Met.

3. What is your worst Mets memory or experience?

So many its a toss up between learning of Bob Murphy’s death and th gut punch of the ’00 world series

4. If you could change one off-field thing about the franchise what would it be?

Doing away with all the subterfuge that our P.R department and ownership dish out on a daily basis – us fans appreciate the truth and we hate being made to feel like our fandom is secondary to the corporate suits that take no interest in the team.

5. If you owned the team starting tomorrow, what is the first thing you would change?

I would first comission 4 statues – one of Joan Payson one of Casey Stengel, Tom Seaver and The Endy Chavez catch I would have meet and greets with the stars and scrubs of yesteryear – everyone from Jerry Koosman to Kevin Kobel would be welcomed to spend time with the fan base – you know make this franchise feel like family again Lastly I’d fire Minaya and Jerry and replace them with Gerry Hunsicker & Wally Backman respectively

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November 28, 2009

Times: Not Much Action At New York Mets Store On Black Friday

Oh boy, nothing ever goes right for our boys in cream and black. I laughed when I saw Ben’s name in this article because he frequently comments here on the site, and I have a sneaking suspicion that Mets Police is one of the blogs that they’re talking about. Sorry Metsies, but you do this to yourselves. $226? Ouch.

SPORTS / BASEBALL

At a Yankees Shop, Buzz; At a Mets Store, a Hush

By KEN BELSON

Published: November 28, 2009

On 42nd Street, the business on a busy shopping day clearly favored attire that celebrated a 27th World Series championship.

There were no signs, however, to announce the arrival of the new uniform tops lined up against the wall at the Mets Clubhouse store. The jerseys, which have embroidered lettering and are made with a finer material, cost $266, nearly three times the cost of other replica jerseys.

The retro jerseys sparked a debate among fans on various Mets-related blogs. Some thought the team should focus more on improving the team and less on marketing. Others thought that the jerseys were an effort to make fans feel good just as they receive their season-ticket renewal notices.

In any case, $266 was too pricey for Ben Testa, a Mets fan who stopped in the store on his way to work. Testa asked an employee how many of the new jerseys he had sold so far. None, he was told, as of midafternoon Friday.

More here.

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November 28, 2009

Five Questions For An Average Mets Fan (Fan #43)

Here’s Manny’s take on 5 Questions For An Average Mets Fan.

1. When did you start following the Mets?

A: I started following the Mets when I was four years old. It was at that age that my father took me to my first Mets game. It was 1976 and it was Medallion Day. The Mets gave out cool metal medallions with a necklace–on one side was the Mets logo and on the other was the special logo celebrating the nation’s bicentennial. My memory of what happened on the field that day is very hazy at best. However, one thing that I clearly remember from that day is how humongous Shea looked from the subway with its blue and orange shingles.

2. What is your favorite Mets memory?

Without question it would have to be the bottom of the 10th inning of Game 6. Everyone in my house but me thought the season was over after Hernandez’s fly out to center field. Thankfully, the Kid, Mitchell, Knight and Mookie also did not think the season was over.

My favorite in-stadium memory was what I like to call “The Rich Becker” game. It was some, non-descript game in, I believe, May of 1998 against the Pirates. The reason it was my favorite is that I caught my first and only foul ball. I gave the ball to my nephew who was with me and the joy in his face when I gave him the ball was priceless. Oh yeah, Rich Becker hit a home-run, threw a runner out at home plate and drove in the game-winning run.

3. What is your worst Mets memory or experience?

A: It is a tie: The 2000 World Series with the Yankees celebrating in our house and Joe Torre crying on our field. That is tied with the culmination of the 2007 Collapse. The season was effectively over after one-half inning. Just horrible moments that will live on in Mets infamy.

4. If you could change one off-field thing about the franchise what
would it be?

I would like to have the Mets’ baseball operation to run much more efficiently and productively. I would have the Mets follow the way the Angels and Twins conduct their baseball business and try to emulate them both.

5. If you owned the team starting tomorrow, what is the first thing
you would change?

If I owned the Mets, that would mean I would be extremely wealthy and, as such, I would scrap the Citi naming rights deal. I would not need their tainted TARP money. In addition, Citi must have brought some bad karma to the Mets in 2009. In fact, ever since the Mets announced their naming rights deal with Citi in the middle of 2006, things have gone downhill. I would rename the Mets ballpark to William A. Shea Field as it should have been.

Thanks for the great work Mr. Shark. Keep on with your on-point criticisms of the Mets’ organization.
Sincerely,
Manny (North Bergen, NJ)

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November 28, 2009

Five Questions For An Average Mets Fan (Fan #42)

Leading off today’s 5 Questions For An Average Mets Fan is Kevin. As we’ve been doing we’ll mix in the 5 questions with other business throughout the day.

1. When did you start following the Mets?

1981. It was the first year I went to Shea, and I was handed a baseball by Reggie Smith, of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

2. What is your favorite Mets memory?

Three-way tie for this one. And one answer won’t make Shannon too happy. All three games I saw in person:

1. Sept. 21, 2001 — The Piazza Homerun. Having been in Jersey City on Sept. 11, 2001, there was no better way for me to celebrate my 27th birthday (Sept. 21) than to see Piazza hit that homer.

2. Oct. 25, 1986 — I may have only been 12, but I would have missed the entire bottom half of the 10th inning had I had my way. My mother refused to leave or to let me leave. Man am I glad she didn’t.

3. Last day of the regular season 1999 — From a pure excitement perspective, that wild pitch was something else. And to have been at Shea that day was something. Still never could understand, though, why Mike Piazza just stood there with his hands on his hips. Perhaps he really wanted to swing.

3. What is your worst Mets memory or experience?

September of 1998, 2007 & 2008 — all very close in horror.

4. If you could change one off-field thing about the franchise what
would it be?

Ownership. I have no faith in the Wilpons. Since Nelson Doubleday sold, look at what we’ve experienced. Also, I’d consider reassigning Charlie Samuels to another position within the organization, one where he had nothing to do with uniform ring-around-the-rosie.

5. If you owned the team starting tomorrow, what is the first thing you would change?

Uniforms, obviously. The rumored cream-colored pinstripes would be standard at every home game, with blue caps/helmets/socks. The black would be a distant memory — eternally. On the road, the traditional grey with the same blue setup. No other combos.

Additionally, Bobby Valentine wouldn’t just be my manager, he’d be my general manager, team president and COO. I’d pay him anything he asked for. And he’d have a blank checkbook.

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