The Mets Police

August 26, 2009

The 2010 New York Mets Marketing Plan

So like many others, I'm once again troubled by an Omar Minaya press conference.

I'm troubled but perhaps naïve about Santana pitching through elbow pain.

I find myself thinking about 2010.

Are the Mets really going to try to sell Omar, Jerry and "Everyone Should Be Healthy Now!"

I worry when I get an ill-timed pitch for fanwalk bricks in late August with the team 16 out. Is there a huge cry for this? Do they need $300 or whatever it is that badly?

Is the sell really going to be "remember that plan we had last April?"

I don't want anyone to lose their gig. Omar, Jerry and anyone else that fans want out are people with families not robots. Yet, I can't help but think that this franchise needs a new face.

I just can't have faith right now in anyone in Flushing.

I don't trust that the front office will sign the right "shut up the fans" free agent.

I struggle to see Wright go from 8 home runs to 30 (as much as it was hard to see his production go down). I just don't see Reyes and Beltran running around like gazelles. I love the idea of Danny Murphy, and he is young, but does anyone see a .300-25-100 guy over there? Who is the catcher? Who are the 4 starters not named Pelfrey (I know Santana should be fine, but the Mets haven't earned my faith to trust what they say).

What's the plan to trick us into buying tickets, never mind a fan brick.

If you can't sell winning you have to sell either hope or tradition. Tradition doesn't exist in Flushing unless you enjoyed 1955. "Catch the rising stars" isn't going to work when the rising stars were all exposed this season.

Omar, Jerry and Everyone Is Healthy, Really!

When are the 2010 ticket invoces due? Don't send me a picture of Reyes rounding second.

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

August 26, 2009

Update: What New York Mets Should Be Honored With Player Banners At Citi Field

Following up on last week’s discussion, here are some names for the Mets to consider for hanging player banners at Citi Field. Click here to see what they might look like (Wrigley Field version).

My premise is that the person can be honored for a variety of reasons – Hall of Famer, long time behind-the-scenes person, a one-moment hero (Todd Pratt types), the very good, and the not-so-awesome yet we love them.

Boys in Flushing, you’ve been paying attention lately and I know you’re reading the Mets Police, so I offer you the following for consideration in no particular order with the exception of name #1. Hang up as many as you can in the off-season and let us all walk in to Citi Field on Opening Day quite impressed with what you’ve done with the place.

Tom Seaver

Jane Jarvis (organist 1964-1979)

Bob Murphy

Ralph Kiner

Lindsey Nelson

Pete Flynn (long time Shea groundskeeper. Keeps it interesting, and explains what I’m shooting for.)

Keith Hernandez

Wally Backman

Ray Knight

Howard Johnson

Mookie Wilson

Darryl Strawberry

Gary Carter

Dwight Gooden

Ron Darling

Bob Ojeda

Sid Fernandez

Roger McDowell

Jesse Orosco

Lee Mazzilli

John Stearns

Dave Kingman

Rusty Staub

Mike Piazza

John Franco

Jerry Koosman

Tug McGraw

Bud Harrelson

Ron Swoboda

Tommie Agee

Jerry Grote

Ed Kranepool

Cleon Jones

Don Clendenon

Casey Stengel

Davey Johnson

Gil Hodges

Willie Mays

Jackie Robinson

Mel Ott

John McGraw

Mr. Met

Todd Pratt

Jeremy Burnitz

Paul LoDuca

Lenny Dykstra

Edgardo Alfonzo

Jimmy Plummer – long time front office, well liked.

Bill Shea

Cleon Jones

I apologize to anyone left off the original list, apologize to those we’re still missing – and thanks to those who sent in some reminders. Some names came in on Tuesday but I am traveling and wasn’t able to add them, I will add for the future. Some disagree about my inclusion of Robinson, McGraw and Ott – I’ll let the Mets decide.

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August 25, 2009

2010 New York Giants Football Club Seats Not Sold Out

Wow.
Just got this…

Dear Giants Wait-List Member,

Three weeks ago we announced the creation of Mezzanine Club C in the New Giants Stadium, set to open for the 2010 football season. This opportunity for our wait-list members reduced the per-game price for these Giants Select Club Seats from $400 per game to $250 per game. To date, more than 40% of all Mezzanine Club C PSLs have been sold, and a significant percentage of the remaining Coachâ€™s Club, Mezzanine A and B have sold in the past three weeks.

We are pleased that many wait-list members have shared their excitement and anticipation with us on becoming seat holders in the new stadium, so we decided to share a few recent notes with you below.

We invite you, your family, friends, and business associates to call us at 1-877-NYG-2010 (1-877-694-2010) to order your Giants Select Club Seats while they last. Remember, all PSLs for general admission sections in the new stadium are sold-out! For a map of the new stadium withclub seat views and prices and general PSL information, please visit www.nyg2010.com.

Thank you for your support. We hope you elect to join us as seat owners in the new stadium.Please act now while some of the best seats in the house are available; this week, for the first-time, this offer is open to the general public.

Giants Stadium, LLC

“I have been a faithful Giants fan since I was a little boy. When I put my name on the Wait List – over 20 years ago, I never thought this day would come. When I got the call that I could become a season ticket holder in the new stadium, I could not believe it. Starting in 2010, I will sit in my own seats. Can’t believe this day has come! Go Big Blue!”

J. Reynolds
New Jersey

“My father and I have been going to games at Giants Stadium for years. He never put his name on the Wait List as he thought he would never have the opportunity to own tickets. I put my name on the Wait List when I graduated from college. After many years, I finally have the opportunity to become a season ticket holder for my Giants. I will be in the new stadium in 2010 for opening day with my father. Sitting in “MY” seats. This is a great Day.”

J. Ward
New York

â€œI wanted to express my gratitude for providing me with the opportunity to come off of the waitlist and become a Giants Season Ticket Holder. I have been waiting on the list for years with the hopes of one day receiving the chance to purchase seats. I look forward to entering the new stadium and being able to sit in my own seats with my family. This is something I know will be greatly appreciated by generations of Robinsons to come. This is a dream come true!â€

L. Robinson
Eastchester, NY

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August 25, 2009

Repost: Santana’s Long Inning On May 27th

From Mets Police June 3rd….commenting on Santana’s May 27th start. I’m bad at math but Johan is something like 6-9 since then. Against the Nationals Santana had a long inning where he really labored….

Last week in the promenade a friend and I argued about whether or not Santana should have come out after a 41 pitch inning, especially when immediately followed by a short time at bat for the Mets.

Last night I was in the car and Howie and Wayne were telling me Santana’s velocity was down. Metsblog tells me he retired the first 10 and then 8 of the next 12 hitters got on. I hope Jerry didn’t manage one game at the cost of a season

Let’s keep an eye on this one. I know the lineup isn’t awesome, but that doesn’t take mph off your pitches.

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August 25, 2009

It’s Another Amazin’ Tuesday: Cool New York Mets Fan Hangout

This is a cool Mets-fan hangout. I heard nothing but great things about the first one. I won’t be able to make it tonight (like anyone cares) but hopefully next time…

When Mets fans look back on 2009, they’ll remember the injuries, they’ll remember the losses, they’ll remember the game-ending unassisted triple plays…but most of all, they’ll remember AMAZIN’ TUESDAYS, the monthly gathering of Mets fans communing for literary readings, game watching, consciousness raising, pizza eating, Rheingold drinking, cocktail shaking, Yankee baiting, memorabilia gawking, and seven steps support as needed.

Two Boots’ second AMAZIN’ TUESDAY is comin’ up August 25, 7:00 PM, when the Mets are in Miami, attempting to do to the Marlins’ playoff chances what the Marlins did to theirs the past two years. It’s not much of a rallying cry, but when you’ve got great pizza and great speakers, do you really need one?

The co-bloggers who bring you Faith and Fear in Flushing, Greg Prince and Jason Fry, co-host the evening and will share some of their trials and tribulations as Mets fans (many of which are captured in the book of the same name). They welcome two distinguished writers who also bleed blue and orange: Dana Brand, author of the brand new book, The Last Days of Shea; and Caryn Rose, founder of the popular blog Metsgrrl.
No setting could be more ideal for such a spiritual gathering than Two Boots Tavern, as proven by the previous editions of this series of reading, rooting and Ray Sadecki contemplation. Two Boots owner Phil Hartman specializes in drinks and pies that pay homage to the great Mets of the past, and if his walls could talk, they’d surely shout “Let’s Go Mets!” Per Phil’s passion, not only is admission free, but so is the first beer, provided you donate a Mets baseball card.

The Two Boots restaurants and pizzerias have been a bastion for Mets fans for 22 years. Each of the ten locations features not only unique Cajun-Italian pizza and a convivial atmosphere but the Two Boots talisman â€” a framed photo of Mookie Wilson, Keith Hernandez and The Count (from Sesame Street). At the new Two Boots Tavern, highlights include a Hubie Brooks subway poster from the early 1980s, and a shrine to Bill Buckner. For AMAZIN’ TUESDAYS, the first beer is free, in exchange for any Mets baseball card (even Bobby Pfeil’s).

Phil’s hi-def TVs will, as always, will be tuned to the Mets game. Real Mets fans know the season, no matter how over, is never over until it’s over.

AMAZIN TUESDAYS
Date: Tuesday, August 25

Location: Two Boots Tavern, 384 Grand Street (@ Suffolk St.), 212-228-8685
Time: 7:00 PM

Admission: Free; also first drink free in exchange for any Mets baseball card.
Hosts: Greg Prince and Jason Fry, Faith and Fear in Flushing
Featuring: Dana Brand, author, The Last Days of Shea; Caryn Rose, Metsgrrl

Pizza of the Night: The Stork (creole chicken, wild mushrooms, cheddar & mozzarella) for 1973 reserve outfielder George Theodore

Drink of the Night: The Teufel Shuffle (martini shuffled, not stirred) for 1986 platoon second baseman Tim Teufel

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