Yo Brooklyn, What Are You Doing?

Haven’t written much in the last few weeks – as Shannon says this is just a dopey blog and sometimes life will get in the way of it. But something I read today brought me right back to the Mets Police Force.

I’ve been a huge fan of the Brooklyn Cyclones since their inaugural season in 2001. A season ticket holder for the first 5 years, it was great to have baseball back in Brooklyn.

I’m also a huge fan of minor league baseball, having been to about 45 different minor league parks. The minors are a different breed than the majors, with a greater community feel as well as some of the most unusual promotions. I’ve seen shaves & haircuts given behind home plate (St. Paul Saints), PA announcers up the music level to drown out the cursing of players (Ft. Myers Miracle), a professional wrestler do between-inning announcements (Jerry Lawlor for Lexington Legends), countless dizzy bat spins, mascot races, eating contests….well you get the idea.

What is not seen though, are cheerleading squads – or as they are now known, dance teams.

Oh sure, a few of the major league teams (three that I know – Cincinnati, Florida, & Milwaukee) have tried to incorporate this football/basketball tradition. Shockingly none have succeeded.

So back to the Cyclones who this week announced the Beach Bum Dance Team. I don’t know how they will be used, but the blog does talk about choreography.

Choreography?

With apologies to Tom Hanks, there’s no choreography in baseball!

The Wilpons have one of the most successful franchises in minor league baseball (of course Fred would own the team in Brooklyn). Despite poor ownership (don’t even get me started on how season ticketholders were treated during the first few years), the Cyclones have been enjoyable to watch. I don’t think I can deal with a cheerleadin…um, I mean a “dance team.”

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Working On A "Cool New York Mets+ Blogs" Article For This Weekend

I’m working on a “Cool Mets+ Blogs” article for the weekend.  I don’t want to leave anyone out, and I’m “friends” with a bunch of you guys – so if you want to be sure you’re listed shoot me a note at [email protected] and if I leave someone out by mistake, my apologies in advance.   This is an open invite to all bloggers (even yankees) and newspapery type things like Bitter Bill whether we’ve made contact before or not.
 
I also appreciate those of you who send things for use as articles.  I feel like we’re building a small communtiy here, and that is very cool.   If you have something on your mind that you think is worth building out into a full article hit me up at [email protected] 
 
(and dude that ripped my Sheffield crazy talk – that was funny.)

The Davey Johnson In Me Wants To Start Sheffield At Shortstop For The New York Mets

So this is “crazy talk” but since I have been waxing poetic about Davey Johnson’s penchant for getting away with just about anyone at shortstop….
 
(Assuming Reyes is out) how about when the Mets have a fly-ball pitcher on the mound (say Santana) they stick Gary Sheffield at shortstop?  Yeah it’s insane but do you have a better option an short right now?
 
Sheff came up as a SS, played a whopping 94 games there, none since 1989….but in theory all he needs to do is stand there in-between at-bats.  We did win a championship with Kevin Mitchell playing shortstop in 24 games.
 
Maybe you prefer having Ramon Martinez up when the game is on the line.  I’d rather bring him in for defense late in the game.
 
Crazy talk…off day…..no better options….hit comments and start ripping the idea. 
 
 

Steve Phillips Chats About The New York Mets: Beltran Not "A Winning Player" Compares Him To A-Rod

 
SprungOnSports (Long Island) : Daniel Murphy can’t field, Ryan Church doesn’t touch third base and their 1B is out two months? Are the Mets in trouble?

SportsNation Steve Phillips: They definitely have some issues. But if their pitching can be consistent, they still have enough firepower to win some games. They have to stay close until they regain full strength. I think Nick Johnson of the Nationals would be a great pickup for the Mets. When Delgado comes back, they could evaluate what to expect from him, then trade one or the other. They will need Beltran, Reyes, and Wright to stay in the hunt.

Beltran Stays (New York): Steve, while I respect your work, I disagree with your statements about Carlos Beltran on Sunday Night Baseball. The guy has done nothing but produce, and name me a CF who’s better in the game right now.

SportsNation Steve Phillips: If the Mets don’t make the playoffs, I firmly believe they need to reconfigure the core of this team. While Beltran does have talent, I just don’t see him as a winning player. Even after my comments on Sunday night, Beltran let a fly ball drop in between himself and Angel Pagan in the Dodger game. I see him putting up numbers but not making plays to win games. I would take Torii Hunter, Grady Sizemore, Curtis Granderson, and Nate McLouth over Beltran, and use the financial difference to improve the team in other ways. Beltran isn’t a $17 million dollar a year player. He just doesn’t have the kind of impact for that kind of money.

SportsNation Steve Phillips: Many people think that Alex Rodriguez is the best player in the game, but he’s never won anything. I look at Beltran in a similar fashion as Rodriguez–a great talent that just doesn’t seem to have what it takes to win championships. Maybe the Mets can keep him and add pieces to the core around him and still win. But when you’re dealing with a budget and the screams of immediacy in New York, I’m not sure the Mets can wait to piece it together around him. I know there are a lot of people who disagree with me, but it’s just the way I see it. Beltran is a very good person and a solid citizen, in addition to being a guy who puts up numbers. I like him, I just don’t think they can win with him.

Steve may be right.  

How To Make Citi Field More Mets-centric in Four Easy Steps

Saw this on Metsmerized Online:
How To Make Citi Field More Mets-centric in Four Easy Steps

They have some cool ideas like…

Whereas a number of new stadiums have statues of their greatest players or a memorable moment in franchise history, the Mets do not. Why not have a statue of Tom Seaver or even one of Jesse Orosco’s iconic pose after striking out Marty Barrett to end the 1986 World Series? The Fanwalk is nice but you have to be standing on top of the bricks to realize what it is. A statue would be noticeable from a distance and would fit in with the current trend of new ballparks and statues. It’s also far more comfortable to take a picture standing in front of a statue than it is lying on the ground next to your brick. If the San Diego Padres can have a statue of Tony Gwynn outside of Petco Park, despite the fact they’ve only been in existence since 1969 and have no championships, shouldn’t the Mets have a statue featuring at least one of their championship players and/or moments?


.…and they know things like the color of the Citi fence is actually “soot.”

read the whole thing here.