At the end of the day, the Mets Police love the Mets and wish them nothing but success. Unfortunately, there are plenty of days where this franchise can’t get out of its own way. With that in mind, we offer some suggestions to our friends in Flushing.
In no particular order, but starting with the stuff that is top of mind…and I won’t even call for ticket price cuts or a uniform overhaul.
1. Hang some Mets stuff up at Citi Field.
The number one rip on this franchise seems to include the word “Dodgers.” It would cost a few thousand bucks to get some Mets banners and images made and hung. The Yankees have figured out some ways to do it
How about a statue of Seaver between the 7-train and the rotunda. The Cubs have the right idea.
2. Retire #17
It has been nearly 50 years, and only one number has been retired for performance on the field. While he wasn’t here the longest, he was one of the most influential, and has a current relationship with the team. Stop giving #17 to every Tom, Fernando and Harry and put it up on the fence. If you need to know the player’s name you are on the wrong site. In a few years add a few others, starting with Gooden. I’d be slow to retire a certain someone’s number until “the list” has come out. We know Keith did cocaine, we’re long since over it. Knowing the luck of the Mets, that other player’s name is likely to be revealed the day after they retire his number – so why not wait until that plays out.
3. Have Old-Timers Day.
Last week on WFAN, Evan Roberts said that some Mets officials said it was “too much work” to have Old Timer’s Day. With Ron & Keith upstairs, Hojo in the dugout, Bobby O at SNY, Carter and Buddy out in Islip with the Ducks, and the Yankees figured out where Cone and Mazzilli are – it really can’t be that hard. Throw $50,000 at Seaver and tell him to leave the grapes for a day and just have it. Give me some phone numbers and a date and I’ll work on it for you. We can even invite some Brooklyn Dodgers if that will grease the wheels.
4. Have Banner Day.
This too is a no-brainer. I know the days of the doubleheader are gone, but why not have it at noon some day before a Sunday afternoon game. In the age of blogs, I don’t think the Mets have to worry about being sensitive to a critical blog.
5. Stop insulting the fans with fees.
Why does it cost $5 to buy a $20 ticket? These “service charges” and “processing fees” are an insult to your fans. It can’t cost $5 worth of electrons to print out a ticket. Since cutting ticket prices is something the team won’t want to admit to, here’s a nice way to give back to what will once again be cranky off-season fans. (Similarly, don’t charge $30 for McCartney parking, which has nothing to do with the baseball team but does take place at Citi Field.)
I’ve previously made some other suggestions here but I think the above would go a long way to showing the fans that somebody in Wilpon Inc. is listening.
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Gooden and Hernandez both should have their numbers retired. Gooden was one of the dominant forces of his era and put up one of the most dominant single seasons ever by a pitcher. If a Rookie of the Year *and* a Cy Young don't get your number on the fence, the bar is too high.
Hernandez deserves it for both being a pretty darn good player (the best defensive 1st baseman of his time as well as a great hitter) and probably even moreso what he meant to the Mets in particular.
Retiring Carter's number is perfectly reasonable, though I'd say Hernandez and Gooden are more deserving.
Also, I'm torn on Strawberry. Personally, I'd love to see it, but ojectively, it's a push. On on hand, he was engine that drove the offense, and he still holds the franchise records in runs, HRs, and RBIs (among others) 20 years after leaving the team, but on the other hand, is that alone enough to merit a retired number? Whereas Piazza was arguably the best hitter ever at his position and should be a HoFer, Strawberry's place in baseball history is merely that of a really good power hitter whose only major award was the ROY. If he (rightfully) wins the MVP in '88, retiring his number is no-brainer, but unfortunately, he didn't. Is his actual resume–emotion aside– enough to warrant a retired number? I honestly don't know.
I am a lifer who now lives in Vegas. I have not seen CITIfield so I have read these posts to get a better feel. It seems like we built the better place, but the Yankees just "do it better". I read where Yankee Stadium had $5 Senior Citizen day and it was over sold so they moved the over flow to the $375 seats. Then I read that it COSTS $5 to process a purchase at Shea(it will always be Shea to me). Your 5 little things that they can do for the fan are all great. The problem is they won't do jack as long as 35k plus have bought tix. Solution is simple (yet so hard) don't go! When they don't have fans they do stuff to attract them (banners/old timers/retire a jersey). And they also lower ticket prices. It kills me to spend a whole year without cheering for my team, (I am driving to SD on 8/7 for them), but the owners want to get as much as they can out of you while giving a quality product. The Mets are an emotional tie, the owners need be reminded of that. They are just fleecing you with a sub 500 team that hasn't done a darn thing in a number of years except rip out our hearts as they drain our wallet a little harder each and every year. From what I hear it is a beautiful stadium, you all have seen it, now stay home for a month (or year) and watch the owners kiss your collective butts to get you back. If not, quit whining and keep paying.