Uni Watch (one of my favorite sites) threw me a nice mention and link today in relation to whether or not Charlie Samuels selected the uniforms on a game by game basis.
Last summer, several of the bloggers were invited by the Mets for a meet and greet. At that meet and greet I spent a lot of time talking with various members of the Mets communications department. These were casual discussions so I won’t name drop.
I don’t remember the particulars of the flow of the conversation but we wound up talking about the uniforms. I was told that the starting pitcher gets to choose the uniform of the day, and the clubhouse music for the day.
On Uni Watch Paul, provied another narrative and quotes a former Mets batboy Matt Harris and saying the selection was made by Charlie.
I figured you’d all find it interesting. I share because it’s interesting and fun, and not to say I’m right or Paul’s right. Paul and I are on the same side of hating the black, and he is the king of hating the black and I am just a mere follower-in-footsteps. The Black Crowes to his Rolling Stones.
The folks I was talking to that night have been nothing but great to me and the site, so I personally can’t believe there was a misinformation campaign. It would have been just was easy to say “yeah, Charlie and you wouldn’t get along.”
Anyway…here’s the read of the day…well, of the morning anyway until all hell breaks loose over Samuelsgate.
Here is what I just posted over on Uni Watch:
Paul, I have to question what former batboy Matt Harris knows about what’s going on with uni-selection this past season. His statement “…or a lot of times we’d wear blue on getaway day because the players would need to pack black for the road,” Has no basis in fact concerning this last season.
The Mets wore their two-tone caps on all but two getaway games. On July 10th(last game before All-Star break) they wore “The Black,” and they wore black again on August 1st (gm 2 of the dreaded 6 straight gms in black Jul 31-Aug 6). I also believe the Mets have a current practice (new tradition), of dropping off their game caps in a shipping container as they walk back to the clubhouse on getaway days.
Dirt/Walt – I considered the same thing. Perhaps what was said to me was about the selections in 2010 but maybe not true in 1998.
Exactly. Since I don’t know when the former batboy performed his duties, it is impossible to know how current his observations are.
It is entirely possible that starters picking game-day uni’s-clubhouse music was something started by Jerry, or possibly even Willie.
This is what I posted on the Mets Police Facebook page. I’m confident in my assessment.
Pitchers having the chance to pick the uniform may well be true be but do you honestly think a major league pitcher is really picking the uniform for the game? Doesn’t he have other things to be concerned about? Other obligations?
It probably goes like this :
Charlie Samuels: “Hey Pelf, what do you want for tomorrow?”
Mike Pelfrey: “I don’t care…whatever”.
Charlie then picks the uniform.
There is not a doubt in my mind that, that’s how it went. I believe you’re fooling yourself if you think otherwise.
Hi Tugboat – your premise seems possible. I don’t know what else to say except to call the Mets liars which I am not prepared to do. Not the nice people I deal with personally.