Mets Police is to give fans like you a voice.
John sent this letter in. Â I obviously don’t agree, but I have plenty of opportunities to share my opinion, thus I yield the floor to John:
While I respect Chris’s take regarding how Mets fans should show up for the Hall of Fame Induction on August 1st, I have to respectfully disagree with his opinion.
Now, it should be noted that Doc, Darryl, Cashen, and Davey deserve the fans support and adoration for 1986. However, this article has nothing to do with them. Before I start, I want to say that if you are a Mets fan that wants to go to celebrate these 4, I think you should.
I’m just saying here that no Mets fan should feel obligated to go.
Showing up for this event is not about honoring the Mets past. This is a money grab by the Mets.
Don’t believe me? Then someone needs to explain to me why they chose this random, indiscernible time to honor these 4 people. Â Aside from Davey Johnson managing Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, none of them have done anything recently. Also, this is not a particular anniversary regarding the 1986 team.
This is the Wilpons trying to manipulate Mets fans to get more money out of them.
For example, the cheapest seat is $23.00. Throw in parking or a train, food, etc. you are already over $50. Normally, this does not bother me as I still love going to Mets games . . . despite the awful economy. However, you’re paying this amount to watch the game on the field until the ball is hit into either LF or RF, and then you are stuck looking for a TV to discover what is transpiring. Then you have to re-focus on the field. It’s absurd. But this isn’t about the problems with Citi Field, which Shannon has clearly chronicled. So then, getting back to the original point, why are they doing this now?
The event has been scheduled to get more money out of the fans, which the Wilpons will not, in turn, spend on the team. Think about it. The Mets scheduled this event for Sunday, August 1st in the attempts to sell-out the game. However, the real event is July 31st where the Mets are hosting an event where you, the fan, have the privilege to spend $300 to have lunch with the four Hall of Fame inductees. Afterward, you can stay and watch the game. Great, now the Mets have found 2 ways to sell out games. Now, I will not begrudge the Mets for trying to sell out games and make money. After all, baseball is a business, and they are supposedly having money problems after Madoff.
However, as a fan, I feel no obligation to support this team financially. I will continue to watch games from home, and I may still go to another game or so this season. The Mets knew they needed another SP, and they have failed to do so. Now, I understand that they couldn’t get Cliff Lee, but why haven’t they obtained Oswalt, Lilly, Carmona, etc. It’s about the money. They either don’t have it, or they don’t want to spend it.
The Mets were relieved that Texas had a much better deal for Lee that they could not compete. You or I going to any games is not going to change that. Since the Wilpons took over, they have continuously failed to go that extra mile. I’m tired of it.
Here’s been the deadline pickups in the Wilpon era: Mike Bordick, Rick White, Bubba Trammel, Billy Taylor, Steve Reed, Shawn Dunston, Daryl Hamilton, Jason Middlebrook, Oliver Perez, Roberto Hernandez, etc. Where’s the difference maker. Where’s the significant contract addition? Â Â Only White and Hamilton really only had an effect. They’ll spend on their one player every offseason, but they won’t extend the payroll mid-season.
Overall, I encourage everyone to go if you want. However, don’t go because the Mets finally added a Hall of Fame and added players to their Hall of Fame. They’re doing these things to bring you to the ballpark because they know they will not be going because they refuse to put a team on the field that will compete for a championship. It’s your choice. However, the bigger statement to make to the Mets is to not go to the game and let the Mets know that they’re behavior is unacceptable.
I don’t really see how you can be a Mets fan in 2010 without financially supporting the Wilpons.
If you’re a Mets fan, you’ll show up to support Doc, Darryl, Davey & Frank Cashen if you are able to.
If you’re not a Mets fan, please do everyone a favor and stop pretending. There are plenty of reasons to be unhappy with the 2010 team, ownership and the ballpark. But this is a chance to celebrate better times for the franchise.
Even more important, it’s a chance to show ownership that we will actually support them when they do something that we say we want them to do.
“This is the Wilpons trying to manipulate Mets fans to get more money out of them.
For example, the cheapest seat is $23.00. Throw in parking or a train, food, etc. you are already over $50.”
I didn’t realize the Mets run the MTA, also you can bring in as much food as you want. No one is forcing you eat there.
“However, you’re paying this amount to watch the game on the field until the ball is hit into either LF or RF, and then you are stuck looking for a TV to discover what is transpiring.”
This is no different from countless stadiums, including Shea.
“Now, I will not begrudge the Mets for trying to sell out games and make money.”
Except that is EXACTLY what you are doing.
“The Mets knew they needed another SP, and they have failed to do so. Now, I understand that they couldn’t get Cliff Lee, but why haven’t they obtained Oswalt, Lilly, Carmona, etc. It’s about the money. They either don’t have it, or they don’t want to spend it.
The Mets were relieved that Texas had a much better deal for Lee that they could not compete. You or I going to any games is not going to change that. Since the Wilpons took over, they have continuously failed to go that extra mile. I’m tired of it.”
If you understand why the Mets couldn’t get Lee, lay off the ridiculous assumptions that they were happy they didn’t get him. Petty & makes no sense to boot.
Have Lilly, Carmona & Oswalt been traded yet? What are complaining about?
Another lame Mets fan.
Hey guys this is a charity event not some ticket special they concoted to make money! All the money goes to the Mets foundation which gives the money it makes to things like Community Sports programs, Education and other projects that help the local community.
They are a non-profit organization and couldn’t spend a penny they make on the team even if they wanted to.
From the foundation website:
MISSION STATEMENT
The New York Mets Foundation funds and promotes a variety of educational, social and athletic programs and other charitable causes. Founded in 1963, it continues its mission to invest in the future of our community, and to provide assistance to myriad organizations that benefit children and others in need.
A registered 501(c) 3 charity, the Mets Foundation takes no portion of the funds raised to offset internal costs. The New York Mets pay 100% of the Foundation’s overhead to ensure that the entirety of a donation is directed toward helping others.
Now I know bashing the ownership is in fashion these days but you really should pick subjects to bash where you don’t look too foolish when your done.
Look, I’m as happy as the next person that the money goes to charity, but of that $300 ($325 if you’re not a season ticket holder), the Mets have to remiburse the players for attending, take into account the price of your ticket, food, and drink. Then they have to pay their staff for the event, etc. Any money left over from that goes to the charity.
Again, the charity is admirable, but the Mets are still getting the money for getting you into the stadium. I highly doubt all of your $300 goes to the Mets charity. If it does, the Mets are the only organization on the planet that does this, and I would commend them for it.
This post comes off as a typical Met fan who just likes to bitch and moan. Every stadium I have been to has views somewhat obstructed in some way whether it be a corner you cant see from a certain part of the park or a pole in front of your face. Get over the Citi Field stuff it is old and tired and doesn’t make sense the park is beautiful and everyone wanted a new park until the new park got here. The Mets were damned if they did damned it they didnt.
As far as the charity luncheon thing goes, I hate things like this. They price out the typical fan from things like this and you never get the sense that the Wilpons are contributing a dime to the charity themselves. I am sure they are but it just seems like the Mets always have their hands out for this charity. Same thing goes for the event prior to the season at the upscale CT department store. In no way can typical fans afford to attend so it is only geared towards the bigwig sponsors and season ticket holders. Why couldn’t the price be lower so parents with kids can enjoy the opportunity of meeting their favorite players for once?
Let me be clear: I’m the farthest thing from a Wilpon apologist. However, I respectfully, but very strongly, disagree with any argument that these Mets HOF inductions are meant as a pure money-grab.
Will the ceremony possibly increase attendance? Sure. But, this is a summer Sunday afternoon, involving a team that only visits once a year–already a desirable game. If they just wanted to cynically sell a few thousand extra tickets, why not a September Tuesday? Or a cold April Sunday?
I think these inductions are unquestionably a response to the criticisms of Citi Field from last year (i.e. no celebration of Mets history, etc.). They actually listened to fans and constituted a committee this past winter (including Howie Rose and Gary Cohen) to evaluate who should be inducted: http://mets.lohudblogs.com/2010/01/19/gooden-strawberry-among-mets-hall-of-fame-inductees/ (last paragraph).
The fact is, these inductions are overdue no matter what (and I’m not being a Strawberry or Gooden apologist by saying that, either–both have been far from perfect). Actually, the Mets are overdue for ANY inductions; these are the first since Agee in 2002.
I mean, if they’d done these inductions in 2006, for the 20th anniversary of the championship, or next year for the 25th anniversary, would it make a difference? Of course not. It would still cost plenty to attend, and it would still boost attendance for that 1 game–and the most cynical of Mets fans would still suggest impure motives by the Wilpons. So, why wait any longer?
In the end, we can debate the particular date chosen this year, or ticket/food/parking prices in general, or whatever else. But, I think the last thing this event can be called is a pure money-grab. (If you want a prime example of a money-grabbing, slapped-together event, how about Gary Carter Night in the dark days of 2003, right after his HOF selection?) And even if this event were a money-grab, I don’t think complaints about a happy event should be used as the springboard into every saved-up Mets-related complaint fans have. That’s not fair to anybody.
PS- I can’t let the comment on the Mets trade deadline approach go without response. The Mets got the very serviceable Hamilton, White, Trammel, McElroy, and Dunston for basically nothing. Those were very savvy deals that helped the team at the time. You want to trade top prospects for better players at the deadline? Too often, you get Billy Taylor or Victor Zambrano. I’d rather make those big deals in the off-season, with less pressure, and get Leiter, Piazza, or Hampton.
My bad–I completely blanked out and forgot (how could I? I’m ashamed…) that Piazza was also a mid-year deal.
But, that actually helps put to lie the argument that the Mets mid-year trade approach is inherently flawed or overly conservative. Sometimes the right big(ger) deal is there, and sometimes it isn’t. And sometimes you misjudge whether a deal is right or not. Again, look at Taylor for Long (and maybe even Bordick for Mora). And can you imagine if Piazza had fallen on his face here, then left, and Preston Wilson had still gone on to kill us as a Marlin all those years? What you need is a GM you trust making those evaluations and then selling his evaluations to ownership. But that’s a whole different story…
As a HUGE Mets fan of the 80’s and a vendor for 10 years I can see the pain of deciding to pay for a day of reminiscing of good times versus feeling that you paid the devil to do it. I painfully think you have to pass. The owner has put up a below par staff (GM and coaches) and an average performing team. Remind yourself they need you you do not need them. 3 years no effort and to their credit this year they wont break our hearts in September, they are doing it in July. Stay home and play catch with your kids.See you in August, Shannon-Croxleys Aug 30?
Oh please Matt…
What does the current team on the field have to do with honoring the guys who got you your last World Series?
Yes it’s expensive to go. Most people won’t be able to afford it.
But it is for a good cause both in that the money goes back into the city’s economy and helping kids and the event itself is to honor the guys who WERE on the field the last time we won anything meaningful!
You guys expect the team to play hard and good for you but when it comes time to recognize how hard and well they played you guys not only refuse to honor them but complain about it as some money play!
If you want the players and front office to work hard for you then maybe they would do it if they thought you would appreciate and recognize the effort!
As for the Piazza comment, that deal was made under the Doubleday-Wilpon agreement. My argument is the Wilpon regime has not gone that extra mile at the trade deadline.
As for the price for going to the game, it still costs you over $50 whether or not its the MTA. The parking is run by the Mets.
Also, in case everyone missed it, Haren went to the Angels for a deal the Mets could have easily bested. Deadline is Saturday, and Mets won’t make a deal and Manuel will still be the manager.
Again, I stated that you should go if you wanted. All I said is that you should feel no obligation to attend. If you can’t comprehend that, I’m sorry. Also, you missed the part where I said that I still may go on Sunday.
Not going on Sunday does not mean you’re not a real Mets fan. Those statements are beyond absurd. If I wasn’t a real Mets fan, would I have bothered to write numerous articles about this team . . . the first during the past World Series which was painful for all Mets fans?