Before we get to the guest post all I can think about today is how Jerry is a dead man walking. I have enjoyed his time in the dugout, and I think he could have been a lot of fun had the injury bug not doomed him. I still say there is no way you can sell the fans on “Everyone’s Back!” next year.
For you sci-fi geeks, I also keep thinking Citi Field is like the (first) Earth on Battlestar Galactica. We came all this way, finally got to our new home and it’s nothing but a disaster.
All that leads us to today’s guest post from Fitz:
I spent this weekend in San Diego after driving from my new Las Vegas surroundings, rooting blindly for my Mets. We started Livan(listed at 34 yrs old, I really thought he was 40!), Perez pitched great then the grand slam, Parnell and Santana. The Pods started Richard, Correia, Latos and Stauffer (average age 27ish). They also played Gwynn Venable and Blanks every day. Bud Black who manages a last place team, got a contract EXTENSION for his efforts, is seeing what these kids can do. Maybe they stink, they will find out, we play the Cora/Castillo/Sheffield/Schneider et al til they burnout. Who cares if they do or don’t…they will ALL be elsewhere next year.
What amazed me was everything about San Diego (beautiful town, visit it!). I went to the stadium, lots of stuff for kids FOR FREE, people throwing batting practice at the mini field, $5 dollar stadium passes that gets you access anywhere (but no seat, a grassy knoll in deep right center is legal but plenty of seats available). Free fireworks show after every Friday night game. Specials on food all year every game, hot dog/soda/small popcorn/small peanuts/ and a cookie for 5 bucks.
This stadium like Citi was built with tax payer $$. Yet somehow the last place team and the ownership made the product exciting, enjoyable, and by Saturday I admit I was rooting for the harder working, more spirited Pods. Maybe its because they never had a shot to win a pennant they still work hard in August in last place, and maybe since the Mets had high hopes that were dashed by injury and other elements, that they just want Sept 30 to get here fast, Effort clearly has left the entire Mets team vocabulary. I “see” CitiField through all the contributors on this sites words, and I see a beautiful building with no substance, basically Lastings Milledge in stadium form.
So, I am putting my Mets on notice, I grew up 1 mile from Shea, I sold ice cream there in 1986, that my allegiance is being tested. Show me effort, we all have bad years, but we try harder during the worst ones. The results may not shine, but like family, we all see the attempt, and we love you more for it.
I already have my upstart team with a beautiful stadium all picked out(and a shorter trip!), I would prefer to stay with my first love. Like anything good, effort is required.
Matt Fitz
So we’re not talking about front-running here. We’re not talking about living in Flushing and deciding to be a Yankees fan. If you leave New York, do you switch teams to something more local? Is the grass just greener on the other side and are the Padres Police complaining about camouflage uniforms and the Peavy trade?
I’ve heard nothing but nice things about SD’s new stadium. I’ve been to Philly and theirs is nice too. Why did we get the one with the plexiglass?
(FYI – the website I use for the site is buggy today, so if you see anything weirder than usual that’s why. I’ve already had posts go live before planned. It’s also horrible that thing I am looking most forward to is Four Inning Pedro proving me right or wrong.)
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