Author: Shannon Shark @metspolice

CITI FIELD TO HOST ANNUAL BATTLE OF THE BADGES ON SEPTEMBER 12

The Third Annual NYPD vs. FDNY Baseball Charity Game at Citi Field presented by Your Local Ford Stores

FLUSHING, N.Y., July 26, 2024 – NYPD and FDNY will face off in the third annual Battle of the Badges charity baseball game presented by Your Local Ford Stores. It all happens at Citi Field on Thursday, September 12 at 7:10 p.m. Former Mets Captain and seven-time All-Star David Wright will be the host of the game and will honor an NYPD and FDNY hero for doing “The Wright Thing” prior to the game.

“The Battle of the Badges game is incredibly important to me,” said Wright. “Growing up in a “Police Household”, I quickly learned that the true heroes in the community are the police and firefighters that put their lives on the line to keep us safe. While most of us would run away from trouble, First Responders run towards it. I love taking this opportunity to thank all of the First Responders for their bravery, service and commitment to their communities.”

Each team will consist of former high school, college and minor league baseball players that are now members of FDNY or NYPD.

“The Mets are proud to help support those who protect and serve our community by hosting the Battle of the Badges charity baseball game,” said Mets Senior Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Player Relations Donovan Mitchell, Sr. “It’s been a joy to bring together members of NYPD and FDNY for a fun night that helps provide funding for multiple local charities.”

Last year in front of a record crowd of 7,314, FDNY defeated NYPD, 7-4 to give New York’s Bravest a 13-12 advantage over New York’s Finest in the historic battle.

Tickets are $20 with a portion of the ticket and concession sales benefitting the FDNY Foundation and NYCPBA Widows & Children’s Fund, plus other organizations.

Fans can purchase tickets to this game by visiting Mets.com/BattleOfTheBadges.

FLUSHING, N.Y., July 25, 2024 – The Amazin’ Mets Foundation hosted its annual Home Runs & Highballs fundraiser on Thursday, June 27 at Citi Field. As the Amazin’ Mets Foundation’s largest fundraising event of the season, the event itself raised gross contributions of over $850,000. Mets Owners, Steve and Alex Cohen, will be matching all proceeds through the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation.

“Home Runs and Highballs is always a special night,” said Alex Cohen, Owner of the Mets and President of the Amazin’ Mets Foundation. “We are incredibly thankful for those that donate generously to support our programs.”

The philanthropic event was supported by the New York Mets organization. President of Baseball Operations David Stearns, Manager Carlos Mendoza and the rest of the Mets coaching staff, the entire Mets roster, and Mets Alumni, including Mike Piazza, Mookie Wilson and Todd Zeile, were all in attendance.

Attendees enjoyed Citi Field culinary favorites, games and activities, and had a chance to bid on unique memorabilia and experiences, including a pitching lesson from pitching coach Jeremy Heffner and closer Edwin Díaz and watching a game with Mets Owner Steve Cohen, as part of the Amazin’ Auction. Attendees also got to enjoy a surprise live performance of Mets infielder Jose Iglesias’ new hit song ‘OMG’.

The Amazin’ Mets Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the New York Mets. The Foundation is committed to providing needed services and opportunities to children, families, and underserved groups. Since its inception in 2021, the Amazin’ Mets Foundation has funded over $11.5 million in grants to over 170 organizations in its community, including the communities surrounding affiliate teams. Learn more at amazinmetsfoundation.org.

Maybe Mets flip flops are the ultimate gift.  You’re excited to use them in April.  By August you’ve kind of lost interest and come September you have no use for them.

Awwww the poor Mets got in “after 5am” and have to play baseball at 7pm.  Life is SO HARD.

Let’s see you land at 5:59am and get to your swanky home at 8am.  You sleep until 2pm, which is 6 hours which is not unheard of, and then you make your way to the ballpark for 4.

Then you have to stand on grass in ten minute shifts (alternating with sitting down for 10 minutes) AND you might have to bat once an hour.

Oh man, this is torture. I feel so bad for these guys and their bullt in excuse.

Imagine if they ever have a baby.

Daniel Murphy, 2015’s Net Negative, had an OPS of  .770 in 2015. He also had a WAR of 1.9  Gary didn’t like how he played baseball, and the Mets let Murphy walk.

Here in 2024, Pete Alonso has an OPS of .767.  He has a WAR of 1.3

I used to hear a lot about WAR and OPS, but now that people realize Pete isn’t good at baseball, suddenly all anyone wants to do is talk about home runs without context.

Pete does have 19 HRs, which is 16th best in MLB, although not as many as 1B Christian Walker (22) or 1B Josh Naylor (22)  or 1B Bryce Harper (22)  but anyway keep on telling yourself the Mets can’t win without Pete.  Also keep believing Gary is good at evaluating talent.

Pete has been diminishing returns since his rookie year.  The Mets shoudl have traded high many times, now they are either going to Trade Low, or even more stupidly not trade at all, or even more stupidly than that, bring Pete back.

The smartest version of the Pete scenario that I have heard is that he accepts the Mets Qualifying Offer this off-season and hopes to have a better season next year.  That will just waste another summer in Queens, but hey we didn’t win during the Bush, Clinton, Bush, Obama, Trump or Biden administrations, so what’s one more year, right Steve?

Back to you Gare.  Let me know your thoughts.