Author: Shannon Shark @metspolice

This dude has a BLACK #16 Cone jersey.   Where do we begin.

A visit to the awesome Mets By The Numbers Website helps me remember when Cone wore 16 at all.  I remembered 44 and the bad decision to switch to #17 (because why would they retire that?).  

Give up?  He wore it when he was a Met for a Month at the end of his career in 2003.  After being a Yankee etc.   Scarily I also saw a Cone 16 t-shirt in the mens room.   Really.

Next we have a Lastings Milledge jersey.  Not a good call.   I guess he thought he’d be a star.

Finally, I leave you with some hope.  Look at this fan.  A blue hat with a pinstriped Mazzilli jersey.  It was #13, where as Mets Police know that Lee’s true number was #16 which was being used by a cocaine addict in 1986 when Lee returned.  However, any Mazzilli jersey is cool.   Look at his friend next to him with the dopey black and orange wright jersey.  I guess Wright was a 1984 Oriole.

Yes yes yes, I understand it’s paid attendance.

Well 54,242 people allegedly had tickets for today.    A few facts about today:

• a giveaway (Wagner bobblehead)
• a big division game against the Marlins
• a game that’s part of the 7-pack that gets you the final game at Shea
• a Mr. Mets Dash (cancelled after they heard one thunderclap.  I can’t kill them for the decision – they don’t need a kid killed by lightning.

So you’d expect a big crowd.  A big 54,000 crowd.

But where is everyone?  Here’s the crowd during the second inning (above), and then again in the sixth (below).

There was a really good comment on one of the postings…so I thought I’d split it off into it’s own posting so it isn’t missed.  

K said…

I feel the need to call you out on the “4 Inning Pedro” exaggeration. Pedro has started 11 games this season and pitched at least 5 innings in 8 of those games. In 2 games he left due to injury, leaving only 1 game in which he pitched less than 5 innings when healthy. As you probably know, 5 innings is enough to get a decision. In other words, these callers/bloggers that are making this opinion, haven’t looked at the stats. Don’t get me wrong, he’s not a top of the rotation starter anymore, but he does provide more than you seem to give him credit for. In my opinion, assuming Pedro doesn’t injure his left nut as some point (yes, he is injury prone), I think his arm strength is only going to get stronger and allow him to pitch more innings per game. I look forward to a strong finish to the season from Pedro.

August 9, 2008 1:53 PM

 

The Mets Police said… 

 

Great comments by K. First off I appreciate someone who takes the effort to look up the stats, or is at least smart enough to bluff me knowing I will never look it up myself. I never claim the Mets Police is journalism, it’s just a blog from a loudmouth sitting on a deck.Anyway, “Four Inning Pedro” might be an exaggeration, but “Five Inning” isn’t – it’s just not as catchy.As I mentioned previously, I haven’t been busting his chops because he’s been pitching better (and his father died). I do find it surprising that all of a sudden the rest of the world has realized he’s not an ace.I’ll give him credit for what he is, a 5 inning pitcher who is always one pitch away from a career ending injury. Is there a better option, no….so if everyone else is fine with accepting him as a 5, then fine. When I hear “Pedro will save us” propaganda I get annoyed.And he’s a Red Sock.

You may notice I didn’t razz Pedro this week, either before the game he pitched and definitely not after.

What strikes me as odd is that I read a bunch of articles and heard a ton of callers and radio hosts suddenly switching to my point of view.  The general vibe all oif a sudden is that Pedro isn’t reliable and can’t go a long time in a game.  HELLO welcome to the Mets Police. Been telling you that since April!

What I don’t get is why now?  He’s been pretty good the last two times out and gave you a little bit of length.  Why is everyone jumping on my badnwagon now?  I’m happy to have you, but why now?