Category: mets

I thought it would be fun to meet some of the other Mets bloggers….if you want in, email me [email protected]


1.  Who are you and what’s the name of your blog?

My name is Kerel Cooper and the name of my blog is OnTheBlack.com. I’m 33 years old, I’ve been a Mets fan my entire life. 

I began OnTheBlack in September of 2008 as a way to give myself the opportunity to voice my opinions about the team I love, the New York Mets. The site has grown nicely over the past year and I’ve also received some very positive feedback from other bloggers and fans. For more on my blog and to see what others are saying check out my About Page.

2.  What kind of things can we find on your site?

My site is unique from other Mets blogs in the fact that it’s a video blog. I would say 80-90% of my blog posts are video (me talking into a camera). I eventually would like to have a daily internet show all about the Mets. I provide news, opinion and analysis about everything concerning the New York Mets. You can also find photos and interviews with other bloggers on my site. Once the 2010 season starts I will also be adding mini-game recaps. So if you miss a game and want to find out the final score plus major highlights, etc.. you can find it on OnTheBlack.com

3.  Expectations for 2010?

It’s tough to say what I expect from the Mets in 2010 at this point. I don’t think management is done putting the team together but considering the financial resources the Mets have and the market they play in, I expect them to compete for a playoff spot every season.

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I’ve been keeping score at ballgames since the mid to late 70’s, and I started saving all my scorecards in 1980. I thought it would be fun as we go through the off-season to pull out some of them and take a look back.

Today it’s July 1980

Steve Henderson graces the cover – remember Hendu Can Do? OK, many of you have no idea who he is but back then he was a big deal in Flushing – or at least the Mets tried to make him one. He was one of the main players the Mets got back when they traded Tom Seaver to the Reds. Henderson wasn’t a bad player – he actually finished 2nd for Rookie of the Year in 1977 (Andre Dawson just beat him out). Following the 1980 season Hendu was traded to the Cubs for Dave Kingman

So let’s see what we have inside. Hey look, it’s an article about the new owners, Nelson Doubleday and some other guy from Brooklyn.

Seriously I liked Doubleday – and he always seemed to be dedicated to the Mets. Meanwhile this other guy from Brooklyn – well, they are already mentioning his Dodger connections in this article. Cue the foreboding music.

Moving along we find an article on the Mets pitching staff for 1980. Let’s see, the rotation that year was Ray Burris, Pat Zachary, Pete Falcone, Mark Bomback, and Craig Swan, all pictured. Only Bomback, at 10-8, had a winning record. Also pictured here is a young Mike Scott – you know that guy in 1986 that almost single-handedly kept the Mets out of the World Series.

And what would a scorecard from 1980 be without our old friend and Mets Police favorite, Brooklyn’s own Lee Mazzilli. Here we learn that after 44 games at first base, Joe Torre has finally put Mazz back where he belongs – patrolling CF at Shea.

Ah, finally we come to why we have a scorecard – to keep score. Back then (I was 13 at the time), I was still experimenting with score keeping. Sure there is an “official” method of keeping score, but everyone has their own methodology. I was still trying to find mine.

What I do see here on the first page – hm, this guy Foster had 2 doubles and a single. Griffey (now known as Griffey Sr.) had a good eye with 2 walks. Fun to see that the Reds third baseman was Ray Knight.

Just a few years removed from the Big Red Machine and no Morgan, Rose, Perez, or Bench in this line-up. At least I got to see Concepcion.

OK, now on to the home town Mets. Mazz leading off had a bad day (0-4). Frank Taveras did well – 2-4 with 2 SB. Other guys I used to love – Doug Flynn, Mike Jorgenson, Joel Youngblood – all appeared in the game.

But the real story about this game isn’t in the scorecard. The game was played a week after John Stearns had made his 3rd All-Star Game. Stearns was having his best season ever – .285, on pace for over 40 doubles. And then in the first inning of this sunny Saturday afternoon, Stearns’ finger was broken on a foul tip, ending his season. He never was a full-time player after that.

My brother and I were sitting with my Dad along the first base line, field level (I think). I still remember clearly seeing Stearns crumple in pain.

Oh for the record, the Mets lost the game 5-1

Our next flashback will be from 1981.

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The Mets are strongly reminding you that FULL PAYMENT DUE IMMEDIATELY on the tickets page.

It’s not the most friendly reminder.  Isn’t today January 7th?  Wasn’t my money due January 1st I mean December 18th?

Meanwhile, hadn’t crossed my radar but looks like any riffraff can buy 15 game plans now here.

I am personally very pleased and take credit for the below phrasing:

Honesty, transparency.  Good.

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Some random thoughts:

Contest (not really):  anyone spotted any Bay jerseys in the wild yet?  I’m surprised Modell’s doesn’t have one in the window.  I bet they would if he signed with certain other teams.   Winner gets to root for the Mets all season.  Sorry, no prize closet but send one to [email protected] if you see one in the Mets Clubhouse or on a civilian.  Double-points for a Rangers jersey.

More with yearbooks and scorecards coming up today, and another installment of Meet the Mets Bloggers.

Site stuff:  As previously mentioned, I’m working toward a move to WordPress (so the site looks nicer and works better).  For those of you of a certain age, the current template is like the latter days of Atart 2600.  Sure I can do Pac-Man but it’s won’t be awesome and it’s sure gonna flicker.    There seems to be a comment-posting annoyance that some are experiencing, sorry ’bout that.  Hopefully the move will clear that up.

Comments moderation is on because otherwise I get bombed with Omar Minaya comments that go down a road I don’t want to go.  I think some of the criticism was fair back a few years ago, but there’s a way to phrase it.  

If you’ve discovered the other blog I’ve been tinkering with (not pushing it, it’s just to teach myself WordPress but there’s a link there on the lower right if you’re curious) that’s part of the move.  I want to know what I’m doing before the migration, not just rush out and sign Vince Coleman if you know what I mean.

More site stuff:  seems a few on you like the Twitter/recent comments things I recently added.  I wish they were prettier and will be after the move.  Any feedback on the site appreciated at [email protected]  

Main Mets Police page
Subscribe to The Mets Police by Email
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Follow us on twitter @metspolice
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Contact: shannon at metspolice.com (Guest posts welcome!)
Share Photos: pictures at metspolice.com

Doesn’t this 1986 Mets jacket make you happy?  Sure the NY is cheesy, but there’s no black and if you think hard enough you can imagine Davey Johnson smoking in one.   From Mitchell and Ness.

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send ideas/guest columns to shannon at metspolice.com