Category: mets

Some interesting  notes from an article in today’s Times…

One of the biggest complaints from Mets fans about Citi Field last season was the obstructed views from the seats in left field. From the highest of the three decks, many fans could not see the left fielder, the warning track or the fence, and sometimes could not see the center fielder, either. Fans in the lower decks also struggled to see plays in left field, and often had to crane their necks to watch replays on televisions hanging above them.

Mets executives have defended Citi Field’s geometry, saying that the partly obscured views of the field are the tradeoff for putting fans closer to the action.

The article goes on to tell stories of fans who are not renewing (today is the scary deadline don’t forget) and one great story of a fan who would renew if only the Mets would throw in a Santana bobblehead.

There’s some themes that will be familiar to Mets Police readers in the Times piece (hmmm) so yo’ll definitely dig it.  Glad to see the “mainstream” is on board.

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Friends,

2009 has been a great year for this site.   There’s 30 hours or so to go in the year, and this is a shameless plea for a little help.   It’s nothing important except my ego sees that a nice round number is tantalizingly close.

As 6pm approaches here on the 30th, Mets Police has had about 246,000+  visits for the year.  I don’t know about other sites (I think Metsblog hits like 3 million a month, but they’re a superblog, and have done more for traffic than anyone) but for a boy from Queens that number is pretty cool, especially as the report is showing me a measly 8,000 or so for 2008.   Wow what a change it’s been, I remember being thrilled at that number.

So, being honest, I’d like to hit a quarter million visits.  It’s a nice round number.  That’s going to require a big day of visits  tomorrow.  The only way I know to make that happen is to draw in some newbies.  For that, I’ll need you to get the word out.  If you have a friend who you think would like the site, or if you’re on digg or stumbleupon, do a retweet, or if you’re a fellow blogger who can empathize…here’s some links below to share that have proven to be popular.   I think I’ll just miss the number, but hey why not try?  (Actually in true Mets fashion maybe 249,999 would be perfect.  Let some Philly blogger get that last visit).

• Dan’s photos of the 1986 Tickertape parade.
• The compilation post of pictures of our Citi Field walkaround 
• The midseason update to Citi Field pictures can be found here.
• Yankee Stadium being demolished
• The Uncensored Unofficial Guide To Citi Field
• Inside the Acela Club at Citi Field
• Inside the Caesar’s Club at Citi Field
• Earlier this year the Mets did a Uniform Survey Part one and part two.
• Pics of the locker room and cool pool table

• Pics of the trainer’s room!
• An updated compilation of obstructed views at Citi Field
• The Mets’ response to Dan’s letter

I’m also trying to increase the base of subscribers, so if you’d like to view the site in a reader or a daily email click here.

You’ve been great when I’ve asked for pictures, help, or information.  I get stuff in the inbox every single day that helps fuel the site.   I’m very very thankful that you’re part of this community we’re building around here, I’m confident that 2010 will be even bigger (surprisingly October-December have been super-strong months which bodes well) and there’s some interesting ideas on the table.  Again, without you this site would just be one crankypants posting pictures of alternate Mets caps.

Thanks for this indulgence, your support is appreciated, now back to complaining about black uniforms and plexiglass.

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Good yet scary stuff from Mets Merized….

We’ve Had Jason Bay Before; His Name Was Kevin McReynolds

You kids don’t remember but we once had this fun homegrown player named Kevin Mitchell.  Kevin was a big solid guy who had no business playing SS but Davey Johnson didn’t give a rats-tail and would stick him there when Sid Fernandez pitched because Sid threw fly balls.   Some days Mitchell would play third, sometimes in the OF.

Mitchell was sent packing because the team felt he was a bad influence on Gooden and Strawberry.   Mitchell wound up winning an MVP and we know how the other two turned out.

Anyway…the player in return was Kevin McReynolds.  I remember at the time thinking the Mets had acquired a good player (even though I was bothered that Mitchell left, I liked our homegrown core).  I hope Bay isn’t McReynolds because Kevin ws one of those stat-accumulators who never really made a difference….and kids, that’s why you’ve probably never heard of him.

Some more shots from the Media Goon.

Share your shots: pictures@metspolice.com

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Today’s average Mets fan is JMP who comments here on the site somewhat regularly.

When did you become a Mets fan?
1. I really started getting into the Mets in the summer of 1985, during the NL East race with the Cardinals. I remember being at one of the late season losses to the Cards, leaving with a sinking feeling I’ve known all too well in the years since.

Favorite memory?
2. Do I have to pick just one?

I remember getting a call from a friend who had season tickets the afternoon of September 17, 1986, asking if I wanted to go to the game that night — and coming home with a piece of sod.

I remember staying up late for what seemed like endless games against the Astros in the 1986 NLCS, followed by the despair of the top of the 10th of game 6 of the World Series before the euphoria of the bottom of the 10th.

I remember sitting in the back of the upper deck for game 5 of the 1999 NLCS, barely leaving the edge of my seat throughout extra innings until Ventura hit his grand slam single.

Then again, there are those sentimental moments in the down years when I can understand what my parents and grandparents went through as Brooklyn Dodger fans. The Wilpons may not be aiming for it, but the Mets have become the living embodiment of the old Dodger mantra of “wait ’til next year.”

Worst memory?

3. As good as it is to understand how my parents and grandparents felt as Dodger fans, any time I really end up feeling as they perpetually did is a bad moment. Watching the Mets blow leads at the ends of the 2007 and 2008 seasons ranks right up there.

If you could change one off-field item?


4. I’d get rid of Jeff Wilpon, Omar, and the entire conditioning staff. Between them, they are responsible for almost all of the team’s recent ills, and I do mean ills.

If you owned the team…


5. I wouldn’t be afraid to admit that every so often there will need to be a rebuilding period. It seems that every time the Mets go into decline, it’s marked by major free agent signings and trades, each of which is touted as the way to bring the team back to contention. It never works, but usually drains the farm system enough to further delay real success. Everything flows from having a coherent long term strategy…

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