The Mets have learned not to give their players the jinx, although Soto Claus would be a baller move.

The Mets will host more than 125 Queens students during the annual Kids Holiday Party at Citi Field from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Students from local elementary schools will enjoy games, lunch and participate in holiday crafts, while also receiving gifts, new winter coats and a special visit from Santa and his elves.

RHP Reed Garrett, Mets Alumni Todd Zeile and Mr. and Mrs. Met will be handing out presents to the children and participate in the festivities.

The Amazin’ Mets Foundation funded a grant to Operation Warm to provide 1,000 new coats to New Yorkers in need this winter season. Students attending the Kids Holiday Party will each receive a coat from Operation Warm.

I’d like to thank the Mets for inviting me this year.  I have had a nice time in the past when I was able to attend.  As you can tell from how little I have been posting, I have been extreeeeeeemly busy lately.

In a recent episode of The Simpsons, Mr. Burns quest to replace parkland with a casino got a major boost. Borough President Donovan Richards gave his approval to the $8 billion casino and entertainment complex plan on Monday, putting Mr. Burns one step closer to getting city approval for the project.

Richards, as expected, gave his thumbs-up not necessarily because of the supposed economic windfall but because of the perks Mr. Burns promised for the local community. “Casinos don’t always deliver the long-term success their supporters promise,” Richards admitted, “but this plan includes features that could really benefit the community.”

Oh.

I see.  THIS is the casino that will work out.  Atlantic City sure did.

The Queens Daily Eagle let us know, at a Borough Hall hearing, 43 out of 56 speakers were all in on the casino, citing the community benefits. But when Richards’ office asked for feedback via letters, the response was much colder: 70 out of 73 letters opposed the plan, mostly over concerns about gambling addiction and giving public land (designated as parkland) to a billionaire developer.  But Mr. Burns signed a big time free agent because he’s smarter than your average bozo who thinks casinos benefit the community.

AND if I understand correctly, the state legislature needs to approve a “parkland alienation” bill, letting Burns build on what is  public parkland.  That could get tricky: State Senator Jessica Ramos, whose district includes the parkland, has said she won’t support it.

As I understand things, even if Mr. Burns secures the parkland bill, he needs to get past a community advisory committee and win over the state’s Gaming Commission, which is handing out three casino licenses for the region. With plenty of competition—including a rival bid for a Bronx casino—the final decision likely won’t come until late 2025.

But hey, maybe some politicians and gaming commissioners would like to come see Soto play baseball. Maybe they find themselves in a skybox with Mr. Burns. There are many reasons to own a baseball team, and winning the World Series isn’t one of them.  Trophies are for suckers.  Casinos are how the rich get richer.

INT. JERRY’S APARTMENT – DAY

Jerry: So, are you done?

Steve: (confused) What do you mean done?

Jerry: You know, done. Are you finished?

Steve: (getting it) Oh, you mean am I done signing players?

Jerry: Yeah, I mean sure you got Soto, but are you going to do anything else?

Steve: (smirking) Jerry, why would I do anything else?

Jerry: I don’t know, maybe to win the World Series for a change?

Steve: (leaning back, very pleased with himself) Jerry, you don’t get it. These idiots LOVE me.

Jerry: (skeptical) Love you?

Steve: I sign Soto and leak that we’re retiring David Wright’s number, and suddenly everyone forgets we finished third last year!

Jerry: But don’t you want to actually win something?

Steve: (laughing) Win? Jerry, we sold more tickets last week than we have in years. Why would I spend any more money?  I’ve already won.

Jerry: So that’s it? Soto and a retired number?

Steve: (grinning) And don’t forget the Grimace! People are still talking about that!

Jerry: (incredulous) You’re telling me your master plan is to just… do nothing?

Steve: Not nothing, Jerry. We’re very “in” on several players.

Jerry: But you’re not actually going to sign them.

Steve: (standing up proudly) Nope! And the best part? The fans will still blame the players for not wanting to come to New York!

[Kramer bursts in wearing a “Soto & Wright & That’s Alright” t-shirt]

Kramer: Hey Steve, when are the Wright number retirement tickets going on sale?

Steve: (winking at Jerry) See what I mean?

[The scene fades out as Jerry shakes his head in disbelief]

Before we begin today, let me say I am here to support Soto.  Any time you can acquire the best player available that’s a good thing.  If he can spell LGM with three letters not four, and if he can avoid telling the fans to go to hell like the other guy did, I will support him.

I will remind you guys that sometimes players get off to slow stars, so maybe don’t boo the guy in April like you did with the other guy.

So if he isn’t vulgar and he likes the fans, he can bat .185 and I will support him.  On to today’s main topic:  Does Juan Soto know anything about the Mets?

I propose to you that Juan Soto did zero research, and this actually is about the money.

Some quotes from Mr. Soto, along with my comments:

 

“It’s been a Mets town for a long time,” “I think we just got to bring it to the top. Championships are going to tell you if it’s a Yankees or a Mets town at the end of the day.

WHAT?  Dude you were ON the Yankees and you think this is a Mets town?  Did you mean to say this HASN’T BEEN A METS TOWN FOR A LONG TIME.  The Yankees have owned this town since 1996.  There was that 5 year period in the 80s when this was Mets town.  That’s it.    In the first half 90s it wasn’t even a baseball town. it was Knicks Town (and somewhat Rangers town).

Now, sure, if the Mets win a few World Series, this will be a Mets town for a while.  And eventually it will revert to being a Yankees town.  This is a Knicks Town, it is a Rangers Town, it is a Giants Town.  It is also a town of Frontrunners, some of whom spent five summers in Shea Stadium once.

This hasn’t been a Mets town since Keith Hernandez went to Cleveland.

 

 

““The Mets is a great organization and what they have done in the past couple — showing the ability to grow a team, grow a dynasty — is one of the the most important things,””

I’m sorry, what?  Was he impressed by the third place finish?   Maybe 2023’s 75 win team?   The last time the Mets finished over .500 four seasons in a row was 2005-2008.  The last time they finished over .500 TWO seasons in a row was 2015-16.   They were 29 games out of first place in 2023, and 6 games out in 2024..

What are you talking about Juan?  Juan YOU PLAYED IN THE WORLD SERIES FOR THE YANKEES TWO MONTHS AGO.  WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT????  How could you play FOR the Yankees and think this is a Mets town?

Also, Steve apparently said that he intends to win “two to four’ World Series over the next decade.  While that may be realistically optimistic, it is a losers mentality.  I expect the Mets to win TEN championships in the next ten years.  Anything else is a failure.   Mindset, Steve. Mindset.

Nobody cold tell the guy to wear blue?  That black under the pretty uniform was jarring.

A reminder that the press releases seem to always refer to Mets owners Steve AND Alex Cohen.  Remember that.

Nice to see proper number font back.

 

My friends the Mets would like you to know the below.  But before that let me just say any time you can and do sign the best player available, that’s a good thing.

Also of note, in almost all if not ALL press releases the Mets owners are Steve AND ALEX, so please remember that if she gets credit for this, be sure to give her grief sometime in the future when the team loses 103 games.

This is a fun phrase I will be sure to make fun of into my 70s: consistent championship competitiveness,

And a note to you guys – should Soto be batting .224 with 1 HR on April 23rd, don’t boo him.  You guys have a tendency to do that.  You booed the last guy and turned him into a monster.

Oh, and finally, this is year five of Steve (and I guess Alex’s) five year hope/plan/promise to win a championship in three to five years.

“If I don’t win a World Series in the next three to five years – I’d like to make it sooner – I would consider that slightly disappointing,” (said in November 2020)

Wow did he actually say “I don’t win” and not we?  Fascinating.

And Juan…it’s Let’s Go Mets. Please for the love of Gil just give us a LGM with no extra letters.

METS SIGN FOUR-TIME ALL-STAR JUAN SOTO

 

FLUSHING, N.Y., December 11, 2024 – The New York Mets today announced that the club has signed outfielder Juan Soto to a 15-year major league contract with a club option and contingent player opt-out after the 2029 season.

“This is a seminal moment in franchise history,” Mets Owners Steve and Alex Cohen said. “Juan Soto is a generational talent. He is not only bringing staggering historical statistics with him but also a championship pedigree. Our Amazin’ fan base is very excited to welcome Juan to Queens.   Congratulations, Juan.”

“Today’s signing further solidifies our organizational commitment to consistent championship competitiveness,” said Mets President of Baseball Operations, David Stearns. “Not only does Juan provide historic levels of on field production, but his joy, intensity, and passion for the game mirror our budding culture. We are thrilled to add him to our team and look forward to watching his excellence for years to come.”

Over a seven-year major league career with the New York Yankees, San Diego Padres and Washington Nationals, Soto has posted a .285/.421/.532 slashline with 655 runs, 179 doubles, 15 triples, 201 home runs, 592 RBI, 57 steals and a 36.4 career bWAR in 936 games. He has won the Silver Slugger Award five times (2020-24), finished in the top 10 in MVP voting five times (2019-21, 2023-24) and won the National League batting title after batting .351 (54-154) in 2020. In addition, the four-time All-Star (2021-24) was the winner of the 2022 Home Run Derby.

Since he made his major league debut on May 15, 2018, Soto leads the major leagues in walks (769), times on base (1,719) and on-base percentage (.421), and ranks fourth in OPS (.953), sixth in RBI (592) and seventh in both SLG (.532) and home runs (201).

The native of the Dominican Republic has led MLB in free passes three times in his career 2023 – (132), 2022 (135) and 2021 (145). He became the first player to lead the major leagues in three straight seasons since Barry Bonds did so in four straight seasons from 2001-04. Soto has recorded at least 100 walks in five of his six 162-game seasons (2019, 2021-24). He joins Babe Ruth (10), Barry Bonds (10), Ted Williams (eight), Eddie Yost (seven) and Eddie Stanky (four) as one of six players in major league history to record at least 125 walks in four different seasons.

In 157 games with the Yankees last season, the outfielder batted .288/.419/.569 with 128 runs, 31 doubles, four triples, 41 home runs, 109 RBI and 129 walks. He ranked second in the majors in OBP (.419), walks (129) and runs (128), third in OPS (.989), fourth in SLG (.569) and home runs (41), sixth in bWAR (7.9), tied for sixth in RBI (109) and ninth in total bases (328). He set career highs in runs, hits (166), home runs, total bases and extra-base hits (76), all while finishing third in AL MVP voting.

The left-handed hitter has played 35 games at Citi Field and hit .333 (39-117) with 29 runs, six doubles, one triple, 12 homers, 26 RBI, 28 walks with a .466 OBP, a .709 SLG and a 1.175 OPS. On August 12, 2020, as a member of the Nationals, Soto belted the longest home run of his career at Citi Field, traveling 466 feet. That ranks as the fourth-longest home run at Citi Field in the Statcast era (since 2015).

The 26-year-old has appeared in 43 Postseason games and owns a .281/.389/.538 slashline with 31 runs, eight doubles, 11 home runs, 30 RBI, two steals with a .927 OPS. He was a member of the 2019 World Series Champion Washington Nationals, batting .333 (9-27) with six runs, two doubles, three home runs and seven RBI in the Fall Classic. In 2024, Soto played in 14 Postseason games, batting .327 (16-49) with 12 runs, three doubles, four home runs, nine RBI, 14 walks with a 1.101 OPS.

Originally signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Nationals on July 2, 2015, Soto made his major league debut with Washington at the age of 19 in 2018. He went on to hit .292/.406/.517 with 25 doubles, one triple, 22 home runs, 70 RBI and a .923 OPS to finish second in the National League Rookie of the Year ballot.