Category: mets

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Citi Storm Coming Mets Way

Hey Mets, I warned you Monday to get out in front of this one.  Return the $20M for the first year (take it on the back end) and make some “noble” statement about jobs and the economy and the holidays blah blah.
 
There’s a PR storm coming, and it’s going to wind up being something like “Mets Pay Big Free Agent $20M in Bailout Funds, Citigroup lays off 50,000 at Christmas.”
 
Here’s a roundup of today’s stormwatch:
 
 
Two New York City Council members say that Citigroup should show its thanks for a federal bailout by sharing the naming rights to the new Mets ballpark in Queens.
 
 

Here is what CFO Gary Crittendon had to say about it Monday on CNBC:

“That was a decision made in a different time. We have binding legal agreements… I don’t think it’s an issue.”

 

So let’s follow the money here: The government gives funds to Citigroup, who is now better able to make an annual payment to the Mets. Sounds a bit like a new taxpayer subsidy for the Mets, who are already receiving government subsidies for building their stadium.

 

Yes Gary, it is impossible to renegotiate any contract with a partner in trouble.   It has never been done.

 
 
That $20 million per year – which, by the way, the Mets don’t seem all that eager to invest in the free-agent market despite another dismal late-season collapse – is coming out of your paycheck and mine, funneled through the federal government to the failed executives of Citigroup, and ultimately winds up in Fred Wilpon’s pocket.

This amounts to not only the worst kind of corporate welfare, with no punishments meted out and no strings attached, it also adds up to 20 years of free advertising for a bank with nothing to brag about but a vault full of fail.

 
This is just the latest chapter in two sorry histories, the first being that of the U.S. banking industry and the second being that of the New York Mets.

For all the hand-wringing about the way the Yankees go about their business, it is really the Mets, the “little brothers” in town, who are the most fan-hostile organization in New York sports.

 
 
Those are the words of Wallace Matthews.  Amen brother!
 
 
 
 
 

Please visit www.metspolice.com and help stop black uniforms.
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Who is #41?

Man we're getting old. The cool chick in the office (she likes baseball and Galactica, although she's a Bosox fan) comes into my office and admires the photo I have up. It's two baseball players standing on a pitchers mound with their backs to us. The younger one wears #31 and she immediately recognized him.

She asks me, "Who's 41?"

I couldn't believe it. Who's 41???? Tom Seaver!

She wasn't impressed. The name meant nothing to her.

"He was even on the Sox. He was sitting in your dugout when you lost in 1986!"

She just said, "I was five" and left.

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Please visit www.metspolice.com and help stop black uniforms.
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Kindred Spirit (link)

A kindred spirit wonders if the Mets will lose their identity at Citi Field:

It seriously makes me sick. We are the New York METS, not the dodgers!
And we even have the fabulous “Jackie Robinson Rotunda” to view when we enter our new state of the art facility.
No disrespect to number 42, but what on earth does he have to do with the METS!?!?

Los Dodgers 2.0

Please visit www.metspolice.com and help stop black uniforms.
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Why Are Citi Field Ticket Prices A State Secret?

(I’m writing this on Monday afternoon so if the Mets have updated their website between now and then, fine they got me.)

Why are the ticket prices at Citi Field a state secret?

Sure we’ve heard some anecdotal evidence from Mushnick and a few others, mainly from folks who are renewing their ticket plans.

A visit to Mets.com provides absolutely zero information.   I can leave a deposit for $250 for a partial-plan, but that seems insane to do, there’s no mention of how many games I would get or where the seats are.  What if the Mets offer me the one-game behind a pole plan?

There is of course a link to Stubhub, the official home of MLB scalping.   I can tell you the cheapest listed ticket for Opening Night is $189.   Nearly two hundred bucks to sit outside on a cold April night.  Heaven forbid they play a day game.

Please visit www.metspolice.com and help stop black uniforms.
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Ticket Plan Rumor

Loge 13 says there will be 40 game plans and 15 game plans.

While Loge is excited about it, I’m not.  I liked my 7 game plan and it was hard enough to make the 7.   Oh well.

Meanwhile in the Bronx , looks like 11 games is the minimum.

Please visit www.metspolice.com and help stop black uniforms.