Category: Uncategorized

VERY interesting to me that the mets handed TC a pinstriped jersey and a blue cap.  Great hustle by Media Goon on this pic.

“I will do whatever it takes to win more games & we want to be the last team standing come next October.”

METS NAME TERRY COLLINS MANAGER

Former Angels and Astros Manager Signs Two-Year Contract with Club Option for 2013

FLUSHING, N.Y., November 23, 2010 – The New York Mets today named Terry Collins the club’s 20th Manager in franchise history.  Collins signed a two-year contract with a club option for 2013.  Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Collins spent six years as a major-league manager, leading the Anaheim Angels and Houston Astros to winning records and second-place finishes in his five full seasons.  He managed the Angels from 1997-1999 and the Astros from 1994-1996, compiling an overall record of 444-434 (.506).

Collins, 61, joined the Mets in 2010 as the Minor League Field Coordinator, overseeing all on-field aspects of the Mets Minor League Spring Training, mini-camps and the Fall Instructional League.  He was responsible for all phases of the Mets minor league operations including instruction, discipline and player and staff evaluations.  His career in baseball spans five decades.

“Terry’s a lifelong baseball man who comes with the entire package – leadership, preparation, emotional commitment, and the drive to win,” said Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson.  “We believe Terry’s knowledge of our players, energy, intelligence, intensity, and direct approach will make an immediate, positive impact both in the clubhouse and on the field.”

“I want to win and there is no doubt in my mind we have the talent to win,” said Collins. “I know from working firsthand with our prospects that this organization is filled with potential for the future.  It’s my job to help transform this team into the winner that our fans deserve, and I’m excited to get started.”

Collins also served as manager the Orix Buffaloes in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league from 2007-2008 and guided Team China in the 2009 World Baseball Classic to its first tournament victory.

He was the Director of Player Development for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2005-2006 after serving as the Dodgers Field Coordinator from 2002-2004.  He was the third base and bullpen coach for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2001, an advance scout with the Chicago Cubs in 2000, and the Pittsburgh Pirates bullpen coach from 1992-1993.

Collins managed 11 years in the minors from 1981-1991, including capturing the Pacific Coast League championship in 1987 with the Albuquerque Dukes.  He managed Buffalo from 1989-1991, when they were affiliated with Pittsburgh compiling a 246-186 (.569) record. The former shortstop played 10 seasons in the minors with the Dodgers from 1974-1978, 1980, 1984 and Pirates from 1971-1973.  Collins, a native of Midland, Mich., graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 1971 and was twice named to the NAIA Collegiate World Series All-Tournament team in 1968 and 1970.

Good morning Mets fans,

I promise there will be Mets content in this post before we get to the end.

A friend of mine regularly sends me socio-political emails and then gets mad at me when I don’t reply.  I have encouraged him to start a blog.   After all, who the hell am I?  I’m just a Mets fan who typed enough days in a row and I guess made a good point here and there.  Now it seems I am fortunate enough to be considered one of the “main” Mets blogs by whoever decides that (I guess you do, and thanks for reading).

A few years back, there was a polarizing radio host who would say “Your influence counts, use it!”  At the risk of losing some fans of the site here we go…

I find myself passionate about the TSA scans this morning.  I’m reading stories of pat-downs and strip searches and fines.   At one of the local transportation hubs this morning they were searching bags.

I’m a New Yorker.  I was here 9/11.  I knew people who died and I bet you did too.  None of us want to ever have anything like that happen again.

I know the people implementing these new rules are trying to keep us all safe.

I just find myself wondering what the heck we’re doing as a country?  Isn’t the slippery slope when you start to trade rights in the name of safety?

If you’d care to use the comments section that’s cool..let’s just try to avoid the words Democrat/Republican/Bush/Obama.  If you’re interested in the subject you may enjoy this article.

To my friend…there.  I just traded my “influence-capital” on something I felt passionate about.  I bet I lost a few readers.

Now to the Mets, and how I tie this all together…

I’m really enjoying the comments thread on Have The Mets Bloggers Sold Out?

It does bring to mind the question of what happens when you get to know the people you write about.   I think when you get to know someone you understand them better.  You may not agree, but you understand.

When Dave Howard and I catch that game together I’m going to ask about the obstructed views.   I will not at all be surprised if the answer is that 21st century fire codes forced some aspects of construction.   I have some follow-up points (Promenade Infield has a better design than the wings for example).   I feel I can have that discussion without being a rude anti-social jerk.

I fell the Mets have gotten to know ME better.   I had some real discussions when I went to the meet and greet.  I didn’t show up with a knife in my teeth looking to attack someone.  I assume that vibe made it way to Mr. Howard’s office and someone has decided that our hang will be more positive than negative.   I personally plan to send a draft of the post to Mr. Howard before I post it to make sure he thinks it is fair.  That’s my choice and not a condition.  It’s all about being civilized.

Part of the luck of having slightly more access is that this blog is better.  You and I get more information, better information, and we get it faster than before.

There’s a dialogue where YOU can ask Terry Collins a question.

Flushing is reading sites like this.   Your voice can be heard.  (Which reminds me Dave, the details for the 15 game plans are either overdue or really hidden on the website.)

This comment interested me:

Angry, impatient, intolerant Mets fans reflect our broader society – me-first, instant gratification, inability to heathfully cope with change and/or disappointment. I find it pretty sickening, actually – anger, petulance, and playing dirty has become acceptable social norm rewarded en masse, and we see that all the time in a very loud, vocal, dysfunctional subset of Mets fans who can’t seem to cope with anything that doesn’t go their way.

I think many are of younger generations growing up without checks and balances and appropriate boundaries – i.e., when is enough, enough and what it means to be gracious in defeat and deal with it without threats and temper-tandrums. This is the ugly downside of what instant communication technology has created – instant reinforcement of our lower selves via support of similar others.

Well said.  That’s why I’m With Terry.  sitting here and hoping for losses so I can be proved “right” about Backman would be crazy behavior.

There was more to the comment…and I had more of a reply:  Read here.

But none of that was why you came here.  Today is about Terry Collins.

I’m bummed the Mets didn’t check my Outlook calendar.  11am is a bad time for me today, which is blog-frustrating because I won’t get to see the press conference, and thus my opinions will be heavily influenced by what I read on the internet.

Hopefully the Mets will not invite any hockey players, and hopefully Terry has a good answer ready for the “lost the clubhouse” story.

Remember Mets fans, your influence does count.   If you are passionate about the Mets, I welcome guest posts.  I can be reached at [email protected]

Our first submission to the crap series…from scifisteel
Here’s a shirt I received as an xmas gift from my brother two years ago. Please note this is a color picture… At least the NY logo is present…

I’m a little suspicious of this one…the floor is awfully colorless too.

However, this shirt is crappy no matter what.