Hey who wouldn’t want a Pro Standard New York Mets Royal 1986 World Series Double City Pink Undervisor Snapback Hat

Wow this is something you could describe as unbelievable.  It’s hard for me to imagine this being true.  I mean I want to be fair to the Athletic and their history of good journalism, I find their stories to be accurate, but the thought that the Mets could conceivably be partaking in behavior outside the rules?  What kind of person would do such a thing?

MLB is looking into whether the owners of the Mets and Yankees, Steve Cohen and Hal Steinbrenner, communicated improperly about Judge, The Athletic reported late Wednesday night……

MLB is now investigating whether that could be a possible violation of the collective bargaining agreement, which states “Clubs shall not act in concert with other Clubs,” with regard to the dispersal of information on player contracts. (Via NY Post summary)

What’s crazier is that if the story is true, Steve himself could conceivably have been involved!  Can you imagine such a thing?  I look forward to learning more about this story and MLB’s investigation.  One might hope the Mets don’t have to pay some sort of administrative fine to make this whole thing go away, so we can get back to focusing on baseball!

 

Big soccer fans like you have to be excited about the new 25,000 seat soccer stadium coming to Queens, right across from Citi Field!  It’s even official and stuff.

According to the New York Times the project even includes the long elusive affordable housing!

…. a 23-acre project that includes a 250-room hotel and 2,500 units of housing. Officials say the project would be the city’s largest development of entirely affordable housing since the Mitchell-Lama developments of the 1970s. (via NY Times)

And even more shocking…

The soccer team will pay for the entire construction of the stadium, which is estimated to cost $780 million, city officials said. Neither tax-exempt bond financing nor direct city capital infusions will be used,

,,,. The developers are not getting abatements on mortgage recording or sales taxes, he said. But the stadium owners will not have to pay real estate taxes for the duration of the lease. (via NY Times)

Surely some part of this must be horrible to Mets fans…well yes, the development company…you know them as The Wilpons.

So for boycotters, I’d better not see you guys at any soccer games.

Oh, enjoy the parking situation when the Mets and the NYCFCs play on the same night.

Overall though, kinda cool.  Good for MLS.  Good for the NYCFCs.  Good for Queens.  Better than ugly chop shops.

Maybe even big time soccer aficionado Mike Piazza can rally some supporters to hit up a game!

Full details in the New York Times.

A super-official announcement is expected today.

 

 

Hey congrats Buck…

Which is nice and all but let me remind you, the idea is to win the World Series

Buck did do a good job but second place is first loser

Did the Braves do just an incredible job hunting down the Mets? Sure! And isn’t THAT a case for manager of the year

And look, I’m not mad he won. I like Buck. He was the right hire. The Mets had a great summer.

I’m just killing time in a car in the rain waiting to pick up my kid. However, I do like to give you guys things to think about in opposition to the tendency to just be like Yay Mets Anything.

The Mets have sent out this snazzy press release!

BUCK SHOWALTER NAMED NL MANAGER OF THE YEAR

 

FLUSHING, N.Y., November 15, 2022 – New York Mets manager Buck Showalter tonight was named the 2022 National League Manager of the Year by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA).

 

Showalter received eight of 30 first place votes, tied for the most first place votes any candidate earned, and garnered 77 of a possible 150 voting points. He is the first Mets manager to win the award, which was established in 1983. This is the fourth Manager of the Year award for Showalter and his first in the NL. He also won the award in 1994 with the Yankees, 2004 with the Rangers and in 2014 with the Orioles. Showalter’s four Manager of the Year awards are tied for the most in the award’s history with Bobby Cox and Tony La Russa. In addition, he is one of eight managers to win the award in both leagues, joining Cox, La Russa, Lou Piniella, Jim Leyland, Bob Melvin, Davey Johnson and Joe Maddon.

 

“This is a well-deserved honor,” Mets Owner, Chairman and CEO Steve Cohen said. “There is no doubt Buck had the players’ respect and they played hard for him. He is one of the sharpest minds in the game and he builds a winning culture.”

 

Showalter is the first manager in Mets history to record 100 or more victories in his first season with the club and joined Yogi Berra as the only managers to guide both the Mets and Yankees into the playoffs. Showalter has managed four teams to the Postseason. He is the fourth manager to accomplish that feat in major league history, joining Dusty Baker (five teams) and Billy Martin and Johnson (four teams).

 

“Buck poured every ounce of himself into making the Mets better on a daily basis,” Mets General Manager Billy Eppler said. “I’m thrilled the voters recognized what I got to witness every day this season.”

 

Showalter led the Mets to a 101-61 record in his first season at the helm in New York. The 101 wins were the second-most in franchise history behind only the 1986 club (108 wins). He owns a 1,652-1,578 career record as a manager. His 1,652 wins place him 19th all-time in major league history and third among active managers behind Baker and Terry Francona.

 

The Mets won 24 more games in 2022 than the previous year, the largest improvement in franchise history for a full season under a new manager.

In other news…NYCFC is building a soccer stadium across from Citi Field and the Wilpons are involved. But it’s a long off-season so let’s deal with that story tomorrow.

 

METS CLAIM RHP STEPHEN RIDINGS

FLUSHING N.Y., November, 15, 2022 – The New York Mets announced today that the club has claimed right-handed pitcher Stephen Ridings [RIY-deengs] off waivers from the New York Yankees.

Ridings, 27, saw his first major league action in 2021 with the Yankees, making five relief appearances and posting a 1.80 ERA (1 ER/5.0 IP) with seven strikeouts and two walks.

The Huntington, New York native spent the entire 2022 season on the 60-day Injured List with a right shoulder impingement and threw 2.0 scoreless innings with four strikeouts across two rehab outings in September.

In 71 outings (19 starts) across five minor league seasons with the Cubs, Royals and Yankees organizations, the 6-foot, 8-inch righty is 12-8 with a 4.19 ERA (67 ER/144.0 IP) and 204 strikeouts.