The Mets Police

A friend sent this over (thanks friend) – if you have access to The Atlantic

(I guess I do via the NY Times subscription) it’s good article about how analytics ruined everything, but in this case lets focus on baseball.

Singles have swooned to record lows, and hits per game have plunged to 1910s levels. In the century and a half of MLB history covered by the database Baseball Reference, the 10 years with the most strikeouts per game are the past 10. (link)

Wow I knew to the eyeball test that things were bad, but NINETEEN TEN LEVELS?  THE DEAD BALL ERA??????

If you have access, I highly encourage you read this.  They nailed it here…..

In baseball, winning the World Series is a finite game, while growing the popularity of Major League Baseball is an infinite game. What happened, I think, is that baseball’s finite game was solved so completely in such a way that the infinite game was lost. (via The Atlantic

)

….

I did not watch last night’s game, after all, baseball is boring, but the boxscore tells me the game was played in a comparatively-“fast” three hours and 18 minutes.

Meanwhile, as much as I praise the NFL and plan on watching for 7 hours – some great games, I am looking forward to Bill Belichick hanging a 50 on the Jets (ugh, Iron Eagle is calling the game – back to that in a second) – and as a 49ers fan I am fascinated by their whole “are they good? Do they suck?” Jekyll & Hyde routine – 49ers/Rams at 4pm.

OK as for Iron Eagle – when he debuted on WFAN many moons ago he would say “Ian Eagle with an Eye on Sports” which is the worst hackiest thing a person could say.   So I haven’t been a fan since day one.

Along the way, people who like basketball say he’s good at calling basketball.  I don’t watch basketball so I will accept their premise.  Also he seems to be well liked.

However, he is terrible at calling the NFL.   I want you to pay attention to this today – he screams every play.

A sweep to the right ends with OUT OF BOUNDS THIRD DOWN AND SIXXXXXXX FOR THE JETS!!!!!

Maybe switch over to Jim Nantz calmly calling a game. Modulating his voice of course, when appropriate, but not yelling every play.

Then I want you to watch Mike Tirico tonight calmly call a game.  Modulating his voice of course, when appropriate, but not yelling every play.

Now let’s take it up a notch.

I want you to watch Joe Buck tomorrow night….calmly working play by play into the conversation. Modulating his voice of course, when appropriate, but not yelling every play.

Finally, your masters course.  On Thursday, I want you to watch Uncle Al Michaels, calmly working play by olay into the conversation. Modulating his voice of course, when appropriate, but not yelling every play.

Iron Eagle’s style is better suited for hockey where a SHOT AND A SAVE!!!!!  or CHECKED INTO THE BOARDS!!!! every two seconds is appropriate, as is that staccato style of just yelling our player names with no other words around them.

For football, hard pass.  I know how unpopular this opinion is, because the Iron Eagle Mafia is almost as strong as The Baseball Mafia.  But I am here to speak truth to unpopular opinions.  Watch the game and tell me I am wrong.

 

It’s that annual time of year where no news happens during the playoffs….more caps for you.

Dear Baseball,

Who is this sport for right now?

I guess fans of the 6 seed are excited, and Joe Davis probably has family in Los Angeles but…

..as I squint at the box score this morning I see time of game 4:35. Did this game really end at 12:35am?

Who is this for?

Now someone is going to point out that playoff games have been ending past midnight for decades now. Yea, I ageee

And do you think the sport is more popular now?

Do you notice the younger millennials and all of Gen-Z don’t care about this sport?

So yes, games have been ending past midnight and guess what – you lost a generation a half.

But now you’re losing the Me people. Generation X, and maybe we ain’t that young any more. I didn’t look at one pitch and have no intention of watching the 6 seed play The Cheaters.

Meanwhile I watched MNF, TNF and will watch at least 7 hours of Red Zone tomorrow. I like my new tv and I like sports. I might even put on some soccer now.

But you plod along with your 4 hour games? Dialing past midnight, with little action and the baseball mafia declaring every game an instant classic because the score changes late. Well if so, the NFL has about five instant classics in the 1pm window alone every week

This is all so broken. Baseball used to be good. Last night even the mlb twitter account seemed excited about a hit and run – that made me laugh – wait, so we don’t want to just Launch Angle this thing and wait for a home run? (By the way remember that time Judge hit 62? Unforgettable, right? Who did he hit it against again? Anyone remember?).

Enjoy your sport. I have better things to do, including going to bed. I hope the west coast enjoyed the game.

I realize this looks like I clicked on it and the image faded because of that but nope….that is what it looks like.

 

NEW YORK METS ANNOUNCE 2022 METSGIVING INITIATIVES

Through five events over the holiday season, the Amazin’ Mets Foundation will team up with 15 partners with the hopes to impact over 10,000 community members across all five boroughs.

 

FLUSHING, N.Y., October 27, 2022 – The New York Mets will once again host their MetsGiving initiatives, a series of programs in November and December that focuses on helping the community during the holiday season. The events include food and coat drives, a turkey giveaway, a holiday shopping spree and a holiday party for kids. There will also be appearances by Mets players, front office staff, corporate partners and fans, all working together to give back and help those underserved in the community.

Tuesday, November 15 – Annual Food Drive

Mets Team Store at Citi Field – 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. 

The Mets are hosting their annual Food Drive on November 15 to benefit the New York Common Pantry in the Mets Team store at Citi Field. Fans are encouraged to bring all types of canned and packaged goods (no glass containers or perishable foods) and enjoy a special appearance by Mr. Met. Fans donating at least 10 non-perishable items will receive one voucher redeemable for two tickets to a select Mets home game in 2023 (excluding Opening Day and the Subway Series). For more information and a list of most needed food items, visit mets.com/fooddrive.

Friday, November 18 – Eighth Annual Turkey Giveaway

The Mets will host their eighth annual MetsGiving Turkey Giveaway on November 18 to distribute over 5,500 turkeys to those in need ahead of Thanksgiving, working with a total of 11 community partners throughout New York City to distribute the turkeys. There will be in-person distributions in each borough at The River Fund of New York in Queens, New York Common Pantry in Manhattan, Part of the Solution in the Bronx, Project Hospitality in Staten Island and Maimonides Park in Brooklyn.

Wednesday, December 7 – 16th Annual Coat Drive

Mets Team Store at Citi Field – 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

The Mets are teaming up with New York Cares for the 16th Annual Mets “Warm-Up” Holiday Coat Drive on December 7.Mets personnel and New York Cares volunteers will collect donations to keep those in need warm during the cold winter months in New York. Fans bringing a new or gently used winter coat will receive one voucher redeemable for two tickets to a select Mets home game in 2023. Coats will be distributed by Together We Can in Queens. Further details can be found at mets.com/coatdrive.

Tuesday, December 13 – Fourth Annual Holiday Shopping Spree

Queens Boulevard Target in Elmhurst – TBD 

The Mets are hosting their fourth annual Holiday Shopping Spree presented by Delta Air Lines on December 13. The Mets will surprise underserved children in the community with a shopping spree at Target. Each child will be paired with a member of the Mets organization or a Delta volunteer, who will help them shop for toys and other items for themselves on their wish list, using gift cards donated by the Mets.

Thursday, December 15 – Kids Holiday Party

Piazza Club at Citi Field – 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

The Mets will host more than 125 students from local Title 1 schools in Queens for the annual Kids Holiday Party at Citi Field on December 15. These students will enjoy games, lunch and participate in holiday crafts, while also receiving gifts and a special visit from Santa and his elves. Mets players participating in the event will be announced at a later date.