The Mets Police

As you may have heard, former New York Mets player and manager Bobby Valentine is running for mayor of Stamford.  I have no dog in this fight other than I run a blog and I like Bobby V content.  The below came my way.

I don’t believe I have ever met Bobby.  I think I was in his restaurant once with Matt Cerrone.  (Is that where we went Matt?)   I welcome any content from Bobby’s team they’d like to submit because I love off-season filler

Apparently Mr. Valentine was quoted as saying, “There’s no chance of a 35-year-old girl who grew up in a private setting, going to a private school in Greenwich, Connecticut, could possibly relate to the diverse culture of Stamford, Connecticut, better than I do, no matter what the age is,” Valentine said. “It’s an absolute impossibility in my mind.” – per the New York Post quoting the AP.

 

Tue. Oct. 26, 2021

CarolineSimmonsForMayor@gmail.com

Statement on Valentine’s Misogynistic Comments

STAMFORD, Conn. — Following disparaging comments from Bobby Valentine in a story published by the Associated Press, Democratic Mayoral Candidate Caroline Simmons shared the following statement:

“Seven days from now we will elect our next Mayor. I’m running for Mayor to make Stamford a better place for you and your family. To fix our infrastructure, invest in our schools, champion small businesses and job growth, and make our city a more affordable, equitable, and responsive place for all residents. Voters have a clear choice in this election.

Just this afternoon, Bobby Valentine said there’s no chance ‘a 35-year-old-girl’ could possibly relate to the people of Stamford better than he does. His misogynistic comments are offensive to all women and girls in our city and we cannot stand for his demeaning remarks — whether it is to people who were not born here, people who can’t afford to own here, or women pursuing their dreams here.

None of us should be surprised Bobby said this. He’s been showing us who he is — over and over — throughout this campaign.

He told a private gathering ‘if you’re not owning, you’re not caring’ and said that people who rent their home in Stamford are ‘not leaving the community better than when they got here.’ Half of Stamford residents rent their home.

When asked at a recent debate about racial inequities in our schools, Bobby said he ‘isn’t educated in the matter’ and that he still had some ‘research’ to do.

The New York Times quoted Bobby last week talking about what his friends told him when he was thinking of running Mayor. Bobby said: ‘I was told there was no way of winning in Stamford, Connecticut because the voters were dumb and they were lazy.’ Dumb and lazy? Stamford voters are smart and dedicated to our community and I’m proud of our talented and diverse community.

This is what is at stake in this election. I’m working hard each and every day to win because I want all Stamford residents to be represented by our next mayor. Our city has come too far to accept these out-of-touch and demeaning comments from the past.”

The name won’t register with most of you, but a decade ago when the Mets cared about bloggers, I got to spend a decent amount of time with Shannon Forde.  As you see in EVERY article you read about her, she was good people.

In a ceremony on Nov. 14, Forde will be among the 2021 class inducted into the New York State Baseball Hall of Fame, headquartered in Clifton Park, New York.

Shannon Forde of Little Ferry, who worked for Mets’ media relations, will be remembered for her smile.

“I’m sure she would be overjoyed, but at the same time all the attention might be tough for her to deal with,’’ Darling said of Forde, who at age 44 lost her battle with breast cancer in March 2016.

“She never sought confirmation of her greatness as a human being, but I’m glad she’s getting this honor,’’ Darling, who has carved a standout broadcast career as a baseball analyst, said recently by phone. “And it allows her family to enjoy in it.’’  (via North Jersey)

 

Among the many things I remember Shannon for – when the Mets did the green alts one spring she asked me if I wanted one, and went to the Team Store and grabbed one for me (which I paid for when I saw her in person).  That was a very nice thing to do.

We miss you!

Bob Melvin.  His name has come up several times as Mets manager, most notably when they chose Terry Collins.

He is 59, has managed 18 seasons, and is attached to the A’s.  Every rumor about Mets hiring seems to have some sort of A’s component to it.

Two rival execs made the point that Melvin may have been regarded as a puppet for Beane when he was hired 11 years ago, at a time before just about all organizations followed the Moneyball GM’s lead in getting involved in decision-making regarding lineups, bullpen usage, etc.

But both were quick to say that he has long since overcome any such stigma.

“He’s established himself and balanced his relationship with the front office,” one said. “Players love playing for him.” (via Yahoo)

The only issue is Melvin is under contract.   Steve would have to find a way to get Melvin free….but Steve has money.  Or maybe we could trade Pete Alonso for Bob Melvin.  I would.

I think this is the choice, because in the end, don’t the New York Mets aspire to be the Oakland A’s?

Bob Melvin. Will this guy manage the Mets? Probably.

From the New York Times… good to see baseball is doing great, and almost as popular as international soccer.

And yet The Baseball Mafia is probably talking about how great the World Series was (I wrote this yesterday), and still thinks the game has Superstars who are within 100 miles of Reggie Jackson’s popularity.

Personally I am looking forward to the upcoming lockout because sometimes things have to get worse before they can get better.  For example, a million inches of rain in New York City might encourage someone to discuss The Climate Emergency which is in the 10th inning with a ghost runner on second.

In a world where a sport’s status can be measured on social media and in endorsement dollars, it is basketball icons like LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry, football heroes like Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes and even international soccer stars who captivate the American imagination and dominate the public discourse, the way (Reggie) Jackson did in the 1970s and ’80s.

On the list of the most followed sports Instagram accounts, the first baseball player is Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels at No. 130, with 1.9 million followers.

There are 25 basketball players and nine football players ahead of Trout on the Instagram list. The account for U.F.C., a mixed martial arts organization, ranks sixth, and W.W.E., a staged wrestling competition, is seventh. Major League Baseball’s general account is 33rd, with 6.8 million followers.

There have been some baseball announcers who became  World Series winning baseball managers.  Bob Brenly worked the 2000 World Series for FOX before winning the 2001 series as the Diamondbacks’ manager.  Joe Torre was good in the booth before returning to the dugout for Saint George.

So why not Gary Cohen?

Gary has seen as much Mets baseball as anyone this last three decades, and that wealth of knowledge from Keith and Ron must have rubbed off on him.

Gary has proven himself to be a good evaluator of talent – for example, he was quick to identify the holes in Daniel Murphy’s game.

Gary clearly knows how to handle the media, and is a well known face to Mets fans.   What a great story this would be, the tale of the kid who made it from the Upper Deck to winning the 2022 World Series as manager.

Unfortunately, I think Gary is content to sit in the booth and accumulate more seasons as he heads towards Cooperstown and a Ford Frick Award.  You can ask Gary yourself at the Queens Baseball Convention on November 13th.

Will Gary Cohen manage the Mets? No.