The Mets Police

Hmmm….I’m getting closer to my dream.  I wonder if they’d let me start a fight with A-Rod if I win…

(By the way I have like 6 posts stacked, figure something new every half hour all afternoon.  Lots going on all of a sudden.)

FLUSHING, N.Y., May 20, 2011 – The New York Mets today announced the launch of the “Honorary Captain” program Presented by Duane Reade, New York City’s largest drug store chain, giving fans the unique opportunity to be an honorary team captain and bring out the Mets lineup card before one of the Subway Series games July 1-3 at Citi Field. Fans can visit Duane Reade stores starting tomorrow to learn more information about the contest and register to win at duanereade.com or mets.com.

Winners of the “Honorary Captain” program Presented by Duane Reade will also receive four VIP tickets to one of the Subway Series games and a Mets jersey. The program is also sponsored by Precise, from the makers of Tylenol.

The Mets and Duane Reade will continue to reward fans this season every time the Mets hit two or more home runs in a game. Fans at Citi Field can show their ticket stub the following day at Duane Reade locations for special discounts throughout the season. Fans watching home or road games on SNY will also have the opportunity to participate by visiting SNY.tv to print out a coupon for the same discounts. This month, fans will receive $5 off any purchase of $25 or more. Over the course of 43 games this season, the Mets have hit two or more home runs 12 times. Last year, the Mets achieved that feat 31 times.

“This partnership brings together two iconic New York franchises that have been a part of the city’s fabric for decades,” said Dave Howard, Executive Vice President, Business Operations, Mets. “`The Honorary Captain’ program creates added excitement to the annual Subway Series, providing fans the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be a part of the game.” Continue reading “Mets honorary team captain program”

Shannon here.  Dan wrote this one (two wins ago) and I had planned to hold it until after the Subway Series, because I try to match the headspace of the readership, and it didn’t make sense to me to write a Doom & Gloom article after back to back shutouts and into the Subway Series.

Then, this crossed my newswire from the WSJ

Since 1996, just 9% of teams with a losing record on June 1 wound up with 90 wins, the number teams usually shoot for to make the playoffs, according to data crunched by The Wall Street Journal and Ben Alamar, founder of the Journal of Quantitative Analysis in Sports. During that early season period, the average correlation between a team’s win percentage on June 1 and its final winning percentage is 0.76. Statisticians consider that to be a very high correlation

I think that’s an article very well worth reading….and since the WSJ opened the can of worms, I might as well let Dan ruin your day.  Here’s Dan…

At this point even the most optimistic Mets fan would probably have to admit that the likelihood of a playoff spot this year is somewhat unlikely.  Me being a numbers guy wanted to know just how unlikely, so let’s look at the math.

Looking at data over the last 15 seasons (1996 was the first full season with the wild card), the Mets have had an average record of 20-19 through May 17th.  This year through May17th they are 19-22 – or 10% below their average.

Over the remaining games of the season they have averaged a 62-60 record, essentially the same rate as games through May 17th.  If that pattern held true this year the Mets would finish with a 75-87 record.

But wait Dan, they’ve underperformed so far, surely they are better than a .500 team.  Challenge accepted.

Let’s look at only those seasons where the Mets were below .500 as of May 17th and see how they did the rest of the way.  There were 5 such seasons (96,01,03,04, and 10).  Collectively in those years the Mets averaged 17-23 up to this point.  And you know what?  They weren’t as bad as that record would indicate.  The rest of the season they had an average improvement of 7%!  Of course that’s really not that much, and they still averaged under .500 ball the rest of the way.  (For the record that 7% avg. improvement was heavily driven by the 2001 team)

So what of this team.  Well, if we assume that this team will also show a 7% improvement for the rest of the season, they would finish the year at 79-83

One more from my home-made series. I’ve gotten better at making these so I might go back in and re-do this one at some point.

Anyways, here’s another episode of How I Met The Mets

Some new soulless merch for folks who want to pose as baseball fans.

Seems fun – and I see references to “former players” coming by, I’ll try to scrape up the info.

Madison Square Park and Delta Air Lines invite fans of New York baseball to upgrade their baseball experience at the “Delta Dugout,” an interactive three-day event celebrating the city’s two beloved teams. As the Official Airline of the New York Mets and New York Yankees, Delta is commemorating the iconic interleague series between the teams by hosting its second annual Delta Dugout at Madison Square Park, May 20-22, 2011. The event will feature player appearances, live game viewing, baseball-themed activities and giveaways.

The Delta Dugout schedule of events, May 20-22, includes:

Friday, May 20, 11AM – 10PM Opening Day

11am – 7pm: Gaming Village and Delta Sky360 Lounge: Batting Cages, Fast Pitch, Custom Photo Booth, Delta Destination Challenge, Plane-Ko, Silent Auction, Kids Corner, Dugout Trivia, Specialty Concessions, Giveaways.

7pm: Live Viewing of Yankees-Mets series opener with great giveaways, including travel packages from Delta, baseball gear and tickets to future Mets and Yankees games.

Saturday, May 21, 11AM – 10PM

Noon: Fast Pitch Challenge and Baseball Clinic with Joba Chamberlain & Home Run Derby Challenge and Baseball Clinic with Josh Thole.

11am-6pm: Gaming Village and Delta Sky360 Lounge: Batting Cages, Fast Pitch, Custom Photo Booth, Delta Destination Challenge, Plane-Ko, Silent Auction, Kids Corner, Dugout Trivia, Specialty Concessions, Giveaways.

3pm: Mr. Met Meet & Greet.

5:15pm: Bernie Williams Special Pre-game Concert.

7pm: Live Viewing of Yankees-Mets series, game two, with great giveaways, including travel packages from Delta, baseball gear and tickets to future Mets and Yankees games.

Sunday, May 22, 10AM – 4PM

11am: The 3rd Annual Fan Flair Challenge at the Delta Dugout with phenomenal giveaways to the “most spirited” outfitted Mets and Yankees fan including game tickets, baseball gear and more!

10am-4pm: Gaming Village and Delta Sky360 Lounge: Batting Cages, Fast Pitch, Custom Photo Booth, Delta Destination Challenge, Plane-Ko, Silent Auction, Kids Corner, Dugout Trivia, Specialty Concessions, Giveaways.

1pm: Live Viewing of Yankees-Mets series finale, with great giveaways, including travel packages from Delta, baseball gear and tickets to future Mets and Yankees games.

via Madison Square Park Conservancy – Keeping Madison Square Park a bright, beautiful and lively public park..