Posts

Posted on

Mets Flashback: Rusty’s Last Day in the Outfield

26 years ago today my brother and I headed out to Shea for what was supposed to be a nice Sunday afternoon game against the Pirates.  Some rookie named McDowell was starting, and the weather was a bit overcast, but we had great seats (Field Box 3rd base – who knows how I got them).

Almost 5 1/2 hours later we finally left after the Mets scored in the bottom of the 18th inning.  Along the way

  • Saw Keith Hernandez receive his Gold Glove (I was amazed – a Met was actually getting an award?)
  • Witnessed Daryl Strawberry hit his first career grand slam,
  • Chanted “Yogi” when we heard that he had been fired by the Yankees (around the third inning)
  • Watched the Mets go hitless for 10 innings.

But the memory that stands out most for me was watching Rusty Staub play in the outfield.  In the 12th inning, with nobody left on the bench, Davey Johnson was forced to use Staub in the field.  For seven innings Rusty would play either RF or LF depending on the batter.  He also ended up making the best defensive play of the game when he snowconed a soft liner hit by Pirates pitcher Rick Rhoden.  I didn’t know it at the time but that was the last game Rusty would play in the field.

As luck would have it, this was the first game that I took pictures – if you scroll over each picture it will tell you what was specifically happening in each one.

 

Posted on

Mets sent out gift cards to some plan holders

My brother in law showed me a letter from the Mets which says many words including

As mentioned in your 2011 renewal invoice letter, a limited number of Ticket Plan Holders saw a modest increase on their total invoice account.  To ensure that every renewing Ticket Plan Holder pays no more than last season, enclosed is your Citi Field gift card equal to the amount of any increase in your invoice from 2010.

Now that’s cool.

Posted on

Mets financials something

UPDATE, a comment from JPK about the original title of this post.

Disagree with your use of the colloquial “in the hole” — makes it sound like the Mets have a net worth of negative 625 million. In fact 625 million is the very, very liberal evaluation of all their debt — making assumption that all possible contingent liabilities do vest while not factoring in any of the team’s positive value either in the franchise, the stadium or the stake in SNY. I don’t think these types of financial stories can support imprecise language. Can’t really use Oscar Madisonisms like “in the hole” and still convey precisely what you are trying to convey. Think it’s worth a revision

Fair point.  Like I said, I’m a fat guy who barely understands all this and I was using a colloquialism.

….

Interesting stuff in Fortune that explains that when you factor in things like the Bonilla contract, the Mets may owe more like $625m than $430m.

I’m just a fat guy drinking an iced coffee, so maybe I misunderstood the entire thing.  Don’t take my writing to the bank..but here’s the article if it interests you.

it’s been widely reported that the franchise has around $430 million in bank debt. But a potential investor who spoke to Fortune on condition of anonymity points out that the team’s liabilities are closer to $625 million, from a buyer’s perspective.

via Inside the New York Mets’ financial ledger – FORTUNE Features – Fortune on CNNMoney.com.