The Mets Police

Always good to see Howie Rose, Master of Ceremonies, and the right person to handle these occasions.

Unfortunately it looks like a weak crowd.  I’m not there either.  The Mets waited too long.  As old as I am, Kranepool isn’t in my wheelhouse.  The guy deserved better but he deserved it 30 years ago.  Stupid Wilpons.

 

Nice to see some of Jerry’s teammates – Wayne Garret being the one you don’t recognize (along with Shamsky and Kranepool).  Makes me even more suspicious that nobody showed up for Ron Darling, what’s that about?

Donald Trump supporter Mike Piazza was there, curiously wearing a red tie and not orange.

Donald Trump Supporter Mike Piazza gave a quick speech and then it was time to unveil the number

The number is around the turn, because the Wilpons didn’t plan ahead when they set up the other numbers.  Stupid Wilpons.

Jerry gave a speech and even thanked the new owner.

I must say of all the ceremonies over the past decade or so, I found this the least emotional.  Even the Mets Hall of Fame ceremony a few weeks ago felt more powerful.

Again, the Mets waited too long.  But we don;’t have a time machine so today was better than never.

Congrats Jerry!

…

Here’s a topic for another day.   If 2/5ths of the rotation was Number Retiring Worthy, shouldn’t they have won more championships?

Earlier in the week I emailed Media Goon something along the lines of “is it me or is there no buzz on Koosman”  I didn’t write about it because I didn’t quite know what I was feeling, but Darren the T-Shirt Guy nailed it in a tweet last night.

And…yeah.

As old as I am, I barely remember seeing Koosman.  Darren is right that the Mets, and this is on the Wilpons not Steve, waited too long.

Most of todays fans don’t care and don’t have any memory other than he’s some sort of 1969 guy that they say was pretty good.  Add on that you can’t bring out all that many Big Name teammates due to the ravages of time.  (On a side note, I still find it curious that Ronnie only had Keith and Gary at his ceremony.  Isn’t that odd?  Gary????  Where were Ronnie’s teammates?)

It’s a shame, and we don’t have a time machine, so today is the best we can do for Jerry.

Between this and the Seaver Statue debacle, maybe Steve’s leadership can be a little more proactive than the Wilpons.  You’re obviously going to have David Wright Day….so just schedule it and do it instead of waiting 40 years for no reason.

I hope Jerry has a great day but given the dreary day and the recent results, I fear he’s going to have a ceremony to 28,000 mildly interested fans.

 

I found this exchange interesting.  I keep thinking about it.  Not sure this expresses any interest in customer service.

You know the drill.  Every five days or so The Dark Knight Returns and he looks good in some innings and bad in others and we wind up with 5 innings 3 runs or  6 innings 4 runs, something like that.  So let’s check his numbers…

The Orioles look pretty sharp in their black uniforms…..and you can SIT DOWN SON.  It’s a good start for Matt Harvey with a K.

And the next guy you can SIT DOWN TOO SON

And The Dark Knight is cruising so this two out walk shouldn’t be a worry.

Or this two out single.

Or this other two out single that made it 1-0.

Or this other other two out single…hey what is happening here?  The bases are loaded.  It’s time for some helpful advice from one of the coaches!

The advice did not take…it’s a single, and now it’s 3-0!  Matt is wondering what the hell happened?

So with two out and down three already…YOU CAN SIT DOWN SON

 

Let’s speed this up a bit because I went to the beach all day and got a late start on this.  In the second, a 1-2-3 for TDK with another strikeout, his 4th.   The third is also a 1-2-3 and so is the 4th and so is the 5th and so is the 6th!!!  The Dark Knight Is Back Baby!

He’s out after 6 and it’s 3 runs on 4 hits with 4 Ks.   You’d take that, right?  It looked ugly at first but he found it.  Something Matt might be saying at a Tampa strip bar around 1am tonight.

Matt looks a little tired.  Maybe he should just stay in tonight.

I gotta say this.  Around the All Star Break he looked like his career was over.  He made a good choice signing for the Orioles that have so little depth they let me start 4 games in April.  That lack of depth and the Who Cares Let’s Lose 110 attitude kept Matt in the majors because the Orioles had nobody else.

Matt has now started 26 games, and long time readers know my philosophy about a 5th starter.  You don’t have to win, just don’t murder my bullpen.  6 innings of 3 run ball?  That will play in the majors.  I wouldn’t start the guy in a playoff game, but if he can make 33 starts – that’s valuable.

Matt Harvey will have a major league job next year for sure.  Good job Matt!   Some friendly advice – just stay in Baltimore.  It’s working for you.  Don’t get stars in your eyes and head to the Bronx or somewhere you can’t handle.  Baltimore is working for you, and they will have a Lose 95 Games plan in 2022, so just take the ball every 5th day, enjoy everything Fells Point has to offer, and put another few million in the bank.   You’ve done a good job finding a way.   Congrats!

 

 

The Curse Of The Black Jerseys Is Strong, and I cannot say it makes me sad.

Steve opened the box and this is what happened…

I mean wow, look at that.  I also like that baseball reference still bothers with Pythagorean Record nonsense.

Enjoy tonight’s game.  I will have it Blacked Out in my house.