The Mets Police

Good morning Mets fans,

I’m curious what your plans for 2011 tickets are.   Will you upgrade to better seats, take the discount, or buy none/singles/Stubhub?

Rusty Staub is one of the players being considered by the Veterans Committee.

Most of you are too young to remember Rusty but at no point up until yesterday did my brain ever consider for a second that Rusty might be a HOFer.

I never once thought that I was watching one of the best there ever was.

I’m not even sure that Rusty would make my Hall of Garvey (where players like Garvey, Mattingly, Keith Hernandez and Andre Dawson* belong.)

….

Carton is all worked up about Charliegate and talking about cashing checks for players. Are they just getting around to it on a slow morning when all the locals are off, or is there news that nobody is tweeting, blogging, or printing?

…

I guess I should read Moneyball

This email was just sent out by the Mets.

METS NAME PAUL DEPODESTA
VICE PRESIDENT, PLAYER DEVELOPMENT & AMATEUR SCOUTING

FLUSHING, N.Y., November 8, 2010 – The New York Mets today announced that Paul DePodesta has been named Vice President, Player Development & Amateur Scouting. DePodesta, a 15-year Major League Baseballveteran, was most recently an Executive Vice President for the San Diego Padres. He will report to Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson.

“Paul has one of the top analytical minds in the game and also has a strong background in more traditional aspects of player development and amateur scouting,” said Alderson. “He will help establish direction, standards and continuity in all areas of our player development domestically and internationally. Paul – working together with J.P. Ricciardi and John Ricco – also will advise me generally on other matters related to baseball operations.”

Alderson and DePodesta worked together in San Diego for two-and-a-half years. DePodesta joined the Padres in July 2006 as a Special Assistant for Baseball Operations before being promoted to Executive Vice President in November 2008.

“I am thrilled to reunite with Sandy during this exciting time for the Mets,” said the 37-year-old DePodesta. “I know first-hand the type of vision and leadership he brings to a franchise. This is a tremendous opportunity to help develop a winning culture for the Mets and our fans.”

At age 31, DePodesta became the third-youngest General Manager in major-league history when the Los Angeles Dodgers appointed him Executive Vice President and General Manager in February 2004. That season Los Angeles won the National League West Division title, marking the franchise’s first playoff appearance since 1996.

DePodesta began his baseball career as an intern with the Cleveland Indians in 1996 and served as an Advance Scout from 1997-1998. He was promoted to Special Assistant to General Manager John Hart in October 1998.

From 1999-2003, DePodesta spent five seasons as the Assistant General Manager for the Oakland Athleticshelping GM Billy Beane in player acquisitions and contract negotiations.

DePodesta, a native of Alexandria Va., graduated cum laude from Harvard in 1995 with a degree in Economics. He also played baseball and football for the Crimson.

Last week, the Mets hired Ricciardi, former General Manager with the Toronto Blue Jays, as Special Assistant to the General Manager.

STATEMENT FROM METS GM SANDY ALDERSON ON METS MANAGER SEARCH

On Saturday, I had good meetings in California with Wally Backman, Terry Collins, and Chip Hale to discuss the Mets Manager position. I am scheduled to interview DeMarlo Hale tomorrow at Citi Field and on Wednesday meet with Clint Hurdle and Don Wakamatsu.

Greg posted this in the comments.

I wish someone from Mets Police (given this web site’s history) would ask Sandy whether the interminable combinations of uniforms and the use of black in the pinstripe uniform for example, bespeak a complete lack of organization and aesthetics. The Mets are tone deaf. Shouldn’t that change? The ‘small vocal fanbase’ which wants to remedy the uniform situation can be satisfied by changes which would allow the team to continue using black:

1) a single away uniform
2) a single home uniform
3) a single alternate uniform. If it’s black and the hat is black, fine, but not in the other uniforms.

I think most fans and consumers would be satisfied with this compromise. Instead, the Mets disregard their most passionate fan base.

Uniforms seem more of a Jeff thing than a GM thing, but the way you phrased it makes sense.  Perhaps the Marine in Sandy can relate:

Every detail of the dress blues uniform reflects the proud legacy of Marines who have served for more than two centuries:

The buttons featuring the eagle and anchor have been on the uniform since 1804, making them the oldest military insignia in continued use.

The “blood stripe” runs down each trouser leg of the dress blues worn by noncommissioned officers, staff noncommissioned officers and officers. The solid red stripe became part of the uniform in 1849. Today, it serves to honor the memory of fallen comrades.

The collar of today’s dress blues reflects the original Marine uniform of the American Revolution, which had a high leather neck to help protect Marines from sword blows.

Because it embodies Marine Corps history, rigorous standards apply to wearing this uniform and every Marine upholds those standards with pride.

Perhaps the uniforms of the Mets could embody Mets history, and each Met could uphold the franchise standards with pride.

Newer readers may be unaware of my proposed Treaty of Flushing.   At the treaty signing, Paul Lukas, Howie Rose and I will sit across a subway car from Jeff, Fred and Dave Howard.

The proposed treaty is this:

Monday-Thursday and Saturday:   Wear the primary uniforms with blue caps.  My concession is that the Mets can decide if the primary is the pinless or the pinstripes.  A major concession.

Friday:  Piazza generation likes the idiotic black jerseys.   If they must exist, Friday night somehow seems appropriate.   Lose the hybrid caps (because the NY disappears) and just go all black.  Even better would be using the Giants design.

Sunday:  Anything goes.  I am not trying to stop the Mets from selling jerseys.   Go nuts.  Blue, Orange, Polka Dots, Negro Leagues, Throwbacks, hell if you want to wear uniforms that say Finlandia Cheese go for it.

The other day the Mets announced the benefits for 2011 season ticket holders.

Part of it will be an opportunity to win a daily award.  30 awards in 30 days.  Let’s take a look and have some fun.

1.  A Mr. Met appearance.   I guess it would be cool if Mr. Met showed up at my birthday party.  Cool.

2.  Announce the starting lineup.   Meh.

3.  My kid gets to hand the umps the lineup card.  Yawn.

4.  Invite to the Welcome Home Dinner.   Cool I guess.  It doesn’t excite me but would excite some.  I just wanna go to bed.

5.  Be part of the Pepsi Party Patrol.  I would be tempted to hit someone in the face with the t-shirt gun.  Not so cool that it makes me want to buy 81 games.

6.  SNY meet and greet.   Who doesn’t love Keith and Gary and Ron?  Cool.

7.  Play catch with my kid on field.  Awesome of course.

8.  Seaver wine tasting with Seaver.  If you like Seaver it’s cool.   I like Seaver.

9.  Watch a game with Sandy.  Cool.  Especially if Oliver Perez pitches.

10.  Your kid gets to be a junior Mets reporter.  Mine are too young.  Meh.

11. Honorary bat boy/girl.  Coooooool.

12.  Jersey off a player’s back.  Can I just get a new jersey?

13.  Meet the new Mets manager.  If it’s Lee Mazzilli I may enter.  If it’s Bob Melvin, I may root for the Brewers.

14.  First Pitch.   Too much pressure and I have a rag arm.  No thanks.

15.  Meet Mr. Met in a tunnel by his dressing room.  What? Sounds creepy.  This is a family friendly blog so I will stop there.

16.  Spring Training Trip.   Cool.  Throw in a babysitter thought.  Grandma ain’t coming out to watch them.

17.  Road Game Trip.  Depends where.  West coast cool.  Philly uncool.

18.  Suite Party.  16 friends and $750 of food.  Do I know 16 Mets fans?  Let’s see…me, Goon, Dan, Osh41, Mrs. MP, kids….I should invite guys like Ceetar, Randy and Greg…yeah I could fill it.  Now I kinda wanna do it anyway.  How much?

19.  Personalized autographed bat.  Cool.

20.  Attend a press conference.   Meh.

21.  Team Store Shopping Spree.  $500!   Can someone say Caps-fest?!

22.  Personalized Autographed Jersey.   I don’t care.  I want a new one with Mazzilli 16.

23. Player Meet and Greet.  Can I pick Ollie?

24.  Player fielding session.   Very cool.  I could definitely use some pointers.

25.  Indoor BP.  30 minutes.  You ever hit a batting cage for half an hour?  Exhausting.  Very cool.

26.  Bullpen pitching session.  Osh41 would lose it if he won this.

27.  High five some players.  What??

28.  Take the field at a position.   Meh.   I see people do this every game.  Not special enough for me.   (Greedy.)

29.  VIP with some Mets alumni.   Tom Seaver and Lee Mazzilli?  Cool.   Bob Bailor and Jose Oquendo?  No thanks.

30.  Some autographed GTS wine.   Nah.

Well that was fun.  I don’t see me ever buying 81 games so it’s irrelevant but it was fun to think about.

What was your favorite?