The Mets Police

MEDICAL UPDATE ON JOHN MAINE

FLUSHING, N.Y., July 24, 2010 – John Maine had arthroscopic surgery yesterday to clean out scar tissue in his right shoulder. The surgery was performed by Dr. Michael Cicotti in Philadelphia. Maine is expected to be ready for Spring Training.

I’m debugging the site –  sorry for the slow loads.

Several cool folks on twitter (check the sidebar on the new site design) are reporting that John Maine had surgery yesterday and is done for the year and probably his Mets career – I imagine he will be non-tendered.  I was a big Maine believer in 2006 and 2007, oh well.  He finishes 39-32 for the Mets.

The lineup is below, let’s see if Pelfrey can make us proud:

Saturday, July 24
@ Los Angeles

Jose Reyes-SS
Luis Castillo-2B
Angel Pagan-RF
David Wright-3B
Carlos Beltran-CF
Ike Davis-1B
Jason Bay-LF
Rod Barajas-C
Mike Pelfrey-RHP

Mets Police is to give fans like you a voice.

John sent this letter in.  I obviously don’t agree, but I have plenty of opportunities to share my opinion, thus I yield the floor to John:

While I respect Chris’s take regarding how Mets fans should show up for the Hall of Fame Induction on August 1st, I have to respectfully disagree with his opinion.

Now, it should be noted that Doc, Darryl, Cashen, and Davey deserve the fans support and adoration for 1986. However, this article has nothing to do with them. Before I start, I want to say that if you are a Mets fan that wants to go to celebrate these 4, I think you should.

I’m just saying here that no Mets fan should feel obligated to go.

Showing up for this event is not about honoring the Mets past. This is a money grab by the Mets.

Don’t believe me? Then someone needs to explain to me why they chose this random, indiscernible time to honor these 4 people.  Aside from Davey Johnson managing Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, none of them have done anything recently. Also, this is not a particular anniversary regarding the 1986 team.

This is the Wilpons trying to manipulate Mets fans to get more money out of them.

For example, the cheapest seat is $23.00. Throw in parking or a train, food, etc. you are already over $50. Normally, this does not bother me as I still love going to Mets games . . . despite the awful economy. However, you’re paying this amount to watch the game on the field until the ball is hit into either LF or RF, and then you are stuck looking for a TV to discover what is transpiring. Then you have to re-focus on the field. It’s absurd. But this isn’t about the problems with Citi Field, which Shannon has clearly chronicled. So then, getting back to the original point, why are they doing this now?

The event has been scheduled to get more money out of the fans, which the Wilpons will not, in turn, spend on the team. Think about it. The Mets scheduled this event for Sunday, August 1st in the attempts to sell-out the game. However, the real event is July 31st where the Mets are hosting an event where you, the fan, have the privilege to spend $300 to have lunch with the four Hall of Fame inductees. Afterward, you can stay and watch the game. Great, now the Mets have found 2 ways to sell out games. Now, I will not begrudge the Mets for trying to sell out games and make money. After all, baseball is a business, and they are supposedly having money problems after Madoff.

However, as a fan, I feel no obligation to support this team financially. I will continue to watch games from home, and I may still go to another game or so this season. The Mets knew they needed another SP, and they have failed to do so. Now, I understand that they couldn’t get Cliff Lee, but why haven’t they obtained Oswalt, Lilly, Carmona, etc. It’s about the money. They either don’t have it, or they don’t want to spend it.

The Mets were relieved that Texas had a much better deal for Lee that they could not compete. You or I going to any games is not going to change that. Since the Wilpons took over, they have continuously failed to go that extra mile. I’m tired of it.

Here’s been the deadline pickups in the Wilpon era: Mike Bordick, Rick White, Bubba Trammel, Billy Taylor, Steve Reed, Shawn Dunston, Daryl Hamilton, Jason Middlebrook, Oliver Perez, Roberto Hernandez, etc. Where’s the difference maker. Where’s the significant contract addition?    Only White and Hamilton really only had an effect. They’ll spend on their one player every offseason, but they won’t extend the payroll mid-season.

Overall, I encourage everyone to go if you want. However, don’t go because the Mets finally added a Hall of Fame and added players to their Hall of Fame. They’re doing these things to bring you to the ballpark because they know they will not be going because they refuse to put a team on the field that will compete for a championship. It’s your choice. However, the bigger statement to make to the Mets is to not go to the game and let the Mets know that they’re behavior is unacceptable.

I’m really bothered that Mets fans have not decided to support our heroes on Sunday.  This game needs to be sold out.

I understand if you are mad at the franchise, Jeff, Dave Howard, plexiglass, Omar, Ollie, collapses, whatever….I get it.

This isn’t about any of that.

This is about everything we talk about here on the site.

All our collective bitching.   All our romancing about Casey and Seaver and Mazzilli and Gooden and Piazza and Wright.

The King of England has agreed to meet us at the Tea Party and you guys have decided that you don’t really mind paying tax on tea after all.

You mean to tell me that there aren’t 45,000 Mets fans in the tri-state area who care about our 1986 heroes?

You’re going to let Dave Howard be RIGHT that nobody cares about team history?

Well then shut the hell up that there wasn’t enough Mets stuff in Citi Field.  If you don’t care why the hell should the Wilpons?   They might as well have Justin Bieber Day and sell out the place.

This is absolutely outrageous.  It’s not the Wilpons that suck, it’s the Mets “fans.”

I know money is tight.   Pack a sandwich, take the 7, and the Mets will let you bring in a bottled water.

I know $63 bucks is a lot for two tickets (after fees) – don’t worry I’ll kill them on that….but you have to show up for this.   This isn’t about Jeff and Fred, it’s about Doc and Darryl.

Now go buy tickets!