What Mets fans talk about when not talking about the actual games.
If you missed out 20 years ago or haven’t been on eBay, here is your chance. You will just need to find out from Mike where he took this photo. Looks like Citi Field to me.
@metspolice pic.twitter.com/9XMj1O6ESP
— Michael Piazza 31 (@31_piazza) May 9, 2021
I first wrote this story 13 years ago back in 2008, but have brought it back every Mothers Day. Hope you enjoy.**********
From time to time we here at the Mets Police have given the Mets grief on some of the things they do – it’s what we are here for after all. Today however I must tip my cap and publicly thank the Mets, Mr. Met, and especially Pedro Martinez for something that was very personal.
Saturday was my mom’s 71st birthday. A few thing about my mom. She is a small Irish woman who came here over 50 years ago but still has her accent. Back in the 60′s she worked for a company that had a box at Shea and she attended a number of games (she likes to tell p eople how she sat next to Joan Payson). But she stopped going (and stopped working) after I was born. So she has not been to Shea since 1966.
Now to give you an idea how much of a fan she is, during the 10th inning of Game 6, she had her rosary out and was kneeling in front of the TV set saying Hail Mary’s as fast as she could. My sister, through some people she knows, was able to get a field box at Shea for Saturday’s game. She also was able to contact someone she knows who works for the Mets and let him know that our mom would be there on her birthday.
So, we go to the game – my parents, my sister, and I. Our mom is tickled pink to be at Shea. At the gate they are handing out teddy bears as a promotion to all kids. Of course my mom wants one, and as soon as they hear that it’s her 71st, no problem, they give her one. That was very nice.
Skip ahead to the fourth inning. One of the staff comes over and lets my mom know that during the 4th, Mr. Met is coming over to give her a present. Middle of the 4th and here comes Mr. Met to present her with the 1-800-FLOWERS birthday cake bouquet. Mr. Met sat down behind her and she is giddy – starts talking to him and laughing. Then at the end of the inning they put her and my dad on Diamond Vision with Mr. Met. Priceless! So we thought that was the highlight of the day.
After the game, we took some pictures, then went up to check out the Diamond Club. While up there she (as only an older Irish woman does) starts chatting with the security guys – asking about Pedro, her favorite Met, and where he might be. Security actually tells us that because of the Billy Joel concert set up, the players are coming out from Gate D today. So Mom now wants to go down to see if she can spot Pedro. All 0f a sudden this 71 yr old woman is acting like a 16 yr old.
We get to Gate D and looking around, set ourselves up at the end of the crowd that has gathered. Wouldn’t you know one of the security guys mom had talked to is now right near us. He points out Pedro’s driver to us and tells mom and I to go over to him and tell him it’s her birthday. We go over, I talk to the guy (Angel) and ask if he thought Pedro would take a picture with my mom for her birthday. Next thing I know he gets a cop to escort us over to Pedro’s car.
When Pedro comes out, Angel tells him about my mom – he immediately comes over and give her a huge hug and kiss. Security cordon off an area around Pedro, his cars, and us. Then they start talking – seriously their conversation went on for a good 5 minutes – he was the nicest guy to her. When she told him he was her favorite player, he said “Really? Me? Not David Wright?” She said something else to him that had him laughing. Really, a very very nice guy. I thanked him and he said it was a pleasure to meet us then hugged my mom again.
Walking back to the car people kept coming up to her wishing her a Happy Birthday and congratulating her on meeting Pedro. So a hundred thousand thank yous to the Mets, Mr. Met, and especially Pedro Martinez for making my mom’s birthday an amazingly memorable occasion.
These 2 pictures say it all:
Postscript – My Mom passed away a year to the day after her great day at Shea. She never made it back, nor did she ever set foot in Citi Field,, but her memory and love of the Mets will live on just outside it’s gates.
Scully….
Yes Mulder I saw it. I don’t believe it either.
Don’t believe what Scully? Lindor saw a rat.
You don’t think there was a fight in the tunnel, Mulder?
Of course not. Lindor said as much, Scully. Let’s watch it again for the people reading at home.
“We were going back and forth debating if it was a rat or a racoon”
SOUND UP to hear about what happened in the tunnel between Francisco Lindor and Jeff McNeil from Francisco himself 🤣 pic.twitter.com/REn66S6nf3
— SNY (@SNYtv) May 8, 2021
Yes Mulder, it’s pretty obvious what happened.
That’s right Scully. Lindor thought he saw a raccoon. And then as Conforto and Dom Smith returned to the dugout they too were like OMG IS THAT A RACCOON and they raced down the tunnel to check it out, as you can see in this video. Conforto and Smith are known raccoon fans and never miss a chance to see one.
Lindor and McNeil going at it in the tunnel? 👀 pic.twitter.com/VnAcOWIXBY
— Master flip (@Masterflip_) May 8, 2021
Mulder, is that what you really think?
Of course, Scully. That’s the story. Lindor saw a raccoon and then Conforto and Dom were also like wow a raccoon, and then Jeff calmly explained it was a rat. When the Mets took the field, Jeff and Francisco looked stoic because they were thinking about how there are rats in the stadium, which seems to be a new issue since Steve Cohen took over, we never had rats under the Wilpons, but that’s a topic for another day. Then an inning later Jeff and Francisco were patting each other on the back because they are now Rat Friends.
I see Mulder. Are you sure you believe this?
Of course I do Scully. Besides, SNY employs a fourth guy to help Gary, Keith and Ron during the broadcasts , His job is to walk around the stadium and report on things. Had there been an incident other than a raccoon size rat he would have covered it. Otherwise his position is a complete waste of everyone’s time and resources and I don’t think anyone thinks that.
I see Mulder. So the truth is out there?
That’s right Scully. We all have the truth. There was a raccoon sized rat that Lindor, Conforto and Dom all found cool….and that darkness under McNeil’s eye was just the lighting. I am sure Pete Alonso will make a big joke out of this today and possibly get someone fired again.
It was Matt Harvey’s final tune-up before Wednesday’s big exciting return to Citi Field to face the Mets….but first, he had to take on the Red Sox. Matt could have been on the Red Sox but you guys didn’t want to trade him for Mookie Betts (oops) and you know the rest…
And it was a nice easy 1-2-3 for TDK in the first. Sit down son!
In the second…a pesky double!
Matt gets out of the inning, but he threw a LOT of pitches and is at mid-40s through two….and The Real Deal looks Real Tired.
In the third, seriously this is the BEST PITCH MATT HAS THROWN SINCE LEAVING QUEENS….sit down son.
A single and then a hit batsman.
The Orioles have studied my posts and know the danger is lurking…so they send out the pitching coach.
Will Matt melt down? Not in 2021! Sit down son!
And it’s on to the 4th with a pitch count of 67.
A runner reaches first on an error by the pitcher (hmmm) and makes his way to third and look at this beauty of a screen grab!
That’s gonna make it 1-0 Red Sox. Then Matt let two guys get on and looks kind of rattled. I swear on everything that as the Orioles manager was reading MetsPolice on his iPad I was thinking that he should get Matt out NOW.
But he did not. And you have seen this movie before….
The Red Sox announcer said this pitch had lights on it. And……
And for the Orioles, that’s the Matt Harvey experience. And for Matt, there goes any chance of picking up at Fells Point tonight.
He’s at 86 pitches through 4 and has looked tired since the second. The Orioles would be insane to bring him back out.
Are the Orioles insane? They are not.
4 innings, 4 runs, ALL UNEARNED BECAUSE SOME IDIOT MADE AN ERROR, a walk and three strikeouts.
But don’t worry…on Wednesday….The Dark Knight Returns TO CITI FIELD. Yep! Orioles at Mets, Wednesday day game. Should be fun!
The Mets are back to .500 and are looking to own a winning record for the first time since they were 9-8 on April 25…The team has won two straight after dropping two straight…The Mets begin a five- game, six-day homestand against the stupidly named Diamondbacks (three games) and Matt Harvey’s Orioles (two games).
Since the start of 2019, Smith has played 164 games and owns a .286/.346/.525 slash line with 68 runs, 35 doubles, a triple, 23 home runs, 77 RBI, 36 walks and an .871 OPS…Over his last seven games, Smith is 8-26 with three runs, two doubles, three RBI, two walks and a .357 OBP. And yet he wasn’t allowed to play on Opening Day.
In coordination with the talented chefs at Citi Field, Pete Alonso has created a unique new item available for purchase, the Polar Burger… The new menu item features Pat LaFrieda’s black truffle blended burger patty, maple-spiced caramelized onions, smoked Gouda cheese, lettuce, tomato and claw sauce on a baked brioche bun…In addition, he created Arctic Onions – “Polar spiced” shaved Vedalia onions with Claw sauce for dipping…The items are available for purchase starting this weekend near section 102, down the right field foul pole. Pete is 54th in MLB in home runs, tied with Albert Pujols with 5.
THIS DAY IN METS HISTORY: On this day in 2016, Bartolo Colón at age of 42 became the oldest player in the history of MLB to hit his first career homer…so unoriginal SNY is gonna beat this to death tonight. I can hear Gelbs being boring already. Colón hit a two- run shot in the second inning as the Mets defeated the Padres, 6-3, in San Diego…. He earned the win, allowing all three runs on six hits with a walk and five strikeouts in 6.2 innings of work…The team collected nine hits in the win, including home runs from Yoenis Céspedes and David Wright…For cool photos and interactive history information on the Mets, please visit the Mets Virtual Vault at metsheritage.com.
Pete’s batting average is looking snazzy. Too bad you millennials decided you like OPS. Pete’s OPS is not as snazzy.
Pete Alonso | INF | .280, 5 HR, 17 RBI, 0 SB
The Mets will play tonight without any manager, coaches or front office because Steve Cohen fired everyone after finding out they let JDG goof around at SS in the pre-game.