What Mets fans talk about when not talking about the actual games.
Maybe I have been spending too much time in the basement, but although this has been on Deadspin and Big League Stew I haven’t seen it in the Metsosphere.
Here’s an incredibly awkward video of a fan and Gary Carter and some autographs. Â I feel bad for Gary and I imagine that this sort of thing happens to players all the time. Â It’s very easy to be placed in a no-win situation.
Last night on twitter (@metspolice) Mets fans seemed a little jittery. Â The Mets are still only 5 back, but those dang Phillies have jumped over them.
Are you guys calm or starting to worry?
I’m going to keep the season threat alert on yellow – but Mr. Santana on too much rest makes me fear an orange alert.
In case you’re wondering – “Guarded” is a 7 game lead with 17 to play and “Low” means that it’s the day after the Mets win the World Series.
Randy’s fake logo got me excited about the All Star Game coming to Flushing. Â I thought I’d take my 100% lack of knowledge and wildly speculate.
Traditionally the game rotated between the two leagues, although the 2000’s got a little funky with that – mainly because of new stadiums. Â Now that everyone who is destined for a new park will be in a new park, let’s assume the AL-NL pattern continues as it has since 2007-08.
Here’s the logic:
1. Â Bud Selig says the Mets “deserve it.”
2. Â The Mets’ stadium is new.
3. Â New York = cool.
4. Â Mets haven’t hosted since 1964.
5. Â 2013 is the NL’s turn
and most importantly let’s look at the other teams:
ATLANTA: Â had it in 2000. Â 13 years. Â Atlanta’s not that cool. Â We should be ok. Â (We being New York fans, I’m not a Met)
PHILLIES: Â had it in 1976 and 1996. Â ’96 will be a 17 year gap and their new park is kind of cool. Â Could happen, but NYC is cooler than Philly and the park is new. Â However remember that “New York” just hosted.
FLORIDA: Â never hosted. Â New stadium opening. Â Franchise needs a boost. Â Miami is a town where it’s fun for sponsors to hang out away from their wives. Â VERY DANGEROUS. Â VERY VERY DANGEROUS.
WASHINGTON: Â new stadium. Â Hasn’t had the game in over 40 years. Â Does MLB want or need anything from the feds? Â Any potential investigations coming soon? Â DANGEROUS
REDS: Â had it in 1988 so it would be 25 years. Â New Stadium. Â Worth worrying about but the teams above are scarier.
CARDS: had it in 2009. Â Back of the line pal.
CUBS: Â 1990. Â New owner. Â Cool park. Â Not this time but they’ll get it this decade if they want it.
BREWERS: Â 2002. Â Ain’t happening.
ASTROS: 2004. Â Nope.
PIRATES: 2006. Â Nope
PADRES: Â 1992. Â New stadium. Â Great weather. Â Next two games are in Arizona and KC (if geography matters) and this one in Anaheim. Â I think Mets are safe.
ROCKIES: Â 1998. Â Been a while but you have to understand executives will want to HANG OUT after a year in KC. Â Colorado ain’t it. Â Another reason to fear Miami.
DODGERS: Â 1980. Â It would be very easy for me to say “Anaheim just had it” and dismiss them. Â That makes it just as easy to dismiss the Mets doesn’t it? Â Dodgers won’t get it in 2013 but should get on line.
GIANTS: 2007
ARIZONA: 2011
FAT GUY’S PREDICTIONS:
2013: Â Miami is a tempting choice: Â new park, South Beach, desire to keep franchise afloat, New York just had the All-Star Game. Â Â However, the Marlins president is talking about 2015. In the first draft I had girls and beaches beating a city that just hosted – but with Miami talking 2015 and maybe Bud wanting to hit NYC again before the Super Bowl and not after…..Let’s Go Mets! Â Â I think Flushing will happen.
This will also help the Mets with merchandise. Â 2011 jerseys can have a “50th season” patch and the 2013’s can have the All-Star logo.
2015: Â Miami. Â Girls, beaches, new park, iffy franchise.
2017: Â Dodgers. Â Washington is going to have to wait. Â LA has been on line for a long time. Â I don’t know if they even want the All Star Game but by 2017 they will have been waiting the longest, except for Washington which didn’t have a team.
2019: Â Washington. Â Everyone else will have had a turn.
On the AL side – figure the Twins are due. Â The Rays have never hosted and that franchise needs a boost. Â Â Awful park though. Â The A’s haven’t had it since 1987 which is longer ago than it used to be, and actually the 6th longest wait.
Of course if this Arizona controversy ever heats up maybe the Mets get the 2011 game….and then Miami and Washington slot nicely into the next two.
Sometimes ideas get floated and get repeated enough that they stick. Â People get used to the idea (like the NYC Super Bowl). Â Let’s all keep talking about this until it’s a reality. Â 1964 was a long long time ago, in face 2013 will mark 50 seasons since the ASG was in Flushing. Â Fifty.
The fellas and I will be boring America between 6:30 and 7pm tonight with another audio version of the Mets Police.
You can join us here, and are encouraged to call in at (917) 889-2723
I think we’ll talk All Star 2013, Old-Timers Day 2011, Mets Fan Panic, Wayne Hagin and whereever else life takes us.
48,957 people paid to get into Fake New Yankee Stadium yesterday for something called “Old-Timers’ Day.”
Let’s go back to 2009, and our old friend Dave Howard and this article from the Times in 2009:
The Mets’ blogosphere recently lit up when Evan Roberts, a co-host for WFAN-AM sports-talk radio, reported that he had been told by a team official that Old-Timers’ Day was “too much work.â€
“That’s silly, and that’s not the reason,†said Dave Howard, the Mets’ executive vice president for baseball operations. “It was particularly unpopular as a promotion. We didn’t see an increase in ticket sales or interest from sponsors or even from people who already had tickets. It died of its own unpopularity in the early ’90s.
“We felt we were better served by bringing our alumni back over several days instead of one day.â€
For one reason or another 47,000 people paid to get in FNYS yesterday. Â Perhaps it’s that whole World Series Champion and best record in baseball thing. Â Maybe people like Old-Timers. Â Maybe the stadium was half empty during the ceremony as suggested on twitter – the papers are sure full of OT Day stories today.
If people like Old Timers, it would make sense for the Mets to hold an Old Timers Day.
If it’s the best record in baseball thing, then to blame the early 90’s makes this more about crappy teams in the 90’s than anything relevant to today. Â Is it possible that playing .364 ball in 1993 added to fan apathy? Â Three Sixty Four.
An Old  Timers Day in the mid-90’s would be the 1969ers and the 1973 crew again, with a few Mazzilli and Youngbloods mixed in.  For 2011, the Mets can draw from the 86 crowd and the 2000 team.  I don’t think Mr. Howard’s argument holds water.
Next year will be the 50th season of Mets baseball. Â What a great excuse to bring back the day. Â Let’s assume that the Mets have lost everyone’s phone number and it’s up to you guys and me to set this up.
The Yankees were able to locate David Cone and Lee Mazzilli. Â Let’s assume they will come and the Yankees will give us their numbers.
Does anyone know where to find Keith Hernandez, Ron Darling or Bob Ojeda?
The Mets seem to know where to find Doc, Darryl and Davey – if their numbers are lost maybe someone could invite them the next time they come by.
John Franco, is he still in hiding?
Mike Piazza – last spotted a week ago at a softball game.
Tom Seaver. Â Gotta have Tom Seaver. Â Call his winery. Â Let Tom pick the day. Â Gotta have Tom Seaver.
One of you guys can work the phones and get the 2000 Mets in here. Â Heck, if the organization has cojones and truly gets it, they’d call Bristol and invite #2 down for the day.
I’m going to stop there. Â Even if “Old Timers Day” was nothing more than Howie Rose at a podium introducing Lee Mazzilli, Bob Ojeda, David Cone, Davey Johnson, Bobby Valentine (also an ex-Mets player), Ron Darling, John Franco, Dwight Gooden, Darryl Strawberry, Keith Hernandez, Mike Piazza, and Tom Seaver (in that order – anyone wanna argue?).
Ten bucks to the first person who can get Kiner to suit up in a Pirates #4 and walk out.
They don’t have to play a game. Â Just trot out there in uniforms, have Seaver say something cool, and move on.
It’s the 50th season. Â Just have it.
