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A Mets fan in Angels country

Ohmygoodness AT&T GET IT TOGETHER. I spent the day doing a whirlwind business trip (rumor has it I am sort of spy) and was in several airports and 3G didn’t work in any of them. Do you have any idea how annoying it is to have a blog, an Ipad with “unlimited data in the unlikely event 3G is available where you are” and 2+ hours to kill – and you’re on the gosh dang EDGE network? Kill me. Prodigy was faster.

So while I WASN’T BLOGGING some emails came in – I’m taking Wednesday night to catch up, to the delight of Mrs. Mets Police.

Interesting that this rolled in around the All-Star Game, but I’ve made a new friend and thought I’d share. Here’s Angel:

Hi, Shannon.  I am new to your website.  I ‘d like to commend you on its content. 

A little bit about myself:  I have been a Mets fan for 35 years…I moved to California in 1986 (last time I went to NY was 2002) but still keep in contact with the team through the internet and any national broadcasts…I catch the Mets in LA at least twice per year (I will be there July on 23 & 24)…I have seen them play in 8 stadiums (Shea,Yankee, LA,San Diego, Houston, Anaheim, Philly, and Arizona)…I have a complete run of Mets yearbooks…I have a room full of Mets Memorabilia…In order of  my loves 1) My children, 2) My wife, 3) The Mets…I may not be the #1 Mets fan, I’d like to think I’m up there)

My thoughts on the passing of George Steinbrenner.  When I lived in NY- as a Mets fan-I hated the man.  But in retrospect it was actually jealousy.  For how can you hate a man who was passionate about his team and winning.  Yankee fans woke up every morning knowing that even though they might not win every year, he fielded a competative team that would always be in first place or the playoffs.  If there was a top tier free agent available you knew that the Yankees were always in the mix.  I always resented how the Yankees had  a a win at all costs attitude, while  Mets ownership  runs the team  as if they’re a small market team.  So for everyone that resents the Yankees and their ownership, we’re all jealous that that was not our team.

I’ll try to put all my yearbooks together and take a picture of/with them (I can also do them one by one if you want to post them if people want to view them)…nice showing by Wright last night (incidentally I live about 20 minutes from Anaheim.  Due to the cost of tickets I did not attend the actual game but I did go by the stadium and view the festivities)…California is known as NY-West as there are so many transplanted New Yorkers here.  When you see the the Yankees-Angels the crowd is about 70-80% Yankee fans.  When you see the Mets it is usually 40% Mets fans (except in the late 80’s and 1999-2000 when all the band wagoners came out and the crows was considerably bigger)…I’m presently trying to see if there is a chapter of West Coast Mets fans to join.

Great to hear from you, and I think on behalf of everyone – YEAH we’d love to see every yearbook if you’d be so kind to send them in.  

Angel, please stay in touch – and I’m always happy to hear from everyone (especially AT&T service reps and advertising managers of Donut Chains) at [email protected]

Speaking of which – Dunkin’ Donuts won the “which donuts chain should sponsor Mets Police” poll.  Clearly Mets Police readers would support their products if they were regularly kept informed of special offers. 

There’s a new poll up there – which header image do you prefer?   I really liked the one I used last week (the view form the uppers) but this cops one is getting compliments.

The deputy Mets Police and I will be doing one of those blog talk things on Sunday at 6:30.   Any suggested topics?  I haven’t pondered this one yet.   One of these weeks I’m going to do “what would you like to see the Mets do for their 50th season?”  Maybe we’ll do 70’s talk this week.   Open for ideas..

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Mets Police 70′s week: Matlack One Hits the Big Red Machine

I knew 70’s week would be right up the alley of Centerfield Maz….here’s another loaner from his great site.

1973 NLCS Game #2: Matlack One Hits the Big Red Machine

October 7th, 1973- NLCS Game #2: In Game #1 the Mets lost a heartbreaker, 2-1 in the bottom of the 9th inning as Johnny Bench hit a HR off a tiring Tom Seaver.

In Game #2 it was all Mets, and on the mound all Jon Matlack. Matlack put in one of the best pitching performances in Mets history as he shut down the Big Red Machine, throwing a two hit shut out. He only allowed two runners to ever get as far as second base, striking out nine Reds along the way.

His opponent Don Gullet pitched well himself, in the 4th inning Rusty Staub connected for a HR over the high Riverfront Stadium wall putting the Mets up 1-0. That score would stand until the top of the 9th inning, when the Mets sent 10 men to the plate scoring four more times to even up the Series.

With one out, Felix Millan singled, off the Reds Tom Hall. Rusty Staub walked, and Cleon Jones singled to centerfield. As Cesar Geronimo attempted to nail Millan at home both runners advanced. Pedro Borbon relieved Hall and intentionally walked John Milner. With the bases loaded Jerry Grote singled home two more runs making it 4-0. Don Han & Bud Harrelson followed with base hits finishing up the inning with a 5-0 lead. Matlack retired the side in order in the bottom of the 9th and the Mets wrapped up a 5-0 victory.

In the locker room, the joyous Mets celebrated Matlack’s great performance. Bud Harrelson joked the Reds looked like me hitting out there today. Those words would set the stage for one of the most famous brawls in baseball history in the next game. For now the Mets happily boarded a flight back to New York for Game #3.


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Jeter and I have an Edge, Wright rules

What’s great about blogging is that I have a forum.

First the meat: David Wright rules. Two hits, a 5 game hitting streak in All Star Games, and he is a good face for the franchise. Clean cut, charismatic, never in trouble and he showed captain like behavior on Sunday when he took Reyes out if the game. Nice. Not quite The Franchise but we’re well on track for a 5 on the fence some day.

I want to say I am proud of him but I don’t want Cerrone to think I’m goofing on him. Im actually goofing on certain other people when I use the word proud.

Now the potato: I’m kind of quiet today because it’s one of my mysterious travel days and the AT&T network is horrible. I just killed two hours at an airport NOT blogging. I bought an ipad with unlimited data so I could bore you guys with Mazzilli stuff from wherever I am. Hard to do with no bars or at best the “Edge” network. The service works ok in the northeast (but not Manhattan) but out here in Other Time Zone I wanna punch someone.

If you emailed me stuff and I haven’t posted it or replied that’s why.

Rant Over. We now resume obsessing over Doug Flynn and his teammates.

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Mets Police 70’s week: watching Mets Yearbook 1976

Some notes from the day I watched Mets Yearbook 1976.

Great shots of the Mets in the 1976 pillbox caps!  I don’t think I’ve ever seen video of these caps.   So weird!

Always great to hear Bob Murphy, in this case calling Seaver’s 200th strikeout of the season.

Weird to see Joe Torre as a Mets player (hitting .306!)  I’m surprised he got benched for Roy Staiger (who?).

This is the sentence where I observe the blue uniforms with pinstripes look better, especially with blue undersleeves.  Oh, and no  names on the back. You can’t read the names from the Promenade and on TV they’ll tell you who it is with chiron.  No need for names.  If you don’t know who #7 is just find another team to cheer for.

I like the Phillies blue road uniforms, but the Cubs blue looks poor.

Apparently Felix Millan is underrated, so says Lindsey Nelson.

I know I repeat myself, but every time I see Bud Harrelson I feel bad we booed him out of town.  We as fans need to encourage Buddy to come back into the fold.

Much like I said about Mets Yearbook 1975, Dave Kingman seems really nice.  He had a very poor reputation in the press.  He seems nice in these videos.

Very cool to see Shea’s original coloring (orange seats in the loge?)

Cool to see Ron Hodges, whose #42 has been retired by the Mets.

John Stearns asked to be assigned to AAA Tidewater so he could play every day, after spending 1975 in the big leagues.  I defy you to show someone like that now.

Check out the ushers in their red sportscoats and policeman type hats.   That’s a nice classy look.  I’m going to time travel to 1976, invent blogging, and complain that they are wearing Phillies red.  I guess I’ll have to mail you a carbon copy of what I type on a typewriter.

The Mets have some really ugly numbers on the back of their helmets.

Long time fans of the Mets Police know I got my jollies when Yearbook 76 got to the long Lee Mazzilli section.  So odd to see him wearing #12.  Everyone knows his true number is #16.  Yes I have a man-crush.  Deal with it.

There’s a great shot of Tom Seaver pitching for the Jacksonville Suns.  During that section, Mets Police Junior walked in.  I told him that #41 was the Best Met of all time.  “How many home runs did he hit?”  “I don’t know.  He was a pitcher.  He won 300 games!”  “Only 300?”  Sigh.  Don’t worry, I’m teaching him well.  Someone’s gonna need to bust the chops of Jeff Wilpon’s kids.

Kiner just rattled off the names of some young pitchers, many of whom I’ve never heard of.  He’s excited about Roy Staiger.

Ralph recaps the giveaways: fan appreciation day (looks like they gave stocking caps), jacket day, and some days called “Banner Day” and “Old Timer’s Day” which sound interesting.  Real Mr. Met was at this Banner Day.

As I said this morning, I’m really excited about 1977!  With all this pitching, Kong in right and all these great young players, I bet 1977 turns out to be an unforgettable franchise-changing season!  What could go wrong?