The Mets Police

August 25, 2009

Repost: Santana’s Long Inning On May 27th

From Mets Police June 3rd….commenting on Santana’s May 27th start. I’m bad at math but Johan is something like 6-9 since then. Against the Nationals Santana had a long inning where he really labored….

Last week in the promenade a friend and I argued about whether or not Santana should have come out after a 41 pitch inning, especially when immediately followed by a short time at bat for the Mets.

Last night I was in the car and Howie and Wayne were telling me Santana’s velocity was down. Metsblog tells me he retired the first 10 and then 8 of the next 12 hitters got on. I hope Jerry didn’t manage one game at the cost of a season

Let’s keep an eye on this one. I know the lineup isn’t awesome, but that doesn’t take mph off your pitches.

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August 25, 2009

It’s Another Amazin’ Tuesday: Cool New York Mets Fan Hangout

This is a cool Mets-fan hangout. I heard nothing but great things about the first one. I won’t be able to make it tonight (like anyone cares) but hopefully next time…

When Mets fans look back on 2009, they’ll remember the injuries, they’ll remember the losses, they’ll remember the game-ending unassisted triple plays…but most of all, they’ll remember AMAZIN’ TUESDAYS, the monthly gathering of Mets fans communing for literary readings, game watching, consciousness raising, pizza eating, Rheingold drinking, cocktail shaking, Yankee baiting, memorabilia gawking, and seven steps support as needed.

Two Boots’ second AMAZIN’ TUESDAY is comin’ up August 25, 7:00 PM, when the Mets are in Miami, attempting to do to the Marlins’ playoff chances what the Marlins did to theirs the past two years. It’s not much of a rallying cry, but when you’ve got great pizza and great speakers, do you really need one?

The co-bloggers who bring you Faith and Fear in Flushing, Greg Prince and Jason Fry, co-host the evening and will share some of their trials and tribulations as Mets fans (many of which are captured in the book of the same name). They welcome two distinguished writers who also bleed blue and orange: Dana Brand, author of the brand new book, The Last Days of Shea; and Caryn Rose, founder of the popular blog Metsgrrl.
No setting could be more ideal for such a spiritual gathering than Two Boots Tavern, as proven by the previous editions of this series of reading, rooting and Ray Sadecki contemplation. Two Boots owner Phil Hartman specializes in drinks and pies that pay homage to the great Mets of the past, and if his walls could talk, they’d surely shout “Let’s Go Mets!” Per Phil’s passion, not only is admission free, but so is the first beer, provided you donate a Mets baseball card.

The Two Boots restaurants and pizzerias have been a bastion for Mets fans for 22 years. Each of the ten locations features not only unique Cajun-Italian pizza and a convivial atmosphere but the Two Boots talisman â€” a framed photo of Mookie Wilson, Keith Hernandez and The Count (from Sesame Street). At the new Two Boots Tavern, highlights include a Hubie Brooks subway poster from the early 1980s, and a shrine to Bill Buckner. For AMAZIN’ TUESDAYS, the first beer is free, in exchange for any Mets baseball card (even Bobby Pfeil’s).

Phil’s hi-def TVs will, as always, will be tuned to the Mets game. Real Mets fans know the season, no matter how over, is never over until it’s over.

AMAZIN TUESDAYS
Date: Tuesday, August 25

Location: Two Boots Tavern, 384 Grand Street (@ Suffolk St.), 212-228-8685
Time: 7:00 PM

Admission: Free; also first drink free in exchange for any Mets baseball card.
Hosts: Greg Prince and Jason Fry, Faith and Fear in Flushing
Featuring: Dana Brand, author, The Last Days of Shea; Caryn Rose, Metsgrrl

Pizza of the Night: The Stork (creole chicken, wild mushrooms, cheddar & mozzarella) for 1973 reserve outfielder George Theodore

Drink of the Night: The Teufel Shuffle (martini shuffled, not stirred) for 1986 platoon second baseman Tim Teufel

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August 25, 2009

Shopping At The New York Mets Team Store (Part 12)

I feel bad for this bear. As I’ve worked on this series he has been sitting at the top of the picture pile, and I keep skipping him.

He could use a home…

…which brings us to today’s theme: Stuff you could buy me, like this awesome Mets jacket. A tad out of my price range but if Mrs. Mets Police is on the site, my birthday is coming. And the bear.

And grab this for yourself honey. The suit not the mannequin.

I would wear this to the BBQ at Charlie Samuels’ house. His says “Live Black.”

I thought it was funny because of all the non-blue stuff in the store.

Hmmm….now I am confused. Is this a NY Giants hat (they wore one like this) or is it a Brooklynized Mets hat? Somehow I think the latter.

These will be cool to have in a few years. I love Murph but I don’t know if he made himself a lifer with his play this year.

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August 25, 2009

Ending a six-year exile from the Mets, Tom Seaver – 04.18.83 – SI Vault

One of my favorite days of all time:

Ending a six-year exile from the Mets, Tom Seaver – 04.18.83 – SI Vault

The introduction of the starting lineup was made at 1:20. After the eighth batter, Catcher Ron Hodges, was introduced, Public Address Announcer Jack Franchetti said simply, “Batting ninth and pitching, now warming up in the bullpen, Number 41.” No name, just the number. The cheering began.

At 1:29 No. 41 finished his warmups. His catcher, rookie Ronn Reynolds, asked him if he kept his warmup ball or took it to the mound with him. When Seaver asked why, Reynolds explained that there was a handicapped boy near the railing in the rightfield corner who’d asked him for a ball earlier, and maybe Seaver could give the kid the ball.

“I thought it might make his day,” said Reynolds. “Heck, maybe it’ll make his life.” The fans were already on their feet and cheering when Seaver walked over to the stands to give the ball away. “That showed me so much,” said Reynolds. “I had a tear in my eye.”

Seaver then began his procession to the dugout. In the crowd were his wife, children, three sisters, mother and father. He tipped his hat, placed it back on his head, tipped it again, waved it twice, put it back on, tipped it once more, this time thrusting it skyward, and disappeared into the dugout.

You definitely want to read the full article!
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August 25, 2009

Tom Seaver: Still The Franchise

Every Monday I write a column over at Flushing University. This is this week’s column.

April 18, 1983.Tom Seaver finishes warming up in the bullpen and walks down the right field line at Shea Stadium on his way to the mound. The place erupts. The Franchise had come home.George Thomas Seaver came back to Flushing again on Saturday night, and maybe it wasn’t quite home, but it was close enough.After all these years, Tom Terrific is still The Franchise.As I think about the disaster than 2009 has been, I realize two things have made me smile, and Tom was in the middle of them.Since we’re idiots, we opened our new stadium with a night game. We can debate until the cows come home about the Padres travel schedule, or the desire to keep Tuesday open in case of rain – but in the end it was disappointing. Shoulda been a day game.However, Tom was there in his 41 and he threw out the first pitch. I had that warm fuzzy feeling again, and was in love with my Metsies.Five months later, a season in ruins, Tom was there to give the speech and to captain our old heroes. That feeling returned for the first time in a long time.Last year the Mets closed down Shea with the all-time worst stadium closing in memory. A blown post-season, and an oddly times after-game New Orleans funeral. My memory of that day? Seaver and Piazza walking out into the distance.We’re coming up on 50 years of this franchise. There’s a lot of broken promises, let-downs, and shoula-beens. Nolan Ryan is top of mind this weekend. Doc and Darryl should be lining up for the Hall of Fame any day now, with at least three Met rings to their names. ’88. ’06. The horrific trifecta of ’07, ’08 and ’09 joining the wonderful history of Bobby Bonilla and Vince Coleman.50 years and there’s one star above all stars. Someone else should have come along by now. Is David Wright the Chosen One, or is he going to wind up as Edgardo Alfonzo? He’s The Franchise. Tom thanks for being around Flushing more often then you had been for most of the decade. I hope we continue to see you. I hope that statue of you gets placed in front of the rotunda sometime next summer.

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