The Mets Police

Driving home yesterday I was listening to The Michael Kay Show, and a caller brought up a very interesting question and hypothesis.

Just when did A-Rod know that he had tested positive?

Let’s follow this time line.

2001, A-Rod signed a 10-year deal with the Texas Rangers that would take him through the 2010 baseball season.

2003 – MLB conducts random testing for steroid use. A-Rod tests positive, along with 103 others. The union however does not destroy the results.

2004 – The FBI seizes the 2003 test results in a raid connected with their BALCO investigation. At this point therefore some people know about A-Rod’s positive test.

July 2007 – Jose Canseco says he is writing a new book on steroid use in baseball and says A-Rod will be in the book. Canseco calls A-Rod a “hypocrite.”

October 2007 – A-Rod opts out of the final 3 years of his contract and negotiates a new 10-year deal with the Yankees.

February 2009 – With 9 years remaining on his contract, A-Rod admits to using steroids.

So here is the hypothesis. A-Rod and his agent Scott Boras knew his name was on that list. They also knew that once the FBI got a hold of that list, the names would eventually leak out. There were already rumors about A-Rod, when Canseco, riding the “I Told You So” train added his voice to the mix. The walls were crumbling.

If A-Rod hadn’t opted out of his contract in 2007, next year would have been the final year of his contract. It is extremely unlikely he would have gotten anything close to the deal he did sign with the Yankees – both in terms of dollars and years. By conveniently opting out when he did, he guaranteed his continued baseball career and income well past the point where his steroid use would become known.

Given A-Rod’s disingenous nature, it really wouldn’t shock me if he and Boras were this conniving.

www.metspolice.com

And the blue panels are no more.

The final section of blue came down Monday, leaving just ramps and the shell of 2 sections.

About a dozen people watched as the machines tore away girders, the sound of groaning made it seem like Shea’s final death cry.

I would be shocked if anything was left standing by Wednesday.

Here are the pictures.

Feb 16 Feb 16, 2009 by Mets View Album Play slideshow

www.metspolice.com

Does anyone doubt that A-Rod’s press conference will be a disaster?   He brought in a heavy hitter PR firm, which means this will be the most rehearsed non-honest conference in history.

During the Gammons interview he spoke as if he was trying to remember what else he was supposed to get it – “oh and I was naive.  I was naive and stupid.  And did I work in the word culture?”

Pettitte did it right.  Everyone forgave him in about two seconds.  Giambi too.  

I’m still waiting for an “I never did steroids” from the Captain.

Meanwhile, the commissioner just doesn’t get it.  We need to buy him a “The buck stops here!” sign for his desk.     Check out Newsday today:

“I don’t want to hear the commissioner turned a blind eye to this or he didn’t care about it,” Selig said. “That annoys the you-know-what out of me. You bet I’m sensitive to the criticism. The reason I’m so frustrated is, if you look at our whole body of work, I think we’ve come farther than anyone ever dreamed possible.”

Please.  Y’all got rich on McGwire & Sosa.

The commish will be watching the press conference today:

“Let’s just say I’m going to monitor that situation closely,” he said. “I honestly don’t know how anyone could have done more than we’ve already done.”

www.metspolice.com

Even if you don’t want to attend the game, I can tell you first-hand that you can get $200 for a not-great ticket to opening day (on the official home of MLB scalping, Stubhub).

No I’m not in the ticket business, but if I can go alone on Opening Day and take $200 off my $1200 in tickets I’m doing it.

You can too..

NEW YORK — The Mets launch their online registration for purchasing tickets for Opening Day at Citi Field on Tuesday at 10 a.m. ET on Mets.com and LosMets.com. (really, come on).


The registration for the online random drawing runs through Tuesday, Feb. 24. Opening Day, the first at Citi Field, is Monday, April 13, against the Padres at 7:10 p.m.

Fans registering automatically become eligible for the random drawing. No fee or purchase is necessary to register. A limit of one entry per person is in effect. No guarantee exists that those who register will gain an opportunity to purchase tickets. All purchases are limited to four tickets. The opportunity to purchase tickets is non-transferable.

A limited number of fans will be selected in the online random drawing. They will be notified via e-mail by Feb. 27. Ticket prices start at $27 each. All purchases must be made using a major credit card. Per ticket and per order fees apply.

Season tickets are on sale now at Mets.com and LosMets.com. Information regarding the sale of single-game tickets for the inaugural 2009 Mets home season at Citi Field will be announced shortly.

www.metspolice.com