Today I was invited to attend the launch of the third season of Mets “ Citi Field Kids” . I along with other members of the blogosphere and Mets Media watched as Mets players such as R.A Dickey, Jose Reyes , Mike Pelfrey Josh Thole, Bobby Parnell and Dillion Gee, along with new Mets manager Terry Collins gave a special tour of the Mets Clubhouse to a group of fifth and sixth graders from the Sunnyside Community Services in Queens.
According to the Press release, Citi Field Kids is an educational and motivational program developed by the Mets, Citi, the Jackie Robinson Foundation and United Neighborhood Houses designed to inspire New York City students and teach the values of Jackie Robinson.
Afterwards myself along with my blogger brethren were allowed to interview the various Mets players, and here are some of the quotes I got ( *not all of the answers given were from answers I asked).
Obviously he ( Thole) is working really hard on receiving the ball – I really Think he is great now . It’s great to have him busting his butt and I know he hasn’t been catching for that long
Mike Pelfrey on Josh Thole
“Hopefully I can stick around and this thing works “
Dillon Gee on his chances of making the Mets rotation.
“ I am 100% and I can’t wait to get to spring training !”
Jose Reyes on his health
“ If you pitch – small ball works”
” The plan is basically to execute better, try to keep the attitude positive around here . We are going to do a better job of keeping this team upbeat”
Terry Collins on his philosophy
” My hope is that last year wasn’t a anomaly – and I am confident it was not .”
R.A Dickey on last season
In 2009 Brian Schneider was here for me day in and day out, and last year Henry ( Blanco) was great with me
Josh Thole on his major league mentors.
18 comments
kingman 26
1/19/2011-4:12pm at 4:12 pm (UTC -4)
Nice work Rusty!!
Damn I wish I could have been there!
GO J-E-T-S JETS!!
rustyjr
1/19/2011-4:19pm at 4:19 pm (UTC -4)
being in the clubhouse is amazing !~!! I have more pics but i don’t know how to show them right side up lol
Ceetar
1/19/2011-4:32pm at 4:32 pm (UTC -4)
lol.
yeah, wish I had the type of job I could ditch more regularly for stuff like this.
kingman 26
1/19/2011-5:01pm at 5:01 pm (UTC -4)
Ah Ceetar, that makes two of us!
kingman 26
1/19/2011-5:01pm at 5:01 pm (UTC -4)
I SO wish I could go to the Mets’ clubhouse!
Rudy LaRusso who played for the Lakers in the 1960s was a lifelong close friend of my dad’s and knew everyone in the LA sports scene, Lasorda especially…in the summer of 1982 my brother and I got to go on the field at Dodgers Stadium and all over the clubhouse…definitely one of my all-time favorite childhood memories.
The highlights were Lasorda’s office with all of the framed pics of actors with him, and also when we met Dusty Baker he was more excited to meet Rudy LaRusso than we were to meet Dusty Baker!
Mr North Jersey
1/19/2011-5:30pm at 5:30 pm (UTC -4)
Just upload em all to thIs site and I will later right them up and add them to this post.
Mr North Jersey
1/19/2011-5:43pm at 5:43 pm (UTC -4)
My bad Rusty i only meant to upload em not actuallt post em as well. In any event I will correct it
rustyjr
1/19/2011-5:47pm at 5:47 pm (UTC -4)
thanks – the rotation button wasn’t on the upload area
Mr North Jersey
1/19/2011-5:31pm at 5:31 pm (UTC -4)
Must be cool to get so close. It’s great that you was able to attend.
rustyjr
1/19/2011-5:34pm at 5:34 pm (UTC -4)
It was
Ceetar
1/19/2011-6:45pm at 6:45 pm (UTC -4)
I wanna know what you were doing with Rubin’s contact info!
rustyjr
1/19/2011-7:23pm at 7:23 pm (UTC -4)
Comment…Shh I erased that
Ceetar
1/19/2011-9:38pm at 9:38 pm (UTC -4)
heh. well it’s public knowledge anyway. it’s on the website. but you could use that format to email anyone that works at that site.
kingman 26
1/19/2011-7:52pm at 7:52 pm (UTC -4)
emailing it to Tony Bernazard, for starters.
oleosmirf
1/19/2011-7:52pm at 7:52 pm (UTC -4)
rusty u have a press pass?
rustyjr
1/19/2011-7:59pm at 7:59 pm (UTC -4)
Not this time
metsfan4decades
1/19/2011-8:05pm at 8:05 pm (UTC -4)
Too cool – I am so jealous.
Thanks for sharing.
rustyjr
1/19/2011-8:10pm at 8:10 pm (UTC -4)
Never a problem