Yes here we are in the middle of January, and pitchers and catchers are about a scant 4 weeks or so away. Albeit there has been noise made by the Mets for all the wrong reasons (whispers of financial ruin, the inability to re-sign Jose Reyes) there has been very little in terms of transactions to get a Mets fans juices a flowing.
There are reports that ticket sales – whether they are for full season or partial plans are slower than Luis Castillo’s range, and unless the Mets front office does some thing bold – I expect the Mets to finish under 2 million in fan attendance for the first time in years.
So we know the Mets don’t have the money to retain their own high priced free agents – let alone anybody elses, so the question remains how will the Mets put fans butts in Citi Field seats this summer ?
I say a new positively charged advertising slogan should do the trick !
I have recently contracted the advertising firm of Doowee, Cheatem and Howe to come up with some slogans that will reinvigorate this apathetic fan base, and here are the seven best slogans that they could come up with.
7. “Things are bound to get better – right ???”
6. “Jose who ? We have Ronny Cedeno !”
5. “Hey we got rid of Ollie and Louie C !!!!”
4. ” Come to Citi Field – you might see a Mets win !!”
3. “We may not be the Yankees – but we have Mr. Met !!”
2. “Come see the Mets this summer – the lines at Blue Smoke and Shake Shack will be 50% shorter !”
And coming in at number one - ” The Magic Is Back – Part Deux !!”
And with that said….. HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!!
Mets alumni celebrating a birthday today includes:
Today would have marked the 70th birthday for one time Mets outfielder, Danny Napoleon (1942). He played with the Mets from the ’65-’66 seasons.
One of the forgotten members of the dominant Mets pitching staffs from the late ’60′s to early ’70′s, Jim McAndrew is 68 (1944) .
Reserve outfielder from ’77-’80, Dan Norman is celebrating his 57th birthday (1955) . Unfortunately Dan will always be known as one of the the players that the Mets received in return from the Cincinnati Reds for Tom Seaver.
Mets third base coach from ’05-’06, Manny Acta is 43 (1969) . He is currently the manager of the Cleveland Indians.
One of the best fielding shortstops in Mets history, Rey Ordóñez is 41 (1971). Too bad he was barely a passable hitter.
Reserve outfielder from the ’98-’9 seasons, Jermaine Allensworth turns 40 (1972) .
The New York Mets selected Jeff McKnight in second round of free agent draft on January 11, 1983. He would go on to be a utility-man for the Mets from ’89-’94.
The Texas Rangers signed spot starter/middle reliever, Pat Mahomes of the New York Mets as a free agent on January 11, 2001.
The New York Mets traded minor league prospect, Javier Ochoa to the Cleveland Indians for middle reliever, Tom Martin on January 11, 2001.
The New York Mets signed free agent reserve catcher, Joe DePastino on January 11, 2001.
The New York Mets signed free agent outfielder, Tsuyoshi Shinjo of the San Francisco Giants on January 11, 2003. This was Shinjo’s second go round with the Mets, but by this time he was way past his prime.
The New York Mets signed free agent center fielder, Carlos Beltran of the Houston Astros on January 11, 2005. Yes his six years with the Mets were turbulent to say the least, but I don’t think it is such a stretch to say that he is quite possible the best player to man center field with the Mets.
Rumor has it that Mo Vaughn has bought a minority share of the Mets. The deal breaker was that he will have his portrait erected by the Modell’s Zone !!!!
34 comments
darknova306
1/11/2012-6:45am at 6:45 am (UTC -4)
“The 2012 Mets – At least they aren’t likely to break the single season loss record”
Just thinking about this year’s team makes me want a beer. Can’t wait to see just how disgustingly awful the rotation will be. At least we don’t have to hear ridiculous defenses of Ollie “being mishandled” and “having potential” anymore. It’s the little things…
NJstuckinTX
1/11/2012-9:30am at 9:30 am (UTC -4)
Tried a decent Omaha IPA over the holidays. Almost over-aggresive in the hops. Similar to Sam Adams version of Sierra Nevada’s Torpedo. Was good, but i felt like I got smacked in the face with a Hops plant. Definitely not a quaffing brew.
NJstuckinTX
1/11/2012-9:34am at 9:34 am (UTC -4)
Lucky Bucket Brewing Company.
Ceetar
1/11/2012-9:52am at 9:52 am (UTC -4)
yum.
darknova306
1/11/2012-3:27pm at 3:27 pm (UTC -4)
That sounds pretty tasty to me
gategem
1/11/2012-7:11am at 7:11 am (UTC -4)
“Eat a Devil Dog a day and come see the Mets play.” Oh, applesauce, the Hostess Baking Company has filed for bankruptcy and since they make Drake’s cakes Devil Dogs may be a thing of the past. Can’t uncle Bud do something to save them like he saving the Wilpons? Bleep the Mets; bleep the Wilpons; bleep uncle Bud; bleep them all . I want my Twinkies.
NJstuckinTX
1/11/2012-9:32am at 9:32 am (UTC -4)
Work in Chocodiles in that conversation and then we’re talking!
And yes – Bleep the Mets, Bleep the Mets, See other teams come beat the Mets…
MetsFan4Decades
1/11/2012-7:37am at 7:37 am (UTC -4)
hahaha – clever.
How about: ‘Baseball Like It Shouldn’t Be’.
Sigh…it’s going to be a long season. Like darknova, I just can’t help but think this pitching is going to be god-awful. On paper we did improve the BP but that’s yet to be proven. The only starting pitcher I’ve got any faith in right now is Dickey.
Reading your Infamy: IMO, Carlos Beltran is the best CF we’ve ever had, even with the injuries – that were mis managed, IMO. Rare, true 5-tool player that had it all. Too bad the Mets hardly won anything while he was here.
Ceetar
1/11/2012-8:54am at 8:54 am (UTC -4)
Don’t count Santana out just yet.
TRS86
1/11/2012-9:08am at 9:08 am (UTC -4)
Right now, until he gets it amped up in ST we can’t count him in either.
Ceetar
1/11/2012-9:53am at 9:53 am (UTC -4)
Until everyone gets to the games healthy you can’t count on anyone, I’m not sure why Santana is that different.
TRS86
1/11/2012-10:27am at 10:27 am (UTC -4)
SERIOUSLY? Even Sandy admitted to this. Johan is much more of a question mark than most because they have no idea how his shoulder will respond to the rest and then stretching it back out. Dang it’s tough sometimes to comprehend how people view things. You think that there is just as much risk that Dickey’s shoulder will be an issue as Johan?
Ceetar
1/11/2012-10:39am at 10:39 am (UTC -4)
question marks are not crossed out marks. Our lack of knowledge of the future does not change the chances of Santana being on the mound Opening Day or for most of the season. (Which is a HUGE difference in the quality of the pitching, regardless of if he’s Cy Young Santana or not)
He shut down normally and the plan is for him to start up normally, I think it’s unfair to pencil someone else into the rotation over him in mid-January. it’s not a fantasy that he could pitch this year.
TRS86
1/11/2012-11:15am at 11:15 am (UTC -4)
“could”.
However, based on Sandy’s comments even they have a level of elevated uncertainty.
Ceetar
1/11/2012-11:17am at 11:17 am (UTC -4)
well, duh. he had surgery. They’re aware of that unknown. (And they’ve been aware of it since mid-october when he shut it down)
Sandy Alderson’s confidence level has no effect on what’s going to happen though.
TRS86
1/11/2012-11:35am at 11:35 am (UTC -4)
“Until everyone gets to the games healthy you can’t count on anyone, I’m not sure why Santana is that different.”
So are you saying you should or should not count on Johan being healthy to open the season at this point? Are you also saying that you would have the same confidence in his ability to open the season healthy as any other pitcher. This is what you implied, not me.
Ceetar
1/11/2012-12:19pm at 12:19 pm (UTC -4)
I phrased it poorly, my point is there is a lot of unknowns and it’s silly to present any of them as likely. We don’t have the information. How about Murphy? Ended each of the last two seasons via a knee injury playing second base. Should I be confident he’ll be there?
Right now the plan is for Santana to be in the rotation. If Alderson had to make out his rotation _right now_ Johan’s name would be on it.
I’m not sure what we get out of operating under the assumption he won’t be able to build up to an Opening Day start.
TRS86
1/11/2012-12:23pm at 12:23 pm (UTC -4)
What we get is the need for depth at the position. That is why they are building 2B depth and why we also need guys like not only Miggy but someone who can also spot start.
NJstuckinTX
1/11/2012-12:57pm at 12:57 pm (UTC -4)
I’d like to see Young + another 1 or 2 starter signed on a minor league deal and the final BP spot taken by Miggy/Young/another who is a starter/Long man.
MetsFan4Decades
1/11/2012-4:02pm at 4:02 pm (UTC -4)
I’d take a flyer on Young, if he’s ready.
But how can he be ready? Didn’t he have the same surgery Johan had but way after?
MetsFan4Decades
1/11/2012-11:04am at 11:04 am (UTC -4)
I’m crossing my fingers. Just not counting on it until he actually gets going.
darknova306
1/11/2012-3:32pm at 3:32 pm (UTC -4)
It would take a miracle for him to come back healthy enough to make a significant number of starts, and effective enough to make the rotation not look awful.
SaltyGary
1/11/2012-11:56am at 11:56 am (UTC -4)
Lets see if my MMO comment to Bayonne gets me the boot. I’m going on vacation in an hour so I felt like giving it a shot.
TRS86
1/11/2012-12:20pm at 12:20 pm (UTC -4)
LOL, what you said was tame compared to the garbage he spews. I really don’t even know why I subject myself to that idiocy.
SaltyGary
1/11/2012-2:02pm at 2:02 pm (UTC -4)
And thanks for sticking up for M4 (not that she needs it), he is a monster.
MetsFan4Decades
1/11/2012-3:55pm at 3:55 pm (UTC -4)
LOL, we got each other’s back.
And he just makes me crazy.
I have a theory. When I saw the thank you post on who contributed to that site for their upgrades, I thought to myself…’NOW I know why certain posters are still around – and were only temporarily banned’.
Those that really do the most attacking were coincidently on the list of contributors.
I really do like the majority of the posts over there. But those ridiculous, childish debates some of them provoke? Not so much….
Ceetar
1/11/2012-12:23pm at 12:23 pm (UTC -4)
anything good? (both vacation and your comment)
SaltyGary
1/11/2012-2:01pm at 2:01 pm (UTC -4)
Ahh just called the guy a a-hole.
Going to Nevis in the West Indies. My wife and I got Married there and it’s our 10th so we are renewing our vows. Whole bunch of family and friends are using it as a excuse to come. Very excited.
MetsFan4Decades
1/11/2012-3:57pm at 3:57 pm (UTC -4)
Very nice – and congrats on the 10 year anniversary!
Hazmet
1/11/2012-8:11pm at 8:11 pm (UTC -4)
Congrats Mr. & Mrs. Salty. Enjoy the trip
Hazmet
1/11/2012-8:14pm at 8:14 pm (UTC -4)
Slogans hmmm,
“MLB’s going to make us play 162, come join us for one”
Stickguy
1/11/2012-8:29pm at 8:29 pm (UTC -4)
on the MMO theme (an not limited to them, but that site I do still visit, wish I saw the Salty/MY/bayonne smack down! what thread?)
the Met’s are going to lead the league in at least one category. And I Guaranteeee it.
“most whiny, woe is me, life is unfair, let’s have a pity-party for ourselves” fans in all of MLB. They actually think that MLB should take the team away from the owners (even if they could!) just because NY fans “deserve” (require?) a bigger payroll than what the team will have.
MetsFan4Decades
1/12/2012-7:34am at 7:34 am (UTC -4)
It’s the Heilman signs with Mariners thread.
Before they hired that consulting firm I didn’t think there was any way the Wilpons could hang on. Now I’m not so sure. I don’t know anything about big business but from what I’m reading I now think it could go either way. I’ll bet this hinges now on how many investors they get and how much they have to pay after the Picard lawsuit is settled.
One thing I’m willing to bet: we won’t be hearing Fred or Jeff going on WFAN this season telling the fans they’re going to do everything within their power to field a team that will compete and that fans will want to come out and see. SA is officially the team’s spokesperson now and he’ll be doing all the talking.
Stickguy
1/12/2012-7:59am at 7:59 am (UTC -4)
missed that thread but went over to read it now. Typical.
That guy and a few of his cronies are ruining that site for intelligent people. Impossible to have a real discussion without the “core” making stupid comments and personal attacks.
Joe seems to love it because hits are hits, and like shock radio it gets attention. But, that is ST fool’s gold. Like cerrone, he will find out what happens to your site when the normal people get fed up and leave, and you are left with Bayonne and Omar complaining about their paranoid delusions.
I do love the double standard though. Everything that happens on the field (or lack of production) is sandy’s fault, but nothing from the past can be blamed on Omar, that is the player’s fault. Because, remember, Murphy is still on 3rd base.
2007 I remember game after game with big hits and the offense putting up leads, and the pitching just gave them all back. ALl freaking month.