Mets Holiday Packs

Hey everybody,

If there's anyone who wants to buy me a Mets Holiday Pack, feel free to do so.

An Open Letter to Sandy Alderson

That's the question that I'm sure a lot of the front office is wondering.  The team is a mess.  The payroll is being cut.  The team is bleeding green.  The Madoff clawback trial is still looming.

There are going to be a lot of empty seats this season.  The most exciting player is gone (and I can't blame Jose for going - heck, they didn't even make him an offer).  With people not willing to pay to go to the park, they may be giving away a lot of tickets just to get people into the stadium just so that they'll spend money while they're there.

So Mets, I toss this out to you - send me tickets and I'll spend money at the park.

I'm serious.  Send me season tickets.  I'll go to as many games as possible.  I'll take my kid.  We'll have a good time.  When the kids come, they don't care if you're in dead last.  They love seeing Mr. Met and the apple go up.  Hook them while they're young and they'll keep on going later on in life.  The city has a whole generation of young Yankees fans - the Mets need a new young legion to be grown.

Send me some tickets and I'll take a kid to the park.  This will work to your advantage.  You'll get a couple of butts in otherwise empty seats.  You'll generate revenue where you wouldn't have otherwise.  You'll help me breed a young Mets fan that will keep on coming back to the park as an adult and will put money in your pockets later on.

There are plenty of cheap tickets that will be available in the promenade outfield.  Send me a pair and I'll use them.  Even feel free to leave out the Subway Series tickets, because you'll be able to sell those.  But send me a pair of the cheap seats for the other 78 games and they'll be put to good use.  Set the stipulation they're not valid for re-sale.  It doesn't matter.  Like I said, I'll take my kid.

Yes, Sandy Alderson.  I'm talking to you.  Send me some tickets.
Dave Howard, I'm talking to you as well.
David Newman, Craig Marino, Jay Horowitz, Leigh Castergine, J.P. Riccardi, I'm speaking to all of you.

Hey Partners - Fred Wilpon, Saul Katz, Jeff Wilpon, Richard Wilpon, Michael Katz, David Katz, Tom Osterman, Arthur Friedman, and Marvin Tepper - you own the team.  I'm sure you have the authority to say, "Hey, this guy is right - send him a pair of tickets."

I'm serious.  Send me some tickets.

Mets Draft Picks and the Majors

So how have the Mets fared in the draft?

Since 2000, the following draft picks have made it to the majors:

2000-
Billy Traber - 1
Bob Keppel - 1
Chris Basak - 6
Jeff Duncan - 7
Greg Burke - 42

2001-
Aaron Heilman - 1
David Wright - 1
Lenny DiNardo - 3
Danny Garcia - 5
Randy Wells - 44

2002-
Scott Kazmir - 1
Matt Lindstrom - 10

2003-
Lastings Milledge - 1
Brian Bannister - 7
Carlos Muniz - 13
Evan MacLane - 25

2004-
Philip Humber - 1
Nick Evans - 5
Mike Carp - 9

2005-
Mike Pelfrey -1
Drew Butera - 5
Jon Niese - 7
Bobby Parnell -9
Josh Thole - 13

2006-
Kevin Mulvey -2
Joe Smith - 3
Daniel Murphy - 13
Tobi Stoner - 16
Josh Stinson - 37

2007-
Eddie Kunz - 1
Lucas Duda - 7
Dillon Gee - 21

2008-
Ike Davis - 1
Josh Satin - 6
Chris Schwinden - 22

Nobody drafted after 2008 has yet to appear in a single MLB game.

So that's it.  The Mets have drafted 35 players in the last 11 years that have appeared in a single game in the majors.  That number will increase as players from the last couple of drafts are still fertilizing in the minors, but really?  There are a couple of good players in there, but really?  That's it?  588 players drafted.  That's only 6% of players drafted in the last 11 years ever saw any major league action.  Sure, there were other players that were taken internationally that weren't subject to the draft, but only 6% and 35 total players?

Since 2000, how have other teams fared in the draft?

Diamondbacks - 53 players
Braves - 42
Orioles - 33
Red Sox - 36
Cubs - 47
White Sox - 41
Reds - 34
Indians - 37
Rockies - 42
Tigers - 50
Marlins - 43
Astros - 33
Royals - 35

Ok - you get the idea - the Mets are near the bottom.

And how many major leaguers did the Yankees draft since 2000?  More than the Mets.  They had 40.   They drafted 602 players.  That's 6.6%.  Slightly higher. 

The Hat Roll Call

The regular season is over - the question is:  How many different hats have I collected?

AL East - Orioles, Yankees, Red Sox
AL Central - Tigers
AL West - I drew a goose egg on this one

NL East - Phillies, Marlins
NL Central - Brewers, Reds, Cubs (2), Astros (2)
NL West - Dodgers, Rockies (2)

That's 12 different major league teams that have sent me hats this season (not including the Mets). 

It works for other sports, too.

New York MLB baseball in 2012

If one were to go entirely crazy and were to attend at many home games in New York City in 2012, the only off days between April 5th and October 3rd would be:


Friday, April 6th
Thursday, April 12th
Thursday, May 3rd
Monday, May 7th
Thursday, May 31st
Monday-Thursday, June 11th-14th
Thusday, June 21st
Monday, July 2nd
Monday-Thursday, July 9th-12th
Thursday, July 19th
Thursday, July 26th
Thursday, Aug 2nd
Monday, Aug 6th
Thursday, Aug 30th
Monday-Thursday, Sept 3rd-6th
Thursday, Sept 13th
Friday-Sunday, Sept 28th-Sept 30th

The scheduled times haven't come out yet, but the Mets and Yankees are both playing at home on the same dates:

Mets vs. Orioles / Yankees vs. Braves - Mon-Wed, June 18th-20th
Mets vs. Phillies / Yankees vs. Blue Jays - Tues-Wed, Sept 18th-19th
Mets vs. Marlins / Yankees vs. A's - Friday-Sunday, Sept 21st-23rd

Attention A's Fans - Place a Ticket Deposit, Get a Jersey

The A's are running a promotion right now - put a deposit on a full or partial plan for 2012, you get a free authentic gold jersey with the player of your choice.

Add the Cubs to the List

I now have a brand new Cubs hat.  This one didn't come from the Cubs, it came from WGN radio in Chicago.  It was a non-sponsored, officially licensed MLB adjustable Cubs home hat.  Totally cool of them. 

Just goes to show, it never hurts to ask.

My wife thinks I am nuts.  It's a good thing that hats don't take up a lot of space.

Kids Go Free Again at Citifield

The Mets are doing it again.  Kids are going free through September 1st.

I Have a Logan Morrison Hat

The Marlins also came through.  I have a Logan Morrison #20 Florida Marlins giveaway hat from last Saturday's game.  My collection grows.

Great Comeback Batman!

One thing that you have to love about this year's team - they don't give up.  They're fun to watch.  They may be a .500 team, but they're a fun .500 team.

Red Sox Came Through Big

And this isn't for beating the Yankees.  The Red Sox sent me a hat.

They didn't even have a giveaway day this year, yet they sent me one anyway.  It's not a crappy hat either.  The exact opposite.  They sent me one of the best ones yet - an authentic MLB licensed Fenway Park Collection Boston Red Sox hat.

That was totally cool of them.

Thank you Sawx.

Murphy Out for the Year

He tore his knee.  Not the knee he tore last year.  This time he tore the other knee.

Poor guy.  I wonder if his future may be as a DH in the AL - a-la Edgar Martinez?

Billy Ripken Fuck Face Card

Gotta love that old school 1989 Fleer Billy Ripken fuck face card.  During his playing career, that was one of two things he was remembered for other than being Cal's little brother.

Bud Selig and the Ban

During his reign, Bud Selig has only banned one person - Marge Schott in 1996.  She was later reinstated in 1998 and was the last person that was banned by Major League Baseball.

Prior to Marge Schott, the most recent ban was attributed to Steve Howe in 1992 by Fay Vincent.   His ban was later reinstated by an arbitrator.

First Reyes, now Murphy

That didn't look good on Murphy's knee.  The top two sticks went down in the same game.

Jose Reyes Hurt Again

Stiffness in the hamstring.  Turner's playing second.

How long will he be out this time?

The Dead List Expands

There are now 17 dead teams.

Rays, Jays, Orioles, Twins, Royals, Athletics, Mariners - 7 in the American League
Mets, Marlins, Nationals, Pirates, Reds, Cubs, Astros, Rockies, Dodgers, Padres - 10 in the NL

Only 13 teams are left in the race.  Eight of them are in playoff positions.

Dan Uggla's Hitting Streak

How about having a 26 game hitting streak to raise your batting average to .215?

Two More Teams Come Through

The Astros and Dodgers have now sent me promo hats.  The Astros from their July 20th game and the Dodgers from their July 24th game. 

The National League is far outpacing the American League and putting them to shame.

The tally to date - Yankees, Reds, Phillies, Brewers, Rockies, Dodgers and Astros. 

Two Days Without a Loss!!!

Well, it's because of a rainout and a day off tomorrow.  They'll be back to their losing ways on Friday.