Thoughts on Citi Field...

[metirish]

I didn't get to Shake Shack when I was there , better planning like soup says is the trick...when you order the ribs do you get a good slab or what?

[Benjamin Grimm]

When I was there, the line was pretty darn long about 45 minutes prior to game time. Maybe it was short compared to during the game. I don't know, we didn't head back that way again.

[G-Fafif]

My brother-in-law said he waited 45 minutes for Shake Shack last Sunday and was thrilled. He hates baseball.

[G-Fafif]

="metirish":1esm0zgl]I didn't get to Shake Shack when I was there , better planning like soup says is the trick...when you order the ribs do you get a good slab or what?[/quote:1esm0zgl] I witnessed an order being consumed the other night: five big ribs. Does not look unfilling.

Swan Swan H Jun 26 2009 01:16 PM

My daughter's office just moved across the street from Madison Square Park, home of the original Shake Shack. I am beyond jealous.

themetfairy Jun 26 2009 01:29 PM

BTW, one nice thing about Citi Field is the ability to find a condiments station throughout the park. I love sauerkraut, and I appreciate being able to take as much as I want for my Nathan's dog (or any other dog you choose).

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 26 2009 01:58 PM

="soupcan"]You guys that complain about the Shake Shack line are doing it wrong. Before the game starts the line is much more manageable. 10-15 minutes tops. During a game you could be stranded out there for 2-3 innings. I'm all about the Double Shack with a black & white. Indeed. Definitely pregame. An hour before gametime, it's a quick 20 (especially if you bring a beer and a companion). When the line spills past the sausage and peppers stand nearby, it's time to have some tacos or ribs. I'm okay with the pork. I dig on the ribs (4-5 bronto-sized dry rubbed beauts) and the sweet-and-tangy wings (usually prefer mine hot-- but these are succulent and not cloyingly sweet). ="themetfairy"]BTW, one nice thing about Citi Field is the ability to find a condiments station throughout the park. I love sauerkraut, and I appreciate being able to take as much as I want for my Nathan's dog (or any other dog you choose). Also, multiple kinds of mustard. And the availability of Mama's in the hoi-palloi food court is the double truth, Ruth.

G-Fafif Jun 29 2009 12:12 AM

First time with the Blue Smoke spare ribs Sunday night, before the game. Culinary highlight of the season. Obviously the highlight of Sunday night.

sharpie Jun 29 2009 07:03 AM

My first time at Citifield last night. Went to the Smoke Shack for the pulled pork. Loved it. Great beer at that beer garden place as well. Later, went for another beer at one of the regular beer stands. I notice the guy is pouring two. I note that I only ordered one and he said he misunderstood me. He charged me for one, but gave me two. I like it. The seats, via KC, had their problems. First row of the upper deck which meant you watch home plate through plexiglass and between railings. The "Let's Go Yankees" alternating with the "Yankees Suck" chants were mostly happening elsewhere until the end when the MFY fans began to predominate. From where we sat it sounded like the same people were invoking both chants so that people were yelling "Let's go Yankees Yankees Suck." The worst was the MFY fans at the subway station gloating. Other than that, and the outcome, we enjoyed ourselves.

dgwphotography Jun 29 2009 07:25 AM

="G-Fafif":1mhncrh7]Opposing relievers are psyched out by their proximity to the old Home Run Apple.[/quote:1mhncrh7] Standing on the mound, and facing the Mets' lineup is quite the elixir, though... Nymr83 Jun 29 2009 09:22 AM does Blue Smoke have any good fish? themetfairy Jun 29 2009 09:36 AM ="Nymr83":1m4bprs9]does Blue Smoke have any good fish?[/quote:1m4bprs9] I don't think it has fish - it's ribs, pulled pork, etc. For fish you want Catch of the Day (between the World's Fare Market and the Willie Mays Bridge). metirish Jun 29 2009 09:40 AM Does Catch of the day have ribs? Nymr83 Jun 29 2009 09:46 AM ="themetfairy":3u3vk04a] ="Nymr83":3u3vk04a]does Blue Smoke have any good fish?[/quote:3u3vk04a] I don't think it has fish - it's ribs, pulled pork, etc. For fish you want Catch of the Day (between the World's Fare Market and the Willie Mays Bridge).[/quote:3u3vk04a] the worlds fair market had some awesome cheesecake. i missed catch of the day i guess John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 29 2009 09:46 AM ="metirish":1ygl4iu9]Does Catch of the day have ribs?[/quote:1ygl4iu9] lol themetfairy Jun 29 2009 11:58 AM ="metirish":30lozeih]Does Catch of the day have ribs?[/quote:30lozeih] If it's a serious question, the answer is no. Calamari, chowder, other fish dishes. But I give a thumbs down to the shrimp cocktail salad - nice shrimp, but not much of a salad (and I tend to rely on entree salads to get through games). metirish Jul 14 2009 07:36 AM A mid-season report from Mark Hermann , not that that means much but there is a bit of news regarding Citi field A tale of two new ballparks BY MARK HERRMANN | mark.herrmann@newsday.com 9:58 PM EDT, July 13, 2009 ] This just proves that all rookies need a while to settle in, even a pair that came in together with a massive buildup and a combined $2.3-billion price tag. All that New York can say to the new Yankee Stadium and Citi Field after a sometimes rocky, sometimes pretty first half-season is what the city always says to a bonus baby: Welcome to the big leagues, kid. The new homes for the Yankees and Mets sure were the talk of the town, as expected. It's just that the clubs who built the stadiums (or, as they prefer, a stadium and a ballpark) never imagined the conversation would be about obstructed views, empty seats, muted tradition and, above all, too many or too few home runs. Everyone in the big leagues has heard the buzz. In his first hour as a Met on Saturday, former Brave Jeff Francoeur said: "You're not going to go out and hit 45 home runs in this park. If you want to do that, you've got to go 10 miles down the road." Nothing like each other Yes, the park built for intimacy is playing like the Grand Canyon and the stadium built for grand stature is playing like a neighborhood slow-pitch softball diamond. Yankee Stadium, next door to the slowly disappearing old Yankee Stadium, has become the Cape Canaveral of ballparks. It's a launching pad for four-base hits and one-liners. It has been called Coors Field East because it appeared to be a challenger to break the Denver stadium's record for homers in a season (303). Citi Field, next door to the vanished Shea Stadium (now a parking lot), has become baseball's Great Plains, a paradigm for the Mets' offensive drought. The first reason cited for acquiring Francoeur was that he is good enough to track down balls in the roomy, quirky outfield. Even for a couple of phenoms, replacing a combined 129 years of history isn't easy. Both clubs (especially the Mets) point out that most fans really like the new parks. And as for the kinks, each side said it is working on them. Back in March, the Yankees reduced the prices of some bleacher seats that didn't have full views. In April, in the face of ridicule over the sight of so many empty, padded premium seats right near the field, they announced a huge markdown and/or rebate, especially on the $2,500 tickets. They'll let it play out A Yankees spokesman said Monday that the club is not commenting on the Stadium now, instead choosing to see how the rest of the season goes. Hal Steinbrenner, the managing general partner, recently did send out e-mails to some customers inviting them to meetings at the Stadium or Rockefeller Center, and "telling us how we are doing and how we can make the 'Yankee Stadium Experience.' " Bloggers have objected to relentless promotions on the public address system, the fact that Monument Park is basically hidden behind the centerfield fence and that the place just doesn't have the electric feel that the building next door had. Visiting players have privately said the new Stadium is not as verbally intimidating as the old. Blue Jays first baseman Kevin Millar, formerly of the Red Sox, said he preferred the original: "I got booed a lot louder. I like to get booed. I don't know if it's all corporate, but they're too nice to me here." Home of the home run The real major story, though, is the long ball. The Stadium's home run binge isn't what it was, but it still is booming. The total of 142 through 42 games is on pace for 274, as opposed to 160 next door last year. In 46 road games, the Yankees and their opponents have hit only 102. At first, the Yankees blamed it on the weather, but a meteorologist disputed that, releasing a study backing the contention of hittrackeronline.com. It attributed the power surge to the lack of curvature in the rightfield wall (to accommodate a vintage-looking auxiliary scoreboard), effectively making the field smaller. Early in the season, A.J. Burnett spoke on behalf of all pitchers when he said, "This ballpark, obviously, is in your head." But the Yankees have won 20 of their past 29 at home, to which reliever Phil Coke said, "Even though, early on, it seemed like this place was going to yield the same amount in home runs as it did [in dollars] to build it, we're going to get the job done." Manager Joe Girardi said last week: "I love coming here; the players love coming here. Even though our ballpark has so much to offer and has so many new things, I think a lot of people have seen a lot of it and I think now the game is the main attraction. I don't know because I'm not in the stands, I'm not in the Great Hall, I'm not in the restaurants, but that's just kind of a feeling I get." Not enough Mets Dave Howard, the Mets' executive vice president for business, said Citi Field has been "extremely well received," with people commenting even on their reception in the parking lot. He did acknowledge early-season criticisms: Some seats have obstructed views and that there is less celebration of Mets history than the Brooklyn Dodgers' legacy. As much as there was a "good riddance" feeling about Shea, there was an uproar Sunday when one of its traditions, the apple, failed to pop out of the centerfield hat for the second of two home runs. "We've heard our fans," he said. So, he said, the Mets received permission from Major League Baseball to show the live feed on video screens the instant the ball is in play, allowing fans to follow action they might not see live. Also, an additional video board will be installed in the rightfield corner after the All-Star break. Howard added that more Mets memories will be reflected with displays in the park this summer, and that there are bigger long-term plans to give the place a Mets atmosphere. Whether they will make it a more hitter-friendly atmosphere by bringing in the fences or lowering the walls is a decision for the offseason. Howard did say that if the Mets are healthy, the park can work to their advantage because of their gap hitters, fly ball-oriented pitchers and mobile centerfielder and rightfielder. Backup centerfielder Angel Pagan said, "I need room to gallop, so this is the right place." Howard said, "I think it gets in other teams' heads, too." The question is, does it get in Mets' heads, especially David Wright's? There is some feeling that he and other Mets have taken their Citi Field swings on the road, where they have hit even fewer home runs than they have at home (24 to 28). "You have to adjust your approach, you have to adjust your philosophy to this ballpark because it's not a launching pad,'' Wright said. "It's not a place where you're going to go out and get a lot of cheap home runs." Gary Sheffield, who had a fondness for Shea ever since his uncle Dwight Gooden pitched there, said: "I love Citi Field. The atmosphere is electric. It's a challenge, but if you hit the ball square, it goes out." The half-season has not been a solid hit or a full whiff for either park. But this week will be big in both spots. Yankee Stadium will import memories from next door with Oldtimers Day on Sunday. Citi Field will strike a chord with concerts by Paul McCartney, who played Shea with the Beatles in 1965, and with Billy Joel, who helped close down Shea last year. Having gotten into heads and under skin, the two rookies, clearly here to stay, are trying to make their way into people's hearts. Frayed Knot Jul 14 2009 07:39 AM ="metirish":2cq4yf7v]Does Catch of the day have ribs?[/quote:2cq4yf7v] I think most fish have ribs, yes. dgwphotography Jul 14 2009 07:57 AM We made the shake shack our first stop after getting off the subway on Sunday... We got a table and walked right up and placed an order with no line at all.... metirish Jul 14 2009 08:02 AM ="Frayed Knot":3n1il63q] ="metirish":3n1il63q]Does Catch of the day have ribs?[/quote:3n1il63q] I think most fish have ribs, yes.[/quote:3n1il63q] tis true.......I got our smart assed.... metirish Jul 14 2009 08:02 AM ="dgwphotography":2ccowj6z]We made the shake shack our first stop after getting off the subway on Sunday... We got a table and walked right up and placed an order with no line at all....[/quote:2ccowj6z] not told here is the dgwp was carrying a gun. DocTee Jul 14 2009 08:06 AM Mebbe the Mets should bring this guy aboard: [url:r0m1vf1g]http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/14/SPE718LA3T.DTL[/url:r0m1vf1g] dgwphotography Jul 14 2009 08:06 AM ="metirish":37oc76h5] ="dgwphotography":37oc76h5]We made the shake shack our first stop after getting off the subway on Sunday... We got a table and walked right up and placed an order with no line at all....[/quote:37oc76h5] not told here is the dgwp was carrying a gun.[/quote:37oc76h5] LOL - I just a pretty big lens... Not my fault if they mistook it for a weapon... The view from the 7... bmfc1 Jul 14 2009 09:38 AM http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/ny-spparks1412966058jul13,0,6093781.story Some changes will be made to CF. What gets me that management had to "hear" from the fans before realizing that we want Mets history to be incorporated into a Mets ballpark. A smarter management would have built a team HOF right away instead of as an afterthought. A smarter management would have kept a panel or two from the Shea OF fence in place (if it didn't impede traffic) as both an historical marker and a meeting place. metsguyinmichigan Jul 14 2009 10:28 AM ="dgwphotography":72k07gfl] ="metirish":72k07gfl] ="dgwphotography":72k07gfl]We made the shake shack our first stop after getting off the subway on Sunday... We got a table and walked right up and placed an order with no line at all....[/quote:72k07gfl] not told here is the dgwp was carrying a gun.[/quote:72k07gfl] LOL - I just a pretty big lens... Not my fault if they mistook it for a weapon... The view from the 7... [/quote:72k07gfl] Beautiful photo! It really is a nice-looking ballpark. Benjamin Grimm Jul 14 2009 10:59 AM ="metsguyinmichigan":123rtddu] Beautiful photo! [/quote:123rtddu] I agree! ="metsguyinmichigan":123rtddu] It really is a nice-looking ballpark.[/quote:123rtddu] I agree with that, too. I only wish it was closer to Manhattan. metirish Jul 14 2009 11:01 AM Why closer to Manhattan when you live closer to Philly? the image is very beautiful , great capture. Benjamin Grimm Jul 14 2009 11:04 AM I wasn't thinking of my own convenience. I just think the stadium would be better located closer to Manhattan so they'd be able to get more of the after-work crowd. Vic Sage Jul 14 2009 11:56 AM its easy to get there after work. It's a 35 minute ride on the 7 train, or less on the LIRR. The problem is driving during rush hour, but that would be the problem even if you drove to the east side from the west side. G-Fafif Jul 14 2009 12:20 PM Great picture, no surprise, considering the lensman. Park and setting still need to be surrounded by a city block for full effect. Otherwise it still smacks of Arlington Comes to Flushing rather than homage to St. Ebbets. Farmer Ted Jul 15 2009 03:28 PM Took in the game on Sunday. First time to Citi. Had recent trips to PNC and Safeco so I was anxious to do a some comparison shopping. Overall a definite A. I got there early so I was literally the first person to the Shake Shack. Yum. Only an hour before game time and the place was mobbed. So here are my drawbacks: 1. Food court. Serious congestion here before and during the game. Put a destination location at the stadium and everyone flocks to it. I say tear down some of the junk yards across the street, install a foot bridge, and put some more fun stuff over there to ease the food mess. 2. Concourse width not enough. Then again, maybe the concourse is wide enough but you lose 10 feet of space with the cashier ropes that jut out from the food counters. Who thought of this traffic nightmare? 3. Home Run apple. I'll give a pass to the apple not coming up for Tatis' home run. I was turned away trying to get to the OLD apple since there was a private reception on that level. Fuckers. I was impressed with the staff at the game. Tons of staff in an array of colored shirts. Lady behind me got up in between innings and the schmuck behind her spilled beer on her seat. Dude was sloshed and subsequently tossed by security for being "that guy". No fewer than five staff showed up including one supervisor to wash down and scrub around her seat. NEVER saw that at Shea or any other stadium. I had the usher nazi in my section. No ticket, get out. Ninth inning and want to sneak down for a closer look? Tough shit. The place looked great. Still a bit sad about the vacant parking lot next to it. Surprised to see the brackets holding up piping in the stadium were rusting. Yeah, rusting. Speaking of Rust. No homage to Rusty Staub? Boog Powell and Greg Luzinski have their food pits. Until the area around the stadium is cleaned up, Safeco and PNC still get a slight edge for convenience and accessibility. I was happy that the place turned out to be a top flight facility. Ashie62 Jul 15 2009 08:25 PM ="metirish":fl693ser]Why closer to Manhattan when you live closer to Philly? the image is very beautiful , great capture.[/quote:fl693ser] Wish it was closer to Newark...sorry..train goes there dgwphotography Jul 16 2009 11:45 AM ="G-Fafif":19bf1wye]Great picture, no surprise, considering the lensman.[/quote:19bf1wye] This takes me back to the writing in those 1970's yearbooks.... ="G-Fafif":19bf1wye]Park and setting still need to be surrounded by a city block for full effect. Otherwise it still smacks of Arlington Comes to Flushing rather than homage to St. Ebbets.[/quote:19bf1wye] This is an excellent point - I oddly felt more in place when standing line for the the Mr. Met dash by the chop shops... G-Fafif Jul 16 2009 12:50 PM I think CF looks best when viewed from 126th St, though that's not really the ballpark. The admin building looks like a civic institution there, like a school or post office from the 1930s. Fits into a neighborhood even if the neighborhood isn't there. I like the back end of it, supporting the Willie Mays Bridge and the Pepsi Porch, as viewed from the Promenade as well. A bit of an OP@CY warehouse feel. Just a bit.

[Guest Swan Swan H]

My daughter's office just moved across the street from Madison Square Park, home of the original Shake Shack. I am beyond jealous.

[Guest themetfairy]

BTW, one nice thing about Citi Field is the ability to find a condiments station throughout the park. I love sauerkraut, and I appreciate being able to take as much as I want for my Nathan's dog (or any other dog you choose).

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

="soupcan"]You guys that complain about the Shake Shack line are doing it wrong. Before the game starts the line is much more manageable. 10-15 minutes tops. During a game you could be stranded out there for 2-3 innings. I'm all about the Double Shack with a black & white.

Indeed.

Definitely pregame. An hour before gametime, it's a quick 20 (especially if you bring a beer and a companion). When the line spills past the sausage and peppers stand nearby, it's time to have some tacos or ribs.

I'm okay with the pork. I dig on the ribs (4-5 bronto-sized dry rubbed beauts) and the sweet-and-tangy wings (usually prefer mine hot-- but these are succulent and not cloyingly sweet).

="themetfairy"]BTW, one nice thing about Citi Field is the ability to find a condiments station throughout the park. I love sauerkraut, and I appreciate being able to take as much as I want for my Nathan's dog (or any other dog you choose).

Also, multiple kinds of mustard.

And the availability of Mama's in the hoi-palloi food court is the double truth, Ruth.

[G-Fafif]

First time with the Blue Smoke spare ribs Sunday night, before the game. Culinary highlight of the season. Obviously the highlight of Sunday night.

[Guest sharpie]

My first time at Citifield last night. Went to the Smoke Shack for the pulled pork. Loved it. Great beer at that beer garden place as well. Later, went for another beer at one of the regular beer stands. I notice the guy is pouring two. I note that I only ordered one and he said he misunderstood me. He charged me for one, but gave me two. I like it.

The seats, via KC, had their problems. First row of the upper deck which meant you watch home plate through plexiglass and between railings. The "Let's Go Yankees" alternating with the "Yankees Suck" chants were mostly happening elsewhere until the end when the MFY fans began to predominate. From where we sat it sounded like the same people were invoking both chants so that people were yelling "Let's go Yankees Yankees Suck." The worst was the MFY fans at the subway station gloating. Other than that, and the outcome, we enjoyed ourselves.

[dgwphotography]

="G-Fafif":1mhncrh7]Opposing relievers are psyched out by their proximity to the old Home Run Apple.[/quote:1mhncrh7] Standing on the mound, and facing the Mets' lineup is quite the elixir, though...

Nymr83 Jun 29 2009 09:22 AM

does Blue Smoke have any good fish?

themetfairy Jun 29 2009 09:36 AM

="Nymr83":1m4bprs9]does Blue Smoke have any good fish?[/quote:1m4bprs9] I don't think it has fish - it's ribs, pulled pork, etc. For fish you want Catch of the Day (between the World's Fare Market and the Willie Mays Bridge). metirish Jun 29 2009 09:40 AM Does Catch of the day have ribs? Nymr83 Jun 29 2009 09:46 AM ="themetfairy":3u3vk04a] ="Nymr83":3u3vk04a]does Blue Smoke have any good fish?[/quote:3u3vk04a] I don't think it has fish - it's ribs, pulled pork, etc. For fish you want Catch of the Day (between the World's Fare Market and the Willie Mays Bridge).[/quote:3u3vk04a] the worlds fair market had some awesome cheesecake. i missed catch of the day i guess John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 29 2009 09:46 AM ="metirish":1ygl4iu9]Does Catch of the day have ribs?[/quote:1ygl4iu9] lol themetfairy Jun 29 2009 11:58 AM ="metirish":30lozeih]Does Catch of the day have ribs?[/quote:30lozeih] If it's a serious question, the answer is no. Calamari, chowder, other fish dishes. But I give a thumbs down to the shrimp cocktail salad - nice shrimp, but not much of a salad (and I tend to rely on entree salads to get through games). metirish Jul 14 2009 07:36 AM A mid-season report from Mark Hermann , not that that means much but there is a bit of news regarding Citi field A tale of two new ballparks BY MARK HERRMANN | mark.herrmann@newsday.com 9:58 PM EDT, July 13, 2009 ] This just proves that all rookies need a while to settle in, even a pair that came in together with a massive buildup and a combined $2.3-billion price tag. All that New York can say to the new Yankee Stadium and Citi Field after a sometimes rocky, sometimes pretty first half-season is what the city always says to a bonus baby: Welcome to the big leagues, kid. The new homes for the Yankees and Mets sure were the talk of the town, as expected. It's just that the clubs who built the stadiums (or, as they prefer, a stadium and a ballpark) never imagined the conversation would be about obstructed views, empty seats, muted tradition and, above all, too many or too few home runs. Everyone in the big leagues has heard the buzz. In his first hour as a Met on Saturday, former Brave Jeff Francoeur said: "You're not going to go out and hit 45 home runs in this park. If you want to do that, you've got to go 10 miles down the road." Nothing like each other Yes, the park built for intimacy is playing like the Grand Canyon and the stadium built for grand stature is playing like a neighborhood slow-pitch softball diamond. Yankee Stadium, next door to the slowly disappearing old Yankee Stadium, has become the Cape Canaveral of ballparks. It's a launching pad for four-base hits and one-liners. It has been called Coors Field East because it appeared to be a challenger to break the Denver stadium's record for homers in a season (303). Citi Field, next door to the vanished Shea Stadium (now a parking lot), has become baseball's Great Plains, a paradigm for the Mets' offensive drought. The first reason cited for acquiring Francoeur was that he is good enough to track down balls in the roomy, quirky outfield. Even for a couple of phenoms, replacing a combined 129 years of history isn't easy. Both clubs (especially the Mets) point out that most fans really like the new parks. And as for the kinks, each side said it is working on them. Back in March, the Yankees reduced the prices of some bleacher seats that didn't have full views. In April, in the face of ridicule over the sight of so many empty, padded premium seats right near the field, they announced a huge markdown and/or rebate, especially on the $2,500 tickets. They'll let it play out A Yankees spokesman said Monday that the club is not commenting on the Stadium now, instead choosing to see how the rest of the season goes. Hal Steinbrenner, the managing general partner, recently did send out e-mails to some customers inviting them to meetings at the Stadium or Rockefeller Center, and "telling us how we are doing and how we can make the 'Yankee Stadium Experience.' " Bloggers have objected to relentless promotions on the public address system, the fact that Monument Park is basically hidden behind the centerfield fence and that the place just doesn't have the electric feel that the building next door had. Visiting players have privately said the new Stadium is not as verbally intimidating as the old. Blue Jays first baseman Kevin Millar, formerly of the Red Sox, said he preferred the original: "I got booed a lot louder. I like to get booed. I don't know if it's all corporate, but they're too nice to me here." Home of the home run The real major story, though, is the long ball. The Stadium's home run binge isn't what it was, but it still is booming. The total of 142 through 42 games is on pace for 274, as opposed to 160 next door last year. In 46 road games, the Yankees and their opponents have hit only 102. At first, the Yankees blamed it on the weather, but a meteorologist disputed that, releasing a study backing the contention of hittrackeronline.com. It attributed the power surge to the lack of curvature in the rightfield wall (to accommodate a vintage-looking auxiliary scoreboard), effectively making the field smaller. Early in the season, A.J. Burnett spoke on behalf of all pitchers when he said, "This ballpark, obviously, is in your head." But the Yankees have won 20 of their past 29 at home, to which reliever Phil Coke said, "Even though, early on, it seemed like this place was going to yield the same amount in home runs as it did [in dollars] to build it, we're going to get the job done." Manager Joe Girardi said last week: "I love coming here; the players love coming here. Even though our ballpark has so much to offer and has so many new things, I think a lot of people have seen a lot of it and I think now the game is the main attraction. I don't know because I'm not in the stands, I'm not in the Great Hall, I'm not in the restaurants, but that's just kind of a feeling I get." Not enough Mets Dave Howard, the Mets' executive vice president for business, said Citi Field has been "extremely well received," with people commenting even on their reception in the parking lot. He did acknowledge early-season criticisms: Some seats have obstructed views and that there is less celebration of Mets history than the Brooklyn Dodgers' legacy. As much as there was a "good riddance" feeling about Shea, there was an uproar Sunday when one of its traditions, the apple, failed to pop out of the centerfield hat for the second of two home runs. "We've heard our fans," he said. So, he said, the Mets received permission from Major League Baseball to show the live feed on video screens the instant the ball is in play, allowing fans to follow action they might not see live. Also, an additional video board will be installed in the rightfield corner after the All-Star break. Howard added that more Mets memories will be reflected with displays in the park this summer, and that there are bigger long-term plans to give the place a Mets atmosphere. Whether they will make it a more hitter-friendly atmosphere by bringing in the fences or lowering the walls is a decision for the offseason. Howard did say that if the Mets are healthy, the park can work to their advantage because of their gap hitters, fly ball-oriented pitchers and mobile centerfielder and rightfielder. Backup centerfielder Angel Pagan said, "I need room to gallop, so this is the right place." Howard said, "I think it gets in other teams' heads, too." The question is, does it get in Mets' heads, especially David Wright's? There is some feeling that he and other Mets have taken their Citi Field swings on the road, where they have hit even fewer home runs than they have at home (24 to 28). "You have to adjust your approach, you have to adjust your philosophy to this ballpark because it's not a launching pad,'' Wright said. "It's not a place where you're going to go out and get a lot of cheap home runs." Gary Sheffield, who had a fondness for Shea ever since his uncle Dwight Gooden pitched there, said: "I love Citi Field. The atmosphere is electric. It's a challenge, but if you hit the ball square, it goes out." The half-season has not been a solid hit or a full whiff for either park. But this week will be big in both spots. Yankee Stadium will import memories from next door with Oldtimers Day on Sunday. Citi Field will strike a chord with concerts by Paul McCartney, who played Shea with the Beatles in 1965, and with Billy Joel, who helped close down Shea last year. Having gotten into heads and under skin, the two rookies, clearly here to stay, are trying to make their way into people's hearts. Frayed Knot Jul 14 2009 07:39 AM ="metirish":2cq4yf7v]Does Catch of the day have ribs?[/quote:2cq4yf7v] I think most fish have ribs, yes. dgwphotography Jul 14 2009 07:57 AM We made the shake shack our first stop after getting off the subway on Sunday... We got a table and walked right up and placed an order with no line at all.... metirish Jul 14 2009 08:02 AM ="Frayed Knot":3n1il63q] ="metirish":3n1il63q]Does Catch of the day have ribs?[/quote:3n1il63q] I think most fish have ribs, yes.[/quote:3n1il63q] tis true.......I got our smart assed.... metirish Jul 14 2009 08:02 AM ="dgwphotography":2ccowj6z]We made the shake shack our first stop after getting off the subway on Sunday... We got a table and walked right up and placed an order with no line at all....[/quote:2ccowj6z] not told here is the dgwp was carrying a gun. DocTee Jul 14 2009 08:06 AM Mebbe the Mets should bring this guy aboard: [url:r0m1vf1g]http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/14/SPE718LA3T.DTL[/url:r0m1vf1g] dgwphotography Jul 14 2009 08:06 AM ="metirish":37oc76h5] ="dgwphotography":37oc76h5]We made the shake shack our first stop after getting off the subway on Sunday... We got a table and walked right up and placed an order with no line at all....[/quote:37oc76h5] not told here is the dgwp was carrying a gun.[/quote:37oc76h5] LOL - I just a pretty big lens... Not my fault if they mistook it for a weapon... The view from the 7... bmfc1 Jul 14 2009 09:38 AM http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/ny-spparks1412966058jul13,0,6093781.story Some changes will be made to CF. What gets me that management had to "hear" from the fans before realizing that we want Mets history to be incorporated into a Mets ballpark. A smarter management would have built a team HOF right away instead of as an afterthought. A smarter management would have kept a panel or two from the Shea OF fence in place (if it didn't impede traffic) as both an historical marker and a meeting place. metsguyinmichigan Jul 14 2009 10:28 AM ="dgwphotography":72k07gfl] ="metirish":72k07gfl] ="dgwphotography":72k07gfl]We made the shake shack our first stop after getting off the subway on Sunday... We got a table and walked right up and placed an order with no line at all....[/quote:72k07gfl] not told here is the dgwp was carrying a gun.[/quote:72k07gfl] LOL - I just a pretty big lens... Not my fault if they mistook it for a weapon... The view from the 7... [/quote:72k07gfl] Beautiful photo! It really is a nice-looking ballpark. Benjamin Grimm Jul 14 2009 10:59 AM ="metsguyinmichigan":123rtddu] Beautiful photo! [/quote:123rtddu] I agree! ="metsguyinmichigan":123rtddu] It really is a nice-looking ballpark.[/quote:123rtddu] I agree with that, too. I only wish it was closer to Manhattan. metirish Jul 14 2009 11:01 AM Why closer to Manhattan when you live closer to Philly? the image is very beautiful , great capture. Benjamin Grimm Jul 14 2009 11:04 AM I wasn't thinking of my own convenience. I just think the stadium would be better located closer to Manhattan so they'd be able to get more of the after-work crowd. Vic Sage Jul 14 2009 11:56 AM its easy to get there after work. It's a 35 minute ride on the 7 train, or less on the LIRR. The problem is driving during rush hour, but that would be the problem even if you drove to the east side from the west side. G-Fafif Jul 14 2009 12:20 PM Great picture, no surprise, considering the lensman. Park and setting still need to be surrounded by a city block for full effect. Otherwise it still smacks of Arlington Comes to Flushing rather than homage to St. Ebbets. Farmer Ted Jul 15 2009 03:28 PM Took in the game on Sunday. First time to Citi. Had recent trips to PNC and Safeco so I was anxious to do a some comparison shopping. Overall a definite A. I got there early so I was literally the first person to the Shake Shack. Yum. Only an hour before game time and the place was mobbed. So here are my drawbacks: 1. Food court. Serious congestion here before and during the game. Put a destination location at the stadium and everyone flocks to it. I say tear down some of the junk yards across the street, install a foot bridge, and put some more fun stuff over there to ease the food mess. 2. Concourse width not enough. Then again, maybe the concourse is wide enough but you lose 10 feet of space with the cashier ropes that jut out from the food counters. Who thought of this traffic nightmare? 3. Home Run apple. I'll give a pass to the apple not coming up for Tatis' home run. I was turned away trying to get to the OLD apple since there was a private reception on that level. Fuckers. I was impressed with the staff at the game. Tons of staff in an array of colored shirts. Lady behind me got up in between innings and the schmuck behind her spilled beer on her seat. Dude was sloshed and subsequently tossed by security for being "that guy". No fewer than five staff showed up including one supervisor to wash down and scrub around her seat. NEVER saw that at Shea or any other stadium. I had the usher nazi in my section. No ticket, get out. Ninth inning and want to sneak down for a closer look? Tough shit. The place looked great. Still a bit sad about the vacant parking lot next to it. Surprised to see the brackets holding up piping in the stadium were rusting. Yeah, rusting. Speaking of Rust. No homage to Rusty Staub? Boog Powell and Greg Luzinski have their food pits. Until the area around the stadium is cleaned up, Safeco and PNC still get a slight edge for convenience and accessibility. I was happy that the place turned out to be a top flight facility. Ashie62 Jul 15 2009 08:25 PM ="metirish":fl693ser]Why closer to Manhattan when you live closer to Philly? the image is very beautiful , great capture.[/quote:fl693ser] Wish it was closer to Newark...sorry..train goes there dgwphotography Jul 16 2009 11:45 AM ="G-Fafif":19bf1wye]Great picture, no surprise, considering the lensman.[/quote:19bf1wye] This takes me back to the writing in those 1970's yearbooks.... ="G-Fafif":19bf1wye]Park and setting still need to be surrounded by a city block for full effect. Otherwise it still smacks of Arlington Comes to Flushing rather than homage to St. Ebbets.[/quote:19bf1wye] This is an excellent point - I oddly felt more in place when standing line for the the Mr. Met dash by the chop shops... G-Fafif Jul 16 2009 12:50 PM I think CF looks best when viewed from 126th St, though that's not really the ballpark. The admin building looks like a civic institution there, like a school or post office from the 1930s. Fits into a neighborhood even if the neighborhood isn't there. I like the back end of it, supporting the Willie Mays Bridge and the Pepsi Porch, as viewed from the Promenade as well. A bit of an OP@CY warehouse feel. Just a bit.

[nymr83]

does Blue Smoke have any good fish?

[Guest themetfairy]

="Nymr83":1m4bprs9]does Blue Smoke have any good fish?[/quote:1m4bprs9] I don't think it has fish - it's ribs, pulled pork, etc. For fish you want Catch of the Day (between the World's Fare Market and the Willie Mays Bridge).

metirish Jun 29 2009 09:40 AM

Does Catch of the day have ribs?

Nymr83 Jun 29 2009 09:46 AM

="themetfairy":3u3vk04a] ="Nymr83":3u3vk04a]does Blue Smoke have any good fish?[/quote:3u3vk04a] I don't think it has fish - it's ribs, pulled pork, etc. For fish you want Catch of the Day (between the World's Fare Market and the Willie Mays Bridge).[/quote:3u3vk04a] the worlds fair market had some awesome cheesecake. i missed catch of the day i guess John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 29 2009 09:46 AM ="metirish":1ygl4iu9]Does Catch of the day have ribs?[/quote:1ygl4iu9] lol themetfairy Jun 29 2009 11:58 AM ="metirish":30lozeih]Does Catch of the day have ribs?[/quote:30lozeih] If it's a serious question, the answer is no. Calamari, chowder, other fish dishes. But I give a thumbs down to the shrimp cocktail salad - nice shrimp, but not much of a salad (and I tend to rely on entree salads to get through games). metirish Jul 14 2009 07:36 AM A mid-season report from Mark Hermann , not that that means much but there is a bit of news regarding Citi field A tale of two new ballparks BY MARK HERRMANN | mark.herrmann@newsday.com 9:58 PM EDT, July 13, 2009 ] This just proves that all rookies need a while to settle in, even a pair that came in together with a massive buildup and a combined $2.3-billion price tag. All that New York can say to the new Yankee Stadium and Citi Field after a sometimes rocky, sometimes pretty first half-season is what the city always says to a bonus baby: Welcome to the big leagues, kid. The new homes for the Yankees and Mets sure were the talk of the town, as expected. It's just that the clubs who built the stadiums (or, as they prefer, a stadium and a ballpark) never imagined the conversation would be about obstructed views, empty seats, muted tradition and, above all, too many or too few home runs. Everyone in the big leagues has heard the buzz. In his first hour as a Met on Saturday, former Brave Jeff Francoeur said: "You're not going to go out and hit 45 home runs in this park. If you want to do that, you've got to go 10 miles down the road." Nothing like each other Yes, the park built for intimacy is playing like the Grand Canyon and the stadium built for grand stature is playing like a neighborhood slow-pitch softball diamond. Yankee Stadium, next door to the slowly disappearing old Yankee Stadium, has become the Cape Canaveral of ballparks. It's a launching pad for four-base hits and one-liners. It has been called Coors Field East because it appeared to be a challenger to break the Denver stadium's record for homers in a season (303). Citi Field, next door to the vanished Shea Stadium (now a parking lot), has become baseball's Great Plains, a paradigm for the Mets' offensive drought. The first reason cited for acquiring Francoeur was that he is good enough to track down balls in the roomy, quirky outfield. Even for a couple of phenoms, replacing a combined 129 years of history isn't easy. Both clubs (especially the Mets) point out that most fans really like the new parks. And as for the kinks, each side said it is working on them. Back in March, the Yankees reduced the prices of some bleacher seats that didn't have full views. In April, in the face of ridicule over the sight of so many empty, padded premium seats right near the field, they announced a huge markdown and/or rebate, especially on the $2,500 tickets. They'll let it play out A Yankees spokesman said Monday that the club is not commenting on the Stadium now, instead choosing to see how the rest of the season goes. Hal Steinbrenner, the managing general partner, recently did send out e-mails to some customers inviting them to meetings at the Stadium or Rockefeller Center, and "telling us how we are doing and how we can make the 'Yankee Stadium Experience.' " Bloggers have objected to relentless promotions on the public address system, the fact that Monument Park is basically hidden behind the centerfield fence and that the place just doesn't have the electric feel that the building next door had. Visiting players have privately said the new Stadium is not as verbally intimidating as the old. Blue Jays first baseman Kevin Millar, formerly of the Red Sox, said he preferred the original: "I got booed a lot louder. I like to get booed. I don't know if it's all corporate, but they're too nice to me here." Home of the home run The real major story, though, is the long ball. The Stadium's home run binge isn't what it was, but it still is booming. The total of 142 through 42 games is on pace for 274, as opposed to 160 next door last year. In 46 road games, the Yankees and their opponents have hit only 102. At first, the Yankees blamed it on the weather, but a meteorologist disputed that, releasing a study backing the contention of hittrackeronline.com. It attributed the power surge to the lack of curvature in the rightfield wall (to accommodate a vintage-looking auxiliary scoreboard), effectively making the field smaller. Early in the season, A.J. Burnett spoke on behalf of all pitchers when he said, "This ballpark, obviously, is in your head." But the Yankees have won 20 of their past 29 at home, to which reliever Phil Coke said, "Even though, early on, it seemed like this place was going to yield the same amount in home runs as it did [in dollars] to build it, we're going to get the job done." Manager Joe Girardi said last week: "I love coming here; the players love coming here. Even though our ballpark has so much to offer and has so many new things, I think a lot of people have seen a lot of it and I think now the game is the main attraction. I don't know because I'm not in the stands, I'm not in the Great Hall, I'm not in the restaurants, but that's just kind of a feeling I get." Not enough Mets Dave Howard, the Mets' executive vice president for business, said Citi Field has been "extremely well received," with people commenting even on their reception in the parking lot. He did acknowledge early-season criticisms: Some seats have obstructed views and that there is less celebration of Mets history than the Brooklyn Dodgers' legacy. As much as there was a "good riddance" feeling about Shea, there was an uproar Sunday when one of its traditions, the apple, failed to pop out of the centerfield hat for the second of two home runs. "We've heard our fans," he said. So, he said, the Mets received permission from Major League Baseball to show the live feed on video screens the instant the ball is in play, allowing fans to follow action they might not see live. Also, an additional video board will be installed in the rightfield corner after the All-Star break. Howard added that more Mets memories will be reflected with displays in the park this summer, and that there are bigger long-term plans to give the place a Mets atmosphere. Whether they will make it a more hitter-friendly atmosphere by bringing in the fences or lowering the walls is a decision for the offseason. Howard did say that if the Mets are healthy, the park can work to their advantage because of their gap hitters, fly ball-oriented pitchers and mobile centerfielder and rightfielder. Backup centerfielder Angel Pagan said, "I need room to gallop, so this is the right place." Howard said, "I think it gets in other teams' heads, too." The question is, does it get in Mets' heads, especially David Wright's? There is some feeling that he and other Mets have taken their Citi Field swings on the road, where they have hit even fewer home runs than they have at home (24 to 28). "You have to adjust your approach, you have to adjust your philosophy to this ballpark because it's not a launching pad,'' Wright said. "It's not a place where you're going to go out and get a lot of cheap home runs." Gary Sheffield, who had a fondness for Shea ever since his uncle Dwight Gooden pitched there, said: "I love Citi Field. The atmosphere is electric. It's a challenge, but if you hit the ball square, it goes out." The half-season has not been a solid hit or a full whiff for either park. But this week will be big in both spots. Yankee Stadium will import memories from next door with Oldtimers Day on Sunday. Citi Field will strike a chord with concerts by Paul McCartney, who played Shea with the Beatles in 1965, and with Billy Joel, who helped close down Shea last year. Having gotten into heads and under skin, the two rookies, clearly here to stay, are trying to make their way into people's hearts. Frayed Knot Jul 14 2009 07:39 AM ="metirish":2cq4yf7v]Does Catch of the day have ribs?[/quote:2cq4yf7v] I think most fish have ribs, yes. dgwphotography Jul 14 2009 07:57 AM We made the shake shack our first stop after getting off the subway on Sunday... We got a table and walked right up and placed an order with no line at all.... metirish Jul 14 2009 08:02 AM ="Frayed Knot":3n1il63q] ="metirish":3n1il63q]Does Catch of the day have ribs?[/quote:3n1il63q] I think most fish have ribs, yes.[/quote:3n1il63q] tis true.......I got our smart assed.... metirish Jul 14 2009 08:02 AM ="dgwphotography":2ccowj6z]We made the shake shack our first stop after getting off the subway on Sunday... We got a table and walked right up and placed an order with no line at all....[/quote:2ccowj6z] not told here is the dgwp was carrying a gun. DocTee Jul 14 2009 08:06 AM Mebbe the Mets should bring this guy aboard: [url:r0m1vf1g]http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/14/SPE718LA3T.DTL[/url:r0m1vf1g] dgwphotography Jul 14 2009 08:06 AM ="metirish":37oc76h5] ="dgwphotography":37oc76h5]We made the shake shack our first stop after getting off the subway on Sunday... We got a table and walked right up and placed an order with no line at all....[/quote:37oc76h5] not told here is the dgwp was carrying a gun.[/quote:37oc76h5] LOL - I just a pretty big lens... Not my fault if they mistook it for a weapon... The view from the 7... bmfc1 Jul 14 2009 09:38 AM http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/ny-spparks1412966058jul13,0,6093781.story Some changes will be made to CF. What gets me that management had to "hear" from the fans before realizing that we want Mets history to be incorporated into a Mets ballpark. A smarter management would have built a team HOF right away instead of as an afterthought. A smarter management would have kept a panel or two from the Shea OF fence in place (if it didn't impede traffic) as both an historical marker and a meeting place. metsguyinmichigan Jul 14 2009 10:28 AM ="dgwphotography":72k07gfl] ="metirish":72k07gfl] ="dgwphotography":72k07gfl]We made the shake shack our first stop after getting off the subway on Sunday... We got a table and walked right up and placed an order with no line at all....[/quote:72k07gfl] not told here is the dgwp was carrying a gun.[/quote:72k07gfl] LOL - I just a pretty big lens... Not my fault if they mistook it for a weapon... The view from the 7... [/quote:72k07gfl] Beautiful photo! It really is a nice-looking ballpark. Benjamin Grimm Jul 14 2009 10:59 AM ="metsguyinmichigan":123rtddu] Beautiful photo! [/quote:123rtddu] I agree! ="metsguyinmichigan":123rtddu] It really is a nice-looking ballpark.[/quote:123rtddu] I agree with that, too. I only wish it was closer to Manhattan. metirish Jul 14 2009 11:01 AM Why closer to Manhattan when you live closer to Philly? the image is very beautiful , great capture. Benjamin Grimm Jul 14 2009 11:04 AM I wasn't thinking of my own convenience. I just think the stadium would be better located closer to Manhattan so they'd be able to get more of the after-work crowd. Vic Sage Jul 14 2009 11:56 AM its easy to get there after work. It's a 35 minute ride on the 7 train, or less on the LIRR. The problem is driving during rush hour, but that would be the problem even if you drove to the east side from the west side. G-Fafif Jul 14 2009 12:20 PM Great picture, no surprise, considering the lensman. Park and setting still need to be surrounded by a city block for full effect. Otherwise it still smacks of Arlington Comes to Flushing rather than homage to St. Ebbets. Farmer Ted Jul 15 2009 03:28 PM Took in the game on Sunday. First time to Citi. Had recent trips to PNC and Safeco so I was anxious to do a some comparison shopping. Overall a definite A. I got there early so I was literally the first person to the Shake Shack. Yum. Only an hour before game time and the place was mobbed. So here are my drawbacks: 1. Food court. Serious congestion here before and during the game. Put a destination location at the stadium and everyone flocks to it. I say tear down some of the junk yards across the street, install a foot bridge, and put some more fun stuff over there to ease the food mess. 2. Concourse width not enough. Then again, maybe the concourse is wide enough but you lose 10 feet of space with the cashier ropes that jut out from the food counters. Who thought of this traffic nightmare? 3. Home Run apple. I'll give a pass to the apple not coming up for Tatis' home run. I was turned away trying to get to the OLD apple since there was a private reception on that level. Fuckers. I was impressed with the staff at the game. Tons of staff in an array of colored shirts. Lady behind me got up in between innings and the schmuck behind her spilled beer on her seat. Dude was sloshed and subsequently tossed by security for being "that guy". No fewer than five staff showed up including one supervisor to wash down and scrub around her seat. NEVER saw that at Shea or any other stadium. I had the usher nazi in my section. No ticket, get out. Ninth inning and want to sneak down for a closer look? Tough shit. The place looked great. Still a bit sad about the vacant parking lot next to it. Surprised to see the brackets holding up piping in the stadium were rusting. Yeah, rusting. Speaking of Rust. No homage to Rusty Staub? Boog Powell and Greg Luzinski have their food pits. Until the area around the stadium is cleaned up, Safeco and PNC still get a slight edge for convenience and accessibility. I was happy that the place turned out to be a top flight facility. Ashie62 Jul 15 2009 08:25 PM ="metirish":fl693ser]Why closer to Manhattan when you live closer to Philly? the image is very beautiful , great capture.[/quote:fl693ser] Wish it was closer to Newark...sorry..train goes there dgwphotography Jul 16 2009 11:45 AM ="G-Fafif":19bf1wye]Great picture, no surprise, considering the lensman.[/quote:19bf1wye] This takes me back to the writing in those 1970's yearbooks.... ="G-Fafif":19bf1wye]Park and setting still need to be surrounded by a city block for full effect. Otherwise it still smacks of Arlington Comes to Flushing rather than homage to St. Ebbets.[/quote:19bf1wye] This is an excellent point - I oddly felt more in place when standing line for the the Mr. Met dash by the chop shops... G-Fafif Jul 16 2009 12:50 PM I think CF looks best when viewed from 126th St, though that's not really the ballpark. The admin building looks like a civic institution there, like a school or post office from the 1930s. Fits into a neighborhood even if the neighborhood isn't there. I like the back end of it, supporting the Willie Mays Bridge and the Pepsi Porch, as viewed from the Promenade as well. A bit of an OP@CY warehouse feel. Just a bit.

[metirish]

Does Catch of the day have ribs?

[nymr83]

="themetfairy":3u3vk04a] ="Nymr83":3u3vk04a]does Blue Smoke have any good fish?[/quote:3u3vk04a] I don't think it has fish - it's ribs, pulled pork, etc. For fish you want Catch of the Day (between the World's Fare Market and the Willie Mays Bridge).[/quote:3u3vk04a] the worlds fair market had some awesome cheesecake. i missed catch of the day i guess John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 29 2009 09:46 AM ="metirish":1ygl4iu9]Does Catch of the day have ribs?[/quote:1ygl4iu9] lol themetfairy Jun 29 2009 11:58 AM ="metirish":30lozeih]Does Catch of the day have ribs?[/quote:30lozeih] If it's a serious question, the answer is no. Calamari, chowder, other fish dishes. But I give a thumbs down to the shrimp cocktail salad - nice shrimp, but not much of a salad (and I tend to rely on entree salads to get through games). metirish Jul 14 2009 07:36 AM A mid-season report from Mark Hermann , not that that means much but there is a bit of news regarding Citi field A tale of two new ballparks BY MARK HERRMANN | mark.herrmann@newsday.com 9:58 PM EDT, July 13, 2009 ] This just proves that all rookies need a while to settle in, even a pair that came in together with a massive buildup and a combined $2.3-billion price tag. All that New York can say to the new Yankee Stadium and Citi Field after a sometimes rocky, sometimes pretty first half-season is what the city always says to a bonus baby: Welcome to the big leagues, kid. The new homes for the Yankees and Mets sure were the talk of the town, as expected. It's just that the clubs who built the stadiums (or, as they prefer, a stadium and a ballpark) never imagined the conversation would be about obstructed views, empty seats, muted tradition and, above all, too many or too few home runs. Everyone in the big leagues has heard the buzz. In his first hour as a Met on Saturday, former Brave Jeff Francoeur said: "You're not going to go out and hit 45 home runs in this park. If you want to do that, you've got to go 10 miles down the road." Nothing like each other Yes, the park built for intimacy is playing like the Grand Canyon and the stadium built for grand stature is playing like a neighborhood slow-pitch softball diamond. Yankee Stadium, next door to the slowly disappearing old Yankee Stadium, has become the Cape Canaveral of ballparks. It's a launching pad for four-base hits and one-liners. It has been called Coors Field East because it appeared to be a challenger to break the Denver stadium's record for homers in a season (303). Citi Field, next door to the vanished Shea Stadium (now a parking lot), has become baseball's Great Plains, a paradigm for the Mets' offensive drought. The first reason cited for acquiring Francoeur was that he is good enough to track down balls in the roomy, quirky outfield. Even for a couple of phenoms, replacing a combined 129 years of history isn't easy. Both clubs (especially the Mets) point out that most fans really like the new parks. And as for the kinks, each side said it is working on them. Back in March, the Yankees reduced the prices of some bleacher seats that didn't have full views. In April, in the face of ridicule over the sight of so many empty, padded premium seats right near the field, they announced a huge markdown and/or rebate, especially on the $2,500 tickets. They'll let it play out A Yankees spokesman said Monday that the club is not commenting on the Stadium now, instead choosing to see how the rest of the season goes. Hal Steinbrenner, the managing general partner, recently did send out e-mails to some customers inviting them to meetings at the Stadium or Rockefeller Center, and "telling us how we are doing and how we can make the 'Yankee Stadium Experience.' " Bloggers have objected to relentless promotions on the public address system, the fact that Monument Park is basically hidden behind the centerfield fence and that the place just doesn't have the electric feel that the building next door had. Visiting players have privately said the new Stadium is not as verbally intimidating as the old. Blue Jays first baseman Kevin Millar, formerly of the Red Sox, said he preferred the original: "I got booed a lot louder. I like to get booed. I don't know if it's all corporate, but they're too nice to me here." Home of the home run The real major story, though, is the long ball. The Stadium's home run binge isn't what it was, but it still is booming. The total of 142 through 42 games is on pace for 274, as opposed to 160 next door last year. In 46 road games, the Yankees and their opponents have hit only 102. At first, the Yankees blamed it on the weather, but a meteorologist disputed that, releasing a study backing the contention of hittrackeronline.com. It attributed the power surge to the lack of curvature in the rightfield wall (to accommodate a vintage-looking auxiliary scoreboard), effectively making the field smaller. Early in the season, A.J. Burnett spoke on behalf of all pitchers when he said, "This ballpark, obviously, is in your head." But the Yankees have won 20 of their past 29 at home, to which reliever Phil Coke said, "Even though, early on, it seemed like this place was going to yield the same amount in home runs as it did [in dollars] to build it, we're going to get the job done." Manager Joe Girardi said last week: "I love coming here; the players love coming here. Even though our ballpark has so much to offer and has so many new things, I think a lot of people have seen a lot of it and I think now the game is the main attraction. I don't know because I'm not in the stands, I'm not in the Great Hall, I'm not in the restaurants, but that's just kind of a feeling I get." Not enough Mets Dave Howard, the Mets' executive vice president for business, said Citi Field has been "extremely well received," with people commenting even on their reception in the parking lot. He did acknowledge early-season criticisms: Some seats have obstructed views and that there is less celebration of Mets history than the Brooklyn Dodgers' legacy. As much as there was a "good riddance" feeling about Shea, there was an uproar Sunday when one of its traditions, the apple, failed to pop out of the centerfield hat for the second of two home runs. "We've heard our fans," he said. So, he said, the Mets received permission from Major League Baseball to show the live feed on video screens the instant the ball is in play, allowing fans to follow action they might not see live. Also, an additional video board will be installed in the rightfield corner after the All-Star break. Howard added that more Mets memories will be reflected with displays in the park this summer, and that there are bigger long-term plans to give the place a Mets atmosphere. Whether they will make it a more hitter-friendly atmosphere by bringing in the fences or lowering the walls is a decision for the offseason. Howard did say that if the Mets are healthy, the park can work to their advantage because of their gap hitters, fly ball-oriented pitchers and mobile centerfielder and rightfielder. Backup centerfielder Angel Pagan said, "I need room to gallop, so this is the right place." Howard said, "I think it gets in other teams' heads, too." The question is, does it get in Mets' heads, especially David Wright's? There is some feeling that he and other Mets have taken their Citi Field swings on the road, where they have hit even fewer home runs than they have at home (24 to 28). "You have to adjust your approach, you have to adjust your philosophy to this ballpark because it's not a launching pad,'' Wright said. "It's not a place where you're going to go out and get a lot of cheap home runs." Gary Sheffield, who had a fondness for Shea ever since his uncle Dwight Gooden pitched there, said: "I love Citi Field. The atmosphere is electric. It's a challenge, but if you hit the ball square, it goes out." The half-season has not been a solid hit or a full whiff for either park. But this week will be big in both spots. Yankee Stadium will import memories from next door with Oldtimers Day on Sunday. Citi Field will strike a chord with concerts by Paul McCartney, who played Shea with the Beatles in 1965, and with Billy Joel, who helped close down Shea last year. Having gotten into heads and under skin, the two rookies, clearly here to stay, are trying to make their way into people's hearts. Frayed Knot Jul 14 2009 07:39 AM ="metirish":2cq4yf7v]Does Catch of the day have ribs?[/quote:2cq4yf7v] I think most fish have ribs, yes. dgwphotography Jul 14 2009 07:57 AM We made the shake shack our first stop after getting off the subway on Sunday... We got a table and walked right up and placed an order with no line at all.... metirish Jul 14 2009 08:02 AM ="Frayed Knot":3n1il63q] ="metirish":3n1il63q]Does Catch of the day have ribs?[/quote:3n1il63q] I think most fish have ribs, yes.[/quote:3n1il63q] tis true.......I got our smart assed.... metirish Jul 14 2009 08:02 AM ="dgwphotography":2ccowj6z]We made the shake shack our first stop after getting off the subway on Sunday... We got a table and walked right up and placed an order with no line at all....[/quote:2ccowj6z] not told here is the dgwp was carrying a gun. DocTee Jul 14 2009 08:06 AM Mebbe the Mets should bring this guy aboard: [url:r0m1vf1g]http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/14/SPE718LA3T.DTL[/url:r0m1vf1g] dgwphotography Jul 14 2009 08:06 AM ="metirish":37oc76h5] ="dgwphotography":37oc76h5]We made the shake shack our first stop after getting off the subway on Sunday... We got a table and walked right up and placed an order with no line at all....[/quote:37oc76h5] not told here is the dgwp was carrying a gun.[/quote:37oc76h5] LOL - I just a pretty big lens... Not my fault if they mistook it for a weapon... The view from the 7... bmfc1 Jul 14 2009 09:38 AM http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/ny-spparks1412966058jul13,0,6093781.story Some changes will be made to CF. What gets me that management had to "hear" from the fans before realizing that we want Mets history to be incorporated into a Mets ballpark. A smarter management would have built a team HOF right away instead of as an afterthought. A smarter management would have kept a panel or two from the Shea OF fence in place (if it didn't impede traffic) as both an historical marker and a meeting place. metsguyinmichigan Jul 14 2009 10:28 AM ="dgwphotography":72k07gfl] ="metirish":72k07gfl] ="dgwphotography":72k07gfl]We made the shake shack our first stop after getting off the subway on Sunday... We got a table and walked right up and placed an order with no line at all....[/quote:72k07gfl] not told here is the dgwp was carrying a gun.[/quote:72k07gfl] LOL - I just a pretty big lens... Not my fault if they mistook it for a weapon... The view from the 7... [/quote:72k07gfl] Beautiful photo! It really is a nice-looking ballpark. Benjamin Grimm Jul 14 2009 10:59 AM ="metsguyinmichigan":123rtddu] Beautiful photo! [/quote:123rtddu] I agree! ="metsguyinmichigan":123rtddu] It really is a nice-looking ballpark.[/quote:123rtddu] I agree with that, too. I only wish it was closer to Manhattan. metirish Jul 14 2009 11:01 AM Why closer to Manhattan when you live closer to Philly? the image is very beautiful , great capture. Benjamin Grimm Jul 14 2009 11:04 AM I wasn't thinking of my own convenience. I just think the stadium would be better located closer to Manhattan so they'd be able to get more of the after-work crowd. Vic Sage Jul 14 2009 11:56 AM its easy to get there after work. It's a 35 minute ride on the 7 train, or less on the LIRR. The problem is driving during rush hour, but that would be the problem even if you drove to the east side from the west side. G-Fafif Jul 14 2009 12:20 PM Great picture, no surprise, considering the lensman. Park and setting still need to be surrounded by a city block for full effect. Otherwise it still smacks of Arlington Comes to Flushing rather than homage to St. Ebbets. Farmer Ted Jul 15 2009 03:28 PM Took in the game on Sunday. First time to Citi. Had recent trips to PNC and Safeco so I was anxious to do a some comparison shopping. Overall a definite A. I got there early so I was literally the first person to the Shake Shack. Yum. Only an hour before game time and the place was mobbed. So here are my drawbacks: 1. Food court. Serious congestion here before and during the game. Put a destination location at the stadium and everyone flocks to it. I say tear down some of the junk yards across the street, install a foot bridge, and put some more fun stuff over there to ease the food mess. 2. Concourse width not enough. Then again, maybe the concourse is wide enough but you lose 10 feet of space with the cashier ropes that jut out from the food counters. Who thought of this traffic nightmare? 3. Home Run apple. I'll give a pass to the apple not coming up for Tatis' home run. I was turned away trying to get to the OLD apple since there was a private reception on that level. Fuckers. I was impressed with the staff at the game. Tons of staff in an array of colored shirts. Lady behind me got up in between innings and the schmuck behind her spilled beer on her seat. Dude was sloshed and subsequently tossed by security for being "that guy". No fewer than five staff showed up including one supervisor to wash down and scrub around her seat. NEVER saw that at Shea or any other stadium. I had the usher nazi in my section. No ticket, get out. Ninth inning and want to sneak down for a closer look? Tough shit. The place looked great. Still a bit sad about the vacant parking lot next to it. Surprised to see the brackets holding up piping in the stadium were rusting. Yeah, rusting. Speaking of Rust. No homage to Rusty Staub? Boog Powell and Greg Luzinski have their food pits. Until the area around the stadium is cleaned up, Safeco and PNC still get a slight edge for convenience and accessibility. I was happy that the place turned out to be a top flight facility. Ashie62 Jul 15 2009 08:25 PM ="metirish":fl693ser]Why closer to Manhattan when you live closer to Philly? the image is very beautiful , great capture.[/quote:fl693ser] Wish it was closer to Newark...sorry..train goes there dgwphotography Jul 16 2009 11:45 AM ="G-Fafif":19bf1wye]Great picture, no surprise, considering the lensman.[/quote:19bf1wye] This takes me back to the writing in those 1970's yearbooks.... ="G-Fafif":19bf1wye]Park and setting still need to be surrounded by a city block for full effect. Otherwise it still smacks of Arlington Comes to Flushing rather than homage to St. Ebbets.[/quote:19bf1wye] This is an excellent point - I oddly felt more in place when standing line for the the Mr. Met dash by the chop shops... G-Fafif Jul 16 2009 12:50 PM I think CF looks best when viewed from 126th St, though that's not really the ballpark. The admin building looks like a civic institution there, like a school or post office from the 1930s. Fits into a neighborhood even if the neighborhood isn't there. I like the back end of it, supporting the Willie Mays Bridge and the Pepsi Porch, as viewed from the Promenade as well. A bit of an OP@CY warehouse feel. Just a bit.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

="metirish":1ygl4iu9]Does Catch of the day have ribs?[/quote:1ygl4iu9] lol

themetfairy Jun 29 2009 11:58 AM

="metirish":30lozeih]Does Catch of the day have ribs?[/quote:30lozeih] If it's a serious question, the answer is no. Calamari, chowder, other fish dishes. But I give a thumbs down to the shrimp cocktail salad - nice shrimp, but not much of a salad (and I tend to rely on entree salads to get through games). metirish Jul 14 2009 07:36 AM A mid-season report from Mark Hermann , not that that means much but there is a bit of news regarding Citi field A tale of two new ballparks BY MARK HERRMANN | mark.herrmann@newsday.com 9:58 PM EDT, July 13, 2009 ] This just proves that all rookies need a while to settle in, even a pair that came in together with a massive buildup and a combined $2.3-billion price tag. All that New York can say to the new Yankee Stadium and Citi Field after a sometimes rocky, sometimes pretty first half-season is what the city always says to a bonus baby: Welcome to the big leagues, kid. The new homes for the Yankees and Mets sure were the talk of the town, as expected. It's just that the clubs who built the stadiums (or, as they prefer, a stadium and a ballpark) never imagined the conversation would be about obstructed views, empty seats, muted tradition and, above all, too many or too few home runs. Everyone in the big leagues has heard the buzz. In his first hour as a Met on Saturday, former Brave Jeff Francoeur said: "You're not going to go out and hit 45 home runs in this park. If you want to do that, you've got to go 10 miles down the road." Nothing like each other Yes, the park built for intimacy is playing like the Grand Canyon and the stadium built for grand stature is playing like a neighborhood slow-pitch softball diamond. Yankee Stadium, next door to the slowly disappearing old Yankee Stadium, has become the Cape Canaveral of ballparks. It's a launching pad for four-base hits and one-liners. It has been called Coors Field East because it appeared to be a challenger to break the Denver stadium's record for homers in a season (303). Citi Field, next door to the vanished Shea Stadium (now a parking lot), has become baseball's Great Plains, a paradigm for the Mets' offensive drought. The first reason cited for acquiring Francoeur was that he is good enough to track down balls in the roomy, quirky outfield. Even for a couple of phenoms, replacing a combined 129 years of history isn't easy. Both clubs (especially the Mets) point out that most fans really like the new parks. And as for the kinks, each side said it is working on them. Back in March, the Yankees reduced the prices of some bleacher seats that didn't have full views. In April, in the face of ridicule over the sight of so many empty, padded premium seats right near the field, they announced a huge markdown and/or rebate, especially on the $2,500 tickets. They'll let it play out A Yankees spokesman said Monday that the club is not commenting on the Stadium now, instead choosing to see how the rest of the season goes. Hal Steinbrenner, the managing general partner, recently did send out e-mails to some customers inviting them to meetings at the Stadium or Rockefeller Center, and "telling us how we are doing and how we can make the 'Yankee Stadium Experience.' " Bloggers have objected to relentless promotions on the public address system, the fact that Monument Park is basically hidden behind the centerfield fence and that the place just doesn't have the electric feel that the building next door had. Visiting players have privately said the new Stadium is not as verbally intimidating as the old. Blue Jays first baseman Kevin Millar, formerly of the Red Sox, said he preferred the original: "I got booed a lot louder. I like to get booed. I don't know if it's all corporate, but they're too nice to me here." Home of the home run The real major story, though, is the long ball. The Stadium's home run binge isn't what it was, but it still is booming. The total of 142 through 42 games is on pace for 274, as opposed to 160 next door last year. In 46 road games, the Yankees and their opponents have hit only 102. At first, the Yankees blamed it on the weather, but a meteorologist disputed that, releasing a study backing the contention of hittrackeronline.com. It attributed the power surge to the lack of curvature in the rightfield wall (to accommodate a vintage-looking auxiliary scoreboard), effectively making the field smaller. Early in the season, A.J. Burnett spoke on behalf of all pitchers when he said, "This ballpark, obviously, is in your head." But the Yankees have won 20 of their past 29 at home, to which reliever Phil Coke said, "Even though, early on, it seemed like this place was going to yield the same amount in home runs as it did [in dollars] to build it, we're going to get the job done." Manager Joe Girardi said last week: "I love coming here; the players love coming here. Even though our ballpark has so much to offer and has so many new things, I think a lot of people have seen a lot of it and I think now the game is the main attraction. I don't know because I'm not in the stands, I'm not in the Great Hall, I'm not in the restaurants, but that's just kind of a feeling I get." Not enough Mets Dave Howard, the Mets' executive vice president for business, said Citi Field has been "extremely well received," with people commenting even on their reception in the parking lot. He did acknowledge early-season criticisms: Some seats have obstructed views and that there is less celebration of Mets history than the Brooklyn Dodgers' legacy. As much as there was a "good riddance" feeling about Shea, there was an uproar Sunday when one of its traditions, the apple, failed to pop out of the centerfield hat for the second of two home runs. "We've heard our fans," he said. So, he said, the Mets received permission from Major League Baseball to show the live feed on video screens the instant the ball is in play, allowing fans to follow action they might not see live. Also, an additional video board will be installed in the rightfield corner after the All-Star break. Howard added that more Mets memories will be reflected with displays in the park this summer, and that there are bigger long-term plans to give the place a Mets atmosphere. Whether they will make it a more hitter-friendly atmosphere by bringing in the fences or lowering the walls is a decision for the offseason. Howard did say that if the Mets are healthy, the park can work to their advantage because of their gap hitters, fly ball-oriented pitchers and mobile centerfielder and rightfielder. Backup centerfielder Angel Pagan said, "I need room to gallop, so this is the right place." Howard said, "I think it gets in other teams' heads, too." The question is, does it get in Mets' heads, especially David Wright's? There is some feeling that he and other Mets have taken their Citi Field swings on the road, where they have hit even fewer home runs than they have at home (24 to 28). "You have to adjust your approach, you have to adjust your philosophy to this ballpark because it's not a launching pad,'' Wright said. "It's not a place where you're going to go out and get a lot of cheap home runs." Gary Sheffield, who had a fondness for Shea ever since his uncle Dwight Gooden pitched there, said: "I love Citi Field. The atmosphere is electric. It's a challenge, but if you hit the ball square, it goes out." The half-season has not been a solid hit or a full whiff for either park. But this week will be big in both spots. Yankee Stadium will import memories from next door with Oldtimers Day on Sunday. Citi Field will strike a chord with concerts by Paul McCartney, who played Shea with the Beatles in 1965, and with Billy Joel, who helped close down Shea last year. Having gotten into heads and under skin, the two rookies, clearly here to stay, are trying to make their way into people's hearts. Frayed Knot Jul 14 2009 07:39 AM ="metirish":2cq4yf7v]Does Catch of the day have ribs?[/quote:2cq4yf7v] I think most fish have ribs, yes. dgwphotography Jul 14 2009 07:57 AM We made the shake shack our first stop after getting off the subway on Sunday... We got a table and walked right up and placed an order with no line at all.... metirish Jul 14 2009 08:02 AM ="Frayed Knot":3n1il63q] ="metirish":3n1il63q]Does Catch of the day have ribs?[/quote:3n1il63q] I think most fish have ribs, yes.[/quote:3n1il63q] tis true.......I got our smart assed.... metirish Jul 14 2009 08:02 AM ="dgwphotography":2ccowj6z]We made the shake shack our first stop after getting off the subway on Sunday... We got a table and walked right up and placed an order with no line at all....[/quote:2ccowj6z] not told here is the dgwp was carrying a gun. DocTee Jul 14 2009 08:06 AM Mebbe the Mets should bring this guy aboard: [url:r0m1vf1g]http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/14/SPE718LA3T.DTL[/url:r0m1vf1g] dgwphotography Jul 14 2009 08:06 AM ="metirish":37oc76h5] ="dgwphotography":37oc76h5]We made the shake shack our first stop after getting off the subway on Sunday... We got a table and walked right up and placed an order with no line at all....[/quote:37oc76h5] not told here is the dgwp was carrying a gun.[/quote:37oc76h5] LOL - I just a pretty big lens... Not my fault if they mistook it for a weapon... The view from the 7... bmfc1 Jul 14 2009 09:38 AM http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/ny-spparks1412966058jul13,0,6093781.story Some changes will be made to CF. What gets me that management had to "hear" from the fans before realizing that we want Mets history to be incorporated into a Mets ballpark. A smarter management would have built a team HOF right away instead of as an afterthought. A smarter management would have kept a panel or two from the Shea OF fence in place (if it didn't impede traffic) as both an historical marker and a meeting place. metsguyinmichigan Jul 14 2009 10:28 AM ="dgwphotography":72k07gfl] ="metirish":72k07gfl] ="dgwphotography":72k07gfl]We made the shake shack our first stop after getting off the subway on Sunday... We got a table and walked right up and placed an order with no line at all....[/quote:72k07gfl] not told here is the dgwp was carrying a gun.[/quote:72k07gfl] LOL - I just a pretty big lens... Not my fault if they mistook it for a weapon... The view from the 7... [/quote:72k07gfl] Beautiful photo! It really is a nice-looking ballpark. Benjamin Grimm Jul 14 2009 10:59 AM ="metsguyinmichigan":123rtddu] Beautiful photo! [/quote:123rtddu] I agree! ="metsguyinmichigan":123rtddu] It really is a nice-looking ballpark.[/quote:123rtddu] I agree with that, too. I only wish it was closer to Manhattan. metirish Jul 14 2009 11:01 AM Why closer to Manhattan when you live closer to Philly? the image is very beautiful , great capture. Benjamin Grimm Jul 14 2009 11:04 AM I wasn't thinking of my own convenience. I just think the stadium would be better located closer to Manhattan so they'd be able to get more of the after-work crowd. Vic Sage Jul 14 2009 11:56 AM its easy to get there after work. It's a 35 minute ride on the 7 train, or less on the LIRR. The problem is driving during rush hour, but that would be the problem even if you drove to the east side from the west side. G-Fafif Jul 14 2009 12:20 PM Great picture, no surprise, considering the lensman. Park and setting still need to be surrounded by a city block for full effect. Otherwise it still smacks of Arlington Comes to Flushing rather than homage to St. Ebbets. Farmer Ted Jul 15 2009 03:28 PM Took in the game on Sunday. First time to Citi. Had recent trips to PNC and Safeco so I was anxious to do a some comparison shopping. Overall a definite A. I got there early so I was literally the first person to the Shake Shack. Yum. Only an hour before game time and the place was mobbed. So here are my drawbacks: 1. Food court. Serious congestion here before and during the game. Put a destination location at the stadium and everyone flocks to it. I say tear down some of the junk yards across the street, install a foot bridge, and put some more fun stuff over there to ease the food mess. 2. Concourse width not enough. Then again, maybe the concourse is wide enough but you lose 10 feet of space with the cashier ropes that jut out from the food counters. Who thought of this traffic nightmare? 3. Home Run apple. I'll give a pass to the apple not coming up for Tatis' home run. I was turned away trying to get to the OLD apple since there was a private reception on that level. Fuckers. I was impressed with the staff at the game. Tons of staff in an array of colored shirts. Lady behind me got up in between innings and the schmuck behind her spilled beer on her seat. Dude was sloshed and subsequently tossed by security for being "that guy". No fewer than five staff showed up including one supervisor to wash down and scrub around her seat. NEVER saw that at Shea or any other stadium. I had the usher nazi in my section. No ticket, get out. Ninth inning and want to sneak down for a closer look? Tough shit. The place looked great. Still a bit sad about the vacant parking lot next to it. Surprised to see the brackets holding up piping in the stadium were rusting. Yeah, rusting. Speaking of Rust. No homage to Rusty Staub? Boog Powell and Greg Luzinski have their food pits. Until the area around the stadium is cleaned up, Safeco and PNC still get a slight edge for convenience and accessibility. I was happy that the place turned out to be a top flight facility. Ashie62 Jul 15 2009 08:25 PM ="metirish":fl693ser]Why closer to Manhattan when you live closer to Philly? the image is very beautiful , great capture.[/quote:fl693ser] Wish it was closer to Newark...sorry..train goes there dgwphotography Jul 16 2009 11:45 AM ="G-Fafif":19bf1wye]Great picture, no surprise, considering the lensman.[/quote:19bf1wye] This takes me back to the writing in those 1970's yearbooks.... ="G-Fafif":19bf1wye]Park and setting still need to be surrounded by a city block for full effect. Otherwise it still smacks of Arlington Comes to Flushing rather than homage to St. Ebbets.[/quote:19bf1wye] This is an excellent point - I oddly felt more in place when standing line for the the Mr. Met dash by the chop shops... G-Fafif Jul 16 2009 12:50 PM I think CF looks best when viewed from 126th St, though that's not really the ballpark. The admin building looks like a civic institution there, like a school or post office from the 1930s. Fits into a neighborhood even if the neighborhood isn't there. I like the back end of it, supporting the Willie Mays Bridge and the Pepsi Porch, as viewed from the Promenade as well. A bit of an OP@CY warehouse feel. Just a bit.

[Guest themetfairy]

="metirish":30lozeih]Does Catch of the day have ribs?[/quote:30lozeih] If it's a serious question, the answer is no. Calamari, chowder, other fish dishes. But I give a thumbs down to the shrimp cocktail salad - nice shrimp, but not much of a salad (and I tend to rely on entree salads to get through games).

metirish Jul 14 2009 07:36 AM

A mid-season report from Mark Hermann , not that that means much but there is a bit of news regarding Citi field A tale of two new ballparks BY MARK HERRMANN | mark.herrmann@newsday.com 9:58 PM EDT, July 13, 2009 ] This just proves that all rookies need a while to settle in, even a pair that came in together with a massive buildup and a combined $2.3-billion price tag. All that New York can say to the new Yankee Stadium and Citi Field after a sometimes rocky, sometimes pretty first half-season is what the city always says to a bonus baby: Welcome to the big leagues, kid. The new homes for the Yankees and Mets sure were the talk of the town, as expected. It's just that the clubs who built the stadiums (or, as they prefer, a stadium and a ballpark) never imagined the conversation would be about obstructed views, empty seats, muted tradition and, above all, too many or too few home runs. Everyone in the big leagues has heard the buzz. In his first hour as a Met on Saturday, former Brave Jeff Francoeur said: "You're not going to go out and hit 45 home runs in this park. If you want to do that, you've got to go 10 miles down the road." Nothing like each other Yes, the park built for intimacy is playing like the Grand Canyon and the stadium built for grand stature is playing like a neighborhood slow-pitch softball diamond. Yankee Stadium, next door to the slowly disappearing old Yankee Stadium, has become the Cape Canaveral of ballparks. It's a launching pad for four-base hits and one-liners. It has been called Coors Field East because it appeared to be a challenger to break the Denver stadium's record for homers in a season (303). Citi Field, next door to the vanished Shea Stadium (now a parking lot), has become baseball's Great Plains, a paradigm for the Mets' offensive drought. The first reason cited for acquiring Francoeur was that he is good enough to track down balls in the roomy, quirky outfield. Even for a couple of phenoms, replacing a combined 129 years of history isn't easy. Both clubs (especially the Mets) point out that most fans really like the new parks. And as for the kinks, each side said it is working on them. Back in March, the Yankees reduced the prices of some bleacher seats that didn't have full views. In April, in the face of ridicule over the sight of so many empty, padded premium seats right near the field, they announced a huge markdown and/or rebate, especially on the $2,500 tickets. They'll let it play out A Yankees spokesman said Monday that the club is not commenting on the Stadium now, instead choosing to see how the rest of the season goes. Hal Steinbrenner, the managing general partner, recently did send out e-mails to some customers inviting them to meetings at the Stadium or Rockefeller Center, and "telling us how we are doing and how we can make the 'Yankee Stadium Experience.' " Bloggers have objected to relentless promotions on the public address system, the fact that Monument Park is basically hidden behind the centerfield fence and that the place just doesn't have the electric feel that the building next door had. Visiting players have privately said the new Stadium is not as verbally intimidating as the old. Blue Jays first baseman Kevin Millar, formerly of the Red Sox, said he preferred the original: "I got booed a lot louder. I like to get booed. I don't know if it's all corporate, but they're too nice to me here." Home of the home run The real major story, though, is the long ball. The Stadium's home run binge isn't what it was, but it still is booming. The total of 142 through 42 games is on pace for 274, as opposed to 160 next door last year. In 46 road games, the Yankees and their opponents have hit only 102. At first, the Yankees blamed it on the weather, but a meteorologist disputed that, releasing a study backing the contention of hittrackeronline.com. It attributed the power surge to the lack of curvature in the rightfield wall (to accommodate a vintage-looking auxiliary scoreboard), effectively making the field smaller. Early in the season, A.J. Burnett spoke on behalf of all pitchers when he said, "This ballpark, obviously, is in your head." But the Yankees have won 20 of their past 29 at home, to which reliever Phil Coke said, "Even though, early on, it seemed like this place was going to yield the same amount in home runs as it did [in dollars] to build it, we're going to get the job done." Manager Joe Girardi said last week: "I love coming here; the players love coming here. Even though our ballpark has so much to offer and has so many new things, I think a lot of people have seen a lot of it and I think now the game is the main attraction. I don't know because I'm not in the stands, I'm not in the Great Hall, I'm not in the restaurants, but that's just kind of a feeling I get." Not enough Mets Dave Howard, the Mets' executive vice president for business, said Citi Field has been "extremely well received," with people commenting even on their reception in the parking lot. He did acknowledge early-season criticisms: Some seats have obstructed views and that there is less celebration of Mets history than the Brooklyn Dodgers' legacy. As much as there was a "good riddance" feeling about Shea, there was an uproar Sunday when one of its traditions, the apple, failed to pop out of the centerfield hat for the second of two home runs. "We've heard our fans," he said. So, he said, the Mets received permission from Major League Baseball to show the live feed on video screens the instant the ball is in play, allowing fans to follow action they might not see live. Also, an additional video board will be installed in the rightfield corner after the All-Star break. Howard added that more Mets memories will be reflected with displays in the park this summer, and that there are bigger long-term plans to give the place a Mets atmosphere. Whether they will make it a more hitter-friendly atmosphere by bringing in the fences or lowering the walls is a decision for the offseason. Howard did say that if the Mets are healthy, the park can work to their advantage because of their gap hitters, fly ball-oriented pitchers and mobile centerfielder and rightfielder. Backup centerfielder Angel Pagan said, "I need room to gallop, so this is the right place." Howard said, "I think it gets in other teams' heads, too." The question is, does it get in Mets' heads, especially David Wright's? There is some feeling that he and other Mets have taken their Citi Field swings on the road, where they have hit even fewer home runs than they have at home (24 to 28). "You have to adjust your approach, you have to adjust your philosophy to this ballpark because it's not a launching pad,'' Wright said. "It's not a place where you're going to go out and get a lot of cheap home runs." Gary Sheffield, who had a fondness for Shea ever since his uncle Dwight Gooden pitched there, said: "I love Citi Field. The atmosphere is electric. It's a challenge, but if you hit the ball square, it goes out." The half-season has not been a solid hit or a full whiff for either park. But this week will be big in both spots. Yankee Stadium will import memories from next door with Oldtimers Day on Sunday. Citi Field will strike a chord with concerts by Paul McCartney, who played Shea with the Beatles in 1965, and with Billy Joel, who helped close down Shea last year. Having gotten into heads and under skin, the two rookies, clearly here to stay, are trying to make their way into people's hearts.

Frayed Knot Jul 14 2009 07:39 AM

="metirish":2cq4yf7v]Does Catch of the day have ribs?[/quote:2cq4yf7v] I think most fish have ribs, yes. dgwphotography Jul 14 2009 07:57 AM We made the shake shack our first stop after getting off the subway on Sunday... We got a table and walked right up and placed an order with no line at all.... metirish Jul 14 2009 08:02 AM ="Frayed Knot":3n1il63q] ="metirish":3n1il63q]Does Catch of the day have ribs?[/quote:3n1il63q] I think most fish have ribs, yes.[/quote:3n1il63q] tis true.......I got our smart assed.... metirish Jul 14 2009 08:02 AM ="dgwphotography":2ccowj6z]We made the shake shack our first stop after getting off the subway on Sunday... We got a table and walked right up and placed an order with no line at all....[/quote:2ccowj6z] not told here is the dgwp was carrying a gun. DocTee Jul 14 2009 08:06 AM Mebbe the Mets should bring this guy aboard: [url:r0m1vf1g]http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/14/SPE718LA3T.DTL[/url:r0m1vf1g] dgwphotography Jul 14 2009 08:06 AM ="metirish":37oc76h5] ="dgwphotography":37oc76h5]We made the shake shack our first stop after getting off the subway on Sunday... We got a table and walked right up and placed an order with no line at all....[/quote:37oc76h5] not told here is the dgwp was carrying a gun.[/quote:37oc76h5] LOL - I just a pretty big lens... Not my fault if they mistook it for a weapon... The view from the 7... bmfc1 Jul 14 2009 09:38 AM http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/ny-spparks1412966058jul13,0,6093781.story Some changes will be made to CF. What gets me that management had to "hear" from the fans before realizing that we want Mets history to be incorporated into a Mets ballpark. A smarter management would have built a team HOF right away instead of as an afterthought. A smarter management would have kept a panel or two from the Shea OF fence in place (if it didn't impede traffic) as both an historical marker and a meeting place. metsguyinmichigan Jul 14 2009 10:28 AM ="dgwphotography":72k07gfl] ="metirish":72k07gfl] ="dgwphotography":72k07gfl]We made the shake shack our first stop after getting off the subway on Sunday... We got a table and walked right up and placed an order with no line at all....[/quote:72k07gfl] not told here is the dgwp was carrying a gun.[/quote:72k07gfl] LOL - I just a pretty big lens... Not my fault if they mistook it for a weapon... The view from the 7... [/quote:72k07gfl] Beautiful photo! It really is a nice-looking ballpark. Benjamin Grimm Jul 14 2009 10:59 AM ="metsguyinmichigan":123rtddu] Beautiful photo! [/quote:123rtddu] I agree! ="metsguyinmichigan":123rtddu] It really is a nice-looking ballpark.[/quote:123rtddu] I agree with that, too. I only wish it was closer to Manhattan. metirish Jul 14 2009 11:01 AM Why closer to Manhattan when you live closer to Philly? the image is very beautiful , great capture. Benjamin Grimm Jul 14 2009 11:04 AM I wasn't thinking of my own convenience. I just think the stadium would be better located closer to Manhattan so they'd be able to get more of the after-work crowd. Vic Sage Jul 14 2009 11:56 AM its easy to get there after work. It's a 35 minute ride on the 7 train, or less on the LIRR. The problem is driving during rush hour, but that would be the problem even if you drove to the east side from the west side. G-Fafif Jul 14 2009 12:20 PM Great picture, no surprise, considering the lensman. Park and setting still need to be surrounded by a city block for full effect. Otherwise it still smacks of Arlington Comes to Flushing rather than homage to St. Ebbets. Farmer Ted Jul 15 2009 03:28 PM Took in the game on Sunday. First time to Citi. Had recent trips to PNC and Safeco so I was anxious to do a some comparison shopping. Overall a definite A. I got there early so I was literally the first person to the Shake Shack. Yum. Only an hour before game time and the place was mobbed. So here are my drawbacks: 1. Food court. Serious congestion here before and during the game. Put a destination location at the stadium and everyone flocks to it. I say tear down some of the junk yards across the street, install a foot bridge, and put some more fun stuff over there to ease the food mess. 2. Concourse width not enough. Then again, maybe the concourse is wide enough but you lose 10 feet of space with the cashier ropes that jut out from the food counters. Who thought of this traffic nightmare? 3. Home Run apple. I'll give a pass to the apple not coming up for Tatis' home run. I was turned away trying to get to the OLD apple since there was a private reception on that level. Fuckers. I was impressed with the staff at the game. Tons of staff in an array of colored shirts. Lady behind me got up in between innings and the schmuck behind her spilled beer on her seat. Dude was sloshed and subsequently tossed by security for being "that guy". No fewer than five staff showed up including one supervisor to wash down and scrub around her seat. NEVER saw that at Shea or any other stadium. I had the usher nazi in my section. No ticket, get out. Ninth inning and want to sneak down for a closer look? Tough shit. The place looked great. Still a bit sad about the vacant parking lot next to it. Surprised to see the brackets holding up piping in the stadium were rusting. Yeah, rusting. Speaking of Rust. No homage to Rusty Staub? Boog Powell and Greg Luzinski have their food pits. Until the area around the stadium is cleaned up, Safeco and PNC still get a slight edge for convenience and accessibility. I was happy that the place turned out to be a top flight facility. Ashie62 Jul 15 2009 08:25 PM ="metirish":fl693ser]Why closer to Manhattan when you live closer to Philly? the image is very beautiful , great capture.[/quote:fl693ser] Wish it was closer to Newark...sorry..train goes there dgwphotography Jul 16 2009 11:45 AM ="G-Fafif":19bf1wye]Great picture, no surprise, considering the lensman.[/quote:19bf1wye] This takes me back to the writing in those 1970's yearbooks.... ="G-Fafif":19bf1wye]Park and setting still need to be surrounded by a city block for full effect. Otherwise it still smacks of Arlington Comes to Flushing rather than homage to St. Ebbets.[/quote:19bf1wye] This is an excellent point - I oddly felt more in place when standing line for the the Mr. Met dash by the chop shops... G-Fafif Jul 16 2009 12:50 PM I think CF looks best when viewed from 126th St, though that's not really the ballpark. The admin building looks like a civic institution there, like a school or post office from the 1930s. Fits into a neighborhood even if the neighborhood isn't there. I like the back end of it, supporting the Willie Mays Bridge and the Pepsi Porch, as viewed from the Promenade as well. A bit of an OP@CY warehouse feel. Just a bit.

[metirish]

A mid-season report from Mark Hermann , not that that means much but there is a bit of news regarding Citi field


A tale of two new ballparks
BY MARK HERRMANN | mark.herrmann@newsday.com
9:58 PM EDT, July 13, 2009

] This just proves that all rookies need a while to settle in, even a pair that came in together with a massive buildup and a combined $2.3-billion price tag. All that New York can say to the new Yankee Stadium and Citi Field after a sometimes rocky, sometimes pretty first half-season is what the city always says to a bonus baby: Welcome to the big leagues, kid. The new homes for the Yankees and Mets sure were the talk of the town, as expected. It's just that the clubs who built the stadiums (or, as they prefer, a stadium and a ballpark) never imagined the conversation would be about obstructed views, empty seats, muted tradition and, above all, too many or too few home runs. Everyone in the big leagues has heard the buzz. In his first hour as a Met on Saturday, former Brave Jeff Francoeur said: "You're not going to go out and hit 45 home runs in this park. If you want to do that, you've got to go 10 miles down the road." Nothing like each other Yes, the park built for intimacy is playing like the Grand Canyon and the stadium built for grand stature is playing like a neighborhood slow-pitch softball diamond. Yankee Stadium, next door to the slowly disappearing old Yankee Stadium, has become the Cape Canaveral of ballparks. It's a launching pad for four-base hits and one-liners. It has been called Coors Field East because it appeared to be a challenger to break the Denver stadium's record for homers in a season (303). Citi Field, next door to the vanished Shea Stadium (now a parking lot), has become baseball's Great Plains, a paradigm for the Mets' offensive drought. The first reason cited for acquiring Francoeur was that he is good enough to track down balls in the roomy, quirky outfield. Even for a couple of phenoms, replacing a combined 129 years of history isn't easy. Both clubs (especially the Mets) point out that most fans really like the new parks. And as for the kinks, each side said it is working on them. Back in March, the Yankees reduced the prices of some bleacher seats that didn't have full views. In April, in the face of ridicule over the sight of so many empty, padded premium seats right near the field, they announced a huge markdown and/or rebate, especially on the $2,500 tickets. They'll let it play out A Yankees spokesman said Monday that the club is not commenting on the Stadium now, instead choosing to see how the rest of the season goes. Hal Steinbrenner, the managing general partner, recently did send out e-mails to some customers inviting them to meetings at the Stadium or Rockefeller Center, and "telling us how we are doing and how we can make the 'Yankee Stadium Experience.' " Bloggers have objected to relentless promotions on the public address system, the fact that Monument Park is basically hidden behind the centerfield fence and that the place just doesn't have the electric feel that the building next door had. Visiting players have privately said the new Stadium is not as verbally intimidating as the old. Blue Jays first baseman Kevin Millar, formerly of the Red Sox, said he preferred the original: "I got booed a lot louder. I like to get booed. I don't know if it's all corporate, but they're too nice to me here." Home of the home run The real major story, though, is the long ball. The Stadium's home run binge isn't what it was, but it still is booming. The total of 142 through 42 games is on pace for 274, as opposed to 160 next door last year. In 46 road games, the Yankees and their opponents have hit only 102. At first, the Yankees blamed it on the weather, but a meteorologist disputed that, releasing a study backing the contention of hittrackeronline.com. It attributed the power surge to the lack of curvature in the rightfield wall (to accommodate a vintage-looking auxiliary scoreboard), effectively making the field smaller. Early in the season, A.J. Burnett spoke on behalf of all pitchers when he said, "This ballpark, obviously, is in your head." But the Yankees have won 20 of their past 29 at home, to which reliever Phil Coke said, "Even though, early on, it seemed like this place was going to yield the same amount in home runs as it did [in dollars] to build it, we're going to get the job done." Manager Joe Girardi said last week: "I love coming here; the players love coming here. Even though our ballpark has so much to offer and has so many new things, I think a lot of people have seen a lot of it and I think now the game is the main attraction. I don't know because I'm not in the stands, I'm not in the Great Hall, I'm not in the restaurants, but that's just kind of a feeling I get." Not enough Mets Dave Howard, the Mets' executive vice president for business, said Citi Field has been "extremely well received," with people commenting even on their reception in the parking lot. He did acknowledge early-season criticisms: Some seats have obstructed views and that there is less celebration of Mets history than the Brooklyn Dodgers' legacy. As much as there was a "good riddance" feeling about Shea, there was an uproar Sunday when one of its traditions, the apple, failed to pop out of the centerfield hat for the second of two home runs. "We've heard our fans," he said. So, he said, the Mets received permission from Major League Baseball to show the live feed on video screens the instant the ball is in play, allowing fans to follow action they might not see live. Also, an additional video board will be installed in the rightfield corner after the All-Star break. Howard added that more Mets memories will be reflected with displays in the park this summer, and that there are bigger long-term plans to give the place a Mets atmosphere. Whether they will make it a more hitter-friendly atmosphere by bringing in the fences or lowering the walls is a decision for the offseason. Howard did say that if the Mets are healthy, the park can work to their advantage because of their gap hitters, fly ball-oriented pitchers and mobile centerfielder and rightfielder. Backup centerfielder Angel Pagan said, "I need room to gallop, so this is the right place." Howard said, "I think it gets in other teams' heads, too." The question is, does it get in Mets' heads, especially David Wright's? There is some feeling that he and other Mets have taken their Citi Field swings on the road, where they have hit even fewer home runs than they have at home (24 to 28). "You have to adjust your approach, you have to adjust your philosophy to this ballpark because it's not a launching pad,'' Wright said. "It's not a place where you're going to go out and get a lot of cheap home runs." Gary Sheffield, who had a fondness for Shea ever since his uncle Dwight Gooden pitched there, said: "I love Citi Field. The atmosphere is electric. It's a challenge, but if you hit the ball square, it goes out." The half-season has not been a solid hit or a full whiff for either park. But this week will be big in both spots. Yankee Stadium will import memories from next door with Oldtimers Day on Sunday. Citi Field will strike a chord with concerts by Paul McCartney, who played Shea with the Beatles in 1965, and with Billy Joel, who helped close down Shea last year. Having gotten into heads and under skin, the two rookies, clearly here to stay, are trying to make their way into people's hearts.

[Frayed Knot]

="metirish":2cq4yf7v]Does Catch of the day have ribs?[/quote:2cq4yf7v] I think most fish have ribs, yes.

dgwphotography Jul 14 2009 07:57 AM

We made the shake shack our first stop after getting off the subway on Sunday... We got a table and walked right up and placed an order with no line at all....

metirish Jul 14 2009 08:02 AM

="Frayed Knot":3n1il63q] ="metirish":3n1il63q]Does Catch of the day have ribs?[/quote:3n1il63q] I think most fish have ribs, yes.[/quote:3n1il63q] tis true.......I got our smart assed.... metirish Jul 14 2009 08:02 AM ="dgwphotography":2ccowj6z]We made the shake shack our first stop after getting off the subway on Sunday... We got a table and walked right up and placed an order with no line at all....[/quote:2ccowj6z] not told here is the dgwp was carrying a gun. DocTee Jul 14 2009 08:06 AM Mebbe the Mets should bring this guy aboard: [url:r0m1vf1g]http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/14/SPE718LA3T.DTL[/url:r0m1vf1g] dgwphotography Jul 14 2009 08:06 AM ="metirish":37oc76h5] ="dgwphotography":37oc76h5]We made the shake shack our first stop after getting off the subway on Sunday... We got a table and walked right up and placed an order with no line at all....[/quote:37oc76h5] not told here is the dgwp was carrying a gun.[/quote:37oc76h5] LOL - I just a pretty big lens... Not my fault if they mistook it for a weapon... The view from the 7... bmfc1 Jul 14 2009 09:38 AM http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/ny-spparks1412966058jul13,0,6093781.story Some changes will be made to CF. What gets me that management had to "hear" from the fans before realizing that we want Mets history to be incorporated into a Mets ballpark. A smarter management would have built a team HOF right away instead of as an afterthought. A smarter management would have kept a panel or two from the Shea OF fence in place (if it didn't impede traffic) as both an historical marker and a meeting place. metsguyinmichigan Jul 14 2009 10:28 AM ="dgwphotography":72k07gfl] ="metirish":72k07gfl] ="dgwphotography":72k07gfl]We made the shake shack our first stop after getting off the subway on Sunday... We got a table and walked right up and placed an order with no line at all....[/quote:72k07gfl] not told here is the dgwp was carrying a gun.[/quote:72k07gfl] LOL - I just a pretty big lens... Not my fault if they mistook it for a weapon... The view from the 7... [/quote:72k07gfl] Beautiful photo! It really is a nice-looking ballpark. Benjamin Grimm Jul 14 2009 10:59 AM ="metsguyinmichigan":123rtddu] Beautiful photo! [/quote:123rtddu] I agree! ="metsguyinmichigan":123rtddu] It really is a nice-looking ballpark.[/quote:123rtddu] I agree with that, too. I only wish it was closer to Manhattan. metirish Jul 14 2009 11:01 AM Why closer to Manhattan when you live closer to Philly? the image is very beautiful , great capture. Benjamin Grimm Jul 14 2009 11:04 AM I wasn't thinking of my own convenience. I just think the stadium would be better located closer to Manhattan so they'd be able to get more of the after-work crowd. Vic Sage Jul 14 2009 11:56 AM its easy to get there after work. It's a 35 minute ride on the 7 train, or less on the LIRR. The problem is driving during rush hour, but that would be the problem even if you drove to the east side from the west side. G-Fafif Jul 14 2009 12:20 PM Great picture, no surprise, considering the lensman. Park and setting still need to be surrounded by a city block for full effect. Otherwise it still smacks of Arlington Comes to Flushing rather than homage to St. Ebbets. Farmer Ted Jul 15 2009 03:28 PM Took in the game on Sunday. First time to Citi. Had recent trips to PNC and Safeco so I was anxious to do a some comparison shopping. Overall a definite A. I got there early so I was literally the first person to the Shake Shack. Yum. Only an hour before game time and the place was mobbed. So here are my drawbacks: 1. Food court. Serious congestion here before and during the game. Put a destination location at the stadium and everyone flocks to it. I say tear down some of the junk yards across the street, install a foot bridge, and put some more fun stuff over there to ease the food mess. 2. Concourse width not enough. Then again, maybe the concourse is wide enough but you lose 10 feet of space with the cashier ropes that jut out from the food counters. Who thought of this traffic nightmare? 3. Home Run apple. I'll give a pass to the apple not coming up for Tatis' home run. I was turned away trying to get to the OLD apple since there was a private reception on that level. Fuckers. I was impressed with the staff at the game. Tons of staff in an array of colored shirts. Lady behind me got up in between innings and the schmuck behind her spilled beer on her seat. Dude was sloshed and subsequently tossed by security for being "that guy". No fewer than five staff showed up including one supervisor to wash down and scrub around her seat. NEVER saw that at Shea or any other stadium. I had the usher nazi in my section. No ticket, get out. Ninth inning and want to sneak down for a closer look? Tough shit. The place looked great. Still a bit sad about the vacant parking lot next to it. Surprised to see the brackets holding up piping in the stadium were rusting. Yeah, rusting. Speaking of Rust. No homage to Rusty Staub? Boog Powell and Greg Luzinski have their food pits. Until the area around the stadium is cleaned up, Safeco and PNC still get a slight edge for convenience and accessibility. I was happy that the place turned out to be a top flight facility. Ashie62 Jul 15 2009 08:25 PM ="metirish":fl693ser]Why closer to Manhattan when you live closer to Philly? the image is very beautiful , great capture.[/quote:fl693ser] Wish it was closer to Newark...sorry..train goes there dgwphotography Jul 16 2009 11:45 AM ="G-Fafif":19bf1wye]Great picture, no surprise, considering the lensman.[/quote:19bf1wye] This takes me back to the writing in those 1970's yearbooks.... ="G-Fafif":19bf1wye]Park and setting still need to be surrounded by a city block for full effect. Otherwise it still smacks of Arlington Comes to Flushing rather than homage to St. Ebbets.[/quote:19bf1wye] This is an excellent point - I oddly felt more in place when standing line for the the Mr. Met dash by the chop shops... G-Fafif Jul 16 2009 12:50 PM I think CF looks best when viewed from 126th St, though that's not really the ballpark. The admin building looks like a civic institution there, like a school or post office from the 1930s. Fits into a neighborhood even if the neighborhood isn't there. I like the back end of it, supporting the Willie Mays Bridge and the Pepsi Porch, as viewed from the Promenade as well. A bit of an OP@CY warehouse feel. Just a bit.

[dgwphotography]

We made the shake shack our first stop after getting off the subway on Sunday... We got a table and walked right up and placed an order with no line at all....

[metirish]

="Frayed Knot":3n1il63q] ="metirish":3n1il63q]Does Catch of the day have ribs?[/quote:3n1il63q] I think most fish have ribs, yes.[/quote:3n1il63q] tis true.......I got our smart assed.... metirish Jul 14 2009 08:02 AM ="dgwphotography":2ccowj6z]We made the shake shack our first stop after getting off the subway on Sunday... We got a table and walked right up and placed an order with no line at all....[/quote:2ccowj6z] not told here is the dgwp was carrying a gun. DocTee Jul 14 2009 08:06 AM Mebbe the Mets should bring this guy aboard: [url:r0m1vf1g]http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/14/SPE718LA3T.DTL[/url:r0m1vf1g] dgwphotography Jul 14 2009 08:06 AM ="metirish":37oc76h5] ="dgwphotography":37oc76h5]We made the shake shack our first stop after getting off the subway on Sunday... We got a table and walked right up and placed an order with no line at all....[/quote:37oc76h5] not told here is the dgwp was carrying a gun.[/quote:37oc76h5] LOL - I just a pretty big lens... Not my fault if they mistook it for a weapon... The view from the 7... bmfc1 Jul 14 2009 09:38 AM http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/ny-spparks1412966058jul13,0,6093781.story Some changes will be made to CF. What gets me that management had to "hear" from the fans before realizing that we want Mets history to be incorporated into a Mets ballpark. A smarter management would have built a team HOF right away instead of as an afterthought. A smarter management would have kept a panel or two from the Shea OF fence in place (if it didn't impede traffic) as both an historical marker and a meeting place. metsguyinmichigan Jul 14 2009 10:28 AM ="dgwphotography":72k07gfl] ="metirish":72k07gfl] ="dgwphotography":72k07gfl]We made the shake shack our first stop after getting off the subway on Sunday... We got a table and walked right up and placed an order with no line at all....[/quote:72k07gfl] not told here is the dgwp was carrying a gun.[/quote:72k07gfl] LOL - I just a pretty big lens... Not my fault if they mistook it for a weapon... The view from the 7... [/quote:72k07gfl] Beautiful photo! It really is a nice-looking ballpark. Benjamin Grimm Jul 14 2009 10:59 AM ="metsguyinmichigan":123rtddu] Beautiful photo! [/quote:123rtddu] I agree! ="metsguyinmichigan":123rtddu] It really is a nice-looking ballpark.[/quote:123rtddu] I agree with that, too. I only wish it was closer to Manhattan. metirish Jul 14 2009 11:01 AM Why closer to Manhattan when you live closer to Philly? the image is very beautiful , great capture. Benjamin Grimm Jul 14 2009 11:04 AM I wasn't thinking of my own convenience. I just think the stadium would be better located closer to Manhattan so they'd be able to get more of the after-work crowd. Vic Sage Jul 14 2009 11:56 AM its easy to get there after work. It's a 35 minute ride on the 7 train, or less on the LIRR. The problem is driving during rush hour, but that would be the problem even if you drove to the east side from the west side. G-Fafif Jul 14 2009 12:20 PM Great picture, no surprise, considering the lensman. Park and setting still need to be surrounded by a city block for full effect. Otherwise it still smacks of Arlington Comes to Flushing rather than homage to St. Ebbets. Farmer Ted Jul 15 2009 03:28 PM Took in the game on Sunday. First time to Citi. Had recent trips to PNC and Safeco so I was anxious to do a some comparison shopping. Overall a definite A. I got there early so I was literally the first person to the Shake Shack. Yum. Only an hour before game time and the place was mobbed. So here are my drawbacks: 1. Food court. Serious congestion here before and during the game. Put a destination location at the stadium and everyone flocks to it. I say tear down some of the junk yards across the street, install a foot bridge, and put some more fun stuff over there to ease the food mess. 2. Concourse width not enough. Then again, maybe the concourse is wide enough but you lose 10 feet of space with the cashier ropes that jut out from the food counters. Who thought of this traffic nightmare? 3. Home Run apple. I'll give a pass to the apple not coming up for Tatis' home run. I was turned away trying to get to the OLD apple since there was a private reception on that level. Fuckers. I was impressed with the staff at the game. Tons of staff in an array of colored shirts. Lady behind me got up in between innings and the schmuck behind her spilled beer on her seat. Dude was sloshed and subsequently tossed by security for being "that guy". No fewer than five staff showed up including one supervisor to wash down and scrub around her seat. NEVER saw that at Shea or any other stadium. I had the usher nazi in my section. No ticket, get out. Ninth inning and want to sneak down for a closer look? Tough shit. The place looked great. Still a bit sad about the vacant parking lot next to it. Surprised to see the brackets holding up piping in the stadium were rusting. Yeah, rusting. Speaking of Rust. No homage to Rusty Staub? Boog Powell and Greg Luzinski have their food pits. Until the area around the stadium is cleaned up, Safeco and PNC still get a slight edge for convenience and accessibility. I was happy that the place turned out to be a top flight facility. Ashie62 Jul 15 2009 08:25 PM ="metirish":fl693ser]Why closer to Manhattan when you live closer to Philly? the image is very beautiful , great capture.[/quote:fl693ser] Wish it was closer to Newark...sorry..train goes there dgwphotography Jul 16 2009 11:45 AM ="G-Fafif":19bf1wye]Great picture, no surprise, considering the lensman.[/quote:19bf1wye] This takes me back to the writing in those 1970's yearbooks.... ="G-Fafif":19bf1wye]Park and setting still need to be surrounded by a city block for full effect. Otherwise it still smacks of Arlington Comes to Flushing rather than homage to St. Ebbets.[/quote:19bf1wye] This is an excellent point - I oddly felt more in place when standing line for the the Mr. Met dash by the chop shops... G-Fafif Jul 16 2009 12:50 PM I think CF looks best when viewed from 126th St, though that's not really the ballpark. The admin building looks like a civic institution there, like a school or post office from the 1930s. Fits into a neighborhood even if the neighborhood isn't there. I like the back end of it, supporting the Willie Mays Bridge and the Pepsi Porch, as viewed from the Promenade as well. A bit of an OP@CY warehouse feel. Just a bit.

[metirish]

="dgwphotography":2ccowj6z]We made the shake shack our first stop after getting off the subway on Sunday... We got a table and walked right up and placed an order with no line at all....[/quote:2ccowj6z] not told here is the dgwp was carrying a gun.

DocTee Jul 14 2009 08:06 AM

Mebbe the Mets should bring this guy aboard: [url:r0m1vf1g]http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/14/SPE718LA3T.DTL[/url:r0m1vf1g]

dgwphotography Jul 14 2009 08:06 AM

="metirish":37oc76h5] ="dgwphotography":37oc76h5]We made the shake shack our first stop after getting off the subway on Sunday... We got a table and walked right up and placed an order with no line at all....[/quote:37oc76h5] not told here is the dgwp was carrying a gun.[/quote:37oc76h5] LOL - I just a pretty big lens... Not my fault if they mistook it for a weapon... The view from the 7... bmfc1 Jul 14 2009 09:38 AM http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/ny-spparks1412966058jul13,0,6093781.story Some changes will be made to CF. What gets me that management had to "hear" from the fans before realizing that we want Mets history to be incorporated into a Mets ballpark. A smarter management would have built a team HOF right away instead of as an afterthought. A smarter management would have kept a panel or two from the Shea OF fence in place (if it didn't impede traffic) as both an historical marker and a meeting place. metsguyinmichigan Jul 14 2009 10:28 AM ="dgwphotography":72k07gfl] ="metirish":72k07gfl] ="dgwphotography":72k07gfl]We made the shake shack our first stop after getting off the subway on Sunday... We got a table and walked right up and placed an order with no line at all....[/quote:72k07gfl] not told here is the dgwp was carrying a gun.[/quote:72k07gfl] LOL - I just a pretty big lens... Not my fault if they mistook it for a weapon... The view from the 7... [/quote:72k07gfl] Beautiful photo! It really is a nice-looking ballpark. Benjamin Grimm Jul 14 2009 10:59 AM ="metsguyinmichigan":123rtddu] Beautiful photo! [/quote:123rtddu] I agree! ="metsguyinmichigan":123rtddu] It really is a nice-looking ballpark.[/quote:123rtddu] I agree with that, too. I only wish it was closer to Manhattan. metirish Jul 14 2009 11:01 AM Why closer to Manhattan when you live closer to Philly? the image is very beautiful , great capture. Benjamin Grimm Jul 14 2009 11:04 AM I wasn't thinking of my own convenience. I just think the stadium would be better located closer to Manhattan so they'd be able to get more of the after-work crowd. Vic Sage Jul 14 2009 11:56 AM its easy to get there after work. It's a 35 minute ride on the 7 train, or less on the LIRR. The problem is driving during rush hour, but that would be the problem even if you drove to the east side from the west side. G-Fafif Jul 14 2009 12:20 PM Great picture, no surprise, considering the lensman. Park and setting still need to be surrounded by a city block for full effect. Otherwise it still smacks of Arlington Comes to Flushing rather than homage to St. Ebbets. Farmer Ted Jul 15 2009 03:28 PM Took in the game on Sunday. First time to Citi. Had recent trips to PNC and Safeco so I was anxious to do a some comparison shopping. Overall a definite A. I got there early so I was literally the first person to the Shake Shack. Yum. Only an hour before game time and the place was mobbed. So here are my drawbacks: 1. Food court. Serious congestion here before and during the game. Put a destination location at the stadium and everyone flocks to it. I say tear down some of the junk yards across the street, install a foot bridge, and put some more fun stuff over there to ease the food mess. 2. Concourse width not enough. Then again, maybe the concourse is wide enough but you lose 10 feet of space with the cashier ropes that jut out from the food counters. Who thought of this traffic nightmare? 3. Home Run apple. I'll give a pass to the apple not coming up for Tatis' home run. I was turned away trying to get to the OLD apple since there was a private reception on that level. Fuckers. I was impressed with the staff at the game. Tons of staff in an array of colored shirts. Lady behind me got up in between innings and the schmuck behind her spilled beer on her seat. Dude was sloshed and subsequently tossed by security for being "that guy". No fewer than five staff showed up including one supervisor to wash down and scrub around her seat. NEVER saw that at Shea or any other stadium. I had the usher nazi in my section. No ticket, get out. Ninth inning and want to sneak down for a closer look? Tough shit. The place looked great. Still a bit sad about the vacant parking lot next to it. Surprised to see the brackets holding up piping in the stadium were rusting. Yeah, rusting. Speaking of Rust. No homage to Rusty Staub? Boog Powell and Greg Luzinski have their food pits. Until the area around the stadium is cleaned up, Safeco and PNC still get a slight edge for convenience and accessibility. I was happy that the place turned out to be a top flight facility. Ashie62 Jul 15 2009 08:25 PM ="metirish":fl693ser]Why closer to Manhattan when you live closer to Philly? the image is very beautiful , great capture.[/quote:fl693ser] Wish it was closer to Newark...sorry..train goes there dgwphotography Jul 16 2009 11:45 AM ="G-Fafif":19bf1wye]Great picture, no surprise, considering the lensman.[/quote:19bf1wye] This takes me back to the writing in those 1970's yearbooks.... ="G-Fafif":19bf1wye]Park and setting still need to be surrounded by a city block for full effect. Otherwise it still smacks of Arlington Comes to Flushing rather than homage to St. Ebbets.[/quote:19bf1wye] This is an excellent point - I oddly felt more in place when standing line for the the Mr. Met dash by the chop shops... G-Fafif Jul 16 2009 12:50 PM I think CF looks best when viewed from 126th St, though that's not really the ballpark. The admin building looks like a civic institution there, like a school or post office from the 1930s. Fits into a neighborhood even if the neighborhood isn't there. I like the back end of it, supporting the Willie Mays Bridge and the Pepsi Porch, as viewed from the Promenade as well. A bit of an OP@CY warehouse feel. Just a bit.

[DocTee]

Mebbe the Mets should bring this guy aboard:

[url:r0m1vf1g]http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/14/SPE718LA3T.DTL[/url:r0m1vf1g]

[dgwphotography]

="metirish":37oc76h5] ="dgwphotography":37oc76h5]We made the shake shack our first stop after getting off the subway on Sunday... We got a table and walked right up and placed an order with no line at all....[/quote:37oc76h5] not told here is the dgwp was carrying a gun.[/quote:37oc76h5] LOL - I just a pretty big lens... Not my fault if they mistook it for a weapon... The view from the 7... bmfc1 Jul 14 2009 09:38 AM http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/ny-spparks1412966058jul13,0,6093781.story Some changes will be made to CF. What gets me that management had to "hear" from the fans before realizing that we want Mets history to be incorporated into a Mets ballpark. A smarter management would have built a team HOF right away instead of as an afterthought. A smarter management would have kept a panel or two from the Shea OF fence in place (if it didn't impede traffic) as both an historical marker and a meeting place. metsguyinmichigan Jul 14 2009 10:28 AM ="dgwphotography":72k07gfl] ="metirish":72k07gfl] ="dgwphotography":72k07gfl]We made the shake shack our first stop after getting off the subway on Sunday... We got a table and walked right up and placed an order with no line at all....[/quote:72k07gfl] not told here is the dgwp was carrying a gun.[/quote:72k07gfl] LOL - I just a pretty big lens... Not my fault if they mistook it for a weapon... The view from the 7... [/quote:72k07gfl] Beautiful photo! It really is a nice-looking ballpark. Benjamin Grimm Jul 14 2009 10:59 AM ="metsguyinmichigan":123rtddu] Beautiful photo! [/quote:123rtddu] I agree! ="metsguyinmichigan":123rtddu] It really is a nice-looking ballpark.[/quote:123rtddu] I agree with that, too. I only wish it was closer to Manhattan. metirish Jul 14 2009 11:01 AM Why closer to Manhattan when you live closer to Philly? the image is very beautiful , great capture. Benjamin Grimm Jul 14 2009 11:04 AM I wasn't thinking of my own convenience. I just think the stadium would be better located closer to Manhattan so they'd be able to get more of the after-work crowd. Vic Sage Jul 14 2009 11:56 AM its easy to get there after work. It's a 35 minute ride on the 7 train, or less on the LIRR. The problem is driving during rush hour, but that would be the problem even if you drove to the east side from the west side. G-Fafif Jul 14 2009 12:20 PM Great picture, no surprise, considering the lensman. Park and setting still need to be surrounded by a city block for full effect. Otherwise it still smacks of Arlington Comes to Flushing rather than homage to St. Ebbets. Farmer Ted Jul 15 2009 03:28 PM Took in the game on Sunday. First time to Citi. Had recent trips to PNC and Safeco so I was anxious to do a some comparison shopping. Overall a definite A. I got there early so I was literally the first person to the Shake Shack. Yum. Only an hour before game time and the place was mobbed. So here are my drawbacks: 1. Food court. Serious congestion here before and during the game. Put a destination location at the stadium and everyone flocks to it. I say tear down some of the junk yards across the street, install a foot bridge, and put some more fun stuff over there to ease the food mess. 2. Concourse width not enough. Then again, maybe the concourse is wide enough but you lose 10 feet of space with the cashier ropes that jut out from the food counters. Who thought of this traffic nightmare? 3. Home Run apple. I'll give a pass to the apple not coming up for Tatis' home run. I was turned away trying to get to the OLD apple since there was a private reception on that level. Fuckers. I was impressed with the staff at the game. Tons of staff in an array of colored shirts. Lady behind me got up in between innings and the schmuck behind her spilled beer on her seat. Dude was sloshed and subsequently tossed by security for being "that guy". No fewer than five staff showed up including one supervisor to wash down and scrub around her seat. NEVER saw that at Shea or any other stadium. I had the usher nazi in my section. No ticket, get out. Ninth inning and want to sneak down for a closer look? Tough shit. The place looked great. Still a bit sad about the vacant parking lot next to it. Surprised to see the brackets holding up piping in the stadium were rusting. Yeah, rusting. Speaking of Rust. No homage to Rusty Staub? Boog Powell and Greg Luzinski have their food pits. Until the area around the stadium is cleaned up, Safeco and PNC still get a slight edge for convenience and accessibility. I was happy that the place turned out to be a top flight facility. Ashie62 Jul 15 2009 08:25 PM ="metirish":fl693ser]Why closer to Manhattan when you live closer to Philly? the image is very beautiful , great capture.[/quote:fl693ser] Wish it was closer to Newark...sorry..train goes there dgwphotography Jul 16 2009 11:45 AM ="G-Fafif":19bf1wye]Great picture, no surprise, considering the lensman.[/quote:19bf1wye] This takes me back to the writing in those 1970's yearbooks.... ="G-Fafif":19bf1wye]Park and setting still need to be surrounded by a city block for full effect. Otherwise it still smacks of Arlington Comes to Flushing rather than homage to St. Ebbets.[/quote:19bf1wye] This is an excellent point - I oddly felt more in place when standing line for the the Mr. Met dash by the chop shops... G-Fafif Jul 16 2009 12:50 PM I think CF looks best when viewed from 126th St, though that's not really the ballpark. The admin building looks like a civic institution there, like a school or post office from the 1930s. Fits into a neighborhood even if the neighborhood isn't there. I like the back end of it, supporting the Willie Mays Bridge and the Pepsi Porch, as viewed from the Promenade as well. A bit of an OP@CY warehouse feel. Just a bit.

[bmfc1]

http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/ny-spparks1412966058jul13,0,6093781.story

Some changes will be made to CF. What gets me that management had to "hear" from the fans before realizing that we want Mets history to be incorporated into a Mets ballpark. A smarter management would have built a team HOF right away instead of as an afterthought. A smarter management would have kept a panel or two from the Shea OF fence in place (if it didn't impede traffic) as both an historical marker and a meeting place.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

="dgwphotography":72k07gfl] ="metirish":72k07gfl] ="dgwphotography":72k07gfl]We made the shake shack our first stop after getting off the subway on Sunday... We got a table and walked right up and placed an order with no line at all....[/quote:72k07gfl] not told here is the dgwp was carrying a gun.[/quote:72k07gfl] LOL - I just a pretty big lens... Not my fault if they mistook it for a weapon... The view from the 7... [/quote:72k07gfl] Beautiful photo! It really is a nice-looking ballpark. Benjamin Grimm Jul 14 2009 10:59 AM ="metsguyinmichigan":123rtddu] Beautiful photo! [/quote:123rtddu] I agree! ="metsguyinmichigan":123rtddu] It really is a nice-looking ballpark.[/quote:123rtddu] I agree with that, too. I only wish it was closer to Manhattan. metirish Jul 14 2009 11:01 AM Why closer to Manhattan when you live closer to Philly? the image is very beautiful , great capture. Benjamin Grimm Jul 14 2009 11:04 AM I wasn't thinking of my own convenience. I just think the stadium would be better located closer to Manhattan so they'd be able to get more of the after-work crowd. Vic Sage Jul 14 2009 11:56 AM its easy to get there after work. It's a 35 minute ride on the 7 train, or less on the LIRR. The problem is driving during rush hour, but that would be the problem even if you drove to the east side from the west side. G-Fafif Jul 14 2009 12:20 PM Great picture, no surprise, considering the lensman. Park and setting still need to be surrounded by a city block for full effect. Otherwise it still smacks of Arlington Comes to Flushing rather than homage to St. Ebbets. Farmer Ted Jul 15 2009 03:28 PM Took in the game on Sunday. First time to Citi. Had recent trips to PNC and Safeco so I was anxious to do a some comparison shopping. Overall a definite A. I got there early so I was literally the first person to the Shake Shack. Yum. Only an hour before game time and the place was mobbed. So here are my drawbacks: 1. Food court. Serious congestion here before and during the game. Put a destination location at the stadium and everyone flocks to it. I say tear down some of the junk yards across the street, install a foot bridge, and put some more fun stuff over there to ease the food mess. 2. Concourse width not enough. Then again, maybe the concourse is wide enough but you lose 10 feet of space with the cashier ropes that jut out from the food counters. Who thought of this traffic nightmare? 3. Home Run apple. I'll give a pass to the apple not coming up for Tatis' home run. I was turned away trying to get to the OLD apple since there was a private reception on that level. Fuckers. I was impressed with the staff at the game. Tons of staff in an array of colored shirts. Lady behind me got up in between innings and the schmuck behind her spilled beer on her seat. Dude was sloshed and subsequently tossed by security for being "that guy". No fewer than five staff showed up including one supervisor to wash down and scrub around her seat. NEVER saw that at Shea or any other stadium. I had the usher nazi in my section. No ticket, get out. Ninth inning and want to sneak down for a closer look? Tough shit. The place looked great. Still a bit sad about the vacant parking lot next to it. Surprised to see the brackets holding up piping in the stadium were rusting. Yeah, rusting. Speaking of Rust. No homage to Rusty Staub? Boog Powell and Greg Luzinski have their food pits. Until the area around the stadium is cleaned up, Safeco and PNC still get a slight edge for convenience and accessibility. I was happy that the place turned out to be a top flight facility. Ashie62 Jul 15 2009 08:25 PM ="metirish":fl693ser]Why closer to Manhattan when you live closer to Philly? the image is very beautiful , great capture.[/quote:fl693ser] Wish it was closer to Newark...sorry..train goes there dgwphotography Jul 16 2009 11:45 AM ="G-Fafif":19bf1wye]Great picture, no surprise, considering the lensman.[/quote:19bf1wye] This takes me back to the writing in those 1970's yearbooks.... ="G-Fafif":19bf1wye]Park and setting still need to be surrounded by a city block for full effect. Otherwise it still smacks of Arlington Comes to Flushing rather than homage to St. Ebbets.[/quote:19bf1wye] This is an excellent point - I oddly felt more in place when standing line for the the Mr. Met dash by the chop shops... G-Fafif Jul 16 2009 12:50 PM I think CF looks best when viewed from 126th St, though that's not really the ballpark. The admin building looks like a civic institution there, like a school or post office from the 1930s. Fits into a neighborhood even if the neighborhood isn't there. I like the back end of it, supporting the Willie Mays Bridge and the Pepsi Porch, as viewed from the Promenade as well. A bit of an OP@CY warehouse feel. Just a bit.

[Benjamin Grimm]

="metsguyinmichigan":123rtddu] Beautiful photo! [/quote:123rtddu] I agree! ="metsguyinmichigan":123rtddu] It really is a nice-looking ballpark.[/quote:123rtddu] I agree with that, too. I only wish it was closer to Manhattan. metirish Jul 14 2009 11:01 AM Why closer to Manhattan when you live closer to Philly? the image is very beautiful , great capture. Benjamin Grimm Jul 14 2009 11:04 AM I wasn't thinking of my own convenience. I just think the stadium would be better located closer to Manhattan so they'd be able to get more of the after-work crowd. Vic Sage Jul 14 2009 11:56 AM its easy to get there after work. It's a 35 minute ride on the 7 train, or less on the LIRR. The problem is driving during rush hour, but that would be the problem even if you drove to the east side from the west side. G-Fafif Jul 14 2009 12:20 PM Great picture, no surprise, considering the lensman. Park and setting still need to be surrounded by a city block for full effect. Otherwise it still smacks of Arlington Comes to Flushing rather than homage to St. Ebbets. Farmer Ted Jul 15 2009 03:28 PM Took in the game on Sunday. First time to Citi. Had recent trips to PNC and Safeco so I was anxious to do a some comparison shopping. Overall a definite A. I got there early so I was literally the first person to the Shake Shack. Yum. Only an hour before game time and the place was mobbed. So here are my drawbacks: 1. Food court. Serious congestion here before and during the game. Put a destination location at the stadium and everyone flocks to it. I say tear down some of the junk yards across the street, install a foot bridge, and put some more fun stuff over there to ease the food mess. 2. Concourse width not enough. Then again, maybe the concourse is wide enough but you lose 10 feet of space with the cashier ropes that jut out from the food counters. Who thought of this traffic nightmare? 3. Home Run apple. I'll give a pass to the apple not coming up for Tatis' home run. I was turned away trying to get to the OLD apple since there was a private reception on that level. Fuckers. I was impressed with the staff at the game. Tons of staff in an array of colored shirts. Lady behind me got up in between innings and the schmuck behind her spilled beer on her seat. Dude was sloshed and subsequently tossed by security for being "that guy". No fewer than five staff showed up including one supervisor to wash down and scrub around her seat. NEVER saw that at Shea or any other stadium. I had the usher nazi in my section. No ticket, get out. Ninth inning and want to sneak down for a closer look? Tough shit. The place looked great. Still a bit sad about the vacant parking lot next to it. Surprised to see the brackets holding up piping in the stadium were rusting. Yeah, rusting. Speaking of Rust. No homage to Rusty Staub? Boog Powell and Greg Luzinski have their food pits. Until the area around the stadium is cleaned up, Safeco and PNC still get a slight edge for convenience and accessibility. I was happy that the place turned out to be a top flight facility. Ashie62 Jul 15 2009 08:25 PM ="metirish":fl693ser]Why closer to Manhattan when you live closer to Philly? the image is very beautiful , great capture.[/quote:fl693ser] Wish it was closer to Newark...sorry..train goes there dgwphotography Jul 16 2009 11:45 AM ="G-Fafif":19bf1wye]Great picture, no surprise, considering the lensman.[/quote:19bf1wye] This takes me back to the writing in those 1970's yearbooks.... ="G-Fafif":19bf1wye]Park and setting still need to be surrounded by a city block for full effect. Otherwise it still smacks of Arlington Comes to Flushing rather than homage to St. Ebbets.[/quote:19bf1wye] This is an excellent point - I oddly felt more in place when standing line for the the Mr. Met dash by the chop shops... G-Fafif Jul 16 2009 12:50 PM I think CF looks best when viewed from 126th St, though that's not really the ballpark. The admin building looks like a civic institution there, like a school or post office from the 1930s. Fits into a neighborhood even if the neighborhood isn't there. I like the back end of it, supporting the Willie Mays Bridge and the Pepsi Porch, as viewed from the Promenade as well. A bit of an OP@CY warehouse feel. Just a bit.

[metirish]

Why closer to Manhattan when you live closer to Philly?

the image is very beautiful , great capture.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I wasn't thinking of my own convenience. I just think the stadium would be better located closer to Manhattan so they'd be able to get more of the after-work crowd.

[Vic Sage]

its easy to get there after work. It's a 35 minute ride on the 7 train, or less on the LIRR. The problem is driving during rush hour, but that would be the problem even if you drove to the east side from the west side.

[G-Fafif]

Great picture, no surprise, considering the lensman. Park and setting still need to be surrounded by a city block for full effect. Otherwise it still smacks of Arlington Comes to Flushing rather than homage to St. Ebbets.