The More Things Change...

[Edgy MD]

Sure. What do you have in mind?

Patriotic and pro-service member gestures are the exact sort of thing folks mail in. (The Nats are a notable exception here.) I mean, an Air Force Master Sergeant did a head-scratchingly weird "God Bless America" during Game Seven of the World Series. And you just know that nobody from the team or the league vetted her. "She's an active service member, and she sings? GREAT! HIRED! We're so great and patriotic and everybody should love us."

(Not that I got the idea anybody in San Francisco vetted that tool from Staind when he sang.)

[Zvon]

G-Fafif wrote: The worst, in my view. 1988-1992 road, big block NEW YORK that lacked character and resembled MFY road NEW YORK. Combined with moving from St. Pete to St. Lucie, I could feel a certain essential Metness slipping away in the spring of '88.

Very kool images.

I found the block and the script equally not the classic ol' english (or whatever that font is really called).
Anything that isn't sucks.

And don't be doing this again. I mean, why. Why underline it and go all cartoony? ...sucks.


There's a chance that if they didn't correct these atrocities I would not be a Mets fan today. Cause I couldn't look at those unis. I had to shield my eyes.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: Sure. What do you have in mind? Patriotic and pro-service member gestures are the exact sort of thing folks mail in. (The Nats are a notable exception here.) I mean, an Air Force Master Sergeant did a head-scratchingly weird "God Bless America" during Game Seven of the World Series. And you just know that nobody from the team or the league vetted her. "She's an active service member, and she sings? GREAT! HIRED! We're so great and patriotic and everybody should love us." (Not that I got the idea anybody in San Francisco vetted that tool from Staind when he sang.)

They could do the exact same thing they do, which isn't mailing it in. (Also could work on having fewer service members, veterans, particularly wounded ones, but that's a different thing) And not mess with the uniform on the field. "Hi, we'd like to take a few moments to honor.. " "Okay, now BACK to the game." Keep 'em separate. Or they could use those jerseys for some/all of the community outreach.

I mean, the Mets do a lot of veteran charity work. Wilpon helped found one. They invite them to games, make them feel welcome. The uniforms seem more directed outwards to the rest of us as a PR (Hey, we support Veterans!) than actually at the vets themselves.

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

TransMonk wrote:

I'm going to go on record as really liking 5 of the 6 uniforms pictured here (the "pandering to military" uniform being the odd one out).

[Edgy MD]

Philosophical question: Is it, indeed, pandering to the military, or using the military to pander to the greater populace?

[Centerfield]

Edgy MD wrote: Philosophical question: Is it, indeed, pandering to the military, or using the military to pander to the greater populace?

Or is it using the military to pander to the greater populace in a way aimed at deriving the most revenue?

[Centerfield]

You know, I've had some time to think about it, and I realize that my dislike of that uniform is not really based on the uniform itself. It's ugly. Big deal. I don't have to wear it.

But it bothers me because it's symbolic of how this Wilpon regime runs things. They are always ones to follow. Other teams have black uniforms? Let's do that too! Wow, Boston loves Sweet Caroline. Let's try that here. Wow, look at those Padres uniforms. Let's get one of those.

They are the irritating rich kid that lives on your block that doesn't know what he wants, but goes and gets whatever you get a week after you get it.

Meanwhile, a fantastic Mets-only tradition unfolded right before their eyes when the players wore first responder hats. They fucked it up and actually made them stop it. Fucking idiots.

I realize now there is only one way the Mets will ever wear first responder hats on 9/11. If some other team does it first.

[Ceetar]

Centerfield wrote: You know, I've had some time to think about it, and I realize that my dislike of that uniform is not really based on the uniform itself. It's ugly. Big deal. I don't have to wear it. But it bothers me because it's symbolic of how this Wilpon regime runs things. They are always ones to follow. Other teams have black uniforms? Let's do that too! Wow, Boston loves Sweet Caroline. Let's try that here. Wow, look at those Padres uniforms. Let's get one of those. They are the irritating rich kid that lives on your block that doesn't know what he wants, but goes and gets whatever you get a week after you get it. Meanwhile, a fantastic Mets-only tradition unfolded right before their eyes when the players wore first responder hats. They fucked it up and actually made them stop it. Fucking idiots. I realize now there is only one way the Mets will ever wear first responder hats on 9/11. If some other team does it first.

Fuck the first responder hats, put a patch if you want. stop messing with the uniform for non-baseball stuff. period.

[metsmarathon]

Ceetar wrote: Centerfield wrote: You know, I've had some time to think about it, and I realize that my dislike of that uniform is not really based on the uniform itself. It's ugly. Big deal. I don't have to wear it. But it bothers me because it's symbolic of how this Wilpon regime runs things. They are always ones to follow. Other teams have black uniforms? Let's do that too! Wow, Boston loves Sweet Caroline. Let's try that here. Wow, look at those Padres uniforms. Let's get one of those. They are the irritating rich kid that lives on your block that doesn't know what he wants, but goes and gets whatever you get a week after you get it. Meanwhile, a fantastic Mets-only tradition unfolded right before their eyes when the players wore first responder hats. They fucked it up and actually made them stop it. Fucking idiots. I realize now there is only one way the Mets will ever wear first responder hats on 9/11. If some other team does it first. Fuck the first responder hats, put a patch if you want. stop messing with the uniform for non-baseball stuff. period.

ceetar presents a possible solution here, actually. since it does appear as if the first responder hats are never going to happen, how about lets roll out first-responder patches. mix-n-match sleeve patches from the different first responder organizations on 9-11.

as far as the military uniforms, i'd much rather see the mets bedecked in red white and blue instead of the digital camo. we're patriotic towards the symbol of our nation, not towards the garb of our soldiers. it's good to recognize them and all, of course, but recognize them for what they serve for, not for what they wore while doing it.

[Edgy MD]

Yes, we've had this conversation. Ceetar was quite intransigent. I don't see him rolling over for a patch.

[Edgy MD]

Centerfield wrote: Philosophical question: Is it, indeed, pandering to the military, or using the military to pander to the greater populace? Or is it using the military to pander to the greater populace in a way aimed at deriving the most revenue?

Well, that was sort of meant to be in implied.

[Frayed Knot]

Centerfield wrote: But it bothers me because it's symbolic of how this Wilpon regime runs things. They are always ones to follow. Other teams have black uniforms? Let's do that too! Wow, Boston loves Sweet Caroline. Let's try that here. Wow, look at those Padres uniforms. Let's get one of those.

Nationals had a garden gnome give-away in 2014 for their long-haired star (Jayson Werth) - and now lookie what's on the sked for 2015 at CitiField!!

[Edgy MD]

That's all true and we're right to rail against it. But it's also true across baseball. Teams sink toward sameness, and are regressing into variations on the umbrella brand that is MLB.

[Ceetar]

Frayed Knot wrote: Centerfield wrote: But it bothers me because it's symbolic of how this Wilpon regime runs things. They are always ones to follow. Other teams have black uniforms? Let's do that too! Wow, Boston loves Sweet Caroline. Let's try that here. Wow, look at those Padres uniforms. Let's get one of those. Nationals had a garden gnome give-away in 2014 for their long-haired star (Jayson Werth) - and now lookie what's on the sked for 2015 at CitiField!!

These things are very heavily shared among MLB. It's a corporate thing and it's not like the marketing people are Mets fans, just trying to pull people into the park, line up sponsors, etc. I'd be willing to bet any owner, Wilpon included, would be able to name more than maybe 1 or 2 promotional items from this/last year. The same with playing Sweet Caroline (Not a Red Sox thing. They stole it from others. the NY Rangers were playing it too. everyone was) All 30 teams are some shade of ridiculously corporate and conservative. I'd love it if the Mets got wacky, but on that same note, there is plenty of "don't deviate from our established uniform and tradition!" sentiment in this thread.

Not that t-shirt giveaways are particularly unique, but it's not like that idea was specifically pilfered from anyone, it was just a thing. The idea to give out the 2015 schedule on the last day of 2014 was a nice touch, but one that many teams suddenly did last year. Canvas prints are something that got popular in society as a whole, so MLB decided to incorporate it. It probably showed up in a catalog some promo company sent to MLB and all 30 teams.

Same with the gnomes. everyone's doing them. 5-10 years ago I definitely read criticism that other teams were doing bobbleheads and the Mets needed to do that more. Conformity. you just can't win.

[Lefty Specialist]

Well, the problem is not only are they derivative, they're late to the party and stingy. Notice that with the exception of the T-shirts which everyone gets, the giveaways are for just the first 15,000 fans? Used to be the first 25,000 fans. Even last year some of the giveaways were for the first 20,000 fans.

Maybe they don't want any left over inventory. Or they're trying to drive up the value of the garden gnomes on eBay. Yes, I know every giveaway is sponsored by somebody and they're paying for it, but it's just annoying.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

The problem from my standpoint isn't that they ape other teams, and have been aping other teams, and will continue to ape other teams. It's that they're not doing anything that other teams aren't doing first.

[Edgy MD]

We're wandering into "my food is awful and the portions are too small" territory here.

[Centerfield]

Which I have always felt were two completely valid complaints to have. Even simultaneously.

I think I said this at least once a day about the dining halls in college.

[G-Fafif]

How about "this food isn't terrible but could be better for the prices they charge" and "perhaps a little originality in the menu would be tasty"?

[Edgy MD]

That's certainly a good argument. Plus healthier portions, particularly of the more palatable stuff.

[G-Fafif]

"Waiter, there's a baseball in my soup!"
"I'm sorry sir or ma'am -- the chef will speak to Mr. Duda about that at once."
"No wait...it's delicious!"

[Ceetar]

Lefty Specialist wrote: Well, the problem is not only are they derivative, they're late to the party and stingy. Notice that with the exception of the T-shirts which everyone gets, the giveaways are for just the first 15,000 fans? Used to be the first 25,000 fans. Even last year some of the giveaways were for the first 20,000 fans. Maybe they don't want any left over inventory. Or they're trying to drive up the value of the garden gnomes on eBay. Yes, I know every giveaway is sponsored by somebody and they're paying for it, but it's just annoying.

hey, at least it's all fans and not 'all children' or 'first 15k women' or whatever.

Also, when the attendance picks back up and they don't increase it, that's a gripe. But why, as a sponsor, would I authorize them to make another 5-10k objects that'll likely never get out of the box, and therefore never serve as advertising?

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: The problem from my standpoint isn't that they ape other teams, and have been aping other teams, and will continue to ape other teams. It's that they're not doing anything that other teams aren't doing first.

Well, the shirts are 'first', though they're not exactly original. But I don't recall seeing other teams do a "special t-shirt and ticket deal!" all over the place before the Mets did. Did anyone else do a Cereal Bowl last year?

Hats, caps, bags, posters, bobbleheads, t-shirts, etc. I'm not really sure what you want in a cheap giveaway at the park besides this sorta stuff. What exactly is going to blaze new ground?

The Minnesota Wild are giving away drawstring bags, thundersticks, pucks, magnets, travel mugs..
SF Giants did the fedora last year for 20k fans.
Not seeing the Growth Chart anywhere else. That new to the Mets? look at them!
Giants also did BBQ Apron last year! Woo! Beach towel, Candlestick park replica, Brewfest themed Giants item, Polynesian kukui Giants necklace (that's kinda neat), Hello Kitty Bobblehead?

[Lefty Specialist]

Plenty of other teams have done growth charts. The Phillies did one in 2013 with Ben Revere, for example.

Tigers did a Doug Fister growth Chart in 2012.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

The problem from my standpoint isn't that they ape other teams, and have been aping other teams, and will continue to ape other teams. It's that they're not doing anything that other teams aren't doing first. Well, the shirts are 'first', though they're not exactly original. But I don't recall seeing other teams do a "special t-shirt and ticket deal!" all over the place before the Mets did. Did anyone else do a Cereal Bowl last year?

Pittsburgh has done cereal bowls multiple times in the last few years. So has Philadelphia. And like Lefty said... growth charts aren't anything new, either.

Hats, caps, bags, posters, bobbleheads, t-shirts, etc. I'm not really sure what you want in a cheap giveaway at the park besides this sorta stuff. What exactly is going to blaze new ground?

-- Blue-and-orange toy coquis in conjunction with Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend (ALSO: perhaps, in conjunction with "Los Mets" and all that-- a different, culturally-specific Metly Latin-American artifact from a different country each year)

-- Met beret for Bastille Day

-- Metly musical instruments to celebrate/herald the concert series

-- Mets in the Media night: old, weird songs from the archives; clips all night from Met-featuring movies and TV shows; giveaways of Mr./Mrs. Met as characters from famous movies (brought to you by whichever studio has a big summer release)

-- Art night/weekend-- Commissioned local artists' original art displayed all around the ballpark; fans vote on a winner; winning image is a t-shirt giveaway at a Free Shirt Friday a month later

-- Syndergaard's curve is looking good early on next year? Give a away a Thor wiffle ball. (How they didn't do this for Dickey already, now that I think of it, is kind of a missed opportunity, no?)

Those are five ideas-- all realistic, engaging ones, I think-- with which I just came up right now, without prior thought. People who do this for a living should presumably do better, right?

[Lefty Specialist]

Boy, I missed this one.....

In 2000, the team gave away a 24-page comic book featuring a villain named Larcenous Vein, who planned to blow up a No. 7 subway train, but was defeated by Mets players. It just so happened that during the previous offseason, Atlanta Braves reliever John Rocker made headlines with derogatory remarks about the diversity in New York City, referencing the different people a visitor might encounter on the No. 7 train. �It�s a coincidence,� Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz said when asked whether Larcenous Vein was Rocker�s alter ego. �The idea was conceived a long time ago.�

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

The problem from my standpoint isn't that they ape other teams, and have been aping other teams, and will continue to ape other teams. It's that they're not doing anything that other teams aren't doing first. Well, the shirts are 'first', though they're not exactly original. But I don't recall seeing other teams do a "special t-shirt and ticket deal!" all over the place before the Mets did. Did anyone else do a Cereal Bowl last year? Pittsburgh has done cereal bowls multiple times in the last few years. So has Philadelphia. And like Lefty said... growth charts aren't anything new, either. Hats, caps, bags, posters, bobbleheads, t-shirts, etc. I'm not really sure what you want in a cheap giveaway at the park besides this sorta stuff. What exactly is going to blaze new ground? -- Blue-and-orange toy coquis in conjunction with Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend (ALSO: perhaps, in conjunction with "Los Mets" and all that-- a different, culturally-specific Metly Latin-American artifact from a different country each year) -- Met beret for Bastille Day -- Metly musical instruments to celebrate/herald the concert series -- Mets in the Media night: old, weird songs from the archives; clips all night from Met-featuring movies and TV shows; giveaways of Mr./Mrs. Met as characters from famous movies (brought to you by whichever studio has a big summer release) -- Art night/weekend-- Commissioned local artists' original art displayed all around the ballpark; fans vote on a winner; winning image is a t-shirt giveaway at a Free Shirt Friday a month later -- Syndergaard's curve is looking good early on next year? Give a away a Thor wiffle ball. (How they didn't do this for Dickey already, now that I think of it, is kind of a missed opportunity, no?) Those are five ideas-- all realistic, engaging ones, I think-- with which I just came up right now, without prior thought. People who do this for a living should presumably do better, right?

You're fucking hired.

[Ceetar]

Yes but those ideas are either twists on things that are already out there, or twists on things the Mets actually have already done. Why is a beret better than fedora or a bucket cap?





I do like the musical instrument one.

As for the 'event' ones, they have dabbled in some of that, though I'll agree that I think the execution could be (much) better. (I can speak specifically to beerfest type events) But I'm also not sure other stadiums are doing it much better as a whole or anything. The Art one is neat, actually Port St. Lucie did something like that in 2011. Similar, the Mets did a stitch and pitch night and there was definitely stuff decorating poles and what not in the upper deck. was interesting.



They've played themed music from previous decades on anniversaries and such, maybe not the songs you would pick, or anything outside say the 'top 10' but...

On the capitalizing on Noah type thing, they did do a shirt or something for deGrom last year didn't they? And they've been pushing the promotional pricing based on stars too. Not quite the same, but engaging at least.

[Lefty Specialist]

When Thor comes up, I'd like to see them give away hammers. Hey, it'd be different.

[Ceetar]

Lefty Specialist wrote: When Thor comes up, I'd like to see them give away hammers. Hey, it'd be different.

There are about a billion Marvel promotional tie-ins available for this, yes. I'm still waiting for some reporter to ask Noah if he's getting a sex change to match the comics.

The only worry here is that we'd end up doing some stupid mockery Braves chant.

[G-Fafif]

Sworn Deposition Day is definitely coming.