Is the "Dark Knight" stuff embarrassing?

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

Uniwatch today gets on Matt Harvey for his Dark Knight bat knob decals, and calls it embarrassing. http://www.uni-watch.com/

It's a little goofy, but I don't think it's embarrassing. Would Seaver have done it? Probably not, but it's a different era.

If Harvey had come up with it himself, that would be one thing. But since it came from the Sports Illustrated cover story and he's just kind of running with it, I don't have a problem with it. it's kind of fun, and goodness knows the Mets need some fun once in a while.

Seaver, of course was a Superman-like "Mr. Wonderful."

Edited April 20, 2015 by Guest

[Guest themetfairy]

It's a light diversion. Perhaps silly, but not embarrassing. And if it helps motivate him, then I'm fine with embracing it.

[metsmarathon]

of course it's embarrassing. when you shine hte harsh light of reason on it, every single damned thing, every aspect, every notion of being a fan of a particular group of people contractually obligated to perform a competitive recreational task together while wearing common attire for hte enrichment of a wealthy owner is ridiculous, patently so.

but hte dark knight stuff is really no less embarrassing than the bulk of everything else that is done in the service of baseball fandom, and far less so than throwing a perfectly good baseball back onto the field.

[Edgy MD]

The last guy with individual customized stickers for his bat knobs was... nobody? I'm not sure.

I don't know. It's silly diversion when a group of fans does it. But yeah, it's embarrassing when the subject becomes invested in it.

Grown men (or women) rallying around their brand is a necessary thing, because a team or a band need a name and identity to define the collective. A grown man working his own individual brand into the collective act is another story. Nature gave you a face and a set of abilities. Your parents gave you a name. Make the most of these things and that's your brand.

I mean, Deion Sanders... Jim McMahon... Brian Bosworth... these men become remembered not as bold champions � no matter how high their achievements � but rather as tiresome creatures.

[MFS62]

What Would Jeter Do?

Later

(I hat myself for that.)

[Edgy MD]

That Uni Watch link, btw, didn't take me to a Harvey-related posting.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

It's deeper down in the column and doesn't say anything more than the headline here does about it. My feelings on Harvelous as a personality are well known. It's one thing to be radiant and confident; another to act as though baseball isn't an extremely humbling game.

You kind of wish this was fan-led and not Matt Hovvey led, because I like fans dressing up in Batman costumes at games and stuff.

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

Edgy MD wrote: The last guy with individual customized stickers for his bat knobs was... nobody? I'm not sure.

I know for a fact that Dustin Pedroia has a Sasquatch logo on his bat knobs.

[Ceetar]

No.

Saw this on Twitter:

"Early in yesterday's game, the Dark Knight threw a pitch & Gary said "And Harvey dents the outside corner." Had to be on purpose. #Mets"

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

You kind of wish this was fan-led and not Matt Hovvey led, because I like fans dressing up in Batman costumes at games and stuff.

Yeah, kinda, I can see it. (Seeing the blue-and-orange capes last Tuesday night were fun, granted.)

The last guy with individual customized stickers for his bat knobs was... nobody? I'm not sure. I don't know. It's silly diversion when a group of fans does it. But yeah, it's embarrassing when the subject becomes invested in it.

This is nearer to my feelings on the issue. Additionally, though, it's embarrassing because of the particular nickname/hero. Saying, "Okay, fine, call me Thor/Hulk/Elongated Man if you feel like it" is one thing; most of those comic-book heroes are a little goofy, and so association with them comes with a little bit of a self-deprecating edge, or at least a tinct of good humor (think, say, Syndergaard in a little horned hat). I realize that dark, growly Batman is the most recent/prominent pop-cultural image of the character, but it's also pretty damn humorless. Associating yourself with Batman-- Nolan-version-- is straight-up, relatively straight-faced self-aggrandizement; dress yourself up in sharp bats and black capes, and it's like you're trying to say, "Yeah, I'm a badass"... and in the effort itself, failing miserably at doing so. (NOTE: if he keeps a giant penny and T-Rex by his locker or starts doing the Batusi during pregame warmups, my feelings on the issue may change a bit.)

Ultimately, it's harmless. But "Dark Knight" diminishes our millionaire playboy more than it glorifies him. [Pushes up glasses, returns to graphic novel]

Edited April 20, 2015 by Guest

[Edgy MD]

Mets � Willets Point wrote: Edgy MD wrote: The last guy with individual customized stickers for his bat knobs was... nobody? I'm not sure. I know for a fact that Dustin Pedroia has a Sasquatch logo on his bat knobs.

How about that?

[fimg=400]https://c.o0bg.com/rf/image_r/Boston/2011-2020/2015/03/01/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/chin030115RedSoxSpring_spt11.jpg[/fimg] [fimg=400]http://cdn.barstoolsports.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/679586f3eb7fb92-220x140.jpg?a71063[/fimg]

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

Edgy MD wrote: Edgy MD wrote: The last guy with individual customized stickers for his bat knobs was... nobody? I'm not sure. I know for a fact that Dustin Pedroia has a Sasquatch logo on his bat knobs. How about that? [fimg=400]https://c.o0bg.com/rf/image_r/Boston/2011-2020/2015/03/01/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/chin030115RedSoxSpring_spt11.jpg[/fimg] [fimg=400]http://cdn.barstoolsports.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/679586f3eb7fb92-220x140.jpg?a71063[/fimg]

I think most of the Red Sox have the personalized knob stickers, with the shapes of their native countries and so on. Kind of fun.

Part of me thinks it's a little fun. Part of me thinks Lukas beating someone up for their bat knob decals is a new level of stupid. It's not like he's taping bat ears to his cap.

[Vic Sage]

i've got no problem with it. Harvey going to the mound has become an exciting event in baseball, not just NY, and he's captured the imagination. The media dubbed him the dark knight and he's going along with it. good for him. I hope the team does, too, with a Harvey/Bat signal thingy that Mike Golic has been advocating on ESPN, and a pre-game video for each Harvey start that has clips of all the guys who've played Batman kicking ass, and the 60s tv theme song his entrance music, selling Bat ears hats with mets logo and Harvey's 33.

Harvey may not be the hero you want, but he's the hero we need.

[Ceetar]

Vic Sage wrote: i've got no problem with it. Harvey going to the mound has become an exciting event in baseball, not just NY, and he's captured the imagination. The media dubbed him the dark knight and he's going along with it. good for him. I hope the team does, too, with a Harvey/Bat signal thingy that Mike Golic has been advocating on ESPN, and a pre-game video for each Harvey start that has clips of all the guys who've played Batman kicking ass, and the 60s tv theme song his entrance music, selling Bat ears hats with mets logo and Harvey's 33. Harvey may not be the hero you want, but he's the hero we need.

I would absolutely buy a Mets hat with bat ears and Harvey's logo on one side and the Mets logo on the other. The Mets should get this into a promo asap. Get Fox to sponsor it as a Gotham tie-in or something.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

i've got no problem with it. Harvey going to the mound has become an exciting event in baseball, not just NY, and he's captured the imagination. The media dubbed him the dark knight and he's going along with it. good for him. I hope the team does, too, with a Harvey/Bat signal thingy that Mike Golic has been advocating on ESPN, and a pre-game video for each Harvey start that has clips of all the guys who've played Batman kicking ass, and the 60s tv theme song his entrance music, selling Bat ears hats with mets logo and Harvey's 33. Harvey may not be the hero you want, but he's the hero we need.

Goof it up-- bat-signals and "Same Bat Time" and such-- and I think I'd be on-board. But here's the thing-- I don't see Harvey signing on for that.

BTW: more direct links to the bat knob pictures are here and here.

[batmagadanleadoff]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Associating yourself with Batman-- Nolan-version-- is ... self-aggrandizement; ... and it's like you're trying to say, "Yeah, I'm a badass"...

Harvey would never say that. Instead, he'd say: "Um .... yeah ... you know ... obviously I'm a badass".

[Edgy MD]

Bat-Signals, brought to you by Quallcomm, he'd be all over it.

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

A 'bat signal' is something that would be very effective for a reliever being called out of the pen.

[TransMonk]

As long as he dominates, all of the unnecessary promotion makes no difference to me.

It's part of the price for the awesomeness.

Watching him pitch the first inning yesterday before a packed house that was silent while every pitch was in the air, hearing the smack of the ball into the catcher's mitt and listening the crowd erupt with each positive result is enough to get me excited, though.

[Edgy MD]

Anyhow, as much as it seems he's been good but not great, and therefore begging for his self promotion campaign to blow up in his face, 24 strikeouts and one walk through three starts. Gabba Gabba Hey!

Currently sitting on 20 straight innings without a walk issued by a Mets starting pitcher.

In another context, Niese and Gee might be designated as "control specialists," but on this staff, they're no big whoop, control wise.

[Guest cooby]

Mets � Willets Point wrote: A 'bat signal' is something that would be very effective for a reliever being called out of the pen.

Yeah

[Lefty Specialist]

I find the reaction of the broadcast team interesting. Gary seems all-in on the Dark Knight stuff, but Ron and Keith seem a lot more reticent.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Did Uni-watch take down the article, I don't see it there? BBR lists
his nickname as Real Deal or Dark Knight of Gotham so I guess
if it's embarrassing it's not going anywhere soon.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Saw this hat on the web:



and figured it was a Harvey thing. Then I saw this:



and this:



and then the same cap in some other, but not all, MLB team flavors.

[G-Fafif]

[youtube:adf0tlqx]E5ibSvOWAMg[/youtube:adf0tlqx]

[Guest d'Kong76]

I thought George's nickname was Buck Naked!

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

Mets Guy in Michigan wrote: Seaver, of course was a Superman-like "Mr. Wonderful."

And Dwight Gooden was Dr. K despite not having a medical degree. Sure, the K Corners were fan-initiated, but like Harvey, Gooden embraced it, signing autographs as "Doc Gooden" and even his baseball cards said "Doc" instead of "Dwight" eventually. I liked it then, and I like it now. So take that, joyless buzzkills!

[Frayed Knot]

d'Kong76 wrote: I thought George's nickname was Buck Naked!

That was his porn name. T-Bone was just for business purposes.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Frayed Knot wrote: d'Kong76 wrote: I thought George's nickname was Buck Naked! That was his porn name. T-Bone was just for business purposes.

"Art Vandelay" was for business purposes. "T-Bone" was merely recreational.

[Guest d'Kong76]

I was just gonna post Art Vandelay!
The Hammer was another fun Mets nickname, Grand Orange too.