Gwreck

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I'm one of the biggest Mets fans any of you guys know and I didn't feel like they deserved my ticket-buying support till just last week. Why last week? I went from a >40 game/year attendee to basically nothing this year. I am going Friday, but that's for Carlos. Making a long-term commitment to Wright might make me reconsider for 2013.

G-Fafif wrote: I can't imagine it won't enter somebody's mind across the table from David's representatives that, sure, your boy had a great season, but his drawing power is negligible. I don't buy this argument, and I doubt David's agents will either. The downward trend of attendance is due to a confluence of factors, including: 1. Poor overall team performance for three consecutive seasons (following two seasons of "collapses"); 2. (Over)pricing problems; 3. Fan apathy/anger at Wilpons. Plus, it's pretty clear that David being on the team gives Mets a better chance to win games. Nothing will fix the attendance problem better than consistent winning (no, a good two months to start this year does not qualify).

Random note for the rain delay: During the aftermath of the Hefner homerun, did anyone else notice Ron talk about Joe Blanton hitting a home run in the World Series, and that he was the "first pitcher" to do so? Obviously that's not quite right, as plenty of other pitchers had done so previously, particularly before the DH. Blanton was, as best as I can tell, the "first NL pitcher to do so in the DH era" which is a pretty arbitrary line to draw for "first." Love our announcing crew but even they're not perfect.

Big, BIG with the rain coming.

C'mon David.

Gonna need another one of those two-run homers.

Ceetar wrote: I wonder if the Mets are subpar against lefties this season because Collins refuses to let his lefties get reps in favor of lesser bats. Assuming no injuries, what left handed hitters would you start more against lefty pitchers? Thole? Murphy and Duda already play most of the time. Davis isn't hitting much against either lefties or righties. Hairston has a .321/.368/.604 line against lefties this year, so unless he's replacing David Wright in the lineup, his offensive contributions are a net positive.

--> Books!

The Mets last hit into an around-the-horn triple play a couple of years ago when Jon Niese pitched the one-hitter against the Padres.

--> Books

NOW is the time that Ike will finally put one [crossout:2czg1mun]into the Allegheny[/crossout:2czg1mun] in play, but still not a hit.

Big hit by Duda.

Sure enough, we got two men on without Torres (Dickey). Let's go David. RBI time.

For what it's worth, both Howie and Josh are in agreement with me. I'd leave Dickey in this game.

Tie game? Our bullpen? Dickey pitching like he is? No way do I take him out for a pinch hitter.

Maybe not.

Sweet redemption as Ike plants one into the Allegheny here.

Ceetar wrote: It's not just about Ike but who would play first in his absense. Duda is the obvious choice. Mets have plenty of outfielders to get playing time for, plus Bay. Moving Duda to first eases that problem.

$190/strip for standing room in 2006? Sounds about right. I figure maybe $250/strip for that in 2013, and maybe $400/strip for the worst seats.

Edgy DC wrote: who goes to All-Star games? Are the seats filled by fans of the local team delighted with the opportunity to host the greatest players or is it all out-of-town swells cashing in on one more entitlement A little from category A, a little from category B. MLB gets about 10,000 tickets for the game, which are distributed to sponsors, other teams, guest tickets for players in the game, etc. Needless to say these are not the crappy seats. The team's season ticket holders get to buy seats, and the Mets are extending a purchase offer to partial plan holders as well. No matter what, a very small allotment (less than a thousand) seats are put on sale to the general public. In the case of the Mets, there will probably be some additional seats for sale to the general public above the MLB-mandated minimum given the size of the season-ticket base. Even if you should be so lucky to purchase tickets, you are required to buy them as a "strip" of seats - that is to say, a ticket for the Game, Home Run Derby, Futures Game, plus 2 fanfest tickets and the official All-Star Program all at once. Depending on seat location, the "strip" will run you at least several hundred bucks.

The first time they were known as the Los Angeles Angels, they played within the city limits, for one season at Wrigley Field and four at Dodger Stadium. The change to "California Angels" coincided with their first season at Anaheim Stadium.

He's got two already, so I figure he's doing ok. Broken up with one out in the ninth by Josh Harrison (who?)

Verlander no-hitting Pittsburgh through 8 innings. Just struck out the side in the 8th; 12 Ks so far.

Mookie Al Leiter David Cone Jeff Kent Chris Woodward

Kerry Wood has the highest-ever game score for a 9 inning game (105). Haddix had a 107 in 13 innings. Leon Cardore's game score was 141 and Oeschger had a 149 (26 inning game).