Gwreck

="batmagadanleadoff":pywe6nca]batmags proclaims that the Mets are the team to beat![/quote:pywe6nca] Yeah, but Jerry bunted the leadoff man over in the 1st inning! soupcan Feb 27 2009 07:09 AM ="soupcan":1a14zofu]Did I hear that Big Pelf pulled a hammy today...?[/quote:1a14zofu] I guess not - nothing in the papers this morning.

="John Cougar Lunchbucket":ix6vvn2o]I gotta confess my dismay at the rash of food stories about the stadiums coming out now. I scooped 'em all by digging up much of this info back in December for an article -- but its only getting out there now (in the Meet the Mets 09 annual). I had the Neiporent/Tribeca Grill stuff and an interview with him, for instance.[/quote:ix6vvn2o] Saw this at the newsstand today and picked up a copy. I still think the story is under reported in that I haven't seen any articles acknowledge that most of these restaurants are never going to be accessible except to a few thousand select ticketholders and Jimmy Blue Collar fan isn't welcome. John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 26 2009 09:12 PM Well, no one would be pinned down on that point. I don't think, for example, if the restaurant isn't doing gangbusters they'll enforce any kind of ticketholder policy. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 26 2009 09:33 PM I'm not sure that I speak for every Mr./Mrs. Blue Collar, but I'm okay with conceptual tacos and Shack Burgers. Bar me if you want-- If I want Nobu, I'll go to Nobu. (You know, once a kid graduates, or Nobu starts taking part in restaurant week.) I do like that Citifield's food selection shaping up as a LITTLE more of a people's-choice, NEW-YORKER'S-New-Yorker menu-- complete with frou-frou options-- in comparison to laser-etched steakhouses/f'-ing Hard Rock. metsguyinmichigan Feb 26 2009 10:10 PM ="SteveJRogers":1i4q3vr9] 1) The Grill Room was directly behind the press box. Would have been neat if they created a window so fans could see the press doing their jobs, but it would have been brutal to try to follow the game on anything other than the TV monitors around the bar and the restaurant. [/quote:1i4q3vr9] Trust me on this, you do not want to watch what happens in the press box. Especially during a meal. soupcan Feb 27 2009 07:08 AM On that Citifield special on SNY last night, Jeff Wilpon stated that there will be a New York pizza joint. I couldn't catch the name - Started with a 'C', multi-syllabalic, something Italian. Gwreck Feb 27 2009 07:57 AM Cascarino's. They were mentioned in the Post's article, I believe. Same pizza provider at Shea as last year, I think. G-Fafif Feb 27 2009 01:18 PM Cascarino's held court in the mid-'00s, giving away to the abysmal Sbarro's in 2007 and 2008. Pizza at Shea hasn't been any good since the personal pizzas of the early '80s disappeared. SteveJRogers Feb 27 2009 04:16 PM ="G-Fafif"]Cascarino's held court in the mid-'00s, giving away to the abysmal Sbarro's in 2007 and 2008. Pizza at Shea hasn't been any good since the personal pizzas of the early '80s disappeared. Hey don't knock the favorite "New York Style" pizza of Dunder Mifflin's Michael Scott (The Office)!

I think you missed the sarcasm and humor. If you didn't, I'll further point out that the sign in question is a street name sign and not a traffic control sign.

Casey Stengel Plaza has been eliminated as part of the construction. I doubt it's coming back. There is still a street named "Shea Road" and I am hopeful that doesn't get changed. There was still a street sign or two marking such, the last time I looked. Would have been a fun thing to have if, you know, it wasn't illegal to steal street signs.

="Vic Sage":1msm2noi]So Chicagoans can put tomatoes on their dogs, but look down their noses at ketchup? Feh. [/quote:1msm2noi] I'm pretty sure that everyone (except perhaps Ronald Reagan) understands the difference. SteveJRogers Feb 25 2009 09:08 PM ="soupcan"]Before the game. Make an evening of it. Dinner rezzies at 6:00, linger and watch the first inning or so through the windas then amble your bloated self down to your seats. Well at Shea you had a couple of reasons for this. 1) The Grill Room was directly behind the press box. Would have been neat if they created a window so fans could see the press doing their jobs, but it would have been brutal to try to follow the game on anything other than the TV monitors around the bar and the restaurant. It had a nice sports bar feel going, at least for the 10 years I was kind of a "regular" there! The Diamond Club itself did have a panoramic window, but the sightlines for watching it from the restaurant were not the best. Had a nice ritzy restaurant feel. Gwreck Feb 26 2009 08:16 PM ="John Cougar Lunchbucket":ix6vvn2o]I gotta confess my dismay at the rash of food stories about the stadiums coming out now. I scooped 'em all by digging up much of this info back in December for an article -- but its only getting out there now (in the Meet the Mets 09 annual). I had the Neiporent/Tribeca Grill stuff and an interview with him, for instance.[/quote:ix6vvn2o] Saw this at the newsstand today and picked up a copy. I still think the story is under reported in that I haven't seen any articles acknowledge that most of these restaurants are never going to be accessible except to a few thousand select ticketholders and Jimmy Blue Collar fan isn't welcome. John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 26 2009 09:12 PM Well, no one would be pinned down on that point. I don't think, for example, if the restaurant isn't doing gangbusters they'll enforce any kind of ticketholder policy. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 26 2009 09:33 PM I'm not sure that I speak for every Mr./Mrs. Blue Collar, but I'm okay with conceptual tacos and Shack Burgers. Bar me if you want-- If I want Nobu, I'll go to Nobu. (You know, once a kid graduates, or Nobu starts taking part in restaurant week.) I do like that Citifield's food selection shaping up as a LITTLE more of a people's-choice, NEW-YORKER'S-New-Yorker menu-- complete with frou-frou options-- in comparison to laser-etched steakhouses/f'-ing Hard Rock. metsguyinmichigan Feb 26 2009 10:10 PM ="SteveJRogers":1i4q3vr9] 1) The Grill Room was directly behind the press box. Would have been neat if they created a window so fans could see the press doing their jobs, but it would have been brutal to try to follow the game on anything other than the TV monitors around the bar and the restaurant. [/quote:1i4q3vr9] Trust me on this, you do not want to watch what happens in the press box. Especially during a meal. soupcan Feb 27 2009 07:08 AM On that Citifield special on SNY last night, Jeff Wilpon stated that there will be a New York pizza joint. I couldn't catch the name - Started with a 'C', multi-syllabalic, something Italian. Gwreck Feb 27 2009 07:57 AM Cascarino's. They were mentioned in the Post's article, I believe. Same pizza provider at Shea as last year, I think. G-Fafif Feb 27 2009 01:18 PM Cascarino's held court in the mid-'00s, giving away to the abysmal Sbarro's in 2007 and 2008. Pizza at Shea hasn't been any good since the personal pizzas of the early '80s disappeared. SteveJRogers Feb 27 2009 04:16 PM ="G-Fafif"]Cascarino's held court in the mid-'00s, giving away to the abysmal Sbarro's in 2007 and 2008. Pizza at Shea hasn't been any good since the personal pizzas of the early '80s disappeared. Hey don't knock the favorite "New York Style" pizza of Dunder Mifflin's Michael Scott (The Office)!

Shea Stadium Page[/url:11svsp86] Temporary C of O issued 4/17/64 (!)[/url:11svsp86] - PDF File. This complaint[/url:11svsp86] was amsuing. (Notice how long it took them to inspect) Citi Field Page[/url:11svsp86] Temporary C of O for Citi Field[/url:11svsp86] (also PDF) Also an amusing complaint[/url:11svsp86].

First off, a Chicago hot dog is steamed, not boiled. I have nothing against New York hot dogs. I think they're great. I've been to Nathans at Coney Island many times and always look forward to a return. That being said -- as a New Yorker, to boot -- the Chicago product is superior. A New York hot dog is a snack. A Chicago hot dog is a meal. The inferior nature of Chicago pizza when compared to that in New York has no bearing on the fact that Chicago hot dogs are superior to those from New York. [We're probably at the point where we need a thread split and move to the NBF...]

Here's another article (this time from the Post): ] BUY me some peanuts and Cracker Jack - and a California roll? NYC stadium fare has long been notoriously bad, stuck in an era of soggy dogs and watery beer. No more. When the new stadiums open in April, both will offer an incredibly diverse array of upscale restaurants and concession stands. But while the Yankees are going slick and corporate (Hard Rock Cafe, anyone?), the Mets are appealing to locals by luring some of the city's top restaurateurs. In other words, fans will have more to argue about than batting averages and who juiced when. "It's Mets versus Yankees competition at its finest - even down to the food," BALLPARKS says Erika Boeke, co-creator of gogameface.com, a Web site aimed at female sports fans. Sure, you'll still be able to score a classic hot-dog-and-suds combo, but why stop there? Up in The Bronx, gamegoers can indulge in sushi and steak, while spectators at Citi Field will be able to enjoy Brooklyn Brewery specialty beers, Belgian-style fries and authentic Mexican tacos - not to mention food and drink specials inspired by visiting teams. Get your microbrewed beer, here! "Food plays an enormous role in the baseball experience," says Dave Howard, executive vice president of business operations for the Mets. After all, a baseball game can drag on for hours - leaving multitasking New Yorkers in search of stimulation. Following the lead of food-forward ballparks from Philly to San Francisco, the Mets organization has asked some of the city's leading restaurateurs to step to the plate. At the new Citi Field, Danny Meyer - not Oscar Mayer - will be the one feeding hungry fans. A new "Taste of the City" food court will feature spinoffs of Meyer's popular Manhattan eateries Shake Shack and Blue Smoke. There will also be two new concepts from Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group - Box Frites, serving Belgian-style french fries with various dips and "dust-up" spice blends, and El Verano, an authentic Mexican taqueria. "BBQ and burgers are a no-brainer. We decided to do a taqueria because so many Hispanic Americans go to these games [and because of our location] in Queens," says Tabla's Floyd Cardoz, who is designing El Verano's menu, which will feature soft corn tortillas, several varieties of salsa and a Mexican-style beer from Brooklyn Brewery. Also keeping it local at "Taste of the City": A branch of Leo's Latticini deli (a k a Mama's of Corona) and a new high-end pizza concept from the Queens-based Cascarino's. Of course, Citi Field's 1,600 premium ticket holders won't need to venture far - they can have their ShackBurgers delivered straight to their seats. They'll also have access to two exclusive eateries: an as-yet-unnamed dining room and lounge showcasing modern cocktails and a market-driven menu developed by Union Square Cafe's Michael Romano. Adjacent to that space, the Wheelhouse Market will feature a specialty coffee bar, a large wood-burning pizza oven for churning out Neapolitan-style pies and a global beer and wine bar overlooking the Mets' warm-up area. But Meyer isn't the only heavy hitter in the Mets' restaurant rotation. According to Dave Howard, the glass-enclosed Acela Club will feature "classic menu items from some of the leading restaurants in New York City" - not to mention tiered seating overlooking the diamond and a huge outdoor terrace. A recent report in Crain's fingering restaurateur Drew Nieporent as Acela's likely operator means the menu may include dishes from hot spots like Nobu. A formal announcement is expected by early March. The Yankees, meanwhile, are partnering with slicker, entertainment-oriented brands like Hard Rock Cafe and - it is rumored - the Food Network (neither the Food Network nor the Yankees would confirm). In addition, the stadium will open restaurants dedicated to upscale fare like sushi. "The Mets are taking the approach [of] 'Let's find the finest food in New York and bring it to the ballpark,' whereas the Yankees [are] like, 'Let's start our own steakhouse because we know better than anyone else,' " says gogameface.com's Boeke. Boeke is referring to NYY Steak, the Yankees' new joint venture with Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment. Located on the stadium's second floor, it will feature servers sporting Yankee pinstripe oxford shirts and prime dry-aged beef like a 24-ounce bone-in rib-eye. The restaurant will also include a floor-to-ceiling brass "signature wall" with laser-etched autographs of Yankee Hall of Famers. Below, the Hard Rock Cafe will serve its specialty burgers and ribs amid sporty music memorabilia such as a baseball-themed Elton John outfit. Neither restaurant will have views of the field. So will streetwise Yank fans trade their game seats for a burger paired with closed-circuit TV and spandex leggings? "Who are they catering to? New Yorkers or that person flying in saying, 'Let's go spend a fortune at the Yankee game'?" asks Boeke. Either way, they'll spend. After all, there are only 81 home games a year. But with NYY Steak and Hard Rock Cafe operating year-round, the stadium is promising to become an uptown version of Times Square - a 365-day tourist attraction complete with Yankee store and museum. "Even on nongame days, people can be in the stadium and part of the experience," says David E. Miller, Hard Rock's director of operations. So will the new restaurants come with typical tourist pricing? According to those working at Citi Field, delivering value in the current economic climate has been a big part of the discussion. "When the stadium opens, I think people will be pleasantly surprised with the prices," says Ron Parker, managing director of Hudson Yards, Union Square Hospitality's catering, sports and entertainment division. And if you can't afford to splurge on NYY Steak at Yankee Stadium, no need to sweat it. We're told Carl's Steaks - the popular Philly-based cheese-steak purveyor - will be making the move to the new digs. After all, some things just can't be improved upon.

[u:mop05vxk]Authentic:[/u:mop05vxk] Exactly what the players wear. Numbering and lettering on back of jersey is the three-color, blue with orange border and black drop shadow. Number also appears on front of jersey Mets logo patch on left sleeve Inaugural season patch on right sleeve MLB logo patch at neckline on back of jersey Costs about $250 [u:mop05vxk]Replica:[/u:mop05vxk] Not authentic. Might use slightly different polyester material (not exactly sure about that). Minimal visual difference (if any) in my opinion. The numbering and lettering on the back used to be one color only (blue on the white jerseys, white on the black jerseys). But now it apparently will have the same three-color scheme that the authentic lettering did. No numbers on the front of the jersey No Mets patch on left sleeve No Inaugural season patch on right sleeve No MLB logo patch at neckline Costs about $100

I did hear (second-hand) that they will have two locations, one in right field on the field level, and one in the promenade level.

="metsguyinmichigan":1lc21jvv]Great shots!!! And the best part? BLUE CAPS with the white unis.[/quote:1lc21jvv] Now if we could just get rid of the white uniforms and stick to the pinstripes... DocTee Feb 23 2009 10:09 PM Someone suggested the Mets were going with a Brooklyn-style WHITE dot on their caps...glad to see that has not happened. John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 24 2009 09:18 AM The logo patch on the shoulder has no black at all, somewhat old-skool. I know they've introduced black to the logo in most places, not sure if it was the uni also... TransMonk Feb 24 2009 09:34 AM He is the sweetest guy. Have you ever looked into his eyes? It was like the first time I heard the Beatles. A Boy Named Seo Feb 24 2009 09:36 AM Beautiful pictures. Hi-larious captions. Maine the only guy not wearing the new hat patch. No Citi sleeve patches anywhere yet. Chef-Rod looks kinda tubby. Not even kinda tubby in shot 2, just tubby. Get that guy a colonic and 2 weeks on the Marlon Anderson diet NOW!!! I know it was for the ladies, but I'm still hopelessly locked in the tractor beam that is Johan Santana's gaze. Help. A Boy Named Seo Feb 24 2009 09:37 AM Me and TM's gay sim scores off the charts. Edgy DC Feb 24 2009 09:59 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Feb 24 2009 10:03 AM ="John Cougar Lunchbucket":brvxqq9n]The logo patch on the shoulder has no black at all, somewhat old-skool.[/quote:brvxqq9n] I know, right? If they can only bring back the NY insignia to the logo, balance might be restored. Who is in charge of tabulating gay sim scores again? Edgy DC Feb 24 2009 10:03 AM I see Carlos Jr. returns for another season. John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 25 2009 01:05 PM K-rod looks fatter than I remember him soupcan Feb 25 2009 01:17 PM ="Edgy DC":3tlgdb3t]I see Carlos Jr. returns for another season. [/quote:3tlgdb3t] I'll never understand why he doesn't remove that thng. I'm certain its responsible for at least 25 Ks per season. Benjamin Grimm Feb 25 2009 01:24 PM I used to wonder the same thing about Dale Murphy. (He finally did get that mole removed from his cheek by the time he became a Phillie. Maybe the Phils had a better dermatology plan?) holychicken Feb 25 2009 02:48 PM ="Edgy DC"]Ready to fuck your shit up: After that whole "any hole" comment he made, that's really scary comment for that picture. ]I mean, he doesn't shave his face, but does shave his arms. What do you do with a psycho like that? You study these pictures a little too carefully, methinks. ]Best. Photo. Day. Shot. EVER! LMFAO! Seriously, who was thinking that and what were they thinking? metirish Feb 26 2009 07:29 AM Reported by Rubin yesterday is that Manuel shouts " all the ganstas on the bus" when rounding up his boys for road trips. #99 for Valentin Ump getting his practice in Ouch head level , eyes on the ball and his arms extended....beautiful form Two big youngsters One skinny lad Sorry the captions are not funny like Edgy's... A Boy Named Seo Feb 26 2009 09:02 AM You channeled Fran perfectly on the Castillo pic. John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 26 2009 09:22 AM Who's the skinny lad? metirish Feb 26 2009 09:33 AM Jonathon Niese , is it possible that he too lost weight. Edgy DC Mar 02 2009 10:22 PM Puerto Rico gives the Dominican Republic some love. Putz with way too much shit around his neck. Hit grand slam. Act like you do it every day. It's spring. Could the unis get any baggier? 'Cuz I don't think they could. Green looking mean and lean in Heilman's old togs. Abreu's swing has the wide open finish of a lefthander. Cool, except that it looks like he's about to run to third. The great Pam Lowe. Shrek in his home run trot. Maine hacks in his un-used playoff beard. Pitches from the stretch also.Look at these three: Are all the Mets pitchers dipping? John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 03 2009 05:43 AM Green has a very unusual delivery. Not really sidearm, but long-limbed so that his elbow is like 4 feet from his body when he throws. Like he's trying to throw a dart in double 15 metsguyinmichigan Mar 03 2009 08:39 AM F-Mart in action. My shots can't compare, but I like this one of Church. Edgy DC Mar 13 2009 12:21 PM Good news. I think I've detected a flaw in Redding's delivery. Edgy DC Mar 19 2009 09:36 AM Bobby Ojeda and Jay Horowitz: LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 19 2009 09:54 AM Is it me, or is Bobby O styling himself in Darlingesque fashion these days? metirish Mar 19 2009 09:56 AM ="LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr":1uix98w3]Is it me, or is Bobby O styling himself in Darlingesque fashion these days?[/quote:1uix98w3] At first glance I thought that was Ron Darling....minus the gut... seawolf17 Mar 19 2009 11:20 AM Either Jay Horwitz or Gary Cohen is my hero. I bounce back and forth depending on the day. Edgy DC Mar 19 2009 12:01 PM Thing is that accounts from the day had Ojeda being a night owl. He's not the first one I'd guess would have kept himself in shape. Teufel makes sense. Mookie, sure. Not Ojeda. Anyhow, he had a falling out with the team as a pitching instructor, so it's nice to see him put that behind him. Edgy DC Mar 21 2009 10:30 AM Training camp, 'Sixty-nine. Only photo I've ever seen of Ralphers in Met togs. John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 21 2009 10:57 AM Lookit Garrett wearing 45. What do you think Tugger would say? Edgy DC Mar 21 2009 11:06 AM It was Garrett in 45 that led me to conclude this was 1969, Garrett's rookie year. I think McGraw missed that camp with military commitments. I'm thinking spring training because Ralph and Connors are in away uniforms, and the rest in home togs. Besides, "special batting instructor" is such a spring training honorific.

And therein lies the problem. The Mets have sold a good portion of the Promenade Level to season and plan ticket holders. The remainder of the tickets (certainly for the weekend games) are likely to go in the public sale, whenever that is in March. The middle and field levels of the stadium are going to have some pretty pricey seats. Yes, on a weeknight in April or May, you can get a ticket there in the 40-70 range. But on the weekend, when the games are "Silver" or "Gold" level, prices are going to be a quite a bit more. Adding to the problem is that the Mets haven't sold as many of those seats on the full-season as they would want. So while you may be able to get single-game tickets that are actually pretty good, don't be so sure they'll be in your price range.

Free Pass A bases on balls; a walk. When four balls are called during a plate appearance and the batter is allowed to advance to first base unchallenged. Most frequently used as a synonym for an intentional walk (where the pitch is deliberately thrown outside the strike zone) but sometimes also used as synonym for unintentional walks.

="Benjamin Grimm":xmjlyqtf]The biggest thing I'm wondering about is if I'll be able to purchase halfway decent seats on a Wednesday or Thursday for a game to be played on the upcoming weekend.[/quote:xmjlyqtf] That may well continue to be the case. The Mets may well be facing a situation with much of the upper level sold out but having plenty of available tickets in the lower level, at $100 or more per seat. Benjamin Grimm Feb 23 2009 01:35 PM Maybe I should have included the adjective "affordable If the only available seats are for $100 or more, I'm not going to be interested. With two kids, I'd have to multiply the ticket price by three. Gwreck Feb 23 2009 01:41 PM And therein lies the problem. The Mets have sold a good portion of the Promenade Level to season and plan ticket holders. The remainder of the tickets (certainly for the weekend games) are likely to go in the public sale, whenever that is in March. The middle and field levels of the stadium are going to have some pretty pricey seats. Yes, on a weeknight in April or May, you can get a ticket there in the 40-70 range. But on the weekend, when the games are "Silver" or "Gold" level, prices are going to be a quite a bit more. Adding to the problem is that the Mets haven't sold as many of those seats on the full-season as they would want. So while you may be able to get single-game tickets that are actually pretty good, don't be so sure they'll be in your price range. attgig Feb 23 2009 02:18 PM Being an out of towner, and having already planned on being in NY that weekend, I'm going to have to try to get tickets. metsmarathon Feb 23 2009 02:43 PM Re: The first pitch at Citi Field ="Edgy DC":38sn79pe]Tickets are not yet on sale for the two previously announced exhibition games against the Red Sox, to be held on April 2 and 3.[/quote:38sn79pe] i'm really hoping i'm online for the brief instant that those tickets go on sale. i'd love to go for one of those games. i prolly don't have a good chance of getting there for opening day, but preseason tune-up baseball would be sweet. metirish Feb 23 2009 05:30 PM Today in the mail I got a ticket promotion/ schedule flyer , I think i had better try and make this college game because I doubt I'll be going during the season. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 23 2009 06:42 PM At ALL, Irish? Surely single-gamers aren't THAT cost-prohibitive? metirish Feb 23 2009 07:04 PM yeah I would hope to go to a few , how easy or hard will they be to get though? LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 23 2009 07:12 PM Face value will range from 15 or so (for the Promenade left-field stands, methinks) to... well... prohibitive. Already picked up a couple of decent early-season games (two April Tuesdays and Mother's Day) for $38-50 a pair on teh Internets (Ebay). The tickets are all Promenade Infield (sections 509 and 512), top section, between home plate and first base. If the local economy stays relatively in the shitter, it's entirely possible there will be a few decent seats for walk-ups every game. (I just like to have a few games guaranteed to plan around.) You've also got a few more hours to register on Mets.com for the Opening Day lotto. metirish Feb 23 2009 07:15 PM Thanks man , I guess there is a feeling with the new stadium that there will not be tickets to be had but there are always tickets.

="Vic Sage":ogvnax0e]my saturday plan is cheaper this year than last year.[/quote:ogvnax0e] Yeah, but is your seat quality the same? You get 15 games instead of 13, but 5 of those are weeknight games instead of the 3 additional Saturdays you got last year. The Mets are getting a lot less money from us this year too, but that's mainly due to their own inflexibility in seating and pricing options. There was nothing available in our budget so we wound up with fewer games in crappier seats. Benjamin Grimm Feb 23 2009 11:05 AM The biggest thing I'm wondering about is if I'll be able to purchase halfway decent seats on a Wednesday or Thursday for a game to be played on the upcoming weekend. That's how I've been doing my Shea visits the last few years. It's so much trouble to get there from where I live I don't want to buy tickets until I see that the weather forecast isn't likely to be a problem. My original thought was that I might not be able to get to Citi Field in 2009, because advance sales might be so high that I wouldn't be able to do my three-days notice thing. But now with the economy in such bad shape, maybe more tickets will be available, even in "Inaugural Season." I guess we'll know soon enough. Nymr83 Feb 23 2009 11:44 AM if they end up selling walk-ups the day of the st johns game i may go for the heck of it if the weather is nice, but its not worth planning ahead for Gwreck Feb 23 2009 01:29 PM ="Benjamin Grimm":xmjlyqtf]The biggest thing I'm wondering about is if I'll be able to purchase halfway decent seats on a Wednesday or Thursday for a game to be played on the upcoming weekend.[/quote:xmjlyqtf] That may well continue to be the case. The Mets may well be facing a situation with much of the upper level sold out but having plenty of available tickets in the lower level, at $100 or more per seat. Benjamin Grimm Feb 23 2009 01:35 PM Maybe I should have included the adjective "affordable If the only available seats are for $100 or more, I'm not going to be interested. With two kids, I'd have to multiply the ticket price by three. Gwreck Feb 23 2009 01:41 PM And therein lies the problem. The Mets have sold a good portion of the Promenade Level to season and plan ticket holders. The remainder of the tickets (certainly for the weekend games) are likely to go in the public sale, whenever that is in March. The middle and field levels of the stadium are going to have some pretty pricey seats. Yes, on a weeknight in April or May, you can get a ticket there in the 40-70 range. But on the weekend, when the games are "Silver" or "Gold" level, prices are going to be a quite a bit more. Adding to the problem is that the Mets haven't sold as many of those seats on the full-season as they would want. So while you may be able to get single-game tickets that are actually pretty good, don't be so sure they'll be in your price range. attgig Feb 23 2009 02:18 PM Being an out of towner, and having already planned on being in NY that weekend, I'm going to have to try to get tickets. metsmarathon Feb 23 2009 02:43 PM Re: The first pitch at Citi Field ="Edgy DC":38sn79pe]Tickets are not yet on sale for the two previously announced exhibition games against the Red Sox, to be held on April 2 and 3.[/quote:38sn79pe] i'm really hoping i'm online for the brief instant that those tickets go on sale. i'd love to go for one of those games. i prolly don't have a good chance of getting there for opening day, but preseason tune-up baseball would be sweet. metirish Feb 23 2009 05:30 PM Today in the mail I got a ticket promotion/ schedule flyer , I think i had better try and make this college game because I doubt I'll be going during the season. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 23 2009 06:42 PM At ALL, Irish? Surely single-gamers aren't THAT cost-prohibitive? metirish Feb 23 2009 07:04 PM yeah I would hope to go to a few , how easy or hard will they be to get though? LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 23 2009 07:12 PM Face value will range from 15 or so (for the Promenade left-field stands, methinks) to... well... prohibitive. Already picked up a couple of decent early-season games (two April Tuesdays and Mother's Day) for $38-50 a pair on teh Internets (Ebay). The tickets are all Promenade Infield (sections 509 and 512), top section, between home plate and first base. If the local economy stays relatively in the shitter, it's entirely possible there will be a few decent seats for walk-ups every game. (I just like to have a few games guaranteed to plan around.) You've also got a few more hours to register on Mets.com for the Opening Day lotto. metirish Feb 23 2009 07:15 PM Thanks man , I guess there is a feeling with the new stadium that there will not be tickets to be had but there are always tickets.

="Fman99":2ltu58ot]Actually there is an "OK only in blue" choice for the color purists out there.[/quote:2ltu58ot] Yabbbbut I've got a gray one too, which is just fine as it matches the road uniform. I'll vote that category though. Edgy DC Feb 22 2009 06:47 PM Yankee jerseys and shirts with the players' names on them --- highly disapprove. seawolf17 Feb 22 2009 07:27 PM ="Edgy DC":21habvpp]Yankee jerseys and shirts with the players' names on them --- highly disapprove.[/quote:21habvpp] Absolutely; it's simply wrong. But Mets? Yes on all counts. I have an orange Santana, a blue Carter (although I wish they made a Hernandez), and a black Reyes I got as a gift this holiday season. G-Fafif Feb 23 2009 05:25 AM Huge believer in the jersey t-shirts: affordable, portable, delightful for my needs. The jersey is way too big an investment for a player who may be a passing fancy. The rare gray NEW YORK 42 tee, a winter '02-'03 gift from Mrs. Fafif, pops up now and then. I can wear that around the house. I'm thrilled she never spent the bucks on an actual VAUGHN 42 jersey, for it wouldn't be worn anywhere. Tees through the years in rough chronological order of acquisition: Hundley, Alfonzo, Ordonez, Baerga, Olerud, Reed, Ventura, Piazza, Vaughn, Reyes, Martinez, Wright, Delgado, Beltran. themetfairy Feb 23 2009 05:42 AM I have to rethink my answer about this. I was thinking of a particular style of t-shirt yesterday, but now that I'm thinking about it I realize I was mistaken. If we're talking about Mets t-shirts with player names and numbers, I'm cool with those. Zvon Feb 24 2009 02:43 PM I say anything goes when it comes to T-shirts. John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 24 2009 03:36 PM Yeah, ts are ok with me, don't have any and would only get one on sale or something. I can see turning 70 years old, and your kids pitching in to get you an authentic road jersey with your name and No. 70 on the back. Looks great on my dad. OlerudOwned Feb 24 2009 03:46 PM ="G-Fafif":3ar9illj]Huge believer in the jersey t-shirts: affordable, portable, delightful for my needs. The jersey is way too big an investment for a player who may be a passing fancy. The rare gray NEW YORK 42 tee, a winter '02-'03 gift from Mrs. Fafif, pops up now and then. I can wear that around the house. I'm thrilled she never spent the bucks on an actual VAUGHN 42 jersey, for it wouldn't be worn anywhere. Tees through the years in rough chronological order of acquisition: Hundley, Alfonzo, Ordonez, Baerga, Olerud, Reed, Ventura, Piazza, Vaughn, Reyes, Martinez, Wright, Delgado, Beltran.[/quote:3ar9illj] Coincidentally, I picked up a totally authentic Vaughn jersey on clearance at Modell's for $20 once.

You don't have the correct poll choice. The answer is: they're fine, regardless of age. I have a few which are generally only worn to the games. Of course, nothing in black is acceptable.

Notice the absence of Castillo in the lineup...

Scoreboard being tested:

More on the CitiField Restaurants here ] * Blue Smoke is expected to serve up a scaled-down version of Danny Meyer's Gramercy Park restaurant, including Kansas City spareribs and Memphis baby back ribs. * Shake Shack, another Meyer venture, is set to grill up the famed ShackBurgers and vegetarian 'ShroomBurgers that fans line up for at its Madison Square Park post. * Acela is a reservations-required restaurant that [Drew] Nieporent - also owner of Tribeca Grill - has slotted for a space overlooking the diamond. Named after the high-speed Amtrak train, the fine-dining spot has yet to unveil its menu. * Verano Taquer�a will feature authentic tacos created by chef Floyd Cardoz of Tabla fame. * Box Frites will serve freshly-cut, Belgian-style fries with a wide selection of dipping sauces. * The Delta Sky360 Club will be another premium-seating dining destination on the Field Level directly behind home plate, offering waiter service and "Best of Ballpark" food. * Wheelhouse Market is expected to be a casual cafe serving speciality brews and "classic, artisanal comfort foods," which usually means hand-crafted cheeses and cured meats. * Zachys will be run by Westchester wine merchants Andrew McMurray and Jeff and Don Zacharia, offering fine wines from around the world. What's not mentioned in the article, of course, is that not everybody in the park is going to have access to these spaces. "Acela" will probably be the left field restaurant, to which access is only granted to certain field-level ticket holders. The "Delta Sky360 Club" is going to be restricted to the "Delta Sky360 Club" (formerly "Sterling Club") ticketholders -- that's the area right behind the plate, between the bases. I wouldn't be surprised if some of those other named restaurants are going to be restricted to the Ebbets Club, Caesar's Club (formerly "Excelsior Club") or Promenade Club areas. At least we know Shake Shack will be open to all.

I don't think Nomar would start only 5 games; I think he'd also spell Delgado occasionally against a tough lefty, and also serve as Wright's backup at third. He'd also be the primary pinch-hitting bat off the bench. The 5 games reference is that the Mets don't necessarily need a player taking up a spot on the bench, when all they require is a player who has the defensive skills to be a shortstop for about 5 games a year. I see the point about him being a good enough hitter to deserve more PT than a reserve but submit that if he's unsigned, he's not getting PT anywhere.

Maybe not Cora himself, but there'd likely be another no-hit, good-field middle infielder available somewhere, no?

We got Alex Cora to back-up instead of Nomar? Seriously? Reyes is going to play 160 games or something, and if he gets hurt, then we can sign Alex Cora. I'd take my chances with giving Nomar the 5 starts at short we give Reyes off.

="LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr":a0q1jn0f]It seems that whether it�s in regard to replenishing the major-league lineup (win-now-sort-of) restocking the minors (draft-well-but-don�t -sign-anyone-above-slot) or off-field stuff (this-Madoff-business-doesn�t-affect-our-budget-but-we�ll-be-alarmingly-frugal-anyway-despite-3-or-4-new-for-2009-partially-publically-funded-revenue-streams), our franchise plan is �Serving two masters/pleasing none.� So, you know, the two-different-patches rigamarole fits.[/quote:a0q1jn0f] I count 3 or 4 large exaggerations there. MFS62 Feb 20 2009 07:01 AM We don't need no steenking patches. Later Fman99 Feb 20 2009 10:03 AM ="John Cougar Lunchbucket":20ip55fb]Can someone explain what it is with the brothers who don't take the stickers off the bill?[/quote:20ip55fb] The Doobie Brothers? They don't wear hats. MFS62 Feb 20 2009 10:26 AM ="John Cougar Lunchbucket":pzznudbs]Can someone explain what it is with the brothers who don't take the stickers off the bill?[/quote:pzznudbs] Are you talking about store/ price stickers? My daughter told me a few years ago that used to be a sign of pride that the hat was stolen, rather than paid for. Later batmagadanleadoff Feb 20 2009 10:29 AM ="Gwreck"]="metsguyinmichigan"]Just found out they're going to wear that cap with the patch all season! If only that were true. More likely, they're going to wear that cap in the 15 games of the year that Charlie Samuels and the Mets deign to actually wear their proper uniform, and they'll wear some godawful black or blue-and-black caps the other 147. I bet you're right. Benjamin Grimm Feb 20 2009 10:51 AM I just saw a clip (on "Mets Hot Stove Report") of Francisco Rodriguez's press conference, and it looks (although it was hard to tell for sure) that his blue Mets cap had a white button on top. (Hmmm, didn't the Brooklyn Dodgers have a white button on their caps?) OlerudOwned Feb 20 2009 12:58 PM ="John Cougar Lunchbucket":1j28k4gy]Can someone explain what it is with the brothers who don't take the stickers off the bill?[/quote:1j28k4gy] Someone probably started doing it to be different, and everyone else wanted to be different too. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 20 2009 04:30 PM ="Gwreck":1phroxm2]="LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr":1phroxm2]It seems that whether it�s in regard to replenishing the major-league lineup (win-now-sort-of) restocking the minors (draft-well-but-don�t -sign-anyone-above-slot) or off-field stuff (this-Madoff-business-doesn�t-affect-our-budget-but-we�ll-be-alarmingly-frugal-anyway-despite-3-or-4-new-for-2009-partially-publically-funded-revenue-streams), our franchise plan is �Serving two masters/pleasing none.� So, you know, the two-different-patches rigamarole fits.[/quote:1phroxm2] I count 3 or 4 large exaggerations there.[/quote:1phroxm2] A little drama-queen-y, to be sure. (Once I hit Madoffville, I figured I might as well gun the accelerator.) Offseason-that-felt-much-too-long + Fumbling-something-stupid-and-easy-like-commemorative-patch-design = A dull, exaggerative boy.

="metsguyinmichigan"]Just found out they're going to wear that cap with the patch all season! If only that were true. More likely, they're going to wear that cap in the 15 games of the year that Charlie Samuels and the Mets deign to actually wear their proper uniform, and they'll wear some godawful black or blue-and-black caps the other 147.