Centerfield

Probably the same thing I meant when I said that Mets should design a patch featuring my ass.

Email that to Wilpon. I heard that Boras (in disguise) was one of the guys heading up the chants.

Just get him Wilpons. You've already lost $300 million. What's another 25 to 50?

I don't know if Piazza fulfills your criteria or not. I don't remember if he actually filed for free agency after 1998. Bobby Bonilla. Johan was technically a trade, but a trade that was about as close to a free agent signing as possible.

I had never thought about this before, but next season is going to be pretty special. It will be, for the majority of us, the only time we will see a new stadium in our lifetimes. (Not counting other sports/teams etc)

Awesome. Thanks metfairy. Matt Franco, for what he was, certainly had his share of big hits. Everyone remembers the single off Mariano, but I remember him beating Pedro once with a HR.

I am thinking of a game that Matt Franco won in our last at-bat where he hit a shallow pop fly that fell in driving home the winning run. I think it was against Houston. Franco rounded first, causing Bagwell (like I said, I think it's Houston, if it's not, it obviously wasn't Bagwell) to remark something along the lines of "You hit the shit out of that one." Our hero smiled and yelled back emphatically "I'll take it!" Can't find the game though. I thought it was in 2000 but a scan of the boxscores on UMDB was unsuccessful. Anyone remember anything along these lines?

1984 was when I first noticed the Mets. I was just a kid, didn't know a heck of a lot, I just knew I was experiencing a new set of emotions. Things never got serious in 1984, but there was definitely interest, and the flirting was undeniable. In 1985, the flirting turned into full out dating. We were seeing each other more often. I would think about them when I wasn't with them. Unfortunately, I was too young to really appreciate how great that summer was, but I was in love for the first time. In 1986, our relationship was riding sky high. I never realized things could be so good. And I don't have to tell you what happened that October. 1987: Things just weren't the same. It was still good, but we were having trouble for the first time and we didn't really know how to handle it. In 1988, everything seemed to be getting back to normal. Lots of transgressions were forgiven, and it looked like we had passed the troubled times. Then in October, they ripped out my heart. I found love letters from some guy named Mike in LA. The next spring they traded away Lenny Dykstra, and to be honest, things were really never the same after that. There was bitterness on both sides, and we both decided to let things cool off for a while. We kept in touch during the early 90's, but by 93, we hardly saw each other at all. In '94, I heard they ran into some trouble but I was too busy seeing other hobbies to really care. I didn't see the Mets again until after college. In 1997, I heard (though I didn't watch) that they beat the Yankees in the first ever matchup between those teams, and I realized I still wished them well. In 1998, I started seeing the Mets out more and more. I heard they got Mike Piazza. They had this guy Olerud that you couldn't help but root for. Before long, I started remembering what I liked about them in the first place. Alot of the old wounds were gone. The Mets were different now. I was different now. We had both gone our own way but circled back to where we started. In 1999, it was love rediscovered. It was as great as '85 and '86. Except we were older and better able to handle adversity. '99 ended in the worst way you could imagine, but our relationship was strong. We knew were in this together for good. We've been together since then. Through thick and thin. Through Art Howe and Roberto Alomar. I had one little transgression with the 2004 Red Sox, but the Mets understood and took me back. Our's is not a perfect relationship, but it works.

Many reports have Texas being concerned about Sheets' medicals, but still in negotiations, meaning they can't be all that concerned. I'd still like to know if that torn flexor tendon is healed, and they suspect it might go again, or if the torn flexor tendon is not healed, but the Sheets people claim it is something he can pitch with.

I don't think he's a realistic possibility either. And we're probably going to bring back Oliver Perez over Sheets. Meaning that when all is done and settled this winter, both the rotation and lineup will be no better than it was than last year. That, to me, is a pretty shitty winter.

MANNY. (and Ben Sheets too please)

...on a beautiful curve by Mlicki to end the game. 6-0 Mets. A couple of thoughts from 11 years ago. *I only caught the ninth inning but we had Matt Franco playing third. Who played third in 1997? Anyone remember without looking? *For some strange reason, I felt hopeful that this game might turn Mlicki's career around. *Strange to hear McCarver call a Jeter at-bat without sounding like he wants to fellate him *I've been battling against orange dots for more than a decade.

You would have to think this takes them out of the picture for Sheets, Ollie etc. Andy turned down a ten million dollar deal, to sign a 5.5 instead. Incentives can take him as high as 12. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3861386

Is a torn flexor tendon what knocked out Wagner? The article doesn't make it clear whether the Rangers are concerned because he had a torn flexor tendon, or whether they feel he still has a torn flexor tendon.

Come on Omar. At least make a fucking offer.

Never would I have guessed George Foster would be on that list.

Mark McGwire's younger brother, a professional bodybuilder, is shopping a book that details both his and his famous older brother's use of steroids and HGH. Link: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/2009/01/21/2009-01-21_jay_mcgwire_pitching_book_detailing_brot-1.html

="Edgy DC":6cybcy37]Well, it's not like they haven't shown us illustrations of the future home from every conceiveable angle. Here we go, apple and hat as viewed from a restaurant in leftfield, apparently affordable to only a half dozen fans. Even sadder is the empy left field seats in what appears to be the bottom of the ninth with the Mets up, I think 10-6. OE: The man with his back appears to be a waiter, and appears to be the only non-caucasian getting into Chez Shea. Nice post-racial consciousness, guys. Like the blue plates though.[/quote:6cybcy37] And it's Opening Day too. You'd think some fans would stick around until the end. Of course, this place appears to be named Mets Ballpark... John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 21 2009 07:25 PM Everything's for sale. That restaurant is actually gonna be called "The Acela Grill" -- the great taste of being 4 hours late. I also understand the outfield is now "the Pepsi Porch" and what useta be the Strerling Club is not the Delta 360 Club. Gwreck Jan 21 2009 07:37 PM I believe that access to that restaurant is only for tickets that cost in excess of $100 per game. Edgy DC Jan 22 2009 07:37 AM ="John Cougar Lunchbucket":2axtxchq]Everything's for sale. That restaurant is actually gonna be called "The Acela Grill" -- the great taste of being 4 hours late. I also understand the outfield is now "the Pepsi Porch" and what useta be the Strerling Club is not the Delta 360 Club.[/quote:2axtxchq] You're sneaking in to my house at night and murdering me. John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 22 2009 07:56 AM Also, and I read this on the Internet so don;t quote me, but what plans called The Excelsior Level is now to be called "The Caesar's Level." I think the Delta 360 Club is the one limited to $100 ticket holders. soupcan Jan 22 2009 09:18 AM More... ]Mets' new, bigger Home Run Apple for Citi Field in the works By ANTHONY McCARRON DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER Giant Met Home Run Apple is ready to blossom at new park. Giant Met Home Run Apple is ready to blossom at new park. Workers in Minnesota are putting the finishing touches on the Mets' new Home Run Apple, a bigger, shinier and more advanced version of the Shea curio that inspired strong feelings among fans who either adored or hated its hokiness. The new apple will be installed at Citi Field in early February, according to Mark Silvera, who designed it along with fellow engineer Andrew Agosto. Look for the Mets to have a ceremony when the apple is unveiled, although the team declined comment Wednesday. "I guess somebody has made a giant pop-up apple before, but when we were going through the process, we wanted to have it be bigger, better and more reliable," said Silvera, an engineer at Uni-Systems, the Minneapolis engineering firm hired to build it. "It'll be exciting to see it installed and then see how fans respond to it." The fresh apple, made of fiberglass with a foam core, is 16 feet tall and 18 feet in diameter, meaning it would tower over the 9-foot-tall original. The new one weighs 4,800 pounds, but adding the hydraulics and guideframes underneath means the total weight lifted will be around 8,500 pounds. The old apple weighed 582 pounds. When a Met hits a homer, the apple will rise 15 feet. It's slated to make the trip in just three seconds, but the Mets may be able to tweak the timing once it is installed. The original apple first appeared at Shea to the right of the 410-foot sign in center field during the 1980 season as a marketing ploy to inject some excitement into a dreadful team that finished 67-95, in fifth place in the NL East. That team didn't hit many homers, either - Lee Mazzilli led the way with 16, while the Mets finished with just 61 and were mocked by a Daily News graphic that measured their homer output against Roger Maris' 1961 total. The Mets and Maris finished tied. But the apple morphed into a symbol of the franchise, its lumpy, red fiberboard frames plucking fans' heartstrings, and Met officials long wanted to have the apple represented in some way in the new park. While the apple has been famous and/or notorious in New York, depending on your point of view, Minnesotan Mark Hagelberger didn't know apple lore. Hagelberger's company, Fiberglass Fabricators, Inc., was hired to build the new apple's shell and he Googled the Met apple to learn. "Wow," he said Wednesday, "this is a big deal." To some fans, so is the final resting place of the original apple. Good news, Hagelberger says - it's likely to go on display somewhere at Citi Field. "That's the plan I heard," Hagelberger said. metirish Jan 22 2009 09:31 AM ] When a Met hits a homer, the apple will rise 15 feet. It's slated to make the trip in just three seconds I dunno but that just sounds like trouble to me , with it's expected weight and all. I'd hate to see Beltran and whoever is in RF get crushed by the apple. Gwreck Jan 22 2009 09:36 AM ="John Cougar Lunchbucket":9cwh7oib]I think the Delta 360 Club is the one limited to $100 ticket holders.[/quote:9cwh7oib] Not exactly. The "Delta 360 Club" (formerly the Sterling Club) is limited to Sterling-Level seat holders. Those are the seats on the lowest level, right behind the plate. Those tickets run $175/game on the low end. The Left Field Restaurant is limited to these seating categories: Sterling Club Platinum and Gold; Ebbets Club Gold; Excelsior Club Platinum and Gold; Metropolitan Box and Field Box. Of course, all of those levels are over $100 per seat. --- And yes, if you take a look here: http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/nym/ticketing/season_plans.jsp, you'll see that the Mets have renamed the "Excelsior Level" the "Caesar's Level." Edgy DC Jan 22 2009 09:43 AM Suckers. G-Fafif Jan 22 2009 09:45 AM ]The original apple first appeared at Shea to the right of the 410-foot sign in center field during the 1980 season as a marketing ploy to inject some excitement into a dreadful team that finished 67-95, in fifth place in the NL East. That team didn't hit many homers, either - Lee Mazzilli led the way with 16, while the Mets finished with just 61 and were mocked by a Daily News graphic that measured their homer output against Roger Maris' 1961 total. The Mets and Maris finished tied. Except the Apple was planted in 1981, the year after the admittedly power-starved Mets had some success with the marketing theme "The Magic Is Back," thus the top hat and the words Mets Magic. And while I wouldn't argue the historical verdict of "dreadful" against a fifth-place, 67-95 team, those Mets were winning back fans with an impressive midseason surge (a 47-39 run that put them in contention for a time) as that Maris vs. Mets graphic was running. Home runs aren't everything. Neither is accuracy at the Snooze, apparently. Benjamin Grimm Jan 22 2009 09:47 AM ="metirish"]I dunno but that just sounds like trouble to me , with it's expected weight and all. I'd hate to see Beltran and whoever is in RF get crushed by the apple. The apple won't be rising while the Mets are in the field. It's the opposing outfielders who have to fear the apple! Edgy DC Jan 22 2009 09:49 AM Can UMDB do a quick home/road split since 1981 and tell us which Mets have lit the apple the most? metirish Jan 22 2009 09:54 AM ="Benjamin Grimm"]="metirish"]I dunno but that just sounds like trouble to me , with it's expected weight and all. I'd hate to see Beltran and whoever is in RF get crushed by the apple. The apple won't be rising while the Mets are in the field. It's the opposing outfielders who have to fear the apple! LOL....of course.... Frayed Knot Jan 22 2009 09:57 AM Fortunately for me I've always been able to make it through a 3-hour baseball game without starving to death so I can still attend a game without paying for high-priced meals in up-scale restaurants that are restricted to only those with upper-priced seats. G-Fafif Jan 22 2009 09:58 AM ="Gwreck":bglynpwb]you'll see that the Mets have renamed the "Excelsior Level" the "Caesar's Level."[/quote:bglynpwb] Will the games be renamed Bread And Circuses? Speaking of renaming, I haven't been able to find any trace of "Coogan's Landing" on the official seating chart or anywhere in the various propaganda save for the original unupdated fact sheet. I guess that one sop to NY Giants history has been quietly yet effectively disappeared. G-Fafif Jan 22 2009 09:59 AM ]I'd hate to see Beltran and whoever is in RF get crushed by the apple. ]The apple won't be rising while the Mets are in the field. It's the opposing outfielders who have to fear the apple! Beltran, Don't Fear The Apple... Gwreck Jan 22 2009 10:01 AM ="Edgy DC":2op1dcbm]Can UMDB do a quick home/road split since 1981 and tell us which Mets have lit the apple the most?[/quote:2op1dcbm] I don't think you need UMDB to tell you it's 1. Darryl 2. Mike But after that... Benjamin Grimm Jan 22 2009 10:01 AM ="Edgy DC":2raunp2q]Can UMDB do a quick home/road split since 1981 and tell us which Mets have lit the apple the most?[/quote:2raunp2q] Piece of cake! Most Shea Stadium (regular season) Mets home runs since 1981: Darryl Strawberry 127 Mike Piazza 99 Howard Johnson 90 David Wright 70 Kevin McReynolds 65 Todd Hundley 57 George Foster 53 Edgardo Alfonzo 53 Carlos Delgado 51 Carlos Beltran 47 Cliff Floyd 44 Bobby Bonilla 40 Gary Carter 40 John Olerud 39 Dave Kingman 38 Keith Hernandez 38 Robin Ventura 36 Jeff Kent 34 Jos� Reyes 30 Mookie Wilson 28 G-Fafif Jan 22 2009 10:06 AM Has anyone ever noticed whether the Apple rose on Met Inside-the-Park HRs? Or was the Apple operator too overcome with shock to get the fruit up in the air? FYI, the following ITPHRs were hit at Shea in the Apple Era: Wally Backman, 7/31/82 Mark Bradley, 8/31/83 Darryl Strawberry, 5/3/89 Marlon Anderson, 6/11/05 Jose Reyes, 9/7/06 Centerfield Jan 22 2009 10:08 AM Never would I have guessed George Foster would be on that list. Edgy DC Jan 22 2009 10:09 AM Jeff Kent, apple polisher. John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 22 2009 10:23 AM I was at the Mark Bradley ITPHR game. I don't remember if the apple went up because I was too busy razzing Dodgers RF Mike Marshall for making the poor decision to dive that led to it.

First 15 picks are protected.

I never would have guessed Sanchez would be due a raise that large.

Dear David Lennon: Next time you take a week off, please let us know. There are several writers on this board that could do a better job filling in than the moron currently in place. CF

Whether or not the Mets were justified in stretching him, because they had no other option, is a different argument than whether they did or not. I don't really know what "overused" means, so I'll stay away from making that sort of judgment, but I certainly felt late last year that they were pushing Santana to pitch beyond his comfort zone. Looking at the numbers, Johan has gone beyond 230 innings twice before, but considering the contract we're committed too, I'd like to keep that IP total a little lower the next couple of years.

Lots more sources picking up on the Mets interest in Sheets. Tom Verducci was talking about it on the MLB Network, there's a piece in the Daily News this morning. The more I think about it, they really have to pull the trigger on Sheets. It is the only way they can significantly improve the rotation from last year. And they need to improve the pitching if they're not going to do anything about the lineup.

We have a Ben Sheets sighting: Martinez also remains on the Mets' radar, as does free-agent righty Ben Sheets, pending a review of his medical records. This according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. Go get Sheets!

That MFY Patch is really nice. Dear Dave Howard: My ass is still available if you want to do some last minute revisions.