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In The Boyfriend (the Keith Hernandez episode) George claims to work for Vandelay Industries, a real world fictional company that exists only in the TV universe of Seinfeld. What's the deal with the Vandelay Industries baseball stadium?

Bud "Porgy" Harrelson at Clendenon Field.

[fimg=303]http://a1.nyt.com/assets/article/20150220-202250/images/foundation/logos/nyt-logo-185x26.svg[/fimg] David Wright Aims to Raise His Production, Along With His Number of Games Played By TIM ROHAN FEB. 22, 2015 PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. � David Wright has learned a few tricks over the years to help him stay healthy for an entire season. He takes fewer swings during warm-ups now and fields fewer ground balls at third base. He is also more mindful not to overwork his body while training during the season. Essentially, he has tried to eliminate taking unnecessary risks. He has vowed, for instance, not to slide headfirst this season. In June, Wright slid headfirst into second base and jammed his right shoulder. He was not the same player the rest of the year. By the time the Mets shut him down in September, he had career lows in home runs (eight), on-base percentage (.324) and slugging percentage (.374). On Sunday morning, Wright, 32, met with the news media at the Mets� complex for the first time this spring training. He said his shoulder was fine. He seemed to be more aware of his physical limitations, having played at least 135 games just once in the last four seasons as a result of back, shoulder and hamstring injuries. �That�s something that I�m starting to realize a little more, that a well-timed off day can do wonders over the course of the season,� Wright said. Manager Terry Collins, who said he would limit Wright to about 150 games in an effort to keep him healthy, believes that a healthy Wright will benefit the rest of the lineup by taking pressure off other hitters. Wright spent the off-season strengthening his shoulder and arrived in Florida in January, a month earlier than usual, to work out with Mike Barwis, the Mets� strength and conditioning adviser. He also spent time with Kevin Long, the team�s new hitting coach, in Arizona and in Florida, and at times over the off-season, Long called Wright with insight on how to improve his swing. Last year, Wright hid the extent of his shoulder injury for some time, and he declined to blame the injury for the drop in his home run total. Even after he had the shoulder tested and treated and was playing in pain, he seemed reluctant to talk about it. �One thing about David, he�s never going to make an excuse, ever,� Collins said. �He never has, never will. But I think a lot of it had to do with that. He just couldn�t get the bat through the zone with the speed you need to have to hit for power. �I�m not worried about power with David Wright. I know David Wright does what he does offensively where you�re looking up and he�s hitting .320 or .318. He�s going to hit some home runs because he�s making better contact.� Photo Wright meeting with reporters at the Mets� complex. He said he was learning that �a well-timed off day can do wonders.� Credit Brett Carlsen for The New York Times In recent seasons, as the Mets have tried to create a foundation built mainly on young players, especially pitchers, Wright has seemed aware that he is approaching the end of his prime. When he signed an eight-year contract extension in 2012, the Mets essentially promised to build a contender around him. Now, finally, that kind of team seems to be coming into focus. �It�s been a little longer than I hoped for, obviously,� Wright said. But he has high hopes for this season and said this was the best pitching staff he had played behind. He could not say the same about the Mets� lineup. No matter who is pitching, the team very likely will be a contender only if Wright is healthy. �My track record � obviously, I expect to do certain things on the baseball field, and when I don�t do them, I�m pretty harsh on myself; I�m upset with myself,� Wright said. �I think it continues to drive and motivate me. � When that stops happening, when I don�t expect to play at a high level, then it�s time to start thinking about doing something else.� INSIDE PITCH Even though the Mets have long indicated that Wilmer Flores will be their starting shortstop, Terry Collins said that there would be an open competition between Flores and Ruben Tejada. More than anything, it seemed to be a ploy to motivate Tejada, whose inconsistent play created an opportunity for Flores last season. �I�m not going to say that Wilmer Flores won�t be the shortstop,� Collins said. �I�m not saying that. All I�m saying is, I�m giving this other guy a chance.� http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/23/sports/baseball/david-wright-aims-to-raise-his-production-along-with-his-number-of-games-played.html?_r=0

Going to the Matz once again ..... __________________________ [fimg=222]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/New_York_Daily_News_logo.png/800px-New_York_Daily_News_logo.png[/fimg] Steven Matz has everyone in awe, even Matt Harvey, at Mets camp BY Kristie Ackert NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Sunday, February 22, 2015, 11:10 PM PORT ST. LUCIE � Sandy Alderson and his assistants, J.P. Riccardi and Paul DePodesta, moved closer to the end of the bullpen. Noah Syndergaard leaned against the back fence, watching intently, while Jacob deGrom glanced over at the next mound. Even Matt Harvey stopped his own work for a second to take a peek at leftander Steven Matz. Matz was going through his workout seemingly unaware of the eyes and expectations trained on him Sunday morning. The Long Island native has blazed through the Mets organization after a rough start to his professional career and came into camp this year with everyone looking to see if he can live up to the hype. Sunday, at least, he seemed to hold his own in a bullpen full of big arms. �He�s good. Really, really good,� said Harvey walking off the field. �You look at him and the other young pitchers here, we�ve got the potential to have something really, really special for a long time. �Really, really special.� Dan Warthen did not need to see Sunday�s bullpen session to know that Matz soon can be a part of the Mets rotation. �He can pitch in the big leagues this year,� the Mets pitching coach said. Syndergaard is further along in his progress through the Mets� minor-league system and may be the next of the Mets� young arms to burst into the majors. But Matz is pushing his way quickly into the Mets� plans. His fastball sits between 92 and 96 mph. He has a �really sharp curve� and a �very good changeup,� according to catcher Travis d�Arnaud. Coming off an impressive stint in Double-A (6-5 with a 2.28 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 71 innings) Matz already has developed a reputation as a �gamer.� �The thing I like about Steven Matz, even in the minor leagues, is this guy�s pitched two years in a row, in the championship game for his team,� said Terry Collins. �Not only did he pitch them, he dominated the game.� Matz took a no-hitter into the seventh inning in the Eastern League title game last year, leading Binghamton to the crown. The year before that he was the starting pitcher in low-A Savannah�s South Atlantic League clincher. Last month DePodesta, the Mets VP of Player Development, compared Matz�s development and mental makeup to 2014 National League Rookie of the Year � and Matz�s spring training roommate � deGrom. �I am not predicting the Rookie of the Year 2015 by any stretch,� DePodesta told The News last month. �But I do think there are a lot similarities between the guys.� Warthen sees the similarity in the maturity of both players and their mentality, probably the result of both having had Tommy John surgery early in their careers. While deGrom had a relatively smooth rehab, Matz missed two seasons when he struggled to break through scar tissue in the elbow. �Ever since he missed two full years he has progressed incredibly quickly,� Warthen said. �He�s maturing. You watch him next to deGrom and Harvey and you see he understands the process.� Matz is sticking to that process, working on his mechanics every morning. �I don�t really have any expectations here,� Matz said. �I just try to go and do my work and get better from day to day.� Growing up a Mets fan in Suffolk County, Matz, born five years after the 1986 World Series, knows what the young pitching � including himself � could mean for the organization. �Definitely,� Matz said turning to the end of the clubhouse where the major league starters� lockers are. �You look at that row right there from (Dillon) Gee to (Zack) Wheeler, those are some talented guys and then there are some other really good pitchers here all fighting for a spot. �It all begins and ends with pitching . . . and there is some really good pitching here.� http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/steven-matz-impresses-mets-camp-article-1.2125462

Why Mets� �great� Steven Matz is just beginning of true contender By Ken Davidoff February 23, 2015 | 12:28am PORT ST. LUCIE � If we can switch boroughs for a moment, that the Yankees find themselves in their current predicament isn�t because Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy failed to become frontline starting pitchers on their watch. The same goes for Manny Banuelos, Dellin Betances and Andrew Brackman. The problem is there weren�t even more high-end arms behind them. You need depth upon depth upon depth to build a perennial baseball champion, particularly among your pitchers, where the rate of attrition can be depressing. So it is that native Long Islander Steven Matz, even as he stands as this year�s hot, young Mets arm, can understand better than most how fragile a perch he occupies. �I�m just happy that I�m healthy and able to make every start,� Matz, 23, said Sunday at Tradition Field. �That�s really what I try to focus on. I don�t really focus on all of the other stuff that everyone says.� Matz might wind up as the last of many gifts left behind by Omar Minaya, whom the Mets dismissed as their general manager in the fall of 2010. Minaya selected Matz, out of Ward Melville High School in East Setauket, as his first pick in the 2009 amateur draft, in the second round;. The Mets sacrificed their first-round choice that year to sign compensation free agent Francisco Rodriguez. That Matz didn�t throw his first professional pitch until 2012 reflects his challenging journey to this point. Matz underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2010, and he still was experiencing soreness nearly two years later. Dr. David Altchek, chairman of the Mets� medical staff, had performed the original procedure on Matz and told him, in the spring of 2012, that he didn�t need another operation, his pain notwithstanding. Matz went to see noted orthopedist James Andrews for a second opinion. �He said there was a chance I would need a second Tommy John,� Matz recalled of his meeting with Andrews. �But he said it�s tough to see an MRI [exam] after someone has already had surgery because of the scar tissue. He said, �Go out there and just throw. It�s either going to tear or something�s going to break up. You�re going to know if you just go out there and just let it go.� �That�s what I did.� And after exciting, pain-free seasons in 2013 and 2014, Matz lurks on the Mets� radar. He�s a natural candidate to step in for injured guys, or make a spot big-league start when the Mets decide to rest Harvey to monitor his innings. �Guys in your system, [when they�re] high picks, [they�re] pretty polished guys to begin with,� Paul DePodesta, the Mets� vice president of player development and amateur scouting, said Sunday at Tradition Field. �You expect them to go through the levels relatively easily, but they don�t necessarily keep getting better. Because they�re not necessarily challenged. �Steven, as he�s gone to each level, just keeps getting better.� Matz�s strikeouts-to-walks ratio allows him to stand out among the crowd. Last year, splitting his time between Single-A St. Lucie and Double-A Binghamton, Matz put up 3.74 strikeouts for each walk. �He can throw just about anything in any situation,� said catcher Kevin Plawecki, who worked two games with Matz at Binghamton last year before getting his own promotion to Triple-A Las Vegas. �That, to me, is what separates him from being great and just good.� �A lot of people throw hard, and other guys can throw strikes, but he can really pitch with his fastball,� DePodesta said. �He can be behind in the count and guys still don�t necessarily center it up. It�s got a lot of life to it. He can drive it down in the zone. He also has great carry through the zone. His fastball plays better than a typical fastball, even at the same velocity.� That fastball generally sits between 92 and 94 miles per hour, and Matz also has developed a curveball and changeup. His long path to this point makes it easy for Matz to ignore the hype. More than most, he can appreciate he�s just one piece of a large puzzle; there are interesting arms like Gabriel Ynoa and Marcos Molina behind him in the system. It�s on Matz to be a piece that fits and sticks. http://nypost.com/2015/02/23/why-mets-great-steven-matz-is-just-beginning-of-true-contender/

If you thought the Mets decided that they were going with Flores, think again. Wilmer Flores, Ruben Tejada to compete for Mets SS job, says Terry Collins BY Kristie Ackert NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Updated: Monday, February 23, 2015, 12:05 AM excerpt: PORT ST. LUCIE � The shortstop issue never seems to die with the Mets. After being unable to trade for or sign a shortstop this winter and repeatedly saying they felt comfortable coming into spring training with Wilmer Flores there, Terry Collins said Sunday that it is still an open competition, with Ruben Tejada in the mix, too. �Absolutely,� the Mets manager said. �I don�t think I can approach it any other way. read the rest at http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/wilmer-flores-ruben-tejada-compete-mets-ss-job-article-1.2124866

Bad News Beard Terry Collins probably jinxed Harvelous's comeback when he said that Harvey was throwing "stinking dynamite". http://nypost.com/2015/02/22/stinking-dynamite-one-matt-harvey-pitch-has-mets-drooling/

I don't remember the name of it, but it's the one with Catherine Keener as the superintense painter Jerry's dating, and Elaine helps spur the breakup when she wears the Oriole's cap in Keener's father's Yankee seats. And it was the early nineties... I'm going to say... Oakland? In The Letter, Catherine Keener played the intense plagiarist artist, Nina. who gave us this piece of artwork: Playing hooky from work to go to the Yankee game, Elaine is forcibly removed from the stadium for wearing an Orioles cap while sitting in The Boss's personal seats. The incident is captured in a photograph which appears in the NYT with print coverage. Elaine said what she said to distract her boss so she could swipe his copy of the NYT and prevent him from reading read it and discovering Elaine's ruse, if he already didn't know. Rickey was an A. Close enough. You get the Pez clapper. XSWbFwDuXNo [fimg=444]http://media.giphy.com/media/KPdzGp8a20QbC/giphy.gif[/fimg]

Why did Elaine make the comment below? And what team was Rickey on when Elaine said what she said? Answer both questions in the same post correctly and you can win a Seinfeld Pez Dispenser clapper. "There's nothing to read, it's just yesterday's news. You know, the Yankees won, the Mets lost, Rickey Henderson's unhappy �"

[youtube:23i99l6m]Lr0ggLKhH1I[/youtube:23i99l6m] [fimg=533:23i99l6m]http://wac.9ebf.edgecastcdn.net/809EBF/ec-origin.nyc.barstoolsports.com/files/2014/04/HERNANDEZ.jpg[/fimg:23i99l6m]

[fimg=253]http://www.rndng3rd.com/NYMHall/players/C/Jercra.jpg[/fimg][fimg=270]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Unc_rkB66Gg/Uz0gVYmRfCI/AAAAAAAAOP4/Hs35-XugTlI/s400/73mfcJMay-z14.png[/fimg][fimg=245]http://images.monstermarketplace.com/autographed-sports-memorabilia-and-display-cases/jerry-dipoto-autographed-baseball-card-new-york-mets-1995-kahns-mets-45-450x650.jpg[/fimg] Check out the DiPoto on a rare and very collectible 1995 Kahn's Hot Dog Card. That's all there is for the Jerry Mets. Y'all may now read the FAFIF piece on the Jerry Mets, http://www.faithandfearinflushing.com/2011/02/09/whats-the-story-jerrys/

"You give the people the finger and you get upgraded?" [fimg=444]http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2009/04/22/nyregion/22seinfeld2.190.jpg[/fimg] What was that all about?

That George ain't no Don Draper. [youtube:vga4ied8]tOnavvQjYV8[/youtube:vga4ied8]

What's so Metsy about the two stills below from the same Seinfeld episode? What's going on at the diner and what's the Mets connection? And what and why is George singing as he's coming on in to Jerry's place? [fimg=733]https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8590/16614190975_0cf488fb32_o.jpg[/fimg] [fimg=683]https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8626/16614191105_9f4b48f22a_o.jpg[/fimg] Educated guess due to faulty memory: The two men are Met front office guys looking to steal George away from the Yankees. Does he sing Meet the Mets? Two clappers for Hahn! [fimg=544]http://media.giphy.com/media/KPdzGp8a20QbC/giphy.gif[/fimg] [fimg=544]http://media.giphy.com/media/KPdzGp8a20QbC/giphy.gif[/fimg] From Wikipedia: After being recruited by the New York Mets to be their head scout, George is told that they can only hire him if he gets fired from the New York Yankees. However, his increasingly dramatic attempts to get fired only end up making him look better. He wears Babe Ruth's uniform and deliberately gets food stains all over it, but Mr. Steinbrenner praises him, thinking it supports an "out with the old, in with the new" mentality. George then appears to streak through Yankee Stadium during a game, but he is actually wearing a flesh-colored body suit that makes him popular with the fans. Finally, he tries to destroy a replica Yankees' World Series trophy by hitching it to his Buick Regal and driving through the parking lot while screaming insults to the ball club with a megaphone. This finally brings the ire of Steinbrenner, before Mr. Wilhelm appears, takes credit for telling George what to do, gets fired, and then takes the job with the Mets. Catch the meeting with the Mets execs and George singing Meet the Mets in this condensed three minute Youtube version of The Millennium: 2MiNxdpWFD8

Gack Fisher. [fimg=444:1tzxytfz]http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.72442.1396460605!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/gallery_1200/gal-fat-fisher.jpg[/fimg:1tzxytfz]

In the Mets booth, Seinfeld recalled that this ex-Met once crushed a foul ball. Who's the Met?

Naked Man scene begins at about the 1:29 mark. (Metspeak omitted). [youtube:w8sdb6ui]cIefNLfL_9c[/youtube:w8sdb6ui]

[fimg=253]http://www.rndng3rd.com/NYMHall/players/C/Jercra.jpg[/fimg][fimg=270]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Unc_rkB66Gg/Uz0gVYmRfCI/AAAAAAAAOP4/Hs35-XugTlI/s400/73mfcJMay-z14.png[/fimg] 1 Did not play for the Mets [fimg=172]http://img.comc.com/i/Baseball/2009/Topps/181/Jerry-Manuel.jpg?id=c6884def-a213-4738-89d2-d726c30e4448&size=original[/fimg]

What's so Metsy about the two stills below from the same Seinfeld episode? What's going on at the diner and what's the Mets connection? And what and why is George singing as he's coming on in to Jerry's place? [fimg=733]https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8590/16614190975_0cf488fb32_o.jpg[/fimg] [fimg=683]https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8626/16614191105_9f4b48f22a_o.jpg[/fimg]

"What's the deal with all the Jerrys who spell their names with a G"? [fimg=433]http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/seinfeld/images/8/8c/Male_Unbonding_00002.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20111216194343[/fimg] "And would you accept the Gerrys as answers to a quiz that asked for Jerrys"? "How come Jacks don't spell their names 'Gack'"? [fimg=433]http://i.ytimg.com/vi/xR1ckgXN8G0/maxresdefault.jpg[/fimg]

[fimg=253]http://www.rndng3rd.com/NYMHall/players/C/Jercra.jpg[/fimg][fimg=270]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Unc_rkB66Gg/Uz0gVYmRfCI/AAAAAAAAOP4/Hs35-XugTlI/s400/73mfcJMay-z14.png[/fimg] 2 1 Did not play for the Mets [fimg=172]http://img.comc.com/i/Baseball/2009/Topps/181/Jerry-Manuel.jpg?id=c6884def-a213-4738-89d2-d726c30e4448&size=original[/fimg]

Zvon wrote: Should we name that spot where Mets pose in front of the black tarp batting eye? Isn't that just the Sadecki Spot from another angle? That could be called the (Ralph) Terry Tarp I see what you mean. I saw the tarp and assumed that Seaver was standing in that part of the center-field shared by both fields. But he's not exactly at the Sadecki Spot either. [fimg=433]https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7345/16406012988_2bfca2c565_o.jpg[/fimg]

Gimme the nine Jerrys that played for the Mets. None are German, as far as I know. But what do I know? I already gave you one of 'em. One guess per post. Wait for another poster to submit a guess after your own guess. 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

G-Fafif wrote: The Subway (assuming that's what it was called). [fimg=555]http://media.giphy.com/media/KPdzGp8a20QbC/giphy.gif[/fimg] The "Man" is naked. Ever talk about the Mets on the 7 train naked? Top that. And for no extra credit, who's the Brave on page one of the NYT sports section?

Would "The Boss" have hired George if he saw this pic? Gimme the episode. [fimg=544:1eoncwnt]http://40.media.tumblr.com/fe4f2deb64bc17aa96ca395ca2556763/tumblr_nh7r1xKRsa1qzniimo1_1280.jpg[/fimg:1eoncwnt]