Ceetar

Edgy MD wrote: Ceetar wrote: Not surprising that Fox chose to skip Oh Canada but still wanted to make sure they got the American anthem on the broadcast. Pretty lame to hear that. ESPN radio featured "O, Canada" and it was refreshing to hear it done straight by an operatic baritone (and not even a particualrly great one, to my ears). To hear "The Star-Spangled Banner" by an R&B singer (Candace Glover) afterwards, feeling her way around the last note of each line was a letdown. #oldgrump I guess I shouldn't jump to conclusions, but I'm just assuming it wasn't on the broadcast because shortly after they were all "Remaining standing while we rejoin Fox.."

Swan Swan H wrote: Clayton Kershaw got a nice reception based mostly, I suppose, on his comments about Harvey deserving to start the game. I presumed that as well. Good hand at the Parade as well. I lot of the Superstars did get nice hands though. everyone loves Prince Fielder. Cabrera, Ortiz, Verlander, McCutchen. You could practically hear the "Who?" for Jesse Crain though.

Also, besides the NYC (NO GRAND CENTRAL ACCESS FOR YOU) and the 7 fire I think the Mets and Citi Field did a great job as a host. People seemed well directed to their seats and helped out, the lines moved for the most part, getting in as well. Security wasn't overly grabby (although they made me empty my pockets yesterday for some reason). There were vendors from around the majors too. I thought that was neat, and must be a pretty cool experience. One guy, from the Rockies, was singing his pitches "Aquafina!" etc. One of the hot dog vendors was barking. They had on red shirts similar to the jerseys with the ASG patch and their team patch.

Thoughts on the All-Star Game. My second actually. (blessed, or financially reckless? hmm.. Last time I tried to sell the tickets in Pittsburgh, couldn't find a buyer, so decided last minute, on Sunday, to go with a friend. Got yelled at Wednesday morning by the boss, great company that was, how do I find these places? This is what I wrote about going to that game) Obviously being at Citi made it specialer. I felt a little proud like a host or maybe someone who has an exhibit in an art gallery. "Look at all these people enjoying my home!" It was great to see all the far concourses open too. I remarked on Sunday that this booth was usually closed to a woman having trouble swiping my card and she's all "See? They banished us out here! figures!" It was cool to see the place so packed from a "energy" standpoint but it's nothing. _nothing_ like it being a meaningful game. As far as energy goes, a half-packed place in a meaningful Mets game would rock more. And wouldn't have the maybe 10k people in there that feel like you invited those second cousins no one likes to the family reunion who cheer and boo the wrong things. But it's cool to have the interest and attention on the place, and I always find it neat when you get all the silly free giveaways outside and on your way in because they know they've got a crowd to pitch to. (Free Mountain Dew, Pepsi Next Challenge, that sorta thing) Verizon Studio was closed and T-Mobile set up a silly stand across from it. I'm pretty sure Citi won't ever shake like Shea did, judging by many people clapping along to Lazy Mary, although maybe we just didn't build it up enough because Alex Anthony had to break in pretty fast to announce the score of changes, or maybe Shea only shook like that after it'd been broken in? Did it shake in '69? Did people get into that mass-bouncing the same way back then? Also in a meaningful game of Mets fans, you won't get that 'lost tourist' feel of people in your way or not knowing how to move around the stadium properly. at least less so. It also won't be 95 and so humid I would've been dryer swimming. The crowd was into it at the beginning, but it seemed to taper off after that. Clapping for Harvey and 2-strikes and all in the first but then it mostly dipped to a muted buzz the rest of the game. Good cheers for Wright, appropriate booing for the Yankees (drowned out Mo's intro) appropriate booing for the Molina's and Braves of the world, although it'd be nice if there were more people to cheer and less people to boo, but on the other hand I find Mets fans want to boo. Perfect opportunities to cheer Beltran and even Gomez that didn't get quite what it should've. Cool to see Seaver and him demand to throw the first pitch from the mound. (They must've shown this right?) It's the type of machismo/ego that Harvey exhibits. Good job by Wright catching the curveball off the plate before it hit the ground (why can't ceremonial first pitches hit the ground? They're always treated like the flag (not that I get flag traditions like that either)) I don't believe we saw Piazza either. I think Seaver to Wright was perfectly fine in this regard, old-new not old-notasold, but why only have Mike at the HRD stuff? I suspect it was just Fox stuff, saw Gooden, but not Strawberry or Franco, although I think they were around? Not surprising that Fox chose to skip Oh Canada but still wanted to make sure they got the American anthem on the broadcast. The game went fast, which was nice, until Leyland remembered he has 8 billion situational relievers. That was nice because the game ended about 5-10 minutes before I'd have had to leave for my last train anyway. There were some nice montages on the screen between innings, although I still like the HR Derby one of famous home runs the best (left out Ventura went with Pratt. fine though. And at least they chose non-championship Yankee ones, I don't particularly hate Aaron Boone) Did they show the fixed Mascot race on TV? I enjoyed that. It was ridiculously silly but I think in-stadium antics should always be ridiculously silly and pitched to appeal to a 10 year old. (As much as it's silly, things like Sweet Caroline sing-a-longs are that, but they don't need to be played on the TV either..) Anyway, I enjoyed the race. They grabbed a bunch of random mascots from around the league, the Italian Sausage, Randy Johnson, George Bush, etc and had 'em race pretty far actually with Mr/Mrs Met holding the finish line. Of course, the Minnesota thingy won, so that he (it?) can defend it's title next year on it's home turf. FIXED! I had a blast at all three events though, and am suitable exhausted now, even if it was probably more than I should've spent financially. I should've known better, but the best way to approach these things, and what I might do if I the game is in Philly or Washington or Baltimore soon (or Boston again) is wait until the week before when people thought they'd be able to upsell $500 tickets and are desperate enough to sell them for half that and go for almost a reasonable price. I know I'm rambling, but whatevs. Another aspect I enjoy is seeing the mass of baseball love from the whole continent. Locals (mostly the never go to a game but I was really into the Mets in '99 so let me where my Payton shirt) generally had more odd, random, knock-off shirts and jerseys than the out of towners, who were more likely to also buy a Jersey or something modern since they're here, but I did see a '99 All-Star Griffey, and Piazza. And one of the real old colorful Astros jerseys. And a new Astros cap as well, with pins on it from a dozen or so All-Star Games. I think that's what I love most about it. It's a stadium full of 45000 people from across the world that just absolutely love baseball. I didn't get as social about it because I'm anti-social and was more at home since it was Citi but you could probably strike up a conversation about any random tidbit of baseball with anyone and have a blast. Talk to the guy in the Griffey jersey and I bet he'd have some great stories to tell. And you'll get discussions that aren't strictly "Stupid Wilpons" and "Gotta fire the Hitting Coach!" and "Release Ike". These events are a great celebration of baseball, and baseball is worth celebrating. It's Oktoberfest for MLB. (mostly anyway, corporate seats and the swarms of media (Acela club became auxiliary scoreboard) ) Yikes, I just wrote 1100 words. I should probably polish that up and blogpost it.

metirish wrote: That's three potentially great matchups....might go to one. one? how about two! (Friday and SAturday, making five straight events at Citi Field. )

Mets � Willets Point wrote: Mets � Willets Point wrote: Parades are cool. I certainly don't recall a parade in Boston in 1999 (although I don't work downtown so I could've missed it). 2005 was the first one I think. Interesting. A parade has a very old-time feel to it. remember it's a "Red Carpet Show" not a Parade. ;-) And the "Parade" is riding on sponsor's trucks.

Mets � Willets Point wrote: Shouldn't he just grab a ticket and get in line? Everybody disses Citi Field. everyone dissed Shea too. This isn't exactly news. I keep meaning to get down to Washington myself, and hell, haven't been to Citizen's Bank Ballpark since 2007.

Mets � Willets Point wrote: Parades are cool. I certainly don't recall a parade in Boston in 1999 (although I don't work downtown so I could've missed it). 2005 was the first one I think.

G-Fafif wrote: Can't remember the exact line, but Davey was interviewed by Guys! when the Nats were in town and he rather backhandedly said, regarding Citi Field, that he liked the shower in his office and went on to criticize the dimensions from both a hitting and pitching standpoint. well screw him then. Who's he anyway? Nationals Park? Hah, you think they won't slap a name on that as soon as they get any sustained success that it'd sell for anything? You think they won't slap an advertisement into every crevice once the price points suggest it's worthwhile? For every advertisement you see on a baseball field, that's a $1 your ticket prices didn't go up.

Edgy MD wrote: Good stuff and good typing. I like this part. Tejada: We have to be open minded about SS. nbever had power so value was OBP and that's declined 3 years. Defensively, range not what it was. We have to look at what he have. He has to work back to ML team. Here he is admitting what really he didn't have to (range has declined) and what Mike never would've asked him about (OBP), so good on him for owning up on Tejada's troubles. Interesting difference than with Ike. Seems like with Ike they want to see results, with Tejada they want to see process and that can be worked on in the minors. unfair or not, it seems like Ike's getting a "prove you don't belong" and Ruben a "Prove you do"

metirish wrote: Swan Swan H wrote: Boy, I hate working in the suburbs. seriously, I want that job where I can loaf off at the parade... any sign of Seaver? yeah, flooring it down 42nd at the front of the Parade. Nancy too. (It is Nancy right?) Working in the city is nice, and then things like 7line train fires happen and you're flat out stranded.

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Ceets I was right on the other side of 5th from you. Oh wait, that's Madison or something. yeah, NE corner of Madison. I'm working at 44th and Madison these days so a quick two blocks seemed most time-efficient.

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Just spent lunch hour in the heat watching the Parade of All-Stars As They Drive Slowly Down 42nd Street in Quality Chevy Trucks. I must have come too late, or left too early, to see Wright & Harvey, but made it through the rest of the NL and the beginning of the AL, before I left. Very hot out there. A bunch of X-Mets came riding by atop a doubledecker bus. Spotted Franco, Mookie, Al Jackson. But this event was great for Wifey Watching above all. I was going to make the Wifey Watch comment too. (You'll have to wait, I took pictures but don't seem to have an SDHC card reader at work) Wright was on the bus, didn't realize right away though. Harvey was one of the first cars, after Davey and Bochey. In a suit. (real suit, not birthday) Only image I snapped on my phone, Cliff Lee with a 'parasol'

you know what's never asked when people repost these Bonilla stories year after year? If the Wilpons do file for bankruptcy (or the Mets do) do they still owe him?

Just watched it again looking for myself in the background since I walk through there every morning..but they must've done it earlier than 8:30. missed it by that much!

metirish wrote: Cos he's wearing a very non jock sweater..... it's like Superman's glasses.

metirish wrote: That's a great shot Ceetar...... thanks, all credit to the canvas though.

metirish wrote: Chaos as the 7 train is not running, God, I would hate to be stuck in that mess. Yeah..that was a mess..and I didn't even take the train, but the traffic people were just as inept, refusing to let me use the Grand Central anywhere I went. Took a friend home that'd parked at Secaucus and taken the train. as I pulled into the station people were streaming off the train in All-Star stuff, so either these were the bright people who took the LIRR or the trains basically caught up.

Another thought is that perhaps, and not to say some guys are slackers these days, the clutchiest hitters are simply the ones that prepare best? The ones that tailor their diets and workouts and take naps and rests where they need it? Chances are that after 9 innings of baseball in the hot sun no one is at 100%, but perhaps through preparation and property hydration some guys are at 85% instead of 60? Just like some guys continue to have, or at least seem to, good AB deep into extra innings games when everyone else is getting HR happy?

Edgy MD wrote: Those shakier players aren't going to stick around long , and are probably a long shot to make the majors anyway. What if they're otherwise really good? I'm not sure what 50,000 coin flips producing 80+ heads means? If it's even close to a mere 80 out of 50,000, that's pretty pectacular. What if that coin flips 1,000 times? Or 10,000? At what point is the nature of the coin worth considering? Lucas Duda, all situations: .235 / .353 / .438 // .791. Lucas Duda, late and close: .242 / .327 / .382 // .709. Again, it may WELL be random statistical fallout, but I reject the notion that players who are otherwise capable but less so in the clutch --- wiltingly, randomly, or otherwise --- don't stick around for meaningful lengths of time. Lucas Duda has WAY too small a sample to draw something conclusive from splits. And as you mentioned, it does matter on how you define it. And using the pre-defined statistical splits to define them probably doesn't quite jive with how real pressure is felt by the player. What's "late and close" if it's a September game and you're 20 out? or already clinched? Same for 9th inning stats. or whatever you choose. It doesn't take much either. Take those guys you just mentioned, is the late and close difference starker in one of their career years? Is it perhaps simply good luck that when they were at the top of their game the hits happened to fall more often with runners on late in the game?

Edgy MD wrote: I really tried hard to suggest that an alternative persepective is that the pressure isn't necessarily causing you to thrive, but rather causing other, shakier players to wilt. You could therefore look good in comparison, not because you upped your game, but because everybody else (including the typical opposing pitchers [or hitters] you've faced in those situations) have tended to down theirs. Those shakier players aren't going to stick around long , and are probably a long shot to make the majors anyway. Except for a rare few, the pressure situations and challenges of getting to the major league level are so large that they'd be filtered out. And hell, say a couple of really good players happen to cave under pressure, that's barely going to move the dial for the league at large. If you flip 50000 coins, a couple of them might come up heads 80+ times. They're not special coins, it's just a statistical oddity.

Edgy MD wrote: Or maybe that some folks wilt under pressure while others don't. In which case, the latter are doing better just by standing still. Sure, but wilting and channeling it are different things. Think about it, if you're consistently able to thrive in pressure situations they have to become a little less pressure filled because you've got that confidence. And if the pressure is lesser, and the pressure is what was causing you to thrive? well..

RBIs are more a byproduct of your hitting than a measure of it. This statement implies that there is no human element to the game whatsoever. I'm pretty sure that, deep down, you know that is not true. "Here you are in the ninth, two men out and three men on. Nowhere to look but inside." The human element manifests itself by making a baseball player better, not just in "RBI spots" but better overall. If you're saying a guy has some skill that allows him to really turn it on in clutch spots, what you're really saying is he's pretty freaking lazy most of the time.

Swan Swan H wrote: There was a very nice tribute to Gary Carter, introduced by Jennie Finch, at the beginning of the softball game. Kid had caught Jennie in one of the previous games, and there were some clips of that, as well as a number of clips from his Mets career. All of the ex-Mets in the game (Doc, Darryl, Franco, Rickey and Piazza) got a highlights package on the scoreboard during the game. As well as Ozzie Smith. Actually, did Rickey get one? I feel like I missed that.