The Mets Police

This is a cool video. It's actually stunning when you see the upper deck without seats.

There's an urban legend spreading that Al Leiter was booed at the closing ceremony of Shea Stadium.

I'm not going to claim that not one person booed, but I heard Leiter and Kay are making it sound like Leiter was booed out of the ballpark, ostensibly because he is a Yankee.  Well, I was there and it didn't happen.  

I don't know what Leiter's motivation is - maybe the two guys closest to him booed him so it sounded loud - but it didn't happen.

Yogi Berra is kinda a Yankee, he didn't get booed.

Despite what he says, Kay is not objective.  You listen to his radio show for five minutes and it's clear that the Mets could run off 20 straight championships and he'd still rag on them.   He's one of those Yankee fans.  You know the type.

It didn't happen Al.  Cute anecdote, but it didn't happen.

For all my curmudgeonly posts, for all my whining, for as horrible as the end of the last two seasons has been...I find myself at peace tonight and looking forward to my new seats at Citi Field.  

I'm still in shell shock so this is more of a memory dump than an organized thought.

I'll start with the happy thoughts.  

The ceremony was very nice.   I heard the organization getting grief for having it after the game, but that's how you close a stadium.   The Mets saw the awkwardness coming and asked MLB if they could change the start time of the game but MLB said no.   Sure the Mets could have scheduled the pregame for 11am, but it was pouring rain and would have gotten messed up.   Ever been to an Old Timers Day when it rains?  It sucks.  (By the way Mets, bring back Old Timers Day).

So I'm not going to kill them for having it afterwards.  In fact I applaud them because that's how you do it.

It was very cool to see Yogi & Mays, Stearns & Swan...and Lee Mazzilli in his proper #16 (that settles that once and for all).   Nice that Dwight Gooden showed up.   Nice to chant Dar-ryl.   I think the fans are a little carried away with the 2000 Mets and apparently Robin Ventura is the 4th most popular player in Mets history.

Seaver walking down the right field line brought me back to Opening Day 1983, and it was very fitting to have him throw one last pitch (even if it bounced half-way home).    That was a good way to close out the mound.   Seaver & Piazza nearly hand in hand walking out to centerfield, the lights go out, we go home.   Very nice.  A mind's eye picture I won't forget.

That's how I'd like to remember Shea.

Now let's head backward through the day for some not so happy thoughts:
 
After they blew the playoffs they made us sit there for half an hour so they could line up some bizarro black & white pictures.  They actually had measuring tape to line them up in some precise formation and then proceeded to ignore the pictures during the ceremony.

- Then they kicked it off by introducing executives nobody ever heard of.   Was also lame in pregame to have vendors.  Nobody cares.
- No mention of McDowell, Cone or even the king of second place Bobby V?
- Ray Knight where were you?
- Mookie why the baby attack.  Show up.
- Davey same thing.
- coulda done more for Bob Murphy & Lindsey Nelson

Then there's the game.   What a shock, the bullpen blew the season.   We all saw this coming a week ago - several posts right here on The Mets Police about it.   They blew a game, we all booed, and it sucked the life out of the ceremony.   That sucks.

Looks like Omar gets his 4 year extension.   Omar says Jerry is staying.  That's cool.   Time to root for the Rays-Torre World Series.

Bye Shea - it wasn't pretty but it was often fun.

Paid attendance last night of 49,545.

Final weekend of the stadium.

Pennant race.

I wasn't there either.

Now for me, I'd rather watch the game on HD than sit in rainy dreary Shea in the cold, and I don't live next door to Shea like I once did - but I think it's a fair criticism from the blogs who are saying we're lame fans.

Even Tom Seaver showed up.

Unfortunately, the Mets offense and bullpen declined to show, and tomorrow is gearing up to be BooFest 2008. It will be like BooFest 2007 but twice as loud. I hope Omar Minaya enjoys his four year contract extension. Well earned Omar.

They are insane if they don't bring Jerry Manuel back. Even as leader of Lee Mazzilli Nation, I can't see someone doing a better job than Jerry. He's been fielding a AA team most nights.

Hooray for The Ace in demanding the ball today. You will the hearts of Metsdom forever just by taking the hill today even if you give up 10 runs in the first. The effort and desire will be appreciated.

In the meantime there's still a few hours left to vote for The Dopiest Moment In Shea Stadium history - check out the main page on metspolice.com.

Stumbled across this:Section Six Blog

The last thing that frustrates me about this is why are the Mets selling everything?  Are you telling me the Mets championship banners aren't worth keeping?  Are the Mets simply going to forget Shea even existed?  When you walk into CitiField and see a statue of Jackie Robinson, who wasn't even a Met, wouldn't you want to also see the old banners hanging from the rafters?  Why aren't the Mets planning on a small museum within the new stadium for the Mets history, including Willie Mays' old locker, Ralph Kiner's door to the press box, Tom Seaver's retired number and the 1969 and 1986 banners?  Doesn't it make you kinda sick that the Mets are just tossing these things aside, and in some cases having new replica's replace them?  Well, it makes me sick, but you know what, it is par for the course, the Mets have always been a Mickey Mouse franchise.  Let's see how the the crosstown club handles this.

And Loge 13 also asked a good question: Why did the Mets sell the 1986 banner?

Don't forget to Vote For The Dopiest Moment In Shea Stadium History and Cool Stuff You Didn't Know About Shea

1.  Wear white pinstriped uniforms.

2.  Wear blue hats.  Just to be clear, wear blue Mets hats.

3.   Introduce Tom Seaver last.   Last.   Tom walks out to the mound in a white pinstriped #41 (vintage, no black shadows).

4.  Have Tom Seaver throw a pitch to Jerry Grote, who is also in a vintage uniform.

5.  Focus on the 1969 Mets and the 1986 Mets.

6.  Do not focus on the 2000 Mets or the Wild Card Mets.  This is a celebration of Tom Seaver and Keith Hernandez and Buddy Harrelson and Mookie Wilson.   This is not about Todd Pratt and Robin Ventura.   They can be there but it's not about them.

7.   Get Mookie Wilson to show up.  I understand he is mad at the Mets.  Just work it out.  $50,000 check, a job, a public apology - just make it happen.

8.  Get Davey Johnson to show up.   See #7.

9.  Don't let the Yankees steal what little history the Mets have.  Invite Strawberry, Gooden and Cone.   They are Mets.  Don't worry where else they played or didn't.  Invite them.

10.  Ignore everyone's warts.   Gooden, Strawberry, anyone else with personal issues - everyone is welcome.

11.  No matter what the weather is this week, make sure the final regular season game is the game people paid good money to attend at 1pm on Sunday.  If a makeup game is needed don't you dare play it Sunday night or Monday.  Get out of bed and play a split doubleheader at six in the morning.   The final game is 1pm and that's that.

12.  Surprise us with the retiring of Keith Hernandez' #17.   You can announce that it will happen next June if you need the sellout that bad, but announce it now.

13.  Play tape of the long-time PA announcer (I don't know his name) who sang Take Me Out To The Ballgame (on tape) in the 1980's and beyond.

14.  Win.

15.  Don't be eliminated.

16.  Honor Lindsey Nelson, Bob Murphy and Ralph Kiner.

17.  No Citibank executives need to be part of this.  They can throw out the ball  at game 27 next season.

18.  Mention the Jets.

19.  Invite Joe Namath

20.  Mention the Beatles.

21.  Don't have imitation Beatles make an appearance.  Focus on the Mets.

22.  Do not mention Billy Joel.  He is not a major part of Shea history despite what he's been selling.

23.  Make sure all the "right" players are there.  If you are on item #23 on a blog called Mets Police, you know who I mean.

24.  Have some of the players from the bad teams.  I want to see Joel Youngblood and John Stearns.

25.   Remember that Jackie Robinson never played for the Mets nor at Shea.   No need to turn this into a celebration of the Brooklyn Dodgers.

That's a quick 25 off the top of my head...what are your suggestions?

I held this back because i figured it would get dwarfed by the Yankee Stadium coverage...but here's an article about Seaver's Shea.

Many of you kids may not know that the famous California wine-maker was once a pretty decent pitcher, and sometimes would come to New York for things like All Star Games, earning him the nickname The Former Franchise.

I did not know this:

The air conditioner in the visitor's clubhouse is actually from the old Polo Grounds(from the old press room there). "It's one of the first things I found out when I got here," Cox said. It is also common knowledge around the stadium that when turned on full blast, it is almost cold enough to store raw meat.

Full article here.

osh41 is a realist and since he is of Irish descent genetically programmed to be a fatalist. He see's what could really be the ugliest day in the history of MLB stadium days this coming Sunday against the Marlins. Does anyone see the Mets having the WC (division is over folks) wrapped up going into Sunday?? I sure don't.

Grand Slam to a pitcher tonight??

Wait a minute my time machine must be perfected because a Met pitcher gave up a grand slam to a pitcher 2-3 months ago. Wow, I am going to be rich, I can go back in time. Maybe I could whisper something to Omar about how this pen and team is DOING THE EXACT SAME THING IT DID LAST YEAR.

Braves and Nats - combined infinity games under .500. Mets ecstatic they don't have to play either one again after their impressive showing the past 7 days.

Cubs have something to play for, best record and home field for all rounds and to build some steam heading into the playoffs. And remember - this is Lou Piniella, he still owns NYC, he isn't going to lay down in this town for anyone. The friggin guy still has the greatest rage ever inside of him just waiting to come out.

And the Marlins?? They HATE the Mets and would love nothing more than ruining their lives 2 years in a row.

On another note - and for another post - osh41 accompanied MetsPolice to the Stadium for the last game. It was a no brainer to guy - even as a Met fan. If you care one iota about baseball you had to grab that ticket if offered. Will write something up soon.

SHEA STADIUM PLAQUE - Saw that it is off the wall - I hope it was removed by the team for safe keeping - because if it was stolen - I TOLD YOU SO

As much as we all want the Mets to run off 25 straight World Championships, I think I have a plan for a fitting farewell to the Shea.

They go into Sunday needing to win to make the playoffs.

They lead 4-3 end of eight.

Doug Sisk comes out for a curtain call.

The bullpen blows the lead, the Brewers go to the playoffs and we boo the $%#@ out of the Mets.

I have a similar plan for the Jets next year that includes Vinny Testaverde.

When Stadium close they usually break out the greatest living retired players and have them stand in their old positions.

Who should be there at Shea?

C - Carter even though they will go with that guy from the Dodgers.
1B - If you don't know the answer please visit another site
2B - um.....um....Alfonzo?
SS - Buddy I guess. It would be nice to see Buddy back.
3B - It would be nice to see Ray Knight even though he had a short stay. Hojo not awful.
LF - Please welcome back our old friend um......
CF - Lee Mazzilli! (Mookie?)
RF - Straw
P - The Former Franchise From The Winery

To complain..click comments.

Cool aritcle on Philly.com about the last days of Shea and Yankee.

Here's an excerpt, and the last line is for Fred "Giants Who?" Wilpon.

Despite its warts, the unsightly chop shops that used to be visible before new Citi Field began to rise beyond the center-field wall, and the annoying cacophony of jet engines from nearby LaGuardia Airport that interrupted at-bats, Shea does have some history. It hosted four World Series. In 1965, it contributed to the cause of Beatlemania in the United States. Shea Stadium opened in 1964. The Mets have played more games there than the Brooklyn Dodgers played in beloved Ebbets Field.

The Daily News reported that Mookie Wilson and Davey Johnson will not be part of the closing ceremonies at Shea because of a falling out with the organization.

Fellas, the team doesn't make an extra dollar if you come, and doesn't lose a dollar if you don't. 

For the fans, and for the memories show up.  Do it for youselves.  Come feel the love.   You don't have to shake hands with the Wilpons or whoever you are mad at.

Dwight Gooden has also been invited but isn't expecyed to come.

Come on guys, even Tom Seaver is leaving the vineyard for an afternoon (or night if ESPN effs us).   If Tom can be bothered, surely you can.