The Mets Police

Believe me I'd rather be writing about John Lackey (why do I hear on SNY that the Yankees want him.  Omar, hello?) but instead we have this..

the pièce de résistance — a blue satin jacket with orange trim labeled and embroidered "NY Mets," "MADF," "25," and "Madoff" is valued at $500 to $720,

Read more: Posts for November 9, 2009 -- Daily Intel -- New York News Blog -- New York Magazine http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2009/11/09/#68754#ixzz0WSa43gZL














I forgot about the jackets with the names on the back.  They seem very retro now, maybe these could be seen around the new place in 2010.  Thanks to 5w for sending this one over.


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Some quotes related to the rumored financial woes in Flushing:

David Howard on Fox Business Network:

We have set from the outset that the losses incurred as a result of the of the Madoff fraud have not and will not affect the operation of the Mets...


So Dave, is there any financial stress at all in the Mets organization?


No.  We're doing very well.  We've had a fabulous opening year at Citi Field....we are selling at 94% capacity, we sold over 3 million tickets this year.  The team and the organization..well the organization is doing well.


Fred Wilpon told the Times:
“I’m fine, my family’s fine, my business family’s fine.” 


OK cool.


So my friends, if April rolls around and the Mets haven't made any significant on-field improvements, if the plexiglass issue isn't fixed, if there's no statue of Seaver...it would not be because of money, right?  They are fine.  In fact, Dave Howard says they are doing "very well."
  94% capacity.  Should be little to worry about in my opinion.   Seems like little reason to cut payroll right?  All is well.  I'm thrilled, I'm looking forward to 2010!


More here.

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The news is all over the place this morning that Bernie Madoff's season tickets to the Mets at Citi Field will be auctioned off by the government to recoup some of what the ponzi swindler lost.

The value of the package - which includes 2 seats to all games, parking, Delta Club access, and of course options on post-season - is $60,750. The Mets have already been paid for the seats so one would think it's not really their concern.

Maybe it isn't, but let me float an idea out there to Mr. Wilpon (either one).

Buy back the package from the government and give the tickets to some charity - or a group of charities. Let them then auction off the tickets.

Is Madoff the Mets problem? Not at all - but it's not great publicity that a swindler used essentially stolen money to buy season tickets. Here's an opportunity for the Mets to turn a negative into a huge positive.

I'll even offer an alternative, and one that would generate even greater positive publicity. Have the Mets as a team - the players that is - buy the tickets. Each player could contribute to the cost the relative percentage of their team salary. So guys like Bobby Parnell & Dan Murphy might end up tossing in $200, while Carlos Beltran & Johan would be on the hook for about $8,500 (trust me, they can afford it).

Do they have to do this? Not at all. Will I kill them on it if they don't? Again, not at all. I'm just a simple blogger offering up some ideas.

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On my way into work this morning I caught a discussion on WFAN where a caller tried to buy a personalized jersey on the Mets website with the name Ramirez and the number 24 but was told it was restricted. This is the message that you are given:

Your current entry cannot be processed. Some entries are prohibited due to guidelines for past and present player names. Please create a new entry.

I decided to try a few others. No luck on Jeter 2 or Rivera 42.

OK, so MLB is blocking player/number combinations from current teams.

Not so fast.

I decided to try a non-star - the backup catcher on the KC Royals, Brayan Pena, number 39. Now I get this message:

Great choice! To purchase your customized jersey, click on "ADD TO CART."

So it seems that if you are a super-star MLB has one policy, but if you are a no-name player they have another.

Not only that, but Rivera and Ramirez are fairly common names in this area. What if Mr. Ramirez was both a Mets fan and a Willie Mays fan? Sorry, we won't take your $240.

But they'll still take $400 million from CitiGroup.

Oh by the way, you can get a Madoff 00 jersey.

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Pure genius!

The Mets and the Wilpons outfoxed us all this week.  We all took the head-fake and didn't look at the man behind the curtain.  Well played.

First they felt us out with "Baracklyn."   A few loudmouths like me took the bait but most of you kept your heads and focused on the real story - Derek Lowe.

When Baracklyn didn't work the Wilpons unfurled their secret weapon: The Patch!

The blogosphere went nuts.   The internet went nuts!  For a few hours The Patch was one of the most ridiculed things in the world (thanks to Yahoo).

(Oh and by the way we didn't sign Lowe)  Yeah how about that stupid patch!!!!!!

Well played Wilpons.  You distracted us all, but we're back now.

We don't care about The Patch anymore.   We don't care about Bernie Madoff and financial rumors.  We don't care about banks and signage.  We care about pitching, left field and second base.

This team is not ready to win the east, never mind the World Series.   There's one ace starter, two guys that seem like they might be good pitchers, nobody starting the fourth game of the season and a so-so pitcher from the Nats on Day 5.  

Where's Manny?   Where's Ollie?  You have the money ($40 of it is mine, thanks again for that "order charge" on my partial plans.)...or maybe you don't?  Could this Madoff rumor be true?   Or do you just not like pitching?  

I know, stop asking questions Mets Police - keep your eye on the patch, and The Apple and the black uniforms.



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