Mets News Aug. 15, 2009: Citi Field, Livan, Ricco, Beltran

In a lost season, the Mets can still get an occasional win as they did over the Giants last night. The bigger news may be that the team unveiled some long awaited changes to the stadium. We still don’t have a Mets Hall of Fame and Keith’s number 17 still isn’t retired. But they’re making some small steps in the right direction.

Here’s the news:

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Mets Finally Make Citi Field Their Own

Shea Stadium / Citi Field
Image by epc via Flickr

Demolishing Shea Stadium and building Citi Field was certainly unwelcome for some Mets fans. It marked a changing of the guard for the franchise and maybe even a sense for some of us that we would be left behind in history as fans of the “old” Mets that played at the “old” stadium. But I have to admit that before this season, I was really looking forward to going to Citi Field.

The surprise set in when we realized that Citi Field wasn’t really about the Mets, it was all about the Brooklyn Dodgers and Jackie Robinson. Sure, Robinson is an individual worthy of all the recognition that he gets, and more than we know. But there was something glaring missing from the new stadium… The Mets history!!! In building this new $800 million project, the Mets forgot that the Mets were going to be playing there and that they’ve had some history of their own. Continue reading “Mets Finally Make Citi Field Their Own”

Mets 3 – Giants 0 Aug. 14, 2009

ST. LOUIS, MO - APRIL 23: Relief pitcher Bobby...
Image by Getty Images via Daylife

This was an unusually positive game for the Mets with a great start from Bobby Parnell. In his second big league start Parnell threw 86 pitches over 6 innings only giving up 3 hits and no walks to go along with 7 strikeouts. It was a big leap forward for Parnell in his transition to pitching in the rotation.

The Mets offense didn’t show up again tonight. They only managed 5 hits and 2 walks in the game. But Angel Pagan led the game off with a home run to left field, his third of the season.

Box score

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Pre-Game: Giants at Mets Aug. 14, 2009

giants logoSan Francisco Giants (62-52 Road: 23-32) at New York Mets (53-61 Home: 30-25) 7:10pm

Barry Zito (8-10 4.40) vs. Bobby Parnell (2-4 3.94)

TV: SNY

What to watch: The Mets and Giants start a four game series at Citi Field tonight. The Giants are 1.5 games behind the Rockies in the wild card standings and the Mets are done for 2009. Parnell was limited to 68 pitches in his last start but should be able to throw as many as 85 tonight. Zito has been pitching really well lately. The Giants have won the last four games that he started.

Don’t forget to visit The Mets Report Live Game Chat during the game to chat with other Mets fans!

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Mets In The News Aug. 14, 2009

After an off-day yesterday, the Mets return from a 2-5 road trip visiting two of the worst teams in baseball. San Diego and Arizona looked like All-Stars compared to this Mets team. Sadly, we now need to include the Mets as one of the worst teams in baseball. The Giants are in town this weekend, so at least we’ll have one quality team to watch at Citi Field.

Here’s the Mets in the news:

  • Joe Janish at Mets Today does an unbelievable job of describing the myth of Daniel Murphy
  • Mets manager Jerry Manuel wants Gary Sheffield back next year
  • The Mets have started to install imagery of famous players on the Field and Promenade levels, and the championship banners on the outfield wall. Finally!!! And they’re wearing some ridiculous throwback Giants uniforms this weekend.
  • Steve Popper of the Bergen Record is looking ahead to 2010
  • Ben Shipgel of the NY Times writes about how Daniel Murphy is going to benefit from Carlos Delgado’s latest injury setback
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Shea Stadium DVD Contest Winner

essential games of sheaThis was the toughest contest to judge that I’ve had yet. There were so many great comments about the state of the current Mets, and even a remake of the lyrics to the “Meet the Mets” song. But I decided to go with Bernie Byrne in this one. His comments about the DVD set Essential Games of Shea Stadium persuaded me to go with him as the winner.

His comments were:

Personally, I’m wondering what the commentary will be like on some of the games. For the 69 Series game, it’s pretty much a given: Curt Gowdy and Lindsay Nelson. Same But what about the other games? Do we get the TV broadcasts or the radio broadcasts? Will they have both, where you can choose the commentary?

Okay, I was wondering because of the last game on the DVD set: the first game of the 2006 Subway Series.

Gary: “2-2 to Wright…hit in the air to center field…Damon going back…to the warning track…IT’S OVER HIS HEAD AND THE METS WIN IT!”

Howie: “The Mets have beaten Rivera! Put THAT in your books!”

But yes, I still remember the call for Piazza’s blast.

“Lopez wants it away…and it’s hit deep to left center…Andruw Jones on the run…this on has a chance…HOME RUN! MIKE PIAZZA! AND THE METS LEAD 3-2!”

Congratulations to Bernie Byrne. I’ll get some more contests started in the near future. Thank you to everyone that participated.

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