Sunday, March 31, 2019
I don't know if I ever want to visit Dodgers Stadium.
How come for a Stadium in California, a state that is supposed to have chill, there are is such a violent culture. It seems every few years something like this happens.
From ABCNews.com
"Last night, an altercation occurred suddenly between two men who were leaving the stadium," the Dodgers said. "One of the men was injured as a result of the altercation. A witness immediately reported the incident to stadium personnel, and emergency medical technicians were promptly dispatched to provide medical assistance at the scene. The matter is now being investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department, and the Dodgers are cooperating fully with the investigation."It seems to get violent over there pretty quickly. People have speculated that it's the gang culture out there. Is it just people don't care about other humans anymore? Do people realize this is just a game? Is it the alcohol? Don't forget this incident from seven years ago.
The Dodgers stepped up security outside Dodger Stadium following a much-publicized fight on Opening Day in 2011. Bryan Stow, an off-duty paramedic and San Francisco Giants fan, was attacked by several men in Dodgers jerseys. Stow, who was placed in a medically induced coma after the attack, hit his head on the pavement and was repeatedly punched and kicked, according to authorities.Two men involved in that attack pleaded guilty and were sentenced to prison in 2014.Read more here.
If a few hundred of us Mets fans go out there one year, is there going to be a problem?
Saturday, March 30, 2019
You can't have a book bag but you can bring in cosplay weapons to Nats Ballpark?
'
Mr Met tweeted this earlier.
Now, we know how stupid the Mr Met vs Thor thing has become. I used to enjoy it then it got way overplayed. What I really want to focus on though is the fact this guy can go into Nats park like this and you can't bring in a laptop bag. Backpack rules.
So where does the shield fall into?Today, the Washington Nationals announced that beginning with the 2019 season backpacks may not be brought into Nationals Park, except as otherwise provided in the Nationals Bag Policy. The policy was revised in order to enhance ballpark safety. Exceptions may be made for backpack diaper bags or backpacks used for ADA/medical reasons. All purses, briefcases, drawstring bags, diaper bags and soft-sided coolers that do not exceed 16”x16”x8” will still be permitted. On the day of purchase, backpacks bought during games or events at Nationals Park will be tagged and permitted for that day only.
“The safety of our fans, staff and players at Nationals Park is always a top priority. We are constantly assessing our procedures in an effort to make our ballpark safer,” said Scott Fear, Washington Nationals Vice President of Public Safety and Security. “We understand the implementation of these procedures will take some time for our fans to get used to, but our organization is dedicated to making Nationals Park the safest environment possible for everyone in attendance.”Does guy running around with rigid plastic props cause more or less damage then someone coming from work with a laptop or camera backpack? More fracking security theater..Oh wait.. I think I heard there a lockers now outside the park where you can store your bags.
From the Washington Post.
Read more here.Last month, citing safety concerns, the Nationals announced that backpacks will not be permitted inside Nationals Park this season. On Wednesday, the team announced a couple of measures to help fans adapt to the unpopular change, though one of them will come at a cost.Binbox, a D.C.-based start-up, will make 500 medium- and large-sized storage lockers available at the right field and home plate gates outside Nationals Park beginning with the Nationals’ exhibition game against the New York Yankees on March 25. Binbox founder and chief executive Dan Flynn said the company plans to double the number of lockers available outside the ballpark on game days by June.Medium lockers (10-by-15-by-22 inches) will be available for $2 per hour, charged in six-minute increments. Large lockers (15-by-15-by-22) will be available for $3 an hour. Binbox’s rental fees will be capped at $10 and $15, respectively, each game. The Nationals will not make money off the locker rentals.
Hypothetical scenario. If some shady character decided he wanted to rent some Binboxes with his friends and put bags with maybe some sort of combustable items in it and they were to explode when folks were lining up to get into the ball park, how does that help?
Going to a Fireflies game? You should read this
Important Information for 2019 at Segra Park
There is no need for this clear bag policy in any sports venue... Stop it now... All teams just stop this security theater bullshit- Goon.
Prohibited Bags include, but are not limited to:
- Briefcases
- Computer bags
- Binocular cases
- Luggage of any kind
- Camera bags
- Backpacks, cinch/drawstring bags, and fanny packs that are not clear and/or exceed the size restriction. Stadium Giveaways are permitted on the night of the Giveaway only.
The Columbia Fireflies today announced the updated plan for ballpark access and parking, along with a Clear Bag policy for Segra Park in advance of the team's home opener on Thursday, April 4, against the Charleston RiverDogs.
Following the exciting announcement this week that REI Co-op is coming to the Bull Street District, there are changes to the site parking and access plans for 2019.
Site Access and General Parking:
Site and parking access for General Parking lots and State lots are generally unchanged, with General Parking lots accessible from Colonial Drive. Gregg Street, which connects Calhoun Street to Colonial Drive, will be open for through traffic, making access to the field parking areas more convenient for our fans.
The State lots, located on the north side of Colonial Drive, will once again be a secondary General Parking Lot for Segra Park. Certain lots occupied during the day by the Department of Mental Health, Department of Health and Environmental Control and Department of Social Services will be accessible for Fireflies fans beginning at 5:30 p.m. and others will be open starting at 6:00 p.m. for weekday games. The are no time restrictions for Saturday and Sunday games.
Those who park in the General Parking lots and State lots will receive complimentary shuttle service to the main plaza outside of Segra Park. Cost for all General Parking will be $4.
As development in and around the Bull Street District continues, there is additional street parking along Gregg Street, Barnwell Street and Saunders Street for early-arriving fans. Street parking is free and is first come, first-served. A portion of the street parking on Gregg Street will be barricaded for all Fireworks nights to provide a safe zone for the pyrotechnical displays.
Permit Holders / Suite VIP Holders:
Permit holders will be able to park in specified lots accessible via the entrance to the site at the intersection of Bull Street and Elmwood Avenue. The lot is located adjacent to Pickens Street. Alternatively, Permit holders may enter at Calhoun and Talley Street to access the Permit lot.
ADA Parking:
ADA Parking will be located along the first-base side of the park and is accessible from the Calhoun Street entrance at Barnwell Street. The Fireflies will continue to offer complimentary ADA Valet parking service.
Both the team and the City of Columbia would also like to thank the South Carolina Department of Mental Health, DHEC and the Department of Administration for allowing the use of their lots.
"Segra Park has plenty of parking for the great crowds we expect on Opening Night and throughout the spring and summer," said Fireflies President John Katz. "The process of getting to the ballpark is simple and convenient. We will have attendants at and around each lot, as well as signage to direct fans to the best parking place at the time they arrive. Fans in both the General Parking lots and the State lots will be shuttled by complimentary trolley service to the front plaza of Segra Park."
Catch the Comet for free transportation from Downtown:
The Soda Cap Connector operates for every Columbia Fireflies home game at Segra Park. Beginning one hour before first pitch, you can catch the Soda Cap Connector Route 3 from Main Street and Hampton Street for free. Busses run every 25 minutes and continue until one hour after the end of the game. The Soda Cap Connector network connects Segra Park to West Columbia and Cayce, The Vista and Main Street and Five Points / USC. See the link below to plan your free trip.
Clear Bag Policy:
The Columbia Fireflies and Segra Park are introducing a Clear Bag policy for all events beginning with Opening Night on April 4, 2019.
The new clear bag policy will provide a safer environment at events and should significantly expedite fan entry into Segra Park.
The new policy closely matches those already in place at all NFL stadiums and many NCAA sporting events. This policy also closely matches the policy in place for all Gamecock sporting events and concerts at Colonial Life Arena, with minor adjustments for families.
Under the new policy, each fan is allowed one clear bag (plus a clutch or small purse) into Segra Park that conform to the following restrictions:
- Clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags that do not exceed 12" x 6" x 12" -- A logo no larger than 4.5" x 3.4" can be displayed on one side of a permissible clear bag
- One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc bag or similar)
- Small clutch bags no larger than 4.5" x 6.5" -- approximately the size of a hand, with or without a handle or strap
- Medically necessary items (after proper inspection and tagging)
- Diaper Bags (after proper inspection and tagging)
Prohibited Bags include, but are not limited to:
- Briefcases
- Computer bags
- Binocular cases
- Luggage of any kind
- Camera bags
- Backpacks, cinch/drawstring bags, and fanny packs that are not clear and/or exceed the size restriction. Stadium Giveaways are permitted on the night of the Giveaway only.
All bags will be subject to search upon arrival and any bags that exceed the permitted size will not be allowed in.
"The safety of everyone attending events at Segra Park is paramount to us, and that's why we are implementing this new policy," said Katz. "These security measures have become standard fare at many sports and entertainment venues across the country and are quite comparable to policies already in place at venues in Columbia."
The Fireflies will have a clear bag giveaway on Opening Night for the first 2,000 fans in attendance, and they will be available for purchase at the Mason Jar Team Store for just $6.
Opening Day for the Columbia Fireflies is April 4 at 7:05p.m. against the Charleston RiverDogs (New York Yankees). Individual game tickets for the entire 2019 season are on sale now and can be purchasedat the Fireflies box office, over the phone at 803-726-HITS, or online at FirefliesTickets.com.
Season ticket packages are available for the 2019 season. Reserve your seats by calling the Fireflies box office at 803-726-HITS or visiting ColumbiaFireflies.com for more information. Plans start as low as $70 and include guaranteed giveaways for season ticket members.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
Friday, March 29, 2019
@Deadspin came to check out QBC 2019
Deadspin came by the QBC this year to see what all the hub bub as about.
From Deadspin
The freezing rain that was forecast for later in the day of the Queens Baseball Convention never really materialized. It was still unpleasant out, but this was winter in New York City. It was at least near to the end of the worst part of winter—before pitchers and catchers were even obliged to get to Florida and get serious about their stretching routines, but just before, if still in the fat part of the long annual stretch of low gray skies and wet, dim cold. There are days when the mess seemed to come out of the sky as slush, gray and in-between and miserable from the moment it touched the ground. There were weeks like that. There are always weeks like that. If you are going to throw a party for the fans of a benighted local baseball franchise, with panel discussions and question-and-answer sessions and memorabilia shopping and autograph procurement and general beer-adjacent afternoon hanging out, that part of winter is probably the best time at which to do it. It’s when everyone needs it most.
No one went to Katch Sports Bar in Astoria, Queens, on a February day that promised shitty weather, because they had to. Every one of the many Mets fans there was there because they chose to be there—to be around other people that chose to give this ridiculous and singular team some say in their emotional wellbeing, think and talk about that team, and drink beers if they wanted. Todd Zeile would be appearing on a panel later in the day and Darryl Strawberry was signing autographs and periodically loping through the bar area. In the back, you could purchase a game-worn Aaron Sele or Tony Armas Jr. Mets jersey for what I would describe as a very reasonable price. Mr. Met was in the building, projecting a gravitas entirely disproportionate to the size of his tremendous baseball head. And I was there, although no one was paying for that along with the price of admission, to ask my fellow Mets fans why they keep coming back to this particular team.Read more here.
Keith Hernandez all in with Brodie
Keith is a mort baseball person and very cynical too... So I don't think he'd be saying this if he wasn't feeing it.
From the NY POST
“He had to sell the Wilpons on his design and vision,” Keith Hernandez, now an analyst with SNY, said.
“He’s very inspirational. He comes up to me, talks to me and he’s very positive. I think that’s a very good thing. He made moves that were bold, daring and decisive. You have someone at the top of the organization who is willing to stick his neck out there and have it be chopped off. He’s shown me that. I like everything that he’s done in the offseason.“I was impressed with the people he brought in from the Red Sox that are in the evaluating part of the organization now,” Hernandez said. “He made changes in personnel, but made changes in that front office and I thought those were wonderful moves.
“They come from the Red Sox and their history of winning over there. Brodie took notice and went over there and got them. He’s getting good people under him and, to me, this is really a new era in Mets baseball because it’s now modern baseball.”
Hernandez, who said he has a “new lease on life” after offseason back surgery, is moving with those changes. He was once a non-believer in analytics, but says he now appreciates the value they bring to baseball.”
Read more here.
Thursday, March 28, 2019
MLB Opening Day is Today
You guys ready for some baseball? I am. Only thing is that I hate that opening day is in March. It bugs me because the weather just never feels like baseball weather. It’s too chilly usually to get started on the east coast this time of year. Maybe all the east coast teams should start where there are roofs on the stadiums or the west side of the country. Anyway, this is a new season. A season of hope. A season that seems like there is a culture change. A season where the new GM has swagger and looks to have gotten the Mets owners under his spell. So far the pre season hasn’t been Mets being Mets but a team that’s trying to get itself to be taken seriously. They made some solid off season moves. They shores up the depth of the team. They signed their star pitcher to an extension and made sure that there is no ill will between him and the club along the way.
Now it’s time Mets. Show us what you got. Make us believe wholly again so we don’t have to watch the team with our hand over our eyes and peeking through our fingers. We are ready for a great year.Let’s go Mets!
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
METS SIGN C RENÉ RIVERA TO A MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACT
METS SIGN C RENÉ RIVERA TO A MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACT
FLUSHING, N.Y., March 27, 2019 РThe New York Mets today announced that the club has signed catcher Ren̩ Rivera to a minor league contract. He will be assigned to Triple-A Syracuse.
Rivera, 35, has played in parts of 10 seasons in the major leagues with eight different teams. The Bayamon, Puerto Rico native is in his third stint with the organization, playing for the Mets’ Triple-A affiliate in 2009 and with the major league team in 2016-2017. In 119 games with the big league team, Rivera hit .226 (81-359) with 27 runs, eight doubles, 14 home runs, 49 RBI and 25 walks.
David Wright instrumental in deGrom deal
How awesome is this to hear?
Brodie Van Wagenen details how David Wright helped get Jacob deGrom's deal done 5⃣@GMBVW says jokingly: "He is now officially the most valuable special advisor in baseball history" pic.twitter.com/O0KDZcNYIV— SNY (@SNYtv) March 27, 2019
If you have a Tesla, Keith Hernandez has a charge code for you.
This is so Keith Hernandez. If Seinfeld was around today this could easily be in an episode. How many of us own a Tesla?
Cashless Barclays Center
This is interesting. I went to the Barclays Center for a WWE event a few months ago and was shocked so many of the stands didn’t take cash. It supposedly is supposed to make things fast but it doesn’t. You have to use a touch screen put in what you want yourself then take out your card from your wallet then wait for it to approve. The best is you still have to wait for the food. I had to wait 10 minutes just to get 2 pretzels and a drinks because the line was backed up. There were two people in front of me. It was more of a pain in the ass then anything.
From the NY Post.
Home to the Brooklyn Nets and the Islanders, Barclays has quietly stopped accepting cash at most of its 28 concession stands and eateries, according to lawmakers who have talked with the stadium about the move. “I realized this when I went to a Nets game on Monday and tried to break a $20 so I could have a tip to get my car out of the garage and couldn’t find a booth that would take cash,” a NJ resident tweeted, also in January.Proponents, including Barclays, say eliminating cash leads to shorter, faster lines and less theft. “We have found that cash transactions take 50 percent more time to process than card transactions,” the arena said in a statement. But opponents argue that the growing practice discriminates against people who don’t have credit and debit cards, including poor and young people. It also flies in the face of the government’s promise that the notes it prints are “legal tender for all debts, public and private.”
Read more here
Tuesday, March 26, 2019
METS SIGN JACOB deGROM TO A FIVE-YEAR EXTENSION
METS SIGN JACOB deGROM TO A FIVE-YEAR EXTENSION
FLUSHING, N.Y., March 26, 2019 – The New York Mets announced today that the club has signed 2018 National League Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom to a five-year extension. The deal will run through the 2023 season with a club option for the 2024 season.
“This is a tremendous day for Jacob, his family, our fans and the entire Mets organization,” Mets COO Jeff Wilpon said. “Last year, Jacob had one of the most remarkable seasons in baseball history and we are excited to be able to reward him. Mets fans can celebrate knowing their ace will remain in Flushing.”
Last season, deGrom joined Tom Seaver (1969, 1973 and 1975), Dwight Gooden (1985) and R.A. Dickey (2012) as the only pitchers in team history to win the NL Cy Young Award.
“Jacob has proven that he is one of the best pitchers in baseball and we are excited that he is part of the short-term and long-term future of this organization,” Executive Vice President & General Manager Brodie Van Wagenen said. “I’d like to thank Jacob and his agents as well as Jeff and the entire ownership group for coming together to make this happen. We look forward to seeing him in the blue and orange for many more years to come.”
The right-hander led the majors last season in ERA (1.70), opponent's slugging (.277), opponent's OPS (.521) and home runs per nine innings (0.41). He finished second in the majors in innings (217.0) and fourth in the majors with a career-high 269 strikeouts. DeGrom ended the year holding opponents to three runs or fewer in 29 straight starts, the longest single-season streak in major league history (min. 50.0 combined innings in those starts) and hurled 24 consecutive quality starts to end the season, the longest single-season streak in major league history.
DeGrom was named to his second All-Star team in 2018 (also 2015) and according to the Elias Sports Bureau, this was just the 10th time since 1920 that a pitcher had at least 200.0 innings and an ERA of 1.70 or lower in a season. He's the only pitcher in modern MLB history (since 1900) to have a season with a sub-2.00 ERA, at least 260 strikeouts, 50 or fewer walks and 10 or fewer home runs allowed.
In 2014 deGrom took home Rookie of Year honors after posting a 9-6 record with a 2.69 ERA (42 earned runs/1401. Innings) with 43 walks and 144 strikeouts.
The DeLand, FL native owns a 55-41 career record with a 2.67 ERA (266 earned runs/897.2 innings) with 222 walks and 1,000 strikeouts. He was originally drafted by the Mets in the ninth round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft out of Stetson University.
ANDY GOES TO SPRING TRAINING WITH THE ReplaceMETS (1995).
I got sent this from the folks over at teamcoco.com...
ANDY GOES TO SPRING TRAINING WITH THE METS
Andy travels to Florida to see the sights and interview Mets players at spring training.
AO SPRING TRAINING WITH THE METS
Andy travels to Florida to see the sights and interview Mets players at spring training.
Thor waving a Syracuse flag.
.@Noahsyndergaard ♥️ Syracuse pic.twitter.com/CgWP2bhERb— SNY (@SNYtv) March 26, 2019
Is this Thor trying to make up for saying he didn't want to go to Syracuse?
Looks like the Mets Signed deGrom to an extension
Twitter is going crazy right now. I’m kind of amazed the Mets didn’t Mets this up. Let’s see how it plays out in a few years with this no trade clause and opt out.
The Mets can’t spell or proofread
How do you screw this up? Haven’t you learned anything since they screwed up their own history when they put down the granite slabs in front of the ballpark.
UPDATE
The Mets fixed this a few weeks ago. But still doesn't make it "go away". This never should have happened to begin with.
Mets have the new 1969 exhibit at the Mets Museum
This is great that the Mets are putting this in the museum this year. I know quite a few of the folks who have lent things to the collections this year.
Click here to see more of the pics.
Monday, March 25, 2019
@the7line's new camo jersey
From the7line.com
The 7 Line Army's "NY Camo" Mets jersey lost twice in the season ticket holders vote. I vowed after this years vote, that it would be dropped from the ballot forever. It has, but I just can't let this one die.
I love the all over NY camo fabric. I've had a swatch of it on my desk the last three years hoping it'd come to life. It narrowly lost as our season ticket members vote in 2017.
We gave it break from the voting in the 2018, but brought it back for 2019. This year it lost again. This time to the grey sleeve throwback. I really like this seasons jersey, but I was pulling pretty hard for the NY camo. At the end of the day it's just not my decision, and I like that.
It's one of those jerseys that looks A LOT better in person rather than the photoshop mock up. Majestic hooked me up with a sample, and people were digging it at the QBC back in January. There's not much middle ground on this one. You either drool over it, or hate it.
So instead of killing the idea forever for those that share my affection for it, I switched up a couple details from the vote, like making it a pullover v-neck, and decided to release it anyway.
This will be our first ever jersey not having to do with a season ticket package, or the associated replicas we drop each year.
I'm still working on some last minute details, but this will go up as a pre-sale very soon in sizes S-4XL for $149.99. This might be a one time thing, so join our mailing list to stay in the loop for the release date.
The 7 Line Army's "NY Camo" Mets jersey lost twice in the season ticket holders vote. I vowed after this years vote, that it would be dropped from the ballot forever. It has, but I just can't let this one die.
I love the all over NY camo fabric. I've had a swatch of it on my desk the last three years hoping it'd come to life. It narrowly lost as our season ticket members vote in 2017.
We gave it break from the voting in the 2018, but brought it back for 2019. This year it lost again. This time to the grey sleeve throwback. I really like this seasons jersey, but I was pulling pretty hard for the NY camo. At the end of the day it's just not my decision, and I like that.
It's one of those jerseys that looks A LOT better in person rather than the photoshop mock up. Majestic hooked me up with a sample, and people were digging it at the QBC back in January. There's not much middle ground on this one. You either drool over it, or hate it.
So instead of killing the idea forever for those that share my affection for it, I switched up a couple details from the vote, like making it a pullover v-neck, and decided to release it anyway.
This will be our first ever jersey not having to do with a season ticket package, or the associated replicas we drop each year.
I'm still working on some last minute details, but this will go up as a pre-sale very soon in sizes S-4XL for $149.99. This might be a one time thing, so join our mailing list to stay in the loop for the release date.
The GOD of Whining?
Man, Syndergaard is a whiner. Now, I’m not saying he isn’t right but why is he blasting the team in the media and not taking it up with the organization behind the scenes? Is it silly for the Mets to go up to Syracuse for a workout ? Yes. Should the Mets extend some of their player? Sure. Should you be blasting your employers in the media? You could, but you could also be looking at getting traded at some point too. Wait. SNY was floating that before the season...
From the NY Post
When asked by The Post about the trip, Syndergaard offered his dissent, saying, “We’re going to Sarasota and then to Syracuse, and then we are not going to New York. You would think we would go to New York to get like, as adults, our affairs in order, but no we have to go to Syracuse first. “I don’t know whose idea it was, but it’s not a smart one. I don’t think that’s conducive for winning ballgames really. … It doesn’t make much sense.’’ Especially since the Mets and deGrom are facing three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer right off the bat Thursday in Washington. The Mets also have a difficult turnaround before their home opener, playing a night game in Miami and then a 1:10 p.m. start the next day at Citi Field for the home opener April 4. It’s going to be a whirlwind week.Read more here.