Retired Numbers

Today the Mets announced that Jerry Koosman's #36 will be retired by the Mets some time in 2020. He would be the first person to receive such an honor as a Mets player that isn't a Baseball Hall of Famer (Gil Hodges had his number retired for his accomplishments as Manager, and I won't get into him deserving to be inducted as a player, but not wearing a Mets hat for that).

For me, this opens up a can of worms. Who's next? Where do they draw the line? Several years ago, I made a commentary of sorts on the subject in the form of an entry for Banner Day called "Citi Field Squares", where I had a parody of the old TV game show "Hollywood Squares" where each celebrity square was represented by a Mets would-be or actual retired number. The commentary was that there's a lot more potential retired numbers for the Mets, and I had to limit my game board to 9 squares (and 3 already retired numbers). From that list, 31 for Piazza was eventually retired (6 days after he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame). And I didn't even include 36 for Koosman.


So who's next (after Koosman)? The implication from today's announcement was that there will be others.

Gary Carter is a Hall of Famer, who more or less earned it before coming to the Mets. He earned his World Series ring in Queens. A lot of people are going there. Carter passed away in early 2012. It would have been nice to honor him this way while he was still alive.

Many people want David Wright to be a baseball Hall of Famer. I thought he came up short on that, but he should be the next person inducted into the Mets (team) Hall of Fame. And have #5 taken out of circulation like #24 was taken out of circulation, but not retired. I might wait a couple years before holding David Wright Night and retiring his number just to see if he does make it to Cooperstown.

What about Doc Gooden & Darryl Strawberry (who were inducted together into the Mets Hall of Fame in 2010)? Or Keith Hernandez? Personally, I would have made the next Mets Hall of Fame induction be Gary Cohen this season (now just a few games shy of 31 complete seasons calling Mets games), with Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling following a year or two later (maybe 2021 in their 15th season calling games, or 2022 after 15 seasons were complete) with plaques that indicate for each that their longevity is as a broadcaster while each made a mark as a player. But Keith Hernandez is a borderline Hall of Fame player. So should he get his number retired at some point?

What about Bud Harrelson or Eddie Kranepool? They were both long-tenured Mets from the 1960s and 1970s. Buddy was the only person in a Mets uniform for both World Series championships (as a player in 1969, as a coach in 1986). And Buddy's not in good health. It would be good to honor him while he's still (physically) here. Hopefully the same would be true for "Steady Eddie" should they choose to retire his number.

Who am I missing? Am I wrong about any of these? I don't want to consider (yet, and for a while) the active players.


Leave a comment or drop me a line at DyHrdMET [at] gmail [dot] com. Your comments will fall into a moderation queue.
"Like" RememberingShea on Facebook.
Become a Networked Blog

Retired Numbers

There was one panel from yesterday's Queens Baseball Convention that really struck me. There were a lot of great panels to listen to, some of which I even got to see, but the retired numbers panel is worth its own blog post.

There's been a great debate among Mets fans, at least in the social media age, about what numbers the Mets should retire and why they haven't had a new one since Tom Seaver in 1988. I don't remember if I've written about this before, but I had some new thoughts about this. I should mention that I walked in about 15 minutes late to the hour-long panel.

I have 2 paths of thought on retired numbers. This is aside from the largely ceremonial numbers 37, 14, 42 and Shea.

One is that nothing should change with the retired numbers they have, and that the Mets Hall of Fame is considered the honor (though I think the Mets Hall of Fame should honor accomplishments as much as individual players - imagine Johan Santana No Hitter Day). Maybe if a player comes up through the Mets system, as Tom Seaver did, and has a Hall of Fame career, as Seaver did, even if they didn't finish their career as a Met, as Seaver, they should get their number retired. I don't think David Wright is destined for the Hall of Fame, but if he was, he'd be the candidate for this.

The other is that the Mets should open the floodgates and retire the numbers of several players. Then where do you start? Piazza when he gets into the Hall of Fame (he just had his Mets HOF day at the end of the 2013 season)? But what about Gary Carter, a Hall of Famer who spent a few years with the Mets including being a leader of the 1986 World Champions? As as noted in the panel yesterday, Keith Hernandez might be paired with Carter and might even go first, based on his tenure as a Met. Then what about Doc and Darryl? And why stop at the 1986 Mets when Buddy Harrelson and Jerry Koosman of the 1969 team might be even more deserving (longer tenures as Mets for sure). And if we're looking at long tenures, what about Eddie Kranepool and John Franco? Can you retire a number symbolically for multiple players (31 for Franco & Piazza...45 for Franco & McGraw)?

Where do you draw the line for this honor? What is the qualification for it? Every franchise has different qualifications. Every franchise has a different history too. That's why I lean towards the 1st train of thought that the earned retired numbers (only Seaver) is the highest honor for "The Franchise" and nobody else, and the Mets HOF is the honor equivalent to what we think retired numbers should be. That's the debate. And it wouldn't be any fun to have if we didn't have the debate.



Leave a comment or drop me a line at DyHrdMET [at] gmail [dot] com. Your comments will fall into a moderation queue.
"Like" RememberingShea on Facebook (the function formerly known as "Becoming a Fan").
Become a Networked Blog

All-Time Mets Team

I couldn't go to be there for the suspense last Sunday. I couldn't even watch it as it first aired tonight (Thursday). But I'm watching it now. It's the Mets 50th Anniversary All-Time Team. And I'm sharing a few comments about it.

First off, I like, and more importantly trust any panel that includes the "voices of the Mets" Howie Rose and Gary Cohen. I don't know who made up the rest of the selection panel, but those two were there. Howie and Gary were on the TV program with host Kevin Burkhardt. I like when Howie and Gary are working together like this panel. They did it on the radio for 2 years, and they did it again for a few minutes after the Mets first no-hitter 3 weeks ago tomorrow.

As I watch this program on "tape", I will break it down position-by-position. I also want to include my all-time first and second team. I hate to call it a "bench".

First Base
Ed Kranepool, Dave Kingman, Keith Hernandez, John Olerud
It went to Keith Hernandez. I think the nominees were a little thin here. I wouldn't have considered Dave Kingman with the other 3, but he was also before my time. I really liked Olerud (the only one I saw at an age that I was old enough to appreciate). But Mex was the leader and the piece that turned the franchise around. He's the all-time first baseman.

Second Base
Felix Milan, Doug Flynn, Wally Backman, Edgardo Alfonzo
It went to Edgardo Alfonzo. I never saw Milan or Flynn, so I can't say much about them. Backman was a gritty player, but Fonzie was was the best among them, but he was also a third baseman with the Mets. I'd have to think that counts against him just a little bit. Those couple of years when the Mets had Olerud, Fonzie, and Ordonez were a lot of fun to watch.

Shortstop
Bud Harrelson, Rafael Santana, Rey Ordonez, Jose Reyes
It went to Jose Reyes. I think it should have gone to Buddy. And I never saw him play. Reyes was dynamic, Rey Ordonez was a defensive wizard, but from what I've heard about Buddy Harrelson, I think he was better. I think the injuries have to count against Reyes. I also have a bit of a problem including players of the modern day under the label "All-Time".

Third Base
Hubie Brooks, Howard Johnson, Robin Ventura, David Wright
It went to David Wright. Ventura wasn't with the Mets long enough. Really, neither was Hubie Brooks. HoJo was a great player. Wright, another modern day player, and one who I've been down on at times, I think takes it because of being the "leader" and having the longevity at a position that I remember the Mets used to count the number of people who played it as it kept changing. But he's put up the numbers to back it up.

Right Handed Relief Pitcher
Skip Lockwood, Neil Allen, Roger McDowell, Armando Benitez
It went to Roger McDowell. I never saw Skip Lockwood pitch. I don't necessarily agree with including Neil Allen in this list. Benitez was just too scary for my taste. And I can't think of anyone off hand who should be on this list. McDowell was the best at this special position.

Left Handed Relief Pitcher
Tug McGraw, Jesse Orosco, Randy Myers, John Franco
It went to Tug McGraw. Left handed relief pitchers, at least at the top of the list, was much better than the top of the right handed relief pitcher list. Franco was with the Mets forever. He was the closer for some bad teams. And he's a Mets Hall of Famer. Myers was actually traded for Franco, and was the kid to replace Orosco/McDowell. I think Billy Wagner should have been on this list instead of Myers. Orosco was the guy who grew up with the 1980s Mets and of course was there for the last outs against Houston and Boston in 1986. I never saw Tug pitch, but I've heard a lot about him. He was a cut above the rest.

Catcher
Jerry Grote, Gary Carter, Todd Hundley, Mike Piazza
It went to Mike Piazza. This may have been the most competitive position in 50 years of the Mets. Grote was the backstop of the 1969 Miracle Mets. Hundley was my favorite player growing up in the 1990s. Piazza was the piece that put the late '90s Mets on the next level. Piazza was the guy with the big HR in the first home game after 9/11. But there were times when I was down on Mike Piazza. Sorry. Gary Carter, for my money, was the best catcher in Mets history. His stay was shorter, but he was the last piece of the puzzle for the 1980s Mets championship team (should have been teams).

Despite Carter not winning at his position, I like that SNY had a Gary Carter tribute in the middle of their program tonight.

Left Field
Cleon Jones, George Foster, Kevin McReynolds, Cliff Floyd
It went to Cleon Jones. Foster was another one I never saw play, and I really never heard good things about him. McReynolds came to the Mets when I was just beginning as a Mets fan, but I always thought he was a blah player, despite the numbers he put up. Floyd was a modern-day player who was good, but not a "best". Cleon Jones was the best LF in Mets history.

Center Field
Tommie Agee, Mookie Wilson, Lenny Dykstra, Carlos Beltran
It went to Carlos Beltran. I never saw Agee, but I've heard lots of good things about him. Mookie was always a favorite. Lenny was "nails". Beltran was good. I have trouble with this one, only because Beltran was a modern day player, a Met until last year, and I have trouble with that in general just because it's too fresh in my mind. There's a part of me that wants to say that Mookie was better.

Right Field
Ron Swoboda, Rusty Staub, Darryl Strawberry, Bobby Bonilla
It went to Darryl Strawberry. Ok, Bobby Bonilla? Seriously? Straw was the best. Hands down. Rusty is my guy off the bench to pinch hit. But I never saw Rusty play in 1973 with the Mets. Rocky Swoboda was another one from well before my time. But Straw is the best. He was my favorite Met growing up in the late 1980s.

Manager
Casey Stengel, Gil Hodges, Davey Johnson, Bobby Valentine
It went to Davey Johnson. Casey Stengel and the 3 managers who took the Mets to the World Series. Gil turned the team around for the first time. Davey turned the team around the second time. Bobby V turned the team around the third time. And Casey was just fun to listen to (so I've heard). Davey had a more talented team for a longer period of time than Gil Hodges or Bobby Valentine. But I've never heard players so emotional when talking about a manager than when the 1969 Mets talked about Gil Hodges. This may be the toughest call to make, but I agree with Davey Johnson. But Gil Hodges is right there next to Davey on the all-time Mets roster.

Left Handed Starting Pitcher
Jerry Koosman, John Matlack, Sid Fernandez, Al Leiter
It went to Jerry Koosman. Koos and Matlack were both before my time. I've always heard about Seaver (a righty) and Koosman. Leiter was the ace of the Mets teams I enjoyed around the turn of the century. Fernandez was the best lefty when I was first coming up as a Mets fan. But I can't disagree with Koosman.

Right Handed Starting Pitcher
Tom Seaver, Ron Darling, Dwight Gooden, David Cone
It went to Tom Seaver. Of course it did. He was "The Franchise". And the other 3 were in the same pitching rotation. How didn't they win a World Series (at least in the time Cone was there). Doc was electric. I wasn't around in 1985 or really in 1986. But Doc was my other favorite player from the late 1980s teams. Oh what he could have been. Maybe what Tom Seaver was.

So to recap...
1B: Keith Hernandez
2B: Edgardo Alfonzo
SS: Jose Reyes
3B: David Wright
LF: Cleon Jones
CF: Carlos Beltran
RF: Darryl Strawberry
C: Mike Pizza
LH RP: Tug McGraw
RH RP: Roger McDowell
LH SP: Jerry Koosman
RH SP: Tom Seaver
MGR: Davey Johnson

4 from the 1986 Mets
2 from the 2000 Mets
3 from the 2006 Mets
4 from the 1969 Mets

I will give honorable mention to a 7 Mets that didn't make the at their positions, because they certainly deserve to be part of the All-Time Mets team.
1B: Ed Kranepool
SS: Bud Harrelson
3B: Howard Johnson
RF/PH: Rusty Staub
C: Gary Carter
RH SP: Dwight Gooden
MGR: Gil Hodges


Leave a comment or drop me a line at DyHrdMET [at] gmail [dot] com. Your comments will fall into a moderation queue.
"Like" RememberingShea on Facebook (the function formerly known as "Becoming a Fan").
Become a Networked Blog

Hitting the Chalk

I wrote this piece 3 years ago, and after the bad call on the left field foul line during Friday night's no hitter, and while watching the French Open on TV (which does not have replay), I thought of re-posting this piece.

I like watching the big Tennis tournaments, so here's a thought with that in mind.

Imagine baseball's replay system (or even football's) if they used the technology and speed used for replays at Wimbledon & the US Open?

(Gary) "A pop up down the line. Sheffield over. It falls in fair territory. Utley to second standing. And Sheffield raises his hands asking for a review. Let's take a look Keith."
(replay system shows the ball landing just outside from the line, in foul territory, calling it "FOUL".)
(Keith) "It's called out, Gar. Good eyes by Sheffield out there in left."
(Gary) "So they'll replay the pitch."
(Keith) "Mets caught a break there, Gar. They didn't have that in my day."
(Gary) "Ronnie, as a pitcher, how does that affect you?"
(Ron) "Uh.... Just treat it like you would if it were called foul in the first place."

A few nights later, Gary and Ronnie on SNY had a play in a game against the Dodgers at was a candidate for this type of replay. Without mentioning this blog, or the specific (joking) example noted here, they did bring up the idea of the tennis replay in passing before having the thought put to bed by the showing of their sponsored replay.


Leave a comment or drop me a line at DyHrdMET [at] gmail [dot] com. Your comments will fall into a moderation queue.
"Like" RememberingShea on Facebook (the function formerly known as "Becoming a Fan").
Become a Networked Blog

Spring Training 2012 - Day 7

Day 7 - March 28, 2012 - Mets-Nationals @ Port St. Lucie

Before the game, as usual, I spent a good hour on the back fields at the Digital Domain Park complex watching what I call "gym class" as well as players throwing, a bit of infield-outfield, and then I went to stake out the spot in field 7 where the players exit to go back to the clubhouse or into the big stadium (field 7 is the field right behind the LF scoreboard when looking from the stadium itself - one of my pictures caught a minor league game on field 7, looking between the LF scoreboard and the CF batter's eye). Overall in the back, I got autographs from Mets legend Al Jackson, who has been an instructor for the Mets since I can remember, Jason Bay, and R.A. Dickey (he's appearing at a bookstore in Jupiter this Friday night signing his new memoir that just came out - I'm sure you heard about it). With all the moving around that I do back there (hanging by the fence along the RF line of the first practice field they use, standing at the exit in the RF corner of that field for everyone to enter field 7 in the LF corner, and then near the CF exit of field 7, among other places) that I got autographs in multiple locations. As I say, it's all pot-luck each day as to what you can see, who you can get autographs from, and where. One other thing to note is that the players actually are working, even when they're moving between fields. I do have to respect that, even though I have to ask them to stop for me (hey, you never know). Daniel Murphy, while jogging into the stadium from field 7, did give that standard answer, but also thanked the fans within ear-shot for coming out to see the team on the back fields. I like that. More on Daniel Murphy later.

After the back fields, I went to the plaza in front of the stadium (where the box office, media-access elevators, and actual ballpark entrances are, as well as the Booster Club's raffle table) to look for Keith Hernandez. I've heard good things about him stopping to sign this year, something that he hasn't done in the past. I only stood out there for about half an hour before the game and didn't see Keith. I actually had no idea if he'd be working on Wednesday. More on him later.

Inside the stadium, things can be absolutely dead from 11am when the gates open until about 12:45, 25 minutes before first pitch. It's the tail end of the Mets taking BP. Maybe if we're lucky, someone will sign by the outfield corner of the Mets dugout. It's the visiting team's turn to take BP. No Mets in sight. And then players from both teams come out to get ready for the game. And then again, we're lucky if any Mets come over to sign. Wednesday, I got lucky. David Wright signed a few (no, I wasn't that lucky, other than to be witness to such an event). Scott Hairston signed. He was back in the lineup. Prospect Matt den Dekker signed. I heard a lot about him last year from my fields in St. Lucie while he was here at Single-A ball.

Then a game was played, and Jon Niese pitched for the Mets. I'd call it a quality start, especially for Spring Training. There was a long home run, but he pitched really well aside from that. The new Mets closer, Frank Francisco really scares the hell out of me, though he had 0 ER over 2.0 IP. And the offense isn't really clicking, aside from some HRs from Duda and Davis. Mets lost. Oh well.

And again after the game, I decided it was time to stake out the plaza for Keith Hernandez (something I teased on Facebook) figuring that he has to exit the elevator, walk through the plaza, and over to his car in the parking lot. A few others had the same idea. So we waited, even being down there before the game ended (just in case Keith made for a quick exit). And the crowd leaves. Ron Darling comes past. And the place empties out, save for a few others waiting for Keith, and about a dozen people at the Mets player parking lot gate. 90 minutes has passed. The only recognizable figure coming out is Sandy Alderson, after his WFAN interview. He was very nice about signing and thanking us for coming out. After about 2 hours of waiting, I gave up on Keith Hernandez. Over at the player's parking lot gate, I learned that Keith had parked there, snuck out quickly from the game to his car, and left without having to pass through the crowd. That seems to fit his character. By the time I was down at the gate, only a few Mets were left, and only Daniel Murphy stopped to sign (and take a picture with a crazy fan).


Leave a comment or drop me a line at DyHrdMET [at] gmail [dot] com. Your comments will fall into a moderation queue.
"Like" RememberingShea on Facebook (the function formerly known as "Becoming a Fan").
Become a Networked Blog

SNY and the Emmys

Read it here!

Included in the list are programs related to the Mets (remember the field trip to the Pepsi Porch and all 4 TV announcers nominated for the best in their craft) and SNY (which got nominated for things related to another baseball team in New York).

Category	Program	Network
SPORTS COVERAGE: SPORTSCAST/SERIES	SportsNite: Jeter Hits 3000. July 9, 2011	SNY
	SportsNite: Subway Series. May 20, 2011	SNY
SPORTS PROGRAMMING: REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAM	Summer of ’86 – Part 3. March 3, 2011 (Roman Gackowski, Producer/Director)	MSG
SPORTS PROGRAMMING: PROGRAM SERIES	Summer of ’86 – Series Composite. March 1, 2011 (Roman Gackowski, Producer/Director)	MSG
SPORTS PROGRAMMING: PROGRAM FEATURE/SEGMENT	R.A. Dickey. December 22, 2010	SNY
SPORTS PROGRAMMING: PROGRAM SERIES	Jets Nation: Extra Point. September 9, 2010	SNY
SPORTS PROGRAMMING: SPECIAL	Brooklyn Cyclones: Baseball on the Boardwalk. August 24, 2011	SNY
	Jets Nation: Draft Day 2011. April 28, 2011	SNY
LIVE SPORTS EVENT: PROGRAM/SPECIAL	Mets “Pepsi Porch” Broadcast. July 20, 2011	SNY
INTERVIEW/DISCUSSION	The Wheelhouse. December 10, 2010	SNY
PROMOTION: NEWS PROMO – SINGLE SPOT/CAMPAIGN	Summer of ’86 Launch Spot. February 16, 2011 (Doug Field, VP/Creative Director)	MSG
PROMOTION: NEWS PROMO – SPECIAL/IMAGE	Summer of ’86 Launch Spot. February 16, 2011	MSG
PROMOTION: PROGRAM PROMO - SPORTS	Mets Subway Series Pop Up. May 15, 2011 (John Zeigler, VP/Creative Director)	WPIX
	Subway Series Speech. May 21, 2011 (John Zeigler, VP/Creative Director)	WPIX
COMMERCIAL: SINGLE SPOT/CAMPAIGN	More Sports, More Testosterone. May 9, 2011 (Marie DeParis, Vice President of Marketing)	SNY
ON-CAMERA TALENT: REPORTER -SPORTS	Kevin Burkhardt	SNY/WPIX
ON-CAMERA TALENT: PERFORMER/NARRATOR	Robert A. Frahm. August 24, 2011	SNY
ON-CAMERA TALENT: SPORTS PLAY-BY-PLAY	Gary Cohen	SNY/WPIX
	Howie Rose	MSG+ (Islanders)
ON-CAMERA TALENT: SPORTS ANALYST	Keith Hernandez	SNY/WPIX
	Ron Darling	SNY/WPIX
	Ray Lucas	SNY (Jets)
DIRECTOR: POST-PRODUCTION	Roman Gackowski. March 1, 2011	MSG
WRITER: SPORTS	Ricky Recchia. April 28, 2011	SNY
PHOTOGRAPHER: SPORTS	Andrew Johnston. July 11, 2011	SNY
EDITOR: PROGRAM	Lee Umphred. March 1, 2011 (“Summer Of ’86”)	MSG
EDITOR: SHORT FORM	Brett Hauze. December 30, 2010	SNY
GRAPHICS: NEWS/PROGRAM	Mark Rusciano. January 16, 2011 ("SNY's Sportsnite: Jets 2011 Playoff Special”)	SNY
GRAPHICS: SPORTS	John Zeigler. April 10, 2011 (“Mets Pop Up”)	WPIX
	Mark Rusciano. May 20, 2011 (“Mets on SNY: 2011 Subway Showdown”)	SNY

Leave a comment or drop me a line at DyHrdMET [at] gmail [dot] com. "Like" RememberingShea on Facebook (the function formerly known as "Becoming a Fan"). Become a Networked Blog

Keith Hernandez and SNY Win NY Emmys

Announced last night on nyemmys.org...

• HISTORICAL/CULTURAL: Program/Special
  Miracle in New York: The Story of the '69 Mets (Opening Act). June 25, 2009. (SNY). Curt Gowdy, Jr., Executive Producer; Julie Frahm, Supervising Producer; Dan Klein, Producer; Bill McCullough, Director.
• ON-CAMERA TALENT: Sports Analyst
  Keith Hernandez. May 7, 2009. (SNY).
• LIVE SPORTS EVENT: Series
  2009 Mets: The Inaugural Year of Citi Field. April 6, 2009. (SNY). Curt Gowdy, Jr., Executive Producer; Gregg Picker, Producer; Bill Webb, Director; Dan Reagan, Tony Lanni, Contributing Directors; Dan Barr, Contributing Producer; Greg Schult, Sam Pepper, Associate Producers; Bill Clarke, VP of Operations; Jean Palmer, Manager of Remote Operations; Gary Cohen, Play-by-Play; Keith Hernandez, Ron Darling, Ralph Kiner, Analysts; Kevin Burkhardt, Reporter.
• COMMERCIAL – Campaign
  NY NY Sports Sports. May 4, 2009. (SNY). Marjorie Gantman, Senior Director of Marketing; Marie DeParis, VP of Marketing; Debbie Kasher, Arturo Gigante, Creative Consultants; Wayne McClammy, Director; Cindy Becker, Executive
  Producer; Josh Towvim, Editor.
• CRAFT SPECIALTY: Makeup
  Angela Buono. January 1, 2009. (SNY).

Congratulations to all the winners. You can see all of the Mets-related nominees here.


Leave a comment or drop me a line at DyHrdMET [at] gmail [dot] com.
Become a fan of RememberingShea on Facebook.
Become a Networked Blog

Who's On First?

In January or February, we saw video from the back field in Port St. Lucie of a legendary Mets first baseman tutoring 3 potential/future/current Mets first basemen. Why is it that the legend is the only one of the 4 involved in tonight's game?

In other thoughts, I'm wondering if the Mets made a big mistake by firing Rick "the jacket" Peterson 2 years ago.

This season is being so closely looked at under the microscope that it's the only way to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Listening to Gary Cohen tonight, I think he's getting just as frustrated as some of us fans are.

At least tonight's game is over before my bedtime.


Leave a comment or drop me a line at DyHrdMET [at] gmail [dot] com.
Become a fan of RememberingShea on Facebook.
Become a Networked Blog

It's been 4 years

Can you believe it? It was 4 years ago today that a television network focused primarily on the New York Mets, our beloved team, launced on television sets around the region. No more playing second fiddle to playoff hockey and basketball on SportsChannel/FSN New York and MSG Network. No more having no identity. We had a channel all our own.

I remember the day the network went on the air. I asked my dad to tape the first few hours for me since I was in Port St. Lucie far away from any television set that would show the launch (actually, with the TV production trucks there to televise the game, I probably could have gotten a sneak peek of the first program). It was beautiful night at Tradition Field that Thursday night.

Fans were ready to welcome SNY into our existence with signs (I remember one very big one that later got on seen on TV). Fans were ready for a new era of our longtime radio voice now working on Television (how many people at the time would have recognized Gary Cohen by face without TV exposure). Fans were ready to welcome back Ron Darling to the family to work as a studio analyst and part-time game analyst. Little did we know that Ronnie would end up winning a NY Emmy award as a game analyst and catch the eyes of the people at Turner Sports for their upcoming MLB coverage. And fans were ready to anoint Keith Hernandez as the new lead analyst, moving him up a few notches ahead of Fran Healy and Tom Seaver. Boy are we glad that move was made.

There were new faces (Matt Yallof, Ron Darling, and Chris Cotter) on Mets coverage replacing some longtimers (Matt Loughlin, Fran Healy, Tom Seaver, Dave O'Brien, Ted Robinson, and the new radio voice of the Mets, Howie Rose). But fans were ready.

Over the past 4 seasons, SNY has proven to be top rate with their dedication to Mets telecasts. SNY has proven to be top rate with everything else they've produced as well. They embraced Big East sports and Rutgers Football, becoming the official home of the Big East in the New York area. Their newscasts are the best in NY (well ahead of what MSG used to produce - yes, I know that they're the only 30 minute local sportscast in NYC).

Trivia:
Who was the original sideline reporter for Mets telecasts when SNY first went on the air 4 years ago? It's NOT the reporter in this picture, but this is one of the fans with the sign.

Leave a comment or drop me a line at DyHrdMET [at] gmail [dot] com.
Become a fan of RememberingShea on Facebook.
Become a Networked Blog

Bad Call Down the Line

After watching highlightes of the Yankees-Twins game from last night with the very badly blown call on the LF line, I decided to repost something funny I wrote back in July. If you didn't see the play, a ball bounced a few inches on the fair side of the LF line, there was an umpire right there (they have LF and RF line umps in the playoffs), and the ball bounced up into the crowd. It was called foul. TBS had a camera on the foul poll clearly showing it was fair. The ump and camera were both about the same distance from the bouncing ball. It may have cost the Twins a chance to re-take the lead in the 11th. Anyway, back to something somewhat related that I wrote back in July.

I like watching the big Tennis tournaments, so here's a thought with that in mind.

Imagine baseball's replay system (or even football's) if they used the technology and speed used for replays at Wimbledon & the US Open?

(Gary) "A pop up down the line. Sheffield over. It falls in fair territory. Utley to second standing. And Sheffield raises his hands asking for a review. Let's take a look Keith."
(replay system shows the ball landing just outside from the line, in foul territory, calling it "FOUL".)
(Keith) "It's called out, Gar. Good eyes by Sheffield out there in left."
(Gary) "So they'll replay the pitch."
(Keith) "Mets caught a break there, Gar. They didn't have that in my day."
(Gary) "Ronnie, as a pitcher, how does that affect you?"
(Ron) "Uh.... Just treat it like you would if it were called foul in the first place."

A few nights later, Gary and Ronnie on SNY had a play in a game against the Dodgers at was a candidate for this type of replay. Without mentioning this blog, or the specific (joking) example noted here, they did bring up the idea of the tennis replay in passing before having the thought put to bed by the showing of their sponsored replay.


Leave a comment or drop me a line at DyHrdMET [at] gmail [dot] com.
Become a fan of RememberingShea on Facebook.
Become a Networked Blog

The season is almost over

As Coop reminded me in her recent post, it's hockey season already. Preseason hockey anyway. While that is a good thing, it also signals the end of the baseball season.

That means there's only a limited number of times to listen to Howie Rose and Wayne Hagin (especially if Howie leaves us a bit early to go back to his winter job with the Islanders) and a limited number of times to listen to Gary, Keith, and Ron (and Kevin and Ralph, especially Ralph since you just never know). And it means there's limited window to watching baseball, meaningful or not, before the Yankees playoff games are thrown in our faces.


Leave a comment or drop me a line at DyHrdMET [at] gmail [dot] com.
Become a fan of RememberingShea on Facebook.
Become a Networked Blog

More on Keith Hernandez

Neil Best of Newsday has more on Keith Hernandez, here (on his wife Kai) and here (on his retirement from being a player). This goes with the story that Best wrote on Keith and Kai as well as the main article and video.


Leave a comment or drop me a line at DyHrdMET [at] gmail [dot] com.
Become a fan of RememberingShea on Facebook.
Become a Networked Blog

I'm Keith Hernandez

Neil Best of Newsday recently spent a night at Keith Hernandez's house in Sag Harbor. He wrote his Sunday column about the experience. A video tour followed (the Newsday website has been a bit flaky since it was redesigned a few months ago, and the video page is no different).

Neil Best writes a column called Sports Watch for Newsday and a blog called Watchdog that cover sports media

Leave a comment or drop me a line at DyHrdMET [at] gmail [dot] com.
Become a fan of RememberingShea on Facebook.
Become a Networked Blog

Friends

Can someone please explain to me why Keith Hernandez came up as a suggested "friend" on my Facebook page? I thought Keith was very shy around fans. It's not a "fan" profile (like the 100 times I'm a "fan" of Stewie from Family Guy), it looks like an actual "friend" profile.

program about Shea nominated for Emmy

It's true.

read it here on page 5 of the nomination press release.

A program called The Amazin' Shea that aired on WNBC-TV (in New York) on March 29, 2008, the eve of Shea's final season, was nominated for a New York Emmy award in the category of "News Special". It's up against a piece on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's legacy and two (2) programs covering last year's Papal visit to New York and the other defunct ballpark.

While I'm here, other Mets-related programming nominated follows:

Category	Program	Network
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING	Kids Clubhouse: Fun with Fundamentals	SNY
CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMING	Kids Clubhouse	SNY
SPORTS PROGRAMMING: Program Feature/Segment	Mets Weekly: Mr. Koo's Wild Ride	SNY
SPORTS PROGRAMMING: Regularly Scheduled Program	Mets Pre Game Live	SNY
PROMOTION: Sports Promo	Mets in HD Promo	SNY
	Mets: Sunday	WPIX
ON-CAMERA TALENT: Reporter – Sports	Kevin Burkhardt	SNY
ON-CAMERA TALENT: Sports Play-by-Play	Howie Rose	MSG PLUS (New York Islanders)
ON-CAMERA TALENT: Sports Analyst	Harold Reynolds	SNY
	Keith Hernandez	SNY
	Ron Darling	SNY
DIRECTOR: News, Live or Live to Tape	Bill Webb	SNY
ADVANCED MEDIA: Sports	Matt & Ted Go to Philly	SNY.tv
	Nissan Post Game Extra	SNY.tv