Torre’s first managerial assignment with the New York Mets best exemplified his ability to get the most out of his teams. If the 1996 Yankees were the ideal setup for a manager, the 1977 Mets were the worst. Under the reign of Mets honcho M. Donald Grant, the franchise reacted as poorly to free agency as possible. The front office acted personally offended by players negotiating their services on an open market. Grant preferred to think of them as serfs on his reserve clause plantation, not as people who could conceivably join the same country clubs he did. Due to their disdain for current labor relations, the Mets were not about to competitively bid for the right players. Columnists such as Dick Young (the most anti-players union man in the national press corps) lauded Grant, encouraging this disposition. - .mcfarlandpub.
After insisting they were satisfied with the personnel on the roster, the Mets signed Sheffield to a one-year contract following the second of two dress-rehearsal games against the Red Sox at Citi Field. Two days later, they won on Opening Day for the 31st time in 40 years, beating the Reds behind Santana with a revamped bullpen performing effectively.
The Mets weren't so successful in their home opener. After Tom Seaver and Mike Piazza had reprised the roles they played following the final game at Shea during the pregame celebration of Citi Field, the Padres inflicted a 6-5 victory on them, despite a three-run home run by Wright, the Mets' first homer at their new digs.
The Jackie Robinson Rotunda, the focal point of the new ballpark, was celebrated on April 15 -- the 62nd anniversary of Robinson's big league debut -- and two nights later, Sheffield rocked the ballpark when he became the 25th player in big league history to hit 500 career home runs.
Foreshadowing of the spike of injuries that was to come happened on April 27, when Delgado was scratched from the lineup because of pain in his right hip. He didn't play until May 2. The team completed April with successive losses to the Marlins, a 9-12 record and a concern about its first baseman. nym
Last week Mike Vaccaro post a blog on the New York Post website that you can read right here saying that ticket agents from the Mets are questioning the loyalty of fans who have not yet renewed their season tickets for the 2010 season. I did get a phone call asking me if I was planning on buying the ticket package, but my loyalty to the team was not questioned by that particular agent, having said that I’ve heard from other ticket season holders including friends of mine that their loyalty has indeed been questioned. If that ticket agent had questioned my loyalty I would have answered the question with another question: where do you get off questioning my loyalty? - metsmerizedonline.
Joe Smith could be a nice addition to the 2010 bullpen. He is the same type of pitcher as Sean Green but at multiple points of the season we were all calling for Green's disappearance. I don't have the numbers but could Sean Green really be making too much money to release him? Really? It would be nice for the Mets to have a consistent sidearm pitcher. - mrmetbro
It started before the decade, but on Commissioner Selig’s watch, a new stadium boom has occurred. The new stadiums have artificially inflated attendance, based upon the “honeymoon effect” while lining the pockets of owners with new revenues, and raising the debate as to whether public subsidy for private enterprise to a loud roar. Over the decade, 11 new ballparks opened. Here’s a list of new stadiums that have come online since 2000 through 2009:
• 2000 - Comerica Park (Tigers), Minute Maid Park (Astros), AT&T Park (Giants)
• 2001 – Miller Park (Brewers), PNC Park (Pirates)
• 2003 – Great American Ball Park (Reds)
• 2004 – PETCO Park (Padres)
• 2006 – Busch Stadium III (Cardinals)
• 2008 – Nationals Park (Nationals)
• 2009 – New Yankee Stadium (Yankees), Citi Field (Mets) - link
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