Archive for Better than the Mets
MLB projecting decline in attendance
Posted by: | CommentsIn a bad economy, superfluous expenditures — such as baseball tickets — often suffer. As the U.S. economy tries to right its floundering ship, baseball officials are predicting a six percent decline in attendance for the upcoming 2009 season. Officials see a lot of enthusiasm surrounding the game, and WBC ticket sales shattered the 2006 numbers. Baseball’s leaders are also counting on new stadiums from the Mets and Yankees to stave off a steeper decline. There is, of course, a rub.
Last year at Shea Stadium, the Mets averaged just over 51,000 fans a game. This year, they’re playing in CitiField, a ballpark with a capacity of just 42,000. Even if they sell out every game — and early indications are that they will not — the Mets alone will be responsible for a one percent dip in baseball attendance. Who decided that building such a small stadium in New York City was a good idea anyway?
Yankees still rule NY
Posted by: | CommentsQuinnipiac University spent precious budget dollars polled New Yorkers recently and it turns out that yes, New Yorkers still love the Yankees more than the Mets. From Oren Yaniv (h/t BTF):
Among the New Yorkers who expressed interest in big-league baseball, more than half – 56% – pledged alliance to the Bronx Bombers and only a third said they root for the Mets, a Quinnipiac poll found.
In a theoretical Subway Series, the Yanks are fan favorites, 55% to 42%, holding an edge in every borough but Queens, where the Amazin’s play.
“Except for Queens, New York City still is the home of the Bronx Bombers,” said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
The poll also showed that the most popular Yankee is (surprise surprise) Derek Jeter, who picked up a staggering 48% of the vote. A-Rod came in second with just 9% of the vote, down from 15% last year. Man, it’s going to be a PR nightmare when Jeter’s contract is up, unless of course they re-up for huge money and keep him at short.
David Wright was the most popular Met at 27%, followed by Jose Reyes at 17%. Just about an equal amount of fans (~30%) said they would visit the New Yankee Stadium as they would CitiField. Heh, remember all that talk last year about how the Mets were NY’s team after landing teh Johan?
SNY’s “Best in New York” roundup
Posted by: | CommentsMichael Salfino posted SNY’s annual breakdown of the Mets vs. Yanks, comparing each team’s players based on the four main pitches – fastball, curveball, slider and changeup. As if we didn’t already know it, A-Rod is the best hitter in New York, leading all players in OPS off fastballs (.967), curves (.861) and sliders (1.168), but he also led in swings and misses (failed to make contact on 24% of swings taken). CC Sabathia dominates the pitching categories, with the city’s best fastball (.610 OPS ), best slider (.417) and second best changeup (.558). No Mets’ pitcher qualified for the curveball and slider categories, which makes me wonder what the hell their pitchers are throwing. Give it a read, it’s quick and entertaining. (h/t BBTF)
The death of Shea
Posted by: | Comments
Check it out. WCBS 880 AM has a gallery of Shea Stadium destruction pictures. While the new Yankee Stadium now has grass, Shea no longer has seats. Objectively, I’ve always enjoyed pictures like this, and I have no emotional attachment to the Mets or Shea. When, however, the crews start tearing down Yankee Stadium, the photos will be bittersweet indeed.
Game 161 Spillover Thread
Posted by: | CommentsWe’re talking Mets’ collapse and Moose’s quest for win #20. Keep it goin’ here.
Mets Game Thread: Do or Die
Posted by: | CommentsWhile we wait for today’s Yanks’ game that might end up washed out anyway, lets turn our attention to the boys in blue-and-orange across town for a few hours while they still have something to play for. It’s simple: If the Mets lose OR the Phils win today, Philly wins the division. If the Brewers win today, they’ll clinch at least a tie of the Wildcard. The Mets have to win there last two games to stand a chance.
It’s already 1-0 Mets in the 4th, both Ricky Nolasco and teh Johan are dealin’.
A Tale of Two Stadiums
Posted by: | CommentsIt’s nearly impossible to find any affordable tickets for one of the final ten games at Yankee Stadium. But 13 miles away, the Mets can’t even sell out an important series against the Phillies. As mediocre as the Yankees are this year, at least the fans are still going to witness history in the making, and that’s more than we can say for the Mets and the Shea Faithful.
SI Yanks on SNY tonight
Posted by: | CommentsJust a heads up, tonight’s SI Yanks-Brooklyn Cyclones game will be airing on Snigh, first pitch is set for 7:00. Luke Greinke should be taking the mound for SI, but Pat Venditte will likely get the day off after tossing 3 scoreless frames yesterday. Ike Davis, the Mets’ first pick in this year’s draft (#18 overall), should be in the lineup for Brooklyn. (h/t MetsBlog)
Ponson, Giese set for historic double header
Posted by: | CommentsFriday may be a historic day for baseball in New York City, but the two pitchers the Yanks are tabbing to start are anything but. Prior to last night’s victory over the Pirates, Yanks manager Joe Girardi announced that Sidney Ponson will start Friday night’s game in Shea Stadium while Dan Giese will start the afternoon affair in the Bronx. Ponson will face Pedro, and Giese will face Mike Pelfrey. I’m holding my breath.
Hal ’shocked’ by the rising sun
Posted by: | CommentsHal Steinbrenner told Yankee reports that he was “shocked” by the Mets’ firing of Willie Randolph. Call it inept; call it embarrassing; one thing it ain’t is shocking. Meanwhile, Hal says that, once the firing blows over, the Yanks will figure out how to honor Willie this year. “Willie’s been a Yankee for a lot of years and he’s a great man,” the younger Steinbrenner said. “We need to let all the dust settle and see what happens here and go from there.”
