A Short Tribute to my Late Friend, Dave (a big Mets fan)

I had the privilege of working with a great man in PR several years ago by the name of Dave Singer.

Dave was a unique individual. A fellow PR man like myself, but was always thinking about different things, ideas, businesses, etc. He was a pioneer in the comic book industry.  He created a freakin' unbelievable board game.  He knew PR and his knowledge was infectious.

I'll cut to the chase here. Dave was a big Mets fan. Diehard.  Defined the word Diehard.

Sadly, we lost him a few years ago to a debiliating disease.  He was a family man and his two sons are both big Mets fans.

I am honored we were good friends. When we would talk by phone, the first thing after the greeting, he would say, "let's talk about your son."

I went to the Mets home opener this previous Monday (see my blog I created for the company Web site - http://www.verizonwireless.com/news/article/2015/04/the-mobile-lifestyle-rounds-the-bases-on-opening-day.html ) and for a moment, I closed my eyes and said, "Dave, this is going to be our year!"

Seven straight wins. The MAGIC is back.  It feels like 86 again.  But Dave was around in 86 to enjoy.

Let's all look above each time the Mets win.  Dave has good seats now.  I think he may be influencing many - maybe not PR folks, now, but baseball players who don the blue and orange pinstripes.

Dave, each W has your name on it.

Rising from the Ashes...My Blog - But More Importantly, The METS!

It's been ages since I sat down, opened this web site and started writing about my favorite baseball team.

The last few years, I didn't have much to be jazzed about the happenings in the Flushing Zip Code, and, quite frankly, 2014 was the first time I did not go to one Mets game. At. All. Yeah, it surprised me too.  Probably the first break in action since the previous millenium.  Remaining a true fan, I watched at least one inning of every game since 2006, with a few exceptions due to travel.

I bleed blue and orange.  Always have. Always will.

Well, I like what I see with our Metropolitans.  And, yes, there is renewed hope.  Harvey looks like he's coming back, and will have a heck of a lot more strength and oomph than the Harvey that Ralph Kramden had to face.  DeGrom was a complete and pleasant surprise and watching him in spring training, it was good enough to realize he is the real deal.  That nice ROY trophy will be a springboard to better things.

Down on the farm, the prospects appear to be good, and with a few additions, like Michael Cuddyer, the long term signing of Lagares and a rejuvenation for David Wright, there  is a lot of hope.

Oh, and a victory on Opening Day against the onpapertoughWashingtonNationals.

Here's hoping the 2015 will replicate 1986.

Hoping for a Harbinger!

Welcome to 2012

Happy Opening Day finally came.  We beat the snow this winter, so today is extra special.

Had a conversation with a business colleague the other day and he is a diehard Baltimore Orioles fan.  We vowed that 2012 would be like 1969 - though our optimism for both teams to get to the vaunted WS is not that high, it would be great.

Santana, coming off a wash of 2011 looked great.  I didnt see the game in person (darn work!) but got a chance to see the encore performance on SNY.  Very encouraging performance.  We need these.  Naturally the Mets are pros at winning Opening Day - something like 32 of the last 42. 

Good to beat the Braves...let's continue to fight hard.

I see Andre Torres is down ---- Hey Eric Byrnes --- how about coming back?

Spring Training - 2012 - Prelude to a Lonnnnng Year - Let's Say Sisyphus

 

A few disjointed and maybe a valid thought or two...

Spring Training.  Yes, I love to hear these words and it means that until the end of October, my mind will be consumed with baseball - both real and fantasy league.

But, being a Mets fan, and if you are one, you know the trials and tribulations ARE straight ahead.  See the image of Sisyphus pushing the boulder up the hill?  (Look it up if the reference is obscure).

Sadly, with the passing of Gary Carter, the team loses a leader.  Yes, he was retired for a long time, but the Kid still influenced many.

Let's step back a moment - Carter.  Piazza.  We haven't had a dynamic catcher who has been the face and inspiration for the Mets.  We need that now.

The whole Madoff thing really skewed (OK, SCREWED) our chances of being competitive in the free agent market.

Reyes was finally cast off.  Hey, I used to be a huge fan.  But the antics he pulled with that bush league stunt of 1 at bat, cheap bunt hit, take self out of game, win batting title was pure garbage.  Good riddance.

But there was limited off season activity, so I guess we will get a few castoffs from other teams desperate to hang on with a contract for 2012.

Every win will be a gift.  We won't have the Nationals to beat up on - and mark my words - they will be GOOD.

So, dear fans, let's fasten our seat belts and remain optimistic.  The stock market crash of '29 eventually recovered.

AND SO WILL THE METS!

LONNNNNNNG YEAR....Time to Hibernate

Where do we start?  Where do we end (well, that is summed up - below .500).

Going into 2011, there were low expectations.  Not only from this dyed-in-the-wool supporter of the orange and blue, but many others.

There were streaks.  Some capped with a W.  Many capped with an L.

A LOT of uncertainly.  Let's use these 4 words; 2 names and 2 verbs.  Wright. Reyes. Stay. Go.  Use every permutation. And, as of the last day + one of the season ending, they are still influx.


I have to say I give Terry Collins a vote of confidence.  He had a lot of junk to work with.  This gives me a good segue - glad we got rid of Oliver Perez and KRod.  Remember Ollie said he would NOT go to the minors?  I was laughing the day I saw he was picked up by the NATIONALS and then sent to their farm team in Harrisburg, PA.  Ever been to Harrisburg?  I lived there for a year.  Pure Hell.  Just desserts ya got, Ollie.

Oh, and Reyes ending the season with a bunt single and taking himself out of the game to win the batting title.  A bit strategic, yes.  But if you get paid a ton of $ and have talent, the view here is to play that last game out.  The true better player will prevail.

Where do we go from here?  Well, in 5 minutes I am going to bed.  Much like 24 (then 40) men did on the Mets roster.

Will I be back rooting next year? Hell yea.  A Mets leopard doesn't change his spots.

Not a BAD Loss....

Mets stayed close to the mountain men...that's all I could ask for.

Can't give a good honest overview of the game since I had a lot of other things to do...but it was on for background.

Caught (no pun intended) the interview with Jerry Grote which was pretty cool.  Coincidentally, on the Mets daily calendar, today's entry cited Grote caught the most games for the Mets - 1176.

The Bullpen - OR, Can you say "Fold Like an Accordian"

Parnell was brutal.  Gives up the ghost.

Reyes breaks through with 2 3 Baggers and Izzy returns.

The telltale sign of the game was Daniel Murphy's defense at second...Think we need to see more of him at the Keystone???