Funny but I recall we got to our seats about 25 minutes before game time and not a single vendor came by until the second or third inning or there abouts. It was almost as if they wanted us to get out of our seats to get something to eat.

Anyway, they started coming around with Franks, Soda, Ice Cream after that – a small box of “itsy bitsys” – tiny ice cream nuggets – came out for six dollars – today I got two half-liter boxes of Bryers for a dollar less.

And when somebody gave us last minute tickets for last season’s home opener in the champions section, it was very cold so we went back into the lounge in the sixth inning (cold was OK for me but not for the Mrs.) the lounge was quite filled but most were either at the bar, sitting down in seats talking or watching the Masters on TV. Few were watching the game on the few monitors that were turned to it or sitting by the seats that let us see about 60 percent of the field. Was a social event for the rich as well.

Teams can lose with good talent but they can’t win without it.
This team will not replicate the1962 season as we’ve got some talent. I won’t be surprised if we finish last buy how many games we win is anyone’s guess right now. I think there’s enough talent for a solid. 500 club if all breaks right.

I’m looking forward to the start of the season.

As you probably figured out, it’s another way of making money for over-priced food. I understand it has also become a hangout for younger fans less interested in the game than they are socializing. I know when we were walking through it during the seventh inning because we had to leave early, it was mobbed with young kids just standing there and talking away without even showing interest in the game itself.

That’s what I think the Wilpons had in mind. During the early part of 2009 SNY was heavily promoting the fact that fans could now get out of their seats during the game and walk around and take in all the ammenties – as if the ball game was secondary. Yes, they could still see the action while walking around, however, the restaurants and shopping outlets were those that were being promoted.

Spoken like a guy who’s never eaten at Shake Shack.

Since the core of young kids that had us all buzzing till the team was dismantled, I do have hope. Yes, they did it without Ike’s bat so that and the shorter fences holds promise of enough runs scored. It’s the defense and especially the change at shortstop that has me more worried.

At the home opener last year saw Jose make an unbelievable stop on a scorching grounder headed up the middle for a run scoring base hit and turned it into a double play. Even though Tejada is a good fielder, Jose’s outstanding glove and throwing arm are going to be missed tremendously when it comes to games saved in the won-lost record.

The other concern is having a deep bullpen. Sandy helped improve a pen he broke apart but it’s thin.

And finally, we have no bench strength.

And Fred and Jeff are not good owners for reasons that have nothing pertaining to the team on the field but with the fans – they took what was the fun many of us had going to a Met game at Shea and turned it into spending a day at a park built for elitists.

Now, on to the important parts, you’re pretty much on target, Donal. I expect us to have a high octane offense – not the best but definitely nowhere near the worst. Ike, Duda, Wright should all contribute effectively.

Pitching staff will get by. Santana, if he gives us twenty five starts with the quality it -looks- like he can, that’ll be spectacular. Dickey’s effective, Niese should improve, Gee and Pelfrey…you could do worse. I do like Gee alot, too.

All in all, I think we’ll finish with about… 75-84 wins. And that’s because I’m an optimist with this team… I have to, or i’ll give myself more stress related health issues.

Donald Sterling is not just a terrible owner, but a lousy human being as well. I already pointed out Loria, Liberty Media, Wang, and the Dolans. Up until last week, we could have thrown in Frank McCourt as well. There are owners who systematically and deliberately screw over their fans.

don’t forget, Saint George of the Bronx wasn’t very highly regarded for a while, either. When his suspension was announced in 1990 over the PA at Yankee Stadium, the crowd stood up and cheered.

The fact is, Wilpon has let his ego and over developed loyalty get in the way, but there was never any malice. He’s tried to do right by the city and Mets fans, even if manages to foul it up more times than not. He’s never theatened to move the team or scammed the taxpayers out of a billion dollars.

Even at the height of their fued, when Doubleday was accused of making anti-semitic remarks about Selig becoming commissioner, Wilpon stood up for him.

1-4, I agree with. I have said all along that this is a (mid-pack/average/.500ish) team (pick one). And true that the potential (and I am not buying into all the hype) in the division makes it look worse.

Hell, even last year, with a ton going wrong, masive injuries, a fire sale, runaway phils, etc. the team still won what, 77 games? Or just a few under .500? And they played close to that in the last part of the season, with Reyes MIA, and after beltran and KRod were gone.

I just don’t see how they got worse than that, and with nominal health, not better.

No, I am not predicting 92 wins and in the post season, but I would be less surprised by that than I would be if the team finished in the mid-60s!

That said, swing by one of the UWS or UES locations in Manhattan and get something else at Citi Field. Like the Buffalo Dog at Box Frites.

Also, Mets are full of baseball players.