The Mets And Their Home Field Disadvantage

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• srt September 12, 2012 at 2:50 pm

  This not scoring and losses at home is just bizarre.
  Heard GKR the other night trying to speculate on that. Keith started with ‘back in my day’…..
  He said no one got to the ball park at 1:30 for a night game like they do now. 4pm was more like it.
  Ronnie went further saying he believes they get there early now b/c the facilities and amenities are so much better now. Swimming pools, private chefs who will cook whatever you want, state of the art weight rooms, etc. etc.

  Keith seemed to think spending all afternoon and night at the park was too much. And he wondered if that had something to do with the fact that some of these kids fade in the second half. I’m sure lack of the little greenies have something to do with it as well.

  They also went on to say that on the road, they don’t get to the visiting park all that early.

  I don’t know if they’re onto something or not. I know I’ve not seen something like this lack of scoring at home in quite some time. In fact, I think they almost did, or did break some 1909 or 1913 record about innings w/o multi scored runs and games at home with 2 or less runs.
  • Gina September 12, 2012 at 2:57 pm

    Hi srt,

    I heard that exchange too and found it to be somewhat compelling because I always thought the players worked harder on the road than they did at home and boy was I wrong.

    What I wish they would have told us is if this is commonplace and what other teams do as well at home. Coming in at 1 PM sounds to early and I dont see what kind of an advantage that gives our players over the visitors who show up at 4 PM.

    Anyway, I’m glad you brought that up because I think it’s relevant some how.
    • srt September 12, 2012 at 3:05 pm

      I too am very curious what other team’s players do when they’re playing at home.

      Sounded to me like Citi field was one nice country club to be at. If you’re on the young side and/or lower salary I’d have to think having access to free facilities and private chef prepared food is one incentive to spending all day there.

      On the other hand though, going to the park early for whatever reason is essentially spending all that time at your work place. And you know what they say about Johnny and ‘all work and no play’…..
      • Metsie September 12, 2012 at 3:07 pm

        Keith and Darling mentioned that just the other day in the booth!
      • Joey D. September 12, 2012 at 4:14 pm

        Keith has raised that point before. I think that’s just the way he is for these players are also better conditioned than the days when he played.

        Notice when the talk came to Richie Hebner how the former off-season grave digger wouldn’t stop telling people how much he wanted out of New York? I wonder how much that feeling is being kept private today.
• Metsie September 12, 2012 at 2:59 pm

  Does anyone have an updated stat on the Home HRs vs Opponent HRs in Citi?

  I bet we don’t come out on the plus side of the fence moving anymore.
  • Seligman September 12, 2012 at 3:24 pm

    Mets 54 homers, visitors 76 according to BR.
    • Metsie September 12, 2012 at 3:43 pm

      Thanks Selignam…I was more asking about ust the newly created HRs from the fences being moved in but I think that pretty much does tell the story either way.
    • Matt September 12, 2012 at 4:22 pm

      Which is quite simply, a lack of talent. Nothing more.
• rob September 12, 2012 at 3:50 pm

  So much for bringing the walls in.

  Lets do this: Lets see if we can bring the walls in even more when we bat and then move them out when we’re in the field.
  Hey, if stadiums have retractable roofs we should have retractable outfield walls.

  Not that it would probably help….
  • Joey D. September 12, 2012 at 4:17 pm

    Hi Rob,

    That reminds me of something Ed Kranepool said his first trip to the Astrodome in 1965. He accused Houston of the fans blowing inward when the visiters were at bat and them blowing outward when it was the home team.
• Met Fan Lou September 12, 2012 at 4:47 pm

  Move the fences in another 40 feet. Oh, we already did that. I know put blindfolds on the fans and cut the sound system and clear the stadium with two outs in the ninth. This way the fans could go home with a little hope the Mets won. Who wants to sit there blindfolded for 9 innings in total silence watching the Mets? Me.
• Met Fan Lou September 12, 2012 at 4:58 pm

  I just hope no one on this team has a gambling habit.
• L.J. Phipps September 12, 2012 at 9:05 pm

  Major League in reverse! Mets play well in the first half then lose the season. I am the grounds keeper: ” This team sucks!”
• sarge69 September 13, 2012 at 12:44 am

  Any comments from Hudgens the hitting coach, cause it seems he either sucks or has no clue on how to address the lack of hitting; and isn’t that his job?
  Or is he just another coach for TC to get tips about hitting from?