Mom’s Day Starting Lineup

1. Ruben Tejada – SS
2. Daniel Murphy – 2B
3. David Wright – 3B
4. Ike Davis – 1B
5. Lucas Duda – LF
6. John Buck – C
7. Mike Baxter – RF
8. Juan Lagares – CF
9. Matt Harvey – RHP

Game Notes

In three of his first 17 career games, Matt Harvey has allowed one hit and thrown at least 7.0 innings…That is the most such games in the major leagues since 1916…Five other pitchers (Anibal Sanchez, Chris Nabholz, Mat Latos, Wally Bunker and Vida Blue) had two such starts in their first 17 career games.

The Mets have recalled RHP Greg Burke from Triple-A Las Vegas and have placed RHP Jeurys Familia on the disabled list with biceps tendinitis, the team announced. Familia will report to the Mets facility in Port St. Lucie to begin rehabilitation.

Ike Davis will bat cleanup Sunday. Davis hasn’t hit there since April 19 and has been hitting out of the No. 7 spot lately. Manager Terry Collins said he wants to put his run producers at the top of the lineup. This comes after a bit of an outburst by Davis after yesterday’s game vowing to ditch the Mets philosophy and hit a first pitch fastball whenever he pleases.

Reliever Frank Francisco is headed to the Binghamton Mets as part of his injury rehab. Francisco should be activated this week.

Numerous Mets will use Louisville Slugger pink bats along with pink batting gloves, cleats and sweatbands today as Major League Baseball honors Mother’s Day and raises awareness and money for breast cancer research. Every team across the league will also use commemorative pink stitched Rawlings baseballs. The game used items will be auctioned off on mlb.com with proceeds going towards MLB charities in support of breast cancer.

Nicole Malato, from Toms River, NJ will be the Mets’ honorary bat girl. Malato was diagnosed with breast cancer in May, 2011. She will take the lineup card out to home plate with Mets Manager Terry Collins. In addition, an all-female military color guard will be on hand for the National Anthem and the Mets will feature Mother’s Day vignettes on CitiVision.

Game Preview

In a common theme this year, Matt Harvey finds himself playing the role of stopper today as he tries to put the Mets back on a winning path. Yesterday the Mets dropped another game to the Bucs due to bad pitching from Niese and another lackluster day at the plate. At least it was Banner Day though. Against Harvey will be Jeanmar Gomez.

Matt had an unbelievable game last time out allowing only hit over 9 shutout innings while striking out 12 batters. Sadly, the Mets couldn’t score any runs, so he was saddled with the no decision. On the season he is 4-0 with a 1.28 ERA while striking out 58 batters of 49.1 innings of work. He has a 0.63 ERA in his last two starts while striking out 19 over 14.1. He has never faced the Pirates and has never faced anyone on the Pirates roster.

The Mets bats look to get things moving for Harvey day as they go up against Gomez who is 2-0 this season over 7 games, 2 starts and 22.2 innings of work with a 2.38 ERA. As a starter, he has pitched 9.0 innings allowing 2 ER and striking out 8 batters. Last season for the Indians he was 5-8 with a 5.96 ERA over 90.2 innings. He has never faced the Mets but has faced Buck, who is 0-3 against him.

Let’s Go Mets!

METS LAUNCH ONLINE BANNER DAY CONTEST

COMPANION PROGRAM TO BANNER DAY PARADE AT CITI FIELD!

Winner Will Secure a Spot to Join Banner Day Finalists at Citi Field

Banner Day Tickets Start at $12 and Are Available at Mets.com and (718) 507-TIXX

The New York Mets today announced the launch of an online Banner Day contest where fans can submit their designs at Mets.com/bannerday for the chance to join the finalists at Banner Day at Citi Field on Saturday, May 11.

Fans can enter their banner designs online through April 29.  The Mets will select four designs for a fan vote.  The winner of the fan vote will receive tickets to and automatically be one of the four finalists on Banner Day.

Online banners must have a Mets theme and fit within the banner specifications on Mets.com.  Banners cannot have vulgar or abusive language nor contain commercial messages, non-Mets websites or Twitter handles. The Mets reserve the right not to display banners in the gallery.

Banner Day was a Mets tradition from 1963 to 1996 with fans of all ages parading on the field showing their homemade banners made from bed sheets that professed their love for the team.  Banner Day returned last year as part of the Mets’ 50^th Anniversary season.

Fans planning on participating in the pre-game, on-field parade on May 11, should follow these guidelines:

• Banner Day participants must have tickets to the game
• Participants must check in at the Bullpen Plaza on 126th Street at 37th Avenue
• Registration begins at 10:00 a.m.  Space is limited.
• Banners must be bigger than 22” by 28”
• Banners cannot have vulgar or abusive language
• Banners can be commercially produced, but can’t have commercial messages (Web sites or Twitter handles are not allowed)
• There is a maximum of four people per banner
• The Mets reserve the right to deny access to the field to any banner or person that is deemed inappropriate

The Mets will announce judges and prizes for Banner Day in the weeks ahead.

Tickets for Banner Day are on sale now at Mets.com and at (718) 507-TIXX.

So, my kids surprised me last night with a really early Mother’s Day gift – tickets to Banner Day!

After ESPN’s decision to schedule the original May 26th date for Sunday Night Baseball, the Mets held a fan vote to allow fans to choose when Banner Day should be held and ended up moving the date to Saturday, May 11. I’ll be there.

You have to understand – Banner Day was always my favorite day on the calendar. For those who are not familiar with the concept, Banner Day was a chance for the fans to express their loyalty and love for the Mets using homemade banners. The center field wall at Shea would open and fans would stream in with banners showing the world that they bled orange and blue. This would happen between games of a doubleheader ( back in the day when doubleheaders were played all the time on the regular schedule).

I would be watching on TV, glued to the screen, to see not only the banners, but the celebrity judges who would ultimately decide which banner was the winner. The judges were former Mets, New York City celebs and sometimes broadcasters. They would sit at a table set up in the infield as hundreds paraded by them and hammed it up for a chance to be declared the winner.

I love Banner Day. I don’t know if any other team does this, but it always made me proud to be a Mets fan. Even in the lean years, people would flock to Shea to express their passion for our Metropolitans. The creativity of the fans made it a fun event. I always wanted to go and make a banner, but never did.

When Banner Day was done away with after the 1996 season, I thought it was a part of history that was not to be messed with. I was sad to see it go.

Thankfully, they brought it back in 2012 and even R.A. Dickey, who was only here for one of them, understood the relevance of it for the fans and it’s place in Mets lore:

“Giving people a platform to be creative is great,” said R.A. Dickey last year when the Mets revived the tradition. ”That’s one of the things that makes this place unique. Nobody else does it. That’s what makes it neat.”

When the Mets brought it back last year, I was thrilled. A part of my childhood was coming back and it was great to see it back. And now I get to make a dream come true by actually going. I am so looking forward to seeing the banners and the clever slogans telling the world that we have our Mets backs, no matter what the scoreboard says or where we are in the standings.

If I want to participate, I have to be at Citi that day by 10 am. Since I live near Philly, that might not be possible. But, who knows? Maybe I’ll be inspired to create a banner and walk with my Mets brethren. I can express the love and solidarity that I have had with  this team since 1968.

Will this be a banner year for the Mets?  I better start working on my clever slogans….

That was until this past Thursday morning. I called my dad from my dorm room first thing in the morning and told him that we were going to a Mets game this season, and not just any game, but Opening Day.

I waited until the clock struck ten, and snagged two overpriced tickets way up in the nosebleeds, but that didn’t matter. For the first time, I’ll be going to cheer on my favorite team, along with my dad, and no matter who is suiting up on that field, I know April 1st, 2013 will be a day I will always cherish.

Just because the outfield will be an eyesore at best and the bullpen has more questions marks than the Riddler’s jumpsuit, doesn’t mean the experience of attending a Mets game should be tarnished.

The Mets fight song still plays as you get your ticket scanned at the gate. There is still no feeling in the world that can describe making your way through the Jackie Robinson Rotunda to see the field open up in front of you.

The fries and the shakes haven’t become infested with disease just because R.A. Dickey is playing North of the border; they’re still delicious (overpriced, but delicious).

Mr. Met doesn’t sit in left field in a fetal position. The Wilpons don’t stand on top of the dugouts donning a menacing smile, laughing at all those who were oh-so ignorant to actually pay to see the New York Mets. It is still a baseball game.

I know the boycott movement isn’t as popular as it was last year, but it still exists among many begrudged fans. I just don’t understand the mentality of those who decide to boycott their favorite team. Was this ever done in ’94? Or ’78? Or ’63? The answer is no. Yes, you want Wilpon out, many fans do, but are you really suffering so much that you will rob yourself the chance to see a baseball game with friends and loved ones?

Once again, the answer –at least should be–no. Fifty-plus years ago, this franchise was the worst team in the annals of baseball history. No team has ever lost more games in a season. And yet fans still came. Why? It was to see National League baseball in New York again. They stayed and continue to stay for the experience, the fun atmosphere of the Polo Grounds/Shea Stadium/Citi Field; and the Mets.

Just take a look at the post done this morning by MMO’s own Clare Lafferty. Clare was so excited to have the chance to go to Banner Day once again that she wrote a wonderful post about it, much like myself and Opening Day in this one. It’s not about how awful the team will be, or the upper management of this club, but simply a post about getting to go to a Mets game.

In the seventh inning, you still root, root, root for the home team, and if they don’t win it’s a shame. However the fact of the matter is it’s still the old ball game, no matter who’s on the field or signing the checks.

In actuality, the only ones the boycotters are hurting is themselves. They are the ones who are missing out on the grand old experience of going to a ballgame.

The New York Mets today announced the promotional schedule for the 2013 season at Citi Field. The Mets will give away nearly 400,000 items to fans of all ages highlighted by the All-Star Bobblehead Series featuring Ron Darling (April 21), John Franco (May 25) David Wright (June 30), Dwight Gooden (July 21) and Tom Seaver (August 25) and special events including Banner Day (May 11) and Fireworks Nights (July 3).

BOBBLEHEAD DAYS

Ron Darling – Sunday, April 21 vs. the Washington Nationals at 1:10 p.m.

John Franco – Saturday, May 25 vs. the Atlanta Braves at 7:15 p.m.

David Wright – Sunday, June 30 vs. Washington at 1:10 p.m.

Dwight Gooden – Sunday, July 21 vs. the Philadelphia Phillies at 1:10 p.m.

Tom Seaver – Sunday, August 25 vs. the Detroit Tigers at 1:10 p.m.

Mets All-Star Gnome – Tuesday, July 4 Mets-Arizona Diamondbacks game at 1:10 p.m.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Banner Day – The uniquely Mets tradition returns Saturday, May 11 with an on-field parade prior to the Mets hosting the Pittsburgh Pirates at 1:10 p.m. Mets fans voted online to move Banner Day to May 11 after the original game was selected to be the ESPN Sunday Night game. The Mets will announce more details about Banner Day including guest judges, prizes and logistics in the coming weeks.

Fireworks Night – Come to Citi Field to kick off the start of summer on Friday, May 24 with post-game fireworks following the 7:10 p.m. Mets-Braves matchup, then celebrate our nation’s birthday with another fireworks display the night Independence Day Wednesday, July 3 after the 7:10 p.m. Mets-Diamondbacks game.

Mr. Met Dash – Kids 12 and under can run the bases after the game with Mr. Met leading the pack after five afternoon games (Sunday, April 7; Sunday, June 16; Thursday, July 4; Sunday, August 4; and Sunday, September 15), weather permitting.

Senior Stroll – Seniors 65 and over can stroll the bases after the Thursday, August 29 Mets-Phillies 1:10 p.m. game, weather permitting.

METS MERCHANDISE GIVEAWAYS

Magnetic Schedule presented by SNY – The Mets will celebrate the start of the 2013 season on Opening Day, Monday, April 1 against the San Diego Padres at 1:10 p.m. The first 25,000 fans will receive a 2013 magnetic schedule, courtesy of SNY.

Mets Calendar – On Saturday, April 6, the first 25,000 fans attending the Mets-Miami Marlins game at 1:10 p.m. will receive a 2013 calendar celebrating the Mets, courtesy of Subway.

MLB Network Drawstring Bag – The first 25,000 fans attending the 1:10 p.m. Mets-Marlins game will receive a drawstring Bag, courtesy of MLB Network.

Dunkin’ Donuts Gift Card – At the Mets-Cincinnati Reds matchup on Wednesday, May 22 at 1:10 p.m., the first 25,000 fans will receive a Dunkin’ Donuts Gift Card.

Cap Trade – The Mets will provide fans with the opportunity to trade in their old Mets cap for a new one, thanks to Chevrolet, during both games of the Subway Series, Monday, May 27 and Tuesday, May 28. The first 10,000 fans at each game will be able to take advantage of the offer.

Mets Collector’s Cup – The Mets will give away a special edition Collector’s Cup presented by Premio to the first 25,000 fans at the Wednesday, June 12 Mets game against the St. Louis Cardinals at 7:10 p.m.

Mets T-Shirt – The first 25,000 fans at Citi Field Friday, June 28 to watch the Mets play the Nationals 7:10 p.m., will receive a T-Shirt presented by GEICO.

Mets Hat – The Mets will give away a mesh Mets hat, presented by Nathan’s, to the first 25,000 fans attending the Mets-Nationals game at 1:10 p.m. on Saturday, June 29.

Mets Toy Truck – On Saturday, July 20 when the Mets host the Phillies at 1:10 p.m., the first 15,000 fans will receive a Mets WB Mason toy truck.

Mets Playing Cards – The first 25,000 fans at the Saturday, August 3 Mets-Kansas City Royals game at 1:10 p.m. will receive a deck of playing cards, courtesy of Caesars.

Mets Knit Hat – On Sunday, September 15, the first 25,000 fans attending the Mets-Marlins game at 1:10 p.m. will receive a Mets knit hat, thanks to Caesars.

THEME DATES

Bark In the Park – Mets fans can bring their dog to the ballpark at the annual Bark in the Park event in support of the North Shore Animal League America on Saturday, April 20 when the Mets host the Washington Nationals at 3:05 p.m. Fans and their dogs can sit together in the Pepsi Porch and participate in the pre-game dog parade around the warning track. The first 500 dogs in attendance will receive a Mets bandana. People tickets and dog tickets for Bark in the Park must be purchased at Mets.com/dogs.

Autism Awareness Day – The Mets will host their 11th annual Autism Awareness Day on Saturday, April 27 when the Mets take on the Philadelphia Phillies at 1:05 p.m. to help raise money and awareness for the disorder that affects 1 in 88 American children. Tickets are available at Mets.com/autism.

Stitch N Pitch – The Mets will host the 7th annual Stitch N’ Pitch event at Citi Field on Saturday, May 11 at 1:10 p.m. vs. Pirates. The first 1,000 fans who purchase Stitch N’ Pitch tickets through the online offer will receive a limited edition Bobblehead of Mr. Met knitting. Tickets are available through Mets.com/StitchNPitch.

Teacher Appreciation Night – The Mets will be honoring teachers on Monday, July 1 at 7:10 p.m. vs. Diamondbacks. The first 500 tickets sold through the online offer will receive a limited edition Teacher Appreciation Day Mets Apple Clock. Tickets are available through Mets.com/teachers.

The team announced its plans for its 50th anniversary season on Nov. 16 at a press conference held at Citi Field’s Caesars Club. The Mets are planning a season-long celebration.

Longtime Met fan and WFAN radio broadcaster Howie Rose served as the emcee for the day’s events. He recalled his memories growing up as a fan and working for the team over the years.

“This is not only an exciting day for the Mets franchise, but it’s also an exciting date in Mets history,” said Rose.

The Mets debuted in 1962 as a lovable expansion team that grabbed hold of city after the New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers headed west.

The Mets 50th Anniversary Logo

The traditional Mets logo, which honors the Mets’ past as it links to the future, was prominently displayed on stage.

“When I look at this beautiful design and all of its detail and intricacies, I can see the Polo Grounds, I can see Shea Stadium, I can see Citi Field, and I can see the reflection of every player that has worn a Mets uniform,” said Rose of the logo.

With Rose’s help, Mets Executive Vice President of Business Operations Dave Howard unveiled the design for the 50th anniversary patch that will appear on the team’s uniforms and memorabilia.

“We certainly have a lot to celebrate this year,” said Howard.

Howard continued that the Mets have a promotional lineup in the works for the 2012 season. There will be a bobblehead series featuring a prominent player from each of the five decades of existence, starting with Tom Seaver in April.

The team will also bring back a fan-favorite tradition: Banner Day. Though the date is not yet certain, fans can parade their handmade banners around the warning track at Citi Field prior to a home game this season.

David Wright, Ike Davis and Lucas Duda were on hand to display the team’s 50th anniversary uniforms, with the new patch. Wright wore the home white pinstripe uniform, which will be the team’s main uniform. Duda sported the road gray uniform, while Davis donned the home white alternate uniform. The team will use the black jersey sparingly this season, mainly on the road.

Mets players pose with 50-year season ticket holders with their new jerseys.

After the players posed for photos, they presented six original season ticket holders, who have had season tickets all 50 years, with commemorative 50th anniversary jerseys. The theme of celebrating Mets fans has been the goal of the anniversary celebration. The new jerseys all have the No. 50 on the back with the word “Fantastic” in place of the player name. Also, no Met player or coach will wear No. 50 all season, since it’s reserved for the fans. Sorry to Sid Fernandez and Benny Agbayani if they were planning a comeback, according to Rose.

“It’s hard to have a 50th anniversary without the dedication, the passion and the loyalty of our fans,” said Rose. “This is very much their celebration as well.”

One lucky fan at every home game will head home with a commemorative jersey. They are also on sale at the Mets Team Store and Mets.com.

Though there will be no “Old Timers Day” to celebrate the past, the organization is committed to bringing back its alumni throughout the season.

“We feel it’s a better use for that jewel of an asset,” said Howard.

Though the team has had its troubles over the past few seasons, the Mets brass is proclaiming the future as bright and optimistic.

“The Mets fan and the Mets franchise are known for resiliency,” said Howard. “There are better days ahead.”

Howard said he is most proud of the Met fans as the defining factor of the team’s history. He said the term “diehard” truly applies to Met fans over the past 50 years.

In addition to the other perks, the Mets will offer 5-game ticket packages starting at just $50 to honor the team’s 50-year existence.

To find out more information on anniversary news and celebrations, visit Mets50.com.

Stay tuned tomorrow for David Wright’s thoughts on the anniversary, the offseason and of course Jose Reyes in my “From Left Field” feature.