So do you have any plans after watching the Mets play the Rockies this coming Sunday? No? Well, I have a suggestion for what you could do.
After the Mets finally score a run for Johan Santana (they'd better - they're at Coors Field, for Mookie's sake!) and take the rubber match from the Rockies, and after Chris Carlin and Bobby Ojeda do the Mets post-game show, SNY will air the latest episode of Mets Weekly. You should watch Mets Weekly this week. No, really, you should. Why should you? Perhaps this teaser commercial will show you why I'm so adamant about you watching it.
That's right, Mets fans! That guy getting a knuckleball lesson from R.A. Dickey is none other than yours truly. As of this writing, I have not seen the full episode, so I can't tell you much about it. However, I will give you a non-spoiler. If the Mets Weekly crew filmed what I'm hoping they filmed of my knuckleball lesson with the Mets' hurler and author, you will be impressed by both Dickey's knuckleball and mine.
The approximate start time for this week's edition of Mets Weekly is 6:30 PM. Of course, that could change if the Mets and Rockies play a 20-inning game (which would be bad, as the Mets are winless in four extra-inning games at Coors Field all-time) or if Bobby Ojeda decides to wax philosophical on something he didn't like from the game during the post-game show.
The Knicks aren't scheduled to have their @$$e$ handed to them by the Heat today and the Rangers have a day off in their quest for the Stanley Cup. Even you New Jersey Devils fans can watch Mets Weekly this evening after your team plays (unless if you have another double overtime game, but that's what TiVo and DVR is for).
So do we our early evening plans straight? Watch the Mets (or the Devils, if you're so inclined) and then stick around for Mets Weekly to see R.A. Dickey teach me the art of how to properly get my hand around his ball. It'll be an educational experience for all of us.
Showing posts with label New York Knicks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New York Knicks. Show all posts
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
What Do Jeremy Lin And Jon Niese Have In Common?
What do Knicks' starting point guard Jeremy Lin and Mets' starting pitcher Jonathon Niese have in common? Let's see. They're not the same age, as Lin was born in 1988 and Niese's mom got over her pregnancy on the night the Mets won the 1986 World Series. They're also not the same height, as Niese is one inch taller than Lin. Jeremy Lin is a righty, while Jonathon Niese is a lefty. Okay, so what do they have in common then?
The answer is NOTHING! But they should have something in common, even though the Mets aren't exactly doing anything about it.
Earlier today, Madison Square Garden and other sporting goods stores started selling Jeremy Lin jerseys. This comes after Lin's recent stretch of excellence in which he's carried the Knicks to four consecutive wins, including Friday night's game against the Lakers. Let me remind you that these four straight victories are the only four games Lin has started for the Knicks. But despite the tiny résumé, Lin is now having his jersey sold at the Garden.
That brings us to Jonathon Niese. Niese will be entering his fifth season as a Met, his third as a regular member of the starting rotation. He is one of only six players left on the Mets who played for the team at Shea Stadium (the others being David Wright, Mike Pelfrey, Johan Santana, Bobby Parnell and Daniel Murphy).
Niese made his final start for the Mets in 2011 on August 23 before missing the rest of the season with an injured ribcage. At the time of his injury, Niese was leading the team in wins (11 - tied with Dillon Gee) and strikeouts (138). Eventually, he was surpassed in wins by Gee and strikeouts by Chris Capuano, but still finished second on the team in both categories.
Although Niese is only 25, he is already 43th on the Mets' all-time wins list and 39th in strikeouts. With a healthy season in 2012, Niese could jump into the top 25 in both categories. He's already in the top ten in strikeouts per nine innings, as his 7.6 K/9 IP is the eighth best ratio in franchise history, ahead of such stars as Tom Seaver (7.5 K/9 IP) and Johan Santana (7.4 K/9 IP). He's also improved every year in strikeout to walk ratio, from 1.38 K/BB in 2008 to a career-best 3.14 K/BB in 2011.
And of course, on the individual game front, Niese came within one Chris Denorfia double of pitching a perfect game in 2010. Perhaps had he retired Denorfia, we would have had Jonathon Niese No. 49 jerseys printed up immediately. But alas, he did not. We're still waiting for those No. 49 jerseys.
Since Jason Bay became a Met in 2010, I've seen No. 44 jerseys and T-shirts for sale at Citi Field. The one place I haven't seen them is on the backs of Mets fans. Meanwhile, Justin Turner, a player who wasn't even a homegrown Met, had his No. 2 T-shirt for sale at Citi Field. Even Sandy Koufax, who never played for the Mets, and whose 9-10 career mark as a Brooklyn Dodger (the same record Jonathon Niese had for the Mets in 2010) was less than extraordinary, had a replica jersey for sale at Citi Field last year.
Jose Reyes is gone. So are Francisco Rodriguez, Carlos Beltran and Angel Pagan. All four players had their merchandise for sale at Citi Field in 2011. With their departures, there will now be some real estate available at the Team Stores.
It's time for Jonathon Niese No. 49 apparel to go on sale at Citi Field. If Knicks fans can proudly wear No. 17 Jeremy Lin jerseys after only four starts, why can't Mets fans do the same for Niese, a homegrown player who's been with the team since 2008? Lin and Niese need something in common, don't you think?
The answer is NOTHING! But they should have something in common, even though the Mets aren't exactly doing anything about it.
Earlier today, Madison Square Garden and other sporting goods stores started selling Jeremy Lin jerseys. This comes after Lin's recent stretch of excellence in which he's carried the Knicks to four consecutive wins, including Friday night's game against the Lakers. Let me remind you that these four straight victories are the only four games Lin has started for the Knicks. But despite the tiny résumé, Lin is now having his jersey sold at the Garden.
There is no truth to the rumor that the Knicks will retire No. 17 for their floor captain before the Mets retire No. 17 for their first captain. Of course, that could always change.
That brings us to Jonathon Niese. Niese will be entering his fifth season as a Met, his third as a regular member of the starting rotation. He is one of only six players left on the Mets who played for the team at Shea Stadium (the others being David Wright, Mike Pelfrey, Johan Santana, Bobby Parnell and Daniel Murphy).
Niese made his final start for the Mets in 2011 on August 23 before missing the rest of the season with an injured ribcage. At the time of his injury, Niese was leading the team in wins (11 - tied with Dillon Gee) and strikeouts (138). Eventually, he was surpassed in wins by Gee and strikeouts by Chris Capuano, but still finished second on the team in both categories.
And of course, on the individual game front, Niese came within one Chris Denorfia double of pitching a perfect game in 2010. Perhaps had he retired Denorfia, we would have had Jonathon Niese No. 49 jerseys printed up immediately. But alas, he did not. We're still waiting for those No. 49 jerseys.
Since Jason Bay became a Met in 2010, I've seen No. 44 jerseys and T-shirts for sale at Citi Field. The one place I haven't seen them is on the backs of Mets fans. Meanwhile, Justin Turner, a player who wasn't even a homegrown Met, had his No. 2 T-shirt for sale at Citi Field. Even Sandy Koufax, who never played for the Mets, and whose 9-10 career mark as a Brooklyn Dodger (the same record Jonathon Niese had for the Mets in 2010) was less than extraordinary, had a replica jersey for sale at Citi Field last year.
Do you think Fred Wilpon wears these to bed at night?
Jose Reyes is gone. So are Francisco Rodriguez, Carlos Beltran and Angel Pagan. All four players had their merchandise for sale at Citi Field in 2011. With their departures, there will now be some real estate available at the Team Stores.
It's time for Jonathon Niese No. 49 apparel to go on sale at Citi Field. If Knicks fans can proudly wear No. 17 Jeremy Lin jerseys after only four starts, why can't Mets fans do the same for Niese, a homegrown player who's been with the team since 2008? Lin and Niese need something in common, don't you think?
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