I must say, I started this blog in the beginning of February and I never thought I'd actually go this far with it. Or should I say that it would get this far (and this quickly). For me, I'm still in my mother's basement.
I never thought Mets Underground would get 7,000,000 hits a year, and frankly, it's going to come about 6,986,000 short. You can say my prediction is still going strong.
But for the few of you who, have returned through-out the weeks, are patient when I go on hiatus for days at a time, post a comment once-in-a-blue-moon, and have befriended me on Twitter and in the blogosphere, I want to thank you and let you know that I truly appreciate it.
Here is a list of the blog posts through out the year that I believe (mind my humility) were my best ones:
- I put out 3 posts revolving around Steve Somers.
One is about my overall analysis (and admitted man-crush) on the man.
A second includes a phone call between me and Steve shortly after my marriage in September. This convo was one of my greatest with the Radio Zaidy.
And a third, from way back when, another phone call, when Steve pressures me into a little bet, which I must say, had me come out on top when all was said and done.
For some dessert and from left field, I love the opening of this monologue belonging to Mr. Somers and presented the day after Christmas.
- I live-blogged an entire day of my life, which so happen to have been the first day I ever stepped foot into Citi Field (and watched the first ever Mets-Phillies game in Citi Field). I label it under: Humor. I titled it: Eli from Brooklyn in Flushing!
- A brilliant take on the YES Network Cast vs. SNY's Gary, Keith and Ron (and WFAN's crew).
- My first post ever (Re: Madoff).
- The NL East was caught acquiring weapons of Mets Destruction.
- A post I like to call, "The Yankee Tears".
- Thinking about changing the name of the New York Mets to ...
- My professed love for the off-season and my (awful, lol) 2009 Mets predictions for each player.
- A biblical-like post on Rookie Daniel Murphy.
- Comical analysis of Duaner Sanchez's career.
- Remember that guy who was abducted by Pirates? Well, I got comical yet again.
At this point, I got bored looking through my old posts. I was only in the middle of April, so feel free to prod around the section on the right for other admirable posts.
Until then, wishing all a happy and merry New Year's and the best to each and every one of you.
According to @EliFromBrooklyn's Twitter Feed, (Hey, that's me!), "Mike Francesa promises to have a 'major #Mets update in tomorrow's show.' "Update, 9:38 pm:
Francesa might also add, "The team will not be as competitive as years past in the upcoming years."
However "competitive" you want to call the past few years.
If you think about it, how "big" can "big news" be if he's waiting until tomorrow to say it? It must either be something only he knows, something he is assuming, or something that is nothing really at all?
Either way, a few hundred extra Mets fans will be listening at 1:05 pm on Tuesday (for Mike to let them know that he'll be releasing this "big news" in the 3 o'clock hour).
Bobster855, on Flickr, writes,
...no, I didn't almost tear... that's preposterous...
(H/T to this blog for the find)
Monfort has been criticized for the low payroll and unwillingness to get quality players compared with other MLB teams (sound familiar, Mets fans?) but he seems to have a non-corporate-like attitude which streams down from him and into the Rockies' front office.
I asked the Twitterazi tonight who the Mets fan dislikes more: The Wilpons, Omar Minaya or Jerry Manuel. They were told told to rank them.
If the A's do nothing else in Indianapolis this week, they will be making a decision on Cust, their leading home run hitter the past three seasons. Most signs point to their not tendering an arbitration offer to Cust before Saturday's deadline, meaning the A's wouldn't get draft compensation if he signed elsewhere.
A bench warrant has been issued for a New Jersey man who allegedly stole three World Series rings from the Phillies team offices.Officials say 22-year-old Matthew Mervine of Berlin, N.J. skipped a preliminary hearing Thursday. Mervine is accused of swiping three 2008 World Series rings from Citizens Bank Park in October.
Team officials say Mervine was kicked out of a playoff game and was videotaped taking the rings after writing down his personal information on a job application.
Advertisement Authorities quickly arrested Mervine and recovered the rings, which are worth $1,100 and intended for scouts.
Court records do not list an attorney for Mervine.
A former ballpark janitor is also charged with stealing a team executive's World Series ring in a separate incident.
According to Adam Rubin in the Daily News, “Mets officials are considering removing the second level of padding in center field to make the wall eight feet."
Cerrone continues, "…if you look at the image in this post, you can see if they just come down to the normal level, instead of having that big barrier in the front of the Apple, it will be normal height… frankly, it’s the height of the walls in the gap they should be concerned about, even though i have heard people in power say things like, ‘There is no evidence that Citi Field was more difficult to hit in than Shea Stadium,’ and they’re right… "
So why bring this up if you can read it on Cerrone's site? Well, I remembered attending a game at Citi Field on May 13th of 2009, (as if there was any other year to attend a game there), and I recall seeing a homerun (a grand slam, nonetheless) from Fernando Tatis which, I would say, just cleared the wall.
If the team does, in fact, lower the wall - this sort of bomb would clear it by a don't-have-to-hold-your-breath margin.
To view Tatis' shot, click here.
In a report in today’s Daily News, Adam Rubin says Fernando Martinez has been sidelined for a week due to blisters, and is listed as day-to-day.
Rubin says Martinez has been taking advice from Moises Alou, the General Manager of his Winter League team, and has advised Martinez to urinate on his hands to increase toughness.
…i like alou a lot, but he isn’t exactly the poster boy for healthy ballplayers…
Enter Sean Kingston. The Twittering pop star has released a new track: Twitter SONG (Follow Me). The hip hop tune, embedded below, is also a free download. In case you’re skeptical, it’s an absolutely must-listen-to track. Trust us.
I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart. I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves. I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect. I am dealing with my behavior and personal failings behind closed doors with my family. Those feelings should be shared by us alone.
Although I am a well-known person and have made my career as a professional athlete, I have been dismayed to realize the full extent of what tabloid scrutiny really means. For the last week, my family and I have been hounded to expose intimate details of our personal lives. The stories in particular that physical violence played any role in the car accident were utterly false and malicious. Elin has always done more to support our family and shown more grace than anyone could possibly expect.
But no matter how intense curiosity about public figures can be, there is an important and deep principle at stake which is the right to some simple, human measure of privacy. I realize there are some who don't share my view on that. But for me, the virtue of privacy is one that must be protected in matters that are intimate and within one's own family. Personal sins should not require press releases and problems within a family shouldn't have to mean public confessions.
Whatever regrets I have about letting my family down have been shared with and felt by us alone. I have given this a lot of reflection and thought and I believe that there is a point at which I must stick to that principle even though it's difficult.
I will strive to be a better person and the husband and father that my family deserves. For all of those who have supported me over the years, I offer my profound apology.
Either way, the semi-good news continued to pour in when the Phillies were said to have signed Mets Catching-Great Brian Schneider for 2 years.
