Live from Fan Fest: Some people shouldn't sing

Just walked past a booth where you can sing your own version of "Take
Me Out To The Ballgame."

Worst idea ever, by the way.

Sure, you're in a booth with the door closed, but they blast your
voice through some loud speakers on the outside of the little box. A
father and son tandem was just singing and it was not pretty.

I'm not one to talk, because I'm practically tone deaf, but wow that
was hard to listen to.

Live from Fan Fest: There are a lot of people here

Apparently, MLB is expecting somewhere around 200,000 or more people
at this event. It's packed.

The more people I talk to, the more I hear about how awesome the tacos are.

I finally met someone who is actually attending the game. He also
attended the 2004 game in Houston, so I had to asl him what the crowd
was like. He said Houston was really laid back and relaxed, but he's
expecting some hostility at this year's game.

He said he expects A-Rod and Derek Jeter to get booed, along with
Terry Francona. It would be pretty low to boo at the game, but hey,
we're New Yorkers.

Live from Fan Fest: The beer is cheap

Just interviewed a couple of older guys who said the best thing about
this whole event is that the beer is only $5.

Priorities, right?

Live from Fan Fest: I want to be a kid again

I'm a bit nostalgic today, as it's my 20th birthday today, but boy do
I wish I was a little kid again.

The excitement and events that are here would be so much cooler if I
was little again. I'd love to run the bases, get in the batting
cages, throw some virtual bullpen tossing in, and the like. I don't
think a guy running around in dress shoes and a button down Banana
Republic shirt would look as fun as a bunch of middle schoolers
romping through the booths.

The memerobilia room upstairs probably means a lot more to me now than
if I was little. It being based in New York, there is Mets stuff
everywhere. Tom Seaver signed jerseys, David Wright signed helmets,
and of course the beautiful image of Mookie Wilson's grounder
squirting through Bill Buckner's legs. That image never gets old.

Live from Fan Fest: I beat Professor Baseball

There is a crazy man walking around with a fluffy white wig and and
crazy mustache quizzing people on some baseball trivia.

My question: Before 1888 how many balls did it take to walk someone?

Answer: Nine!

Thanks to some helpful friends of Prof. Baseball giving me the answer
behind his back, I succesfully won myself a stuffed squishy baseball.
Thanks Prof. Baseball! You learn something new everyday.

Live from Fan Fest: Mr. Met stinks at baseball

I'm watching the mascot home run derby and Mr. Met isn't doing very
well at all.

He only hit one home run, and it was on a technicality. Mr. Met hit a
long pop up the hit the roof, which for the big guy with the baseball
head, was mercifully called a home run.

Apparently there is a ringer in this event, TC from the Twins wins it
every year. Mr. Met never had a chance.

Live from Fan Fest: Tacos and shaving

So far, I'm completely overwhelmed with the massive undertaking MLB
has done here.
Best part so far: free Taco Bell tacos for everyone. Amazing.

Gilette also has a shower and shaving booth here. A bit strange if you
ask me, but I don't think anything is going to surprise me today.

Live from the All Star Fan Fest

I am down at the Jacob Javits center covering the All Star Fan Fest.

I'll be updating with cool stories and whatnot throughout the day.

Check back later for some updates.

Early Morning Madness: Sweeeeeeeeeeeep edition

How great does it feel to sweep a team? I know all my Mets friends have been saying all season "The team really needs to put together a five or six game win streak before I start to believe."

Well, ya gotta believe now!

The Mets are looking hot, with players picking each other up. John Maine only lasted 4 2-3 of an inning, but the bullpen came on and threw 4 1-3 innings of one hit baseball.

The only thing I'm worried about is if this team really gets on a roll, say either sweeping or taking two of three from Colorado, they're going to stall with these three games off for the All Star break. It would be terrible if just when the team starts to get hot, they fizzle out from their extended break.

** * **

Is it F-Mart time?

Fernando Martinez is playing baseball again, so is it time to give the kid a shot at the major leagues with the injury to Moises Alou? I'm not too sure the Mets want to rush another outfielder, a la Carlos Gomez.

It'd be great to get the kid up and see what he can do. I mean, heck, if Nick Evans is "ready" to come up and play, why not Martinez? He's been injured often in the minors, and is recently coming back from a hamstring injury. You don't want to bring up a young kid who is used to playing every day and plop him on the bench to play every few days.

It's plausible, but I doubt it will happen.

** * **

Argenis Reyes is looking good. He's batting .308 in seven games so far, going 4-13, scoring three times and driving in one run.

Under the new "Jerry Manuel play well and you'll get playing time" system, Reyes should continue to see time at second, spelling a 38 year old Damion Easley.

As I said on Mets Lounge: As much, or more, than everyone else here, I want this kid to be great. But let's slow down a bit before we make any rash judgments.

I'm on Team Argenis right now...but he has to keep his play up to par before I'm ready to anoint him the second coming.

(get it...second coming...second base?)

I'm here to squash the "Mets should sign Richie Sexson" movement

And I can do it all with one link:

Click here.

The question to originally sign Richie Sexson was started way back on June 18th when rumors were swirling the Mariners would release him any day. Well it took almost a month, but they finally cut the struggling giant.

Again, click here to read the thread on Mets Lounge. (I'm the user AxidentProneAndy)

Please, Mets. Don't do it...but if you feel so inclined, I already have outlined the only possible reason on this green earth why you should sign Sexson.