Accidents waiting to happen

While looking at more and more photos of Citi Field, I'm wondering about how they set up this outfield wall.Left field has the 16 foot wall, which Ken Davidoff noted could be bumped down to eight feet if the hitters feel they're getting cheated. This would move the home run mark from clearing the wall to clearing a yellow line they put halfway up the wall.
On the other hand, it looks like the right field wall will cause outfielders some problems. The bullpen wall seems to be made up of a chain link fence. Unless the Mets intend on putting some other wall up, which is unlikely or it would have been done already, it looks like whoever is manning RF in Citi better not be afraid of walls made of metal.

Everyone surely remembers Aaron Rowand's ridiculous catch in 2006 at Citizen Banks Park. Going back on a Xavier Nady ball, Rowand made the catch and promptly slammed face first into the chain link fence in center field.

Only a portion of that wall was chain link, as the bottom padded like a normal outfield wall. The wall in Citi looks like an eight-foot chain link fence, top to bottom.

Back to talking about CBP, they have a chain link wall in right, but that wall in 15 feet tall. This one looks as if a player could, and would, be able to make a play into or at the wall, possibly crashing into it in the process.

Good luck, rightfielder of the future. Ryan Church better have a helmet on when (if?) he plays right field next season.

Also, take a look at the blueprints. That is one wacky outfield wall configuration.

Images via Stadium Page.

The green seats

As we got our first look inside the nearly complete Citi Field yesterday, I must say it is absolutely beautiful. Except for one thing.

The green seats.

At Shea (after the renovation, at least) we were blessed with four areas of different color seats. Blue, orange (both of which make sense), red and green. Now, in Citi Field, it looks like the Mets have gone with just one color.

And that color is not blue or orange. It's a dark, dark green. That's not anywhere near any of the Mets colors.

Maybe is has something to do with the fact that Citigroup is dishing $20 million a year to put their name everywhere (green : money :: blue and orange : Mets).

Also, have you ever tried to sit or touch anything black, or very dark green in this case, on a hot, sunny day in the summer? Those seats are going to be boiling hot for most day games. I'd recommend bringing a damp towel with you to cool it down on hot days. That, or a pack of hot dogs -- you might be able to grill 'em up right on your seat.

Blue! Orange! Not green!

[BMF ranted about this as well]
(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Video: Inside Citi Field

The Star Ledger did a spectacular job of covering today's tour of Citi Field. Here is a video, complete with a Jeff Wilpon interview, that was just posted on NJ.com.

Citi Field is almost done

Well done, whoever put this together.

Ed. note: I have no idea why it's formatted like it is. Enjoy it anyway.

MLB Trade: Braves land Javier Vazquez for Jo-Jo Reyes, others

ESPN is reporting that Javier Vazquez, a player the Mets had shown interest in, will be pitching for NL East rival Atlanta next season.

Vazquez has been traded in a five player deal, sending Boone Logan to Atlanta as well. Jo-Jo Reyes will be heading to the Chicago White Sox in return.

Obviously a few more names need to leak out, so I'll keep this updated when the other names drop.

Update, 6:56 pm: Brant Lillibridge is said to be going to Chicago.
7:40 pm: Tyler Flowers, class A catcher, also seems to be heading to Chicago. That would be all five, but will verify when it goes official.

On another note, ESPN needs a new web-editor, as their headline currently reads "Source says Reyes going to Atlanta for Reyes, others." If that was true, it'd be Harry Chiti all over again.

Upset-ness

Jeff Wilpon gave the grand tour of Citi Field today (you can see some awesome photos here and here and here) and he commented on Citigroup and their naming rights. During the "interview," he coined a new term.

"I understand where they're coming from. I understand that there's some upset-ness in the marketplace," Wilpon said. "But we don't agree with it."

Upset-ness.

If that isn't the perfect word for how the Mets have made me felt over the last two years, I don't know what is.

Will the Mets public collapse cost them money in the free agent process?

Commenter Kerel Cooper (who runs his own blog at OnTheBlack.com) brings up something I have not touched on yet: Whether or not the Mets public collapses over the last two years, mostly due to the faulty bullpen, will cost them as they try to rebuild and tweak what is left.

The Mets bullpen has been generally decent for the beginning of the last two season, but due to overuse and mismanaging, has turned into a seieve at the end of the year, costing the team valuable wins and leaving them on the outside looking in during the playoffs.

As the Mets pursue big names such as Francisco Rodriguez and Brian Fuentes, the players and their agents will obviously know the team is in dire need of help, and will hike up the price because demand is so high. This may seem like simple economics -- supply and demand -- but the Mets will be hurting after they finally decide on who to sign.

As I've said time and time again, I'm pretty apathetic to who the Mets sign, as long as they don't spend too much. Even with the $20 million a year they'll be getting from Citigroup (whether you like it or not) they have to spend so much to fill the many holes in their entire pitching staff. Three players should stick in the bullpe and three in the starting rotation. That leaves a team sorely lacking the amount of arms needed to win games.

Poll Results: Fans want K-Rod

In my latest poll, I asked "Who do you want for next year's closer?"

Here are the results...

Francisco Rodriguez -- 41%
Brian Fuentes -- 27%
Kerry Wood -- 13%
Other -- 11%
Bobby Jenks -- 4%

It was obvious that Rodriguez and Fuentes would top the list, but I am surprised how many more votes K-Rod garnered.

Also, Wood was not offered arbitration by the Chicago Cubs, meaning they will not receive draft picks when he signs elsewhere. Don't get that move. Seems like they're putting a lot of stock in Jeff Samardzija and Kevin Gregg.

Personally, I'd take any of them, as long as it doesn't cost too much. The Mets have too many other holes to fill to break the bank on the closer, even though they need one so desperately.

Next Poll: Who will be the breakout star in '09?

Oliver Perez offered arbitration

Oliver Perez was the only player offered arbitration by the New York Mets.

Do not expect him to accept.

Think of that "60" in terms of millions of dollars Perez is likely demanding.

Ex-Mets: Somone actually signed Mike Hampton

No joke.

MyFox Huston (via MLBTR) is reporting that the Houston Astros have signed free agent pitcher Mike Hampton.

Good luck with that one, Houston!

2009 Hall of Fame ballot

Ten new players have been added the the Hall of Fame ballot for the 2009, some of whom logged time with the New York Mets.

The 10 players added, with the ones with Mets games under their belt are in italicized: Rickey Henderson, Jay Bell, David Cone, Ron Gant, Mark Grace, Jesse Orosco, Dan Plesac, Greg Vaughn, Mo Vaughn and Matt Williams.

So half of the new eligible players played with the Mets at some time. Henderson logged 152 games with the Mets in 1999 and 2000, and also served as first base coach for part of a season. Bell played in 72 games in 2003.

Cone pitched from 1987 to 1992 with the Mets, until he was traded to Toronto for Jeff Kent and Ryan Thompson. Vaughn played two seasons with the Mets in '02 and '03. His '03 campaign was cut short by injury. I'll never forget his mammoth home run off the scoreboard at Shea Stadium.

Orosco had the longest tenure with the team, playing from 1979 to 1987. We all remember the fateful glove toss at the end of the '86 World Series. I don't think that glove has come down yet.

It's up to you now, Baseball Writers Association of America. Put some semi-Mets in the hall!