More nicknames for Citi Field

Here are some of the nicknames submitted in the comments section of this post:

• TARP Field (No, Doug, I don't get it.)
• Freddie Mac Field
• Pedro's Burial Grounds
• Metropolitan Field
• Gil Hodges' Field/Park/Grounds

And the best one I've heard...

• Meaningful September Field

Keep 'em coming!

New Poll: Will you miss Shea?

Right now, a rally is going on at Shea Stadium as the final goodbye to the old ballpark.

I found it fitting to post this poll, asking whether or not you will miss Shea.

The choices are:

• Yes!
• Not really
• Shea...? Shea who?
• Citi Field, here I come!

Please visit the site and vote in the poll, which you can find on the right-hand sidebar.

Manny Ramirez offered a contract

You read that right.

Manny Ramirez was offered a two-year contract by...the Worcester Tornadoes.

Seriously. The Tornadoes sent Ramirez a two-year, $24,000 contract on Tuesday.

Here's the explanation via worcestertornadoes.com:

The Worcester Tornadoes Professional Baseball Team has offered a contract to free agent outfielder Manny Ramirez for two years worth $24,000. The deal would pay the 12-time Major League Baseball All-Star approximately $3,000 during each month of the Can-Am Baseball Season. Unlike Major League Baseball, the Can-Am League operates with a salary cap, and the deal for Ramirez would be on par with other veterans in the league.

“I feel Manny would really enjoy playing in Worcester and hitting in our ballpark. Although I would be concerned about the cars traveling on I-290 during his at bats, it’s a risk worth taking,” said General Manager, Jorg Bassiacos. Director of Player Personnel Brad Michals added, "Manny certaintly has the stats to be amongst the leaders of the league next season. Although issues regarding health have surrounded him in the past, I think he will find that the shorter schedule will boost his performance to a new level and serve as the ultimate showcase for his natural skill."

I love minor league baseball.

What would be really funny, is if he took the contract. I'm sure Scott Boras would just go cry in the corner.

What to call Citi Field?

Here's the latest round of politicians worrying about Citi Field and the naming rights.

Since the name seems to be so unpopular, I suggest we come up with a nickname for the new ballpark, statim.

Here are a few:

• $iti Field / ¢iti Field
• The Safe
• Shea II / Shea v2.0
• Jackie Robinson Field
• Queens Park
• The Park
• Maddoff Memorial
• Where The Mets Play

What are some of yours? (Keep 'em clean!)

John Maine avoids arb

John Maine and the Mets have avoided salary arbitration, agreeing on a one-year, $2.6 million dollar deal.

This is a $2.15 million dollar raise from his 2008 salary.

Armas Jr. will be back, among three others

Three pitchers and an outfielder. (Sounds like a bad reality show on the MLB Network.)

Tony Armas Jr. will be returning to the Mets organization and Matt DeSalvo, Valerio de los Santos and Bobby Kielty will be the newcomers to the the team.

I like Armas Jr., as he's versatile to start or be the long-man if needed.

Nothing really important to note here, only that Kielty looks a heck of a lot like the bad guy from The Incredibles.

What I want to see at Citi Field

Everyone is touting the new food that will be available at Citi Field next season, but there is one item not on the menu that I'd like to see...It's called a "Bacon Explosion." It combines two pounds of bacon and two pounds of sausage. Roll it, paint it with BBQ sauce, grill it and eat it.

The NY Times:

He bought about $20 worth of bacon and Italian sausage from a local meat market. As it lay on the counter, he thought of weaving strips of raw bacon into a mat. The two spackled the bacon mat with a layer of sausage, covered that with a crunchy layer of cooked bacon, and rolled it up tight.

I want one...very badly.

Found the mysterious Roberto...sort of

Back on Jan. 20, I linked to this article from The Million Dollar Arm blog. It chronicles the journey of Rinku and Danesh, two Indian "pitchers" who won a reality show and have since signed to a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Last time, I quoted the blog when they said "Dinesh and I going Wedding festival Roberto. Roberto our catcher training. He sign contract Mets."

I posted a comment asking who this "Roberto" was, since after looking through the entire organizational roster, I came up empty.

They finally got back to me, via another comment. This person is...Roberto Persona.

I finally found him. (Thanks, Google!)

A catcher at UC Irivine (Go Anteaters!), has signed with the Mets in some shape or form. According to the admin of the blog, he'll start with an A-league team. Which one, I'm not sure.

Keep an eye out for Roberto Persona, he's already caught Rinku and Danesh. Who knows what's next!?

And here's the reason I stopped being a business major

Terms like these are why I'd rather write all day than do one math problem:

The New York Mets completed financing for Citi Field on Wednesday by selling $82.28 million in tax-free 37-year bonds at what Citigroup said was an average interest rate of 6.45 percent.

The bonds from Queens Ballpark Co. were rated Baa3 by Moody’s and BBB by Standard and Poors. Three years ago, the Mets sold $613 million in 40-year notes at a last yield of 4.57 percent.

...Right...

Well, as long as it's paid for. How long until April 3?

Aaron Heilman is a stand up guy

For all the Aaron Heilman took while pitching for the Mets, he still had the kindness to do something like this.

From Steve Popper, relaying info from the BBWAA awards dinner:

On Page 39 among a few ads for David Wright winning the Joan Payson Award for charity work, Aaron took out an ad that read:

An Appreciation

Playing at Shea
before you folks
was an experience
I always will savor

Thank you for support

-- Aaron Heilman

Congratulations to all award winners this evening

Almost makes you feel bad for booing him every single day.

Also, while we're on the topic of Heilman, he's on the move again. He's the newest member of the Chicago Cubs.