Things I found at Citi Field: Part 5 -- The apples

The next in a series of photos and findings from Citi Field...

The home run apple, probably the most debated topic about moving to a new stadium. I found them both, and they are both much, much larger than I imagined.

The old...And the new...
Unfortunately, we didn't get to see it in action. There was a home run hit, but they did not raise the apple in celebration.

Jimmy Gobble on the market again

I still maintain that the Mets need another lefty in their bullpen to start the season.

Jimmy Gobble, a player I campaigned for in the past, was just released by the Texas Rangers. When used correctly, Gobble can get out lefties. He held them to a .200 batting average last year.

Omar Minaya, please go get Gobble!

Things I found at Citi Field: Part 4 -- Food

The next in a series of photos of findings from Citi Field...

One of the most important aspects of attending a baseball game is the food.

First up, we have the normal menu, the ballpark staples, and their prices. As you can see, not all of the food was being offered or all of the signs were posted yet.
And here's a sign that makes little to no sense. Why is a premium beer less expensive than the normal beer? Am I missing something?Here's the menu for Blue Smoke, which sits out by the center field concourse area. Right next to the shake shack.
And thanks to Joe Janish, I was able to experience one of those pulled pork sandwiches. Of course, I snapped a photo or two before chowing down.Vegetarians might want to look away for this next shot...It was delicious, in case you were wondering. Highly recommended. I just wish they gave you a little more pork.

Things I found at Citi Field: Part 3 -- Closed captioning

The next in a series of photos and findings from Citi Field...

We've heard a bit of news lately about SNY and their lack of closed captioning. SNY legally has four years to put closed captioning on their channel, which Neil Best points out would only cost $100,000 for the season.

They are yet to put it on the television, but the Mets have added closed captioning to their new stadium.
These two photos are from when the lineups were being announced. This continued throughout the game, whenever an announcement was made over the PA system.

Things I found at Citi Field: Part 2 -- Worst seats in the house

The second in a series of photos and findings from Citi Field...

While wandering the beautiful structure, I made my way to the top of the left field stands. All the way up, at the back of the stadium, I found the worst seats in the house.

Here is the out of town scoreboard (which has it's own problem that will be noted later) that hangs down from the top of the stadium.
It looks nice from this side, but when you get to the seats, there's a bit of an issue. I'm about 5' 7" and when I stand, I could just barely see home plate from behind the scoreboard. Fletch is taller than me, and couldn't see home plate at all.
On top of that, you can't see the left field wall, or most of left field. Anything well hit to left will be quickly out of your sight lines.

For $27 for the Platinum games, you're really not getting your money's worth.

Things I found at Citi Field: Part 1 -- Jeff Wilpon

Here is the first of a series of findings and photographs from my first time in Citi Field...

When I first arrived at Citi Field, we made out way down to the Jackie Robinson Rotunda. Poking my camera through the fence, I started snapping off a few pictures of the place, and trying to take it all in. It's a very cool place and I love atmosphere it gives off.

While my eyes were darting from side to side trying to absorb all that was going on. Something -- rather, someone -- caught my eye.Oh, hello Jeff Wilpon!That's right. The COO of the Mets was standing just a few feet away. Strangely, no one on my side of the fence seemed to notice him. I started yelling "Jeff! Jeff!" but to no avail.

Here's another shot of Mr. Wilpon riding the escalator.Well, I found that interesting.

Off to Citi Field

On this rain soaked Sunday morning, I'm packing up my media equipment, dragging my roommate out of bed, and heading off to Citi Field for the first time.

Joining me in the park will be Joe Janish, Kerel Cooper and a ton of other Mets fans who bought tickets to a college baseball game just to get a good look around the Mets new digs.

I'll likely be posting short little updates from my BlackBerry and Twitter-ing my thoughts and findings at the new park. A full description, photos and a video or two will likely be posted on Monday and possibly throughout the rest of the week.

Hopefully the weather cooperates and there is a game to attend.

Talk to you later from Citi Field!

The address for Citi Field

In case you're heading out to Citi Field today, and you're looking for the address to plug into your GPS system, here it is.

126th Street and Roosevelt Queens, NY 11368

Hope to see you there!

Madoff tickets back on the market

Do you have a whole lot of money laying around? Do you want season tickets to the New York Mets? Do you want to sit behind home plate? Do you want to sit in the same seats Bernie Madoff would have -- if he wasn't going to jail from now until eternity?

Then boy, do I have the deal for you!

According to the AP, the tickets that Madoff's company purchased in Citi Field will soon go up for sale.

"We have no intention of not monetizing them and letting them go unused," trustee Irving H. Picard said Saturday in an e-mail to The Associated Press. "When we have something to announce, we will do so."

Mets executive vice president David Howard said the seats were paid for and were in either the first or second row behind home plate, a section known as Delta Club Platinum. They list for $695 each for Opening Day on April 13 and June interleague games against the New York Yankees, all classified as platinum by the Mets.

They cost $595 for gold games, $495 for silver games, $395 for bronze games and $295 for value games. Overall, the season ticket comes to $40,095 per seat, an average of $495.

"They're paid for. They can do with them what they want to," Howard said.

That's right! Only $40,095 per seat!!

But if you call within the next 10 minutes, we'll throw in a free Mr. Met bobblehead!!

Ugh.

Possible Castillo replacment?

I know I've said that I'm willing to give Luis Castillo a clean slate this season. He showed up to camp in great shape and has put together a great spring. But deep down, I'm still worried about how his knees will hold up and if he can still perform up to his contract and at the major league level.

The Mets are particularly thin at the second base position through the minor leagues, but Jonathon Malo had been impressing Jerry Manuel -- until he was sent down to minor league camp.

And as scant a chance as Green had, it was diminished by the late emergence of Jonathan Malo, a 25-year-old Canadian-born second baseman who has impressed Manuel to such a degree that the manager has told people in the organization that Malo is among his favorites among the possible reserves. But there seems to be no place for Malo on the roster.

Very interesting. Manuel doesn't really keep up with a lot of the minor leaguers, so it's especially telling if he said something to this degree.

Keep on eye on Malo to see if he can play. I wouldn't mind seeing if the Mets can find a suitor for Castillo midway through the season.