Mets promotional dates

Because many people plan their ticket purchases around things other than the two teams playing, here are the Mets promotional dates at Citi Field this season…

• Citi Field Home Run Apple (Citi) vs. Marlins Monday, April 5 1:10 p.m.
• Haitian Night vs. Marlins Wednesday, April 7 7:10 p.m.
• Magnetic Schedule (Pepsi) vs. Nationals Friday, April 9 7:10 p.m.
• Scarf (Caesars) vs. Nationals Saturday, April 10 1:10 p.m.
• Epilepsy Day vs. Nationals Saturday, April 10 1:10 p.m.
• Ski Cap (GEICO) vs. Braves Friday, April 23 7:10 p.m.
• Mr. Met Dash vs. Braves Saturday, April 24 1:10 p.m.
• DARE Day vs. Braves Saturday, April 24 1:10 p.m.
• Earth Day vs. Dodgers Wednesday April 28 1:10 p.m.
• Collector's Cup (Premio) vs. Giants Friday, May 7 7:10 p.m.
• Arthritis Awareness vs. Giants Friday, May 7 7:10 p.m.
• Autism Awareness vs. Giants Saturday, May 8 1:10 p.m.
• Disability Awareness vs. Nationals, Tuesday May 11 7:10 p.m.
• Weather Education vs. Nationals Wednesday, May 12 1:10 p.m.
• Mets Cap Trade (Chevy)** vs. Yankees Friday, May 21 7:10 p.m.
• Mets Cap Trade (Chevy)** vs. Yankees Saturday, May 22 7:10 p.m.
• Mets Cap Trade (Chevy)** vs. Yankees Sunday, May 23 8:05 p.m.
• Gift Card (Dunkin' Donuts) vs. Phillies Wednesday, May 26 7:10 p.m.
• Asian Night vs. Phillies Wednesday, May 26 7:10 p.m.
• Sports Bag (Verizon) vs. Marlins Saturday, June 5 4:10 p.m.
• Greek Night vs. Marlins Saturday, June 5 4:10 p.m.
• Beach Towel (Subway) vs. Marlins Sunday, June 6 1:10 p.m.
• Diabetes Awareness vs. Marlins Sunday, June 6 1:10 p.m.
• Senior Stroll vs. Padres Thursday, June 10 1:10 p.m.
• Fitness Education vs. Padres Thursday, June 10 1:10 p.m.
• Mets Cap (Nathan's) vs. Twins Saturday, June 26 1:10 p.m.
• Mr. Met Dash vs. Twins Sunday, June 27 1:10 p.m.
• Pyrotechnics Night vs. Reds Monday, July 5 7:10 p.m.
• Chinese-American Night vs. Braves Friday, July 9 7:10 p.m.
• Jose Reyes Drawstring Bag (Delta) vs. Braves Saturday, July 10 4:10 p.m.
• Jason Bay Bobblehead (Gold's) vs. Braves Sunday, July 11 1:10 p.m.
• Alzheimer's Awareness vs. Cardinals Tuesday, July 27 7:10 p.m.
• Pancreatic Cancer vs. Cardinals Wednesday, July 28 7:10 p.m.
• Mets T-Shirt (EmblemHealth) vs. D-backs Friday, July 30 7:10 p.m.
• Hall of Fame Induction (Citi) vs. D-backs Sunday, Aug. 1 1:10 p.m.
• Mr. Met Dash vs. D-backs Sunday, Aug. 1 1:10 p.m.
• Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness vs. D-backs Sunday, Aug. 1 1:10 p.m.
• Fiesta Latina/Santana Koozie (Budweiser) vs. Phillies Friday, Aug. 13 7:10 p.m.
• Green Cap (GEICO) vs. Phillies Saturday, Aug. 14 7:10 p.m.
• Irish Night vs. Phillies Saturday, Aug.14 7:10 p.m.
• Lunchbox (Verizon) vs. Phillies Sunday, Aug.15 1:10 p.m.
• Mr. Met Dash vs. Phillies, Sunday Aug. 15 1:10 p.m.
• Organ Donor Awareness vs. Phillies, Sunday Aug. 15 1:10 p.m.
• Polish-American Night vs. Marlins Tuesday, Aug. 24 7:10 p.m.
• Italian Night vs. Marlins Wednesday, Aug. 25 7:10 p.m.
• Mr. Met Dash vs. Astros Sunday, Aug. 29 1:10 p.m.
• Sight & Sound Awareness vs. Phillies, Sunday Sept. 12 1:10 p.m.
• Breast Cancer Awareness vs. Pirates Thursday, Sept. 16 7:10 p.m.
• Taiwan Night vs. Braves Friday, Sept. 17 7:10 p.m.
• Deaf & Hard of Hearing Awareness vs. Braves Saturday, Sept. 18 4:10 p.m.
• Mr. Met Dash vs. Braves Sunday, Sept. 19 1:10 p.m.
• Oktoberfest vs. Nationals Friday, Oct. 1 7:10 p.m.
• All promotional items are for the first 25,000 fans except where otherwise noted
• **first 5,000 fans

Rosenthal: Mets up offer to Barajas

The Mets have upgraded their offer to Rod Barajas to a major-league deal, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com.

The Mets and the Texas Rangers are bidding for the free-agent catcher, with the Rangers offer still standing at a minor-league deal.

The Mets, if they sign Barajas to a major-league deal, would have to designate a player for assignment off the 40-man roster.

Link: How to use Twitter if you’re a Mets fan

Head over to MetsGrrl.com to take a long, extensive and wonderful look at a guide to Twitter for Mets fans or MLB fans in general.

These are guidelines I wish we all could adhere to.  Yes, I might commit some of the sins that Caryn outlines, but hey, not everyone’s perfect.

Follow MetsGrrl on Twitter.

Oh, and me too.

Escobar can pick up baseball, choosing not to

Yesterday Hardball Talk reported that Kelvim Escobar couldn’t pick up a baseball.  He wasn’t far off.

Escobar can pick up a baseball, but is choosing not to until he is cleared by doctors.

Escobar has arrived in camp and has told reporters that he isn’t allowed to pick up a baseball, which makes Johan Santana’s statement a little strange.

He does believe he’ll be ready for opening day.

Link: Who is wearing what number in spring training

Because a lot of people care and might want to know who they are looking at during trips to spring training games, Adam Rubin has posted a list of players numbers.

Enjoy.

Also enjoy figuring out who has little to no chance on making the team based on the number assigned to him.

Oliver Perez on the mound [Video]

The Daily News has a one-minute video of Oliver Perez pitching in Port St. Lucie.  See below for the vid…

A few things here:

• There’s nothing I can discern from the video about Perez.  He’s alive.  He’s pitching.  He’s wearing black.  That’s about it.
• There is snow all over CT.  What I wouldn’t give to be in PSL right now.
• That’s Hisanori Takahashi on the right.  Nice hitch in the delivery.  Also, his interpreter in the back.

Link: A BravesBlast tribute to Mets fans

Just click this link and…um…listen to what they have to say.

It’s a mock-commercial styled after the “Real Men of Genius” ads that are oh-so-catchy.

This one is, well, a little rough.

And let the commenting and name calling begin…

Link: Costa on 25-man roster outlook

Head over to NJ.com to check out Brian Costa’s roster outlook for who will land on the Mets 25-man roster.

It looks like a sound team, with chance to be good (not great).  If everyone plays to their maximum potential, they could be very good, but it’s too much to ask for.

Heyman: Barajas likely to accept Mets offer

If Rod Barajas does sign, no chance that Josh Thole cracks the opening day roster this year.

Sore shoulder for Escobar

And let the injuries begin!

Brian Costa of NJ.com is reporting that the Mets plan to “move slowly” with Kelvim Escobar due to his sore shoulder.

Escobar had surgery on his right shoulder and has pitched in only one major league since.

And so signals the beginning of joke cracking and rehashing last season’s injuries from everyone and their mother.