Looking at the 31st Annual Answer the Call event through the eyes of one family

Rusty Staub at the event

I had the privilege Wednesday of getting to attend the 31st Annual New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund Game and Family Day at Citi Field. The Answer the Call event included a free pre-game picnic in the Bullpen Plaza area of the ballpark for about 800 relatives, family members, and supporters of fallen FDNY, NYPD, and PANY members.

Almost everybody attending the event looked like they were having a fun time, eating, drinking, and commiserating. Afterwards, they all sat together in the ballpark's left field stands to watch the New York Mets/San Francisco Giants game. (Unfortunately, Matt Harvey was off his game, and the Mets lost, 7-4.)

The charity was started in 1985 by Mets legend Rusty Staub. It was designed to make sure all of the families of those first responders killed in the line of duty would get taken care of for the rest of their lives.

Arielle DiCiotto, Director of Development for the Benefit Fund, told me that the charity currently helps around 600 families of fallen first responders. She said that each family gets an immediate check of $25,000, and an annual stipend of $4,000. In all, the organization has given out an incredible $130 million to the families.

The front of the Ambelas tribute shirt.

But the Benefit Fund is not just about helping the families with financial assistance. It is also about bringing them together. Rusty Staub pointed out that while we have empathy for the fallen first responder families, we cannot really understand what they are going through. But he said that the veteran family members -- those who lost their loved one years ago -- help those who recently lost a family member on the line of duty, and that this day helps bring them together.

There are so many poignant stories here of how this terrific organization helps so many. So in order to break down how the Benefit Fund works, I am going to tell you what it means for one family.

I didn't know Lt. Gordon (Matt) Ambelas, but he lived in my neighborhood on Staten Island, and his wake and funeral were literally around the block from me. I did go to one of the viewings for him when he passed away last July. The firefighter died in the line of duty while searching for victims in a Brooklyn apartment fire.

Margaret Gulliksen (r.) with Cido the Clown,
who entertained the kids at the picnic.

Also, my friend Margaret Gulliksen, who is an officer in the Staten Island Athletic Club, the running club I belong to, has a strong connection to the family. She and her husband George were best friends with the Ambelas family, and Margaret actually introduced Matt to his wife Nanette. Margaret read Nanette's eulogy at Lt. Ambelas' funeral. And our running club sponsored a race in his memory.

Over 100 friends, family members, and fellow firefighters were there at the picnic in honor of Lt. Ambelas. His Brooklyn firehouse made up t-shirts for their group (see above).

I talked to Eric Bischoff about Lt. Ambelas. Bischoff is the Staten Island trustee for the Uniformed Firefighters Association, the firefighter's union, and he emceed the race. He also used to be Matt's roommate back in the day. The two were friends for over 13 years, and even vacationed together with their wives.

Bischoff told me that after a firefighter dies, it takes a while for the money to come in from life insurance policies and other benefits to help the family. But two days after the firefighter's passing, representatives for the Benefit Fund showed up with a $25,000 check for the family, so they had immediate financial assistance. Bischoff also said that the families heal through events like this, and that things like this picnic show that the fallen heroes are not forgotten.

Nanette Ambelas, widow of Lt. Gordon (Matt)
 Ambelas, and their daughters
Giovanna and Gabriella

I also got to say hello to Nanette Ambelas and her adorable daughters Giovanna and Gabriella. The two girls were among the children of the fallen heroes who threw out the first pitch at Wednesday's game. I asked her if they had practiced their first pitches. She smiled and said no.

My friend Margaret, who is still close with the Ambelas family, called the event "awesome," and said she appreciated what the New York Mets were doing here in hosting the day. She said that days like this help the families feel really good, and feel like they mean something to New Yorkers as a nice tribute, instead of people just saying that it was a shame that the heroes died. She said "We're all happy" for the day," but at the same time we're sad because we miss him a lot."

George Gulliksen

George Gulliksen, Margaret's husband, had recollections about his close friendship with Matt, and his words were happy and poignant. He said that he and Matt bonded right away when they met in the fire department 17 years ago partly because they had both worked at the post office before, and partly because they had so much in common. Both of them loved heavy metal music, especially Metallica and Iron Maiden, and they both had long hair in the 80s. Both liked to fish, and would frequently meet up at Willowbrook Park with their kids as the years went on and fish together.

George described Lt. Ambelas as being an "incredible" person, and called him a great leader. He said Matt was "always smiling" and always ready to lend a helping hand to others. George described his best friend as being like the mayor of Staten Island, because he knew everyone.

The back of the shirt

George and Matt were also both big fans of the New York Jets. Lt. Ambelas' favorite Jet player was Darrelle Revis. So when Revis came back to the Jets this year, George said he cried when he heard the news.

Hearing all of these specific memories of Lt. Ambelas made me appreciate not just what a good man he was, but how his family and friends miss him so. It also illustrated why an organization like the New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund is so important -- because it ensures that the memory of fallen heroes will stay alive, and that they families will get meaningful assistance for the rest of their lives.

For more information about the New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund, you can visit www.answerthecall.org to donate and to learn more about the organization.  You can also follow them on Facebook (www.facebook.com/answerthecallnyc), Twitter (@answerthecall), and Instagram (@answerthecallnyc)

Back in the New York Groove: Trying out the Verizon Ellipsis 8 tablet at the Mets' Opening Day

Last week, Squawker Jon and I received an invitation from the good folks at Verizon for one of us to attend the Mets home opener at Citi Field, and try out one of their new products -- a tablet computer.  But since Jon was unable to attend, I went behind enemy lines to go to the game! I got to sit in one of the ballpark's suites, had free food and adult beverages, and got to watch baseball on a beautiful day. I also am getting to try out Verizon's Ellipsis 8 tablet for the next few weeks, which is pretty cool in and of itself.

We were in Verizon's suite, which is one of the swanky Sterling Suites. 

The ballpark at about noon.

So I put on my Citi Field All-Star Game shirt (I bought it after that game in honor of Mariano Rivera's farewell at the event!) and showed up at Shea Citi Field. I wanted to pull a Superman and wear a Yankee shirt under a buttoned shirt, but Squawker Jon thought that would be bad form!

Also, I have Verizon FIOS at home, and am very happy with them, so I was eager to try this tablet. And I used the tablet to take these pictures during the game, and I also have some observations about the Mets (and the Ellipsis 8) to share:

Best gift bag gift ever!
And yes, that is Matt Harvey's autograph!

Given that the Mets' seasons for this decade have been like this famous Family Guy joke -- "Here's the first pitch/And the season's over" -- today's game has to be a thrill for Mets fans. They drew their biggest crowd ever at Citi Field.

And even this Yankee fan can notice that there is a real buzz going on with the Mets this year. I remember what it was like in the mid 1980s, when the Yankees were on the decline, and the Mets were on the rise. History may be repeating itself. Mets fans are getting their swagger back.

Anyhow, I joined bloggers from Mets Chronicle and Mets Merized Online at the game, and we met some very nice people from Verizon, who showed me cool features on the tablet.

The suite was just to the left of home plate, and was pretty plush. Being in a suite really is the sweet life. There is a Mets employee who waits on you hand and foot, bringing you your drinks and catering to your needs.

The food was pretty tasty -- Pat LaFrieda's grilled skirt steak with salsa verde, chicken tenders with dipping sauce, Pat LaFrieda cheeseburger sliders, and two types of French fries. We also got cookies for dessert.

And we each got a Verizon backpack, which contained a Mets cap, some Verizon promotional items, Big League Chew, and an autographed Matt Harvey baseball! I couldn't believe it when I saw that in the bag! (Squawker Jon has already claimed the Harvey ball as his price for letting me have the ticket.)

The weather was beautiful, and it was exciting to see all the Opening Day to-do. We got to see the new big screen scoreboard, and watch and hear all the intros. The Phillies who got the loudest boos were Chase Utley, Cole Hamels, and Jonathan Papelbon (I joined in the boos for him!)

Pat LaFrieda cheeseburger sliders and fries

The seat I had was phenomenal!

The Grandyman is one of the photos on the walls outside the suite.

Matt Harvey, of course, was the Met who got the biggest ovation, with David Wright a close second. Harvey, of course, is full of swagger, and makes the Mets more exciting than they have been in years. Jacob deGrom showed why he won Rookie of the Year with his excellent pitching.

The 7 Line Army was out in full force in center field, and they even did a roll call for Mets players! (Speaking of them, do you know they have bought three sections of seats in Yankee Stadium for the Subway Series? Crazy!)

There was also a touching tribute before the game to the two NYPD officers who were slain, which had me teary-eyed. Very moving.

I hadn't been to an Opening Day for any team in many years. The last time I tried to go, in April 2004, for the Yankees home opener, I got stuck in traffic so bad that I literally never got to the game! So it was fun to be at an Opening Day, even if it wasn't for my team!

During the game, Edgardo Alfonzo came by to say hello and pose for pictures. So I met him and got an autographed baseball from him. Very nice guy -- looks like he is still young enough to play!

Shocker! I was caught hobnobbing with Mr. Met!
But don't worry. I am still a Yankee fan!

I also got to hang out with  Mr. Met. Longtime Squawkers fans know about the soft spot I have for mascots -- when I ran the All-Star 5K, I made sure I high-fived the mascots when I saw them at the starting line. And I once jumped off a food line at Shea Stadium when I spotted Mr. Met, so I was very excited to see him today, and to get my picture taken with him (and shake his hand!) Don't judge. (Although some of my Facebook friends have!)

The crowd stayed to the end, and seemed pretty excited. It seemed like people were even singing for Billy Joel's "Piano Man." After the Mets won, the PA system played "Back in the New York Groove" song.

After the game, I saw the SNY booth, and fans standing around and watching the broadcasters. I also spotted Coffee the dog again, posing for photos with Mets fans.

Throughout the game, I used the tablet to take pictures. The Verizon Ellipsis 8 is a pretty cool tablet. I am a power user of portable electronics, and I have at least a 90-minute commute each way to and from Manhattan for my day job. So I have used an iPhone, and iPad, and a Kindle to kill time. I have to say that I think the Ellipsis 8 tablet is perfect for commuting. It is a good size -- bigger than a smartphone, but smaller than an iPad.

The Verizon Ellipsis 8 --
it is an ideal tablet for surfing the web
during a long commute!

The Verizon 4G LTE is pretty fast, and you can connect almost anywhere. Also, the battery life is much better than my iPhone, which can run out of juice just going from Manhattan to Staten Island! I get to use the tablet on loan for the next few weeks, and I am really going to be sad to see it go -- it is very easy to figure out how to use, even without reading the directions!

In all, it was a pretty cool day. Thanks to Verizon for a memorable time! There is a real feel of what Pat Riley calls "the innocent climb" -- you can feel that this Mets team is getting fans excited, and could be really something. When Mets fans become completely insufferable again, though, I will know that the Mets are for real! (Although Squawker Jon is always kind of insufferable!)

A rant: Why is Yankee Stadium ballpark food so bad, and Citi Field ballpark food so good?

We are now in Year 7 of new ballparks for the Yankees and Mets. The food at Citi Field, which was impressive to begin with -- Shake Shake, Blue Smoke, Catch of the Day, Box Frites, and El Verano Taqueria -- has gotten even better over the years, with new offerings each season. You can eat like a king at Citi Field, even if you are sitting in the cheap seats. 

Meanwhile, at Yankee Stadium, they might as well serve soylent green, giving how awful the food choices are. Lobel's, which with its steak sandwich used to have one of the few edible choices in the ballpark, has really gone downhill. I got food poisoning from the sushi stand a few years back, so that's out. Parm is good, but they are hard to find if you don't know where they are. Brother Jimmy's is no Blue Smoke, and Johnny Rockets is no Shake Shack, and both places are known more for their restaurants' atmosphere than their food, anyway. I am not six years old, so the nacho helmet and unlimited popcorn bucket hold no appeal for me.

Fried macaroni and cheese on a burger? Disgusting.

Of course, if you are in the Yankees' Legends seats, you can eat like a king there, with the unlimited crab legs, shrimp, prime rib, and celebrity chefs. (A telling anecdote: the one time Squawker Jon and I got to sit in the Legends seats, we met guest chef Frank Pellegrino of Rao's and got to eat his great food. Yet Mets fans can now get to eat Rao's food without having to have the fanciest seats in the ballpark -- most seats are eligible to get into the Caesars Club where the stand is.)

New York City is the food capital of the world. Squawker Jon and I have been to many great eateries in the city over the years. I recently even got to meet Red Rooster chef Marcus Samuelsson at the opening of his new rotisserie chicken place, Streetbird. So how is that the Mets can get so many big names in the food world -- Danny Meyer, Drew Nieporent, Josh Capon, Pat LaFreida, Dave Pasternack -- while the Yankees serve up swill like this horrible-looking "Bases Loaded Burger"? This abomination has fried macaroni and cheese on it. How thoroughly disgusting. Not to mention that the sandwich would be too unwieldy and messy to eat, unless they start handing out bibs like they do at lobster joints.

To add insult to injury, in New York City, a place famous for great pizza, the Mets have Two Boots pizza -- a fun choice -- while Yankees have Papa John's stands. Really? In a city with Lombardi's, Roberta's, Denino's, and a gazillion other pizza choices, they get Papa John's? What, Domino's wasn't available?

Meanwhile, Mets fans get delicious-looking items like these Rao's lemon chicken wings. The Mets folks do a great job at continually improving their food and drink choices (you can even get a Patron margarita at Citi Field!), while the Yankees seem content to serve up overpriced garbage and a lame beer selection.

Rao's lemon chicken wings look much more tasty. 

Aside from all the great restauranteurs in New York, there are so many food stand folks making interesting food these days. From Smorgasburg to Eataly to Hudson Eats to Le District to Berg'n to Madison Square Eats to all of the food trucks around, you can eat terrific food choices in the city made at food stands. You really would have to try to deliberately find bad food outlets to come up with the swill at Yankee Stadium.

Every time I write on this subject, people tell me I should bring in my own food to Yankee games. But why should I have to? Why can't the powers that be at Yankee Stadium get some decent food stands so that the masses, and not just the rich people, can have the choices that Mets fans do? 

A recent development sums up the contempt that Randy Levine et al have for us typical Yankee fans. There is now an app for your phone at Yankee Stadium, where you can order food to be delivered to your seat, a feature the Legends seats have had for years. But the app reportedly doesn't deliver food to the 400 level seats (the upper deck "cheap seats.") Figures.  

Bleak night at Citi Field

I am used to hearing lots of fans cheering for the other team when it's the Subway Series, but at last night's Met game, it was the Dodgers that seemed to be getting bigger cheers than the Mets, at least where Squawker Lisa and I were sitting in field level down the left field line.

Perhaps it was because the last-place Mets, punchless at home, trailed almost the entire game. The Dodgers took the lead for good in the second inning, and though it was only 1-0 at the time, the only runs the Mets would score in the first eight innings would come on a two-run homer by Eric Campbell in the sixth, cutting the lead to 3-2. The Mets scored again in the ninth, but the Dodgers had tacked on an insurance run and the Mets lost, 4-3. No, it didn't help that the insurance run was able to score as a result of the Mets botching a potential double play.

In the middle of the game, a guy stood in the aisle trying to start a wave. I ignored him the couple of times, then did a half-hearted wave hoping he would move on. He was blocking my view of home plate! But the guy came back a couple more times to try to start more waves. Then I saw him further up the aisle, speaking with some stadium personnel.

The wave enthusiast was not dressed as a Mets employee, and for all I know, the employees were telling him to cool it. But when the only noise the sparse crowd is making is for the other team, it's not hard for me to believe that Met officials would try to find some way to get some more noise in the dead ballpark.

By the way, Campbell's shot was his first major-league homer. Four years ago, Lisa and I saw another Met first baseman wearing number 29 hit his first major-league homer. Ike Davis is now hitting .286 with two homers, 10 RBI, 13 runs and a .388 on-base percentage in 84 at-bats. Davis probably needed a new start somewhere else, but I don't think it's a coincidence that Sandy Alderson's performance has come under a lot more scrutiny since the Mets received little back in return for Davis.

Meanwhile, Stephen Drew just signed with the Red Sox for about $10 million. He may or may not be worth it, but now the Mets are supposedly looking at shortstop prospect Didi Gregorius. Will the Mets try to trade a top pitching prospect for a player who started for the D-Backs last year, but lost his job this spring and is now back in the minors?

At least Shake Shack is still going strong. Maybe the Mets should move Shake Shack to behind home plate, to make it look as if there are lots of enthusiastic people at the ballpark. 

Yes, we are showing up at Citi Field to see Jose Reyes' return

While "showing up at Citi Field" does not quite have the same ring as "showing up at Shea," Squawker Jon and I are going to be at Citi Field tonight for Jose Reyes' return to Flushing. Jon is showing up because he is a Reyes fan. I am showing up because I can't resist a chance to stick it to the Mets for not even making an offer to their best position player of the last decade (yes, Reyes is better than David Wright!)

Anyhow, we will be at the first Citi Tuesday at the ballpark. The folks at Citibank sent us information on what that entails. Here is the information we received. If you are a Citi customer, you are eligible to participate:

CITI TO INTRODUCE “CITI TUESDAYS” ADDED VALUE SPECIALS FOR METS FANS WHO ARE CITI CARDHOLDERS

New Season-Long Promotion to Offer Citi Customers and Mets Fans Rewards and Savings During Each Tuesday of the Season Beginning April 24

A Citi Tuesdays information booth will be set up by the Shea Bridge at Citi Field every Tuesday for fans to learn about the special offers. Citi customers who show their Citi credit or debit card at the booth will receive a $10 gift card (supplies are limited, offered on a first come first served basis) valid at Citi Field retail stores, concessions, restaurants, clubs, in-seat service and ticket window locations. Other Citi Tuesday rewards and benefits include:

· 10% off Mets Tuesday game day walk-up ticket purchases made with a Citi credit or debit card at Citi Field, while supplies last.

· A free gift for fans who make a purchase of $75 or more with their Citi credit or debit card, after all other discounts have been applied, at Citi Field retail locations during Tuesday games.

· Special access to the Acela and Caesars Clubs for Citi cardholders and a guest who visit the Citi Information Booth by Shea Bridge. Access is limited and will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis.

· A complimentary dessert of their choice for fans dining in the Acela and Delta Clubs with the purchase of one entrée with a Citi credit or debit card with a maximum of two desserts per table.

· 50,000 ThankYou points to be given away to one lucky fan during Tuesday home games. All fans in attendance are eligible.

· And all season long, 10% off purchases Monday through Thursday and 5% off purchases made from Friday through Sunday when using a Citi credit or debit card at Citi Field retail locations.

Honor Chipper Jones? How about with a gift certificate to Hooters?

Sorry, Mets fans, for jinxing your team. (Well, not really, but I have to be nice!) Squawker Jon is right -- I am the Citi Field jinx!

But when it comes to making dopey moves, your team doesn't need any help. Like the reported notion for the Mets planning to somehow honor Chipper (Larry) Jones in his last season. Why would you give a moment's tribute to somebody who mocked your team by naming his child Shea, and who has kicked your team's fannies ten ways to Tuesday? When I wrote on my Facebook page that the Mets were going to do something to commemorate Chipper's career, even Yankee fans were outraged. More than one said that it would be like the Bombers honoring David Ortiz for his career!

You guys have one retired player number in 50 years, and you're going to do something to honor Chipper? Really? If your team does so, I strongly suggest giving him a gift certificate to Hooters (Google Chipper Jones and Hooters for the details!), coupled with a showing of "The Three Stooges," with everybody chanting "Lar-ry!"

What I remember most about the Mets first post 9/11 game at home was not Mike Piazza's home run, or Liza Minnelli singing "New York, New York." It was how jarring it was to see Mets players hug Chipper Jones! Please, keep the hate. Don't do anything to honor this clown!

* * *

Speaking of the Mets, I want to point out two things about Dillon Gee, the starting pitcher in the game we attended. First of all, he was seen on this pre-game clip on Diamond Vision telling fans not to jump on the field. Then he pauses, and strokes his beard. What's up with that? Is he auditioning for the new season of "Duck Dynasty"?

Then there is the matter of his theme song. The part of the song played when he enters of the game says: "You can run on for a long time, run on for a long time, run on for a long time." It sounded like Johnny Cash, and it was. The song is entitled "God's Gonna Cut You Down," and the lyrics that weren't featured in the intro are pretty intense:

Go tell that long tongue liar
Go and tell that midnight rider
Tell the rambler, the gambler, the back biter
Tell 'em that God's gonna cut 'em down
Tell 'em that God's gonna cut 'em down

Yikes!

* * *

As for today's Yankees Opening Day, sadly, I am not going. But it makes me feel like an Old Timer to see that the now-retired Jorge Posada is throwing out the first pitch!


What do you think? Tell us about it!

Coffee, that "Met fan" dog, is pawing both sides of the street

Squawker Jon, your Mets may technically be the top dog in town right now, with their Opening Day victory, but that so-called Met fan dog hanging outside Citi Field is really a Yankee fan. And I can prove it!

Several times last year, Jon and I saw a dog wearing a David Wright Mets shirt, a Met hat, and sporting a pipe and glasses outside Citi Field. Even this Yankee fan (and cat lover) thought the dog looked cute in the getup.

That is, until I was reading the Star-Ledger last fall during the playoffs, and found out that the very same dog was rocking the pipe, glasses, and...Yankee gear outside Yankee Stadium during the World Series!

From Brian Costa's article about Coffee, the dog pawing on both sides of the street:

No one drew as much attention from passersby as Coffee, the pit bull decked out in Yankees gear.

Coffee was dressed in a blue T-shirt commemorating Derek Jeter’s franchise hits record and a black ‘NY’ hat. She also wore a blue bandanna around her neck and, for no apparent reason, wore yellow-tinted sunglasses and chewed on a wooden pipe.

She’s a Yankees fan,” said her owner, 42-year-old Charlie Fernandez of Queens.

So much for dogs being loyal. This dog can't even make up her mind about what team to root for!

Anyhow, Coffee was back at Citi Field yesterday to celebrate the Mets' Opening Day. I saw her on NY1, and on Metstradamus' site. Here's the description of her, from the AP photo of the so-called Met fan dog.

Dressed in a New York Mets baseball player David Wright, tee shirt, a dog named "Coffee" poses for photographs in front of Citi Field on the Mets opening day in New York, Monday, April 5, 2010.

Coffee may be barking it up about the Mets now, but come October, she'll be pawing around the Bronx again. Ruff, but true!

Photos courtesy of AP and the Star-Ledger

What do you think? Tell us about it!

My thoughts on Citi Field, and the Jeter record

Yes, as Squawker Jon notes, I'm cheap (I prefer to call it frugal.) And given how poorly the Mets have been playing, I wasn't willing to spend more than a buck to see them, as I described online yesterday. How could I resist rubbing in the Mets' sorry fortunes to my writing partner better than taking him to a game with tickets that cost less than a dollar menu item at McDonald's change! Sorry, I'm mean that way.

We were trying to figure out why somebody would even bother selling tix for that small a price (minus a StubHub commission deduction from that 97 cents!) They obviously must have just wanted somebody to get the tickets, rather than have them go to waste.

My guesstimate is that there were maybe 8,000 or so fans at the game, even though the "official" attendance was 37,000, thanks to all those tickets being purchased in advance. The media has really missed this story, by the way.

Can't say I blame the fans who stayed home. Those tickets are a sunk cost, after all.
The Mets have to be losing a ton, though. All those people staying home means fewer people buying food, drinks, souvenirs, etc.

And yes, yet another Met game I attended with Jon ended in humiliating defeat, with the game effectively over before we finished getting our food.

But there was one bright side for Jon. When he showed me that he got five certificates for the free hot dogs, and he heard that I only got one, thanks to me wearing a Yankees shirt at Citi Field, Jon was pleased. So pleased, I don't think I've seen him this happy all season!

I wasn't the only one wearing Yankee gear at the game. And there were even Marlins fans (I didn't know the franchise had fans!) cheering their team on at the game last night. It's enough to make Citi Field cry, especially after getting that letter from Shea!)

And really, I didn't expect Derek Jeter to get three hits and tie the record (I figured he'd get two and break the record Friday night.) It figures he would do it when I wasn't watching the game. The Mets did show something on their big screen about how Jeter tied Lou Gehrig's record, and he got a round of applause from even some Met fans. Had to watch the Jeter stuff when I got home. Congrats to Jeter, and I'm looking forward to seeing him break the record - on TV - Friday (the tickets are too expensive for me to consider going!)

I brought a radio and listened to portions of the game while at Citi Field (although I missed the final Jeter hit!) But I did hear Jorge Posada's homer live as we were headed to the subway, and Squawker Jon was grumbling.

Oh, and I guess the big story about Joba Chamberlain is not that he had another unmemorable outing (I was following the game online while waiting for Shake Shack food, and was peeved to see him go through over 25 pitches in the first inning) but that we're kind of expecting such suckitude from him now. The magic is gone for Joba.

But Alfredo Aceves has the magic this year. Really, he's done more to earn a postseason spot in the rotation than Joba has.

* * *

We may not have gotten to see great baseball, but we did get to meet Ed Leyro of Studious Metsimus - and the bears! Very cool.

What do you think? Tell us about it!

Mets are 97-cent weaklings

Squawker Lisa invited me to the Met game tonight. Even offered to pay for the tickets.

"What inspired this generosity?" I wondered.

"The tickets are under a dollar," she told me, a little too smugly.

So it has come to this. In the first year of a brand-new ballpark, I got to see a game for 97 cents (plus StubHub fees). And we even got free hot dogs!

My first-ever game at Citi Field was the second exhibition game with the Red Sox. I thought I was getting a deal by paying only $23 a ticket for seats that would go for at least $45 in the regular season.

When tickets went on sale for April and May, I quickly snapped up $45 seats for a game against the lowly Nationals, figuring that lower-priced tickets would soon be hard to come by.

There is a new series coming to ABC called "FlashForward," in which everyone on Earth gets a glimpse of what things will be like about six months in the future. I can only imagine how I would have felt at that exhibition game, when I was so excited to be in the new ballpark and so looking forward to the new season, if I had gotten a glimpse of a September featuring a team out of contention and tickets under a dollar.

The 97-cent seats were not even the cheapest ones available. There was a pair going for 45 cents each, but the sellers' comment on the Stubhub offer was "Mets suck." Though I can understand the frustration of what was probably a diehard Met fan stuck with a bunch of extra tickets from a fifteen-game plan, I did not want to see Lisa the Yankee fan buying "Mets suck" tickets.

Besides, the 97-centers were actually where I wanted to sit, behind third base and not more than halfway up the 500 level. They were in section 525, row 7, seats 13 and 14.

Ordinarily, seats 13 and 14 are not ideal, because you are stuck in the middle of a long row.

That was not a problem tonight.

There were three other people sitting in our row.

It was a clear night with the temperature around 70. Yet Citi Field did not look more than a quarter full, if that.

Yes, there was a lot of competition for the local sports dollar tonight, with the Yankees also in town and Derek Jeter going for the all-time Yankee hit record. The 7 train was packed on the way out to Willets Point, but most of the people getting off went in the other direction, toward the U.S. Open.

But if a 97-cent ticket made me think I had flashed backward to 1979, well, so did the empty stands and a listless team. David Wright and Carlos Beltran were back in the lineup and it did not seem to make a difference.

Part of the problem for us is that we got stuck on the Shake Shack line and did not get to our seats until the bottom of the first, when the Mets were already losing, 4-0. In other words, the game was over.

It was a fitting bookend to the exhibition game, when we were also indulging in the Citi Field food options and did not get to our seats until the bottom of the first, when the game was already out of hand. In that game, the Red Sox scored six runs off Oliver Perez in the top of the first. But it didn't matter because it was only an exhibition, and surely Ollie would get it together in time for the regular season.

***

Speaking of food, one of the highlights of the evening came right at the beginning, when we received our hot dog coupons. I was handed five of them. Lisa only got one. That's what you get for wearing a gaudy tie-dyed Yankee shirt to Citi Field!

We also got a chance to meet fellow blogger Ed Leyro, who was sitting a few sections away. Ordinarily, it might be a challenge to find someone in a different section, much less stop by and sit next to them. But it was no problem tonight.

The announced attendance for the game was 37,312. But if anyone from Mets management was at the game, they would have seen how even a much smaller ballpark could look as empty as Shea did in those seasons when the Mets were going nowhere. Free hot dogs are no substitute for a winning team.

***

On a completely different note, I heard Lance Broadway's entrance music for the first time - "Nights on Broadway" by the Bee Gees. Maybe he didn't pick the music out himself - it sounds more like another dubious Shea/Citi Field music choice. They also played "Let's Go" by the Cars late in the game, presumably to try to inspire the crowd, though there is nothing inspirational about that song beyond the title.

But what relief pitcher enters to a refrain that blames him for what is about to happen?

Blamin' it all
On the nights on Broadway.

Me, I'll stick to blaming Squawker Lisa for the fact that I have now been to six losing Met games in a row. Including that exhibition game, the Mets are 0-5 when Lisa is at Citi Field. And that does not include the other Met game Lisa and I went to, the one at Yankee Stadium that was the worst one of all - the Castillo dropped popup game.

Lisa also wrote about seeing the Mets for 97 cents on The Faster Times.

Are the Mets suffering the curse of Kiti Field?

Remember the cat who jumped on the field during the Mets' debut at Citi Field? Did he jinx the team, and are the Mets suffering the curse of the Opening Night Cat?

Blogger Ed Leyro wondered about this issue. And I wrote about his theory in a piece for The Faster Times. Check it out here.

Sadly, Squawker Jon is a skeptic on the theory, though. As for myself, I'm a believer. Think about it - the Mets razed the feral cats' home at Shea Stadium, and left them out in the cold with the new ballpark. Could I see an angry cat vowing revenge? I say yes! Just look at what's been happening to Luis Castillo, or is that Catstillo?

What do you think? Leave us a comment!

Waiting out rain delay at Citi Field was no 'Thriller'

The raindrops started falling just as our 7 train pulled into "You'll have to pay the MTA for using a corporate name" station. By the time Squawker Lisa and I were in the station, the steps leading down toward Citi Field were filled with people waiting out the torrential downpour.

Rain delays at Shea or the old Yankee Stadiums were nightmares - fans crammed into concourses and entryways. Things would be different at Citi Field. And we could always while away a rain delay by getting some food at Taste of the City.

Wrong!

Even when the rain let up, conditions were deemed dangerous enough that fans were warned to take cover. We briefly wandered into an uncovered area and an usher made us move away from a railing.

(Ordinarily, I would throw in some crack here about the Mets being so injury-prone this year that one of them would probably get hit by lightning, but ex-Met Geremi Gonzalez was tragically killed that way a couple of years ago. Besides, the Mets are perfectly capable of injuring themselves on their own.)

So rather than waiting out the delay on a line for Shake Shack one of the other options, we made our way to Taste of the City only to find that the whole area was CLOSED!

Since people kept moving toward Taste of the City without realizing that it was closed, we found ourselves crammed into the very sort of rush-hour crowd we expected to avoid.

Yankee fans around us began to complain that the concourses at the new Yankee Stadium were a lot wider than those at Citi Field, which might be true, but the main reason that this situation would not be the same at the new Stadium is that there is no one place that all the fans would want to flock to. Sorry, Johnny Rockets.

We left the area near Taste of the City and it was definitely easier to wait elsewhere. Eventually, we returned and were toward the front of the crowd when Taste of the City finally opened. We raced to Blue Smoke and got on line, only to find that it was closed!
All of the restaurants there were shut.

After about ten minutes, the shutters came up on Blue Smoke's windows and the waiting crowd cheered.

You know your team is not having a good night when two of my biggest cheers were for the reopening of a rib joint and Luis Castillo catching a pop up.

We got our food quickly, but then ran into another problem - getting back to our seats. We were sitting in Section 136, which is quite close to Taste of the City, but the area was so mobbed that it made no difference - we found ourselves stuck for awhile. It was so bad that I wondered if we would have been better off taking the escalator up to the 300 level, then going down the steps later. We'll have a chance to test this out Sunday night when we are sitting in the 300 level.

We finally made it back to our seats, only to be a little disappointed by the ribs. In fairness to Blue Smoke, I'm not sure what food would have been worth the aggravation we went through to get it. But they were not as good as the first time we were there in April. We got the chicken wings for the first time and I enjoyed them more than Lisa did.

Later, we split a fried flounder sandwich, which was fine, though I could have done without it being drenched in tartar sauce (Lisa liked the sauce).

As much as I like the food at Citi Field, the novelty of good ballpark food might be starting to wear off for me. Wanting to sample everything is beginning to seem more like overeating, especially since I will be back there tomorrow.

Then again, obsessing over the food at last night's game is better than obsessing over the game itself.

The only good moment in the game for my side came just after someone sitting in front of us offered us some chicken fingers he was not going to eat. Even though I wasn't hungry by this point, the chicken fingers looked good. (Hmm, maybe this is why I felt like I was overeating last night.) The guy was wearing a Mariano Rivera shirt, but he was offering the food to Lisa first, and she was wearing an A-Rod shirt, so I figured it was OK.

As soon as I bit into the chicken finger, Gary Sheffield homered into the section next to us. CC Sabathia had retired the first twelve batters up to that point. Where do we get more of those magic chicken fingers?

As for the seats themselves, Section 136 row 15 had its ups and down. Sitting in field level, we were closer to the outfielders at least. We got a decent view of the main action, though from out in the outfield. Our view was obstructed on deep flies to left and center, but we could pick them up on the video screens.

The seats are covered, which would have been good if it started raining again. But it also meant that we could not see either big scoreboard. That was a big minus.

There were a lot of Yankee fans in our section, which Lisa and I attributed to these seats being the ones that were available through drawings that fans from both teams had likely entered.

Knicks' top pick Jordan Hill threw out the first pitch (along with their other first-rounder, Toney Douglas). Interesting choice considering that Hill may not be long for the team if the Knicks can pull off a trade for Ricky Rubio.

After all the hoopla about the eighth-inning singalong, the Mets completely dispensed with it last night. Lisa thought they should have played a Michael Jackson song and I agree.

The night after the game, I am feeling a lot less charitable about all the errors and beginning to realize that my attitude toward the Citi Field food should no longer be "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough."

And after last night's listless performance, I hope the Mets now "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'."

Still plenty of good tickets available for Citi Field's Subway Series

For all the hullabaloo and to-do over unsold Yankee tickets at premium games, it looks like their crosstown rivals are having similar problems. Believe it or not, the Mets still have Subway Series tickets for sale.

Here's the story. If you'll remember, for most of the season, the only way to get guaranteed Subway Series tickets for Citi Field this year was either to buy some partial season ticket plan or pack or whatever they call it in Metsland.

And a few weeks ago, Mets.com had their annual drawing for the opportunity to buy Subway Series tickets. Squawker Jon and I both registered for it, as we've done each year.

But this is the first year one of us actually got chosen. Jon's name was drawn last week, so he had the opportunity to buy four tickets. He got ducats for us for Friday and Sunday.

Jon and I were all pleased with our luck. Then a few days later, I was surprised when I got picked for the second chance ticket-buying opportunity. I passed on it, as I was out of town for the weekend. But I wondered why the tickets weren't sold.

Then this morning, I see in my email yet another ticket-buying opportunity - this one for the general public - for this weekend's series. Granted, all the cheap seats are gone. But there are still other seats available. I was offered Caesars Club Bronze tickets for each of the game. At $161 a ducat, they're too rich for my blood, but they're a bargain compared to the $900 tickets the Yanks still have available for Yankees-Red Sox.

The Mets, of course, still have some of their most expensive tickets - the Delta Club Gold ones - available. They will set you back $525 a piece. Again, compared to Yankee tickets, they are a bargain.

Granted, the Mets are drawing just under 39,000 a game, in a 44,000 or so capacity stadium (42,000 seats plus standing room.) But, much like Yankee Stadium, they appear to also be having a problem selling the most expensive seats. No surprise there. What is surprising to me are all those $161 seats available - I found them for each day. At Yankee Stadium, those type of tickets were long gone before their own Subway Series weekend.

At any rate, Squawker Jon and I, for the first time ever, will be going to two Subway Series games in the same weekend. I'm going to be sure and cheer a lot for my man Luis Castillo!

What do you think? Leave us a comment!

What's better - Citi Field or Yankee Stadium?

WNBC has one of their "Golden Local Debates" going on. They're asking New Yorkers to weigh in on which stadium is better - Yankee Stadium or Citi Field. This poll is unique in that it lets you vote, as well as leave comments explaining your pick.

Currently, Citi Field is leading Yankee Stadium, 51% to 49%, with six days left to vote.

Click here to have your voice heard in the debate.

A Yankee fan looks at Citi Field - and likes it

It's true! It's true! I jinxed the Mets! As Squawker Jon noted, his team's seven-game winning streak - with ace Johan Santana on the mound, yet - was no match for a sassy Squawker in a Yankee A-Rod t-shirt. Oopsie!

You would think I would be pleased at this turn of events, and I was. But I'm also ticked off at something - how much Citi Field has gotten right that the new Yankee Stadium has gotten wrong. I was on the Baseball Honeymoon podcast last week talking about this subject, and I have more to add after my second visit to Kiti, err, Citi, Field (sadly, no cats interrupted the game by running onto the field):

* The food: It's really no contest. Citi's fare is so much better - and cheaper! Not only are there so many different types of food at CitiField, from Shake Shack to Subway to seafood, but unlike Yankee Stadium, they actually have a ton of variety of food in the upper deck. As Squawker Jon noted, we didn't love everything - the shrimp po'boy would have better with more shrimp and less mustardy slaw. But give the Mets credit for trying - and the fried flounder sandwich was fantastic, as were those delicious tacos and specialty corn on the cob.

I understand the food is good at Yankee Stadium in the luxury suites and clubs; too bad that, with the exception of the $15 steak sandwich and the $9.75 sushi rolls, we plebes don't get many tasty options. And even the basics aren't done well; - it ticked me off at the last game I went to that the Yanks couldn't even cook the hot dogs and Italian sausages decently. Sheesh.

* The adult beverages: In the beer department, the Mets have at least one specialty variety - Brooklyn Beer, Blue Point, etc. at pretty much every concession stand selling food. They also have a Beers of the World stand, with the biggest selection I've ever seen at a ballpark. And the prices are reasonable for a ballpark beer - $6.50 to $7.50, depending on the size of the beer. Compare and contrast with Yankee Stadium, where Bud et al will cost you $10, and something that tastes semi-decent costs $11.

* The seating: The $20 seat at Citi Field (which actually cost $14 on StubHub), had a much, much better view than the $50 terrace (cost me $25.50) and $60 main outfield (cost me $12) seats I had at the new Yankee Stadium. And even though the Mets tix were at the highest level, I didn't feel like I was going to pass out after climbing the stairs, the way I did with all of Yankee Stadium's endless ramps.

Granted, Citi Field isn't perfect - the lack of Mets memorabilia is glaring - but they have a real ballpark in Queens. On the other hand, the Yanks have a real mess on their hands. How nobody seems to have lost their job over it is beyond me. The sad thing is that the new Yankee Stadium could be fixed, but nobody seems to have the will to do so.

Squawker reader Bob from Kiev reminded me the other day about Yankee COO Lonn Trost's infamous quote about how the Yanks "tried to reflect a five-star hotel and put a ballfield in the middle." That they have. Too bad, with all the Yankee front office's champagne tastes, they forgot that most fans are on a beer budget!

What do you think of the two new stadiums? Leave us a comment!

Squawker media alert: Listen to me squawk about the new stadiums!

Just in case you'd like to hear my not-so-dulcet tones yak about the new NYC stadiums, here's your big chance. I am on the latest Baseball Honeymoon podcast! Click here to listen to it.

Baseball Honeymoon is a bi-weekly show featuring the husband-and-wife team of Lisa Winston and Wayne Wilentz. Lisa is a baseball writer for milb.com and mlb.com - she specializes in covering minor league baseball, and has over 20 years experience in the field. She also writes the popular got milb blog.

Lisa's husband Wayne is a jazz musician - and a baseball fanatic. (He's also a Mets fan, but I'll try not to hold that against him.) The two of them have been on a very long honeymoon - they recently celebrated their 25th anniversary!

Anyhow, we had a delightful conversation about Yankee Stadium, Citi Field, the old ballparks, and growing up in the NYC area. I really enjoyed talking with both of them. Great fun!

You can listen to our conversation, and the rest of the Baseball Honeymoon #9 podcast, by going to the Baseball Honeymoon web site. You can also download a copy of the podcast via ITunes or Switchpod there. Thanks to Lisa Winston and Wayne Wilentz for having me on!

What do you think about the new stadiums? Leave us a comment!

Ugly Betty, ugly mood at Citi Field

The booing began before Friday night's game, when "Ugly Betty" was taping a scene for their season finale. An actor from the show was filmed throwing out the first pitch as a blonde woman looked on. He had trouble reaching the plate, so the scene was filmed several times, each time to louder boos.

I was not sure if people were getting sick of hearing the PA system announce "It's fashion on the field!" at the start of each take or if they were hoping the guy could get it over the plate so he could be added to the rotation.

My second visit to Citi Field began an hour earlier, when my friend David and I arrived in hopes of beating the food lines at Taste of the City. Shake Shack was crowded, but not as insane as it would get before too long. Blue Smoke, though, had almost no line, so we picked up some of those great ribs and finished them off before going over to El Verano Taqueria, where there was also no line.

We tried to get all of our eating out of the way before the game to beat the lines and to avoid having to make the trip back and forth from our seats in the upper level behind third base. But the trip to our seats turned out to be a lot shorter than anticipated.

We were sitting in the front row of the 400 section. Last year, I had equivalent seats in the front row of the upper deck at Shea, but these seats were a lot closer to the field. Foul balls did not quite reach us, but they did come a lot closer. And Mr. Met shot a T-shirt over the section next to us.

During my trip to the new Yankee Stadium earlier in the week, walking the ramp from level to level seemed to take forever. But at Citi, a couple of staircases got you from the 300 level to the 400 level much more quickly.

If the phrase were not taken, I would suggest calling Citi Field the "Friendly Confines," especially compared to the new Yankee Stadium. Citi is big where it counts, in the wide concourses, but otherwise does offer fans a cozy place to watch a ballgame.

But not all fans harbored such warm feelings. The person sitting next to me was a season-ticket holder who asked me to call him "Joe Fan." Joe was unhappy with his seats because he said they had an obstructed view and had to lean forward for a clear view of the field.

I had heard that the front row of the promenade had obstructed views after I got the tickets. But my friend and I did not have to lean forward, though we probably sat a little straighter than usual. For me at least, these tickets were fine, especially since my seven-pack seats in the front row of the upper deck last year required you to lean forward so that the railings would not block the pitcher or catcher. And the front row of the Promenade level at Citi is a lot closer to the field than the front row of the upper deck was at Shea.

Based on my experience tonight with this particular seat, I would not avoid sitting in the front row of the 400 level for an individual game. But different people may have different experiences in this row.

I felt like I had to turn a lot more than usual to see the big scoreboard in right field, and then I realized it was because the seats were angled toward home plate. This might just be something one needs to get used to. I do like the idea of angling the seats that way. But people who want a better view of the scoreboard might want to sit on the third-base side.

Joe Fan's unhappiness with his seats was exacerbated by his unhappiness with the Mets, in particular their inability to hit with runners in scoring position. His mood did not improve when the Mets proceeded to go 2 for 18 with runners in scoring position.

Coincidentally, Gary Sheffield was 2 for 18 coming into the game. Sheffield went 1 for 3 to hike his average to .143. Fernando Tatis went 2 for 3 and both players had walks. I thought it was a bad idea to play both Sheffield and Tatis in the outfield at the same time, but it worked out tonight. I would like to point out, though, that Daniel Murphy and Ryan Church both got hits as pinch hitters and both have hit well enough to deserve to stay in the lineup with no more than one other player playing against lefty pitchers.

Joe Fan was not alone in his aggravation over the Mets' inability to hit in the clutch. When David Wright struck out with a man on third and one out in the third inning, the ballpark was filled with boos.

Wright's performance lately deserves some criticism, but boos? Loud boos? In April? I generally don't like to boo anyone on the home team. I couldn't even bring myself to boo Sheffield. The only thing I booed all night was "Sweet Caroline."

Good times may never seem so good, but the Mets did end their losing streak and Santana pitched a great game. Now if it could just rain for the next four days until he can pitch again.

Time to Doctor the image of Citi Field

Dwight Gooden signed a wall in the Ebbets Club at Citi Field and the Mets are treating it as if it were "unwanted graffiti".

It's bad enough that there is not enough Mets history on display at the new Mets ballpark. If the Mets tried to remove Gooden's signature from the Acela club, it would still be tone-deaf. But Gooden signed his name in the EBBETS club.

If you are going to have a club honoring an old New York stadium, why not one for Shea? And what about the Polo Grounds, where the Mets actually played?

When the Mets place another team's history ahead of their own, something has to change.

Matthew Cerrone of Metsblog has written about this topic, and while I agree with much of what he has to say, I have a fundamental disagreement with one of his views, a view that, if shared by Mets' management, gets to the heart of the problem.

From Metsblog:

…i can understand the Mets not wanting to leave the signature, but i also like that gooden did it… so, instead, the Mets should take their queue from doc, and the fan reaction, and set something up like this elsewhere in the ballpark, where current and former players can ‘leave their mark,’ so to speak…

So far, so good. But here's the part I take issue with:

…i have seen a lot of complaints from fans who feel there is not enough history in Citi Field… i get that, but, with all due respect to the team i love, the Mets have a subtle history, so i can understand why the team presented in a subtle way…

Subtle? Mets' history is anything but subtle. The most famous teams, players and events can be summed up in a couple of words:

Gets by Buckner!
Miracle Mets
Ya Gotta Believe!
The Franchise
1962 Mets

Nothing subtle about any of those!

Cerrone continues:

i mean, if they went overboard with it, people would probably make fun of them for honoring a checkered past, and if they did what they did, they get ripped for not doing enough… where is the balance… i am not sure… i do feel it’s more than they have, but i think too much would be silly…

I agree with this part, but there are plenty of ways to honor the past without going overboard.

Supposedly the Mets are planning a Mets Hall of Fame. There have also been suggestions about retiring more numbers.

To me, that's where you start to go overboard. It's almost like the Mets planning their own Monument Park.

But just because the Mets have not had a lot of Hall of Famers does not mean they have not had a lot of history. Why not focus on years?

Imagine an area dedicated to 1986. Photos and video of players and games. And an area devoted to 1969. Perhaps these areas could have some historical context as well - the Mets winning at the time of the moon landing, Woodstock and the Vietnam War.

Personally, I am mixed on honoring the 2000 Subway Series, but it is part of the Mets history, and it could be done in the context of other Subway Series. This would also be a way of honoring the Dodger and Giant past without putting it front and center.

Another way to acknowledge the city's baseball past is an exhibit on the birth of the Mets. Rather than only glorifying the Dodgers and Giants, let's show them leaving town, and let's remind fans why Bill Shea's name was on the old stadium. This exhibit could also feature the 1962 Mets, still nationally known as a symbol of futility, but also as a beloved new team helping to heal the broken hearts of National League fans.

The more I think of it, some sort of Mets Hall of Fame does make sense. But you would have to limit the number of players and, well, not have any character clauses!

At least the Apple (both old and new) and Mr. Met are at the new ballpark. And it is great to see the old scoreboard skyline above Shake Shack.

But so far, the only mementos the Mets have been willing to bring over to Citi Field have nothing to do with what actually happened on the field. It's time for that to change.

What would you like to see the Mets do at Citi Field to honor their history?

Randy Levine sez Yankees are 'sensitive to the economy'

Do you think that the new Yankee Stadium is having problems selling luxury tickets? You are sorely mistaken, buster. Yankee president Randy Levine, aka the Wizard, says everything is just fine, and tells us to pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

Levine told Newsday's Neil Best (hat tip to Was Watching):

"We've done extraordinarily well in all of the premium seats, over 80 percent. I believe the stadium will be sold out [tomorrow]. I think we're doing great. We're sensitive to the economy. We've taken steps to be sensitive to the economy, letting people stretch payment plans and things along those lines.

I have so many issues with this statement, I'll have to do a little bullet point list to name them all:

• He acts like it's a big accomplishment if the Stadium gets sold out on Opening Day. (Chris Rock voice) You're supposed to be sold out on Opening Day. What do you want, a cookie?
• If they have "done extraordinarily well" with the premium seats, then why have there been so many ads pushing the "between the bases" luxury experience?
• Stretching payment plans to infinity and beyond still won't make these seats affordable.
• If you're really "sensitive to the economy," perhaps you should rethink the Stadium's whole Titanic effect.

There has been a lot of grumbling about the new Yankee Stadium, even among Yankee fans.

While Jennie, one of our longtime readers, called the New Yankee Stadium "awesome," and raved about it, a lot of Yankee blogs, like New Stadium Insider, Scott Proctor's Arm, River Avenue Blues, Bronx Banter, and YFSF, have criticized everything from the security to the views to the sense of exclusivity in the new ballpark.

Since I haven't been to the new ballpark yet - Squawker Jon and I are going on the 20th - I can't offer first-hand opinions on Yankee Stadium. However, while some sports radio callers griped about the new Mets home, we were both very impressed by Citi Field, especially the food - it was terrific fare, at reasonable prices for a stadium, and everybody had access to buying most of it.

After Squawker Jon and I both raved about Citi's fabulous food, we got a personal thank-you note from the folks at Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group. How refreshing is that?

On the other hand, in the new Yankee Stadium, it appears that most of the decent food is in one of the private clubs where you have to spend top dollar on tickets to even get into the door.

Heck, you aren't allowed to even watch batting practice from the field level unless you have one of those top-dollar seats. Peter Abraham noticed some more of the Titanic effect:

While it's part of modern baseball to provide exclusivity to patrons willing to spend large sums of money, do the Yankees really need so many areas where the average fan isn't allowed? In some cases, they rub your nose in it with huge windows showing you what's inside as you walk by.

The organization defends the exclusivity by saying fans paying the high prices make it possible for the team to offer tickets for $22 and $29 in the grandstand. But those seats are scaled further back from the field than the "cheap seats" at the old Stadium.

But hey, Randy Levine says the Yankee organization is "sensitive to the economy." Isn't that good to know?

What do you think? Leave us a comment!

New park, same old Mets

Opening Night at Citi Field turned out to be a bust, but at least there were a few memorable firsts.

First strike: This time, Tom Seaver didn't bounce the ball when he delivered the ceremonial pitch to Mike Piazza.

First pitcher to fall over while on the mound: Mike Pelfrey. Unfortunately, also a metaphor for his season so far.

First Met to overshoot the base on a headfirst slide: Jose Reyes, out in the third trying to stretch a single into a double.

First animal: The cat who ran onto the field. Squawker Lisa wants to rename the park "Kitty Field" and replace "Sweet Caroline" with "Stray Cat Strut."

First Met to get booed during a game: Pedro Feliciano after he balked in what would prove to be the winning run. Oliver Perez, who already achieved this distinction during last week's exhibition against Boston, was similarly acknowledged during the introductions.

First Met not to throw his teammate under the bus when the winning run reaches base after the outfielder lets the ball go off his glove: A two-fer for Pedro Feliciano. Then again, it's hard to blame Ryan Church for letting the ball drop for a three-base error when you balk him home.

Worst Met first: The first Met run at Citi Field was scored by noted tablesetter Brian Schneider and driven home by famed RBI machine Luis Castillo.

Worst Citi Field first: The first homer was hit by Jody Gerut. Here's one area where Shea has Citi beat - the first homer at Shea was hit by Willie Stargell. But Gerut later appeared to become the first outfielder to position himself after pulling written notes from his pocket.

At least David Wright got the first Met hit and hit the first Met homer. And at least it was not Gary Sheffield.

I found the new apple to be a bit of a letdown after all the buildup. But maybe it was the straight-on camera angle. It looked a little more impressive from a later overhead shot.

But the biggest letdown so far is this Met team - 3-4 so far after playing mostly mediocre competition.

And Wednesday, the Mets try to get to .500 with Ollie Perez on the mound and Gary Sheffield attempting to play right field.

Citi Field a welcome addition to the city landscape

So, I showed up at Shea - oops, I mean Citi Field, yesterday. Squawker Jon didn't want me to wear any Yankee gear because I would be surrounded not only by Met fans, but Red Sox fans as well. Because he made such a big deal over this issue - he's always worried somebody is going to start a fight with me for being a Yankee fan or something - I made sure to wear three New York Yankees items, just to tick him off.

I wore a dark blue hat, shirt, and pants, all with the Yankee logo. But I did leave my Yankee coat, which has a huge interlocking NY on the back, home. Nor did I wear my Snuggie, even though the commercial clearly shows fans rocking the blanket with sleeves at a sporting event!

After all my agony over which team to root for - the Mets or the Red Sox - I had decided to cheer for the Mets. Then there turned out to be not a whole lot to root for, given that the game was over in the first inning. It was shades of Tom Glavine blowing the last game of the 2007 season. Yes, I went there!

I couldn't see the Jed Lowrie grand slam from where I was standing in the food line, but I could hear the Met fans booing Ollie Perez off the mound. Never heard such vitriol in an exhibition game before! Not to mention that it's dopey and counterproductive to boo your own players. Just saying.

But on a more positive note, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked Citi Field. There's been all sorts of talk about how the new stadium evokes old-time ballparks like Ebbets Field, while containing modern amenities of the newer stadium. But Citi Field also reminded me of Walt Disney World, although I have my doubts as to whether fans will one day be calling the Mets' new field The Happiest Place on Earth. Certainly not if Oliver Perez has another outing like he did yesterday!

Like Disney, the smiling workers at Citi Field are friendly and customer-service oriented (and that's even more impressive, given that I was wearing all that Yankee gear!) Like Disney, there are personalized bricks with fans' messages on them on the ground outside the stadium. Like Disney, many workers (like the security) have nametags featuring their hometown. Like Disney, there is now a character greeting place (for Mr. Met, of course, although I'm still holding out hope that Lady Met - aka Mrs. Met - will become a regular. Dare to dream!)

Jon and I talked to a lot of fans at the game. One of the few fans wearing Yankee gear came up to me and gave me a hug. Also, there were a ton of Red Sox Nation members at the game, including one fan who altered his old Damon 18 Sox jersey to read "Damon Sucks."

As Squawker Jon noted, the food at Citi Field is very good. So good, in fact, that if we were to eat there at a regular basis, Jon and I would be ready for the TLC Channel. Instead of Half-Ton Dad or Half-Ton Teen, we'd be the Half-Ton Squawkers!

Citi Field has a rotunda, but we'll be rotundas ourselves if we eat as much as we did yesterday! I'm still remembering those tasty Blue Smoke ribs, though. Mmmmm.

Speaking of that Citi rotunda, the Jackie Robinson stuff was well-done, but it brings me to my one quibble with the ballpark. The Mets have been in existence longer than Ebbets Field was open, and the team did win two World Series, but you wouldn't know it from the breathtaking lack of Mets history in the ballpark. Yes, the old apple and the Shea skyline are there, but unless I missed it, that's all I really saw of the Mets' history.

All in all, though, this Yankee fan has to give Citi Field a big thumbs-up, even though it was so blustery yesterday that the wind whipped my drink out of my hands, and onto my coat!

Jon and I will be at Yankee Stadium on April 20, and Jon is threatening to wear Mets gear. I'd rather he wore a Snuggie.

What do you think? Leave us a comment!