Remember the first time you went to the ball field with a loved one? You walked through the tunnell to see the brightest green grass you've ever seen.  You pounded your your glove, because you felt in your heart that today, you would catch a Major League Baseball.  For me, that was with my Grandpa back in 1985, at Shea Stadium.  I remember sitting just left of home plate.  My Grandpa got me a program, a hot dog, a drink, and a memory that I'll never forget.  He passed away in 1987, and ever since then going to the ballpark, where ever that might be, brings back all the feelings, smells, and excitment it did back then.

My Grandma, the love of my Grandpa's life, loved the Mets too, but only because that's who my Grandpa rooted for.  I remember growing up after he passed, and just talking to my Grandma about the Mets, and how excited she would get when I talked about them.  I could tell that when I talked about it with her, it was if she and my Grandpa where talking about the Mets.

My Grandma passed away this week, and in my heart I know she's in a better place, but the selfish part of me, just wants to talk about all the good things the Mets have done this offseason.  A little Italian women, with not a mean bone in her body, I would consider her a Saint, would have loved to talk about the new Mets. I believe she's doing it right now with my Grandpa and they are just loving the time they are spending together.

I wish she was still her, I miss her great food, her laugh, and the way she would wave when I was leaving her house.  But, now she is in a better place and it's time for me and my family to celebrate her great life.  Maybe she can put a good word in with the Big Guy ups stairs to bring the Mets to a championship, well maybe that's pushing  it, maybe she'll start small and just ask for them to get back to the playoff!!!

Love ya Gram!!! I miss you already, but I know your looking down at us, laughing and giggle with Grandpa, because you know we loved you so. We'll see you in another life time, but until then Love you and miss you.  Your first grandson.

As reports out of the front office indicate that ticket prices for Mets fans will increase this season, the over lying question has to be, Why?  With payroll roughly the same as last year, ownership feels that for some reason there is a need to increase ticket prices.  Maybe it’s because the owners saw that their cross town rivals, the Yankees, were increasing theirs and felt the need to “Keep up with the Jones.” At any point, season ticket holders have to be upset.

There are probably arguments out there that the Mets are putting a better product out on the field then last year.  But is that really the case?  How’ bought we keep ticket prices the same until the All-Star break and then determine if the product is good.  Maybe give the fans some reassurance, something like a power-train warranty we see so often from the car dealerships.  The fans should first know that they are paying for a good product, not that the product looks good.

I have a hard time figuring out the need to increase ticket prices.  It’s truly sad to see Mets ownership raise prices when they haven’t put a winning product on the field since 2000.  Yea, I know what you’re thinking, “But MAF, last year the Mets were 83-79.”  Well if you want to pay for mediocre at a higher price, then be my guess. If raising ticket prices were driven by expectation, then hell, Mets tickets would be worth their weight in gold.  But, until divisional titles start hanging from the right field wall, ownership should be ashamed of themselves for raising prices at the expense of the fans.

MAF

Mets fans have seen this all to often.  The owners "committment" to winning, the hot shot GM with fat pockets, and big time free agents walking the streets of Time Square.  It's the offseason, and to Mets fans, usually means the best part of the season.

The hype of a new season is in the air.  Constant newspaper and tv watching.  Rumors from every fish wrap fills the internet about how the Mets are going to win the East.  But, as history has proven time and time again, Mets fans are setup for another disappointing season.  Or are they?

GM Omar Minaya made a committment in the offseason not only to ownership, but to his most important shareholders, the fans, to improve the Mets .  With the addition of Carlos Delgado, Paul LoDuca, and Billy Wagner, he is sending a clear message to the fans, that he and ownership intend to win, and win now.

Although Minaya has made a committment to upgrading the offense, the Mets biggest need may be the bullpen.  With significant need for a lefthanded setup man, Minaya's hands may be tied.  The free-agent market for a lefty is dry, and with a depleted minor league system, the Mets may need to count heavily on Aaron Heilman, a righty, who held lefties to a .208 batting average.

Bullpen need might not be the only thing lacking for the Mets. Defense and injuries have plagued the Mets over the years, and one could say that this year maybe no different.  Jose Reyes, the spark plug for the Mets last year, enjoyed his finest year as a Met.  Reyes played in over 100 games for the first time in his career, avoiding the nagging injuries of years past. If Reyes can stay healthy, and that's a big if, there's a chance he could surpass his 60+ sb's of a year ago.

But, when it comes to injuries, Cliff Floyd is not only a member, but many may consider him the president.  You can count on Floyd playing a max 125 games a year.  Floyd is productive, when he plays, but the Mets better have a backup plan, cause Floyd is like gambling in Vegas, eventually he's going to #### out!!!

Several other Mets have a history of injuries, to include their ace, Pedro Martinez.  If the training staff works overtime, and the Mets stay off the injury list, you can count on them breaking the Atlanta Braves streak of 14 Division titles in a row.

As for the fans, it's another off-season filled with expectations.  But for Mets fans, that's what they're used to.  Enduring the top free agents coming into town, taking their hard earned money, then flopping like Vlade Divac in the paint.  As a life long Mets fan, I feel the excitement of every off-season, but by the All-Star break, I can't wait until the next off-season moves.  Hopefully, for all Mets fans, a familiar saying, "This is our year to beat the Braves."

MAF