Cold weather, hot team

A different tailgate. It was so cool outside at noon Friday that we decided it was wiser to partake in our traditional Opening Day tailgate pregame festivities in Elisabeth and George’s living room rather than the stadium parking lot. That doesn’t mean we gave up on pregame festivities altogether. 39 degrees and here we are.…

One great player, HoJo was

The good, old days. Howard Johnson’s first two major league managers were Sparky Anderson for the Detroit Tigers and Davey Johnson for the New York Mets, a member of the audience at the Syracuse Mets open house reminded him during the Q and A session Saturday. Could there be a more buttoned-down or loosey-goosey managers…

Coming up this season …

Step right up. Syracuse Mets General Manager Jason Smorol raised the enthusiasm level for the upcoming 2024 season by detailing what’s to come at NBT Bank Stadium through September. Exciting young players. Great food. The solar eclipse, glasses provided. Fireworks. Open base paths for the kids. Boozy Sundays for the grownups. My ears perked up…

Meet the Met

He’ll sign until … Howard Johnson was a big part of the New York Mets’ 1986 World Series championship squad. Befitting that hero status, Syracuse Mets fans filled the NBT Bank Metropolitan Room for Johnson’s open house autograph session. He signed smiled, smiled and signed. In fact, officials had to cut the session short to…

Baseball, please

A cold day in March. I’m telling you they’ll be out on this baseball field in less than four full weeks. Interesting that the schedule-makers have scheduled Opening Day for the Syracuse Mets at NBT Bank Stadium for Friday, March 29. The field looked a little icy and dicey as my dear wife Karen and…

Bring on Opening Day

First in line. A big day late in winter is always the Syracuse Mets Open House. In addition to former New York Met star Howard Johnson as guest speaker, individual game tickets went on sale at 10 a.m. sharp Saturday. My dear wife Karen and I left our house early enough to be the first…

Meet Mrs. Met

Our new friend. What with all the Syracuse Mets games we attend as a family, my dear wife Karen smiled quite widely when presented with this handmade gift. Elisabeth worked hard on Mrs. Met. And she looks great on her perch next to Otto the Orange.

Travel statement

Team baggage unveiled … New team luggage must have been in the budget, I thought, as I looked at the lineup of Mets bags awaiting fan purchase at the Syracuse Mets Garage Sale 2023. Snazzy, yes. I did not go for it. Replacing the Bialczak team luggage is not in our budget this year. I…