Better bring a catcher's mask and goalie pads of you plan on hanging out on the Shea Bridge during the Homer Run Hitting Contest during All-Star Game festivities. Photo courtesy of Citi2Shea.wordpress.com
According to multiple sources, MLB commissioner Bud Selig and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will announce tomorrow that the 2013 MLB All-Star game will be held at Citi Field. It’s about time that not only MLB, but the rest of the world will see that there is more going on at Citi Field than just Ponzi schemes and trips to the disabled list.
The last time the New York Mets hosted an All-Star game was way back in 1964, the first year of the “state-of-the-art” (I know you are giggling) Shea Stadium. In that game, Phillies outfielder Johnny Callison hit a walk-off home run to give the NL a 7-4 win. That was the last time an All-Star game has ended with a walk-off homer.
With the Mets turning the corner after the Bernie Madoff mess, they are now able to focus on the positives that are happening on the field. As stated in an earlier post here on TSB, the Mets are NOT a bad team. 
They are actually 5 games over .500 and only 2 games out of first place. Granted, it’s only May 14th, but there weren’t too many fans or “experts” who believed that this would even be possible this early into the season.
Being a Mets fan, I cant wait to see the buzz around the stadium and franchise next summer. Would I love to sit in the Pepsi Porch next summer? Absolutely. Would I love to mill around on the Shea Bridge? You betcha! But as we all know, the regular die-hard fan won’t be able to afford that ticket. A $40 ticket on the Pepsi Porch will for sure run in the $150-$200 range. But you know what? Maybe it’s just better off sitting at home and watching on TV.
The Pepsi Porch at Citi Field will be one hot ticket next summer. Photo courtesy of Metsseatingchart.com
These days, the best part of the whole thing is the Home Run hitting contest. If somehow Ike Davis, Lucas Duda, or David Wright are in the contest, I’ll break the bank for a ticket, but that’s probably it. The game has truly become a bore and it’s no fun watching fringe players having good years, possibly decide wether or not the Mets have home field advantage in the World Series.
I hope next year that the Mets fans stuff the ballot boxes like other cities fans do. David Wright should be the leading vote getter and if he’s not, shame on Mets fans. Make a statement and have Johan Santana represent the New York Metropolitans. Hell, give Jose Reyes the middle finger and vote Ruben Tejada the starting shortstop.
Here’s to the New York Mets and turning to the page to baseball. Not “money” ball.
