Bullpen Issue
...like a bullpen game, but with words.
⚾️ February 19th - Full Squad Workouts Begin
🍊 February 24th - First Spring Training Game
🏟️ March 27th - Opening Day
💙 April 4th - Mets Home Opener
💰 July 1st - Bobby Bonilla Day
Good Morning and Happy Valentines Day to my one true love, Mrs. Met.
I’m deep in the weeds prepping for Scorecard Week, so we’ve got another Bullpen Issue today.
Even though Pitchers and Catchers officially reported Wednesday, Spring Training really kicked off on Monday with National Guys Walking Through Parking Lots Day. To commemorate this great holiday, here are some photos of our guys walking through the Clover Park(ing lot).
The Mets Spring Training games begin on Saturday, February 22nd. The broadcast schedule is split between SNY and PIX11 and will feature an ensemble of broadcasters including Gary, Keith, and Ron, Steve Gelbs, Daniel Murphy, Gary Apple, Jerry Blevins, and Todd Zeile.
SNY premiered the 2024 edition of Mets Yearbook on Tuesday, February 11th. I didn’t catch the live airing, and to be honest, I might not seek out a replay. I absolutely love watching Mets Yearbook during rain delays and will most likely save this one for some soggy night during the season.
Around Christmastime, I published an issue of The Rally Towel about baseball video games. I opine my love for Backyard Baseball often, and will continue to do so…right now.
The Backyard Sports Instagram account has been hyping the re-releases of Backyard Football and Backyard Baseball ‘01 by teasing the pros who will be returning to the games. I’m assuming the licensing and rights agreements from the original releases have long since expired, so it’s cool to see that major leaguers are still interested in being part of this franchise so many years later. Mike Piazza will be joining Vladimir Guerrero, Barry Larkin, Nomar Garciaparra, Chipper Jones, and Kenny Lofton as returning pros. Piazza’s Backyardified caricature features his signature long dark hair under a backwards ballcap. I’ve always wondered if Piazza would have had bleached blonde hair if the game had been released in the 2000 season. Anyway, I’m super excited that Playground Productions is reviving these classic games. I know I’m not the only one looking forward to sharing them with their own kids.
As I mentioned earlier, next week is Scorecard Week at The Rally Towel. Each day we will be posting an issue of the newsletter focused on the most basebally thing about baseball…keeping score! We’ll be talking philosophy, tools of the trade, and highlighting some folks making some really cool scorebooks and scorekeeping goodies. See ya then!
