Mark Your Calendar

Mark you calendar… or if you don’t have one, buy a ticket for the Sunday, April 22 game against the Braves and get a Mets one.

That’s right, the Mets announced their promotional schedule today so we all can begin planning for when single-game tickets go on sale next month. After all, it’s bad enough you might miss Opening Day or the Subway Series. Can you really live with missing your Mets flashlight? (Saturday, May 12 against the Brewers.)

I’m jazzed about Merengue Night (Friday, July 27 against the Nationals), which was fun last year, and a long-awaited Ralph Kiner Night (Saturday, July 14 against the Reds).

My only complaint is a lot of the good giveaways remain just for kids. Like batting helmet day (Sunday, August 26 against the Dodgers). Seriously, when was the last time you wore a batting helmet off a baseball field? I would have to guess mid-1980s for me. Maybe that’s the next great Shea Stadium character. You have Cow-Bell Man, who still infuriates me by hyphenating a nonhyphenated word. You have Pin Man, with what must be the heaviest vest this side of the military. How about Adult Batting Helmet Man? Why not?

Steroids are in the air…

The Mets play their first “real” fake game tomorrow so spring training is now in full swing. What better time for the next shoe to drop in the steroids scandal?

A yearlong investigation netted eight arrests from New York to Orlando and over to Texas as authorities broke up a suspected steroid ring that could expose current and former MLBers, NFLers, bodybuilders and other athletes. As many as 24 other people face felony charges as a result of this bust, so don’t expect this one to go away easily.

Which means it’s probably not a good time for the Bud Selig-institued George Mitchell investigation to remain completely stalled. But it’s probably going to, since Gary Sheffield claims the union is telling players not to cooperate with this “witch hunt.” Bad news for the commish who will undoubtedly face increased scrutity as Barry Bonds passes Hank Aaron for the all-time home run record this season.

Did I mention Barry Bonds? I don’t mean to link him to the steroids scandal because clearly there is no evidence against him. So what that the new chapter in the paperback edition of “Game of Shadows” documents how Bonds has grown since joining the San Francisco Giants. Anyone’s jersey size can increase from 42 to 52. Anyone’s hat size can increase from 7 1/8 to 7 1/4. And anyone’s shoe size can increase from 10.5 to 13. I just didn’t know it could happen in your 30s. Guess I have to go shoe shopping.

Your Citi Field Outfielders?

The failure of “Generation K” is long gone. After producing two franchise players in David Wright and Jose Reyes, Mets fans have reason to believe in the farm system yet again.

Sure Lastings Milledge was a step back last season, but all reports coming out of spring training have him back on the right track. The funny thing is, in a few years, there may not be any room for Milledge in the Mets outfield.

That is if you believe the glowing reports coming out of Port St. Lucie on two of the Mets’ highest prospects — Carlos Gomez and Fernando Martinez. Gomez apparently has Reyes speed, while Martinez apparently has Manny’s swing. No wonder they’re impressing people.

Of course, prospects are prospects until they’re not. But producing superstars is something the Mets failed at for years. It’d be nice to believe the tide has turned.

Another Shutout

The Veterans Committee announced today that it failed to elect a single new member to the Hall of Fame. Are you kidding me?

The committee was criticized in 2001 when it elected Bill Mazeroski and as a result, the voting process was revamped. Since then, the committee hasn’t elected anyone. So because some people balked at a deserving player getting the call, now no one can get in. Wonderful.

The committee exists to help fill in the blanks left by the initial voting process. It’s meant to give deserving figures a second shot at their rightful recognition. Individuals such as Ron Santo, Gil Hodges, Jim Kaat, ump Doug Harvey and union leader Marvin Miller all were shut out again this year. It bodes poorly for currently eligible players who are nearing the end of their 15 years before the initial voters, guys like Goose Gossage and Jim Rice. If they don’t get in now, they may never.

And perhaps it’s by design. Take this quote from The Associated Press’ coverage of today’s vote:

“The process was not designed with the goal to necessarily elect someone.” — Hall chairman Jane Forbes Clark

So much for second chances.

UPDATE 6:12 p.m. — Apparently Clark saw which way the wind was blowing on this one and has softened the Hall’s stance. Significantly.

“We are disappointed that no one has been elected in the three voting cycles,” Hall chairman Jane Forbes Clark told The Associated Press. “We will be evaluating this process and its trends at our next meeting, which is March 13, and discussing whether there should be any changes.”

Please allow me to help. The answer is yes.

Inching ever closer

Intrasquad games means we’re that much closer to spring training games, and spring training games means we’re that much closer to Opening Day, and Opening Day means we’re that much closer to a new Springsteen album… OK, that last part might not be true, but I can always hope.

Regardless, the first two points are valid and thank God for that. February may be the shortest month, but it sure feels like the longest.

Some random stuff swirling around the Amazin’s:

A lot was made over the weekend about Cliff Floyd’s criticism of Willie Randolph’s decision to have him bat in that fateful ninth inning in Game 7. I have to be fair. Check the archives and if you pull up my running commentary from Game 7, you’ll see I was in favor of batting Floyd in that spot. I know the book says bunt in that spot, but you needed two runs and a double ties the game. One swing could win it. My only concern was whether or not he could lift the ball because a groundball likely would have been a double play. But I thought that was a worthwhile gamble in that spot. As for whether or not he had to be talked into it by his coaches, it’s really immaterial. He’s the manager. If it worked he certainly would have received the praise. It didn’t, so now he gets the blame. Goes with the territory.

There was a big discussion of the Mets ticket situation on WFAN this afternoon. I wrote about this when they announced the online lottery for Opening Day and the Subway Series. One of the disadvantages of rooting for a successful team is it’s harder to share in the success than it was to be part of the failure. And the longtime, loyal fan’s dollars look exactly the same to the Mets as the bandwagon jumpers. It’s just reality. Just remember that if you think things are bad now, wait until Citi Field opens with 12K less seats.

As for the team itself, there’s not much going on, considering the position players are largely set and only the pitching staff must shake itself out. I thought going into camp that Pelfrey and Humber would have to have lights-out springs to earn a spot with the big team in April. Neither has fit that bill thus far, so I’d imagine you’re looking at veteran arm in the No. 5 slot. If that’s the case, you have to figure the Mets will give Chan Ho Park every chance to be that veteran…

Unless of course Fred can convince the visiting Sandy Koufax to come out of retirement.

Pain in the Neck

Well if you had Feb. 23 and the under, you just won your “When will Orlando Hernandez suffer his first injury downtime?” bet.

Duque is heading back to New York to have his neck discomfort examined. The Mets are saying all the right things about how he’s had this problem in the past and it wasn’t a big deal. The problem is he’s had quite a few health problems in the past and that doesn’t figure to change much this season.

The idea that the Mets’ over/under number in Vegas is 87 wins is highly questionable, but when you hear things like this about the Mets starting rotation, you begin to understand it.

Finally, a little sizzle!

There was finally a little sizzle at Mets camp today, though unlike the Yankees, this little controversy did not stem from the Amazin’s. It appears Jimmy Rollins sounded off again today, reiterating his claims of a few weeks back that the Phils are the team to beat. I guess he felt empowered by how many people have them as their trendy NL pick for 2007.

Do not include me in that bunch. I agree that the Phils made some good moves this offseason but we love in a world where Marty Schottenheimer is unempoyed and Charlie Manuel is running a baseball franchise. C’mon folks.

Thankfully, the Mets seem rather bored by Rollins’ gusto. David Wright told the Daily News’ Adam Rubin, “If that’s Jimmy’s way of motivating the team, then that’s his choice.”

Far more intersting is further down in Rubin’s blog entry where he tells the story of Wright running into a minor-league umpire who once tossed Wright after some disputed strike calls. He’s no longer an ump, proving once again you don’t mess with The Kid.

The Gold Glove Team

When I became old enough to form actual opinions on the quality of professional athletes, I was sure the Mets of the mid-1980s had one of the best players in baseball manning the infield for them. A professional hitter and a superb fielder, I was convinced I was watching a future Hall of Famer. That player was Keith Hernandez.

It wasn’t until years later that I gained the frame of reference to decipher this former MVP was a good-to-great all-time player, but certainly not an immortal. It was kind of sad… like seeing two different Santa Clauses set up in Woodbridge Center. A little bit of your childhood turned out to be fraudulent. At least I had his classic “Seinfeld” episode… before Michael Richards snapped last year and ruined “Seinfeld” for me.

Luckily, with the advent of SNY and DVD releases over the last few years, I’ve now rewatched countless games from the Mets’ championship season of 1986 and have come to appreciate the magic of Keith Hernandez once again. Sure, he’s still not a Hall of Famer, but he was a hell of a ballplayer and a brilliant defensive anchor.

Which leads me to the All-Time Rawlings Gold Glove Team. For 50 years, Rawlings has handed out Gold Glove awards to the elite fielders in the game. Coincidentally, Hernandez was a recipient in 11 of those years. Now they want to put together a list of the best of the best. And it would be a crime if Hernandez was not elected as the first baseman. So this is a call to Mets fans, as well as true baseball fans everywhere. Vote for Hernandez. You can cast a vote once a day at this link.

It’s not the Hall of Fame. But it’s where Hernandez belongs.

Lastings, Take Two

Last season, there was a tremendous amount of buzz around future “franchise player” Lastings Milledge. One year and several Major League at-bats later, there is wonderment over whether Milledge will even make the team out of camp.

It’s been a strange, mostly negative journey for Milledge these past 12 months. There were whispers of attitude problems in the minors, but everyone seemed willing to look past those once he got the call up to the bigs. Then there was the victory lap at Shea — a moment that most fans loved, myself included, but one that also brought out vultures ready to pick at his ego-filled flesh. He reportedly showed up late at the stadium like he was David Lee Roth in “Hot for Teacher.” (He didn’t feel tardy.) Eventually a sign was left in his locker, which might as well have been written by The Rock because it basically told him to “Know Your Role and Shut Your Mouth.” Oh and he only batted .240 in 160 at-bats with four homers and one stolen base.

So much for the future 30-30 cornerstone of the outfield, right? That might be a bit premature. Milledge showed up at Mets camp a day early — nothing to celebrate, but at least he made an effort to get in early — and immediately channelled the spirit of Luke in “Return of the Jedi,” when the young Jedi returned to Dagobah to complete his training. In this case, Milledge sought out Julio Franco and asked to continue being mentored by the veteran. Thankfully, unlike Yoda, Franco is near-Social Security but not near-death, so he should be able to complete Milledge’s training.

So for the next five weeks, Franco will be Milledge’s Yoda. And if he can straighten out the Mets lost prospect, he will more than earn his roster spot.

Lottery Reminder

The Mega Millions is well over $100 million, but the lottery on most Mets fans’ minds might just be the one held at Shea Stadium this week. The one that determines who will get the opportunity to purchase the remaining tickets to Opening Day and the three Flushing Subway Series games. In order to be eligible for the ticket lottery, fans must register by tonight, Sunday Feb. 18, at 11 p.m. at this link at www.mets.com.

Of course, if you won the Mega Millions, I’d imagine you’d be able to find your way into Shea for those games too.