It's Time: Mets Opening Day In Pictures

It's sometimes hard to explain to other people what Opening Day means to us fans.  I've tried to capture the experience, from tailgate to pre-game to the post game high five from Captain Shorts in a four minute music video using pictures I took as well as additional photography from Sharon Chapman, Kerel Cooper, Paul Hadsall, Shannon Shark, Alejandra Villa and Laura Lapidus. The track is "It's Time" by Imagine Dragons. Enjoy!

Mets Opening Day 2013 "It's Time" from The Apple on Vimeo.

It's Time!

See you guys at the game! Tailgate starts at 10AM!

The Daniel Murphy Opening Day Singalong: Together We Can Embarrass Our Second Baseman

If you know me, then you know I love me some good old fashioned nonsense. That's why when my buddy Darren at The 7 Line asked me to help spread the word about singing happy birthday to Daniel Murphy on Opening Day, I jumped at the chance.

Darren's plan is to spread the word through downloadable flyers and serenade the Mets second baseman during his first AB.

For all the details check out Darren's post here.

No Mets were harmed in the writing of this story. Follow me on Twitter @readtheapple.

The Apple's 3rd Annual Opening Day Tailgate

On April 1st, the Mets return "home" to Citi Field. I don't know about you, but that sounds like a reason to party to me.

Join The Apple & friends for another pre-game tailgate at Citi Field prior to the Mets opener vs. the Padres on April 1st. There will be hot dogs on the grill and beverages. All are welcomed to join. (First come first served. Snack food donations welcomed. BYOB encouraged.)

I'll post/tweet the exact location on the morning of since the Mets like to constantly change-up their parking rules. Stay tuned to the Facebook Event Page for updates and check out the video below for some footage from previous tailgates.

The 7 Line Gives Mets Fans More Value For Their Opening Day Buck

The Mets Opening Day ticket price increase has been well documented both here and elsewhere. However there are options. As a matter of fact, it would seem Mets fans looking to score Opening Day tickets right now have at least 3 options.

Option 1: Stay home
Who could blame you. With Opening Day prices shooting up this year I can't blame anyone who wants no part of it.   If you do want to go to the game though there are other options.

Mets Opening Weekend Recap: Bloggers, Baseball and... Bears?

Photo by @ceetar

The Opening Weekend of the Mets season is over but it was a great weekend for the Metropolitans and a busy one for The Apple as well. Here's a look back:

Happy Opening Day Mets Fans!

See you in Lot E at 10AM! 

Announcing The Apple's 2nd Annual Opening Day Tailgate

Attending the Mets home opener on April 5th? Why not join The Apple for my 2nd annual Opening Day Tailgate.  From 9 - 12PM I'll have The Apple's WORLD FAMOUS TAILGATING SETUP (i.e. a folding table and portable grill) set up in the Citi Field parking lot.
Entertainment will be provided by a small boombox playing WFAN unless the batteries die.  There will be a limited supply of burgers, hot dogs and beverages but, as always, if you wanna bring your own meat our executive chef (i.e. me in Mets apron) will be happy to cook it up for ya.

Click over to the facebook events page for more info.  I'll also have my big-ass banner courtesy of buildasign.com so we should be somewhat easy to spot. I hope to see some of you there. 

Win Two Tickets To The Mets Home Opener Courtesy Of The Apple & TiqIQ

Opening Day is right around the corner and your #1 source for completely made up Mets news wants to send you to the Mets home opener at Citi Field.  To win all you have to do is "like" The Apple and TiqIQ on Facebook. Then on the TiqIQ Facebook wall, predict the Mets batting avg. leader (minimum 50 AB's) for Spring training games played in March.  Also include "The Apple" with your prediction.

For example: The Apple, David Wright, .357

As an added bonus if one of The Apple's readers wins I'll throw in a VIP tailgate experience at Citi Field before the opener.  (VIP tailgate experience consists of eating a slightly burnt hot dog next to my Toyota Matrix)

Also if winning tickets sounds like too much work you can always head here for the best deals and just buy some you lazy lazy soul.

#BringBackGlennClose: Together We Can Make This Minor Thing Happen

If there's one thing my good friends over at MetsPolice have taught me, it's that if you complain publicly about some minor and ultimately unimportant thing the Mets will probably listen (see Banner Day). Until now, I have not felt strongly enough about any cause to go to take to my blog about it...until now.

Hey Mets, Can We Please...

Hey @Metspolice can you get on this bandwagon.  The Mets seem to listen whenever you ask them for stuff.

The Cubs: Helping Drunk Chicks Meet Guys Since 1870

I'm pretty sure this is staged but it's still freaking hilarious! via WBEZ

Mets Bloggers Leave Their Mom's Basements To Grill Meat / Watch Baseball

On April 8th 2011, several Mets bloggers left the safety of their mother's basements to watch their beloved team lose to the Nationals.  Among those in attendance were sandwich expert Ted Berg, Mets author extraordinaire Matt Silverman, optimistic Mets fan Mike "Ceetar" Donato, Mets t-shirt magnate Darren Meenan of The 7 Line, Twitter superstar Ramon "GrevensEpiphany" Martinez,  Apple fans Ron Mazzola and Richard Madison, and Kerel "too handsome to be photographed" Cooper of On The Black.

Mets Debut Tip Cups On Opening Day

You may notice something different this season when you take your seats at Citi Field.  Starting at yesterday's Mets home opener the team is placing tip jars at the end of each row.  But these tips are not for the vendors or ushers.  According to management, the tips collected will go directly to helping the team pay it's players.

The Apple's First Annual Opening Day Tailgate Today!

The Apple's first annual Opening Day Tailgate is just a few hours away.  The tailgate will take place from 12-3PM today at the location shown as "Site A" on the map below.  If the location should change for any reason I will tweet details from @readtheapple on Twitter.

Sticker Update: The Second Batch Is On Its Way

To anyone who requested stickers, your envelopes went out in the mail this week.  If you still want a sticker, you can get one from me in person tomorrow at Citi Field during The Apple's pre-game tailgate. 

Daniel from NYC got his sticker and used it to make himself the coolest "Apple" computer on the planet.

My Favorite Moment From The Mets Opening Day Loss

Not surprisingly it happened before the game even started when this exchange took place.

Howie Rose: Performing the national anthem will be Clarence Clemons from the E-Street Band.

Loud Marlins Fan Too Close To Open Mic: METS SUCK!

Howie Rose: That was not Clarence Clemons.


Please tell me someone else heard this.

Damn, Just When I Was Feeling Good About Opening Day Chris Rock Has To Go And Do This

I will say though if the Mets do actually replace ticket takers with a hand licking dog, Wifey would probably want to go to more games.

Opening Day 2011: Now Is The Hour Of Our Short Lived Content

Mets Fans,

Since inning 14 of game 162 we have waited for this day.  We have countdown clocks on our phones.  We circled the date on our calendars. We pretend that football is an acceptable substitute to help us pass the time.  Some of us even pray to the dark lord to make the winter pass more quickly.

Well the waiting is over.

Opening Day is here.  For at least one day we are in first place.  (well technically half a game back of Atlanta but you get what I mean)  You wanted new management? Done. You wanted Ollie gone?  Done.  You wanted Luis gone?  Done. You wanted shorter lines at Shake Shack...well you can't win them all.

This feeling won't last long.  Heck it probably won't survive the weekend, but for now, cherish this feeling.  This is that most precious part of the season when anything is still possible.

Enjoy the opener, Mets fans.  I think I speak for all of us when I say, ALL HAIL THE DARK LORD....er I mean Let's Go Mets!

-Randy Medina

The Box The Mets Should Have Sent Us

So the Mets sent me a big fancy box with my tickets and a watch in it.  While this stuff is all nice I wish they had sent this instead: