Saturday Open Thread

Green jerseys on 4/20. Classic.

And their green caps didn’t have the MLB logo on the back, which I thought was very odd.

Speaking of the MLB logo on the back of the caps, I really don’t like how on the new caps the logo sticks out like the team logo on the front. I really wish theyd go back to the smooth streamlike look of the old wool 5950s.

Kevin Youkilis passed out Virginia Tech caps to teammates, which came courtesy of Hokies assistant baseball coach Mike Gambino, a former Sox minor leaguer and Boston College captain, and a Youkilis pal. The Sox had permission from Major League Baseball to wear a black VT on their left sleeves last night. The idea, according to team spokesman John Blake, came from Francona and Jason Varitek

That was from the Boston Globe baseball notes.

Try it again.

Dear Bob Kraft,

Since the Red Sox paid tribute to Red Auerbach by making their jerseys green, please DO NOT feel obligated to do the same with the Patriots. Ick.

Thanks,
JJD (and all fans with functional eyesight)

Ok, this is what pisses me off about the whole “different color” thing, and its usually green.

Green is replacing the *primary* color in the uni. Therefore, you need to replace ALL of the places the primary color exists.

The White Sox did this well with their old green-on-white home jerseys (1/2 way to St Patrick’s day game). But lately they’ve been wearing some black here and there. Ick!

Worse is red and green. Replace ALL the red with either green or the secondary color (white in this case).

I thought the green was a cool look for one game. Granted, it would make a terrible third jersey, but for one game I liked it.

[quote comment=”73843″]There have been a lot of Virginia Tech memorials in the last few days, but most of them have been team-wide (the Red Sox last night, or the Nats a few days ago). But last night, the Angels’ Joe Saunders got link to wear a VT cap. Can anyone think of another time when a player in a team sport has been dressed differently from his teammates as a memorial (and gotten it approved in advance)? I’m not talking about a hastily scrawled Sharpie message on shoes or something, but an actual different piece of equipment. Seems pretty rare to me.[/quote]

From the same article:
Angels starter Joe Saunders. Wearing a Hokie cap thanks to Bud Selig’s blessing, the majors’ lone former Virginia Tech player pitched six scoreless innings for his second win.

I think that explains it.

[quote comment=”73784″]Continued from yesterday:

Found a picture of Fridge Perry link with a London Monarchs jersey. Would still love to find an action shot.[/quote]

Tom…an action shot will be hard to find. Fridge only actually played the first regulation down of the season with the Monarchs, then stood on the sidelines the rest of the year.

[quote comment=”73852″][quote comment=”73845″]Maybe I’m really missing something, but what was so special about green jerseys on April 20? Because it wasn’t St. Patrick’s Day?[/quote]
4/20 is widely known as a sort of ‘National Pot Smoking Day’ i.e. smokin’ the green.[/quote]

no, they were honoring red aurebach

I’m not a hockey fan, but was checking out the buffaslugs unis last night. The retro look I’m diggin, but can anyone explain to me why you would go with a throwback jersey and throwback socks, but wear the current shorts? I don’t get it.

link

Ew, Mets with pinstripes and BLACK hats again! WTF????

[quote comment=”73861″]I’m not a hockey fan, but was checking out the buffaslugs unis last night. The retro look I’m diggin, but can anyone explain to me why you would go with a throwback jersey and throwback socks, but wear the current shorts? I don’t get it.

link
Because those “shorts” are kinda expensive and bulky and not worth having an extra set on hand for when they don’t look that bad anyway.

Another completely random VT tribute last night-The Colorado Eagles of the CHL had VT helmet stickers during their game against the Oklahoma City Blaze.

link(first picture-couldn’t find a direct link). And check out those OKC jerseys-sweeeet

[quote comment=”73854″][quote comment=”73852″][quote comment=”73845″]Maybe I’m really missing something, but what was so special about green jerseys on April 20? Because it wasn’t St. Patrick’s Day?[/quote]
4/20 is widely known as a sort of ‘National Pot Smoking Day’ i.e. smokin’ the green.[/quote]

no, they were honoring red aurebach[/quote]
I was responding to post #2 also. Of course they were honoring Red Auerbach, that’s what today’s open thread is about.

While I repsect the Red Sox honoring Red Auerbach, it does feel a bit silly considering he died almost six months ago. I realize that his death didn’t occur during baseball season and that this is one of the earliest opportunities they’ve had, but it’s still riduculous to me.

[quote comment=”73849″][quote comment=”73784″]Continued from yesterday:

Found a picture of Fridge Perry link with a London Monarchs jersey. Would still love to find an action shot.[/quote]

Tom…an action shot will be hard to find. Fridge only actually played the first regulation down of the season with the Monarchs, then stood on the sidelines the rest of the year.[/quote]

Thanks, Drew. It sounds like it was a publicity stunt of some sort?

The 1989 film Major League has been a topic of conversation lately with Charlie Sheen’s DirecTV commercial and the Indians playing in Milwaukee this season.

It was on this morning on Comedy Central and I have an issue with the last scene…

Bottom of the 9th inning, 1 out, Willie Mays Hayes on first, Jake Taylor at the plate.

1st pitch- Taylor swings and misses, Hayes steals 2nd.

Taylor calls for a bunt-and-run play and points to the bleachers ala Babe Ruth.

2nd pitch- Brush back pitch, Taylor hits the deck, HAYES IS STILL ON 2ND!!!!

Taylor calls his shot again.

3rd pitch- Hayes takes off for 3rd, Taylor bunts down the 3rd base line and beats the throw while Hayes rounds 3rd and heads for home with the winning run.

This has always bothered me. Why didn’t Hayes steal on the 2nd pitch?

Anybody else?

[quote comment=”73867″]David Wright has his pants UP today, and he’s wearing a new pair of Nike Shox cleats.

The announcers said “I guess that what happens when your hit streak ends”.[/quote]

I guess it’s not working for him like it’s worked for A-Rod. He’s 0-3 with 2 K’s and has 3 guys left on base.

[quote comment=”73887″]The 1989 film Major League has been a topic of conversation lately with Charlie Sheen’s DirecTV commercial and the Indians playing in Milwaukee this season.

It was on this morning on Comedy Central and I have an issue with the last scene…

Bottom of the 9th inning, 1 out, Willie Mays Hayes on first, Jake Taylor at the plate.

1st pitch- Taylor swings and misses, Hayes steals 2nd.

Taylor calls for a bunt-and-run play and points to the bleachers ala Babe Ruth.

2nd pitch- Brush back pitch, Taylor hits the deck, HAYES IS STILL ON 2ND!!!!

Taylor calls his shot again.

3rd pitch- Hayes takes off for 3rd, Taylor bunts down the 3rd base line and beats the throw while Hayes rounds 3rd and heads for home with the winning run.

This has always bothered me. Why didn’t Hayes steal on the 2nd pitch?

Anybody else?[/quote]

I think you are missing the most important thing there. As good as they were in the details, with everyone wearing real stir ups, etc, when taylor comes to bat in the 9th, he is wearing his cather’s helmet, not his batting helmet. it has no flaps. Buy willie mays hayes has his hat on under his batting helmet in those shots too!

God I love that movie GO TRIBE

[quote comment=”73887″]The 1989 film Major League has been a topic of conversation lately with Charlie Sheen’s DirecTV commercial and the Indians playing in Milwaukee this season.

It was on this morning on Comedy Central and I have an issue with the last scene…

Bottom of the 9th inning, 1 out, Willie Mays Hayes on first, Jake Taylor at the plate.

1st pitch- Taylor swings and misses, Hayes steals 2nd.

Taylor calls for a bunt-and-run play and points to the bleachers ala Babe Ruth.

2nd pitch- Brush back pitch, Taylor hits the deck, HAYES IS STILL ON 2ND!!!!

Taylor calls his shot again.

3rd pitch- Hayes takes off for 3rd, Taylor bunts down the 3rd base line and beats the throw while Hayes rounds 3rd and heads for home with the winning run.

This has always bothered me. Why didn’t Hayes steal on the 2nd pitch?

Anybody else?[/quote]

I agree, he should have stole 3rd. It was obvious he had the speed and ability. However, to build up the excitement and tension of the movie, they made him stay. It was to get the full effect of the bunt and run play. (remember it was a movie and if it was a real game and he didn’t steal third when he had a chance, and one of them ended up getting out on the play, be sure his ass would be chewed out the second he hit the dugout.)

As for the Sabres uniforms, take a look at link site and tell me that this year’s link look anywhere near as good as the originals with the non-matching pants and helmets.

If you want to see a team that does the throwback thing the right way, check out link babies that the Canucks roll out. Spend a little money on helmets and shells and the whole thing looks legit.

[quote comment=”73901″]The Nets are wearing their alternate red jerseys at the Raptors. Seems odd since the Raptors floor is red, all their fans are in red and their road jerseys are red.[/quote]

How about the Nets with RED socks? Some players are even wearing them high. Yuck.

[quote comment=”73900″]As for the Sabres uniforms, take a look at link site and tell me that this year’s link look anywhere near as good as the originals with the non-matching pants and helmets.

If you want to see a team that does the throwback thing the right way, check out link babies that the Canucks roll out. Spend a little money on helmets and shells and the whole thing looks legit.[/quote]

Totally agree. I’m not too fond of the Canucks’ throwback look, but at least they spent the cash to get the matching pants and helmets. Buffalo’s throwbacks just look halfassed.

On another note, Buffalo’s original blue and gold home jersey is a thing of beauty and a damn shame they created the Slugs instead of going back to that.

He looks like a Christmas tree. Nice gesture, tho.

My favorite Met’s look has to be the white versey with the piping around the colar then running down the front..like the RSox have. Nice look.

As far as the Canuckleheads go, The “link” jersey is the link link.

Anybody else watching the Cards and Cubbies? Marquis and Reyes are both pitching in high pants, which is normal for Reyes, of course, but I don’t think I’ve seen Marquis wearing his pants correctly; at least not when he was with STL.

watching the Yankees @ RSox; what classic looks.

[quote comment=”73935″]watching the Yankees @ RSox; what classic looks.[/quote]
no doubt eh.

Sorry for the lo-res shot, but this is link.

yup

Uni-related discussion during the Cubs/Cardinals game… Fox showed a Sounds of the Game clip from the 1st inning of umpire Angel Herndandez telling Cubs’ centerfielder Felix Pie to change or cover his white sweatbands/tape on his wrists with blue, so they don’t mistake them for the ball and call a trapped ball a no-catch. But, he hadn’t changed it in the 3rd inning.

Beckett removed his under shirt between the inning. Maybe he was sleeveless in his other starts?

[quote comment=”73948″]Flames Red Wings, good combo of uni’s.[/quote]

as long as calgary is not wearing the ‘horse’ sweater.

[quote comment=”73951″][quote comment=”73941″]Sorry for the lo-res shot, but this is link.[/quote]

Without the Taco Bell ad.[/quote]

Too true. And the Cardinals should be winning.

This afternoon Notre Dame had 4 colors being worn at their spring game. Blue and White for each team, Red for the QB’s and Green for the offensive live. Have any other spring games used so much color?

The way the Red Sox who wore high pants and red undersleeves was perfect cuz it brings out the color that is used the least on the top.

[quote comment=”73927″]Anybody else watching the Cards and Cubbies? Marquis and Reyes are both pitching in high pants, which is normal for Reyes, of course, but I don’t think I’ve seen Marquis wearing his pants correctly; at least not when he was with STL.[/quote]

Caught the end of Reyes’ appearance – he had the pants cuffed too high. He was rather close to venturing into link..

so I was watching Saturday afternoon television,.. we got the playoffs in the NBA, NHL and the Yankees playing the Red Sox-as well as other divisional rivalrys [Cubs-Cardinals/Mets-Braves/Sox-Tigers] and I was flicking through the guide during commercials and Space Jam was on, with all this uni-watch to watch–who would watch space jam

[quote comment=”73972″]On the DirecTV commercial with Charlie Sheen: Has anyone else noticed that the jersey isn’t consistent throughout the ad. When it is using frames from the movie the jersey is white, has the indians logo on the left sleeve. In the commercial specific frames, Sheen’s jersey has a matching stripe going from each sleeve up to the collar of the jersey, i.e. the same stripe used on the pants goes from shoulders down the mid portion of the sleeve. Really bugging me each time I see it; well that and the batter changes sides of the plate on the two pitches he throws.[/quote]

This was mentioned a few times over the last few weeks. Indeed, the jerseys he’s wearing in the movie and the 2007 shots are different. One has stripes around the sleeves, and the other has stripes down the sleeves and down the pants. As far as the batters go, a few people have pointed out that it was ball 4 to the first batter, so the next shot shows the next batter with a count of 0-0.

I may have missed it in the comments section or it may have been mentioned from when he was in Japan, but Hideki Okajima uses a link.

Hard to tell here, but Coco Crisp wears his stocking cap link. It was clear during the highlights of SportsCenter last night with the green jerseys (which were CoolBase by the way).

I think those Sox jerseys were all mesh…not CoolBase.

[quote comment=”73965″]The way the Red Sox who wore high pants and red undersleeves was perfect cuz it brings out the color that is used the least on the top.[/quote]

I ‘m glad that I wasn’t the only person who picked up on that.

I kind of like the look, actually. It’s just fine to break out once or twice a year – they’ve been doing this for a long time for the spring training St. Patrick’s Day game. And maybe if they do it exactly one time during the regular season, it could be alright.

They SHOULD, however, stop wearing the red alts immediately and forever. They should have a navy alt, if anything – but, of course, no team should have alts!

I was wathching the Yanks and Sox today and noticed that Kyle Farnsworth was weargin some untinted glasses. link isn’t from tonight, but that’s the same silver frame that he wore.

[quote comment=”73942″][quote comment=”73926″]I believe the Mets have not worn blue socks and sleeves this season. Correct?[/quote]

Correct, Steve. The only team in MLB that wears its road cap at home has not worn blue caps/undersleeves/socks yet this season.[/quote]

The Mets tend to wear blue caps/ undershirts/ socks on Sunday games. Someone in a previous column claimed that it was because the equipment manager has already packed all the black shirts and black/blue caps for the next game (I suppose working on the assumption that they will be on the road on Monday or Tuesday). Don’t know how accurate that is, but the Mets will be hosting Colorado on Monday, so it will be interesting to see if they bust out the blues tomorrow for the first time this year, or if they stick with the black/blue caps and black undershirts……

anyone know of a MEts email address where we could email them and request they do a fan poll for favorite uniform?

What league were the Youngstown Pride in?

[quote comment=”73927″]Anybody else watching the Cards and Cubbies? Marquis and Reyes are both pitching in high pants, which is normal for Reyes, of course, but I don’t think I’ve seen Marquis wearing his pants correctly; at least not when he was with STL.[/quote]

Actually last season Marquis copied it from Reyes for a game and actually had one of his very few decent outings and remarked that he thought the high socks helped him pitch better. Marquis was then shelled in his very next start.

The Mets, being the only team in MLB that wears its road cap at home, don’t care what the fans think or want, they only care what sells. They think black sells, so they wear black. They may be right.

About 20 years ago, when sports merchandising really took off, the team that sold the most merchandise and apparel was the L.A. Raiders, whose primary color is black. They even marketed a “Real Men Wear Black” t-shirt. Consequently, a great many pro sports franchises either jumped on the bandwagon to add black to their color scheme, or change their primary color to black, beginning with the L.A. Kings who basically adopted Raider colors around 1987 or 88, as did the Chicago White Sox a couple of years later. Teams that didn’t add or change to black wound up darkening their primary colors, such as by changing royal blue to navy.

The Mets were about 10 years late to this party, but the franchise’s peripheral involvement in the film “Men in Black” (one shot of Bernard Gilkey getting conked with a ball while staring up at a flying saucer) coupled with the failure of the 1997 white alternate cap, gave someone the idea for “Mets in Black,” hence the black alternate jersey added in 1998. For some reason, they decided to keep the plain-white alternates, to which, along with the road greys, a black drop-shadow was added. A year later, the black trim was on the pinstripes as well.

The black/blue two-tone cap is essentially the 1997 white “ice cream” cap changed to black (blue logo with orange outline, blue bill); this was intended to be paired with the black jersey in ’98 but they liked it so much they started wearing it with the other uniforms as well, particularly the road greys. The road black alternate and all-black cap debuted in 1999; both black jerseys from then on were only worn with the all-black cap, whose logo matches the script. The black/blue cap, which was really no longer needed, unfortunately remained and was paired exclusively with the road greys (becoming the official road cap in 2001), and almost exclusively with the plain whites. The blue cap was worn very rarely, only at home, and has been ever since.

Somehow, the blue cap remains the official home cap according to the link. It was also the official road cap through link, even though it was never worn on the road after 1997 (or maybe early 1998; can anyone confirm this?) The reality, though, is that the black/blue cap has been the official Mets cap since 1998; they wear this cap in 9 out of every 10 games, home and away.

Maybe black sells, and maybe a lot of people like it. I can understand that. What I can’t understand is the franchise’s absurd and needless dishonesty concerning its home uniform. Why keep telling MLB and the public that your home uniform is one thing when it’s really something else?

Could anyone imagine the Cardinals wearing their navy cap at home? Or the Athletics wearing their solid-green-gold-logo cap at home? The Tigers wearing their orange-logo cap at home? The Cubs wearing their red-billed cap at home?

The Mets are the only MLB team that wears its road cap at home; the only MLB team whose official uniform is actually an alternate and vice-versa; the only MLB team whose batting helmets don’t match its caps.

As long as black sells, the Mets will continue to wear black, and there’s nothing we as fans can do about it. Nothing.

The Mets colors, blue and orange, the logo and uniforms were all chosen and designed for a reason, to honor New York’s rich baseball history: Dodger blue, Giants orange and “NY” crest, and Yankee pinstripes. The black and its associated accoutrements were also chosen for a reason: to capitalize on merchandising profits.

Um, no. The Green Sox look terrible. The only red and green unis should be, well, link

I liked the Cubs/Cards matchup, especially the pitchers, but they had to ruin it by unbuttoning the top button of their jerseys. Both pitchers! Sloppy.

Miami/Chicago playoff basketball game. Dwayne Wade was wearing an arm sleeve and compression shorts. I say, he should go all the way and just wear link Might as well!

Test…I’m new here…101 was supposed to be in response to 98.

graf,

Love your take. When it comes to understanding their history the Mets, under Wilpon and his fortunate son, have always been a day late and a dollar short.

Unfortunately, not only have they refused to embrace their rich history, they are a shallow and simple ownership who have repeatedly take notice of things only after they have jumped the shark.

When it comes to matters of taste they are so sadly predictable. Yes, Black is out, perhaps that’s whey they wear it more than ever.

Someone also forgot to read the memo that says only the Red Sox should be playing Sweet Caroline before the top of the ninth.

I think one person has mentioned how when merchandise took off in the late ’80s the popularity of the Raider’s black unis convinced a lot of teams to go with black including my team the White Sox. Just to clarify, the Sox (only the White Sox should be called Sox since they’re the only team with Sox on the cap and jersey) changed their unis to celebrate the opening of New Comisky in 1991. Part of the reason for black was indeed the popularity of the Raiders. It was also that the 1950s Sox unis were also black, which have been identified as the most popular Sox unis to that point. But I agree that theres no reason for the Mets to wear black other than merchandising.

[quote comment=”74050″]
The White Sox have along history with black, and even longer with very dark blue (100 years plus) -that is nothing new for them.

And actually the NY Giants have a significant “black” history, and even wore all black in 2 World Series. You are being pretty arbitrary in you historical selection.[/quote]

Yeah but the Giants are a different team. I get that the initial selection of blue and orange was based on the Giants and the Dodgers, but the Mets quickly established their own history and identity without black. Personally I think the Mets went with black so they could look tougher. After all they have the link on the other side of town. Otherwise they’d look just as wimpy as the Cubs, but they Cubs get away with it since they’re soo cuuute.

[quote comment=”74054″]Every year, when the Mets host the Yankees for a 3 game series, they have a “hat swap” where you can trade in a hat for a Mets hat.

Make your trade! Bring an old baseball cap to Shea for the Subway Series, May 18th through May 20th. The first 5,000 fans to show up to each game with an old cap, can trade it in for a new Mets cap, courtesy of Chevrolet.

Look at the ugly Mets hat that you get!

link

Um, yeah. I want one of those. What the? They couldn’t even make it blue and orange????

[quote comment=”74059″][quote comment=”74058″][quote comment=”74054″]Every year, when the Mets host the Yankees for a 3 game series, they have a “hat swap” where you can trade in a hat for a Mets hat.

Make your trade! Bring an old baseball cap to Shea for the Subway Series, May 18th through May 20th. The first 5,000 fans to show up to each game with an old cap, can trade it in for a new Mets cap, courtesy of Chevrolet.

Look at the ugly Mets hat that you get!

link

Um, yeah. I want one of those. What the? They couldn’t even make it blue and orange????[/quote]

Here’s the hat they’re giving away on June 2nd.

Wow, I’m shocked its black……..not

link

Ok. I totally support the “Ditch the B****” Campaign (in the case of the Mets), but I would take this hat over the other one any day, even if black weren’t my favorite color.

Todd, are they EVER giving away an orange and blue cap? Ever? Any time? I mean, they are the home colors, right?

[quote comment=”74053″][quote comment=”74050″]
The White Sox have along history with black, and even longer with very dark blue (100 years plus) -that is nothing new for them.

And actually the NY Giants have a significant “black” history, and even wore all black in 2 World Series. You are being pretty arbitrary in you historical selection.[/quote]

Yeah but the Giants are a different team. I get that the initial selection of blue and orange was based on the Giants and the Dodgers, but the Mets quickly established their own history and identity without black. Personally I think the Mets went with black so they could look tougher. After all they have the link on the other side of town. Otherwise they’d look just as wimpy as the Cubs, but they Cubs get away with it since they’re soo cuuute.[/quote]

Hey Tom – the Cubs “ditched the black” 98 years ago and haven’t won a WS since.

As long as they wear the blue caps/ undershirts/ socks at home as part of the official home uniform, they can wear as much black as they want on the road……

Hell, at this point I don’t care if they use the snow whites at home more than the pinstripes; let’s just see some blue!

[quote comment=”74042″]Um, no. The Green Sox look terrible. The only red and green unis should be, well, link
[/quote]

Except the Wild technically use link (also Harvest Gold and Minnesota Wheat)… which are slightly different from what the Red Sox were using.

link and request the Mets to go back to using blue and get rid of the black!

[quote comment=”73894″]
I think you are missing the most important thing there. As good as they were in the details, with everyone wearing real stir ups, etc, when taylor comes to bat in the 9th, he is wearing his cather’s helmet, not his batting helmet.

[/quote]

Remember, Taylor was an old grizzled vet who probably started his career in the late 70s in the movie, so he would have been grandfathered in on the no earflap helmet. I don’t think earflaps were mandatory until 1982 or so.

The thing is, green and red aren’t BAD colors to put together, but whenever someone does it it simply makes the wearer look like an elf because of all the connotations that come with the colors together.