Is This Really our Fanbase?

Not sure what is more embarrassing -- that the deadbeat Blue Jays don't have the stones to throw at A-Rod after he humiliated them in their own park (This season has been a disgrace for a team that had hopes of making the playoffs. Imagine the credibility around baseball if they just rightfully threw at the game's second most hated villain?) ...

or...

The questions in Marty Noble's most recent mailbag on Mets.com.

I think back to that scene in "Clerks" where Randall talks about all the moronic questions he receives on a daily basis. The scene made me laugh a lot.

Me and my buddy Big Maciej have a running joke. It's really who is quickest. We see a moron on TV or a guido and one of us jumps:

Sip: "Hey, bro. Lets go Yanks, right bro?"
Maciej: " How bout them Mets, bro?"

This is us referring to a conversation that the on-screen character might have.

Imagine watching "True Life: Jersey Shore" with a Yankee fan.

But seriously, you know how I feel about Mets fans these days.

Remember back in the mid 90's when Summer games at Shea might draw 25,000? I think about 10 percent of those people are friends of mine to this day. I would walk around the streets of Manhattan, see someone in a Mets had, yell "Let's go Mets," and they would smile and respond.

I grew up a little. But every once in a while I will do it just to see the reaction. I get none.

Shea now sees 45,000 "New Mets" fans every day. Some say this is good. I don't really know. Especially when I read this week's mailbag. It was almost painful.

Every question could be met with one of the following:

"No, you're wrong."

"No, that's not how it works."

"No. Are you serious?"

But Marty Noble is nice enough to casually explain to our 3rd grader fan base why their questions are, in fact, WRONG.

1. I saw the statistic you wrote about -- that Rickey Henderson had led off the first inning with a home run more times by the time he played with the Mets in 1999 than the Mets had in their history. How can that be true? Rickey had played just 21 years by the time he signed with the Mets, and they were born in 1962. They had all those games -- 17 [years] times 162 [games] before he was a rookie. You can't be right. Where did you get your information?
-- Jon H., Sandy Hook, N.J.

No. Are you serious? Rickey is the greatest leadoff hitter ever.

2. Once Duaner Sanchez comes off the disabled list, I suppose he will be a free agent. The Mets should consider re-signing him to a two- or three-year contract. He is so valuable to their bullpen when he's healthy. With nasty stuff and a blazing fastball, Sanchez should be the prime setup man when he returns, and should be in a Mets uniform for as long as possible.
-- Jordan R., New York, N.Y.

No. That's not how it works. See arbitration rules.

3. I know this is looking ahead, but what if the Mets moved outfield prospect Fernando Martinez to second base? Then they would have an outfield of Carlos Beltran, Lastings Milledge and Carlos Gomez with an infield of David Wright, Jose Reyes, Martinez and Carlos Delgado.
-- Alex X., Cresskill, N.J.

No. That's not how it works. Why doesn't Sip catch? He caught in high school?

4. Now that Julio Franco is gone, do you think Ramon Castro may get some time at first base when Delgado needs a rest? The only Met with significant time at first base, other than Delgado, is Shawn Green, but he also bats left-handed and Delgado probably would be resting only against a left-handed starter.

Damion Easley probably is the only other option, and he has played 21 games there. However, he plays several positions and can get at-bats from those spots. Castro is the only other right-handed-hitting option. He has never played first, but it seems like if he can pick it up, it would be a good way to get a good hitter more at-bats. What do you think?
-- Adam S., Hillsborough, N.J.

No. That's not how it works. Remember when we tried to put Todd Hundley in LF? (RIP)

5. With all the speculation about Paul Lo Duca not returning next season and a certain someone rehabbing as a catcher in the Minor Leagues out West, is there any chance the Mets could make a cheap move to get Mike Piazza as a backup catcher and -- for the World Series -- designated hitter? You would think, if Roger Clemens and Julio Franco still played hard into their mid 40s, that Piazza at age 38 still has a chance to show he can play. To have him back at Shea Stadium would be a dream come true for all true Mets fans
-- Marty C., Toms River, N.J.

No. Are you serious? (Though this one bothered me the least. It would be a nice story and say what you want, but Monster would be a very nice Right Handed bat off the bench.)

6. Because Endy Chavez made that great catch in Game 7 of the NLCS last year, could he go into the Hall of Fame just for that?
-- Jacob K., Croton, N.Y.

No. Are you serious?

7. Now that the Mets have been around for 46 years, why don't they hold an Old Timer's Day like the Yankees? They have had nights like the reunion of '86 team, but no games.
-- Scot S., New York, N.Y.

No. When did you make the switch from the Bronx to Queens? 2006 or 2007?

8. I see the setup relief role as lacking on this team and would like to see the Mets make a move for a more reliable setup man not prone to allowing home runs like Aaron Heilman has been. What are your thoughts? It would allow Joe Smith and Pedro Feliciano to be used more situationally, and the Mets can still bring Guillermo Mota along to see if he can produce effective innings.
-- Robert N., Archbald, Pa.

The Mets need bullpen help...THANKS!

Is this really our fanbase? What happened to this city?

Vaya,
Sip