Twitter And How It Effects Baseball

Author: Nathan Mize

"Follow me on Twitter!", seems to have sneaked it's way into everyday conversation. Twitter has become an essential part in mostly every one's life. It is a place where people get all their jokes, updates, and news all in one. But when does it get to the point where there is too much news? This is extremely relevant when it comes to the current summer Olympics in London. NBC has tape delayed most of the games so that the main events can be shown in "prime time". Of course, if you are on Twitter, you find out who won what several hours before it hits your television. Some people enjoy it but most people are outraged, saying it takes all the fun away from the Olympics. That's just the 2012 Olympics. The real question is, how has Twitter.com effected America's pastime?

Depending on who you ask, you can get very different answers. If you ask the older generation, (40-80) they might say the same thing most people say about the Olympics, it takes all the fun away from the sport. Why even watch or listen to the game when countless accounts give you play-by-play? The Mets fan base is a great example of this. In my opinion, I could sit in a room with no TV or radio and just read my Twitter Timeline and get the exact same experience as watching it. I do not prefer this, however. It's not a true Mets game unless I am listening to Gary, Keith, and Ron give me color of what's happening inside the game. It is just amazing that Twitter can make you feel like you are watching the game but in reality, you are reading less than 140 characters scroll by in an instant.


If you ask the middle generation, (20-39) they could definitely be conflicted. Considering the fact that most people in this age group have a Twitter account, they don't think of Twitter effecting baseball. It is just there. You are not obligated to check play-by-play, just watch the game and use Twitter as a reference if needed. I think that is the fine line in the talk about social media in general ruining any sport. Nobody said you HAD to get a Twitter. You don't HAVE to check it every hour for updates. If you are out and taping the Mets game at home, don't go online. If you think Twitter is ruining the game of baseball, then maybe the online life isn't for you.

In my opinion, Twitter has neither hurt or helped the game of baseball. Of course, it comes in handy when we are away from the TV and we find out baseball history was just made through Twitter. But instead Twitter has just added color to the sport. Someone hits a grand slam, a fan on Twitter can describe if he is ecstatic or devastated. Maybe a fan caught that grand slam ball and he wanted to tweet about it. So in conclusion, Twitter is purely what you make of it. You decide who you want to follow. It is a place for jokes, updates, and news but more importantly...color. Go Mets.



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2013 All-Star Game Logo

Here is the official 2013 Mets All-Star Game logo which will be played at Citi Field! What does everyone think??

Keep Calm And Read JustMets

Mets Depression

Author: Nathan Mize



I was hoping that I didn't have to write this. I was hoping that the Mets would shake off this losing streak and keep winning games just like they did in the first half of the season. From April to early July this team had losing streaks but they also had winning streaks. June was like a roller coaster. However, after the All-Star break, that roller coaster works differently. Instead it has been one downhill ride to the middle of the NL East and near the bottom of the Wild Card race. We are now at the part of the roller coaster that goes all the way down. The problem is, it hasn't gone back up yet. All of us inside of the roller coaster are patiently waiting for it to go back up. So we can have that thrill, that excitement. However, there is no thrill, and there is no excitement. Just a ton of fans that want there money back from the theme park.

Some fans, including myself, stay inside this theme park. Even though most of the rides are out of order, maybe we can find some hope. It is extremely hard, however. The Mets have only won TWO games after the All-Star break. We are now 3 games under .500 for the first time this year. It seems like every time we turn to SNY the Mets seem like they are mounting a comeback, but no, that ride is temporarily out of order as well. The Mets organization is optioning players down to AAA here like it's nothing. Will that help? Something needs to happen for the Mets to be a serious contender in the NL East and just the NL in general.

THIS GUY can help. His name is Matt Harvey. He will be starting today (7-26-12), and like most Mets fans, I am eager to see this guy pitch. This year in Triple A, Harvey has struck out 112 already. That's an impressive stat. If you break down HOW the Mets have been losing all these games, it is without a doubt all about pitching. It can't be the offense since David Wright and Ike Davis have been dropping bombs in the outfield. This year the Mets, as a team, have given up 97 homers and 852 over all hits. This is outrageous. With Johan going on the DL, we need a good young arm to cure our Mets depression. Why not a guy who has a WHIP of 1.2 and an ERA of 3.6? Matt Harvey will hopefully fix this broken roller coaster. Tighten the bolts, grease the tracks, and just pitch well. That's what we need.

The Mets now play in Arizona for a 3 game series. This is a perfect place to pick up where you were, and just start playing baseball. The Mets are losing, yes. Does that mean we just stop believing? No. There are no refunds at this theme park.

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My Turner Field Experience

Author: Nathan Mize

This past Sunday, I had the opportunity to visit Turner Field in Atlanta to see the Mets take on the Braves. Despite the disappointing loss and the terrible sunburn I got, it was a great experience to visit a ballpark I have never been to before. I also snagged a few autographs before the game. If you are ever in Atlanta, go check out Turner Field, just make sure the Mets are there first.

5 Questions the Mets Need to Answer In the Second Half

Author: Will Hernandez

It's time for the second half of the season! Here are 5 questions the Mets need to answer in order to be in contention come October. Enjoy! 




5. Can the farmhands help with the harvest?

It’s hard to believe former general manager Omar Minaya is responsible for a lot of what you see on the field at the moment for the Mets. These are Minaya’s Mets in many ways from Ike Davis to Lucas Duda to Bobby Parnell. And if the Mets intend to make a serious push for a playoff spot, current GM Sandy Alderson might need to reach down into the system to help the big club if outside options are few or too costly. Lefthanded reliever Josh Edgin is set to join the Mets in Atlanta. Jenrry Mejia, meanwhile, struggled in a relief appearance Thursday night for Triple A Buffalo. And then there’s the question about what to do with Matt Harvey, who might make his major league debut Wednesday in Washington against the Nats. The sign of a stellar farm system in the ability for those players to rise to the occasion when called upon. The Red Sox are a great example of this and the Mets are on their way down a similar path.

4. Can Jason Bay be Jason Bay?

This may very well be Bay’s last chance to prove his worth to the Mets. He is no doubt one of the great guys in baseball and plays every game like it might be his last. Well, if Bay doesn’t turn things around very quickly, he might very well be playing his final games in Queens. If the Mets can some how coax 10 to 15 homers out of Bay in the second half, watch out.

3. Can the bullpen improve?

There’s really no need to rehash the shortcomings of this Mets bullpen. It’s pretty atrocious and not one Mets fan is confident right now about having Frank Francisco in a prime save situation. Help is on the way in Edgin as mentioned earlier. Francisco is on the mend in the minors. Outside options such as K-Rod and Huston Street continue to be discussed. Manager Terry Collins might not necessarily believe in his relief pitchers having set roles, but he might have to change his tune down the stretch.

2. Can the starting rotation hold up?

Despite what we’ve seen from Johan Santana in the first half, he’s still pitching with what’s basically a reconstructed left shoulder. Collins will no doubt try to get Santana extra rest in the second half, even if it means pitching R.A. Dickey on three days rest a couple of times. Jon Niese struggled in his last start before the break against the Cubs, but he’s been consistent the last eight weeks. What happens with the backend of the rotation remains to be seen. Chris Young is always an injury waiting to happen. Dillon Gee probably won’t pitch again this season. Harvey remains in play as mentioned earlier. If Miguel Batista can’t get the job done in the next couple of weeks, Alderson might have to go outside the organization for help.

1. Can the Mets keep this up, period?

The Mets schedule for the remainder of July is brutal. They’re tested right away with the Braves and Nats. It’s time for the Mets to make a statement. Too many times in the past they’ve found themselves in a similar situation coming out of the All-Star break and failed in spectacular fashion. Mets fans probably want to see nothing more than this team to step on the throats of the Brave and Nats, press down hard, and dominate the second half. That’s unlikely to happen for the Mets and the rest of the division for that matter. We’re probably in for a wild ride until the bitter end.

All-Star Game 2012

Author: Nathan Mize

As all of us know, the All-Star Game is this Tuesday in Kansas City. What most people do not know, I live in a small town about 50 minutes outside of Kansas City. I was born here and I support everything KC. I am even a bit of a Royals fan but I have been a Mets fan for as long as I remember and I will continue to be one for the rest of my life. The number 1 question of all time that I get whenever I am caught sporting a Mets hat or shirt is, "How can you be a Mets fan and live in Kansas?" I always answer, "I don't know, I guess I was born with it." I will never be able to pinpoint the exact moment where I decided to become a Mets fan and I honestly don't care. This is my team, and even though I am 1,270 miles away, the NY logo will forever remain on my hat.

Enough of me. The All-Star game every year is something special. We get to see the best take on the best. We get to have a quick "break" of every day baseball and sit back. Every year is a different venue, different fans, and sometimes even different players. Some people hate the ASG and some people love it. The winner gets World Series home field advantage and sometimes that is really important. The All-Star game brings back good memories to everyone. Something that has been around for so long can still be relevant in today's society. This year, I will be attending my first ever All-Star game. I cannot wait to see all the different fans from every corner of the nation merge into Kauffman on Tuesday. I can't wait to see Dickey take the mound and make everyone say "Wow, he's good." David might even hit one into the fountains, who knows?!

The All-Star game means everything to my hometown of Kansas City. Over the past couple of years, people here in KC can't be particularly excited about baseball. We love our barbecue, our jazz, and everything else that makes Kansas City great. Despite the crazy heat here lately, Kansas City Missouri is a great place to be. If you are ever coming here for the All-Star game, to see relatives, or even just for vacation, you will be pleasantly surprised about what Kansas City can offer you.


The All-Star game is more than just a game. It is almost like a huge family reunion for the MLB. I can't think of a better place to have a game like this. (Other that Citi Field of course.) I cheer for the National League, and we will win.