The Mets had a rough first week but have been strong the last 10 days…but why are Brandon Tierney and Sal Licata so concerned that no one is showing up to Citi Field, and may not even for Doc Gooden Day Sunday?
That convo started Friday when Sal asked BT if he thought fans tonight would get behind Francisco Lindor, who needs some encouragement while slumping:
“I think fans will do it, but not where it registers anything impressive. I don't think there'll be enough people there,” BT said. “I don't think there's enough people who, even though we think that social media is all over, are on social media. Social media means nothing. The level of toxicity and unimportance is staggering. So I think that it will not register, even if the intention is to make it register, but I also think when you say it can't hurt, I disagree with that.”
BT thinks the encouragement can hurt because if it happens and Lindor DOESN’T bust his slump, it might shake his confidence even more – but Sal, of course, thinks it can also go the other way, even if Lindor goes oh-fer.
But back to that whole not enough people notion: will Sunday look less impressive than it should?
“How many people do you think go tonight? 20 or 25,000?” BT asked. “Let’s say it’s 20, which is pathetic!” BT said. “Attendance opening week wasn’t great at all, but it better be sold out on Sunday – if you guys can't sell out for Doc, you don't deserve to be in a playoff race!”
“I’m with you; I don't know what's happened, but I go back to the postseason in 2022. They won 101 games, and I don't care even how it ended – I don't know anybody that took that loss harder than I did – but the fact that I went to the postseason expecting normal postseason atmosphere for a fan base that doesn't experience that, and it was dead as can be, flat as can be, for all three games for a team that won 101 games? It should’ve been exciting, and I don't understand it. And now you watch, and, like Opening Day doesn't feel the same.”
BT wondered if it has to do with the Mets’ most popular player, Pete Alonso, not being a real draw, and Sal’s not sold on that being a thing, but it is different.
“This year is not gonna be a good barometer because we don't expect them to be good, but this weekend with Doc, that's a big enough draw to where it should be sold out unequivocally.” Sal said. “I don’t go to a lot of games anymore, but Dwight Gooden, that's one guy I make the exception for.”
Lower expectations plus higher ticket prices could equal malaise, which BT noted that disposable income disappearing in general could be a big factor…and so could just general malaise, says Sal?
“In 2022, I’m pretty sure the postseason either sold out or was close to sold out, but empty seats wasn't the reason why it wasn't energetic,” Sal said. “I’ve been to other games where it's not sold out, but you feel the energy, you know what I mean? In 2022, the energy was just off, it wasn't there. I can understand it for the Yankees because the Yankees make the postseason every year.”
“No, it was awful, too!” BT replied. “So maybe we need to t least incorporate the Yankees here as well, because outside of this year where Soto's re-energized everything, but there was a palpable dip in enthusiasm and in attendance for the Yankees as well.”
The Soto notion brought BT back around to the Alonso point, and you can listen to him and Sal discuss it further in the audio above!