Yankees Announce Roster Ahead Of Opener With Sox

 

Yankee Stadium. Photo by Jason Schott.

The Yankees open the season on Friday against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, one day later than planned due to rain.

Gerrit Cole takes the mound for the Yankees, making his third Opening Day start in pinstripes, while Nathan Eovaldi gets the start for Boston.

The Yankees released their 28-man roster a few hours ahead of first pitch, and noted that catcher Ben Rortvedt is on the 10-day injured list and there are three pitchers on the 60-day IL (Zach Britton, Domingo German, andStephen Ridings). Here is the roster broken down by position:

Pitchers (16): right-handers ((10) - Miguel Castro, Gerrit Cole, Chad Green, Clay Holmes, Michael King, Jonathan Loaisiga, Ron Marinaccio, Clarke Schmidt, Luis Severino, Jameson Taillon; left-handers (6) - Aroldis Chapman, Nestor Cortes, Lucas Luetge, Jordan Montgomery, Wandy Peralta, JP Sears.

Catchers (2) - Kyle Higashioka, Jose Trevino

Infielders (6) - Josh Donaldson, Marwin Gonzalez, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, DJ LeMahieu, Anthony Rizzo, Gleyber Torres

Outfielders (4) - Joey Gallo, Aaron Hicks, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton

Mets Announce Roster Ahead of Opening Day In DC

Mets Manager Buck Showalter and General Manager Billy Eppler during spring training. @Mets.

The Mets, with new manager Buck Showalter at the helm, open the season on Thursday night in Washington against the Nationals, with first pitch at 7:05 p.m., and they released their opening day roster hours ahead of taking the field.

Citi Field Boasts More Than Just Baseball

 

Citi Field. Photo by Jason Schott.

Citi Field is known as the home of the New York Mets, but in recent years, it is a destination for a wide variety of events. 2022 will be a jam-packed year of concerts, races and a little soccer.

"We have a couple of races and runs we're thrilled to host for the first time ever," Amanda Cieri, the Senior Director of Event Operations at Citi Field, said at Thursday's "New in 2022 at Citi Field" event. "The Night Nation Run, that will take place in our parking lots on May 21st is the perfect combination of the ultimate music festival and 5K, great for families to come out and enjoy the night under the lights, so that is our first to kick off our athletic-style races. Then, to return this year, we have some fan favorites. We have the Color Run; for those of you who aren't familiar, it's the Happiest 5K on the Planet that promotes healthiness, happiness, and individuality, so we're super excited to have them back, and then we will also have a fan favorite returning, our Spartans, and that will take place with us in the fall with us, on November 19th. They take over every inch of the ballpark for athletic-style obstacles, so we're thrilled to be hosting these kinds of events at the ballpark this year."

Citi Field's non-gameday event team, Mets Events (formerly known as Metropolitcan HOspitality), has compiled an impressive 2022 Public Events Calendar, featuring the following:

New York City Football Club (NYCFC) Matches - The defending MLS Cup Champions will be playing at Citi Field on Sunday, April 24th at 5:00 p.m. vs. Toronto FC; Saturday, May 7th at 7:00 p.m. against Sporting Kansas City; Sunday, May 22nd at 5:00 p.m. vs. Chicago Fire; Wednesday, September 7th at 8:00 p.m. vs. FC Cincinnati.

Night Nation Run - On May 21st, Citi Field will host what is known as the World's First Running Music Festival, and a perfect blend of a Music Festival and a Fun Run while helping raise funds for Stand Up To Cancer! Starting and finishing at Citi Field, participants will experience a music-filled course with Live DJ's, Light Shows, Neon, and Black Lights.

Governors Ball - Set to take place from June 10th through June 12th, The Governors Ball Music Festival returns to Citi Field. This kick-off to summer will feature an exhilarating lineup of 60+ performing artists, including headliners J. Cole, Halsey, and Kid Cudi.

Motley Crue & Def Leppard - The Stadium Tour, headlined by these two iconic bands, as well as Poison and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, will take place at Citi Field on June 24, 2022.

Color Run - On July 30th, Citi Field will host what is also known as the Happiest 5K on the Planet, a unique event celebrating healthiness, happiness, and individuality. The longest running series in the world, The Color Run has had eight million runners worldwide in more than 50 countries, with 2022 marking its 10th anniversary.

Zac Brown Band - The "Out in the Middle Tour" comes to Citi Field on August 10th, and it will showcase the band's old-school country roots and southern-rock style, which is an ode to their country pride and life's simple pleasures. The Zac Brown Band will be joined by Caroline Jones, who performed as a special guest during "The Comeback Tour." The Robert Randolph Band will be the opening act.

Spartan Race - This is modern twist on an ancient Greek tradition, which gives competitors the chance to experience Citi Field like never before, will take place at Citi Field on November 19th. This Spartan Trifecta eligible course is a physical and mental challenge that covers 3+ miles and 15 obstacles spread throughout every inch of the ballpark. Participants will hear the music pumping as they run, traverse walls, and shoot for some new personal records.

Amaze Light Festival  - This exciting event will take place in the winter of 2022, and will bring millions of lights to Citi Field. Attendees can take a ride down Zing's Thrill Hill, watch the Dynamic Light Show, and explore Sparky's Sweet Spot all in one new immersive Storybook Holiday Experience.

Mets Improve Game Day Experience With Enhanced Technology

 

All photos by Jason Schott.

The Mets unveiled updates to their ballpark at their "New in 2022 at Citi Field" event on Thursday, and a big part of that is the updated technology, which fans are sure to notice from the second they walk in, thanks to their partnerships with Samsung and Wicket.

Oscar Fernandez, the Vice President of Technology Solutions, said, "We feel these enhancements are a major first step in creating an even better experience at Citi Field with leading-edge technology. Our owners, Steve Cohen and Alex Cohen, have supported a vision to improve the fan experience in every way possible at Citi Field, and embraced new technology to achieve these goals for our fans to give the the best venue experience as possible. A perfect example of that is our new partner, Wicket, with our new Mets Entry Express technology that will allow fans to use their face as their ticket to enter the ballpark safely, securely, and quickly.”

Samsung Electronics America is partnering with the Mets to make Citi Field one of the most technologically advanced ballpark in Major League Baseball. 

The biggest innovation fans will notice is the five levels of new LED ribbon boards lining the front of each deck of Citi Field, including the Promenade, Premium, and 100 levels ribbon boards. These replaced  advertising billboards in such places as right field, or were added to areas of the park not adorned with signage. 

The new LED boards in right field.

This is designed to deliver synchronized content along with more than 1,300 LCD screens displaying brilliant high-definition content even in direct sunlight, which is a major consideration when dealing with an outdoor facility.

The Mets partnership with Samsung to transform Citi Field from a static environment to an all-digital fan experience is controlled by an immersive new IPTV system that utilizes Samsung's MagicINFO software. There are triple the number of cameras capturing real-time action from every angle, and double the number of slow-motion replay systems. This allows the Mets to immediately deliver many angles of big plays and entertainment in brilliant clarity to every seat in the house.

There are now enhanced digital displays at the Jackie Robinson Rotunda, and a complete digital conversion from static screens at the Taste of the City Food Court. 

The digital upgrade extended to the players' experience, as there are new high definition Samsung screens in the dugouts to the bullpen and even the clubhouse. 

In addition, major upgrades are planned for the 2023 season, including a new dynamic centerfield scoreboard. There will be 1,000 additional LCD screens around the ballpark, new fan experience with tight pitch LED throughout the concourse area, two new large LED boards for game play viewing on the Promenade Plaza area.

Wicket (wicketsoft.com) is a software company focused on computer vision and biometric technology and headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Wicket has developed and deployed software products for big venues in sports and entertainment. 

The Mets Entry Express Program is a facial ticketing system at Citi Field. The voluntary opt-in program in which you register your face one time, enables faster, touchless entry into the ballpark through designated lanes with east online enrollment available to anyone attending a Mets home game. Fans can enter quickly and conveniently without using a paper ticket or their phone. Their face is their ticket.

Launched in August 2021, fans will be greeted at Opening Day this year by Mets Entry Express lanes at all main Citi Field gates, play at entrances to premium seating areas.

Mets & Yankees Swap A Pair of Relievers

 

Citi Field on Thursday morning. Photo by Jason Schott.

The Mets and Yankees made a rare trade on Sunday morning, just four days before Opening Day, as the Mets acquired left-hander Joely Rodriguez, and the Yankees acquired tall right-hander Miguel Castro.

Jacob deGrom To Miss Opener Of Mets' Season

 

Jacob deGrom at spring training. @Mets. 

The Mets released some sobering news on Friday afternoon, that their ace pitcher, Jacob deGrom, would miss his Opening Day start, and possibly several weeks after that.

Citi Field One Of The Best Culinary Destinations In NYC

 

All photos by Jason Schott.

When Citi Field opened in 2009, it quickly established itself as one of the best culinary venues in Major League Baseball, and in New York City, adding to the experience of taking in a Mets game.

The Mets unveiled what will be on the menu for the season at their "New in 2022 at Citi Field" event on Thursday afternoon.

Shake Shack has been a fixture behind center field from the beginning, and it was joined by recent favorites such as Fuku by David Chang, Sweet Chick, Patsy's Pizzeria, and Arancini Bros.

Pat LaFrieda's Chop House is a great destination. Created by one of America's elite butchers, Pat LaFrieda's Chop House brings Mets fans four generations of family tradition. It will have a new menu this season, featuring Lobster Fra Diavolo, Berkshire Pork Chop, NY Strip Steak, Petite Filet, and Surf & Turf. It is located in the Delta Sky360 Club on the Delta Level.

One new addition, thanks to the advent of sports gambling being legalized in New York, is the Caesars Sportsbook at the Metro Grille. 

Here is a selection of the food options showcased at the "New in 2022 at Citi Field" event:

Shake Shack: ShackBurger - Cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, and ShackSauce (pictured below) They also showcased their Triple Play Shake, which is a triple cookies and cream shake. It features vanilla custard blended with chocolate, chocolate chip and vanilla cookies, topped with cookie crumble and sprinkles. Located on the Field Level - Taste of the City.

Alonso's Arctic Grille: Polar Burger 2.0 - Pat LaFrieda dry aged burger blend, American cheese, cherry pepper bacon jam, secret sauce on a sesame brioche. It was served with Arctic Onions - Beer battered onions and claw sauce. Located in the Field Level behind section 102.

Patsy's Pizzeria: They showcased two of their famous pies, Original Cheese - Fresh pizza dough, whole milk mozzarella, and pizza sauce; and Pepperoni, made with the same ingredients. Located on the Field Level - Tasteof the City; Delta Level - Delta Sky360 Club; Excelsior Level - Piazza 31 Club; and Promenade Level - In the food court behind home plate.

Fuku: Spicy Fried Chicken Sando - Crispy habanero brined chicken breast, pickles, fuku mayo, on a Martin's potato roll. Located on the Field Level - Behind Section 130, and the Delta Level in the Delta Sky360 Club.

Cookie Crumbz: The Fun "Met" I - A white chocolate chip cookie packed with blue and orange sprinkles; and a Chunky Dunk, a classic chocolate chip cookie that is packed with milk and dark chocolate chips. Located in the Promenade Level - Jim Beam Highball Club

Cento Percento: Classico - Mozzarella, Roma tomatoes, pesto, arugula, balsamic glaze, olive oil on ciabatta; and a Meatball Cup - Florentine beef meatballs, arrabbiata sauce, truffle cream, basil, and olive oil. Located on the Field Level - World's Fare Market.

Caesars Sportsbook at the Metropolitan Grille: Confit Chicken Wings, served with cool ranch dipping sauce; and a Lobster Tostada, which is a Maine lobster salad, with cilantro crema, lobster fondue, and micro basil. Located on the Excelsior Level - Behind the left field foul pole.

The Pizza Cupcake: Traditional, served with classic tomato sauce. A very unique item that you have to have to try. Located in the General Stands.

Tacocina: Chicken Tinga Tacos - Braised chicken in a sauce of tomato, onion, and garlic, garnished with avocado, cotija cheese, and cilantro. Located on the Field Level - Taste of the City.