Author Archives: Brendan Kuty

About Brendan Kuty

Brendan Kuty is an SNY.tv sports reporter and frequent Metsblog contributor. He has fist pounded an inebriated Joe Frazier and often falls for Brian Cashman's sneaky shoulder-tapping trick. Brendan lives in New Jersey, where it's OK to drink "cawfee."

A group of reporters – including myself – will tour the unfinished Citi Field on Tuesday.

Alongside Mets public relations master Jay Horwitz, we’ll probably explore the much-hyped Jackie Robinson Rotunda, as well as the rest of the ballpark, designed to be a new-millennium version of Ebbets Field.

A few quick facts about the Mets’ new digs:

• Citi Field will seat approximately 45,000. Shea Stadium has 57,333 butt-parking spots. Forty-two percent of the new ballpark’s seats will be located in the concourse seating level.
• There will be a smattering of climate-controlled bars, restaurants and lounges. Think: Prudential Center, home to the New Jersey Devils, in Newark, N.J., but on a grander scale.
• The Mets will commission a statue to honor Jackie Robinson, the legendary pioneer and great American who broke baseball’s color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. What? No love for Armando Benitez?
• Outfield demensions: LF – 335 feet; LC – 379 feet; CF – 408 feet; RC – 383 feet; RF – 330 feet. Guess the Mets will move from one pitcher’s park to another.
• Citi Field will not feature a retractable roof. Arizona, Houston, Toronto, Seattle and Milwaukee have one.

I’ll post a few things we learned on the tour later Tuesday from my full article, which will be available at SNY.tv.

Tagged Armando Benitez, Brendan Kuty, Citi Field, Jay Horwitz, Shea Stadium, SNY |

Billy Wagner just spent about 15 minutes in deep right field tossing around the old pigskin under the watchful eye of trainers.

Wagner started short, then worked long, looking pretty darn smooth throughout.

There seemed to be no hesitation on Wagner’s part – a great sign for Mets fans. Wagner has nursed a strained left forearm on the disabled list since Aug. 5, retroactive to Aug. 3. He further injured his throwing arm during a Aug. 14 rehab start in Binghamton.

Wagner, a former Virginia high school quarterback, has said that throwing around a football helps him get loose before games, the same way it aided Nolan Ryan’s ridiculously strong arm.

By the way, Wagner seems to prefer the three-step drop. So did former Jets signal caller Chad Pennington, who’s now in sunny Miami. Makes one wonder if the lefty fireballer could have excelled in another line of work.

According to multiple reports, Wagner is scheduled to throw a bullpen session prior to tonight’s game in Shea Stadium.