This weekend is Play Ball Weekend, which means special kid-friendly articles and features all week long!

Today, Kevin Long and Michael Conforto demonstrate hitting tips for the young ones on MLB Network’s Play Ball.

For the second consecutive start, Mets pitcher Robert Gsellman has delivered a quality start. Yesterday, on Memorial Day, Robert allowed 2 earned runs over 7 innings pitched. Which lowered his inflated ERA to 5.75, which is still nowhere near where one would want to be this time of year, but is more breathable.

Gsellman, who was supposed to be the fifth starter in the rotation coming into the year, was moved up to the third starter slot, before getting pushed down to the point that he went to the bullpen, only to solidify a rotation spot for the time being,

However, Gsellman will have to have a few more quality starts in the not to distant future, as both Steven Matz and Seth Lugo are estimated to re-join the rotation in the upcoming weeks, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Gsellman was transitioned back into the long man roll that he previously had.

One bright spot about this is that it’s generally a good problem to have. Too much depth is always better than too little depth, so the Mets will take this problem, considering the rotation consisted of Rafael Montero and Tommy Milone two weeks ago.

2017 is my fourth full season of blogging about Mets baseball, and, in my third year of MetsPlus, I wanted to share a new slogan to pair with the MetsPlus brand, that will be featured across our social medias.

The phrase is “Let’s Go Mets Plus”, a take on “Let’s Go Mets” with the Plus being inserted afterwards.

While the Mets season has not been going dandy so far, changing things up and keeping spirits high is the one way to keep the good times going.

So, to the over half a million who have been reading these last four years, I want to say: Let’s Go Mets (Plus)!

On Tuesday, Michael Conforto hit two homeruns and had four runs batted in (three of those in the first inning from the leadoff spot, which was a club record).

This was just another day of work for Conforto, who has been so hot, that fans have been urging other fans to #WriteInConforto, even though he’s not on the all star game ballot.

Topps NOW, the limited edition baseball card that crowned Noah Syndergaard their intern when they unveiled a card for him in April, has come out with another Mets card for Conforto, which one can buy here.

Of course, like with any Topps NOW card, this can only be purchased until 3pm, so if you want the card, click the above link quickly!

Terry Collins, the Mets manager since the year 2011, is set to be the longest tenured manager in Mets history in terms of games coached, if he manages through this Saturday’s game versus the Los Angeles Angels (which he should break no problem, unless the Mets lose today and Alderson wants to really shake things up.)

For those un-familiar, here is a list of the Mets managers:

Jerry Manuel  2008-10

Willie Randolph 2004-08

Art Howe 2003-04

Bobby Valentine1996-2002

Dallas Green 1993-96

Jeff Torborg 1992-93

Mike Cubbage 1991

Bud Harrelson 1990-91

Davey Johnson 1984-90

Frank Howard 1983

George Bamberger 1982-83

Joe Torre 1977-81

Joe Frazier 1976-77

Roy McMillan 1975

Yogi Berra1972-75

Gil Hodges 1968-71

Salty Parker 1967

Wes Westrum 1965-67

Casey Stengel 1962-1965

Last Sunday, I had the extreme fortune to sit in the second row behind home-plate, a true once in a lifetime experience.

I have to start off by thanking the gentleman who works with one of the Mets sponsors for giving us the tickets. I’ve never sat in the Delta seats in front of the “moat” before, and it was a real thrill.

So, I wanted to share some of my thoughts (pros and cons) of sitting behind home plate.

I arrived at the stadium at 11am, a full two hours before game time. I wanted to spend as much time in the seats as possible, so I could scout it out. I’ve sat in all seating locations at Citi Field with the exception of the uber-special Delta seats, Hyundai Club, Party City Deck, and the Sterling Suites, so I was able to cross one more locations off the list.

The promotion of the day were Neil Walker Batting Gloves. Not sure what makes them Neil Walker gloves, especially when the image on the packaging has him wearing solid white gloves, not the orange and blue ones given out.

Mike Francesa arrived shortly after I did, at around 11:40, and he was very nice and willing to take a photo with me when I asked. Unfortunately he wasn’t all smiles after the game, which I’m sure he regrets attending.

For some reason, I was mesmerized by the little Mets sign behind home plate, I’d seen it since the introduced it in 2011 during a Mets vs. Dodgers game (replacing a Mets skyline logo which had been there since 2010).

In reality it’s a black tape covering up the old “mets.com” sign, and the Mets word mark is sticking on like a magnet.

The seats were very nice, with the appropriate padding (even though I don’t need all that padding to be comfortable). In the first row, a lot of people placed their feet against the other side of the brick backstop, which featured safety placards.

As a fan in a Delta Platinum seat, I had access to all clubs but the Hyundai all-you-can eat Club. I did, however, have access to the Delta Sky LOUNGE (not CLUB), which was for fans seated in rows 1-5. It featured free light food, sides, ballpark favorites, nonalcoholic Coca Cola products, and a for-purchase par.

It was a small space, and nowhere as “luxurious” as the Legends Club in the Bronx, but it was a very nice set-up with super friendly staff members.

Here’s some photo’s of what was on offer during the game:

I did my best to never leave my seat all-game, as I was keeping score with a scorebook, but there was one time I did leave my seat and I was caught on camera, specifically during T.J Rivera’s fourth inning at bat:

My seat mates were Marlins fans, who received their tickets from the famous Marlins Man, and they were having fun with the camera, to say the least.

I was wearing my super cool The7Line Cool Base 2017 jersey, which was really awesome to wear, as I hadn’t had the opportunity to wear it to the game until this past Sunday.

Unfortunately, the game was terrible, and was one of the shortest games I’ve been to, but it was a lot of fun nonetheless, and a priceless memory for me.

In the  inaugural MetsPlus360, I  shared my story of Mike Piazza’s reception at the Farmer’s Museum, in Cooperstown, New York:

After the Hall Of Fame Parade, where many of the game’s legends strolled down Main Street in fancy Ford trucks, Mike Piazza and other Mets alumni, family and friends made their way to the Farmer’s Museum. At first it was a little awkward. A farmer’s museum doesn’t seem like the first place to hold a formal gathering, but the reception area was very nice and professional, and it was lit with dangling lightbulbs, like one can find throughout the Excelsior Level and on the Coca-Cola Corner at Citi Field.

There were plenty of food options in the reception area, which was breaker into two areas, inside and outside. Inside, there was a full service bar, light finger foods and an Ice Cream station that opened up 90 minutes prior to the events end.

Outside, there were a few more food stations. My personal favorite was a Pulled Pork Sandwich station (I had two… or three), a hamburger station, a taco stand, another station with miscellaneous comfort food items, and I slightly smaller full service bar.

After we got settled in, a few of the high-profile guests arrived. Ex-Mets Al Lieter, Tom Glavine and Cliff Floyd all were present. Additionally, Mets owners Fred and Jeff Wilpon attended the event, to give Mr.Piazza a very special gift

Once the dust settled, I went over to Piazza to introduce myself and ask for a photo. He happily obliged, and while this isn’t surprising news to anyone, Mike had no objections to taking any photos, and was admirably gracious to anyone and everyone who asked for one. Here’s me with Mike:

Of course, there we a few other high-rollers that attended the event shortly after Piazza’s arrival. Tommy LaSorda and Joe Torre, two Baseball legends, strolled in fashionably late, and while I didn’t take any pictures with them, they were very humble.

One of the most important attendees was Major League Baseball’s commissioner, Robert Manfred, who had no objections to my photo request.

Finally, before leaving, Mike Piazza pendants and caps were handed out, which was a nice touch. Ultimately, this was an amazing event that I probably had no business being at, but I enjoyed every minute of it.

A heart felt thanks to Mike and Alicia Piazza for the generous invitation both to the induction ceremony and the Farmers Museum reception.