The Mets aren't sellers at the trade deadline. If they're gonna be buyers, now or later, they're keeping it quiet. Manny Ramirez has been traded and untraded several times* since last night, since he signed with the Red Sox actually, so I never know what to make of July 31.
But you know what you can make of August 22? A good choice. August 22 is the next Gary, Keith and Ron [1] Night at Shea, when the organization that has formed to help others can help you see the Mets play the Astros. Mezzanine tickets are $12 apiece for those who have bought GKR t-shirts, net proceeds — as with their now famous tops — go to the charities supported by each of our three SNY announcers:
• Gary Cohen: Women's Center of Greater Danbury [2], which “provides free and confidential services to prevent or lessen the trauma associated with domestic violence, sexual assault and other major life transitions.”
• Keith Hernandez: Cobble Hill Health Center [3], “a nonprofit skilled nursing facility located on Henry Street in the historic Cobble Hill section of Brooklyn…at the forefront of innovative and progressive treatment for the elderly and disabled for almost 30 years.”
• Ron Darling: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International [4], dedicated to finding a cure in its role as “the leading charitable funder and advocate of type 1 diabetes research worldwide.”
Those are the causes GKR was set up to aid and, judging by the proliferation of their shirts around Shea, they're making some inroads. Help them make some more by checking out and buying a t-shirt or two. They're pretty sweet, actually, as you can see for yourself [5]. Plus they have some other other neat stuff [6]. I'm an “It's Outta Here!” [7] man, but you might be all about the mustache [8] or something else [9] altogether.
As Ron Darling himself has been known to say, wherever he goes, he makes sure he's comfortable. You'll be comfortable in one of these shirts and you'll feel good about who it's helping.
*Manny did get traded, to the Dodgers in a three-way with the Pirates that sends Jason Bay to the Red Sox. On behalf of 1776 fans everywhere, I formally request Boston's new leftfielder be referred to as Massachusetts Bay.