New York Mets fans react as team trumpets partnership with NYC hospital, including sleeve ads and Mets onesies for newborns: "Depression from birth"
The New York Mets often find themselves being the butt of jokes among their fan base as they continue to find ways to keep the mockery flowing.
The latest incident of the Mets opening themselves up to jokery came Thursday as the team announced a multi-year partnership with NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. The partnership will include an advertising patch on the team's uniform sleeve, as well as a onesie given to babies born at NewYork-Presbyterian hospitals.
Mets news-ish: They will wear a NewYork-Presbyterian patch on their uniforms as part of a new deal with the hospital.
Also as part of the deal, every baby born at NYP will get a Mets onesie.
While New York Mets fans sighed at the sleeve advertisement, the onesie announcement had Mets Nation in stitches. The sleeve will make its debut on Friday when the Mets host the Miami Marlins in the team's home opener at Citi Field.
Feigned cries of child abuse rose from New Yorkers, all too aware of the generations of the Mets faithful that have been mentally tormented over the organization's 62-year run in Queens.
@timbhealey Depression from birth poor children
@timbhealey Babies at NYP https://t.co/MCmBzf9EPy
@timbhealey why would they subject the babies to that
Still, other fans made a quick connection to the Mets' reluctance to call up heralded prospect Brett Baty, who excelled in spring training. He is currently hitting .400 at Triple-A Syracuse.
@timbhealey Put a Mets uniform on a kid, but never call them up.
Yep, that’s about right.
Sleeve advertisements are a part of modern-day life in MLB. Most fans, except those rooting for the Houston Astros, are able to accept, or at least ignore, the uniform addition.
@timbhealey Knew uni patches were inevitable, but still bummed.
Fans who weren't lamenting what the Mets could be doing to droves of poor newborns saw the team's partnership with the NewYork-Presbyterian as the perfect pairing for a ballclub that can't seem to keep its players off the injured list.
@timbhealey The Mets being sponsored by a hospital is the most on-brand sponsorship in baseball
@timbhealey The way our players are going on the IL, it's very appropriate that a hospital is a sponsor!
And what of the children? Do they not get a say as to whether they will be haunted in later years by photos of their tiny selves outfitted in Mets colors? What if they become New York Yankees fans, or truly rebel and become Philadelphia Phillies supporters?
@timbhealey Will no longer be going to NY-Presbyterian for my blood work. This is really toxic. Assuming babies will support baseball? This is as toxic as giving a baby boy blue clothes. Let them decide!
@timbhealey Can’t wait to hear about the Yankee fan having a meltdown cause his kid is wearing a @Mets onesie
@timbhealey I expect this to backfire.
“Why would you let them brand me…I’m a Yankees fan now, old man.”
New York Mets grooming/dooming the next generation?
In a press release announcing the partnership, New York-Presbyterian Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Devika Mathrani said:
"We’re thrilled to partner with the New York Mets to improve the health and well-being of all the communities we serve. Through this partnership, we will work together on community initiatives, activations, and experiences that encourage people to prioritize their physical and mental health."
The statement obviously does not take into account the toll that the New York Mets have taken on the mental health of their fans over the years.