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UMDB and MBTN (split from Listerine)

Benjamin Grimm Jan 05 2018 09:47 PM

Edgy MD wrote: ...the Failing Ultimate Mets Database... Hey! You may be on to something, though. I've decided to give it one more year and then, after the 2018 season, I'll see if I want to keep the thing going.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 05 2018 09:50 PM Re: Listerine (And Other Adventures in Old Mets Photos)

That'll be an even 20 years! I'll need to work out a deal with you on preserving part of it!

Benjamin Grimm Jan 05 2018 09:54 PM Re: Listerine (And Other Adventures in Old Mets Photos)

My feelings about the UMDB vary depending on whether it's the season or the offseason. This time of year I pretty much ignore it and the thought of starting up again seems to be more trouble than it's worth. But once the season gets underway I start to enjoy it a bit more. But yeah, if and when I do shut it down, we'll certainly come up with a way to preserve your numbers data. Maybe someone else would even want to take on the whole thing. But this is premature. Chances are I'll keep it up for at least a few more years.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 05 2018 10:02 PM Re: Listerine (And Other Adventures in Old Mets Photos)

I have the very same thoughts.

Edgy MD Jan 06 2018 02:49 AM Re: Listerine (And Other Adventures in Old Mets Photos)

Benjamin Grimm wrote: ...the Failing Ultimate Mets Database... Hey! You may be on to something, though. I've decided to give it one more year and then, after the 2018 season, I'll see if I want to keep the thing going. That'll be an even 20 years! I'll need to work out a deal with you on preserving part of it! Benjamin Grimm wrote: My feelings about the UMDB vary depending on whether it's the season or the offseason. This time of year I pretty much ignore it and the thought of starting up again seems to be more trouble than it's worth. But once the season gets underway I start to enjoy it a bit more. But yeah, if and when I do shut it down, we'll certainly come up with a way to preserve your numbers data. Maybe someone else would even want to take on the whole thing. But this is premature. Chances are I'll keep it up for at least a few more years. I have the very same thoughts. You guys both rule, but youse might want to each take on a junior partner. They bring the 21st century expertise while you bring 20 years of brand equity. They can do all the work while you count the piles of $$$!

Zvon Jan 06 2018 04:15 AM Re: Listerine (And Other Adventures in Old Mets Photos)

Edgy MD wrote: You guys both rule, but youse might want to each take on a junior partner. They bring the 21st century expertise while you bring 20 years of brand equity. They can do all the work while you count the piles of $$$! If you make $$$ on the UMDB I'll work under you, over you, run it, whatever. Even if you only make $$, or $.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 06 2018 01:23 PM Re: Listerine (And Other Adventures in Old Mets Photos)

No dollars, not anymore. I used to make about $400 per year on the UMDB through advertising, and had I not foolishly spent that money on women, booze, and beer I guess I'd probably be a billionaire by now. My dilemma is whether or not I want to take on the challenge of making the site responsive. I'm intrigued by the idea of it, but not, for the moment anyway, particularly motivated. So for now it will go on as it is.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 06 2018 02:33 PM Re: Listerine (And Other Adventures in Old Mets Photos)

I have proudly lost money for almost 19 years on MBTN and turned down every marketing offer I ever got. Good thing is they have stopped trying.

G-Fafif Jan 06 2018 07:53 PM Re: Listerine (And Other Adventures in Old Mets Photos)

This user/reader continues to find both UMDB and MBTN top-notch resources and ongoing inspirations. May they endure as the standards of online Metsian excellence they've always been.

dgwphotography Jan 06 2018 08:04 PM Re: Listerine (And Other Adventures in Old Mets Photos)

Benjamin Grimm wrote: No dollars, not anymore. I used to make about $400 per year on the UMDB through advertising, and had I not foolishly spent that money on women, booze, and beer I guess I'd probably be a billionaire by now. My dilemma is whether or not I want to take on the challenge of making the site responsive. I'm intrigued by the idea of it, but not, for the moment anyway, particularly motivated. So for now it will go on as it is. If you want some help making your site responsive, give me a ring.

Zvon Jan 07 2018 02:13 AM x

No dollars, not anymore. I used to make about $400 per year on the UMDB through advertising, and had I not foolishly spent that money on women, booze, and beer I guess I'd probably be a billionaire by now. My dilemma is whether or not I want to take on the challenge of making the site responsive. I'm intrigued by the idea of it, but not, for the moment anyway, particularly motivated. So for now it will go on as it is. Ha! @ Tugger quote. $400 is something. That's not bad. Would help fund your Christmas shopping. Making it interactive could become a big time sink. But it would also be way kool. I have proudly lost money for almost 19 years on MBTN and turned down every marketing offer I ever got. Good thing is they have stopped trying. Same with the MFC project. Well, I don't lose $, but used to spend boo-koo time preparing stuff. And, as we all know, time is money. :) I won't go the advertising route. While MFC was active I'd get the offers at least twice a week. But I want the MFC blog to be dressed to impress. Ad's cheapen that effect, IMO, and also distract the viewer. And with today's attention spans a viewer would probably be in the middle of a post, see a kool ad, hit it, and not return to finish viewing my page. Ha. This user/reader continues to find both UMDB and MBTN top-notch resources and ongoing inspirations. May they endure as the standards of online Metsian excellence they've always been. Without the UMDB the MFC project would just be a picture show. It's invaluable! If I'm trying to recall old memories I need the UMDB to make sure my facts/years/games are correct. I figure only a small percentage actually read my blog, especially my long winded pages, and only zip thru looking at the cards, but some do read it all, and those folks will call me on any errors made. I actually appreciate that because then I can correct them. But I also get a tad embarrassed. And I embarrass myself enough IRL. I try to avoid doing it online. OE: Grimm:Now that I think about it I'm not sure by what you mean by "responsive" and maybe "interactive" does not apply. I'm picturing you sitting there answering questions and posting stuff by request or something......

Benjamin Grimm Jan 07 2018 03:16 PM Re: x

If you want some help making your site responsive, give me a ring. Thank you! Your offer is very much appreciated and I just may take you up on it at some point in the near future! OE: Grimm:Now that I think about it I'm not sure by what you mean by "responsive" and maybe "interactive" does not apply. I'm picturing you sitting there answering questions and posting stuff by request or something...... No, I have no intention of "sitting there answering questions"! "Responsive" means that the site can determine if it's being viewed on a laptop or desktop or on a smaller mobile device and display itself accordingly. In other words, it could automatically change from a display like this: to this:

Frayed Knot Jan 07 2018 04:03 PM Re: x

OE: Grimm:Now that I think about it I'm not sure by what you mean by "responsive" ... I'm picturing you sitting there answering questions and posting stuff by request or something...... And see, here I was picturing him, as if from a scene in an emergency room on some medical show, giving compressions to his computer's CPU while shouting; "It's unresponsive!!!"

Edgy MD Jan 07 2018 04:49 PM Re: Listerine (And Other Adventures in Old Mets Photos)

Benjamin Grimm wrote: No dollars, not anymore. I used to make about $400 per year on the UMDB through advertising, and had I not foolishly spent that money on women, booze, and beer I guess I'd probably be a billionaire by now. My dilemma is whether or not I want to take on the challenge of making the site responsive. I'm intrigued by the idea of it, but not, for the moment anyway, particularly motivated. So for now it will go on as it is. I figure part of the junior partner's job is monetization.

d'Kong76 Jan 07 2018 05:30 PM Re: UMDB and MBTN (split from Listerine)

I know time marches on and nothing lasts forever but I would personally find it sad to see either of these sites close. I hope it's just the winter blahs and as spring training approaches ya'll get your mojo back!

Benjamin Grimm Jan 16 2018 02:25 PM Re: UMDB and MBTN (split from Listerine)

Because I relish a challenge, I've been playing around a little with a responsive menu for the UMDB. Please access this link on your smart phone or mobile device and let me know how it looks. Hopefully you'll see something like the image on the right, below, and not the image on the left. If you see the image on the left, or something not quite like the image on the right, please let me know what kind of phone you have and what browser you're using. Thanks!

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 16 2018 03:57 PM Re: UMDB and MBTN (split from Listerine)

I see right image on an android sumsung 7. The "history" bit is a smidge too wide, tho.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 16 2018 04:24 PM Re: UMDB and MBTN (split from Listerine)

Thank you! Is there anyone with an iPhone who can give it a try? (Thanks.)

A Boy Named Seo Jan 16 2018 04:50 PM Re: UMDB and MBTN (split from Listerine)

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Thank you! Is there anyone with an iPhone who can give it a try? (Thanks.) Looks just like your mobile screen grab from above on iPhone/Safari. Cool stuff, man.

d'Kong76 Jan 16 2018 05:24 PM Re: UMDB and MBTN (split from Listerine)

Looks good on Samsung Galaxy 8+ and it's mini-tablet cousin.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 16 2018 07:16 PM Re: UMDB and MBTN (split from Listerine)

Thanks for your responses! I think what I'll do is gradually convert each of the internal UMDB pages to be responsive. Some of them will be easy, and I'll do those first, one by one. The trickier ones will be last. Maybe I'll never get to them. I guess we'll see!

Benjamin Grimm Feb 16 2018 07:13 PM Re: UMDB and MBTN (split from Listerine)

Someone who might be Mike Vail posted a somewhat cryptic memory of Jay Kleven to the UMDB today.

Edgy MD Feb 16 2018 07:16 PM Re: UMDB and MBTN (split from Listerine)

Are you trying to authenticate before posting?

cooby Feb 16 2018 07:25 PM Re: UMDB and MBTN (split from Listerine)

Joe Klevin? Only teammate would remember him

cooby Feb 16 2018 07:27 PM Re: UMDB and MBTN (split from Listerine)

Wow, far more memories there than I expected

Benjamin Grimm Feb 16 2018 07:28 PM Re: UMDB and MBTN (split from Listerine)

No, that just wouldn't be practical. I do refrain from posting certain things. There have been a few where someone says that they're a former player's love child or baby mama. I don't post those.

Frayed Knot Feb 16 2018 08:02 PM Re: UMDB and MBTN (split from Listerine)

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I do refrain from posting certain things. There have been a few where someone says that they're a former player's love child or baby mama. I don't post those. I wondered why my submissions keep getting rejected.

Benjamin Grimm Feb 16 2018 08:06 PM Re: UMDB and MBTN (split from Listerine)

Yeah, I just don't buy that you're Rusty Staub's baby mama.

Zvon Feb 17 2018 01:07 AM Re: UMDB and MBTN (split from Listerine)

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Someone who might be Mike Vail posted a somewhat cryptic memory of Jay Kleven to the UMDB today. Oddly enough Jay's photo led off a thread on fb yesterday. Birthday?

Benjamin Grimm Feb 17 2018 01:40 AM Re: UMDB and MBTN (split from Listerine)

Born December 2, died June 30.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 08 2018 04:02 PM Re: UMDB and MBTN (split from Listerine)

New feature (first one in a long time): Ultimate Mets Database - Opening Day

A Boy Named Seo Mar 08 2018 04:11 PM Re: UMDB and MBTN (split from Listerine)

Very cool. Man, some of those lineups... yeesh. Still, lots of orange results.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 08 2018 04:14 PM Re: UMDB and MBTN (split from Listerine)

Orange means Home games and white means Away games. Maybe I should add a prominent W or L to each box.

A Boy Named Seo Mar 08 2018 04:22 PM Re: UMDB and MBTN (split from Listerine)

I clearly didn't look closely enough. How bout a nice W-L tally at the top of the page somewhere to celebrate the best (are the best still?) opening day team of all time?

Edgy MD Mar 08 2018 04:23 PM Re: UMDB and MBTN (split from Listerine)

Yeah, Metly orange filling for home games works better, it would, in the square centimeter boxes of pocket schedules than on those 2"x3" table cells. It might work better if you used a universal color, or alternated two neutrals, and just included a small orange or white box within the cells in the top corner, with "HOME" or "AWAY" printed inside the box.

G-Fafif Mar 08 2018 05:08 PM Re: UMDB and MBTN (split from Listerine)

Love it! Would be a complete triumph with this singular second Opening Day included to reflect the split-season nature of 1981: http://ultimatemets.com/gamedetail.php?gameno=3147

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 08 2018 06:16 PM Re: UMDB and MBTN (split from Listerine)

I'd almost forgotten who Rene Rivera was, much less him being a starting C for us last OD.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 08 2018 06:16 PM Re: UMDB and MBTN (split from Listerine)

For added clarity, I added some big bold W's and L's. Looking at the second tab I noticed that Tom Seaver's five years between Opening Day starts seems to be the record at any position. If Jose Reyes gets the start at shortstop this year, he'd have the new record, such as it is. (Unless I overlooked something, which is entirely possible.) And this tab tells us that only nine pitchers have made more than one Opening Day start for the Mets, and only four have started four or more. The position that's had more distinct starters is right field, with 35, followed by second base and center field, each at 32. The least volatile position (other than DH) is catcher and shortstop, with 23 each.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 08 2018 06:17 PM Re: UMDB and MBTN (split from Listerine)

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I'd almost forgotten who Rene Rivera was, much less him being a starting C for us last OD. The one that puzzled me the most was Ricky Gutierrez at second base in 2004.

seawolf17 Mar 08 2018 06:57 PM Re: UMDB and MBTN (split from Listerine)

Benjamin Grimm wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I'd almost forgotten who Rene Rivera was, much less him being a starting C for us last OD. The one that puzzled me the most was Ricky Gutierrez at second base in 2004. I have zero recollection of Gutierrez as a Met at all, never mind Opening Day.

A Boy Named Seo Mar 08 2018 07:00 PM Re: UMDB and MBTN (split from Listerine)

8 OD losses to start off as a franchise, then 18 wins out of 20. Not bad, Mets.