2006 season is a day closer already....

as the 2005 edition closed out yesterday. I always try to get to the last home game; the same for Opening Day. It's bittersweet walking out of there after taking a hard last look around. Weather awaits: Indian summer of Sept. & Oct., the dark cold and snow of Nov., Dec. and Jan., the short month of Feb. and finally hints of spring in March with the countdown to a new season days away instead of months away. Holidays and other calendar events are ahead. The future has it's share of unknowns. What will be happening in the world and in your own life seven months from now?
The Navs winning yesterday and getting to the .500 mark for the first time whetted my interest even more. The weather is great today but there is no game up a Dodd. A lot of the guys from the past three seasons are with the big team so I'll watch the box scores and maybe catch a glimpse on TV from time to time. I found a B-Mets fan blog recently that I'll read. The team name will change, the colors will change, there will be new people in the front office and new hats, shirts etc. in the gift shop. There will be new players too with some guys from this year sprinkled in.
The challege is the fill the place. If it is not met, the team can move after 2009 season. A new marketing director and asst. GM are on board. The team needs to replace John Flemming who is leaving Friday. How will they do it? New Britain--same weather and a non-local MLBB team affiliate put 300,000 plus into their place this season. And that's with a reduced fireworks schedule and they charge for parking. It can be done.
The "Navigators" need to hit the ground running today in terms of promotion. There were signs of life in the last six weeks or so from the marketing end. Those efforts need redoubling in the off season. How? I have ideas and that's a post for later on.
I saw 43 games this year going 22-21. The last of 24 vouchers was used yesterday. Markdown Mondays, Big Y Sundays, Pep. Farm Tuesdays, Triple A buy one get ones, save the sub base day and occassional freebies filled the rest of the dates. I took a ton of pictures, met some new people, saw old friends, and watched a lot of baseball. Can't wait to next year.
Misc Fan notes: the Navs worn their rarely seen home cream colored uniforms Sunday. I had to work and missed it.
Posting Notes: this will continue; especially this month. And the cap series has life to it. I'll have thoughts when the new name is revealed and observations as the team website changes during the course of the offseason.