Mets 6 Nats 2

September 20, 2009
Sunday afternoon
with SHR, Sam, Otis, Dave, Jen, Henry, and Amy R
Flushing, Queens

This was our last game of the year. And it was a good one. Plus the Mets raised their record to 3-0 with Double Trouble in attendance. Their record with me in attendance otherwise this year? An unbelievably putrid 1-7. So I guess the key to 2010 is getting Double Trouble full season tickets. Maybe Balgavy will help me craft a letter to the Wilpons so we can score some free tickets. He's good at that kind of thing.

This game was also notable for the fact that I finally waited in line at the Shake Shack. Two and a half innings of my life that I will never get back.

Before the game, Phillies fan since September '08 Amy asked me if rooting for the Mets at this game would be treasonous behavior for a Phillies fan. When I explained that the Mets were 23 games behind the Phillies with 14 games left, she was assured that she could wholeheartedly root for the Metropolitans.


This was the boys' 6th game this season. We vowed last time to bring headphones for Otis because the loud noises often startled him. He didn't like wearing his ear protection too much though.

Henry enjoyed his Mets Matchbox car. He also enjoyed eating french fries. I found out that Henry's two favorite foods are fries and apples.

Aunt Amy!

SHR consoled Otis on an abysmal Mets season.

Bring on 2010! The boys want to see Jose Reyes play! Yeah yeah!

I love early fall shadows at the ballpark.

As far as the game, John Maine won his first game since May (he was injured most of the season), Angel Pagan had 3 hits, and Daniel Murphy had 2 RBI. Oh Daniel Murphy, I hope you aren't the starting first baseman for the Mets next year.

Also, whoever was playing the song intros for the players before each at-bat was having a bit of 80's fun. Carlos Beltran had Owner of a Lonely Heart which was nice to hear since he's had the same song since 2005 and I'm incredibly sick of it. John Maine had Der Kommissar - the After the Fire version and not the Falco version. And if I didn't love Jeff Franceour enough already - his was The Power of Love.

We also got a good laugh out of the family in front of us wearing watermelon Mets caps. We miss our old friends in Section 6 so much that we take our amusement where we can get it.

The caps led to this e-mail exchange between SHR and Dave.

SHR wrote:
it's even weirder than i could have ever imagined. the mysterious watermelon caps are scratch and sniff and are available for other teams, as well as in strawberry scent.
http://www.totalprosports.com/blog/index.php/2009/05/mlb-scratch-n-sniff-hats-smell-like-waste-to-me/
http://www.lids.com/pid/20124048?ipsrc=media&reftype=pp&sptype=froogle&cpid=froogle

WTF?

To which Dave responded:
Eeeewww.

Although now you can go up to that woman at the next game and ask if you can smell her hat.

pray tell, what was the google search that led you to that link.

SHR:
I googled "yankees watermelon cap" hoping that their version would smell like dirty diapers, but every team's is identical.

Sam was happy on the ride home because as far as he's concerned the Mets have never lost a game.

Mets: 65-85
Nats: 51-98

Posted: 11/11

Lowell Spinners 8 Cyclones 2

September 4, 2009
Friday night
with SHR, Double Trouble, Carrie, Jim, Marc, Amy, Donovan, Elliott, Doug, Melissa, Eric, Edith,

Amy organized this big Cyclones outing on the occasion of Doug (The Noiseboy) being in town over Labor Day Weekend. This also marked the third consecutive year of an early September Brooklyn Cyclones outing for SHR and me. This time though, we had some some Double Trouble with us.

Elliott was excited to see Carlos Beltran in a rehab start for the Cyclones.

Otis wasn't as excited.

Doug and Melissa. Doug was very excited to watch Beltran, the man who can't hit Adam Wainwright's curveball.

The boys couldn't believe how close they were to the action considering how far away they were last time.

Beltran stunk on this night. Plus he was the only Cyclone who didn't wear his socks high. Boo to Beltran.

Otis was not in the best mood. Luckily, the giveaway at the game was Go Dog Go.

Slowly winning O over.

Completely won over.

Meanwhile ... one row in front.

Doug had just invented a game called Mixtape. I'm not sure exactly how the game is played but I think the point totals on these two cards explain it a little.

The game was played later in the weekend but I wasn't able to make it. Come on Noiseboy, you've got to come back to Brooklyn for Balgavy's annual Board Game Party!

Otis really doesn't like loud jarring noises at ballgames. SHR and I made a vow to bring his headphones to the next game. Also, note the shirt on SHR's lap. A free t-shirt landed right in front of her. Too bad it was way way way too big.

I love the Pee Wee and Jackie statue.

Other things of note:
1. Doug and I came up with a plan for the boys' future playing careers. SHR and I would raise them both to be left-handed relief specialists. Then they would share one roster spot on a major league squad thus allowing one of them to pitch every single day. This would be tough to keep secret from other teams though because I'm assuming they will get some press in high school. Also, they'd have to split one salary but I think they'll be fine. The current minimum is $400,000.

2. Beltran really stunk in this game but the next night he delivered a game winning hit in the bottom of the 9th.

3. This game was fun and all but I was really hoping to get a picture as captivating as this one that Jim took at a game earlier in the season.

Easily the best baseball picture of 2009.
(photo by Jim)

Posted: 10/18

Rangers 10 Yankees 9

August 25, 2009
Tuesday night
with Erik
Yankee Stadium

To celebrate free tickets, Erik and I got drunk. I'm pretty sure that this was the first time I've actually gotten drunk at a major league game. Minor league games are a different story.

The game was a great one. The Yankees took a 4-0 lead in the 1st which was depressing. But the Rangers scored two in the 2nd and 5 in the 4th. Joba received a beatdown and Erik was beyond himself with glee. Hell, maybe Texas still had a serious playoff run in them coming up.

The Rangers took a 10-5 lead to the 9th. But then everything started falling apart. A single, a walk, another walk, and then 3 more singles, the last of which was a 2 run single by Robinson Cano. All of a sudden it was 10-9 with runners on 1st and 2nd and no outs.

Girardi had Swisher bunt. Bad move. Swisher popped up and gave away an out.



Bart and I texted a bit during the scary ninth inning.



Thankfully, the next hitter Melky Cabrera (he of the 782 walk off hits in 2009) hit a line drive to Elvis Andrus who turned it into a game ending double play.

Erik celebrated by taking pictures of fans.

We decided to continue the fun times and decided to go to one of those dumb bars across from the old stadium. We passed t-shirt stands selling shirts that read "Roid Sox." Really? The team of Jason Giambi, Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens, and Alex Rodriguez is going to get on their high horse over steroids. Wow.

Erik celebrated.

And then made a new friend on the 4 train.

Bart sent me two more texts - one at 3:37 in the AM! Come on Decoursy!

Other things of note:
1. Whenever a Yankees pitcher had two strikes on a Ranger hitter, the crowd was quiet and kind of oblivious. I guess this is the curse of a new ballpark where the core fans don't come out in the same numbers. It used to be that a two strike count led to standing and loud cheering by the fans lusting for a strikeout.

2. I wore my Bobby V Chiba Lotte Marines shirt to the game as a tribute to the Rangers.

3. Rookie shortstop Andrus who was the hero in the 9th inning also had 3 RBI. A few hours after the game, he turned 21. He said, "I don't think I'm going to do anything. I'm pretty tired tonight. I'll probably just go and have dinner with my sister." We all know what Jeter was up to after the game (according to Bart) -- 2 thousand dollar prostitutes!

4. Rangers phenom Neftali Feliz threw 2 shutout innings.

5. Erik exalted in Joba's troubles since I had recently been giving him grief for including him in a fantasy baseball trade where the prize on his end was Andrus.

Rangers: 70-54
Yankees: 78-47

Posted: 10/5

Braves 15 Mets 2

August 19, 2009
Wednesday night
with Marc
Flushing

A complete and utter nightmare. By the time we made it to our seats after eating some tacos, the Mets were already losing 8-0. We watched the carnage on the tiny scoreboard amidst the ads.

Already losing 3-0, the shit really hit the fan with 2 outs. Luis Castillo failed to cover second on the throw from Anderson Hernandez. The ball went into the outfield. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly. Brian McCann's three run homer made it 8-0.

Bobby Parnell's line: 3 IP, 9 hits, 2 walks, 9 ER

Oddest event of the night: A drunk guy behind us spent an inning or so gabbing on his cell phone. A minute or two after hanging up, the guy grabbed Marc's hair. What? He then spent the next five minutes profusely apologizing. I guess Marc's luxurious hair is hard to resist.

The embarrassed dude left a few minutes later.

And if the game wasn't disaster enough, I discovered this disaster upon returning to the car.

At least Steve Somers was on top of his game on WFAN.

He had a whole list of things that would have been better than sitting through the night's game. One of them was a colonoscopy.

Then this gem:
"The Mets are honoring the '69 team this weekend. Tonight they played like the '62 Mets. But you'd have to be what the '86 Mets were on to get through this game."

Mets: 56- 64
Braves: 63 - 57

Posted: 9/30

Angels 5 Orioles 0

August 15, 2009
Saturday night
with SHR, Sam, and Otis
Camden Yards

We arrived late. I think it was the bottom of the 3rd inning. It might even have been the 4th. We missed the Angels scoring 5 runs off of Brian Matusz making his 3rd major league start. I was impressed however that he settled down and pitched 5 2/3 innings. He started a nice run of excellent starts shortly after this start.

John Lackey was dominant - 7 innings of 1 run ball. Melvin Mora's 3 hits and Nick Markakis's 2 hits and an RBI couldn't help the Birds as they fell to 8-20 since the All Star Break. The Angels on the other hand ran their record to 20-8 during the same period. And speaking of running, Chone Figgins had 3 hits, a walk, and 2 stolen bases.

I saw the Orioles play three times in 2009. They lost all 3 games by a combined score of 20-4. 2010 has to be better, right?

I love being able to get such good seats but Camden Yards is a sad place these days and has been for years. Still, hope is finally on the way.

I don't think I ever sat in this section before - even during the magical summer of '92 when I went to 42 games at Camden Yards. The seats are quite good.

Sam slept while SHR ate some Boog's BBQ. Next time, we have to get there early enough so the boys can meet Boog just like their mom once did.

Otis was upset that he couldn't have any Boog's.



Sophie the Giraffe loves the Birds.

I spent most of the game trying to make fantasy baseball trades because the deadline was at midnight. I was unsuccessful. Otis was very disappointed in me.

I had no idea.

We left in the 9th. Sam was upset that we are raising him to be a bad baseball fan. We told him to shut up.


The awful Hilton from another angle.

Post game relaxation. Otis pouted because I stood pat in fantasy baseball and am currently wrapping up a dismal 6th place finish to the season. Sorry O!

Orioles: 48 - 68
Angels: 69-45

Posted: 9-23

Mets 9 Cardinals 0

August 5, 2009
Wednesday afternoon
with SHR, Double Trouble, Amy, Donovan, Elliott, Carrie, Marc, Jen, and Henry
Flushing

The boys took their first subway ride to the game.

Full details of this security debacle can be found here. Short version: this guard insisted that babies had to be checked for bombs.

She called in a bomb expert.

The dude from The Hurt Locker made sure that everything was okay.

We finally made it to our seats by the very end of the 2nd inning.


We already had missed some quality baseball and interesting intrigue.

1. Mets rookie starter Jon Niese (who replaced the injured Fernando Nieve who had replaced the injured John Maine) tore his right hamstring while covering first base. Out for the year.

2. Two Mets runs in the 1st. This was notable because Alex Cora scored the first run. He was starting for the injured Luis Castillo who had injured himself the day before by slipping on the dugout stairs. Both runs were driven in by David Wright's 2 run homer which is notable because it was only his 8th home run and because it was only a few days before he got hit in the head with a pitch thus sending him to his very own DL stint. We also missed the Mets score three in the 2nd (two on a Nelson Figueroa triple!) giving them a 5-0 lead.

Jen and Henry.


I love the hat.

I love the bib.

Elliott loves the Balgavy. He was making faces at him when I took this picture.

Still transfixed by the Balgavy.

Balgavy!




Bellies!

Other than Balgavy, the stars of the game were David Wright (3 for 4, HR, 2RBI), Angel Pagan (3 for 4, HR, 4 RBI) and Nelson Figueroa who replaced Jon Niese. Figueroa's line was 4 1/3 scoreless innings with 5 k's. He had been knocked around two nights earlier and departed early thus freeing him to pitch on Wednesday.

Quote of the game: Balgavy quipped, "There are two things that I know that are definitely not for me ... mustard and marriage."

After the game: Lemon Ices!

Mets: 51-56
Cardinals: 59-51

Posted: 9/16

Diamondbacks 5 Mets 2

August 2, 2009
Sunday afternoon
with SHR and Double Trouble (sort of) and Erik
Queens

The forecast called for rain but we had tickets so we went. Plus it was Mr. Met t-shirt Giveaway Day.

Otis wasn't happy to wait out his first rain delay.

SHR and Sam didn't seem to mind though.

I tried to explain to Otis that if the Mets didn't play, then they couldn't lose.

Start the game!

Who cares about the Mets when you have a full bottle? Sam showed off his bottle holding skills.

After waiting for over an hour, we decided to head home. At least we had some yummy tacos.

Time to go.

Right before we arrived home, the game had started after a two and half hour rain delay. I kissed the family goodbye, picked up Erik and headed back to the park.

Otis didn't mind that he had to stay at home.

Bye boys! I'll try to bring home a Mets victory! Unfortunately, the Mets ran into the buzzsaw known as Jon Garland.

We arrived back to the park in the 4th. It was dead.

I like this spot.

We watched a good portion of the game from the Pepsi Porch. We also saw a few interesting things.

We saw:
1. A guy try to take a fake punch at Cow-Bell Man. Apparently, everyone hates that guy.

2. Jeff Francoeur hit a home run, Cory Sullivan hit a triple, and Alex Cora hit a double to start the 5th. Erik and I wondered if any team in the history of baseball has ever hit a backwards cycle in an inning without making an out. But Brian Schneider's ground out ended that discussion.

3. Some dude lost his cap. Justin Upton picked it up and thought about trying to throw it to the second deck back to the fan but thought better of it and handed it to a ballboy.

4. An interesting play at the plate. Miguel Montero missed the plate. Schneider missed the tag. Both players stood there waiting for the call. But the umpire simply stood there not making the call. Finally, both players realized what was going on. Montero tried to get back to the plate but Schneider was able to tag him out. Nice play.

5. Garland threw a complete game. The Mets make everyone look like Cy Young these days.

(photo by Erik)

Erik documented me taking a picture of Willets Point.


Say what you will about Shea but at least they didn't have something like this.

Mets: 50-54
Diamondbacks: 46-59

Posted: 9/8