Pirates 9 Mets 3

June 1, 2011
Wednesday night
with Jason, Marc, and Erik
Queens

This game will live in my memory for pretty much only one reason - this guy.

(photo by Jason)

Let me explain --

Jason and I were in line for the game. This guy cut in front of me and I told him that the end of the line was behind me not in front. He then trudged over to the line next to me and gave me a sneer. I gave him a fake round of applause.

As luck would have it, we both ended up entering through the gate at the exact same time. I said to him, "Congratulations" or something like that.

He said, "What? What? What are you going to do about it? What are you - a pussy?"

I responded, "I'm not going to do anything about it other than call you on it and tell you that you are an asshole to your face."

We started jawing at each other in the Jackie Robinson Rotunda. He kept challenging me to hit him. I eventually called him a fat f#&@. At this point, a security guy came over and whisked us out of the stadium. Was I about to kicked out of the game before I even got to my seats? I was so looking forward to attending my first game with Jason since 2002. Instead, the security guy took us to his supervisor who wanted to know if me and the fat f$%# knew each other. When he heard that we didn't, he told us to stop yelling at each other and go back in.

The security guy then told me that they had had a problem with that guy before and were trying to send a message to him. But how exactly does that send a message to him if you slap us both on the wrists and then let us both back in? We both went back into the rotunda. He made it ahead of me to the top of the escalator. When I got to the top, I told him how talented he was and inquired if he'd cut in line to get me a burger at Shake Shack. His response was "Grow up man - just like the security guy told you." I told him he was awesome again and left as he yelled gibberish at my back.

The odd thing is that I'm convinced I've seen this guy before making trouble but I can't place him. Anyone recognize him?

The game itself was a frustrating one. The Mets took a 2-0 lead to the 7th where they promptly gave up 5 in that inning and 4 the next. Ugly. Kevin Correia improbably became the first eight game winner in the majors. In the 7th, Sujan e-mailed me this message, "This inning pretty much personifies the Mets since 2007." It was and has been a constant comedy of errors.

And without David Wright, Ike Davis (both injured), and Jose Reyes (bereavement list) the lineup was pretty weak. There were way too many Mets with lower slugging percentages than on base percentages. The team should really market a new blue and orange T-shirt with the slogan "Snakebit, baby!"

A few days before the game, Erik put this post on Craigslist:

Wanted: Old, used Mets print at home ticket wanted (Anywhere)

Hello there, I have a favor to ask of a kind soul out there. I'm looking for a PDF of the print at home ticket sent from the Mets to someone who has used one in the past. I'm hoping to use the image at the top for a school project (I'm a teacher), and my attempt to re-create it has fallen short. You're welcome to remove your name or the transaction information on the ticket, but if you don't, rest assured, that information will simply go into my computer's recycle bin once I copy the top image. If anyone can forward one along to me, I would be grateful.
Thanks so kindly!

Unfortunately, no one sent him a ticket that he could use. But that didn't stop him from his Photoshopping magic anyway and we ended up in our vaunted seats once again. Viva la Sweet Touch! Marc is such a rule follower though that I'm not sure he enjoyed the good view. Or a beer for that matter.

Pirates: 26-28

Mets: 25-30

Posted: 8/4