After an absence that spanned from June 2010 until April 2013, I made my first trip to Citi Field for the Mets home opener on Monday afternoon. My friend Danny invited me and I happily accepted his kind offer and found myself quite excited to hit up a home Mets game. I grew up going to Shea Stadium 4 or 5 times a season, and in my late 20's and early 30's went to anywhere from 25-85 games a year, including some classic playoff games. Even after I moved to Cambridge, MA I drove down frequently to attend big games in the 2007 and 2008 seasons.
Things started changing in 2009. Instead of being eliminated on the last day of the regular season as they had been in 2007 and 2008, the 2009 season was one without much drama. Additionally, my family had fewer tickets at the much hyped Citi Field because of a major spike in the prices. And three, the seats we had at Shea were much better than the ones we had at Citi Field. I went to about 3 games at Citi in 2009, the previously mentioned one in 2010 and sat out all of 2011 and 2012. This was clearly the longest drought between home games for me since I was 5 years old or so.
Citi Field is a tough place for me. Shea Stadium felt like home. Citi Field feels like a stadium named after a bank. To afford a game you need to be willing to invest a large sum of money. The amount of advertising at the place is hard to stomach, and from a baseball perspective, the sightlines are awful.
We sat in the left field Promenade (Upper Deck) on Monday about half way up. At no point, could we see the left fielder when he was positioned defensively for an upcoming pitch. A key moment in the game, a grand slam to left field by newcomer Colin Cowgill was made more (less?) interesting and exciting to us, when the screaming line drive he hit disappeared and we watched him slide into 3rd base with an apparent triple. A few seconds later the umpire signaled it was a home run. The replay, shown in hi def on "Citi Vision", which Citi Field goers have come to rely on to make up for the bad sightlines, cut off the replay just a moment before the ball cleared the wall, adding a sense of irony and humor to the blind spots we all deal with.
I don't mean to come off as a complainer in this post. In fact, I had a great time on Monday. I was with 4 people very dear to me, the sun was out most of the game, and the Mets got a win. The company I shared was the true measuring stick of the day and I left the stadium in a great mood.
Someday perhaps, I will feel at home at Citi Field. Maybe what it needs to shake the current feel of commercial sterility is to be the venue for a spectacular Mets run to the World Series. Or perhaps, I will never get used to it and will watch the Mets on TV and listen to the radio more than I ever have. If that's the case, my retirement will probably be much more well funded, but a big part of the first 40 years of my life will take a back seat in the second half of my life.
Whatever happens, I will keep you updated.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Friday, October 10, 2008
Rays in 6
I think the Rays are going to dethrone the Red Sox in a hard fought 6 game series. Here are my main reason for this prediction and two counter-arguments that go in the Sox favor.
1. Josh Beckett does not seem to be healthy and sharp. If he can't dominate the way he has in the past, the Red Sox biggest advantage is neutralized. Having watched him in the ALDS, I am not sure what he can bring to the table in this series. He did not look good in game 3, the only game the Sox lost.
2. Eventually, the absence of Manny Ramirez' bat in the Sox lineup will catch up to them.
3. Unlike last year, Okijima cannot be counted on to get big outs in the 8th. I've also heard he has struggled this year against the teams that are most familiar with them, i.e. division rivals. Tampa knows what he has to offer and will probably hit him.
4. Mike Lowell is not on the roster. Missing last year's World Series MVP is not good.
5. Rays home field advantage. Tampa is dominant at home. That one extra game at home could be the difference.
Factors that lean the Sox way.
1. The Sox have so much experience and come in as the defending champions. Contrast this to the extreme youth of Tampa.
2. Any team with a closer as good as Papelbon has a great shot of advancing to the World Series.
I think this is going to be a great series. Oodles of talent on both sides, a genuine dislike of each other by both teams, and the highest of stakes. I am looking forward to it.
1. Josh Beckett does not seem to be healthy and sharp. If he can't dominate the way he has in the past, the Red Sox biggest advantage is neutralized. Having watched him in the ALDS, I am not sure what he can bring to the table in this series. He did not look good in game 3, the only game the Sox lost.
2. Eventually, the absence of Manny Ramirez' bat in the Sox lineup will catch up to them.
3. Unlike last year, Okijima cannot be counted on to get big outs in the 8th. I've also heard he has struggled this year against the teams that are most familiar with them, i.e. division rivals. Tampa knows what he has to offer and will probably hit him.
4. Mike Lowell is not on the roster. Missing last year's World Series MVP is not good.
5. Rays home field advantage. Tampa is dominant at home. That one extra game at home could be the difference.
Factors that lean the Sox way.
1. The Sox have so much experience and come in as the defending champions. Contrast this to the extreme youth of Tampa.
2. Any team with a closer as good as Papelbon has a great shot of advancing to the World Series.
I think this is going to be a great series. Oodles of talent on both sides, a genuine dislike of each other by both teams, and the highest of stakes. I am looking forward to it.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Dodgers in 7
Details to follow on this prediction but I wanted to get it out there before the start of the series. I think this series will be dominated by the home team but that the Dodgers will find a way to get it done when the pressure is really on.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Nervous Met Fan
Its 5:15 in the morning. I'm supposed to be sound asleep, but its just not happening. I'm 36 years old, and I've come a long way from my most intense days as Mets fan, but I feel I've regressed overnight. I'm nervous and once I woke a few before 5 AM there was no turning back. I was up for good. I don't have the highest hopes for this flawed Mets team, but I am certainly not ready to shut it down today. Get me to tomorrow is my "one day at a time" goal for today.
Do I think its going to happen? I am not sure.
This is the third time in the last 10 seasons that the Mets have gone into the last day of the season in a flat-footed tie for a playoff spot. In 1999, they beat the Pirates and played the Reds the following night in a one game playoff. Al Leiter's pitching gem propelled them into the playoffs and they made a really good run, going down in game 6 of the NLCS. But, its last year, of course, that is front and center in every Mets fans' mind. Like 55,000 or so other people I found my way into Shea Stadium last year for the season finale. Before I had even settled in to my seat, it was 7-0 Marlins and the team's chances were toast. It was tough to swallow, and I can't help but fear something like it happening again.
Ollie Perez is taking the hill today. A brilliant but confounding talent, he'll be going on 3 days rest instead of the normal 4. Its always such a wild card (no pun intended) when you have to throw a pitcher on short rest. Yesterday could not have gone better. Johan Santana outperformed everyone's expectations and tossed a complete game shut out on 3 days rest. One of the great pitching performances in Mets' history. I won't attempt to predict what Ollie Perez will do, I only say that it is a source of my uncertainty about today. There are several factors that indicate he'll do well.
1) He's a big game pitcher. Mets fans know that Ollie steps up when the pressure is on. Think about game 7 of the 2006 NLCS or some of his starts against the Yankees and Phils this year.
2) He's pitched well on 3 days rest before. That game 7 in 2006 was on short rest. He went six strong innings that night.
3) He did not throw a lot of pitches in his last start. (Of course, the reason for this, was that he did not pitch well, and got replaced early in the game.)
4) A win today could net him an extra 20 million dollars or more in his pending free agency this off-season. I'm sure Scott Boras has reminded him of this. Will he use that as motivation? Perhaps. (Thanks to my sister Mary for bringing this up to me.)
5) Perez is 3-0 with a 2.03 ERA in five starts versus the Marlins this season.
6) Crowd support. The Mets fan will come ready to make a lot of noise today, and Ollie has to try to channel that energy into a little added adrenaline to get him through the start. (Thanks again Mary.)
Of course, no matter how well Perez pitches today, the Mets are going to have to score some runs and more than likely get some big outs from their beleaguered bullpen. Several of the Mets best hitters have good numbers against Scott Olsen, the Marlins starter.
So, analysis aside, the Mets gotta find a way to get a win today and then hope for a little help today in Milwaukee, where interestingly enough, CC Sabathia will also be taking the hill on 3 days rest. The Brewers have worked him so hard this year, and will be leaning on him once again on this ever important Sunday. Mets fans best hopes lie in CC not having his best stuff today.
A one final note about the games today. The Mets have scheduled the ceremonies to celebrate the closing of Shea Stadium for AFTER the game. A curious choice, made more so by the fact that no one knows what the mood is going to be like after today's game nor do we know what inning it will be in Milwaukee when the Mets game ends. Suffice it to say that it could be joyous, miserable, or undetermined and tense as 55,000 plus, keep two eyes on the Brewers game and no eyes on the elaborate ceremony. I hope the Mets have a plan to show the Brewers game on the big screen and are smart enough as a franchise to delay the ceremony long enough so that it can be given full attention. Win, lose, or draw.
Do I think its going to happen? I am not sure.
This is the third time in the last 10 seasons that the Mets have gone into the last day of the season in a flat-footed tie for a playoff spot. In 1999, they beat the Pirates and played the Reds the following night in a one game playoff. Al Leiter's pitching gem propelled them into the playoffs and they made a really good run, going down in game 6 of the NLCS. But, its last year, of course, that is front and center in every Mets fans' mind. Like 55,000 or so other people I found my way into Shea Stadium last year for the season finale. Before I had even settled in to my seat, it was 7-0 Marlins and the team's chances were toast. It was tough to swallow, and I can't help but fear something like it happening again.
Ollie Perez is taking the hill today. A brilliant but confounding talent, he'll be going on 3 days rest instead of the normal 4. Its always such a wild card (no pun intended) when you have to throw a pitcher on short rest. Yesterday could not have gone better. Johan Santana outperformed everyone's expectations and tossed a complete game shut out on 3 days rest. One of the great pitching performances in Mets' history. I won't attempt to predict what Ollie Perez will do, I only say that it is a source of my uncertainty about today. There are several factors that indicate he'll do well.
1) He's a big game pitcher. Mets fans know that Ollie steps up when the pressure is on. Think about game 7 of the 2006 NLCS or some of his starts against the Yankees and Phils this year.
2) He's pitched well on 3 days rest before. That game 7 in 2006 was on short rest. He went six strong innings that night.
3) He did not throw a lot of pitches in his last start. (Of course, the reason for this, was that he did not pitch well, and got replaced early in the game.)
4) A win today could net him an extra 20 million dollars or more in his pending free agency this off-season. I'm sure Scott Boras has reminded him of this. Will he use that as motivation? Perhaps. (Thanks to my sister Mary for bringing this up to me.)
5) Perez is 3-0 with a 2.03 ERA in five starts versus the Marlins this season.
6) Crowd support. The Mets fan will come ready to make a lot of noise today, and Ollie has to try to channel that energy into a little added adrenaline to get him through the start. (Thanks again Mary.)
Of course, no matter how well Perez pitches today, the Mets are going to have to score some runs and more than likely get some big outs from their beleaguered bullpen. Several of the Mets best hitters have good numbers against Scott Olsen, the Marlins starter.
So, analysis aside, the Mets gotta find a way to get a win today and then hope for a little help today in Milwaukee, where interestingly enough, CC Sabathia will also be taking the hill on 3 days rest. The Brewers have worked him so hard this year, and will be leaning on him once again on this ever important Sunday. Mets fans best hopes lie in CC not having his best stuff today.
A one final note about the games today. The Mets have scheduled the ceremonies to celebrate the closing of Shea Stadium for AFTER the game. A curious choice, made more so by the fact that no one knows what the mood is going to be like after today's game nor do we know what inning it will be in Milwaukee when the Mets game ends. Suffice it to say that it could be joyous, miserable, or undetermined and tense as 55,000 plus, keep two eyes on the Brewers game and no eyes on the elaborate ceremony. I hope the Mets have a plan to show the Brewers game on the big screen and are smart enough as a franchise to delay the ceremony long enough so that it can be given full attention. Win, lose, or draw.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Running Tally
Thanks to the absolute brilliant pitching of Johan Santana, the Mets go into the final game of the regular season tomorrow with a record of:
7 Wins
9 Losses
...in the first 16 games of the final strech of 17 games.
7 Wins
9 Losses
...in the first 16 games of the final strech of 17 games.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Much Needed Win
Mets won 6-2 tonight. They got exactly what they needed from Johan Santana, a dominant 8 inning performance that featured a lot of pitches (a career high 125) strikeouts (10) and some clutch at bats and hustle on the base paths. It also featured a lucky break that fueled their game tying 2 run rally. Who among us has ever seen a play like that, where Santana's ground ball caught up to his broken bat, bouncing off it at a very opportune time and leading to Santana reaching first base safely. I am betting that no one has. Fitting that in a season where bats seem to break once an at-bat, a play like that would transpire in such a big spot during the pennant race.
So, 12 games into their final 17 games, the Mets now have a win loss record in those 12 games of:
5 Wins
7 Losses
So, 12 games into their final 17 games, the Mets now have a win loss record in those 12 games of:
5 Wins
7 Losses
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)