Sunday, August 08, 2010

BASEBALL ROADTRIP 2010: THE WRAP-UP [PART 2]

Monday was, on paper, an ‘off day’, and although we were supposed to run to a famous breakfast place, we instead slept until it was time to go back to AT&T Park for the tour. At this point we were officially exhausted. We love ballpark tours, and there’s another big plus for me: the tours are when I get all my beauty photos of the ballpark. When we go to the game, we’re so consumed with batting practice and finding our seats and checking out the food and the views and the bullpens and whatever else we’re supposed to see - I love that I don’t have to worry about getting ‘the’ stadium shot, I can just focus on the game because I’m coming back for the tour. This was not the case at AT&T because there was a private corporate event on the field. Not only did it mean that I didn’t get my photos, but it also meant that it severely curtailed tour access to the point that it should have been canceled. It also caused the tour to run overtime, and by the time I got my shots of the park from McCovey Cove, it was too late to have lunch at the Terminal Market or the Embarcadero or Fisherman’s Wharf, or ride a cable car. This wasn’t a huge tragedy since we had both been to San Francisco before, but it was still unfortunate.  Instead we ran back to the hotel to change to head out to the Oakland Coliseum to see the A’s v Red Sox. One of our good friends was in from the East Coast for the series so at least we had some rooting interest, and it was nice to go to the game with people we knew.

Friday, August 06, 2010

WHAT IF THEY STAGED A BOYCOTT AND NOBODY CAME?

There was some chat on Twitter tonight about fan disgust regarding team performance, and what would happen if everyone who had tickets stayed away from Citi Field on a particular date, in order to send a message.

My take: no one will do it. Six bloggers will write about it and there will be a litany of excuses about money spent and promises made and that it won’t help and the Wilpons already have our money and they don’t care (with a derail to blame Carlos Beltran, because what would a litany of complaints about the Mets be these days without blaming Carlos Beltran somehow)?

Would people do it?

The idea floated was to show up at Citi Field - don’t pay for parking, take the train or hike in from street parking - and sit outside in protest. August 25 was the date thrown out.

I love protest and civil disobedience like no one’s business but I don’t see the greater Mets fan community getting behind this. These are people who defended the Mets throwing out the guys with the K cards last year on the grounds that “duct tape could damage the signs!” (the same signs that are built to sit outside 365 days a year in all weather conditions). People will protest that we’re getting in the way of their good time.

I am happy to pound the virtual pavement in favor of this if anyone, at all, thinks it has legs. I just don’t think that it does. I wish it did.

Join The Citi Field Sit Out on August 25!

Sunday, August 01, 2010

TEARDROPS ON THE CITY. [8-1-10]

Mets v Dbacks
8-1-10

It was not a good game. In fact, it was the complete opposite of good. Given that it happened after the lovely Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, it was like going to church in your Sunday best and then throwing up all over your patent leather shoes.

The highlight of that part of the afternoon was this:
Oliver Perez appears out of the bullpen, but has not yet been announced by Alex Anthony. The gentleman to my left (wearing an I’M CALLING IT SHEA shirt, which to me indicates a level of taste and intelligence, especially since I was wearing one myself) sits up with interest. He straightens his shirt. He removes his hat and runs his hands over his hair. He opens a bottle of water, takes a sip, swishes it around his mouth.

“Now pitching for the Mets: number 46, Oliver Perez,” comes out of the speakers.

METS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY, 2010.

First things first: hats off to the Mets for doing this day right. This was a ceremony Mets fans could be proud of. (I am covering http://metsgrrl.com/index.php/site/comments/teardrops-on-the-city.-8-1-10/”>the debacle of a game in a separate post, so please save your cards and letters.) They have learned from previous events and it shows. The field had imagery that looked nice on television and if you were there in person, the ceremony was distinguished and moving, yet to the point - the principals got their moment but it didn’t go on forever. I’m sure we all would have liked it to, but this isn’t Cooperstown, there was a game to play, and people’s attention spans are short, especially on a Sunday.

Friday, July 30, 2010

MY WAVE. [7-30-10]

Mets v Dbacks
7-30-10

It wasn’t until I arrived at Citi Field, wearing my WE LIKE IKE shirt (it was on the top of the pile) that I realized that Mike Pelfrey was pitching tonight. That shirt was still at the laundry from the trip, so even if I’d wanted to wear it, it wasn’t an option.

But I wouldn’t have worn it even if it was.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

BATTING PRACTICE, CITI FIELD, 7-28-10.

I was invited to attend batting practice on the field yesterday as a member of the media. Shooting from the warning track instead of jockeying for position behind the dugout with the autograph hounds was a delightful experience.

[Be sure to read the game post, too.]

THERE MUST BE SOME WAY OUT OF HERE. [7-28-10]

It’s easy to get lulled into a false sense of security, even if you know better, even if you’ve been burnt time and time again. You think, the Mets are home. It’s a Johan start. I am still gun-shy after the roadtrip, not ready to commit to the concept that The Team Is Different, because I am not seeing a different team yet. Tonight, even more so.

Even with all of that, the last thing you expect to see in a Santana start is to go through the opposing lineup once and then come back to the top (and get a few deep) IN THE FIRST INNING. Not to mention, of course, the 6 runs. I know people claim they heard boos, but I don’t even think people were booing Johan per se (if they are, they’re idiots) but rather OH MY GOD SIX IN THE FIRST INNING?

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

I’LL GO CRAZY IF I DON’T GO CRAZY TONIGHT. [7-27-10]

Let’s get this out of the way first. Obviously, the win was awesome and fantastic and Jeff Francoeur earned genuine applause from me tonight, instead of the usual derisive commentary that escapes the side of my mouth when he is at bat.

But I sat there thinking: Why the hell couldn’t you idiots do this on the road? And I was more than a little disgruntled. Sure, Wainright didn’t have his best stuff tonight, and Niese did have good stuff. It’s not that I wanted them to lose tonight in order to prove some idiotic theory, just seriously - really? 8-2? Where the hell was this offensive power on the west coast?

Sunday, July 25, 2010

DAN HAREN TO THE ANGELS.

I just thought I’d use the news of the Haren trade to post one of my photos of his second-to-last start with the Diamondbacks. (It is amusing to consider that we saw his last two starts with the Dbacks.)

I would have loved for this to have worked out for the Mets but at least he’s going to the Angels, and not anywhere else, if you get my drift.

DODGER STADIUM BP, 7-24-10.