It's been a long time since I have been to Opening Day at Shea. Between work and sellout crowds, tickets to Opening Day have been hard to come by. But, as luck would have it, my cousin, a die hard Mets fan, had an extra ticket and kindly offered it to me. Since, April 3, 2006 has become one of the most anticipated days of my baseball life. Opening Day has kicked off what looks to be my most memorable season as a Mets fan, not because the Mets signed Wagner and traded for Delgado and Lo Duca. But rather, because it will be the first of at least 11 Mets games I plan on going to this year, by far my highest total. Granted, our Opening Day tickets weren't in the Green Seats, which will happen from time to time this season, but hey, that didn't take away from the memories. So, donning my late bootleg '90s Bobby Jones #28 jersey, I ventured out to Shea. I'd just like to share some of my observations from the game...
1. Considering the beautiful weather on Sunday, warm, sunny skies, it was only fitting the the Mets opened the season under overcast rainy skies, while we're sitting in the Upper Deck not under cover.
2. Our seats for the game: Section 47, Row G. Mets' starting pitcher, #47, Tom Glavine. Given Glavine's track record on Opening Day at Shea (15-2 against the Cubs in weather conditions like these) I'm hoping we have a little good charma on our side.
3. Outside of the Yankee games, I don't think I've ever seen this place buzzing like this.
4. They really need to fix the speakers on top of the scoreboard so people in the right field corner can hear what's going on. I understand people sit in those sections about 7 games a year, but come on, give us somethin.
5. You know, with the media circus that was the Mets' offseason, the Mets totally neglected the little things, like taking care of the grass for Opening Day. Last year, they had that cool Skyline thing going, this year, it looks worse than my backyard. You would think with the growth in technology in Lawn Medicine, they would have come up with something like mowing the busts of the starting home outfielders by now. How awesome would it be if Carlos Beltran made a diving catch across Xavier Nady's face. Oh wait. Scratch that idea.
6. Carlos Delgado just came out for warmups. This crowd just erupted in cheers. Amazing what a difference a year makes. Weren't these the same people, myself included, that were booing him lustily for shunning us and not standing up for "God Bless America?" Ah, the wonders of baseball.
7. And sticking with the fan impressions topic, funny how last impressions mean everything. Marlon Anderson just got a nice hand from the crowd, despite being announced as a National, followed by Mike "Angry American" Stanton getting booed back to Yankee Stadium. These people act like he sucked or something. Oh wait, he did.
8. Pedro. He's so funny. What a ham.
9. In my Pantheon of Heroes not including my father, Jack Bauer is #1, followed by Mike Richter, Superman (who wears Jack Bauer underoos), Roy Hobbs and David Wright. Mets fans LOVE this guy. And so does my girlfriend, a Yankee fan. D...PLEASE stick around for a long time, you're my only hope of keeping her interested in Mets baseball.
10. On the booing of Beltran....As an avid booer of Kaz Matsui (who doesn't actually exist), (He's not Yourmando, he's not Mymando, he's) Armando Benitez, Mo Vaughn, Robbie Alomar, Roger Cedeno, Bobby Bonilla, etc. I can understand why people have the urge to boo Carlos. He certainly haven't lived up to his contract, but come on people, it's Opening Day. The sun is hiding behind the clouds, it's 45 degrees and raining, it's a beautiful day, it's Opening Day, let's give the guy a clean slate. When he's hitting .222 at the end of May, THEN we attack him like dogs on a mailman.
11. For the record, my little cousin didn't like the Cameron-Nady trade.
12. Lo Duca, the Duke, just singled home Nady, good start for the newcomers.
13. DAVID WRIGHT. I'll say it again DAVID WRIGHT. I'm not jinxing him. Derek who? Really I'm not jinxing him. GOD! I love D-Wright. My girlfriend's brother, also a Yankees fan just texted me "David Wright sucks." Hey, don't hate cause you ain't. Can you see the Yankees fans getting a little worried and jealous.
14. It's the adventures of Flagman and Towelboy! "Come Towelboy! We must get drunk, act like idiots and try to lead the crowd into doing the wave!" Anyone sitting in the Upper Deck knows exactly what I'm talking about.
15. You were saying about the Nady trade? By the way, his new nickname is X-man.
16. Good to know they are still playing "Lazy Mary" by Lou Monte after "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." Yes, for those of you who don't know, that's the name. Go to iTunes and DOWNLOAD AWAY!!!
17. Lo Duca has TOTALLY won over the crowd with that move in the 8th on Soriano's play. Way to go Paulie Walnuts.
18. Sing it with me Mets fans...dun dundun DA DA....dun dundun DA DA....dun dundun DA DA....DUH dun DUH dun DUH dun DAduh. That's right, you hear the guitar lick. Metallica's "Enter Sandman" can only mean one thing, it's Wagner time!
19. For anyone who agrees with Mike "Steinbrenner" Francesa, saying that Wagner should change his entrance theme because it's Mariano's, I say this, KISS...MY...@$$!!! Last time I checked, Mariano owns no copyrights to the song. He apparently never even heard of it, nor did he pick it. For those who say Wagner is not original and it's disrespectful, maybe they should look from within. #42 was retired years ago. Maybe Mariano should think of changing HIS number, "out of respect." Just cut the crap and enjoy the game, who cares about music? But as long as it's gonna annoy Yankee fans, Billy, turn it up even louder!
20. I've never seen Shea this crazed in the 9th inning for a closer, EVER! And by the way, Beltran's throw...that's why we don't boo him yet.
That's it for today, next game, Wednesday April 5th against the Nationals. Once again, we won't be in the Green Seats. This time, Upper Deck behind home plate. Brian Bannister's Major League debut. I'm fired up. By the way, the Bobby Jones jersey is 1-0!!
Programming note: I'll have the pictures from the game up soon.
