When J-Nic told me he couldn’t make the game, I figured this was the perfect moment to continue the Farewell Shea Tour, this time including my father. I knew I wanted to get to one more game at Shea with my Dad before they dismantled her. This was a no-brainer. I’ve written many times before, there is nothing like going to a ball game with your father. I envy Mike, Tara and Laura for getting to do this at least 7 times a year. Dad and I usually get to at least one every season. I hope this is something that they do not take for granted, but knowing the two of them, I’m sure they don’t.
I still remember my first game with my Dad. It was the summer of 1988. Dad had just gotten home from work and said he had two tickets he got from a buddy in work. The seats were field level down the third base line against the Phillies. The Mets didn’t win that game. Mike Schmidt hit a home run off Doc Gooden. Despite all of that, it was just awesome to be at a game with my Dad. As the years have gone by we’ve seen a lot of baseball together, including two Yankee playoff games, and numerous Mets games. Dad grew up a Brooklyn Dodgers fans and when the Dodgers moved west, he kept his ties away from the hated Yankees. He never got to see a game in Ebbetts Field. So, when its grandchild, Citi Field, opens in 2009, I’ll be sure to take him to his first game there. Maybe it won’t be exactly like old Ebbetts, but I’m sure it’ll have a little bit of a throwback feel to it.
What makes this even better is that the Mets were playing against Dad's other bitter childhood rival, the Giants. Let's just say he doesn't like to talk about "The Shot Heard 'Round the World."
When we got to the seats, Rich and Big Bruce were sitting at the end of the row. I said my hello’s and walked past them down the line headed towards Mike at the other end. I turned and Dad was nowhere to be found. Newly-retired, my father had a lot to talk to Big Bruce about since they hadn’t seen each other in a year. I brought my Dad to a game to spend time with him watching the National Past Time and he’s spending it with the other two patriarch’s. Eh, I’ll give him his moment. Funny thing is I probably would have done the exact same thing.
1) Ladies and Gentlemen, the Burger King is in the house. Some guy actually dressed up as the Burger King. (Suddenly, that character is so much more uncool)
2) Oh yeah, another guy dressed up as a Joker card. (He’s the court jester.)
3) Here come the “Wendy’s” and “McDonald’s” chants. (I love Section 11)
4) Here are tonight’s homerun game picks: Alex: Jose; Dad: Chavez; Tara and me: Wright; Jeff and Bruce: Carlos BelTRAN; Laura and Dan: Easy Easley; Kerri: Delgado; Mike and Rich: Tatis; Christian: Castro.
5) Billy Wagner is on the cover of Mets Magazine. I forgot to bring my scorebook from home, so I was forced to buy this one. They referred to Wagner as “unhittable.” (This has definitely not been printed recently.)
6) By the by, tonight’s starting pitcher for the Mets? Johan Santana. Yes this was Johan’s first start before the watchful eyes of the 7-Pack. (Clearly, this was overshadowed by the back story of being at the game with Dad.)
7) So in the second inning, I moved to the end of the row to sit next to my father. Meanwhile, behind us, a ruckus began to unfold as only Section 11 knows how. A girl wearing all Mets gear, including 80’s style neon blue and orange sunglasses did not take too kindly to one of her fellow fans and proceeded to curse at him, and while being restrained, kicking at him. She was eventually removed by her friends and that’s when I broke out the “Let’s Go Mets” chant to ease the tension. (That’s how you defuse a bomb.)
8) Our friend is not done yet, miffed by how she was treated, she returned, only to be cut off at the top of the tunnel by an usher. So as to not be accused of sexual harassment, the usher pinned her against the rail with his right hip and his hands raised in the air. He did everything right. Then she punched him in the face and wiggled past him. This is when I started the “Section 11” chant. (This section really is something out of a Jerry Springer audience.)
9) AND…..here come the tears. Ah yes, reality has set in for our friend, as she is not realizing she will no longer be watching this game from her seat in Section 11. (Tsk tsk tsk.)
10) Wow, Giants starter Jonathan Sanchez has the Mr. Koo batting stance. (He didn’t hit one over Beltran’s head, but he did successfully lay down a bunt.)
11) Someone just walked by wearing a Tsuyoshi Shinjo t-shirt. “What is it wear your favorite crappy Met t-shirt night?”~Mike
12) In the top of the 4th, I went to get something to eat with Dad, so I handed the book off to my usual fill-in Alex. When I came back, Laura had the book. Apparently, Alex didn’t feel like filling in today. (This should be interesting.)
13) Ramon Castro just made Christian $12 richer. (I had to go over and shake his hand, because this was a gutsy pick, but obviously, it was the correct one.)
14) Johan is DOMINATING this lineup. (I LOVE watching him pitch. When this guy’s on, it’s unreal.)
15) Inquiring minds wanna know why Rick brings his leather planner/interview folder to Mets games. (This is an easy one, it gives me something to lean on when I write, AND…it protects the scorecard. This came into very valuable use when the rains came)
16) That’s what she said getting thrown out there.
17) Speaking of the rains, here they come! During the top of the fifth, the skies opened. The Mets needed one more out to make the game official. It was pouring. Ray Durham did everything he could to stall the at bat, but the ump would NOT call for the grounds crew. With two outs,
18) A rain delay is always a great time for people to catch up on numerous things like life and beer. (I did both.)
19) Apparently, according to my notes, Big Bruce noticed our friend from before, Crazy Girl was wheeled out in a wheel chair. (I WISH I could have seen that one.)
20) Back to baseball and Johan is out after the delay and five innings of work, enough for a win, but can the bullpen hold it? (Here comes #48)
21) Believe it or not, 48 actually has pitched pretty well before the 7-packers, putting up two more scoreless frames. (Maybe we need to go to more games.)
22) The Mets put up two more insurance runs in the 8th. In other news, Sergio Romo is pitching for the Giants. “It’s Tony’s little Mexican friend.”~J Vowelz. (Can’t have enough of those these days. Insurance runs, that is.)
23) Duaner Sanchez and Joe Smith each followed with scoreless, hitless innings to take care of business and put another win in the books. 5-0 Mets win over the lowly Giants. (Any more clichés?)
24) Meanwhile,
25) Funny quote in Sportsline’s recap of the night: “The Mets did get some bad news Wednesday night about injured left fielder Moises Alou, who left a rehab game for Double-A Binghamton with cramping in his left hamstring. A team spokesman said Alou was coming back to
So in what might be Dad’s last game at Shea, the Mets get him a win. I can’t say enough about how awesome it is to be at a baseball game with your father. There’s just something about that connection between a father and son at a ballgame that can never be duplicated anywhere else.
Well that puts a bow on another great 7-pack memory. I’ll be back later in the week with an update from my first New York Football Giants game as a season ticket holder.
Our next 7-Pack game is this Thursday, August 21 against the Braves. The pitching probables are Pedro
