Not very long after I purchased the tickets for the Red Sox exhibition game, I spoke to my buddy J-Schiblé, who happens to be Mike’s current housemate.  He picked up 4 tickets on the Budweiser Roof Top for Mets-Red Sox.  I offered Schibs, being that he’s a Sox fan, a ticket to the exhibition game in exchange for a ticket to the Mets game at Fenway.  They worked about to be basically equal value, so it was winners all around. 

 

The plan was to meet Mike and his lovely fiancé in Boston around 5 PM and hit some bars before going in.  I left my house at around noon and figured to be in Fairfield by 1:15.  My plan was working perfectly as I cruised up the Garden State Parkway, across 287, over the Tappan Zee Bridge and through Westchester, on my way to Connecticut.  I made one FATAL mistake in my decision making process.  I elected to take I-95 up the Connecticut coast instead of taking the Merritt Parkway.  What resulted was a 50 minute drive to go 24 miles.  Yep.  The Connecticut Turnpike is the absolute worst.  I eventually got a hold of Hirxey to let him know how I feel about Connecticut, but I was actually calm this time, because I should have expected it.  It was my own fault.  The funny part was, the lighted signs said, “Delay to Exit 14.”  Sure enough right at Exit 14, the traffic cleared, but there was no accident, no construction and no debris, which made me think.  What could have caused this?  It’s not like Exit 14 is some sort of hot spot.

 

This is when it hit me that Connecticut drivers are so brain dead that they actually use the signs as a guide.  I don’t believe these signs report the traffic, they dictate it.  And Connecticut drivers are so dumb, THEY ACTUALLY LISTEN!!!  No honey, we’re not at Exit 14, we can’t hit the gas yet!  For all you Connecticutians out there who are saying “What do you know Jersey boy?” I lived in Connecticut for 5 years and still have friends there.  Your state is a crap hole when it comes to driving.  Nothing will prove me wrong about this.  It is not up for debate. 

 

I finally arrived at the house at around 1:50.  Awesome.  Schiblay-blay was not answering the door, however, so I called Mike.  He said that Schibs was probably killing people on Xbox, so he told me to break in his back window.  Sure enough, but just as I was about to step in, I made my presence known so that no one would call the cops on me.  After about 10 minutes of talking, Blay-blay talked me in to taking his car up to Boston.  He really wanted to take the Jeep in this nice weather.  Okay, fine.

 

Off we went to Boston.  By the way, we put the roof up because it was cloudy…great weather.  About 40 minutes into the drive, he smacked his head and let out an “F” bomb. “You forgot the tickets, didn’t you?” I said.  “I forgot the tickets,” he replied.  No problem, we pulled off the highway into a gas station so that he could call the Red Sox ticket office and have them reissue the tickets.  I went inside to get a soda and a snack.  I texted Mike to tell him, and he immediately called in a panic.  After calming him down and telling him it would be taken care of, I went outside to check on Schibs.  I found him looking down at his tire, which had a construction nail in it.  You can’t make this up.

 

We decided we had to change the tire.  That’s when I texted Mike to say Schibs had a nail in his tire, changing it now.  “Lies, where are you guys, seriously?” he replied.  I then took a picture of Schibs changing the tire and sent it to Mike, who responded with a call, “What the hell is wrong with you two?  I can’t believe this…Wait, he talked you into taking his car?  Does he realize he’s the only one who knows how to drive a stick?  I guess we know who’s NOT drinking tonight.” 

 

We jacked up the Jeep, but unfortunately, the jack was not high enough and we couldn’t get the tire off.  So after borrowing a second jack, we got the tire off and replaced it.  The rest of the process went pretty quickly.  I went back inside to buy handy wipes since our hands were black from brake dust.  For the rest of the ride up, the Combos I bought in the shop were a huge pick-me-up.  About 20 minutes later, Blay-blay smacked his head again and said, “You know, we were stopped at a gas station and I didn’t get gas, which I needed.”  You really can’t make this up when it comes to stories about J. Schiblè

 

We finally got to a parking lot in the area at around 6 PM.  We both proceeded to drop trou in the lot to change since we both had shorts on and it got chilly that night.  Oh yeah, it was gonna be one of THOSE nights…

 

1)      Fenway definitely has a lot of cool features around the park including the bars and shops.  If only the chop shop people around Citi Field would sell, THEN we would really have something there.

2)      As we walked into the park, Mike asked a security guard what the wristbands were for.  “Gay guys, want one?” the guard replied.  You stay classy.  Turns out it was for designated drivers.  Jackass.

3)      We just found out it was Connecticut Day at Fenway Park. 

Okay.  What exactly is there to celebrate about Connecticut that is enough to give it its own day at Fenway?  Really?

 

4)      Murphy, Pagan, Beltran, Sheffield, Wright, Reed, Santos, Martinez, Castillo.  Are you kidding me with this lineup? 

Please get better soon Ryan and Jose!

 

5)      Didn’t know we had a David Murphy on the team.  Yes, the PA announcer called him David.  (Does anyone up there know that his walkup song at Citi is “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” by the Dropkick Murphys?)

6)      Mike and I gave a light clap for Sheffield’s RBI single.

7)      There goes Pelf’s no-no.  Good, I can pee now. 

8)      Wow, I’ve put down 3 beers in the first two innings.  It was that kinda drive.

9)      BURKHARDT!!!!!  It’s a good day, whenever there is a Kevin Burkhardt sighting.

10)  Kevin Burkhardt is living the dream.

11)  Yep, Mike got on SNY.  He’s that guy

12)  Security asked K.B. to get up out of his seat.  You got screwed Kev! 

13)  It’s always awesome to have your picture taken with a celebrity like Kevin Burkhardt.

14)  K.B. loved the “Gangstas” t-shirt.

15)  This is the 15th observation of this post and GEICO wants to remind you that a 15 minute phone call can save you 15% or more on your car insurance.  For more information, log onto www.geico.com

16)  “Since the first drinking, I’ve been doing a lot of innings.”  I said that.  I actually said that.  Wow.

17)  Budweiser.  The King of Beers.

18)  I’m sorry, but Ramon Martinez looks like Tony Almeida.

19)  Traditional phone call to Dad during “Sweet Caroline.”

20)  Papelbon comes in to “I’m Shipping Up to Boston.”  He’s not a Murphy though.  Although I will say Fenway rumbles when that song starts playing.

21)  Heading into the 9th, down 2-1 with Papelbon coming in, Mike and I had accepted the loss.  The Mets played hard.  Big Pelf pitched, well, but Beckett was just better.  Then Omir Santos and his quick bat stepped to the plate and…

22)  BOOM!!!

23)  From where we were, we could have called it a homerun. 

24)  Wait for it…..

25)  Wait for it….

26)  Thank God for instant replay!  3-2 Mets!!!!

27)  On to the Bottom of the 9th and here he comes….whuuuUAAAAA??????? It’s not K-Rod.  It’s J.J. Putz and Mike’s head just exploded. 

28)  Mike can’t watch, I can’t speak.  Good Lord get us through this!

29)  Base hit, here we go

30)  What a play by Wright to pick that one and what a play by Castillo to stay on the bag!  Who is this team?   Didn’t they commit like 5 errors yesterday?

31)  HOLY CRAP WHAT A PLAY BY MARTINEZ AND…PUT IT IN THE BOOKS!!!!!!

32)  Seriously, what happened?  I blacked out. 

 

No stadium rating here since that’s already been done for Fenway.  Kudos to J. Schiblé for picking up the seats.  Budweiser Roof Top is definitely a good time and a good value.  I’ve always enjoyed every trip I’ve made to Boston, especially for games.  They do baseball right up there from what I can tell.