I think my new tradition is going to be to hit up the Mets game on Memorial Day.  2009 was the second straight year that I’ve done this and I think it could become a good tradition.  It’s a nice way to have a fun evening after standing at attention and marching all day. 

 

A couple weeks before the game, I picked up a couple of tickets for Memorial Day, solid seats for about $30 cheaper on Stubhub than I would have paid going through Mets.com.  I will NEVER buy tickets off of mets.com again.  Screw them.  I’m not giving that organization any more money than I have to.  If the price is right on Stubhub, then that’s where I’m gonna get em. 

 

This marked Hi-C’s first trip to the ballpark.  After our adventure in the NEW Yankee Stadium, we decided to see what she thought of Citi. 

 

Guess who forgot the tickets?  Yep, that’d be me.  This was two days after the debacle heading up to Boston.  Schiblay-blay’s antics must have rubbed off on me.  No problem.  We pulled off to the side so I could call the Mets’ ticket office, while she tried Stubhub, it was a footrace, but in the end the Mets’ ticket office came out victorious.  Hi-C still laughs at what the Stubhub operator said to her, “I’m sorry I couldn’t help you.  Enjoy your show!”  Ooooookay.

 

Despite my error in the field, we actually had a very quick drive and made it in plenty of time.  Unfortunately though, I didn’t make it early enough to park for free on the grass.  Oh well.  We still had a decent parking spot.  From where we were, I noticed that you could see the big screen on the back of the scoreboard from our parking spot.  I could see Carlos Beltran taking batting practice.  This is when it hit me.  If/when the Mets make the playoffs/World Series, if I can’t get tickets, I should just drive to the ballpark, pay for parking and watch the game in the parking lot on that screen. 

 

Then I began to think about when the Rangers won the cup in 1994.  During the 3 games on the road, the Rangers opened Garden and sold tickets to watch the game on the big screen for a reduced price.  The Mets should consider this.  The Mets should also try to make the playoffs first, but you get what I mean.  I’m on to something, leave me alone!

 

Of course it’s Memorial Day, but I love seeing all the service men and women in attendance.  I hope they were allowed in at a reduced price for all they do and have done for us. 

 

And awayyyyyy we go…..

 

1)      Hi-C likes Citi better than Yankee Stadium.  Her words.  I didn’t say anything.

2)      So apparently Baseline Box seats do NOT grant you access to the Excelsior/Caesar’s Club level despite what my security guard said at the last game.  (Side note, when I bought the tickets, I called the ticket office with this question.  The person said I would have access to the Caesar’s Club.  FAIL!)

3)      Today’s food choice is a chicken roll from Nonna Delia’s.  There’s a lot of pressure to deliver here.  I’m pretty critical of my Italian food.

4)      Okay, I know it’s Memorial Day and all, but the Mets look silly in red hats.  They look like the Nationals.  Go back to the navy blue.

5)      This just in, Razor Shines is a TERRIBLE third base coach.  I’ve never seen anyone wave runners home with so much reckless abandon.  Beltran was out by 10 feet.

6)      I had a conversation with the two guys next to me about the prices here and how they’ve screwed the fans with the tiered pricing and ticket lotteries.  We all agreed…Nelson Doubleday would have never stood for this.  (My cousin Bryan made a great point over the weekend stating that he wished the Wilpons sold and Doubleday stuck around.  I couldn’t agree more.)

7)      The chicken roll definitely impressed.  It could have used some marinara dipping sauce.  Hi-C offered the tomato from her pizza.  Not a bad replacement for the sauce.

8)      Seriously, what is with this baserunning?  How many times are guys gonna get thrown out on the basepaths?

9)      Beltran with a nice RBI single.  I don’t see too many two out RBI chances that are successful.  I’m not used to this.

10)  I’m really loving this Welcome Back a Veteran program.  This is LONG overdue.

11)  I love ‘merica!

12)  Time for another trip to Box Frites.  Gonna go with the Smokey Bacon and the Ballpark Mayo

13)  Oh score!  We even got a table top to stand at and watch the game while we enjoyed such a delectable snack.

14)  Smokey Bacon is so amazing.  Ballpark Mayo is pretty much honey mustard, but satisfying nonetheless.

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

16)  A camera man just walked up to us and got a shot right in our mugs of us chowing down on french fries.  Thanks pal.  Well, I don’t think we were on SNY, because my phone did not start buzzing uncontrollably.  Either that or nobody’s watching.

17)  I have to say, I love the sight of Citi Field lit up at night.  This is my first night game here and I’m enjoying it thoroughly. 

18)  “Come on guy Rick doesn’t like” (Okay, 3 guesses as to whom she was talking about and the first two don’t count.)

19)  BOOM!!!

20)  Controversy at Citi Field!  Did the fan reach over the line to catch that ball?

21)  This play is being reviewed.

22)  Bad job by the video board operator, unless he’s not allowed to, which then it’s just a bad job by somebody, they did not show the play on the big screen.  How are we supposed to know?  That’s a bad job and needs to be rectified.  Every other major sport will show it on the big screen while it’s under review.  I’m gonna say this is an MLB rule and if so, it’s a terrible rule.  Go Bud Selig!  Commissioner Half-assed.

23)  Come on, this is getting ridiculous.  Either it’s a home run or it’s not.  I can’t believe I’ve been to 2 games in 3 days in 2 different cities and in both, the Mets have a homerun under review.

24)  HOMERUN!!! 

25)  I still can’t root for Sheff, despite the “GA-RY SHEF-FIELD” chants.  Hi-C thinks I need to get over it.  She doesn’t understand.  She will though.  She will.

26)  Trivial move by Manuel not bringing Maine back out to start the 7th.  Granted he threw 98 pitches through 6, but still?  Really, when did this 100 pitch count rule come into effect?  I never understand taking a pitcher out between innings when you don’t have to.  At least let him come back out for the start of the 7th.  Why burn the pen?

27)  Just so everyone knows, Row 27 of the field level is the cut off for the overhang.  We know this because the people sitting the row in front of us were getting spilled on.  That’s good advice.

28)  Parnell is not the same right now

29)  As cool as the 3 deck wave looks right now, it needs to stop.  I’m a huge opponent of the wave, especially during a big spot in a game.

30)  Nats are making it interesting.  Great move, Jerry.  Really.  Can I have the reigns now?

31)  Nice job by Perpetual Pedro Feliciano to get out of the jam.

32)  What a rousing rendition of “God Bless America” sung by a member of the U.S. Marine Corp.  Mike’s right, why can’t they find someone to do this every night?

33)  Definitely one of the best parts of the whole Mets experience is “Lazy Mary” and the t-shirt launch.

34)  J.J. really scares me.  (Side note, I’m glad he’s on the DL right now.  I couldn’t take it anymore.)

35)  I was on the phone with Dad when J.J. issued a walk and I screamed, “You SUCK J.J.”  I got the fatherly response, “Okay, just stay calm, remember who you’re with.  You don’t wanna scare her away.”  Right.  Thanks Dad.

36)  Thank God for K-Rod.

 

PUT IT IN THE BOOKS!!!!  And so I finally get to see my first Mets win in the new ballpark.  Maybe it was Hi-C, maybe it was my new Dry Fit Mets t-shirt.  Maybe it’s because it was the Nationals.  No matter what it was, it was a good game and a nice win.  I need more of these to keep me sane.