When I heard I was going to Opening Day this year, I was thrilled. I haven’t been since 2008, and haven’t been to Citi since June of last year. What follows will be a bit of a running diary of my experience at the game.
Pre-Game
Surprisingly it was easy enough to get into the city and find a spot in which to park, although some people really need to learn that when tailgating, it would be really nice if you didn’t take up three perfectly usable spots to do so, there are other places you can do that so people can actually park their cars in the spots.
We had to wait for my father and brother as they were taking the LIRR to the game, and by the time we get in the stadium, it is about 12:15 (there was a guy walking around the stadium yelling “Wilpons must go!” So I sarcastically yelled “trade the Wilpons!” He took me seriously and started yelling it, some people…), and we head over to Shake Shack to get lunch. When we arrive there, the line is unsurprisingly gigantic. I decide that I am going to just go get a hot dog and go back to the seats, because I don’t want to miss the ceremony, or any of the game.
The normal part of the ceremony went by as expected, but I don’t understand the fan’s hatred towards Mike Pelfrey. What has the guy done to make the fans hate him so much? Why can’t he just be a decent innings eater?
During the Game
If I were taking game notes, it would’ve read something like: Johan looks sharp; JOHAN; there goes the no-no…;JOHAN IS BACK.
When Murphy hit a double, I started telling my friend (who missed the top of the first while waiting for Shake Shack) how good Murphy is, and that he could bat .310 this year with a good OBP and Slug%. Wright flies out to right center, guess they didn’t move the fences in far enough…
Second inning and top of third go by quickly, without anything worth mentioning. Although they did have a question where they asked the fans David Wright’s favorite cereal, and then to text your answer to a number. It wasn’t a contest or anything, just a test of how many weird random facts you know about the Mets.
Torres gets picked off on first base to end the bottom of the third, I don’t understand why it is that after the previous two pick-offs, he wasn’t expecting a third.
Fourth inning, 1-2-3, and 1-2-3.
Johan loads them up with two outs in the top of the 5th, and is nearing his pitch count of 80. He finished off his day by fielding a come-backer to the mound, and then scaring the living crap out of everyone in attendance by nearly throwing it into right field.
We entertain ourselves by watching the security that sits on the ROOF of the stadium. What could they possibly be doing there that helps keep us safe? They didn’t have binoculars or anything, just strange.
Mets get a run on a David Wright ground ball, but I doubted that would be enough run support for the bullpen to hold for the rest of the game.
Despite Ramon Ramirez’s best efforts, Mets keep ahead 1-0, Byrdak was fantastic and got two HUGE outs. I don’t have many things to say from the middle portions of this game, because there really wasn’t anything notable, I got a second hot dog at this point, and the drunk fans in my section yelled some moronic things to Ruben Tejada about how he isn’t Reyes.
Mets get a lead-off guy on when Thole singles to left. Terry Collins decides its best to bunt the runner over with Tejada (WHY???!!!!) and then Tejada puts a bad bunt down, and the runner is thrown out at second on an extremely questionable call. Maybe Terry wasn’t kidding when he said he wanted to lead the league in sacrifice bunts.
We get our first look at Jon Rauch who gets a surprisingly easy 1-2-3 inning, hopefully we can get more of those from him. Mets get the bases loaded in the bottom half, but Dude strikes out, and leaves the entire stadium biting their fingernails as Frank “I like to pitch myself in and out of jams” Francisco comes in.
Also the speaker above us starts to make an annoying buzzing noise, I guess that’s what I get for being in the last row in the upper deck in left field.
Groundout-Popout-Strikeout and Put it in the books! I start a first place chant, and decide this is going to be the high point for the Mets’ season and that I am going to enjoy it.
Post-Game
Leaving the stadium, we get chants including:”Lets go Mets!” and “Yankees suck!” Why do we have to chant Yankees suck? It is really immature, and makes us look like a fan base that has a major inferiority complex.
We get our to our car, and decide that instead of trying to bust it out of the stadium, that we are going to hang out in the parking lot and soak in the atmosphere. Definitely upbeat, because hey, baseballs back! We throw the ball around and just enjoy the beautiful weather.
There were two girls walking around with some sort a a power drink that they were encouraging people to sample. If you go to a game this year and see them, try their drink, it was absolutely delicious.
Well that’s about it, hopefully I have provided an angle to yesterday’s game that hasn’t already been done. Any questions will be welcomed.
20 comments
srt
4/6/2012-5:15pm at 5:15 pm (UTC -4)
Loved this fan view of opening day experience, especially the little tidbits. Rooftop security? Really? Maybe they’re in place jut in case some Met fan wants to jump off the ‘ledge’. LOL.
You weren’t the only one who had no confidence in our BP holding a one run lead for four innings. Glad to be wrong on that one.
Watching the pre-game ceremonies on TV, I thought it was all very well done, especially the tribute to Gary Carter.
Happy we continued the near tradition of an opening day win.
Stickguy
4/6/2012-5:35pm at 5:35 pm (UTC -4)
my son at college was watching, and texted me going into the top of the 9th that it was time to invoke my “no closer” rule.
I had a policy of beating traffic whenever a Met closer came in for a save when I was at the game. I figured why stay? If they blew it (as seemed to be the norm), I would be P.O’d. If they nailed it down, I would hear it in the car.
more of an issue with Shea though, and that disaster of a parking lot to get out of.
Ceetar
4/6/2012-9:06pm at 9:06 pm (UTC -4)
rooftop security:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ODQzPJEu8b-4vCionN4xUdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink
Opening Day was fun. I got sunburnt, whatever.
People boo Pelfrey because he was a number one draft pick. Think about how disappointed you’d feel if say Harvey was pitching like Pelfrey in 2018. Not that that’s boo worthy, but it’s sort of the “This team would actually be good if you’d lived up to your potential you bum!” It’s hard for some people to realize potential/projection is not actually the physical ceiling a guy can reach. It’s just a guess, and it’s not through lack of effort or mental ability that keeps guys from Pelfrey from living up to #1 draft pick hype. It’s simply physical talent.
Hazmet
4/6/2012-5:44pm at 5:44 pm (UTC -4)
Just curious: What time did you get there and how long did it take you to park?
My friend got there a little after 11:30 and they didn’t get parked for an hour and a half and got stuck listening to the top of the first in the car waiting.
Got up there main lot closed just as they got to the entrance, steered to arthur ashe got to the point to get in that got closed, then they got steered to the aquatic center and finally got parked.
Ceetar
4/6/2012-9:10pm at 9:10 pm (UTC -4)
Opening Day, record crowd, people there early to tailgate, new workers, etc. With the exception of the Subway Series, unless the Mets get really really awesome and it’s July or something, there are enough parking spots at Citi for everyone. weekends obviously a little more crowded, but unless you’re running up against the clock, parkings rarely an issue.
Hazmet
4/6/2012-9:16pm at 9:16 pm (UTC -4)
You’re spot on with New Workers observation. That’s one of the things my friend said. As in “eh, they gotta get the routine down. It is the first game afterall”
Hazmet
4/6/2012-5:55pm at 5:55 pm (UTC -4)
I’ve tried to restrain myself for weeks but could somebody please push this rock climbing woman for Citi Bank credit cards off that damn rock!!!
it’s been 6 months of hearing this commercial every 2 seconds on SNY. I get it “somebody left the gate open…..blah blah blah ….”
Thank you, I had to get that out of my system.
Stickguy
4/6/2012-6:00pm at 6:00 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t think I have gone to a game in the last 30 years where there was not a random “yankees suck” chant going on as we left.
SpencerRealDirtyMets
4/6/2012-6:01pm at 6:01 pm (UTC -4)
Hazmet- I got there at 11:45 ish
Hazmet
4/6/2012-6:13pm at 6:13 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks Spencer, appreciate the info. I’m just planning ahead. But then again opening day will be packed as opposed to the random games during the year. Unless we’re shocking the world and then I will gladly park at LaGuardia and walk if it means we’d be in the running.
Hazmet
4/6/2012-6:54pm at 6:54 pm (UTC -4)
Theeeee Yankee’s Lose, Thuuuuuueeee Yankee’s Lose
Nice blown save lose in the bottom of the ninth.
Mr North Jersey
4/6/2012-7:53pm at 7:53 pm (UTC -4)
Whoever bet that the Yankees would blow a save before the Mets just got paid big time
Stickguy
4/6/2012-8:07pm at 8:07 pm (UTC -4)
small pleasures.
And I would love to see Mo have a crappy year, and go out like crap, 1 year too late!
not that I am spiteful or anything…
Hazmet
4/6/2012-9:18pm at 9:18 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, me too. I felt pretty petty posting a feel good moment at the expense of others but they are the Evil Empire so what the heck.
srt
4/7/2012-8:48am at 8:48 am (UTC -4)
I watched that too. Queue the ‘Rivera is done’ speculation.
SpencerRealDirtyMets
4/6/2012-7:22pm at 7:22 pm (UTC -4)
Hazmet- I went last year in June and there was no parking hassle, and the shake shack lines were short. And shake shack is awesome for those who haven’t had it.
Hazmet
4/6/2012-9:20pm at 9:20 pm (UTC -4)
lol – as I was posting and surfing my wife was exploring the Shake Shack website. Our first game’s against the Giants in a few weeks. Can’t wait, also will be my daughter’s first game.
Oh – was facinated to see Shake Shack has locations in the UAE and Kuwait. Very cool.
Hazmet
4/6/2012-9:22pm at 9:22 pm (UTC -4)
*First time in CitiField for us.
darknova306
4/7/2012-1:42am at 1:42 am (UTC -4)
Opening Day was a blast. It was really fun sitting in left field and booing the crap out of Bay
And while I’d normally have booed Bay and Pelfrey during the opening ceremonies like I did to Ollie and Castillo on OD in 2010, I stayed quiet to respect the tribute to Gary Carter.
It was really nice to see Kaptain K koming through in the klutch. Certain blow-hard fans must’ve been wretching over that game winning hit.
B-MONEY
4/7/2012-6:15pm at 6:15 pm (UTC -4)
Wanted to add some comments, since this was my first opening day. My immediate concentration was on the wall and how much i liked seeing the wall in. on opening day.
They had a nice ceremony for Gary Carter. Which they really can’t do enough to honor the guy in my opinion. A real class act all the way.
Usual Cheers for David Wright during the game, Jason Bay was the one that got all the negative attention, and people actually loved seeing Johan pitch a great game on opening day. Francisco looked awesome in the 9th… There was a lot of people with standing around the concession stands, but i think people really were happy during the game.
Where i was sitting there was a mock tomahawk chop, while the braves aren’t the chief rival anymore and Chipper Jones wasn’t playing. Don’t mean that we like the braves anymore than the phillies.
After the game i got to meet Bobby O. who was in the SNY booth doing the post game outside the stadium, he was really nice. Stayed to sign all the autographs even for kids who probably don’t know who he was. I did suggest that Van Dekker should be the Mets center fielder and i’m convinced of this because of his great defensive talent. He does have to show he can hit major league pitching but he is such a good fielding center fielder. I was also able to get Andres Torres autograph after the game. Very cool experience for an opening day.