Dang it was cold at Shea Opening Day Monday. And Loge13 is under the
shade of the Mezzanine section so we had no weak April sun to heat us up.
Instead we warmed ourselves witnessing the eighth inning heroics today
as the Mets scored seven times and dismantled the Phils 11-5.
It looked bad for a while. Maine was not sharp and couldn't get out of
the 5th inning. He only allowed two runs but escaped multiple
bases-loaded jams, thanks to the Phillies' new "leave-as-many-men-on-base-as-
possible" policy.
Phils starter Cole Hamels was sharp and had our number. Only Jose
Valentin had him figured out. That's how bad it was.
But the Phillies began giving back as soon as they went to their
bullpen. After escaping seventh inning Met threats, Geary fell apart quickly
in the eighth and Jon Leiber performed like a man about to enter forced
retirement.
Jimmy "The Mouth" Rollins did not help, botching a Reyes ground ball in
the fateful inning. (He also hit into a bases-loaded double play
earlier. (Attention Chipper Jones: you have been replaced as the player Met fans love
to hate). But Wright delivered the most painful blow, a 2-run double
after going 0-4 up to the eighth.
Today's attendance was 56, 227, the largest opening day crowd in Met
history. That number included the blotto'ed rookie cop behind me, who
had come off an 8-4 shift, and come to the park to drink and scream away
the hours before his next shift tonight. He loudly cursed the entire
stadium when it cheered the National Anthem before its finale ("I did
not defend this country to have it's song disrespected!"). Similar
disquietudes interrupted the proceedings. But by the 3rd inning, the young
officer's voice was lost and order restored. Loge13 salutes the NYPD rookie
class of 2007.
Cops must be getting paid well these days to get drunk at Shea. Beer
vendors are charging $6.75 for a cup this year. Bottles at the stand are
$7.25. Assuming there is such a thing as a "Seven-pack," that adds up to
$50.25 (before tip) for a seven-pack of Shea suds. Loge13 salutes
Aramark for its courageous price-gouging and fleecing of New York's
drinkers.
Meanwhile, CitiField construction continued throughout the game. The
parking lot beyond right field is mostly gone. Fans were encouraged to
take mass transit, with the promise of extra trains. I took the LIRR out
to Shea and saw no evidence of extra service but…did get to sample the
breath of many fans standing near, on top and below me on the
ridiculously overpacked 11:49 out of Penn Station. The MTA had plenty of 7
trains for the post-game ride, however. Loge13 salutes the Flushing local.
Excellent penultimate Opening Day at Shea. Take it, Jane Jarvis!
Comments
The Mets' horrible announcers had nothing but great things to say about Citi Field. You sure you're lamenting the last days of Shea?