The Will To Rock Flushing

I’d like to take this time to thank Billy Wagner for completely blowing yesterday’s save. 

No really.  I would like to bake Billy some brownies to say thanks.  For what you ask?  For putting this team in a position to prove that they CAN defeat their biggest rival in sudden death.  That’s exactly what it would have been for the Mets if they had not pulled through and won that game—death.  Thankfully we don’t have to go there. Obviously, Tatis and Smith both deserve big thanks, too.  (Share your brownies Billy!)

...I’ll be at the SNY viewing party at The Village Pourhouse.  If you see me come say hi!

I can’t believe I had to wait until Sunday to see another win. Oh, I mean… I totally CAN believe it.  Writing about my fabulous Friday afternoon after a miserable loss just seemed wrong.  If they didn’t win yesterday this post may have never happened.  I’m not sure if that’s a good or a bad thing, yet. 

I arrived at work on Friday morning wanting to tell everyone that I was going to the game that afternoon.  Yet, at the same time I was still a little worried I may not even get into the stadium after purchasing tickets on ebay.  Really what is preventing anyone from selling the same e-ticket over and over?  Eventually I couldn’t hold it in.  Possibly the best part of the day were the Yankee fans groveling. It was sad really.  haha

Noon came and my day in the office was over.  I changed my clothes, fixed my pig tails, grabbed my cohort and we were off to the Bronx for my final game at Yankee Stadium (and only my third).  We arrived about 1:30ish and found our seats, no thanks to an usher mind you.  I only saw one usher the whole day.  I usually avoid ushers at Shea but in an unfamiliar stadium it would have been helpful. Then we went off for food and returned to our someone else’s seats but not before being harassed by the concession stand guy for being a Mets fan. It was all in good fun though.  Upon our return we ended up one section closer to home plate in seats that belonged to a large group of the FDNY.  This worked out great.  A good half of them didn’t show up until the fourth inning which is why we never realized we were in the wrong section.  Until then we had so much space around us which was nice on a day where the air felt suffocating.  Thanks to being in the middle of a bunch drunken firemen most of the taunts we all in good fun amongst friends.

There was a group of Yankee fans in a section behind us who decided it would be a good idea to boo every Mets fan who walked by for the first few innings. Mostly the reaction of Mets fans was to raise their hands and give them their biggest smile. In fact I didn’t notice on Mets fan talk back to them. My favorite moment during all of this happened when a fellow Mets fan walked by holding two pretzels. He was booed.  He raised his pretzels and a Yanks fan shouted “Go Eat A Pretzel!!” That was a gem if I ever heard one.  All this nonsense stopped when the Mets took the lead in the fifth inning and never gave it back.

Last night I bought tickets to this afternoons game at Yankee Stadium.  This could be really really good or really really bad.  Let’s beak this down…

Pros:
1- I’ve never seen the Mets lose in a Mets/Yanks match up.  *knocks on wood* (Of course the game have always been at Shea, too.)
2- Pelfrey is pitching so I’ll be wearing my new ”Go Big Pelf” t-shirt.
3- David Wright had a day off yesterday.  (Okay, I know this doesn’t mean he’s going to hit two home runs but a girl can dream.)
4- Half day Fridays for the Summer mean I don’t even have to play hooky.
5- All the Yankee fans in the office are groveling at my feet today.  (This is like a super bonus!)

Cons:
1- I bought “print at home” tickets on ebay so there’s the possibility I won’t even get into the stadium. 
2- Pelfrey is pitching.  I know he’s been pitching really well but I’m still a little concerned.
3- Being outnumbered by obnoxious Yankee fans.
4- The Mets offense.
5- The lingering possibility of walking out of enemy territory in my Mets gear after a loss.

The good thing is most of the cons are just premature anxiety.

I work with a delusional Mets fan.  Now, I’m the first to admit that I can be delusional when it comes to this team.  I’m sure most Mets fans probably are.  However, I believe I have a firm grip on reality in regards to particular things.  Here are excerpts of a couple conversations I had today.

Him: You know what the key to this team is?
Me: Oh this should be good.
Him: El Duque!

Scene: I toss him a pen.  He dives to catch it. (I should also note that I suspect he is president of the Carlos Delgado fan club.)

Me: You should be the Mets first baseball.
Him: Oh maaan.  Have you seen him stopping the ball?
Me: Have y—
Him: And I’m telling you, he’ll have 100 RBIs this season.  [I’ve been hearing this ALL year.]
Me: How many does he have now?  30?
Him: 30-something.  He’s on pace.  He’ll have 50 by the half.
Me: That’s in two weeks.
Him: All he needs is a little hot streak.
Me: Have you been hanging out with Willie?

I wonder if there really is a difference between thinking that El Duque is the key to this team and thinking that this team wouldn’t lose a series to the worst team in baseball.  Hmmmm…

(I’m not talking about the last two games.  How many times can you possibly say you’re disappointed in this team?)

I spent some time this evening scouring ebay and stubhub looking for tickets to Friday afternoon’s game against the Yankees when I came across this (see images).  I’d love to meet the asshole who spends 10 grand on ONE ticket to see two crappy teams in crappy (for the price) seats.  If I’m going to spend 10 grand on a seat at Shea I damn well better be sitting in dugout.  I would also require one on one time with each guy so I can give them a piece of my mind.  Oh, and of course, after the game I had better be hitting the showers with the team. 

In my quest for a baseball cap, I have bumped into this cap all too often. My question is where the heck did this NY come from?  Don’t these things need to be approved by someone?  Obviously no one asked me because I don’t approve.  Jeff how could you let something like this just slip through the cracks???  All the other teams appear to be using correct logos on this style cap.  Was it just too difficult to use a REAL Mets logo despite the surplus of logos to choose from? 

Can I speak to a manager please?

Last week The Final Score introduced me to Pat Venditte a switch pitcher for the Staten Island Yankees.  This is intriguing to me but I think begs the question why hasn’t this been done before?  Long before Billy Wagner was was a professional ball player be was a right-handed pitcher.  He taught himself to throw left-handed only after breaking his throwing arm twice.  Just think what he could be doing now if he were able to pitch with both arms. 

The Cyclones / Yankees game was aired on SNY last night. Pat Venditte came in to pitch in the 9th inning.  With two outs and a five run deficit switch hitter Ralph Henriquez comes to the plate.  Pat has his glove in his left hand.  Ralph decides to bat right-handed.  Pat switches his glove.  Ralph moves to the opposite box.  This went on a couple more times.  Yelling ensued.  Managers out of the dugouts.  More yelling.  Obviously no one knows what is supposed to happen in this situation.  There’s likely nothing in the rule book about this.  This could have gone on forever.  Thankfully Ralph appeared to be fed up with all the nonsense and decided to hit right-handed and ended the game with a strike out. 

It’ll be interesting to see what the rule book eventually says about this.  Should the advantage go to the switch hitter who has always had the advantage in the past?  Or will it go to the pitcher who has the advantage over all the other non-ambidextrous hitters?  I’m leaning towards the offense on this one.

UPDATED: To add video below.
[ thanks to hot foot blog ]