Game info: Box Score.
Last year, I was invited by a friend of mine, Pat, to a Mets game along with some other friends who I know from a previous job. This year, Pat calls again, and I’m never one to decline Major League baseball action, so off we go to Shea Stadium!
I left straight from work, because it’s always safe to assume that traffic into Shea will make you late no matter how early you leave. In actuality, the traffic wasn’t that bad. I got to the stadium at about 6:15ish, paid the parking fee ($13), got some dinner (street vendor hot dog and bottled water: $3.50) and waited in front of the train station exit for Pat and the others to arrive. While waiting there, I see a college friend coming in, Matt. He’s decked out in his Phillies jersey for obvious reasons. After talking for a little bit, he’s off to find his friends and I stick around to wait for mine. The end of the exchange went something like this.
Matt: See ya later.
Joe: Yep. See ya.
*fist pound*
Matt: Go Phils!
Joe:… fuck you!
Pat, Chris and another friend of theirs, Candace, arrive at around 7:15. I still have to buy my ticket, so I wait on line while Pat and Chris encourage me to cut the line, which I feign attempts at. I got the cheapest seats available (Upper Reserved: $9. That’s right: parking costs more than the actual ticket) and we head up to our seats.
We sat down while the Phillies were up to bat in the first. Rookie pitcher Alay Soler got in trouble early, giving up 3 runs, but quickly settled down to pitch 5 scoreless innings. The Mets were able to come back, with Carlos Beltran and David Wright hitting home runs each (Beltran was making good contact with the ball all night; he would’ve had another home run had he not hit the ball to dead center.)
Also, of note: The Phillies were playing Carlos Delgado with a RIDICULOUS infield shift! The 3B was playing where the SS usually does, SS was where 2B usually is, and 2B was playing in shallow RF. I’ve only seen this kind of shift with Barry Bonds and Russ Ortiz. It’s quite a sight to see live. Pat mused that if Delgado can drop a bunt past the pitcher on the 3B side, no one can get to it and he could easily get an infield single.
Anyways, those were the highlights. If I had a decent camera, I would’ve taken pictures. Sadly… you know.
