2009 Game #2 - Tampa Bay Rays at New York Mets
Final Score: Rays 3, Mets 1
Hot Dog - 3/5
Very good game today: Johan Santana started for the Mets and pitched very well, giving up 2 runs before the rain delay took him out of the game. James Shields started for my fantasy baseball team (and for the Rays) and took the win. Good for me, anyway.
Pete met us outside the subway stop at Citi Field. The corrugated metal roof protected us from the downpour on the way in. We entered the Jackie Robinson Rotunda and took pictures in front of the giant “42” numbers in the lobby. I’m not sure if there was a Hitchhikers’ Guide convention going on or what, but we posed anyway. In a quick aside, the one thing I learned at Citi Field is that Jackie Robinson is the most celebrated Met in the Mets long, celebrated history. (That history includes four retired numbers, only one of which is a former Mets player, and one retired stadium name.) </ironic>
The park is beautiful. It’s got all the modern conveniences (like all the newer parks), yet it still feels “homey.” Unlike the Metrodome, which I’m told is more “homely.” Our hot dog was average, though, which was a bit of a surprise, since it was a Nathan’s dog.
The game was close all the way through (good pitchers) and there was a rain delay during the top of the 8th, the first in-game rain delay in Citi Field history. It was also Karyn’s first ever rain delay, so we celebrated by watching cheesy old Mets videos on the jumbotron (jumbletrum?). My first rain delay was in 1987 or ‘88 when my grandfather and dad took me and my Cali cousins to Fenway park. I fondly remember watching Bo Jackson slide across the wet tarp.
Musically, we both noticed how loud the in-game audio presentations were. This is likely to overcompensate for the airplanes constantly flying by. The “Mets lost” song was Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind.” I’m told their “Win” song is BTO’s “Takin’ Care of Business.”
After the game, Pete took us out to a great Italian place for dinner and we stayed at his apartment that night. Big thanks to Pete! (By the way, Pete has become quite a collector of autographed baseballs. His bookshelf contains the likes of Bob Uecker, the sloppy Corey Hart, baseball’s beloved commissioner Allan “Bud” Selig, Ken Burns, many, many Yankees, and the great Bob Feller.)
-Rich
COMMENTS
Hugh says:
22 June 2009 at 10:22 am
Hey you two!
Just an overall comment: this is a terrific blog! I can’t believe how professional it looks, and I’m getting a kick out of reading your entries. I hope you’re getting some good weather and having a blast. Here in lil’ Rhody, we’re still in monsoon season.
Looking forward to the next entry!
Amanda says:
22 June 2009 at 11:22 am
“jumbletrum” Nice touch
I giggle everytime I see the <!--[endif]--> on the beginning of your entries, ah javascript, how I loathe thee.
I can’t believe Karyn’s never been in a rain delay!? I remember last summer going to Fenway with Grandma, Mat and Mom and we had a delay for about 45 minutes. Hmmm…
Mom says:
22 June 2009 at 5:38 pm
Rain delays? Heck, just about every ballgame @ Fenway I’ve been rained on to some degree. Just part of the “charm” (?) of playing baseball outdoors, as it was meant to be. Suck it up!
Pete M. says:
24 June 2009 at 6:37 pm
Nice recap! As an aside, I got a baseball back from Gary Carter, whose number is still not retired by the Mets, not even for his accomplishements as an Expo. Glad you liked New Shea! Hopefully we can catch another game when you come back up to Noo Yawk!
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