Today I went to Nationals Park to see the Nationals take on the Orioles for an exhibition game, the last one of the Spring for both teams. As always, I have plenty of stories from the game because if you go to a game and you don't come back with stories, then something is wrong. Its why you go to the game. My initial thought when I got to the ball park was that my subway ticket to get from College Park to the Navy Yards (where the stadium) cost me more round trip than my $5 upperdeck ticket, actually my drink at the ball park cost more than that too (on another side note, because I have a lot of jumbled thoughts in my head right now, beer at Nationals Park was 7.50 and from what I understand it is that way at Citi as well, (for some types) which is incredible, one would expect it to be higher in New York). Anyway, there is nothing like seeing a game for five bucks, because these days that is practically free. We were also the only section in the ballpark for that price, and the only one that was quasi full, no other section was more than 50% full, and the majority of sections had under 10 fans. Now I know its the Nationals but they are also playing a local “rival”.
Nationals Park is in its second season and it is still a beautiful ballpark. I went with a friend and it was his first time in the ballpark and his reaction was that park reminded him of a theme park, and the more I looked at it, the more I agree. If you have ever been to a Nationals game, you know that they overdo the fireworks. Plus the kids area is huge. They also pay tribute on pillers in the ballpark to really just random Hall of Famers, that have no connection to the Washington Nationals.
Now no game is complete without crazy fans. Someone was shown on the screen wearing a Mets jersey, so I let out a cheer and then the guy behind said, “The Mets are worse than the Nationals, why? Well every year they just tease their fans.” It was really funny. There were these three kids in front of us at the game, they were about 10 years old, maybe younger. And as soon as I booed Lastings Milledge (who now wears 85 because Dunn has 44) they turned around said, with their Middle fingers up, “F you, F the Orioles.” (They actually said the world, I like to keep this site clean). And then in the first inning, Josh Willmingham hit a Grand Slam and the kids just turned aroumd to the section and continued to F the Orioles. Thanks to their age, and their size, it was way too funny for anyone to actually take offense (Another side note: everytime I see Willmingham, he always does the opposite of what is good for the cause I that I'm supporting). Anyway the kids left in the 3rd inning, and in the 6th inning there was this T-Shirt toss and we saw on the screens that they made it all the way down to the first row behind first base. This is why we go to games, because you never know what will happen on the field and off the field.
