Ever since the Nationals have moved down to DC, I have gone to see the Amazin's play. This season was no different. Actually it was different for a few reasons. First, personally, it has been a really long time, like probably 6 or 7 years, that I didn't attend a live baseball game until almost the end of May. Second, it didn't feel like there were as many Mets fans as their usually are in DC last night. That's probably a combination though of the Nationals doing well, the Mets not so much, and for this being a two game set in the middle of the week really right before Summer.
Anyway one of the reasons we watch baseball is every game you see something different. That was the case last night. Here are my thoughts/encounters on my journey into Nat Down:
Getting off the Subway before purchasing tickets
1) One of the Nationals' Mascots is Teddy Roosevelt, he tried to tell myself and a friend that we were not welcomed because of our Mets Jerseys
2) While in line for tickets, I saw a Nats fan in an Authentic Lastings Milledge Jersey….oooh what a waste of money.
3) The area directly around the ballpark has been under construction for a while now and there are empty lots that say that buildings are coming in 2009. Well its 2010 now…..
Before Batting Practice
1) The Nationals, like last year, are selling Strasburg Jerseys….he's not in the majors yet.
2) They are also selling Wang Jerseys….also not here yet.
3) They are also selling Mets and Braves Jerseys….now I'm just lost
Batting Practice
1) Oh hey, Strawberry is by the cage.
2) Carter and Davis put on a show. Once they got warmed up they were each launching balls to the deepest part of the ball park. It was pretty amazing to watch.
3) The group of Mets fans that I was with starting cheering for Kevin Burkhardt. He turned around and waved. People then started to shout for him to tell Hernandez to not fall asleep tonight
4) When the team came out for final warm ups, one fan had huge sign for Davis to sign a ball, so he came over to sign some autographs. One fan (4, maybe 5 years old) handed him a Nationals hat (give away last night), and as Davis signed it he said, “Hey, I'm not on Washington!”
During the Game
1) I didn't see Maine warmup, but right before he starting pitching, something seemed off.
2) Zimmerman came up to bat to Chillin by Wale. I approve.
3) The seat upgrade actually occured in our section
4) If you have been reading this site over the years, you know I have a lot of problems with the Nationals New Ballpark. Mainly I'm confused by its micture of themes and lack of DC centrism (they honor players on other teams). By the fifth inning I figured out something I like about it. Because of height of the buildings in DC, and the placement of the ball park, you really can see over all of DC, which is really nice.
5) There were a lot of Nats at the Nats game (a shameless pun I had to make during the bottom of the fifth).
6) I started to fall asleep in the 8th. Mets pitchers consistently not throwing strikes, well its like counting sheep for me.
7) The Mets seemed to throw the Rosin bag at eachother after the game, it was fun to watch.
After the Game
1) I found someone else wearing an Edgar Alfonzo Jersey, so I'm not the only one who still does that.
2) I forgot how much growing up going to games at Camden Yards* has spoiled me. When leaving Camden Yards, there is a lightrail station right there, and two Subway stations. So traffic splits up easily (plus when you don't have fans…..). All the fans here going to the same subway stop was pretty hectec (Something that I experience every time I go to Nationals games)
And that was my night!
* Since I grew up in Baltimore, when the family would go see the Mets, we would have to drive up to New York, so I never got to experience the Shea Stadium Subway experience. Even with the wait at Nationals Park for the train, it is still a much better option than driving to the park, if you are thinking of seeing the Mets in Washington any time soon.
