Queens

On Doing the Work

Not Shea Stadium, 2022

Sunday July 10, 2022
Miami Marlins vs. New York Metropolitans
Not Shea Stadium
MLB National League
Queens, NY
1:40 PM

Outside the Game:
I had a weird corporate four-day weekend that would have been more welcome under the circumstances if they had told us they were giving us a four-day a weekend more than a month in advance. As a schedule guy, it also screwed up a ton of schedules having two missed work days in there, but hey, free four-day weekend in July right after one for the Fourth. Sadly, I spent most of it dealing with real-world things, but I knew I was going to catch a game of the Metropolitan homestand somewhere in there. Saturday was the retiring of Keith Hernandez's number, as well as a bobblehead giveaway, so that game was sold out; I decided to go for the more sedate Sunday afternoon game, being sure to get tickets in the shade.

The third day into a three-day weekend I was pretty slow getting up, but I had gone to bed early enough that I was out of the house by nine-ish. But I clearly wasn't fully awake, as I remembered several blocks into Hoboken that I had forgotten my camera, so instead of going back, I decided to try out a game just with my camera phone. I took a leisurely walk the rest of the way to the Hoboken PATH station, grabbing a convenient train to 33rd, then up to the 7 and over. I didn't have too long to wait for any trains--a blessing on a lazy Sunday when mass transit can seem similarly sluggish--so I counted my blessings at this point. The 7 train was sparsely filled with eager-beaver Metropolitans fans such as myself, and we were disgorged in Queens with over an hour and half before gates.

I took my time walking around. I visited that odd little park that the Mets had installed next to the subway station; tried to figure out an angle to get a photo of the stadium, Seaver, and the original apple; and even took a trip out to the Shea infield in the parking lot. After walking a bit, I settled on the right field entrance again, with its welcome shade and short line. The gates opened, and in I went.

After being shooed out of the stadium by staff just looking to close up after the end of the homestand, I meandered back to the subway in time to sit on the 7 Express for a while before heading back. Two quick connections had me back in Hoboken, but I decided for a Lyft back home, where I sorted out my purchases and fixed the game bag before settling in for a long, dark Sunday evening.

The Stadium & Fans:

Center to home, Not Shea Stadium

The crowd at the game this day was a curious kind of exhale after the previous day, where Keith Hernandez had his number retired amidst a sold-out audience craving the ceremonial bobble-head given away in its honor. The crowd was big, but not over-eager or clawing at the doors, and it was a reasonably laid-back Sunday afternoon with no particular expectations.

The stadium had not changed much since the visit earlier in the year, with the exception of the removal of the protective fence around the Seaver statue. There was a sizeable crowd in place, but nothing extraordinary, and the between-inning events were nearly the same.

At the Game with Oogie:

Scoring away

As I was one of the first in the park through the right field gate, my beeline to the Shake Shack resulted in me being served the first order of the day, which was wolfed down in a shaded table in center field. My regular process followed, with a trip to the team store and museum, and then more ramblings around the park. I was hungry at this game wedged between lunch and dinner and managed to eat some pizza and an order of rice balls before the affair was complete.

I was smartly seated in the shade of the bronze club level of whatever sponsor has the naming rights this year, just shy of third base, even though it has been nearly a decade since David Wright has departed. It was pretty packed in that day. There was a family to my left, some younger folks in front, and an older couple next to me. For all our close quarters, there wasn't much discussion until towards the end of the game where the father next to me and I were both bemoaning the sate of play and trying to identify what exactly was happening in the late innings.

The Game:

First pitch, Marlins vs. Metropolitans

The first-place Metropolitans were squaring off against the lowly Marlins this Sunday, but the Marlin's Cy-Young-Candidate ace was on the mound in the last game of a four-game set, facing off against Walker for the good guys, so it was going to be quite the pitcher's duel. There were high hopes, but no offense.

The Marlins managed just a one-out single in the first, erased on a double-play, while New York went in order. Miami then went in order in the second and third, while the Metropolitans went in order in the second and had their own one-out single erased on a double-play in the bottom of the third. Both pitchers had given up one hit and faced the minimum at this point.

Both teams saw some life in the fourth. The Marlins started the inning with a hit batsman and a single, but a double-play and groundout ended the threat. New York staggered two singles with nothing to show for it in their half of the inning. Miami went in order in the fifth, with the Metropolitans stranding a single. The Marlins again went in order in the sixth, but New York had a leadoff error and walk erased on a double play and a fly out to no avail.

Miami had a leadoff single and a walk in the seventh, but stranded them on three straight outs. The Metropolitans had two, two-out singles stranded in their own half. The Marlins went in order in the eighth, and New York stranded another lone single. We limped out of regular baseball with Miami going in order, and the Mets stranding a reached-on-error.

Extra baseball went quickly. The Marlin's ghost runner stole third and scored on a wild throw. Three more singles followed between outs to plate the first runs of the game at 2-0, Marlins. New York's offense continued to sputter. The ghost runner made it to third on a fly out, but died on the vine despite a walk getting the tying runner on base. The Marlins won, 2-0.

The Scorecard:

Miami Marlins vs. New York Metropolitans, 07/10/22. Marlins win, 2-0.

I used the scorecard in the Mets program. There were no changes from the one earlier this year, so no need to go into the details.

For most of the first nine innings, there was nothing of note, for the most part. Both pitchers were throwing a gem, and both had faced the minimum through three. In the top of the fourth, Lindor made a great diving stab that started a double-play that was worth a gem (!). In the bottom of the fourth, there was a collision between the Marlin's left fielder and shortstop that resulted in the shortstop being removed from the game the next inning.

Then we get to extras. The damnable "ghost runner" starts on second, so I used a dotted line to get them there with an "EI." The Marlins put in a pinch runner for their ghost runner, just to make it even more ridiculous (he stayed in an played left). He stole third, and the catcher threw it into left for an error to score the game's first run. The jiggering into the bottom of the tenth had a new pitcher coming in and batting for himself, though he never got up. Alonzo stopped being DH and played first in the tenth, while the previous first base slot became the pitcher. This apparently is becoming common now, and I just hate everything about it.

The Accommodations:
Home, sweet Jersey City

Click here to see all the photos from this trip.

Stand-Alone Trip

Queens

On Starting the Season, Ready or Not

Not Shea Stadium, 2017

Saturday, April 8, 2017
Miami Marlins vs. New York Metropolitans
Not Shea Stadium (Citi Field)
MLB (National League)
Queens, NY
7:10 PM


Outside the Game:
It was a late evening Saturday game for another "Opening Weekend," so I spent the morning in my regular Saturday schedule of doing the laundry and taking a nap. Eventually, I got ready for the game, and instead of walking, I decided to get an Uber to the Hoboken PATH station. However, the traffic in Hoboken was awful, and I of course managed to get to the PATH train right after a 33rd train had left. The good news was that it left me time to re-up all my transit passes while I was waiting for the next train to show up.

I eventually got my train to NY, and managed to snag an Orange subway connection right away, but I was not so lucky with the 7, running down the stairs to watch one just pulling out. This was then compounded with an announcement nearly immediately afterward saying that there were "serious delays" on the 7 line, making me wait an extra long time for the next train, which was wall-to-wall people almost the entire ride out to Willet's Point thanks to the aforementioned delays.

Eventually free and just before the gates opening, there were huge lines already piled up and the main gate, so I went around the back to the Bullpen entrance, which was bereft of anyone except the guy manning the gate and some old timers in line ahead of me. The gates opened on time, and I was off to the Shake Shack for my first burger of the year.

Shots fired

I bailed on the fireworks after the game, and I was back to the subway in good time. Just as I was boarding the 7 homeward, the fireworks started going off in the distance. I was in no mood. The trip back home was uneventful, and I was in bed before midnight, wondering if this awful night was going to be a bellwether for the season.


The Stadium & Fans:

Center field to home plate, Not Shea Stadium

Good old Not Shea was open for another season of business, and there were a bunch of changes afoot. Out in center on top of the "7 Line Army" section was a Jim Beam Bourbon Bar. So now you know where they get their "team spirit." There were also new round plaques of retired numbers up on the left field side by the out-of-town scoreboard.

The biggest change was in the non-alcoholic beverage concession, where over the winter the Pepsi Porch had miraculously become the "Coca Cola Corner," which was gussied up with some new Coca-Cola bottle patio chairs and some new Coca-Cola branded amusements like fast pitch and cornhole. The brought-in wall in left now hosted an entire row of seats instead of the party area that was there previous seasons. There were also more low-key corporate naming rights with the restaurant out in left becoming the "Porche Grill" with a car out front that they got up there somehow, there were "Nikon Photo Spots" all around the park now, and Spotswoods took over the club level concession name.

The Mets welcome you, peasants

In less-appealing changes, the area by the Whiffle-ball field that had previously housed the kids store now had a DJ booth, for some godawful reason, and the kids store moved upstairs, to be replaced with a "Season Ticket Holder Lounge." Yes, the Metropolitan ownership will do absolutely everything to give season ticket holders some stupid perks, but not anything that anyone wants or is asking for.

I loves ya, Case.

The crowd was a little sparse for the cold April Saturday evening game. Less people to be disappointed, really. Mr. Met and the ill-conceived Mrs. Met were on hand for the between-innings entertainment, which hadn't changed all that much at all.


At the Game with Oogie:

First Shack of the year

I grabbed my first Shack of the year and later got a Rao's meatball sub in the club area dining. I did my visit to the team store and the museum, and then had my walk-around to see what was new in Metropolitan land.

My seats were just past third on the club level, and there was a big family in front on me, with one guy who kept bragging all game about how he was connected and got the seats. There was an awesome old lady sitting next to me. Her jacket was covered in pins, and she was scoring the game along with me. I just wish the team had put on a better performance for her, but she was old enough to be immune to disappointment. I envied her.


The Game:

First pitch, Marlins vs. Metropolitans

This early season matchup between the bottom-dwelling Marlins and the bottom-aspiring Metropolitans was a one-sided route that wasn't even much fun to watch. The fact that New York was no-hit through 5.6 innings is about all you need to know.

I mean, really.

The Marlins started off the top of the first with a one-out double brought home on a ground out and a single to steak them to a 1-0 lead. As mentioned, the Metropolitans were no-hit until the 5th (with a perfect game thrown against them until a two-out fourth inning walk), so let's ignore them until the later innings. Miami got a leadoff homer to left to lead off the second, and a questionable triple and a sacrifice fly brought in another run in the third, extending the lead to 3-0.

Miami had only one baserunner on an error in the fourth, and scattered a walk and a single in the fifth. The Metropolitans began the bottom of the fifth with two strikeouts, and then Duda finally got the first hit, a homer to left with authority. Back-to-back walks followed, but were stranded, with the score a more respectable 3-1. Miami only had a walk in their half of the sixth, and the New York promptly went back to going in order.

The Marlins put another run on the board in the seventh with two walks and a single, while the Metropolitans scraped together another single. Not quite done scoring, Miami started the eighth with three singles in a row and a suicide squeeze bunt to plate two more runs, while New York only managed a single in their half, leaving the score 6-1. The Marlins continued feasting on the New York bullpen in the ninth, turning a walk and two singles into two more runs. The only good thing was that the Metropolitans got so good at striking out (13 on the night) that they managed to get on base with one before feebly ending the inning and the 8-1 loss.


The Scorecard:

Marlins vs. Metropolitans, 04/08/17. Marlins win, 8-1.

Although I picked up a $6 program, I didn't even bother to check the scorecard until I got home. I was so inured to the awful designs the Metropolitans had put out that I was shocked in flipping through the program on the way home that it appeared they had adopted a new, clean design for the scorecard that I would definitely have to check out on subsequent visits.

That said, and not knowing the above, I scored the game in the BBWAA scorebook. There were a few interesting plays from a scoring perspective. Let's start with strikeouts. There was a strikeout bunting in the top of the fourth, for a rare MLB "K-B." There were also two "K-2"s on Marlins players where the final third strike was not caught cleanly, which you don't find in many major league games unless a knuckleballer is going. The Metropolitans just struck out a lot, but they had an even more rare K in the bottom of the ninth where the runner reached base because the batter was not put out after a dropped third strike.

There were also a bunch of plays that needed actual notation. A bunch of double-shifts required a shifted player line for both teams in the scorecard to accommodate new players. A Metropolitan challenge on a safe steal call in the top of the seventh was denied. The first oh-so-time-saving immediate intentional walks that I saw in person happened in the top of the seventh. And then there were a couple of calls I disagreed with the scoring on. A triple in the top of the third was clearly an E8 on a botched play, and conversely, an E5 ruled in the top of the fourth was clearly a single. I don't know what the official scorer was doing on those plays, but it wasn't even home cooking.


The Accommodations:
Jersey City, sweet, Jersey City

Click here to see all the photos from this trip.

2017 Stand-Alone Trip

Port St. Lucie

On Meeting Idols & Enemies, As Well As Some Rain

First Data Field, 2017

Monday, March 13, 2017

Miami Marlins vs. New York Metropolitans
First Data Field
Grapefruit League (Spring Training)
Port St. Lucie, FL
1:05 PM


Outside the Game:
I woke up Monday morning, and in the process of getting ready for the game, I realized that I had the wrong game on the menu for today. I had swapped up the order of my next two games. I had booked two games at the new Palm Beaches ballpark to see both teams, and I had booked two games in Port St. Lucie to go with my family and then fan geek out for the second one. I had thought I was watching back-to-back games in West Palm Beach, but in looking at my ticket before I departed, I realized that it was the second Metropolitans game this day.

Outside of leaving slightly later than I would have liked (as West Palm Beach is much closer), it didn't affect things too much. There was an accident with a truck on fire that I passed on the way up to the stadium that wasn't exactly a great sign, but once I got to the park, I parked in nearly exactly the same place as the first game on Saturday, though this time I was alone and driving my mother's Florida car.  I quickly headed off to the training facilities and into the game from there.

A damp exit

After the rain delay, there were not many people left in the parking lot once the game was over, so it was particularly easy to get out. The drive back to the condo was unmarred by any flaming trucks, and I had my regular shower and nap before dinner with my parents. I did laundry and packed up as I planned my accommodations for the next day and bought my tickets, as it looked like I would get all my baseball done in four straight days, even with the rain scare today. I even put in a call to Disney to get some preliminary information, but didn't buy any tickets in case tomorrow went south in West Palm Beach.

I had an early night, hitting the sack before 11 PM, just because I ran out of things to do.


The Stadium & Fans:

Home plate to center field, First Data Field

The stadium hadn't changed much in two days, so not much new on that front. All of my particular personal interactions are described below.

Even for a weekday afternoon Spring Training game against the null-drawing Marlins, there was still a solid crowd in the stands, even if the 7-Line Army was out marching somewhere, because they were not in attendance on the picnic berm for this game.

A couple got (successfully) engaged in a mid-innings break, and all the stupid between-innings contests such as golf chipping and the like were in the house. It did mark the first time I had any rain for a Spring Training game in Florida (or Arizona for that matter, but that's sort of a given). Even though it was relatively short and there were plenty of places to stay dry from the rain, the crowd did thin out quite a bit with the Metropolitans already leading in the late innings.

Not everyone is a die-hard.


At the Game with Oogie:

Spring scoring

This was an eventful little game for me.

My first stop was the training area behind the park that they had finally opened up to the fans several years ago. One of the first people I saw was turn-of-the-90s Metropolitan pitcher Frank Viola, who was a “special pitching instructor” this year for the Metropolitans. He was talking to a family that he apparently knew, but as he walked over to one of the fields, I asked him to sign my program on his picture, which marks the first time I ever hit someone up for an autograph.

There was soon a less-welcome visitor, as son of Satan and walking corpse Fred Wilpon showed up on a golf cart and went on the field to talk to some coaching staff. I found that I was a coward to my conviction, as I did not take the opportunity to physically assault him when I had the chance, and that cowardice shall haunt me to my grave.

As I headed back to enter the stadium before the game, I saw rehabbing Matt Harvey on the back of another golf cart going to another practice field. I followed the cart, and he was taking bunting practice with one of the coaches, presumably as part of rehab, which I watched for a while. I thought he looked okay, but what did I know?

Burger and chips

Once I went into the park, I grabbed a burger and chips at the Ulti-Met (get it?) Grill, and then walked around more for pictures and the like. I came across some lady in a Tebow t-shirt., I forget the exact wording, but it was something about Jesus loving Tebow, so I immediately disliked her. She was going on and on about how great it was that Tebow was in the lineup, and Jesus had foretold it, and it was all I could do not to slug her. But I went two-for-two in that regard.

Better things were afoot, though, as I walking around and could have sworn I just saw Doc Gooden pass me. Upon further review, I did just pass Doc Gooden. He looked very old and tired, and he was wearing a black t-shirt that showed all his World Series rings, but it was definitely him. He was walking around (and eventually sitting) with a family that I would guess had won some contest of seeing a Spring Training game with Dwight Gooden. I followed him a bit, and he was very shy. A couple of people came up to him, and he waved them off and said he wasn't here to sign autographs, and everyone was respectful of that. He and the family ended up sitting just to the left of home plate, across from where I was in the seats to the right of home plate. I occasionally watched him throughout the game. Only a couple of people came up to him, and they only made an announcement on the PA about it once without saying where he was.

The Doctor is In.

Curtis Granderson's charity was also in the park that day, the Grand Kids (get it?). They all had special t-shirts on and were in the left field picnic area. I was sitting surrounded by old couples who bailed when the rain started.


The Game:

First pitch, Marlins vs. Metropolitans

The pitiful Miami Marlins were in town to test the not-all-that-inspiring Metropolitans this fine afternoon. Who would win was anyone's guess, although the Noah "Thor" Syndergaard on the mound, I at least had some hopes.

The Marlins had only a two-out double to show for the top of the first, while New York answered with a one-out homer to right to jump to an early 1-0 lead. Miami got even worse in the second, going quickly in order, while the Metropolitans blasted a homer to right-center to start their half before going in order, boasting a 2-0 lead. Miami was similarly anemic in the third, as their only baserunner was a two-out hit batsman. New York went yard for the third straight inning with a one-out shot to right-center to extend their lead to 3-0.

Miami got their groove back in the top of the third, as a walk, double, and home run quickly tied the game at 3, before they struck out in order for the rest of the inning. The Metropolitans managed to strand a leadoff double in their half. Both sides went in order in the fifth, though New York had a leadoff single that was erased on a double-play. As mass replacements began in the sixth, the Marlins only had a one-out double, but the Metropolitans  had a leadoff double brought in by a one-out home run to retake the lead at 5-3.

Brief delay

The rest of the players swapped out for high numbers in the seventh, and Miami went in order. New York turned two singles and a ground-out into another run, extended their lead to 6-3 as it began to pour in sunny Port St. Lucie. After a twenty-minute rain delay, play resumed with both teams going in order in the top of the eighth. Miami gave it their all in the top of the ninth, with a leadoff double that made it to third on a fly-out to right and brought in a ground-out to first. A two-out single brought the tying run to the plate, but it was erased with a strikeout to end the game with a 6-4 Metropolitan victory.


The Scorecard:

Marlins vs. Metropoltians, 03/13/17. Metropolitans "win," 6-4.

I was again using the inadequate Metropolitans $5 Spring Training program scorecard. It proved as cramped as before, with the same inadequacies.

This game, however, was even more by-the-book than the previous one, though with a happier outcome. There were special notes about the rain delay, and since it seems to be of biblical friggin’ importance, also a note about witnessing Mr. Tim Tebow's first hit of Spring Training in the bottom of the fifth (not doubt to the joy of the crazy women in the T-shirt). Also, his replacement in the eighth was an unnamed high-90s player, so he was note recorded by name on the scorecard.

Otherwise, outside of some hits through the overshift, there was nothing noteworthy on the scoring front.


The Accommodations:
I was in the guest room in my parents' condo for the last night in a bit. It was another night of hanging out in my room, so not much there.

Click here to see all the photos from this trip.

2017 Spring Training

Queens

On the Start of Something... Something

Not Shea Stadium, 2015

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Florida Marlins vs New York Metropolitans
Not Shea Stadium
MLB, National League
Queens, NY
7:10 PM

Outside the Game: 

So, it was "Opening Weekend" again, except that the first game this weekend was an evening game. All this meant was that I was able to get all my normal Saturday morning chores of laundry and running out to the supermarket done before I headed out to the game in the early afternoon.

I walked down to the PATH station and then was able to get a rather uneventful ride to the city and then the subway transfers that got me to the stadium right as the gates were primed to open.

Flee to the trains

After the game, and in a considerably better mood than I expected, the jovial crowd plunged themselves into 7 cars that got less and less crowded as the stops wore on. I was back home in a decent amount of time and got back to the apartment easily enough to crash for the evening.

The Stadium & Fans: 

Home plate to center field, Not Shea Stadium

Not Shea had some updates in the off-season, some more horrible than others. Before you ever enter the hallowed halls, there were now fixed-in-place metal detectors at all the entrances, just to make the experience feel a little more like prison. The left-center field wall also came in a bit to try and pretend that the field wasn’t cavernous when it was opened. The team store was also renovated pretty extensively, moving around the checkouts and re-orienting the whole store. Some new auxiliary video screens had also been put in to handle the poor view lines in some places.

Professor profile

On a more positive note, there was a new Rao’s concession on the club level and a new billboard outside the park paid for by “Mets Fans” read, “FRED, JEFF & SAUL, Ya gotta leave.” I can’t really agree any more than that.

Couldn't agree more

As it was a home-opening-weekend night game, the stadium was packed and actually had something to cheer about, which is rare enough as it is. Although completely ready to consign a blown game by the bullpen after a masterful performance by a starting pitcher, the entire crowd was pleasantly surprised by the lack of a full collapse by the team.

At the Game with Oogie: 

First Shack of the year

I got to the game in late afternoon just as the gates were opening. Once inside, I did the ritual sprint back to Shake Shack to get my first double-shack and fries of the year, watch a little BP, and then hit the museum and the store, which they redesigned this year. 

Ice cream in a helmet

I wandered around to look for anything new and changed before hitting the Caesar's Club to find they had a new Rao's concession in the fancy area, where I got myself a chicken picatta sandwich for dinner. At another new stand on the club area, I also grabbed ice cream in a helmet before heading back down for my first quality time with Mr. Met for the year. 

You are next

At a half hour to game time, it was AIS o'clock, so I went back to the club level and settled into my seat, which was in the last row of the club level behind third base. Seeing the main scoreboard was a bit of a problem with the overhang, but I managed. There were on a couple families in my immediate area, as I guess the season ticket holders here had better things to do this night.

The Game:

More like "deAwesome," am I right?

The Metropolitans spent their "Opening Day Weekend" facing off against their NL East "rivals," the woeful Florida... sorry, Miami Marlins. And, in their usual fashion, the Metropolitans managed to win by the skin of their teeth.

The game started with a bunt single that immediately prompted the Metropolitans to use one of the new challenges, which was overturned. However, the Marlins still managed to go down in order thanks to an odd strike-‘em-out-throw-‘em-out double play. New York fared little better, with just a two-out double to show for their half of the first. Miami went in order in the second again, while the Metropolitans put together a run with two singles and a stolen base, giving them a 1-0 lead. In the third, the Marlins got a runner to third after a single, a sacrifice bunt, and another single (originally ruled out but overturned on appeal), but he was stranded there. New York got another run in their half off a one-out homer to left by D'Arnaud, extending their lead to 2-0.

Miami went in order again in the fourth, while New York managed to get the bases loaded but score no runs due to a 1-2-3 DP, because of course the Metropolitans would do that. Both sides went in order in the fifth, while the Marlins stranded a couple of singles in the top of the sixth. In the bottom of the inning, the Metropolitans remembered how to score again--get the guys across the plate, boys!--thanks a leadoff double, a single, and a Flores homer to deep left field, putting them up 5-0 after two-thirds of a game.

Miami just had a single in the top of the seventh, and New York went in order. deGrom exited the game in the eighth, and the Marlins scored nearly immediately, with a walk and a double, cutting the lead to 5-1. New York got a guy to third on two fielder's choices and a wild pitch, but a reach on error was overturned to a putout, and no more scoring happened. Torres (C) came in at the top of the ninth and promptly gave up a leadoff homer and three singles that brought in two more runs, cutting the lead to 5-4 before Torres (A) came in to get the last strikeout, securely, barely, the Metropolitan victory.

The Scorecard: 

Marlins vs. Metropolitans, 04/18/15. Metropolitans win, 5-4.

As I had been here before and the Metropolitan scorecards tend to suck, I scored the game in the BBWAA scorebook with just two colors.

The very first thing I had to deal with was review appeals. I came up with the symbol of an "R" in a circle, and a number afterwards if there were multiple in the game, with an accompanying note. Perhaps not surprisingly, all the reviews went against New York, with their one appeal on a safe call on the first batter of the game upheld the call on the field, and the two Marlins' reviews in the top of the third (to overturn a 6-3 putout to a single) and the bottom of the eighth (to overturn an E2 call to a 2-3 putout) were both reversed in their favor. Ah, Mets...

There were also two bizarre, or at least rare, double plays in the game. In the top of the first, there was a DP K-2-4 CS as the runner went on the third strike and was then gunned down trying to steal second. In the bottom of the fourth, there was the super-rare DP 1-2-3, as a based-loaded ground came back to the pitcher, who threw home, and the catcher threw to first to get the two forces and kill the rally.

The only other play of note was literally the last swing of the game, when the final Metropolitans reliever finally recorded the last out of the game with a strikeout, and the Marlins' left fielder promptly threw his bat into the stands. Because, why not?

Also, a sad note was Ichiro came in to pinch hit in the ninth and was struck out looking. I wanted to win the game, sure, but I don't ever want to cheer for that particular outcome.

And finally, deGrom's line was seven innings pitched with no runs and eight strikeouts. Daddy like.

The Accommodations: 

Jersey City, sweet Jersey City

Click here to see all the photos from this trip.

2015 Stand-Alone Trip