Yesterday marked the final time the Mets would open the season at Shea Stadium. Since it first opened its doors in 1964, it housed two world champions, two other National League champions, and some of the greatest players to have ever laced up their cleats. Unfortunately, most of those players played for the visiting teams, but that's not the point. Here's what transpired:
Stupid work won’t let me stream audio, so even though I’m willing to spring for MLB radio, I can’t listen online. So I will attempt to glean what happens through the static.
1:17 Two runners on and only one out with Ryan Howard at bat. I actually “heard” Chase Utley’s at bat, but I have no idea how he got on [editor's note: It was a hit-by-pitch]. And Howard pops out. It sounded like centerfielder Carlos Beltran had trouble tracking the ball. Still waiting for the first brutal string of curses of the day.
1:18 So I have a meeting today at 2:00. Guess how excited I am about that. Just guess. I think it’s perfectly reasonable for me to murder someone to get out of the meeting. I bet the cop will let me listen to the FAN on the way to jail.
1:21 After some technical difficulties, we’re back! Announcer Howie Rose got excited because Oliver Perez struck out Pat Burrell to end the inning. That’s like getting excited because the sun rose in the east this morning. Burrell averages 160 strikeouts over a 162 game season.
1:25 David Wright hits it back to the track…and caught. Down goes the erection.
1:29 Beltran grounds out weakly to end the inning. On the bright side, it saved me the disappointment of Carlos Delgado striking out. You take what you can get.
1:34 Pop foul out of reach of rightfielder Ryan Church and second baseman Luis Castillo. Let’s see if that comes back and haunts them.
1:35 The rare 3-3 double play. One hopper to firstbaseman Carlos Delgado who stepped on the bag and tagged out the runner from first who didn’t have a chance to run. Sweet. That’s probably better than getting the pop foul caught.
1:39 Just like I predicted, Delgado homered to right. 1-0 Mets.
1:40 Fly out to the wall by Angel Pagan. That’s the third well hit fly ball of the game, counting the homer and Wright’s long fly out in the first.
1:43 Apparently I missed Church getting hit by a pitch. Good thing Jamie Moyer can’t break glass with his fastball. I did, however, clearly hear Brian Schneider’s double play.
1:47 Just got my first reminder for the meeting at 2:00. I hate meetings.
1:49 Quick 1-2-3 inning for Perez, just what the Mets needed after taking an early lead.
1:56 1-0 Mets after two innings, and now it’s time for my meeting. Crud.
3:20 And we’re back. What did I miss? Scott Schoenweis is pitching, that can’t be good.
3:21 On the one hand, the bases are loaded with one out. On the other hand, they just hit Utley with a pitch for the third time, and that’s kind of funny. Hey, 2-0 Mets!
3:22 FUCK! SHIT! DAMN! Howard grounds to Delgado at first who throws to second to try to get the force there. He hits Utley right in the back, everyone’s safe, and Shane Victorino scores from second, tie game. Of course, that’s the second time this inning Utley’s been hit in the back with a throw, which is still pretty funny.
3:29 Jorge Sosa relieves and Burrell flies to deep right, caught by Church. Utley tags and makes it to third. I’m a little sad they didn’t throw the ball in and hit him in the back. 2 outs.
3:31 Base hit, 3-2 Phillies. That was an audible “goddammit” here at work. I should have stayed in the meeting.
3:33 Pop out, inning over. On the bright side, after this season Schoenweis is only signed for one more year, so at the most he can probably only cost the team 10 or 15 wins.
3:36 My friend Big Poppa just called a home run for Beltran to tie the game. I feel much better now.
3:37 Base hit Schneider on the first pitch. I hope Big Poppa is proved wrong by the Mets taking the lead before Beltran gets up.
3:38 They just said on the radio Perez had a great effort. He didn’t get out of the sixth inning. I guess the standards for a “great effort” have changed. He didn’t give up any runs, so he has that going for him.
3:39 And Endy Chavez grounds into a double play. Damn. Big Poppa’s still looking good on his prediction. Hey, single for Jose Reyes! Let’s see if he can steal his first base of the season.
3:42 Damion Easley flies out to left, not giving Reyes a chance to steal. The announcers got excited for a minute there. Damn.
3:46 And Aaron Heilman walks the leadoff guy. Sweet. Why would you want to face the bottom of the order with no one on base when you could face the best hitters with guys on? That makes perfect sense.
3:48 Sacrifice bunt and Rollins hits an RBI single under Delgado’s glove. I didn’t see it but I’m assuming he could have gotten that one.
3:49 Passed ball, Rollins to second. This is brutal.
3:51 And he walks Victorino because you need more runners on base for Chase Utley and Ryan Howard. Good show.
3:55 RBI double. Gee, didn’t see that coming. Now to intentionally walk Howard to load the bases.
3:58 Infield fly. Don’t worry, I don’t know what that means either. Two outs, bases are still loaded.
4:00 Fly out, inning over, and for the second straight inning, the Phillies sent eight men to the plate. Coincidentally, or perhaps not, for the second straight inning the Mets were booed off the field by their fans. Hey, only 80 more home games to go!
4:03 David Wright is leading off. I’m predicting a lead off three-run homer. Hey, fuck you, it can happen!
4:04 Or, you know, strike out on three pitches. That’s practically the same thing.
4:06 They just announced that the Mets bullpen has given up 14 runs over the last three games so far. That’s not good. Trust me, I’m an expert. Hey, double for Beltran! Now it’s time for Delgado to strike out.
4:10 Delgado grounds out to second after a decent at bat. Two outs, Beltran to third.
4:14 And pinch-hitter Brady Clark walks bringing up Ryan Church as the tying run.
4:16 Slow roller to Utley who makes the play to first. 5-2 after eight.
4:22 Quick 1, 2, 3 inning for Carlos Muniz who was just called up to replace the injured Matt Wise. Maybe he should have pitched in the 7th or 8th inning!
4:24 Well one of the Mets last hopes went by the wayside. Enigmatic closer Brad Lidge is already dinged up and overworked, so they will face Tom Gordon instead.
4:25 Schneider leads off with a 3 pitch strikeout. At least he’s not making us wait around for this.
4:27 Endy Chavez grounds out to the pitcher. It’s all up to Reyes to keep the game going.
4:28 And Reyes flies out to the wall in right. Fuck this, I could’ve been working! Final score is 5-2 Phillies, and Scott Schoenweis gets a big L stamped on his record.
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