My day at Shea

by sularz on Jun 5, 2006 6:48 AM PDT

So I was at the game yesterday with my best friend (huge Mets fan) and his two kids, and we had an absolute blast. Couple of thoughts/observations:

I will never in my life forget the name "Lastings Milledge" or the 2-strike pitch our friend Armando served up. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if, on my deathbed (at age 92), I awaken briefly from a coma and croak out the name "Milledge!" just before dying and leaving my loved ones mystified.
Showboating or not, LM has a real future as a fan favorite there, and I predict the right field corner will be known as "Lastings' Village" within 2-3 years. (I also predict a Daily News/Post identical back page of "Blastings!" after his first multi-homer game).
Morris actually looked pretty good as the game went on, but I'm afraid that his failure to close out the sixth after two great strikeouts is going to be pretty typical even of games when he throws well.
I got to go down on the field for this Summer Sunday afternoon deal where kids can run the bases after the game. Adults couldn't get on the basepaths, but we got to walk the full circuit of the field along the warning track and the foul area. Totally thrilling -- my first time ever on a major league field.
On my way into the field, I saw Barry and someone else in street clothes sauntering onto the Giants' bus. I was a good 30 yards away, but I stopped and shouted something goofy like "World Series, Barry! This is the year!" Definitely got his attention, and I'm about 65% sure I got a little nod. Maybe 55% sure.
BEST OF ALL. When Benitez came in, I whipped out of my pocket a printout of Natto's brilliant illustration I had prepared just for that moment, and it got my friend and the entire group of Mets fans seated around us absolutely cracking up. They were gleeful, obviously, when Benitez melted down, but they were also sympathetic, having been there many times themselves.

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Re: My day at Shea

hey. i went too. what did you think of reyes teasing morris when he was on third and they had the delgado shift on? i thought that was going to end up bad...

by SFfaninNYC on Jun 5, 2006 7:03 AM PDT reply actions

Re: My day at Shea

There we so many exciting moments in that game that I'd almost forgotten about that one! That was crazy, and Morris was obviousl so flustered by it that I also thought it was going to end up bad. I watched that part of the archived game just now on mlb.tv, and Hernandez was totally saying Reyes should have just gone for it. I didn't notice while at the game, but I guess Morris almost balked the first time Reyes made a bluff, which kind of makes sense. Has that ever happened with Barry at the plate -- a guy on third with the shift still fully on? I can't think that I've ever seen anything like that in baseball. It was pretty exciting stuff, even though it came to nothing in the end.

by sularz on Jun 5, 2006 8:08 AM PDT up reply actions

Re: My day at Shea

I remember an interleague game in Texas with the shift fully on and Edwards Guzman getting at least a 30 foot lead off 3B. Of course, Guzman is nothing like Reyes in terms of speed.

by steve S on Jun 5, 2006 8:58 AM PDT up reply actions

Re: My day at Shea

Yeah, I guess it wouldn't have been quite as exciting watching Edwards do the same thing. What do you think? Could Reyes have made it before Morris could get out of the stretch and get a throw in? Would the batter (Delgado? Some lefty.) have been required to clear the box on that?

by sularz on Jun 5, 2006 9:45 AM PDT up reply actions

I was so confused at that...

Most teams against Bonds will pull an abbreviated shift with the SS, 2nd basemen, and 1st basemen with the 3rd baseman staying close to the bag if there's someone at 3rd. Why leave 3rd totally open like that?

Jason Ellison's numbers through 51 team games: 42 G 1 GS 21 AB

by WalrusMan on Jun 5, 2006 11:26 AM PDT up reply actions

Re: I was so confused at that...

I agree. If you're willing to go into an extreme shift like that, you really don't expect the ball to be hit to the third baseman no matter where he's playing. Might as well play him where he can hold a runner on, cover his base, and maybe make a play on a check swing roller or pop-up.

"Robb Nen is going to get you" - Benito Santiago to Chipper Jones, 10/7/02

by Pants Man on Jun 5, 2006 11:37 AM PDT up reply actions