Putting the "streak" in winning-streak: Mets v. Braves, 5/12/09

Generally...

To think, if we'd only won for Johan two nights ago, we'd be on a 9-game winning streak. The Mets' inability to put up runs for our ace has been a running topic of discussion between my other-team friends and I, mainly because they can't bust my chops about anything else anymore.  Beltran may seem a bit lazy in the outfield (I absolutely refuse to believe this, by the way) but he's basically the centerpiece of our offense.  Can't make much fun there.  Murphy dropped a few balls in the past, but anyone could tell you he's improving in the outfield.  Can't make much fun there.  David is struggling, but as much as he strikes out, he does come through at least once a game with a nice double or something.  And we've just come off a 7 game winning streak.  So when I go to the local bar and have a few drinks with friends, it's usually Johan's lack of run support that I'm expected to defend. 

But I don't want to defend it. I don't understand it.  Beltran's seeming inability to take charge in the outfield--I can explain that.  He lost the ball in the lights, someone else had called it, he misjudged, he's human.  DWright getting caught stealing second and home?  Can't fault a player for being aggressive. I'll never complain when the Mets get caught stealing because it means they're trying to DO something.  How often in the past have we despaired because the Mets seemed to just sit there, waiting?  Johan's lack of run support... I don't know. I'm as much at a loss as anyone.  The most reasonable explanation I heard recently was that perhaps the Mets, having made it difficult for Johan in the past, get too worked up about his games. The pressure to perform, rather than being relaxed, is increased.  They get into their own heads, and they pay the price for it.  I have no idea if there's any truth to that theory, but it's the only one that attempts to make sense of this Opposite-Day puzzle.  We win games for everyone BUT our ace?  It's so strange.


The Game

My friend and I finished finals on the same day, so we decided to celebrate by taking in a game. We bought tickets in sec. 513, row 11, aka "Way the eff up there."  Then we got a call. How I love the perks of being well-plugged in to the Mets fan network!  My friend's-friend had four tickets to the Excelsior section 315. It's probably the BEST view of the game I've ever had.

We entered through the First Base VIP Entrance. It was very cushy. Carpeted, plants, large pictures hanging along the wall of Reyes and the others.  The ticket collector offered to take a picture of the four of us with Reyes in the background. The other ticket collector, a woman, observed cheerfully--"Look! Beltran is right above your heads! Say cheese!"  We obediently said "cheese" and then turned to look. Sure enough, it was REYES right above our heads.  The lady gets an F- on identifying Mets.

We took an elevator up to the section. The elevator was controlled manually by a "hostess." Then we went in through the Caesar Club, through a tunnel, and out into the stadium.  It was interesting how that entrance made sure that you never had to actually come in touch with "real" people. LOL.  People with these tickets are carefully secluded from the rest of the population.  We sat right under the media boxes. That told us right away that we were getting premium sight-lines. I've sat field level before and this is the BEST view I've ever had of the game. It was... the view you see on tv.

Actually, we were within shouting distance of the SNY booth. Two sections over, there was Gary's hand, reaching for a bottle of water. There were the SNY cameras.  Directly behind us was the booth where the announcer sat.  You know, the guy that says, "Third baseman... Daaaaaaaaavid Wright."  It was so strange to suddenly see the face and the balding head of the dis-embodied voice I knew oh, so well. During the Kiss Cam, I could see him watching the jumbotron and smiling as he commented on a couple that wouldn't kiss.

(side note: it was a white man and an asian woman, and the ** behind me said, "she's a mail order bride! Mail order!" which I found extremely offensive, of course, but just goes to show---you can sit in the classiest seats, but the people will never change)

The game itself was phenomenal. We lost for Johan, and I had a feeling that we'd win for Pelf. I had such a strong feeling that honestly, even when we were down by 3, I felt we'd come back. This team has been performing too strong to just lay down quietly to die. It was coming. I felt it.  And then it came.

First of all, when David got called out at home, he was out. I could tell he was out easily.  It was helpful to see him expressing his frustration, though. Made ours feel a little better. He bent over at the knees and stared at the ground for a good minute. 

Oh wait, before that, there was this:

I can't believe there was a streaker.  We were cheering. I distinctly remember that Reyes had just shot a line drive foul toward right field.  Because of that foul ball, we were looking in that general direction. All of a sudden, our focus zeroed on a guy who was flinging his clothes off and running toward the field. He ran fast. He got past second base before the security guys converged on him.  He was led off the field surrounded by cheers and applause.  The funniest thing was the announcer behind me, who very sternly said, "Ladies and gentlemen, we ask you not to applaud this man. Anyone who goes out into the field during play disturbs the players and the game.." Hahahaaa.. no one paid attention.  The minute I saw what was happening, I grabbed my friend's camera and actually caught part of his run: 



The players were laughing, and the next pitch was a ball, so I guess the pitcher was rattled. LOL. Welcome to New York, Braves. 

When the two runs came home and Reyes got greedy with his base-running, we hardly cared. The atmosphere in Citi Field was electric.  And that's the thing-- when my friend and I spent all that money to sit field level, it was DEAD. Absolutely dead. But here on the Excelsior level, even surrounded by all the moneyed individuals that have these season seats, it got loud.

Getting into the tenth was incredible. I knew we'd get there.  The atmosphere in the park -- you should've witnessed it. There was a hushed silence for the first two outs in the tenth. Everyone was SO NERVOUS.  And when it came down to the last out, it suddenly got LOUD.  And then when our turn came up and bases were loaded and Beltran stepped up to the plate, I could hardly breathe I was so nervous. My friend on one side was dancing and jumping around. My friend on the other side was still and pale. I was in the middle--figuratively and literally. 

And Beltran got walked!!  The place EXPLODED.  And even though it was walked in, Reyes' little hop onto home plate and the guys mobbing Beltran at first were still just as sweet.

The view, the people, the game, the atmosphere... it might've been the best game experience I've had so far.