Who's the team to beat, again?

Game 9: Phillies 3, Mets 5
6-3 for the season

I was afraid that the crazy fans behind us (they get their own separate post) would make it impossible to enjoy the game, but despite the many distractions our neighbors for this game provided, the Mets wouldn't let their antics overshadow the performance on the field.

In some sense, it didn't matter how this game turned out-- it was my second game of the season, and of the week, and my first with my sister. I was going to have a good time no matter the outcome. I was concerned that we might get rained out-- it had rained intently all night and into the morning, though apparently it stopped in the Bronx a good three hours before it stopped on Long Island, leaving my sister more optimistic than I when we spoke at 1:30. I offered dinner in Flushing as an alternative to a cold and wet stadium, but SJ insisted that she wanted to go to the game, and I was glad because I felt the same way.




Before both of the games I've gone to this season, Carlos Beltran and David Wright have had a catch in front of the dugout before the game started. I'm sincerely charmed by this habit.




the National Anthem was played by this guy on his saxophone. SJ and I agreed that it was more interesting than your garden variety crooner singing the song.

we were definitely distracted by the outbursts of those around us (not to mention the nicknames-- "Paulie Dukes" for LoDuca, "Sheen" for Shawn Green), but the game was compelling and competed well with the antics around us in the upper deck for our attention. it was of course distressing when Glavine gave up two homers (including one in the first at-bat of the game) to Jimmy Rollins, a villain in New York for his pre-season comment that the Phillies are "the team to beat" in the NL East this season. turns out he was right-- they've been beat, pretty consistently-- as they were tonight, when Glavine found his groove in the 3rd inning and pulled out his 292nd career win.




bottom of the 6th, bases loaded, 2 outs, Carlos Beltran at bat.




he struck out, but it was exciting there for a few minutes. the Mets were already up by a run at that point, but it would have been easier to relax if Beltran had hit and given Joe Smith a 3 or more run lead at the top of the 7th.

it turned out that Smith didn't need the extra help. he pitched well, and though the first guy he faced got a single, he struck out Rowand looking and then got Ruiz to hit into a 4-6-3 double play, the second of 3 double plays the Mets turned in the game. Scott Schoeneweis had an 8th inning reminiscent of Smith's 7th, and though Billy Wagner gave up a double to Ryan Howard and LoDuca let a ball pass that allowed Howard to take 3rd, Wagner ended the game after facing just four batters in the top of the 9th.




Cow Bell Guy, a Shea Stadium institution. Will he be able to afford season tickets to Citi Field?




I'm not the biggest fan of the song played when the Mets win at home-- "Taking Care of Business" feels trite, and isn't even that good a song. But I do love watching them line up and high five in the middle of the field like every Little League team in America when they win.