Welcome Return

Finally! Back at the ballpark, and it was a GREAT weekend.

They were promoting this as the "Subway Series North", the B-Mets and the Trenton Thunder playing in their parent teams' uni's. Given the numbers on the Thunders' jerseys, they must have been wearing Yankees spring training jerseys. It was cool to see those classy road grays (even if they are Yankees) and the gorgeous electric blue of the NY Mets'.

Saturday, it was 91 degrees at game time, and it dropped all the way down to 83 by the ninth inning. It was a good game, a welcome change from how they've been playing. P told me they haven't seen a home run in weeks, probably since I was last there, and Jay Caligiuri and Michel Abreu each sent one out. Tim McNab, denizen of the bullpen, made a very respectable spot start, giving up only one run on five hits over five innings. There was some good defense as well, even a nifty 1-5-3 doubleplay (for my non-baseball literate reader, that's pitcher to third baseman to first baseman, not a common combination). I've been in the habit of skipping out as soon as they turn off the lights on fireworks nights, jaded and wanting to beat the traffic, but I stayed for the show Saturday and was rewarded with a great show including new displays.

Sunday was hot, hot, hot, not too humid, with just the right amount of breeze. I downed three beers and a Mike's hard lemonade for hydration and never felt the slightest effect of alcohol; it was sweated out as fast as I took it in. The game was expected to be a pitcher's duel, Philip Hughes and Willie Collazo both high-ranking prospects for their respective franchises; neither starter got a decision. Hughes, 19 years old, gave up only two runs on six hits over seven innings. Collazo gave up two as well over seven innings on one fewer hits. Hughes struck out 11, Collazo 6.

The crowds for the three days of the weekend ranked as third highest in the team's 15 year history. Saturday was sold out, standing room only available, Sunday was nearly sold out as well.

It would have been a perfect return to the ballpark, but from one thing. The spiedie stand was out of Nine Man Ale. Saturday I had to settle for a draft Yuengling, Sunday was better, Anchor porter.