David Wright...
He played his last game last night and... I was there. It made me remember how great Mets fans are. Experiencing the spectrum of fandom. Love we have for the team to annoyance.
Anyway... Let me start with... After I had purchased the tickets to David Wright's game I was having anxiety, but I didn't associate the two. I tweeted about it and eventually went to sleep not knowing why I was having anxiety, just that I was having it. In the AM I see I got a response from K about it saying if I need to talk she's there... Anyway! I soon realized it was because of David Wright. Lol. Everything from him retiring to the logistics to actually going to the game. Then the whole... Pity party. That no one really wanted to go / pooh pooh'd on David and fireworks. To "if Tita Nette doesn't go I will." :: rolling eyes :: So annoying! Anyway... I already knew I didn't want to drive there and... Listening to the radio on opening day and people complaining about the lack of parking / getting to the game late or missing it completely I didn't want to take a chance. Or... I'd have to show up way early and... Tita Nette likes to complain. "Why won't they let us in?" "I'm hungry." "I have to pee." SMH... And... My initial though since Mom was like... "I'll come and drop me off at Queens so you'll have company when you go home." Why do I need company??? I never understand that. Anyway, so what am I gonna do? Drive home to Queens then to Citi Field making me even later and find parking? I didn't want to bother Tito Abe, but in the end he drove Tita Nette and I from Applebees to Citi Field while Mom drove the rest from Bed Bath to Queens. He then cursed up a storm at the traffic to and from the stadium.
We got to Citi Field at 4PM. They were opening gates at 4:30 to watch batting practice. I was paranoid, since I bought my tickets from Stubhub that they might be fake. They say there is a ticket guarantee, but if the game is sold out... But then I got an alert on my MLB app that my tickets were available digitally, I was somewhat relieved. Anyway, when we arrived there there was barely anyone at the right field gate. It wasn't even set up and they were telling us to go to other gates, but no, no one was budging. Eventually they set up and actually checked our bags before it was time to let us in. Before 4:30 they let us in and there were already people in the ball park. They weren't even checking tickets and you could go down to the field level seats to see batting practice. Tita Nette had to use the bathroom, so she did that first. Also... She (and when Mom comes) like to go directly to the seat and just sit there till it's time to eat. So we went there. I soon went down and to the shops. I have a Wright shirsy (an away one and a off color faux jersey) but I was looking if they had anything else. They really missed out on an opportunity to sell more Wright stuff. I didn't see much of anything. But then again I think everyone was wearing their Wright gear. I ended up going back to the store later and bought a child sized Wright jersey. It was discounted! Anyway, back to batting practice. Every time he stepped into the box they'd cheer. Eventually he went into the crowd to sign autographs. The cheering honestly sounded as if an actual game was going on. Like I said they were allowing people down, but... I didn't. I was content with my vantage point from the promenade. Mom thought she saw me on TV. Maybe if I had something worth signing or someone to take my picture... They then cheered when he came out to warm up. Cheered whenever he was on the jumbotron. It was a crazy atmosphere. Anyway, I soon made my way back up and Tita Nette and I got something to eat. I was more thirsty, but got a hotdog anyway. After that I wasn't leaving my seat till David Wright was out of the game. They had announced he was gonna have 2 at bats and taken out while on the field.
There was a pregame cheer leading thing. Several ceremonial first pitches. They sang the national anthem. Then... OMG!!! David's 2 year old daughter threw the real ceremonial first pitch to her father! So cute! He may or may not have taken the field alone prior to that. Anyway, he came up at bat bottom 1. Worked out a walk. That brought out cheers. In the top 2 he made a play in the field. Cheers. Maybe bottom 3rd or 4th he came up again. And popped out. I heard he was supposed to be in for 5 innings, but they immediately took him out the next inning. So I guess it might have been top 4 then. So he ended the season with a .000 batting average, but has an OBP b/c he got a walk. Anyway... So he went out to the field Top 4, then Mickey came out to the umpire. NO!!! Crowd boos. That turns into cheers as Wright waves to the crowd, shakes hands with the ump, hugs a few guys on the field. Walks toward the dugout. The team is standing outside, he hugs each of them. Gives a final wave to the crowd and disappears into the tunnel. :( Everyone then left to go to the bathroom. Lol. We waited till the inning ended. The next innings Wright was in the booths, TV, then radio. He then returned to the dugout the rest of the game. On the interwebs they announced there would be a post game ceremony before the fireworks. They also flashed it on the screen. I guess that was to keep people in their seats / not leave the game. But what!?! When I went to the bathroom, I did another walk about, to the stores, to the museum and... There were people just coming in. As I was going up the escalator someone was mad at their companion cause they found out they already pulled him from the game. So I went back to my seat. OMG lol. So when this one guy went up to bat people kept booing and booing. I wondered why... I then looked at the score board, his position. Oh... Was this the guy who caught Wright's pop up? Lol... I love Mets fans! Like we're passionate about our team and hate on others. It's a bonding experience. Between pitches we'd boo. Then if it was a strike, a foul, anything in our favor we'd cheer, then go back to booing before the next pitch was thrown. Lol. Anyway the game when on. And on... There were moments when we were about to score, but then we don't. Bot 9... Runner in scoring position. Plawecki actually hits a ball well and then the RF makes a diving catch. Ugh. Extras. And more extras. More men on base, more in scoring position, but not scoring. The people in front were like the game doesn't matter, we just want to see David Wright and fireworks. Someone score! Anyone! Lucky number 13? We finally score! Mets win. Team runs on the field.
They then play a tribute video to David Wright. He then addresses the crowd. Saying he appreciates the fans, we've had his back. He kept saying that. And... It's sad that it's basically his back that ended his career. (FYI if you didn't know... He was diagnosed with Spinal stenosis, narrowing of his spinal canal. Possibly congenital? But then he broke his back at some point, right? He then had a herniated disc in his neck, then nerve impingement in his arm. All related?) Anyway, he then waved again to the crowd and then fireworks!
Now... I'm not a fan of fireworks. I mean... They're fun and all, but I don't see the hype. Like... As I said, people didn't want to leave outside of David Wright and firework nights are usually a top seller. I don't get that. Like fireworks in themselves aren't gonna bring me personally into the park. Anyway, it was a sing along. My camera died during Meet The Mets. Ugh.
Anyway, like I said, Tito Abe picked us up, but he couldn't get to where he dropped us off b/c they closed down the street, except to outgoing traffic. But there were a lot of cab drivers going up and down the street asking for passengers so...
Just picked up Mom and I drove home.
Anyway, I wonder... David Wright hasn't said he's retiring. He did say it's unlikely he plays past this season / last Saturday to be exact. And... I suspect it's b/c he's still got 2 years on his contract. So... How does that work? Does he continue like he has for basically the last 2 years, still on the roster, but on the DL so he gets paid? The Mets pay him his salary, but then they get 75% back through insurance. Or the fact he's forced into retirement is it automatic? Hm... According to this article, they can do the 60 day DL or... Work out a deal and release him.
So yeah... With that and the fact the season ended today... I'm in a funk and don't know what to do. I still have Mets content on my DVR I have to go through, but... I've had stuff since 2015 and just got rid of it recently. I suck.