The Old Ballgame

I did, indeed attend the Washington Nationals' home opener. The game (Nationals 5, Diamondbacks 3) is reported on the MLB site and elsewhere, and I've posted my scorecard for posterity. What I wanted to record here, as required by the Blogger's Creed, are some impressions of the game, the Nationals, and RFK Stadium.

• Despite the fact that I've lived in the Washington area for over twenty years, I'd never been to RFK before. When the Redskins played there, it was extremely difficult to get a ticket, especially during the Gibbs Glory Years. Knowing that traffic would be bad around the stadium, I opted for the Metro Orange Line, which necessitated learning how to use a SmarTrip card, since that's the only way one can park in a Metro parking lot. Since I got on the train at about 4:30 pm the trip was pretty easy. Sat by two guys, about my age, who wore the red "W" caps. They grew up in the city and even remembered Griffith Stadium. My last subway ride to a game was a 1981 trip from Penn Station to Yankee Stadium.
• The Metro says it's the "Stadium/Armory" stop, but you have to walk around the Armory and then some to get to the Stadium. Along the way were the usual hucksters, including National Guard recruiters, featuring a guy in a giant balloon-headed National Guard mascot outfit. I guess it's a better post than Iraq.
• Realized I'd forgotten my camera, so bought a one-shot deal. Pictures will be posted when they're developed (a strange concept, these days) if they come out. Passed several news teams, both radio and TV, all recording the historic moment. Passed Mark Plotkin handing out Taxation Without Representation T-shirts but didn't take one because I don't live in the District, and anyway I think that for Congressional purposes DC should be considered part of Maryland. Bought a knock-off "W" hat. Not quite as nice as the real one, but big enough to fit my head.
• Picked up freebie newspaper style scorecard outside the stadium.
• It's now about 5:15pm, and the metal-detectors at the security checkpoints have short lines. Takes about 2 minutes to get through.
• On entering RFK, I get a "Fan Code of Conduct" (best line: "Guests will refrain from displays of affection not appropriate in a public family setting.") and a packet containing what proves to be a set of inflatable thunder sticks. Put both in pocket, forget about them.
• I have entered the stadium as far away from my seat as is humanly possible. Long walk involved. Not too crowded, as yet.
• Bought Official Program for $10.
• Find seat, conveniently close to restrooms the men's room. Sit down (in the seat, not the men's room.
• RFK proves to be a nice version of the 1960s general purpose stadium. Though my seat is behind right field, it's not all that far up, and I can see every thing except the main scoreboard, which is above me. I'll see that tomorrow night, when I get my regular seat. There are three mini-scoreboards in view, two of them showing the time.
• 6 pm, get hotdog, pretzel and beer for dinner. The timing turns out to be Real Good. Apparently, the vendor later ran out of food on our level.
• High School band plays, percussion doing a good imitation of Drumline.
• Announcement of the politicians, part one: DC Mayor Anthony Williams was cheered. DC City Council Chairman Linda Cropp was booed for her attempt to rewrite the deal between the city and MLB.
• Team presentation. Nationals cheered all over the place. Recognized Diamondbacks got polite applause.
• Announcement of the politicians, part two: President Bush makes a brief appearance, going out the the mound, throwing out the very special first ball, and returns to wherever he came from. Total time on the field is less than five minutes.
• Navy chorus sings "God Bless America". The sound system doesn't work too well, so some people join in. During the song, soldiers march into the outfield and unfold a gigantic Stars and Stripes which covers most of the outfield.
• A singer whose name I didn't catch (the PA system is not exactly state of the art, and the announcer was of the "see how loud we can shout" school of broadcasting) sings the National Anthem in something under two minutes. At after the "still there" some people shout "O!" but they are roundly, and rightly, booed.
• Various former Washington Senators come onto the field, each carrying a glove. Best known, to me at least, is Frank Howard. The Nationals then take the field, and each of the new players (except for P Livan Hernandez, who brought his glove from the bullpen) receives his glove from the old. This was the best part of the opening ceremonies. What with the storming of the field and Bob Short's perfidy, the Senators never got to say goodbye to DC and DC never got to say goodbye to the Senators. Thirty-four years is a long time to wait, but this was a nice touch.
• Red "W" caps seem to be the people's choice, but there are also blue "W" caps, red "DC" caps, and the occasional Senator's block "W" cap.
• The game begins. Henandez rings up 2B Craig Counsell, walks one, and gets out of the inning by striking out Luis Gonzalez swinging. Baseball has returned to DC.
• Bottom of the second, 3B Vinny Castilla gets the Nats first home hit, a double down the left field line. He's left there when C Brian Schneider pops up and SS Cristian Guzman is fanned by Javier Vazquez.
• While this is going on, some idiot (Section between 463 and 469, Row <5, Seat > 8) tries to start "the Wave". Respect the Game, Man. "The Wave" is for the bottom of the sixth in a 8-2 blowout. Here the score is 0-0 and the home team is trying to score.
• When the Diamondbacks are up, the left-field line scoreboard, directly opposite us, is transformed into a "K-Count" for Hernandez. It will remain at "2" for a long time. I would rather have some useful information, like the radar gun reading, the batter's number, or out-of-town scores. These may be displayed above my head, but I can't see the big scoreboard.
• Bottom of the fourth. With two on, Castilla hits the Nats' first home triple to right field. I couldn't see what happened, as it was directly below our seats, but it must have bounced around on Dbacks RF Shawn Green. Castilla then scores on a Sac Fly by Schneider.
• Top of the sixth. Hernandez gets Green, looking. The "K-Count" board completely misses this, and for the rest of the game will be one strikeout behind Washington's pitchers.
• Bottom of the sixth. Vinny Castilla gets the Nats' first home home run over the left field wall, driving in 2B Jose Vidro. Nats lead, 5-0.
• Seventh inning stretch: Take Me Out to the Ball Game. No extra stuff, no John Denver. Nice. Though I like John Denver in Baltimore.
• Bottom of the eighth. After getting the hardest ¾ of the cycle, Castilla is plunked (it looked deliberate) by Arizona reliever Lance Cormier. The umpire warns both benches. Cormier is booed for the rest of the inning.
• Top of the ninth. Hernandez, tiring, gives up a 3-run homer to LF Chad Tracy. Hernandez gets a standing ovation as he is replaced by Chad Cordero, who gives up one hit but makes two outs to save the game.
• Getting out of RFK was a chore. Everyone was supposed to receive a commemorative medal. Unfortunately, there was only one person handing out the medals at each door, which lead to a slow moving mob scene. It probably took 30 minutes to get out of the stadium. I lost my friend in the mob. Fortunately, we'd come via Metro from different locations, so we didn't need to leave together.
• Getting into the Stadium/Armory Metro took another 45 minutes, as the station has a surprisingly small entryway. The train platforms were, however, relatively clear. I've also figured out a way around this, but if you think I'm telling you, you're crazy. Trip on the Orange Line uneventful.
• Wonder of wonders, the SmarTrip card let me out of the Metro parking lot for only $3.50. Home without problems. I may actually take the Metro next game.

All in all, it was a fun night, and I'm ready to do it another 10-15 times this year. Go Nats!