A review of the August 26th game between the Mets and Angels
by Kurt
Shohei Ohtani is baseball right now. He’s the only superstar America’s pasttime has to offer with Aaron Judge’s down year, and after being given the opportunity to go see the Shohei show against the Mets, I jumped on it.
This game, and getting there, had its plights. On Wednesday, August 23rd, just three days before the game I had tickets to, Ohtani had torn his UCL. His pitching season was shut down. I wouldn’t be seeing the aspect of his game that is so alien to modern baseball, the Babe Ruth quality to him of both pitching and batting. The show must go on, however. The spectacle of Ohtani would still come to bat in New York for his three day stint against the Mets.
Before taking the Staten Island Ferry, as is tradition, I got a beer for the trip. A strong IPA to get the juices flowing before the game. The ride is a perfect half hour for a tall boy. I was good to go, until I wasn’t. Before transferring from ferry to train I knew something was off. I immediately broke out in hives on my arms and neck. I started sweating profusely. Snot was running down my nose. Total mess. The girlfriend noticed the rashes and sweating, but I said I was ok. The train was a 50 minute hellscape, but then again, isn't it always? I had to get off the train with a few stops left to force myself to vomit out that whole beer and then some. I am very out of it.
We made it to the game just about on time for the opening pitch. More drinks were out of the question, but I had to get food in me after my ordeal. Jacob’s Pickles is the first place up the stairs and to the left in Citi Field and was my target. Like my last trip to Citi field, I got the fried chicken sandwich on a glazed donut, crinkle cut fries, and a tall boy seltzer for the girlfriend. $51.99 with $0 tip. As I left the self-service kiosk, I heard the roaring cheers for Ohtani while he was making his first plate appearance.
I had to go up 4 flights of stairs for my seats above home plate, where I heard his shot that JUST went foul. I also missed his double. Fucking pitch timers. He was driven home by the next batter while I was still finding my seat. Classic Mets game, I’ve never seen them win. The fans are numb to it, their attitude is sad but understandable. It’s just a fine day at the park.
I’m still on death’s door, but at least I have my fat boy donut chicken sandwich which was very good. I’ll get that again next time. I’m debating on leaving the game, as the girlfriend is assuring me it would be ok. I tough it out just like Ohtani with his UCL, and I watched the whole game, heroically all swollen pink and disgusting looking.
Seated next to me is this bearded white guy trying to impress Ohtani, I assume, by cheering him on in Japanese, I also assume. He had an Asian wife too. I had no stakes, but had to obnoxiously cheer on the boys in blue to counter this guy.
Mets, as expected, do nothing at the start of their lineup. The second inning is where the Angels really put it on. A home run to start the inning. After a popout, they record a double, followed by another out, before a single drives in a run. Ohtani time again. He effortlessly sends the ball to right field, picking up an RBI while cruising to third for the triple. Ohtani scored on the next play and just like that, Mets pitcher Carlos Carrasco was yanked after 5 earned runs in 1 and ⅔ innings.
Apparently it was Woman’s Night and the Mets were the first team bought by a woman, which was later a trivia question. In a pre-taped video in honor of women, the players were asked their favorite woman singer. We got a few Taylor Swifts in there, great taste!
The third inning was fairly uneventful. At the top of the third with 2 outs, Ohtani steps up to the plate for his third at bat. Like many men in the stands, I’m explaining how we have a decent chance at seeing Ohtani hit for a cycle. He was walked, but we did see him steal second and third with all that speed. It was all for naught as that batter struck out.
The crowd was mostly Mets fans, but there was a decent amount of Angels garb with a clear emphasis on Shohei. He was the main attraction and drew a great crowd that included many of his countrymen, which there are many of in that surrounding area of Flushing, Queens.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Mets are able to pull together 2 runs, largely due to the Angels pitcher being hit in the back of the head by an inadvertent throw from the first basemen on what was originally a mistaken steal by a Met to a full second base. At this point I’m pretty good to go. As Mike the Situation always says “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.”
Mets do get a homer from their big boy Daniel Vogelbach to big cheers. They end the sixth inning only down 5-3, a comeback is within grasp. Ohtani in his penultimate at bat in the seventh inning pops out.
In the eighth inning we had some action. On the scoreboard there was a poll you can participate in with your phone on the sing-a-long song of the night. The choices were Whitney Houston, TLC, and Carly Rae Jepsen. I was yelling “Call Me Maybe Call Me Maybe”, but it fell on deaf ears as Whitney Houston won by 7%. I didn’t participate in that.
When baseball resumed the inning started with Mets All-Star Pete Alonso being hit in the head by a pitch, causing him to leave the game and for the benches to clear. You could feel the bad blood between me and the weeaboo next to me. Mets later stranded two men on the bases for the second time in the game.
Something I learned this game, although too late, is that you can live bet on at bats and cash out before the books close. I had a few misses that just turned into 25% cash out losses. This is how we win.
Ohtani comes to bat for the final time in the ninth with a runner on second base with two outs. He’s intentionally walked to the tune of boos from everyone here to see him. The guy next to me was having a conniption. I don’t know if he could get home under his own accord in that condition, but that’s none of my concern. I’m cheering. “Good choice, Skipper!” “That’s just smart baseball!”. Their inning ends with the next at bat. That’s what you get for plunking Alonso. I don’t even need to go over the bottom of the ninth, the Mets don’t win games.
It was a great game by Mets’ standards, even more surprising that it was between two teams without a chance at the postseason in late August. I saw a few kids on phones here and there, but for the most part people came out to see a once in a generation talent and stayed engaged in the game. It gave me a real good feeling about baseball going forward, one that will only get stronger when Ohtani leaves the Angels for a more component franchise. If you have the chance to catch the Angels in town, go for it. Seeing talent as good as Ohtani’s is a treat you won’t regret, even if you feel like shit and are probably allergic to hops.
Please follow Kurt on Twitter and listen to his appearances on Gain of Fiction on our premium feed for two of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s classic works, The Brothers Karamazov and Notes From Underground + Taxi Driver