All Star Dream

It has been an awesome week for me. My dream to go to the All Star Game at Citi Field on my birthday... It's the most amazing thing that has happened to me.Of course, it's my own doing. I made it happen by shelling out tons of money and convincing my sister to do the same. It started with FanFest with Jenn. Then the futures game/celebrity/legends allstargame.Then the HR Derby. Then the RedCarpetShow. And finally the AllStarGame. I must say that the atmosphere was phenomenal and being at home field makes it even more special.Fans all over sported their gear. I loved when the mascots came out and about. They're funny. There are no words to describe the feeling before and after the game. I thought about what it would be like if I went to another city's allstargame. I'd be unfamiliar with the ballpark and perhaps wouldn't spend a week doing the activities. So I'm so grateful to be part of "the largest crowd" and be part of an amazing experience. I'll never forget my 28th birthday. Just like I would never forget my 19th birthday (spent at Shea Stadium with fireworks). Life grants me these opportunities and as long as there is someone willing to take these journeys with me, then everything is possible. 
-Angela

2013 All Star Game!

So when I first heard that the All Star Game was going to be at Citi Field about 2 years ago? I was so excited and I was determined to make it happen no matter what the cost... About a year ago, I had learned that the date was SET. It was going to fall on Tuesday, July 16, 2013, my 28th Birthday! I never imagined that the date would be on that very day. Of course it's always on a Tuesday and I did look at the calendar and anticipated that it may fall on my birthday, but it always seem to fall on an earlier date. Anyway, I got super excited and declared that I was going to do everything I can to secure my way in. In mid July of last year, the Mets sent out an email asking fans to secure their All Star Strips by purchasing season tickets and game packs. At that time, I didn't want to get ahead of myself and thought, ok, I still have a year before this day comes. Then this past January came and word was that All Star Strips would be hard to get. I kept thinking to myself, perhaps I'll spend about $500 for an All Star Game by buying it on Stubhub. But that idea felt wrong. I didn't feel like anyone wanted to pay that price for ONE game. I know it's crazy and pricey. And I understand that this means the world to me. To attend my only All Star Game ever (probably) at Citi Field. I'll be old and Citi Field would be old if they play the game there again in the future...it would not be the same. Let alone, it's happening on my BIRTHDAY. What more can you ask for? So I had to. I had to ask my sister if she was willing to buy a 15 game pack just to secure our ticket purchase for the All Star Strips.

I must say it was not easy to convince her to buy a 15 game pack. I did not blame her. I am the bigger fan than she is. It is MY birthday. Initially, she declined and basically said NO WAY. So I thought about it. I thought long and hard and really contemplated on going to the 15 games alone. But I didn't make any final decisions. Later that night, my sister calls and changes her mind. She told me that she understands that this means the world to me and that it's once in a lifetime. So she agreed to go. We did some research on picking out the games we wanted to go to and then inquired about pricing. All Star Strips range from $450 to $550! Wow, my sister's going to be pissed. So out of the goodness of my heart, I offered to help her pay for the All Star Strip just because she has already agreed to go to all 15 Mets games with me. It's very generous of her to even spend so much money just so that I can live out my dream and attend my first All Star Game at Citi Field on my birthday. It will be the best birthday I'll ever have. To come to grips with how much I'm spending for this 15 game pack PLUS the All Star Strip, I think of it like this: if I was to take a continuing education class, I'd pay about $1,000 for one course in a semester...so just imagine my 15 game pack and my trip to the All Star game as a course in Mets baseball...only I'm having fun and I get to watch my favorite team!

To finish off this blog, I don't have Mets fan friends that live near me and would go with me to games...which I think is sad. But I do have a really great sister who cares about me enough not to let me go to games by myself. Also to consider that it is my birthday on the day of the All Star Game. I'm not a religious person, but I am blessed and forever grateful that she thought about me. Thanks, Ellie.

-Angela

Mr. Met Overload

On Thursday, January 3, 2013, the Mets hosted a blood drive at Citi Field. I was super excited but kind of worried that I didn't have enough iron to donate (as I have failed to donate the last time at Citi Field), but nonetheless still received two tickets to a home game in April. But indeed, my iron levels were sufficient and was eligible to donate. When I first walked into the Caesar's Club Section, I gave the lady my donor card and after a minute, I turned my head, only to see Mr. Met approaching me. I greeted him and gave him a high five. :) Then, I proceeded to fill out the form, get the mini physical and waited to be seen. The coordinator guy that escorted me to the male nurse, whose name I forgot, perhaps gave me good luck... I sat for a good 5 minutes before seeing Mr. Met prancing around, visiting the donors, taking pics with everyone, and just being the good ol' type of mascot who makes everyone smile. His camera crew followed him from time to time and it just so happens that this one guy spotted me, and one of the blood donation signs behind me, and had asked if I minded having my picture taken with Mr. Met. Perhaps my bright green sweater and my ethnicity was the reason why the camera guy chose me to be in the picture. There was a guy in front of me that was already releasing his blood and he was closer to the aisle than I was. In any event, I was super pumped and did not object. They positioned the sign as well as moved the foldable beds near me so that when Mr. Met returned, they'd have "the photo shoot." About a few minutes later, Mr. Met comes and while the crew was getting ready, Mr. Met saw that I had the flexer thing in my hand (so that the nurse can find my vein on my arm). So Mr. Met proceeded to flex his fingers to show me how it's done. I followed him and he put both hands on his face as if to act in disbelief that I hadn't flexed all this time. LOL. So then, the camera crew was finally ready. The video guy starting filming, the camera guy told Mr. Met to hold the tickets and told me to do the same. There were tons of photos being taken and then the camera guy said, ok, one shot of you looking at Mr. Met now. So this very shot, ends up on the website, as well as on the facebook post. Not only that, but days later, I discover that there's a video clip of me on the Mets website as well. Just so you know, all this happened before the nurse poked a needle onto my arm and sucked the pint of blood out of me. While my blood was being gushed out of the needle and into the bags, the nurses who took lunch breaks returned and saw the moved beds and wondered what happened. They asked my nurse what happened and I kind of answered for him. I told them Mr. Met came by for a photo shoot and although it sounded like a white lie, it was indeed true. LOL. When I was done, I headed over to the snacks tables and sat for a good 20 minutes. Mr. Met resurfaced and came around to take more pictures. I grabbed my camera out and asked a random lady to take a picture of me and Mr. Met, just in case my prior photo shoot didn't work out, lol. So, I gave Mr. Met another high five. About 5 minutes later, I got on the short line to get my ticket voucher for the 2 tickets in April, and low and behold, Mr. Met passes by and gives me another high five. I don't think there's ever a time I met someone 4 times in one day. It was pretty cool to hang out with Mr. Met, America's favorite mascot in 2012. That day was the highlight of my year so far. It was pretty cool. I've always donated blood but nothing beats this location with the company of Mr. Met and who can say no to free tickets? When I first saw this post on facebook regarding donating blood, I saw a bunch of fans or subscribers comment...saying that the Mets have resorted to taking our blood to have us come donate and in exchange provide us tickets so that we can see their games. Their comments really ticked me off. First of all, donating blood is a selfless thing to do and you can save lives. It has nothing to do with baseball. For the Mets to host this and give fans free tickets, it's really their way of giving back...well here's your chance to redeem tickets that you overpaid for in the past! I know tickets are always overpriced and that's how a business runs. So for  fans or subscribers to comment negatively and say they wouldn't trade their blood for tickets, well you didn't harm the Mets, you just didn't save a life that day. Which I think it's sad.Especially if you made some correlation with donating blood and the Mets. So on that note, that's my Mr. Met Overload Day. I can't wait for Spring Training.
-Angela

The Offseason

So what do I think the Mets should do this offseason? Get rid of the Wilpons, have an owner that truly believes in the team and shape up the lineup. I think that we have great pitchers but the lineup does not seem to work. The team needs to rebuild and give the fans something to cheer about. If the Mets make the postseason, that's called progress. I want them to have a chance to win, even if they don't win. That is what makes fans believe. The fact that a team gets into the postseason shows that the team worked hard all year and got a fighting chance to win. Not getting into the postseason would be a failure and a pathetic season. So  I wouldn't be surprised if the team's lineup doesn't change much and for 2013, miss the postseason. A winning team has chemistry and comraderie. Without those, the team will eventually mess up and falter. Anyway, just thought I'd share my thoughts this offseason.
-Angela

Mom's 1st Mets Game

Perhaps, bringing mom to her first Mets game, gave the team good luck...after losing 6 straight...Anyway, my mom has no interest whatsoever in baseball, but we had an extra ticket that we did not want to waste and she was the person I wanted to go with us. She reluctantly came, but as I started to explain the general basics of baseball, it took me about 3 innings for her to understand that pop fly balls are outs and that the idea is for the opposing team to catch the ball without it ever touching the ground...Mind you, I did this all in Cantonese, which I'm not fluent in...not grammatically anyway. So not only did I translate what I thought to be the right terms, I taught her baseball in another language. Perhaps I did not thoroughly explain every type of play there is or about singles, doubles, triples, grand slams or balks...But I did get her to pay closer attention to how many players are on the field. I think from that point on, after explaining over and over about if the ball hits the ground and the guy doesn't catch it in the air, he can go to first base...mom saw how the caught balls causes the players to return to the dugout. She learned that Justin Turner's homer with no one on base causes a run. And that Dickey's bunt and his hard run to first base, was awesome because the Astros did didly squat to throw him out as they crash/collided... Mom witnessing these plays was really special to me because she came out with a strong assumption that baseball is no fun to watch and that not understanding the game, makes it boring. I must say, I agree...if you don't understand something, why stick around to watch.

In JHS, I felt this way. Baseball is boring and at that time I didn't care for the sport. I just thought that it was unfair that Yankee fans snuck to the parade in 1996? and the school excused their absences? Perhaps that was the start of my blood boiling, aka, my hatred for that team. Plus, kids at that age were mean to one particular Mets fan in school. The class was full of Yankees fans and at that time, I held my neutral stance. Perhaps that made me think of Yank fans as bullies and as mean people. I must say that I do recall a JHS summer when I turned on the tv to WPIX-11 and watched baseball. I believe that was my start to understanding baseball. No one taught me baseball, I taught myself baseball by watching games on tv. I know in 2000, I had already declared my allegiance to the Mets. My sisters and I were in agreement and we basically listed out reasons why the Yankees are pompous jerks that are overrated and their fans suck. Plus, I credit my dad's Mets umbrella as the start of it all. Hahha. Dad was never showed his support for any team...

Anyway, that is all I wanted to share today. A great win by RA Dickey 3-1, his 16th win this year and it's one of the memorable games that I've been to because mom came and it was Mike Piazza Bobblehead Day. No game can ever (or has yet) top my 19th birthday fireworks night at Shea...it was special, it was a surprise, though it was a loss...But I do value that game as being the best because I'll always remember it.
-Angela

The No Hitter

I must say that on June 1st, 2012. Johan Santana was meant to pitch the elusive no hitter. It was meant to be. The umpire had to have called "Foul ball" and  Mike Baxter had made an incredible catch. The stars were aligned and it was destiny. It's still surreal after two weeks since that day. Whenever I watch a no-hitter or a close no-hitter, I anticipate and always get disappointed when the ball drops or some fielder misses by a foot or something. That night, I was jittery, I felt the nerves that channeled through Johan and I was shaking. I didn't give up hope and I had faith that it was possible and when the last strike struck, I was simply amazed and in disbelief. It has happened.The Cards may complain about Beltran's "hit" and that it was fair (yes, videofootage shows it hit the chalk up third base...), but look at it this way, they took a possible World Series from us in 2006 and that hurts more than a no hitter. The game of baseball is not perfect though the pun here is that it's a perfect game that was played. Point taken. A team cannot get every call right. There can be only so much video footage of every single play but why go through the trouble, it's really just a game.  Yes, it ruins records or someone's reputation? But then again, the other day, RA Dickey "had a no hitter" but  MLB did not think so. It just goes to show you that, in one way or another, it's karma, we had a no hitter that was considered tainted, but when Dickey had a no hitter, DWright didn't get an error on the play but rather it was counted as a hit. Thus, the game goes full circle. Not that one game impacts another game but calls go one way and calls go another way.
-Angela

Blah Humbug!

So I was yet again wrong about the Rangers winning in Game 6. I feel bad for them. The Cards did impress me in Game 6. But as an underdog fan, I wanted the Texas Rangers to win their first ever WS. It sucks to lose twice in a row when they made it all the way once again. It's not gonna happen again next year, is it? We'll see. Well that's it folks! No more baseball until SPRING TRAINING! I'm sad to not see a game on...but it's a win when the Philthies and Skankees don't win. Anyway, that's it until there are news about the Winter Meetings and trades, etc.
-Angela