Don't Be That Guy at the Ballpark

There are many annoyances at sporting events that everyone complains about. If you don't want to be one of the complaints, don't do any of these things. Side note: This applies to everyone. Even those who aren't repeat offenders.

• Don't be that guy who...screams every time a ball goes foul, particularly if it goes way foul. That's not necessary, unless it hits you on the head. Relax, we all know the ball was hit, there's no reason why you should start bellowing about it.
• Don't be that guy who...talks excessively about their personal problems or anything else not related to the game that no one could care less about. Pay attention to the game. No one wants to hear about your personal life.
• Don't be that guy who...is constantly standing up to cheer or complain about calls. This doesn't mean you can't stand for home runs or impressive plays, certainly not; but when nothing very important is happening or you disagree with an umpire's call, there's no reason to stand up and scream about it. The umpire isn't going to hear you, and if he did, he wouldn't overturn the call, so why does it matter?
• Don't be that guy who...curses loudly during the entire game, regardless of the people in the seats surrounding him or the repeated warnings before the game not to use expletives. Foul language is absolutely not needed, particularly at a public place where children are typically all around. Besides, cursing is rude. Save it for Twitter.
• Don't be that guy who...pretends to know everything about the team, the sport, a player, etc., because it's not impressing anyone. You just look like a know-it-all.
• Don't be that guy who...heckles the players rudely and loudly. We get it. You don't like him. Sit down, keep it to yourself, and let everyone else enjoy the game.
• Don't be that guy who...says "Stay-men". It's Stammen. Two m's. No "ayyyyy". Got that?
• Don't be that guy who...touches the ball while it's still in play. Let the ball girl/boy get the ball so that you're sure it's actually foul. You wouldn't want everyone to hate you for messing up a play, would you?

Now, take my guidelines and don't do any of those things, lest you risk looking like a doofus.

No Lead is Safe (Don't Go Easy)

It's the bottom of the eighth inning. The home team is up 9-0. Home coach decides to let up on their opponnent, figuring they would win anyway. He tells the batters not to try anymore and the inning ends quickly. In the top of the ninth, the closer gives up two singles and a walk, then a home run. He's pulled, and the next pitcher allows more runs, making it a tie ballgame. Desperate, the coach uses a new pitcher, who blows the lead. The bottom of the ninth proves fruitless.

No lead is safe, especially in the highly competitive NL East. The Nationals learned this the hard way during The Game Which Shall Not Be Named. Last year, they had a nine run lead over the Atlanta Braves, and blew it in ten innings. In a series against the Chicago Cubs, the two teams engaged in fights over the fact that they were still playing aggressive ball.

I don't understand why people get so angry when a team keeps bringing their A-game when they're leading by so much. That is how the game is played, collecting hits and runs. In school you don't purposely stop getting good grades just because someone else isn't getting any. You keep working for something better, the next level.

Please. Stop complaining about this and enjoy the game of baseball.

Game 5 Through My Eyes

Game 5 is a painful subject for most Nationals fans. I myself was raw from the loss for a week or so, until I forced myself to be over it. Now I still flinch when I think of the image of Drew Storen, sitting alone in the locker room, contemplating the loss.

This post will be a re-living of my Game 5 experience.

Despite the horrible loss, I truly enjoyed going to the game. It was my first playoff game of any sport, and I was extremely excited. I had bundled up for the chilly night and purchased a new sweatshirt. As soon as we got in (we being my father and younger brother and I), we watched BP from both teams and hoped for some home runs. Nothing came our way, so we instead went to our seats (section 412, 12 or so rows back). Being so far up, we were freezing. The wind whipped through my three jackets and thick shirts like a knife through water.

It seemed like an eternity passed before the game finally started. We swung the Natitude towels in the air delightedly, the energy and buzz of the postseason crowd charging in my veins, warming me and getting me pumped for the game. The beginning of the game was the part I'll always remember the most - all the home runs and singing "Take On Me" with the crowd, right into a single as we hit the high note. Those are the memories of Game 5 I carry with me.

Then Davey put in Edwin Jackson. My dad and I looked at each other, shaking our heads. We both believed, now and to this day, that putting Jackson in was a big mistake. But nothing could compare to The Inning.

Drew came on to pitch. I fist bumped my dad and brother and said, "We got this in the bag. Drew is so lights out." It was true, though. Two strikes. There was only one necessary to advance. One. One is the loneliest number. Only one pitcher felt responsible for the loss, as Pete Kozma nailed the coffin down and the rest of them threw the dirt over us. A lasting image was Drew walking slowly and despairingly off the field after the tragedy occurred.

The bottom of the inning hurt almost as much as the top. Watching the Cardinals run out and dogpile each other only drove another stake through my heart. It was like salt in a wound, watching them rejoice over what was rightfully ours. The bottom of the ninth was over too fast, but perhaps that was good. Less time to dwell on what had happened, so I could process it on the way home. When the final out was recorded, I was barely holding back the tears. Perhaps it was just being there, amongst the excitement, and the overwhelming feeling of my first postseason game. Or maybe I had really invested a lot of emotion and interest in this team. I think it was both, combined with the shock of it all.

My brother and father went to the men's room, so I waited outside, using the opportunity to shield my face and let myself cry. I was too upset to care who saw the big fat things roll off my cheeks. I stood there for ten minutes, leaning on a big support pole, silently sobbing over the sports team I had watched since I was twelve back in 2009, had hoped to do well. I wept in the car on the way home, too, and in my bed at 2 am. I'm not sure if it was all fueled by shock, disappointment, or the thought that the season was over and I'd have to wait until February and March to see them again.

I enjoyed Game 5, excepting the loss. I tried to console myself by saying "They'll get there again" or "Now they have the experience". But, I know that Game 5 is like a wound, similar to the loss of Michael Morse (another hole in the heart that can't be filled).

This is my Game 5 experience. I am happy to share it with all of you.

Nationals Complete Sweep of Miami; Start the Season with a Bang

As I watched Jayson Werth's no-doubter soar over the left field wall and into the bullpen, I said to myself, "World Series or bust". Surely no team deserves to be there more than the Nationals, who after a remarkable 2012 regular season, experienced a crushing blow called 'Game five', two words that still make most Nationals fans flinch (not to mention 'two strikes' or 'Pete Kozma').

Sweeping the Marlins may not seem like much of a feat (they finished in fifth place in 2012 with a record of 79-82), but it proves that the Nationals have the drive, energy, and talent to go far in 2013. With the additions of Haren and Span, and a healthy Ramos, Werth, and Strasburg, the Washington team can be expected to do big things this year. 

Certainly a main talking point of the NL, the Nationals start the season at 3-0 in first place. No one can know how long their first place position will hold, but if this team stays healthy, they will be dominant all year.

Opening series was a great show that made me realize just how awesome it feels to be back in the swing of things again (pun absolutely intended) and enjoying my daily routine of school, baseball, sleep, repeat. Of course, now I have to talk about the performances of Bryce Harper, Stephen Strasburg, and Gio Gonzalez. Bryce Harper hit two home runs in consecutive plate appearances on Opening Day, propelling the Nationals to their first win of the 2013 season. Stephen Strasburg managed to shut them out on a three-hitter, retiring 19 batters in a row, and showing everyone just how ready he was. Gio Gonzalez proved just how strong he is, putting the allegations of PED use behind him and even pushing through some head pain. Besides pitching a fantastic game, Gio went yard for the second time in his career.

Despite getting only one hit in the series, Ian Desmond has impressed. His defense has been amazing. The offense will come in time. The same goes for Danny Espinosa, Adam LaRoche, and Denard Span. They may not be showing us much now, but when you go back and look at how they performed in Spring Training, they were great. Danny Espinosa and Adam LaRoche tore up offensively, and Denard Span impressed with his patience at the plate and his ability to spot a good pitch and take it. They'll come around, you'll see.

This team is going somewhere, and I know exactly where: the World Series. See you there.