NL Division Series: Game 1 - Cardinals vs Dodgers

So, as was pointed out on page 3, I was, indeed, at the game.

What a night. It was the first playoff game for me and it really lived up to the hype. Unfortunately, despite the fact that where I was coming from was merely 15 minutes away from Dodger Stadium, and despite the fact that I left this location at 5:30 P.M., I didn't get into the stadium until the top of the 2nd, which was probably a little bit after 7 P.M. I suppose, after MSTI's and my visit, there's now a new rule at Dodger Stadium to the effect that, if you write for MSTI, you will be subjected to even more than usual traffic and won't be able to see the first pitch! Did suck to be driving into the stadium, as I could hear the crowd go bananas over Kemp's HR, though. At least I got out pretty quickly, which surprised me.

But, nonetheless, I saw plenty of goodness. I was also surprised about my seats. I normally have a field level or nothing rule whenever I go to the stadium, but given the limited availability of seats available for this, I jumped at the first thing I saw and it was above the left field foul pole. The seats were actually surprisingly good and even more shocking: for as much as I love to take the piss out of Dodgers fans, the people around me were actually semi-enjoyable, which is probably the first in a long time, for me. Some notable things I saw:

1. I was surprised at how few Cardinal fans I saw. I probably counted maybe not even five of them, in the area I was at.

2. I was watching a fight going on the pavillion and some dude literally got pushed down the stairs and got hurt pretty badly. Actually, all the fights I saw were pretty much amongst Dodgers fans, but that one was pretty brutal.

3. Yes, that ball was fair.

4. Am I the only one who felt that Bowa screwed us of a run? Granted, my view might have been skewed when this happened, but once Manny hit that double down the line, I was stunned that Bowa didn't send Ethier home, because the guy who caught the ball from Holliday clearly had, shall we say, "issues" catching that ball.

5. Between one of the innings, they started playing "Welcome To The Jungle" which drew a big "WTF?!" from me. But it turned out, Gagne was actually at the game and the crowd gave him a huge applause. Like many, I have my issues with him and with the way things tragically ended, but it was a nice moment. He looked like he was about ready to cry. I get the feeling that he has some regrets about leaving us. But maybe not.

6. I have to say, the crowd was actually respectable last night. They were really rocking it and supporting the team, waving the towels, etc. And even the wave seemed to be kept to a minimum, based on Dodger Game standards. Although it was funny... there was this guy in my section who kept trying to start it up and was so dead set on getting it started... only for it to die each time he started it.

7. Thank you, beef, for filling in and replying to Tammy's "OH YES YES!!" comment in a way that I would have, had I been here. I knew I could count on you guys!

Lots of other stuff, but as for the game itself: what else can you say? Pure awesomeness and even though I expected this series to be competitive, I wasn't quite expecting us to win game 1. Based on that top of the first, things were already starting to go as you might have thought, but credit Kemp for the HR (about the only thing I could credit him for, last night, by the way), and, once again, our bullpen came to the rescue. Weaver was awesome and so was everyone else that pitched... after Wolf, that is. Not so much for the Cardinals, though. Carpenter was really fighting it and this team probably could have scored a few more off of him (though perhaps the same could be said for the Cardinals), but color me surprised that we even got 2 off of him, much less than actual 4 he gave up. Quite astounding and let's hope Kershaw can take us to a 2-0 lead, today!

I can totally get used to this "beating the Cardinals" thing, by the way...

Matthew:

So, as was pointed out on page 3, I was, indeed, at the game.

I was also surprised about my seats. I normally have a field level or nothing rule whenever I go to the stadium, but given the limited availability of seats available for this, I jumped at the first thing I saw and it was above the left field foul pole. The seats were actually surprisingly good and even more shocking: for as much as I love to take the piss out of Dodgers fans, the people around me were actually semi-enjoyable, which is probably the first in a long time, for me.

What Level, I was in Lodge near the Left Field Foul Pole. And yes, there were only about 5 Cardinal fans in the area.

Matthew:

I was in 59, reserve. So I was probably right above you.

I was in 165 Lodge, row K right were the Club/Reserve level begins.

Matthew:

5. Between one of the innings, they started playing "Welcome To The Jungle" which drew a big "WTF?!" from me. But it turned out, Gagne was actually at the game and the crowd gave him a huge applause. Like many, I have my issues with him and with the way things tragically ended, but it was a nice moment. He looked like he was about ready to cry. I get the feeling that he has some regrets about leaving us. But maybe not.

I have problems with the way things wound up, too, but now that enough time has passed, I gotta say he gave me some of my happiest memories as a Dodger fan so I wish I could've been there to see him at the game! I would've clapped.

Matthew:

7. Thank you, beef, for filling in and replying to Tammy's "OH YES YES!!" comment in a way that I would have, had I been here. I knew I could count on you guys!

Hush, you.

WickedCurves:

I have problems with the way things wound up, too, but now that enough time has passed, I gotta say he gave me some of my happiest memories as a Dodger fan so I wish I could've been there to see him at the game! I would've clapped.

That's pretty much my take, too. I couldn't help but still get the warm and fuzzies when I saw all those flashbacks on the scoreboard.

WickedCurves

Hush, you.

Hush? Oh, but I'm here, today. And you'll have to deal with me all game! MUWAHAHAHAAHAHA!!