Dogs on Wheels

In 1986 a young Defensive Specialist stumbled across ‘rare as hens teeth’ World Series footage of the New York Mets versus the Boston Red Sox. As baseball fans will recall, the Mets clawed their way back into the series after Bill Bucknor’s epic error in game 6. The Mets went on to win the series and a Mets fan (and as Mrs Defensive Specialist claims - a front runner) was born. So it was with great excitement that the Defensive Specialist jumped on the 7 subway out to Flushing, New York to watch the Mets take on the Atlanta Braves.


The subway to Citi Field is a lengthy trip from Manhattan (30 minutes – especially when the Defensive Specialist gets on the regular service rather than the express) and meanders through some eye opening scenery, especially in contrast to downtown New York and Boston. The trip was also interesting in that it took busking and begging to new levels. A mariachi band jumped on at one stop and busted out a half decent version of ‘La Bamba’ before approaching each passenger with hat in hand looking for cash. This was topped by a sizeable lady walking through the carriage with a sign detailing her need for a serious stomach operation that she can’t pay for as she has no job. Obviously not everyone is as benevolent as the Defensive Specialist but she had a strategy for that – if you said no or ignored her, she flipped the sign over to reveal a gruesome picture of her scarred and mangled guts that had many of the commuters tasting their breakfast for a second time.

With spring in the air, the trees were in full bloom which provided an even better background for carved up stomachs and baseball stadiums that sprout in the suburbs. Citi Field is only in its second year of existence and it is definitely a majestic creation. The ball park sits opposite the site of the US Open (tennis) so you have two fairly sizeable sporting facilities in the same area. Interestingly enough, the new stadium is surrounded by either car parks or panel beaters making the stadium seem somewhat out of place.


Of the 3 parks the Defensive Specialist has visited in the past week Citi Field probably held the lowest level of expectation since it’s opening was overshadowed by Yankee Stadium, and Fenway is Fenway. The Defensive Specialist is pleased to announce that Citi Field blew Yankee Stadium away and more than held its own with Fenway. Now obviously that is totally subjective but Citi Field is a really nice ball park with plenty of quirks to keep you looking . The darker seats made the crisp green grass really stand out and it felt less sterile than Yankee Stadium. Like Fenway, the ushers were a lot more relaxed when it came to allowing access to different parts of the yard.

Saturday was a day game with picture perfect weather , and the added bonus that it was dog day (bark in the park), meaning that people could bring their canine companions to the field. Why anyone would want to bring their dog to a major league baseball game is beyond the Defensive Specialist’s comprehension and fortunately there were no beasts in the Defensive Specialist’s proximity. (Mrs Defensive Specialist tells me it’s an annual event and this year they broke a Guinness world record for something random like most dogs on a baseball field wearing team insignia)

The Defensive Specialist settled Mrs Defensive Specialist in her seat and then went to evaluate the concession stands. There was an impressive array of ball park food and beverages (especially fresh off the heels of the Fenway experience) with the only downside being the long wait. It was also amusing to be asked for identification every time the Defensive Specialist purchased a beer. Perhaps all those years of moisturising have finally payed off!

With a cold beverage and a pulled pork sandwich, the Defensive Specialist settled in to watch Jonathon Niese and the Mets take on Jair Jurrjens and the Braves. Both pitchers were rock solid although the Braves hurt themselves in the 5th inning with some bone-headed base running. With 1 out and Yunel Escobar on third and Martin Prado on second, Troy Glaus hit a deep fly to right. Jeff Francoeur caught the ball and came up firing attempting to nail Prado at third (assuming that Escobar would score easily). Prado tagged and broke for third only to notice that Escobar inexplicably didn’t tag. Prado stopped and was caught in a run down for the final out before Escobar could re-tag and score.

Both teams scored a single run in the 6th before the Mets stepped on the gas in the 7th with a long Francoeur double and a sacrifice fly enabling 2 runs to cross the plate. Francisco Rodriguez was summoned in the 9th to close the game down for a Mets win.


An afternoon sitting in the sun was a pleasant way to end the Defensive Specialist’s three game US baseball odyssey. The ballpark rankings would have to be Fenway, Citi Field and Yankee Stadium with the history and familiarity giving Boston’s home field the advantage.

Mrs Defensive Specialist seemed to enjoy the experience as well (that didn’t look to be the case when she found her seat behind a steel beam in Boston) but her trip was taken to another level OUTSIDE Citi Field when she noticed a large crowd of people cheering. Approaching the crowd, she was ecstatic to find Tillman the world famous skateboarding dog doing his thing. Of course the Defensive Specialist was made to stand and watch the dog skate back and forth. A small price to pay in the grand scheme of things.