Skid's 2015 Dream Season

August 10 - HOME GAME #57 vs Colorado Rockies (47-62)

Jon Niese (6-9) goes up against Jon Gray (0-0) in a battle of who is the better Jon on my birthday! Before the game the Mets activated Michael Cuddyer from the 15 day DL and optioned Eric Campbell to AAA Las Vegas.

60-52 +2.5

Lets Go Mets! Jon Niese pitched 7 strong innings to earn the win. The Mets won for the 8th time in their last 10 games. A two out rally consisted of Curtis Granderson getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Daniel Murphy's two run single in the hole that evaded Jose Reyes glove and rolled into left field. Jeurys Familia pitched a scoreless 9th, striking out the last two batters for his 31st save of the year.

Ticket Cost: $324
Time of game: 2:28
Attendance: 27,194

Birthday view

What better place to spend your birthday than at the ballpark! My friend Greg and I had great seats, the ones I had previously sat in that are 6 rows behind the Mets batboy. And I got to shake the hand of another 1969 Mets player. As we walked toward the Delta 360 Lounge I spotted original Mets player Ed Kranepool talking to a security person. I shook his hand and said hello even though I had never met him before.

The Delta lounge buffet was too much as usual, I was stuffed by game time. I said hello to Gloria, who was just a few seats away from us. It was nice to see Jose Reyes again this year, he was here with the Blue Jays in June. He was traded to the Rockies at the trading deadline. Mets fans still miss him as do I, he was one of my favorite players but I understand why the Mets let him go.

Jose Reyes bats against Niese

Jon Niese is the unsung hero in the Mets rotation. He seems to have really evolved as a pitcher and in my opinion is a valuable spot in the Mets rotation. He isn't as dominating as some of the younger hurlers but he keeps the Mets in games. Jon has had a quality start in 11 of his last 12 games. His poise on the mound has significantly changed this year.

"When I hit that two-run home run and we took the lead, Niese did a tremendous job. He never put his head down. He continued to pitch." -- Rockies slugger Carlos Gonzalez, on how Niese rebounded from his homer and gave the Mets a chance to win"

Cepedes is now the man in the middle of the lineup

While we were watching the game, one of the food waitresses asked if we wanted anything. Greg wanted a diet Pepsi and when he reached behind to retrieve his wallet from his back pocket, the seat cushion beneath him gave out. It literally broke lose and if Greg had not had his duffle bag underneath, he would have ended on the ground. Read his account of the chair here.

Greg & the seat

Mets win their 4th in a row at home