It was raining all night. Whether it was a drizzle, downpour or monsoon at whatever particular time of the game. Surprised the game made it to 5 and 1/2 innings.

 

The grounds crew was having a hell of a time getting the tarp across the field the second time around. They're so understaffed it's pathetic. No more than ten of them out there pulling a heavy mud and rain slicked tarp 150 feet. The guys who handle the in-stadium entertainment of escorting the mascot and shooting t-shirts into the ground and whatnot went onto the field to give a hand. They didn't help much. The tarp wouldn't budge. They tried folding it back up and running, hoping the extra force might help. Some wet shirts, muddy faces and a few laughs later, one fan came onto the field to help. Then a Mets fan all decked out in a Piazza jersey joins them a minute later to help. Security escorts both of them out. The tarp is still stuck. The left side of the infield is unplayable. If Rick Dempsey had come out of nowhere to slide into home plate, he probably would have sunk in the mud that was the third base line. Finally they get the idea of unrolling the entire tarp flat across the outfield. This takes some time as approximately 10 feet of it is tucked underneath, neatly folded. By then they've brought out a few people from the stadium tunnel and I think a few fans to help. All thirty of them line up holding a piece of the tarp in hand and race to the 3B/LF line. Hilarity ensues. But they get the job done. The tarp is finally laid out across the infield. Approximately 24 minutes and 42 seconds after first laying it out. Atleast that's what Dave Shea and Charlie Slowes said on the radio. All the while the relievers are still in the bullpen.

 

All the time fans were shouting 'Pull' and 'Lets go grounds/Nats crew' and 'Pull That Tarp'. Hilarious. The Nats radio guys were getting in on it. The stadium crew, clearly lacking in content as they had tapped everything in their arsenal, were encouraging the 'Pull' chants on the video display and laying the Rocky theme over the PA.

 

Not all the fans stuck around though. There was a mass exodus at the first sight of rain. Reminded me of Florida fans. It's OK, I skipped out the first rainy game at RFK. And work and social plans when it rains. Rain sucks. Snow is much better. Blistering August heat is much better. A deep freeze in February is better.

 

I had a great time taking the bus home listening to Harry Kalas take pessimistic and defeated Phillies callers. Hoping there was a chance the game would resume as soon as I got home.

 

One more thing.... Mets fans were chanting 'Lets go Mets', Nats fans 'Lets go Nats'. Confusing. Eventually a small contigent of New York faithful in the leftfield stands took to the chant 'Lets go Metros'. Clever bunch. Mets fans by the large were good guests. Offering witty banter, intelligent discussions and keeping the rudeness down a notch from where the Phillies had set the bar a couple days before. A few of them were playing catch with a Nats fan in the lower level.

 

Make that two more things... The Nats' third run was scored by Nick Johnson taking four balls with the bases loaded. The video screen usually plays a replay of every run-scoring play, they use this rotating DC logo to play directly before and after each replay. The rotating video was showed. And looped again and again. No replay. What a shame. It was a really good walk.

OMG! Almost forgot.

 

During the seventh inning stretch they were scanning the crowd for people dancing. They spotlighted one guy who looked a lot like Pat Buchanan. Once he saw the camera he did the cabbagepatch.

Good times.

That Nats groundcrew is was ridiculous. THe game is actually under protest because of them.

What time did you get home?

1:30, probably about the same time if they game had ended on time without rain and 40K crowded on the streets and transit.

hahaha that sounds hilarious.

 

Where the fans jumping up and down causing the whole fricken section to move? LMAO

Roxy mentioned last night on 560, the Marlins crew does drills after home games to prepare for these cases in which they have to roll out the tarp. They are even timed.