Taking in USA vs. Puerto Rico
In a game that basically didn’t matter, USA vs. Venezuela to determine Pool C seeding, I was rooting for Venezuela for selfish reasons. Their win meant that USA would be taking on Puerto Rico in game two of the second round of the World Baseball Classic, a game I would be at.
My interest starting rising as the game got closer. I really enjoyed Spring Training, but this seemed like a new experience that would be fun. Even so, I was unprepared for energy I encountered. After parking, in the deep parking lot of Dolphin Stadium, we walked towards the stadium. It was about 90 minutes prior to first pitch and the parking lot was loud and buzzing with excitement. People were banging drums, cheering, playing games and waving flags. There was definitely more Puerto Rican fans than USA fans, but there were plenty of both making noise.
Inside it was crowded and loud despite only 30k people in attendance. A couple of players got more cheers and noise than others, but Mets fans will be hard pressed to make as much noise for Delgado and Beltran as there was that night in Miami. They announced all the rosters and then played the anthems of both USA and Puerto Rico. Then in a nice gesture, the two teams crossed the field, shook hands and hugged, and exchanged caps. After that, it was on.
Jake Peavy didn’t really have much, and this led to a quick Puerto Rico lead. The fans were really into the game, applauding and cheering and yelling just as you would any other big game. Just like the cap exchange, the entire game had a competitive feel to it, but with respect. I saw no fights, nor even any angry arguments. Part of this was probably because of the lopsided nature of the game, but sometimes that just creates hard feelings and more fighting. Even after the game was over, the celebration was one of happiness and pride rather than one of ego and degenerates. Even though they never stopped serving beer because the game ended before the 7th inning did.
This is probably the only time I’ll be at a game in which there is a 11-1 7th inning walk-off victory. As embarrassing as it was for USA, it was still cool to see. Puerto Rico lost to Venezuela last night behind K-Rod and King Felix, so tonight we’ll see the rematch of that game. Puerto Rico and the USA face off one more time, this time in an elimination game. It’s exciting in it’s own right, and I hope the fans come out to see it, because it’s going to be thrilling to be there. Either way someone’s going home, and some of the Mets regulars will make it back to Port St. Lucie either way.