A Tale of Two Cities

In Washington over the weekend, the Nationals smartly swept the Marlins out of first place in the N.L. East, while in Philadelphia, the Phillies took the first three of their four-game set with Arizona to claw their way out of the division basement. I was in the nation's capital for Saturday night's game, and came away shaking my head in amazement at both the team and their fans.

The big question about the Nats, of course, is whether they're for real, a question I also recently asked about the Phillies. After years of laughingstock status in Montreal, they came to Washington with low expectations, and they're playing now as if they have a point to prove. The Nationals are hardly a collection of household names, but they have some pretty good players, and they have a fan base that's fallen hard for them. Blue caps with the script "W" were packed into our Metro car, and one of them happened to be on top of my brother, the South Jersey expat and apparently former Phillies fan, who's now all about the Nats. Like his fellow fans at RFK, Chris hung on every pitch, wildly applauded every key hit, and anxiously watched the out-of-town scoreboard to see how the Braves were faring. One wonders how many others in this famously transient region have drifted from their hometown teams in favor of the new kids in town.

Up in the City of Brotherly Love, meanwhile, the Phillies were continuing to string together their best run of the season. In sweeping Saturday's doubleheader and holding on yesterday, the Phils sustained their recent streak of good-enough starting pitching, clutch hitting, and help from the umpires. I'll be at the ballpark tomorrow night for the opener against the Rangers, and my hope is that the reality of games that matter will have the crowd -- myself included -- more interested, for a change, in what's happening on the field than in how long the Tony Luke's line is.

Comments

[Phils Fan in DC]

Interesting entry, but your Saturday night experience isn't the norm for Nats games. While the metro is packed, the hats are all over the place, and they've got over 23,000 for most every game, these aren't the die-hards that I remember seeing at the Vet while growing up. Most of them are people who've taken free tickets and think that a night at the park would be a nice change of pace.

I will give you that the crowd gets into it (some might say it's the DC "me too" effect kicking in, where everybody wants to be part of the stadium shaking), but some of the conversations I've listened to make your head shake at the people who just don't understand the game.

And the people in the stands don’t really know any of the players save Guillen and Schnieder. Maybe Church will get some credit after this weekend.

And as for your rooting for the new home team, I've heard a good deal of people call the Nats their "National League" team. I just go to the games to piss of Peter Angelos.

That said, I've enjoyed my 15 games at RFK this season, and getting to all 3 when the Phils were in town was great. Can't wait till they make it back... hopefully still above .500.

[Chris]

I have to say, it's been a little easier than I thought to put away the cherry-red P cap and start wearing the dark-blue W cap -- probably because I don't have near the emotional attachment to both baseball and the Phillies that every other regular reader of Shallow Center seems to. In some ways my Phillies fandom is akin to being a C&E Catholic, except Christmas is 1980 and Easter is 1993; whereas Shallow Center's other readers are true keepers of the faith. And, as goofy as it sounds, these days I just want to take my daughters to a ballgame and worry about nothing more than rooting for the home team. Go, Nats.

[gr]

that above entry is not me by the way, but it does make me think that a Phils Phans in DC society needs to be started. i was at the phils game sunday afternoon, baking in the 90 degree heat in left field. if everything stays tight like this, it will be a fun summer.

i think its kind of eye-opening that the nats can get 25-30000 people to take a train to the ballpark -- nobody drives cause there's no place to park. i hope that stays the same once the new ballpark, which, after 4 games at RFK, i can't wait for.

chris -- good father? go home and play with your kids!

[Phils Fan in DC]

Have you had problems parking? I've metro'ed to half the games, but I've also driven. Not had a problem getting into a lot yet... even found that the most easily accessable ones you don't need a parking pass for.

I can understand the metro fad. Going to Caps games (to watch my beloved Flyers and Pens play), even out to Landover to see the Birds when they make their annual apperance, it's all just easier to hop the metro than drive...

By the way, the Phils games were great down here. Loved walking in the crowds and seeing all the Pennsylvania Political folk sitting around...

[gr]

there's no street parking at RFK, that's more what i meant. at the cit, you can park right on pattison and make a fast getaway up ccolumbus blvd. i went to landover once. i'll never go again. that was an awful experience and an awful stadium. they've perfected the art of No Fun League football.

i was at all 3 phils games, right behind the plate for game 2. when abreu misplayed that fly ball in game 1 and the boobirds came out, i had a tear in my eye. i miss my home.

[Phils Fan in DC]

I'll give you that, the boo birds were definately out. Bounced around for the three games, one game behind First, one game behind 3rd and another game along First in one of the Nats' boxes.

Each time wearing my Phils jacket and hat.

The last game as I was yelling in the 9th I was politely told that "Philadelphians are welcome, as long as they're quiet."

My response: "Show me a quiet Philadelphian, and I'll show you a dead one."

The only reason I will head out to Landover is to see the Birds once a year. No other reason on earth to go watch the Skins. None.

[Chris]

Greg-- You know what you'll say -- a loser sitting around in a bar? "I was a Phillies fan once. It's a tough racket."

[Tom G]

When I went to the game at RFK, I was shocked at how empty the parking lots were. It really is amazing to see the thousands that take the Metro (the best mass transit system I've seen anywhere).

[gr]

DC - there is nothing like watching the eagles game at the rhino bar in georgetown. nothing except actually being at the Link. its all eagles fans on sundays. plus, $.25 wings.

Chris- OH! and I don't get a moment to spare for some bust out humanitarian down on his luck!

[Tom]

I'd add a comment of my own, but I might feel as if I'm interrupting a conversation ...

[Brian Michael]

There's more parking lots behind the RFK on the Anacostia site that most people never see. The Phils' series versus the Nats was still early in the year, the Nats and Nat fans are much more seasoned now. They are getting annoyed over the loud visitor fans and realize they have to outshout them. It's a funny little game.

[gr]

TOM: would this be a new comment or would it be from your...NOSTALGIA FILE?

[Tom]

All I'm saying is ... If anyone's going out, I could use some coffee.