Washington Nationals hit it out of the park (10 highlights)

Take me out to the ballgame. I feel a rush of happiness every time I enter a big league ballpark and get a glimpse of the field. Suddenly you see the game’s best baseball players loosening up and feel the chills go up and down your spine. 

Last Friday, Aug 25 I had the good fortune to catch a game at National’s Park in Washington DC– the Washington Nationals vs. New York Mets-- on Players Weekend. The Nationals Stadium is open air. The excitement was palpable. Vendors sold baseball caps, beer and bottles of water at discount prices as you approached the stadium. A stage for rock bands near the stadium’s entrance gets the party started early. The Washington Nationals organizations does many things right. The fun atmosphere continued throughout the game.

The Players Weekend agenda included colorful uniforms for both teams. The bright sleeves on the jerseys, orange for the Mets and red for the Nats, contrasted with the more traditional blue color of the jersey. Players wearing the traditional high stocking leggings, provided a playful visual treat, brightly colored stripes in a near-psychedelic cacophony of colors. 

The Players Weekend concept was a homage to the source of all sports—childhood joy.  Printing the players’ nicknames on the backs of the shirts did this effectively. For example: “Chamo” (Adrian Sanchez), “Mikey T” (Michael Taylor), and “El Lindo” (Wilmer Difo) for the Nats, and “Jake” (Jacob deGrom) and “Chiquitín” (Asdrubal Cabrera) and “Lil D” (Travis d’Arnaud) for the Mets.

Washington Nationals Ballpark Highlights:

1)  “Rally video” on the ballpark scoreboard used the humming scene from “Wolf of Wall Street” film, featuring Leonardo Di Caprio and Matthew McConaughey. The two actors thump their chests in the hysterically funny. Before long the Nats fans were laughing, smiling and thumping chests in response. 

2) DeGrominator—it’s tough to get hits off of Jacob (“Jake”) deGrom and the Mets eventually won the game. Jake’s other nickname, “the DeGrominator”, seemed to hold forth this evening with deGrom earning 10 strikeouts against the Nats.

3)  Liked the presidential mascots race around the ballpark outfield. Appropriately enough, George Washington crossed the finish line #1.

4)  Ordered the Greek salad at the Budweiser Brewhouse, located high above centerfield. Very impressive for the quality of the food, but had trouble with the kale chopped into the salad. Kale in a Greek salad?

5)  This was a glorious night at Nationals Stadium. The intrusion of commercial messages was kept to a minimum.

6)  I actually felt the drama of a well-played ballgame, not a single error occurred. I could perceive the grace of Michael Taylor (Mikey T) playing center field for the Nats and “Jake” deGrom’s pitching power and impeccable rhythm. 

7)  I found a Washington ball cap on the ground—with the cool, scripted “W”—and it fit me. No embarrassment here, I love the free, now recycled, baseball cap.

8)  Baseball, not corporate profits, was at the heart of the Players Weekend ballgame at National’s Park. 

9)  The fans enjoyed the national pastime, inhaled the cool night air, observed the sunset along with the vision of great athletic skill performed on the greenest of lawns. 

10)  All this entertainment happened in the company of a bunch of like-minded baseball-crazy fans in the nation’s capital.