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What's Your Memory?: Chase Field

Edgy MD May 10 2020 12:36 PM

The home of the Diamondbacks opened in 1998, as Bank One Ballpark, but banks swap assets alla time, take over each other, merge, and now folks celebrate Eric Chavez, Randy Choate, and Bobby Chouinard at Chase Field, aka The Snake Pit. It is a rare baseball field that was ready for a new team's debut, and in that sense, then-Bank One foreshadowed the Diamondbacks swift move into contender status. The Mets, going back to 1969, always seem to meet new teams and new stadia early in their existence, but it took them until August of 1998 to step into the pit and get the first feel of a snake in their boots, as Rick Reed walked off with the victory. They have enjoyed a 39 and 37 record in the indoor/outdoor park, with it appearing to be a favorite of Willie Randolph, as the team won 13 in a row from 2004 to 2007, often with some monstrously huge run totals, including a dynamic explosion on the scene in 2005 for rookie firstbaseman Mike Jacobs. They also hold a 1-1 record in post-season action, owing to their 1999 playoff clash in which the most enduring memory for most Mets fans occurred back at Shea. Bank One/Chase also offers at least a few solid memories to Mets fans everywhere for hosting the 2001 World Series, in which a dynastic Yankee team went down in seven, despite the Yanks bringing Juicey McClemens and Shocksy Rivera to the mound in Game Seven, proving that Tim McCarver never stopped being a prophet. But let's leave the Yankees out of this and you can give me your best memories of the Mets at Banksy Chasey. https://www.phxfray.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/07/Chase-Field_Gannett.png>

G-Fafif May 10 2020 01:28 PM Re: What's Your Memory?: Chase Field

Hi BOB! In recent years I've come to dread the Arizona series from a blogging standpoint, as 9:40 starts in Phoenix are inevitably later than they appear, I can't stay awake and feel grumbly up games during which I nodded off. Here in the post-Jacobs era, I do remember a 9-0 win getaway weekday afternoon win from 2014 that undercut my conclusion that the Mets were totally hopeless, which, frankly, annoyed me because being partially hopeless is akin to being a little bit pregnant. Sometimes you prefer clarity. Last year Callaway was reportedly taking calls (or messages) from Van Wagenen telling him when to remove deGrom. In a world that shattters norms regularly, it wasn't surprising to learn the GM couldn't be bothered with letting a manager manage. Though today is Mother's Day for those who celebrate, Chase gave us a very happy Father's Day in 2018 when Joses Bautista and Reyes, along with firecracker Brandon Nimmo momentarily rescued the Mets from their June swoon with ninth-inning heroics no one saw coming. Sometimes you don't mind clarity being set on its ear.

Johnny Lunchbucket May 10 2020 04:04 PM Re: What's Your Memory?: Chase Field

Ive been there twice for games including iirc one in the first weeks of 98, but neither for a Mets game. Ok joint. Lots of useless empty seats up high in left field, and looks like a warehouse from the outside. I recall Omar Daal pitching one of the games I saw. Will look it up. Remember the Jacobs coming-out. The postseason.

Benjamin Grimm May 10 2020 04:11 PM Re: What's Your Memory?: Chase Field

I remember recording the first two games of the NLDS on my VCR and getting up early in the morning to watch the games, fast-forwarding through commercial breaks, before going to work. I seem to recall Edgardo Alfonzo hitting a grand slam off Randy Johnson

Johnny Lunchbucket May 10 2020 04:33 PM Re: What's Your Memory?: Chase Field

Wow, I never knew that I was a witness to history. The game I saw, April 5, 1998, was the first win in Diamondbacks history, after an 0-5 start. Sat very close to the field, but in shallow left. What I recall most were empty seats in front of me, which lots of people tried to occupy all to get kicked out by security. They were trying to catch the ticket holder as they had been stolen.

Edgy MD May 10 2020 04:41 PM Re: What's Your Memory?: Chase Field

Joe McEwing in 2000. After an astounding game back at Shea in May against Randy Johnson, with two doubles and a homer, plus a ninth-inning walk against Byung-Hyun Kim and coming around to score the game-winner, he gave himself the unfortunate blessing of always being in the lineup the rest of his career when Johnson was on the mound. Back at the BOB in August, Johnson is bearing down to show that earlier game was some sort of fluke, but McEwing doubles and hits a run-scoring sac fly against The Big Unit as the Mets chase Randy — in the middle of an unprecedented four-consecutive-season Cy Young streak — after 3 2/3 innings. The Mets seemed invincible at the time. I'm kind of remembering that Ambler was following them on this road trip or something. If not him, I think the MoFo had somebody on the road working as an inside man who was hunting Mets down at the hotel bars.

Willets Point May 10 2020 05:20 PM Re: What's Your Memory?: Chase Field

I was wondering if Super Joe's great outing against the Big Unit happened there or at Shea. Looks like it was both.