Sometimes I don’t send thank you notes out timely. My friends and family are generous and kind, and yet I’m not as dependable as I should be about writing a note, putting a stamp on it, and taking it to the mailbox.

Same goes, it seems, for posting a thank you to recognize MASN for its hospitality.  As you may have heard, for the 2nd time in as many years, last week MASN invited a bunch of fan-bloggers to take in a ballgame from a suite at Nationals’ Park.  

Our gracious hosts, Todd Webster and Kristen Hudak, set up time to meet with MASN personalities and chat with Nationals’ staff, and they even picked a great game: Livo’s complete-game shutout, instead of one of the, uh, other pitching performances.  I was grateful to be included in the activities, given I’ve barely begun to explore this blogging thing.

The spread, complete with beer and food, has been noted elsewhere, so I want to add how I enjoyed meeting new people, seeing ballpark friends, and watching part of the game with Ray Knight. 

My fellow bloggers asked some interesting questions, and one that stood out for me regarded the “biggest single difference” between this year and last.

Rob Dibble’s response:  Pudge Rodriguez

Knight’s response:  Mike Rizzo at the top

Dibble elaborated that Rodriguez’s leadership was in his presence and how he carries himself—leadership by doing.  Ray talked a bit more (hard to believe, I know), noting that Rizzo put together a talented group of men whom he listens to, that Mike and Jim Riggleman are on the same page, and that the Nationals’ clubhouse has a “whole different atmosphere” this year—a sort of essay on leadership by developing a compatible team of managers and players.  

Hmmm, interesting.  Where does leadership start?  My inclination is to start with Rizzo, but I’m pretty happy that we also have Pudge (“Who are you calling old?”) on our team.

Thanks again to the MASN team for a great day.

Previously, I requested a win against Johan.  I neglected to say thanks for that, so thanks.

Now, about tonight’s game in Philly.  You may have heard the joke:  Women want good friends, a great job, and the perfect man … and can pick two.  (Or possibly, up to two.)

If I have to pick between pitching, hitting, and fielding, I pick better pitching.  Please.

What is it that women really want?  Is it friendship, romance, and love?  Good friends, a great job, and the perfect man?

How about pitching, hitting, and fielding?

PITCHING-A nod to John Lannan for his first win of the season, and to Matt Capps for his “save,” but Tyler Clippard gets a big Holy Cow! in honor of his amazing hold.  Seven strikeouts in 3 IP?  Way to go, Tyler!

HITTING-Woooo hoooo! for Willy Taveras’s career day with the bat: 2 for 4 with a triple and 4 RBI.  Congratulations, Willy.

FIELDING-Everyone knows what comes next.  The Mets must hate him, but we all love him.  Willie Harris, I’d say, “Unbelievable!”, but I pretty much expect spectacular catches from you.  Thank you.  Thank you very much.

I realize Johan is pitching for the Mets tomorrow, but can you guys please do that (Nats win!) again tomorrow?

We were all waiting impatiently, with anxious and innocent eyes, to reign in the 2010 baseball season.  Sunday night felt like Christmas eve.  It was hard to sleep and I just new Santa would bring me a brand new toy (in the shape of a new baseball season) in the morning.  Well Santa did not disappoint.

Since the last season, my hubbadub and I moved from 3 blocks north of Nats Park back to our native Oklahoma.  It was hard to leave DC, but career changes called and it was inevitable.  I knew when I left DC, the number one thing I would miss would be Nationals baseball.  Nats fans are unique.  We are dedicated folks that still stand behind our team after a few not so perfect seasons.  We have a continued optimism that the next game will turn our team’s fate around.  We get very excited when we win even two games in a row and feel proud when our favorite players see success.  Nats fans are a community, a family.  All from different places, backgrounds, and roots in our baseball fandom, but at the end of the day, we just love our team.  I was sad to leave this city because I knew I would miss my family, so it was good to be home for Opening Day.

The day tickets went on sale for Opening Day, I got online and got mine the second they were available.  I immediately began looking at flights to come back to DC for the game.  While living in DC, I found solace at the Nats games.  It was a place of happiness and comfort, almost like a second home.  I found it very appropriate that I return to my second home on my first trip back to DC.

My hubby and I arrived VERY early for the game.  The anticipation of President Obama’s first pitch had me thinking the lines would be super long and the secret service wouldn’t let me into the game with my over sized purse (my purse could be on the show, Hoarders).  Of course when you arrive at 4 hours before the game, lines tend to be a bit short.  We got in the game and there I saw it, the beautiful pristine field.  It felt like coming home after a long day at work where your boss is yelling, nothing is going your way, and your printer decided it would jam up on you.  We grabbed us a half smoke at Ben’s Chili Bowl (see post on my other blog Okie Foodie) and found a way to our seats.  Finally the opening ceremonies began full of the national anthem, announcement of the teams, and President Obama’s first pitch.  I was so excited to see the President throw out the pitch.  I don’t care what your political persuasions are, this is a great DC baseball tradition!

Finally the game started, and we scored in the first.  This seemed to be a great start.  I was just happy to see baseball!  Shortly thereafter, unfortunately the game fell apart for the Nats.  A few minutes later, we had reached the point of no return and my hopes of watching the Nats win at this Opening Day I had waited to see since October of last year were dropping. Unfortunately (as is with every time we play the Phillies at home), I was SURROUNDED by Phillies fans.  This was not fun.  They were yelling, turning around to rub it in every time, and basically trying to ruin my good time.  Let’s just say they tried to ruin this day for me, but did not prevail.

Of course the Nats ended up losing 11-1 on Monday, but I still had a good time.  The excitement of Opening Day was great.  It was great to see President Obama throw the first pitch, be back with my Nats family, see the racing presidents, and enjoy the atmosphere of the sport I enjoy so much.  It made me miss DC horribly and I really hope I can come to more games during this baseball season.  Opening Day did seem much like Christmas.  Santa brought me that Easy Bake Oven (Opening Day) I asked my mom for but she said it was a little too expensive this year, but unfortunately forgot to bring the light bulb that cooks the miniature cakes (a Nats win).  I’m crossing my fingers for a good season and hope some of the veterans and new guys will prove to be a good change.  I know one thing will hold true, I won’t ever be missing an Opening Day again.

Many of you may know Lisa Pagano, the Washington Nationals Manager of Communications, or maybe you’ve seen her around Nationals Park.  Lisa has always been a good friend to We’ve Got Heart, and we think that she is a good person, too.  How good a person is she?  Well, Lisa has decided to become a candidate in the 2010 Man & Woman of the Year competition held by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and she will spend her time and effort over the next couple of months attempting to raise $75,000 for this great organization.  And Nationals fans (and anyone else out there reading this), I think that we should help her out.

Lisa’s campaign has already kicked off, and in the next few weeks she will be organizing and hosting events aimed at reaching her goal.  She will have a happy hour, a Kentucky Derby party, a jewelry party, and more, all leading up to her main event – the “Night Among the Stars” live auction on June 7.

Knowing Lisa, I am sure that she will have some fabulous prizes to auction off, and knowing Nats fans, I am sure that we will be lined up and ready to give generously.

Speaking from experience, being the winning bidder and getting a special prize with a Nationals player can be fun and rewarding.  When Chartese Burnett (a cancer survivor and, at that time, a VP with the Nationals organization) competed for LLS Woman of the Year in 2008, we helped her win with our donations.  I was one of several winning bidders at her live auction, but I think my prize was the best.  I successfully bid on a lunch date with Ryan Zimmerman, and as a huge fan it will always be a fabulous memory for me.  Making it even more meaningful to me was the knowledge that I gave to an organization to help find a cure for Leukemia which took the life of my cousin’s 27-year-old daughter just months after my lunch date with Zim.

So come on Nationals fans…check out Lisa’s campaign and open your hearts and wallets.  If you are going out tonight anyway, why not go out to The Exchange for Happy Hour and help get Lisa’s campaign off to a great start.

All the info you need for helping Lisa meet her goal can be found online.  Check out her Stand Up and Take Notice website or her Facebook page for all the details or to donate.

Stand up and take notice!

Ready to move on from the Phillies series?  Taking 1 of 3 games works for me, and I was glad to see the Nationals’ play improve as the series progressed.  Maybe we can take 2 of 3 from the Mets?

As we turn to the Mets, I have a little confession.  In 2008 and 2009, I had a Mets fan in my season ticket group.  In our 2008 ticket draft, Jeff the Mets fan (JTMF) selected as many Mets games as possible, and I exchanged all of his non-Mets tickets for … Mets tickets.  I sold tickets to JTMF again in 2009 because he paid me on time and his money was as green as that of the Nationals fans in my group.  Please don’t chase after me with pitchforks, Jeff’s a good guy.

With the goal of gaining some insight about our next opponent, I decided to check in with Jeff.

JENN-It’s a new season, which means hope for all baseball fans, including both Mets and Nationals fans. I think a lot of Nats fans are hoping to finish ahead of the Mets this year. What are Mets fans hoping for?

JTMF-A season that doesn’t leave us hating our team when it ends. In 2007 and 2008, they fell apart at the end of each season.  The collapse in 2007 was low-lighted by two losses to your team at RFK.  I remember looking forlorn and the end of one of the games when your mascot, the effeminate chicken, came by and mocked me.  I hate that thing.  Worst mascot in sports.

Last year was a disaster from start to finish.  This year, I don’t have any expectations.  I’m picking a .500 record and do not have any delusions of a post-season appearance, so it won’t take too much to make me happy this year.

JENN-Sometimes I think it must be tough to be a Mets fan.  Being a Nationals fan is easy if you have reasonable expectations, and then enjoy happy surprises, like those games in 2007 that you mentioned.  Being a Mets fan has got to be harder because I assume your expectations are higher.  How do you manage to stay upbeat?

JTMF-Upbeat?  I think that my team will be mediocre this year in a division that is there for the taking.  Our front office is inept and failed to upgrade the rotation, leaving the team with a stud SP and four #5 guys.  I wanted Jason Marquis—New Yorker, Member of the Tribe—but Omar either saw something negative or didn’t want to spend the money (at this point, you might not want him either).  I’m upbeat because it’s baseball and it’s the Mets and I love them both but I’m far from upbeat about the 2010 Mets.

JENN-You might have heard that Phillies fans booed an Opening Day presentation of Ryan Zimmerman’s Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards.  I’m sure that Mets fans would have been classier and cheered for Ryan’s accomplishments, right?

JTMF-Saying that Mets fans are classier than Phillies fans isn’t surpassing a high standard.  Mets fans would have ignored it.  We know that Wright wasn’t as good a fielder as Zimmerman was last year.  Our booing was directed in-house on Opening Day as the fans booed the trainers, holding them partly accountable for last season’s parade of injuries.

JENN-What will be the key to the Mets success or failure in this week’s series with the Nationals?

JTMF-That’s simple: Mets pitching.  Your lineup is excellent.  Johan will pitch well on Sunday, but as Gary Cohen, the best TV play-by-play announcer anywhere, said “there’s no complement to Johan Santana.”  Pelfrey pitches on Friday, he had a lousy spring and he can implode at any time.  Oliver Perez pitches on Saturday, he had a lousy spring too, and Omar Minaya hasn’t agreed with my suggestion to option him to Siberia.  The best news is that Jose Reyes returns on Saturday.  One of the most exciting players in the game and he hasn’t played since May.

Thanks for inviting me over.

JENN-Thanks for talking with me and good luck this season, except when you play the Nationals, of course.

Say what you will about the Phillies fans – the ones who were obnoxious, the ones who were quite lovely, and the ones who were in between – but you have to acknowledge their ability to cheer for their team (I’m not going to comment on the booing skills shown by some of them).  And honestly, when we scored that 1 run, our fans also showed some mad cheering skills that were louder than the visitors. But then what?

Sometimes the voice of NatsTown seems so quiet that you could hear a moth flutter his wings in the 400s lights.   One sure way to make the visitors’ cheers a little less effective is to out-cheer them.  So what happened to the cheering from NatsTown on Monday?  Hold on before you jump all over me and say that there was nothing to cheer about.  You didn’t know that there was going to be nothing to cheer about before a ball was pitched, before the batter stepped up to the plate.  So why not cheer when the team took the field each inning?  Why not cheer when each batter’s name was called? You didn’t know what was going to happen, and if you say you assumed what would happen, well then get your Negative Nelly attitude an adjustment and come back around when you’re cured. 

I heard cheers when our team was announced.  I heard cheers when Zim drove in our run.  I heard end of inning cheers when a few went without a Phillies run.  But aside from that, I didn’t hear the voice of NatsTown, and I hardly ever do.  How are you going to overcome a mass of opposing team fans if you don’t speak out?

What I have noticed in many games throughout the past few seasons is that DC baseball fans seem to be the quietest ones I’ve ever heard.  When we’re winning, sure, we’re loud.  But even when the game is not going so badly or there is no score, it’s like pulling teeth to get a “Let’s Go Nationals” going (or a “Let’s Go Nats” if you must – but please not when the Mets are in town, OK?).  Everyone seems to join a dreaded wave, but no one seems to have a voice?    

I realize that if you are even reading this post, chances are you do cheer throughout the game.  I hear you on that one, and I thank you.  I admit that you may not be my target for this post – and that my target may never read this post.  But since you are reading this, I’m going to guess that even you can do better.  So tonight, I charge you (and me)  to do - and recruit others to join us in doing - the following:

• Stand up when the fireworks burst and the team takes the field
• Cheer for the entire lineup whether or not you think a player may deserve it
• Clap for him each time a player steps up to the plate throughout the game, no matter how he is playing today, even if his last name is not Zimmerman
• Respond to the Let’s Go Nats! chants
• Stomp your feet & make some noise
• Encourage the players to do well even when they are doing poorly
• Bring some energy to the park & let the Nationals know that you are there

You know that saying, “If you can’t beat them, join them”?  When it comes to drowning out the cheers of visiting fans, you can’t beat them unless you join them!

Returning for a moment to the story about the pile of manure, the little boy, and the pony.  Boy-oh-boy, the shit is on fire isn’t it!  I expect that nearly everyone has seen the comments on what Stan and the Nationals may or may not have done to facilitate (even encourage?) the invasion by Phillies fans.  Read about it everywhere: from a source that tends to be a little snarky, in the Washington Post, in a fan blog, and in a virtual therapy session (130 comments and counting) over at Mark Zuckerman’s Nats Insider.

Yesterday, I decided to focus on the pony, but I’d be lying if I said all the rage didn’t resonate with me.  So why do I feel so angry?

This might sound like a chick comment, but I think it’s about feelings.  Nationals fans love their team, often despite the baseball.  A lot of us spend hundreds, even thousands of dollars on tickets, while feeling like the organization doesn’t care, or probably more accurately, doesn’t care enough about us.  It’s a little bit like a bad relationship where she’s totally obsessed, and he’s just not that into her.

If this fangirl’s instinct is to look for a pony, the organization’s instinct should be to look for shovels.  Some of the shovels are about scouting and development and everything else, including spending, to improve the baseball.

But there’s another shovel out there, just waiting for someone to pick it up.  This shovel deals with feelings and requires the Nationals organization to reach out to fans to say, “Yikes! We didn’t want that to happen.  Beginning today, we’ll work harder to show you how much we care about Nationals fans and how we’re working to build a bigger fan base.” The Nationals organization could be all wrong, or it could be more complicated than it appears, but it doesn’t really matter.  What matters is what every smart husband or boyfriend or significant other knows, the path to reconciliation starts not with being defensive, but rather with saying, “I’m sorry.”

During yesterday’s opening ceremonies you may have noticed the second player announced has not been in the press much, in fact many Phillies fans sitting near me had no idea Chris Coste was on the Nationals. While this signing is no blockbuster event, it is still noteworthy to mention it.

Coste, 37, was put on waivers by the Mets late in spring training; last year he appeared in 88 games last season for the Phillies and Astros, hitting .224. Coste, a talented catcher, is also an author. Last year I read his entire book in a couple of days and it was probably one of the best I have read.

The 33 Year Old Rookie is Chris’ story of making it to the big leagues, from childhood to his breakout season with the Phillies in 2006. If I remember the book correctly, Chris can play all 9 positions but the position that would give him the greatest chance of making a career out of baseball was catcher. He learned baseball from his grandfather, but there was always a strong female presence in his childhood, living with a single mother and his two aunts. This book is a must read story about perseverance and what it takes to make it to the major leagues if you are not Stephen Strasburg.

Coste was put on the 15-day disabled list prior to Opening Day but I hope to see him play at some point this year.

I don’t want to give all of the funny, sad, and heartwarming stories away, so you will have to read the book yourself.

Buy Chris Coste’s book here.

You all know that I am a baseball fan (Go Nats!), but what you may not know is that the other not really interesting fact about me is that I am a runner, too.  I’m not a good one, not by far, but I’ve put in enough miles to have earned the right to call myself a runner.  Now, the Nationals have that little thing down there in Viera, FL that they call Spring Training.  Sure, Spring Training is a time for players to try out for the team and a chance to choose the best players for the season, but it is also a time for players to come out of winter hibernation and ready themselves for the upcoming season.  To get themselves back into playing condition.  As a runner, I have my own Spring Training. 

I begin my next round of marathon training on May 1 (insert shout out to Arlington Road Runners Club here!), so for the next few weeks I have my own chance to ready myself for the Spring/Summer running season.  I can stock up on Gatorade and Gu, replace a water bottle or two, re-examine the life expectancy of my shoes, clear my memory of my disappointing winter races, and prepare to get up early several times per week to run – a lot.  I wouldn’t just hop into my season, I’d prepare for it. 

So let’s get back to that first fact about me – Baseball Fan.  For 3 seasons before this one, I had spent at least a few days in Viera watching the Nats, getting excited, and soaking up the joy.  But for a certain little reason that I share with millions of other Americans right now, I was not able to go down to FL this year.  It was disappointing, and of course I was sad about it, but I really didn’t give it much thought.  I mean, big deal, so what if I don’t get to go to Spring Training?  But then this weekend came and something occurred to me.  I realized that my Spring Training trips weren’t just about going to FL to watch the Nats; they were also about conditioning myself – the baseball fan, the blogger, the 25+ game attendee – for the season.  I realized this almost immediately on Saturday at the season ticket holder event and then into Monday for Opening Day.

First off, I had no summer clothes ready.  I had stacked my Nats fleece, sweatshirt, coat, scarf, and gloves next to my baseball bag.  I mean, I’ve been to Opening Day before.  I’ve frozen my butt off on those days.  But this year was summerlike, and I wasn’t prepared for short sleeves and shorts.  I had to pull out a Curly W tech shirt out of my running stash.  Now you may say that this year’s weather in FL would not have prepared me for short sleeves anyway, but you don’t know me well – I would have packed for summer and ended up buying more Nats fleeces, sweatshirts, coats, etc. down there, so yeah, a trip to FL would have meant at least taking the summer baseball clothes out of storage. 

Then, I detected the odor of sunscreen wafting off of the others sitting in the sun.  What was that odor?  I barely recognized it let alone remembered to put it on.  Had I planned my annual trip to FL, I would have reintroduced myself to SPF30 and the sun’s rays.  (yes, I now have a farmer’s tan)

Next was the triple threat combo of sun, fresh air, and beer.  I don’t understand it, and I never have, but the combo of fresh air and sun – and sitting it in specifically – makes me more tired than anything else.  And if you throw in a beer and huge Five Guys burger, it’s even worse.  But I was not prepared for this.  I was at Nats Park for 8 hours on Saturday and 6 on Monday.  That’s a lot of fresh air and sun.  I woke up today completely exhausted wishing Emma knew how to put on her leash and walk herself.  Maybe had I spent a few lazy days in the sun and fresh air of Viera or the other MLB camps I would have been better conditioned to handle it this weekend.

Lastly, it was a boring game.  I’m sorry boys, I love you, but Saturday and Monday were very dull.  If I had closed my eyes, I would have fallen asleep.  I know that they are just losing now so that when they begin their season-long winning streak on Wednesday we will be able to appreciate it more, but wow, it was painful.  Perhaps if I had gone to Viera, I could have prepared for that as well.

So what it boils down to is that as a baseball fan, I’m officially out of shape.  I am not conditioned for sitting in the sun, breathing in the fresh air, watching my team, while sipping on a beer and eating some unhealthy food.  I didn’t realize how much I needed my own Spring Training to get ready for 2010, and if I don’t condition myself soon, my days are going to include a lot of naps. 

I guess there are worse things.