An editor’s day out: A full day of baseball in NY, NY

Last Thursday, I embarked on the ultimate baseball experience: three baseball games, two stadiums, one day.

2 p.m. Wednesday: Sitting in a lecture, I do what any passionate sports fan would do: check my fantasy baseball team. At this point, I noticed that the Colorado Rockies were playing a doubleheader the next day at Citi Field against the New York Mets. After realizing I already had tickets to see my beloved Baltimore Orioles face the New York Yankees that evening, the dream was born. I made arrangements to stay the night with a friend at Barnard College and the plan was set into motion.

10 a.m. Wake up, get ready, out the door and on the subway. Here goes nothing!

11:45 a.m. Arrive at Citi Field 25 minutes before the start of the first game. After buying my ticket—Section 525--all the way in the upper deck, like I'm going to sit all the way up there—I enter the ballpark via the Jackie Robinson Rotunda. I'm surprised to see the stadium's most prominent monument is honoring a player that never played for the franchise.

12:05 p.m. After a bit of walking around I settle into a seat. I had planned on sitting in the lower deck but the presence of ushers at every aisle intimidated me, scaring me into the uppder deck. I eventually settled on a seat in the third row of the upper deck, behind home plate, where I could enjoy the sun on the 65-degrees weather and also spread out. While not ideal, this proved more than suitable.

12:20 p.m. In just a few minutes I've noticed that Mets fans have a depressing outlook about their team. I guess this shouldn't surprise me and as an Orioles fan I'm no stranger to losing baseball, but this is extreme even to me. After Daniel Murphy makes a base-running blunder, the fan behind me unleashes a tirade to no one in particular about how poorly coached the team is. This is a recurrent theme, as the slightest miscues seem to trigger depressing thoughts about the team's state.

2 p.m. Mets' right fielder Scott Hariston misplays a ball, leading to two Rockies runs and unleashing a chorus of boos. This just reaffirms my belief that Mets fans are just waiting for something to go wrong, and then overreact when their fears are realized.

3:30 p.m. The Mets lose the first game in the bottom of the ninth, 6-5. They scored two runs in the inning and had the bases loaded with two outs, but third-baseman David Wright, unquestionably their best power hitter, flew out to the warning track to end the game.

3:35 p.m. I call an on-the-fly audible. I had originally planned to stay for as much of the second game as possible, but knowing the second game won't start until after 4 and that it'll take me 45 minutes to get to Yankee Stadium, I forego the second contest. I spend about 40 minutes exploring the stadium before embarking on part two of my adventure. I've also realized that I'll only get to witness 18 innings instead of the originally hoped for 27.

5:15 p.m. Arrive at Yankee Stadium. I consider myself good with directions, really a bit of an expert actually, but that doesn't prevent me from mis-navigating the New York subway. I let an N train pass me by when it would have taken me where I needed to go, this costs me a few minutes but in the grand scheme of things, not bad.

5:20 p.m. I'm cornered by three overly enthusiastic photographers working for the team, trying to get me to "commemorate the experience." They coerce me into posing for photographs around the stadium—what can I say, my friend from Barnard (who decided to join me for the final game) and I probably looked like easy prey in our orange Orioles shirts. Eventually, though, I escape and make my way to the hallowed ground of Monument Park--the stadium's homage to past Yankee greats.

7 p.m. Batting practice, dinner and finally to the upper-deck. I'm thankful to see a few orange shirts around. The seats are much better than I expected and the stadium definitely has a wow-factor. Personally, I'm impressed with the video board behind centerfield and the stadium's resemblance to its predecessor.

7:40 p.m. Nick Markakis hits a home run, giving the Orioles a 3-0 lead and bringing me to my feet. This is greeted by an enthusiastic round of boos, which I take as a personal affront. I am pretty sure something thrown from above me (a peanut shell?) just hit my foot.

8:30 p.m. The Orioles have a 5-0 lead, their starting pitcher, Jake Arrieta, is shutting down the Yankees offense and I'm 14 innings deep. Life is good.

9 p.m. until Arrieta falls apart and the Yankees pull within two. Did I mention I hate the Yankees?

10 p.m. With a 5-4 lead entering the bottom of the ninth the O's bring in closer Kevin Gregg to try to shut the door. They probably should have scored a few more runs and the pitching hasn't been great, but they still managed a lead entering the ninth. Gregg has a tendency to give up hits, but usually is able to avoid letting in runs. We should be fine.

10:02 p.m. Never mind. Jorge Posada. Home run. Crap. Tie score. 5-5.

10:08 p.m. Gregg gets out of the inning, with the score tied at 5. I guess I'm seeing more than 18 after all since this is heading to extra innings.

10:09 p.m. "Say your prayers little one." Metallica's "Enter Sandman" playing at Yankee Stadium means only one thing—here comes Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera. I literally tip my cap to the greatest closer of all time.

10:15 p.m. Rivera retires the Orioles in the top of the 10th. In the bottom of the inning, Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira walks, bringing up third baseman Alex Rodriguez with no outs and a runner on first. A-Rod has killed the Orioles so many times that I text my dad, "Game over." His response: "Start packing your bags." While he only doubles, with men on second and third and no outs I know we're on borrowed time.

10:17 p.m. And: "The Yankees Win…Theeeee Yankeeeeees Win." At least I didn't have to listen to John Sterling to find out that Nick Swisher hit a game-winning sacrifice fly.