I looked up from my scorecard just as the batter lifted his leg and stepped into the pitch, whipping the bat through the strike zone and connecting with the ball, sending it in a high arc into the hazy spring sky. The center fielder turned and sprinted toward the wall, confirming what 55,000 people anticipated with their collective roar.

Tsuyoshi Shinjo tossed the bat aside and began a brisk gait around the bases, basking in the appreciation from the Shea Stadium sellout. Before the Mets new outfielder reached the dugout, the chant began: "SHIN-jo! SHIN-jo! SHIN-jo! ..." I could see a coach on the top step waving to him, telling him to step out of the dugout for his Opening Day curtain call. In a moment he burst from the end near first base, waved toward the third base side, then turned back to us and bowed.

And that's how Opening Day at Shea looked from upper reserved section 31, row M, seat 3.

It was a triumphant day all around. Dave, Gayle, Mike from work and I got an early start to the day, catching the 9:52 train from Metro Park into NYC, hopping the No. 9 up to Times Square and then settling in for the long ride out to Queens on the No. 7, John Rocker's favorite part of the MTA. We were there early, riding the escalators up and catching the end of Braves' batting practice. Then we enjoyed the pregame festivities: Mets season and historical highlights, a Tommy Agee tribute, the starting lineups. And we booed John Rocker.

And then they raised the 2000 National League Championship banner, with the Braves in the house.

So three hours and four minutes, nine innings and six homers, 13 runs and 17 hits later, we sat back in our seats and enjoyed the breeze as the crowd filed out of Shea, the Mets 9-4 winners over the once-powerful Atlanta Braves.

It was a good day.