Those wanting to watch the Montreal Expos' series against the Philadelphia Phillies were in good company earlier this week, as the city started to take interest in baseball again.
That's what a contending team can do for a sport. It gives the city believer fever.
Although they are hamstrung by a strict budget and have played in the worst baseball venue in the majors, the Expos found themselves sharing the coveted wild-card spot with four other teams on Friday morning.
They played in front of a collective and raucous crowd of 113,009 fans for their four-game set against the Phillies – quite a difference from thousands of empty seats they usually see at a home game.
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The Expos are dead last in home attendance in the majors, attracting an average of 12,412 per game. It wasn't uncommon for them to play in front 6,000 fans in the vacuous Big O this season.
The players can't believe the reaction they've received from fans since they've become contenders.
"They know when to cheer and when to get us excited and get us going," relief pitcher Rocky Biddle told CBC. "It's a good feeling."
The love affair might not last long, though.
The Expos have just six games remaining at Olympic Stadium, where they have an impressive 46-23 record. They have 15 more games on the road – not including seven more games in their interim home in Puerto Rico – before the end of the season.
And the road hasn't been kind to the Expos. They are 25-41 in visiting stadiums.
"They are so good when they are home and so bad when they are on the road," said Montreal Gazette sports writer Jack Todd. "I think part of the factor is the crowd."
One of the biggest reasons for the team's success is the talent on the field, though.
With ace starting pitcher Javier Vazquez and franchise player Vladimir Guerrero in the outfield, the Expos have the backbone of a strong team.
Jose Vidro, who is one of the top second basemen in the National League, and Orlando Cabrera, who is finally coming into his own as a shortstop, form an impressive infield and give the Expos a little more depth in their batting lineup.
Competitive teams, especially those aiming for the wild-card spot, need a few players to reach down and come up with performances rarely seen from them in their career. And the Expos have certainly received their share of surprises this season.
It looked like the team was in for a rough year when Tony Armas was lost for the entire of the season, but journeyman pitcher Livan Hernandez has shouldered the load in posting numbers worthy of consideration for the Cy Young Award: 14-7 with a 2.88 ERA.
First baseman Wil Cordero has experienced a little bit of a renaissance too, and he looks certain to register new career highs in homers, RBI and batting average.
The Expos still have a lot of work ahead of them if they are going to make the playoffs for just the second time in franchise history. The National League wild card race is crowded with talented teams with deeper resources than the Expos.
But they now have the support of the city.
With Major League Baseball still looking for a new location for the Expos, there is speculation that the league could keep the team around for at least one more year if there's enough interest from fans.
"The thinking within upper echelons of the Expos itself was that a strong fan showing here would prompt Major League Baseball to bring them back for at least one season," said Todd.
The fans can just cross their fingers and hope.
with files from Blair Sanderson
