MLB FanHouse http://mlb.fanhouse.com MLB FanHouse http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/media/feedlogo.gif MLB FanHouse http://mlb.fanhouse.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/The Death of the Jeter-A-Rod Debatehttp://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/11/12/the-end-of-the-jeter-a-rod-debate/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/11/12/the-end-of-the-jeter-a-rod-debate/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/11/12/the-end-of-the-jeter-a-rod-debate/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Alex Rodriguez Derek JeterFrom the Windup is Matt Snyder's extended look at some aspect of America's pastime each Thursday. It has returned from a playoffs-induced hiatus.

Though I'll admit I was rooting for the Yankees to win the World Series last week, a part of me was sad that Alex Rodriguez would get a World Series ring. No, I don't hate A-Rod, nor do I wish anything bad on him. I'm not one of those "haters."

This was selfish. My friends and I had now lost a main component of a storied -- and heated, at times -- bar debate. If you were starting a major league team and had the choice between the two, would you rather have A-Rod or Derek Jeter?

You see, about five years ago, my friends and I spent countless hours on sports debates that centered around individual players. Unless there were personal biases, there were two squarely divided camps -- the stat camp and the "winner" camp. When this all started, the stat camp, of course, sided with Alex Rodriguez, while the "winner" camp loved Jeter.

The stat guys would argue that winning is the product of an entire team, not just one individual. Thus, you'd want to start your team with the best player. Look at the numbers Rodriguez was putting up. You'd be crazy to suggest Jeter would be a better centerpiece to a potential championship team.

Rodriguez has won three MVPs. He's hit 583 career home runs and sports a career .965 OPS. He won two gold gloves at shortstop before being forced to move to third base, where he's also a solid defensive player. He can steal bases, with 297 in his career. If not for Albert Pujols, we'd pretty universally accept A-Rod as the best player in baseball, right? So, obviously, you should choose A-Rod over Jeter.

Then, the opposition would break into all sorts of cliches, such as, "gimme the proven winner," or "stats don't win championships," or "Jeter does the little things that don't show up in the box score." You'd hear things like "just gets the job done when it matters," "clutch" and "intangibles." Playoff failures of Rodriguez would be brought up and never let go.

Remember, Captain Jeter has four World Series rings. A-Rod's arrival in New York coincided with the Yankees' ALCS loss to the Red Sox. Does anyone else make plays running across the diamond and flipping across his body? Does anyone else catch balls while diving into the crowd and bloodying his nose? And he elevates his game in the playoffs because he's a winner. That's just who he is.

This drives the stat guys crazy. How can you measure this crap? There's no such thing as clutch; it's simply a haphazard coincidence when guys come through in big spots, they'd say. Plus, everything is still dependent upon teammates. Was it A-Rod's fault his teams weren't near as good as the dynasty Yankees? You build your team around the best player, not the most fortunate player, and it's still a team.

A funny aside here is that we also had a heated NFL debate at the time: Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady. And it was parallel in that Brady was the Jeter-like winner with intangibles and rings, while Manning was the stat-hound who hadn't won the big one.

Then, a few circumstances crippled the argument. Manning's Colts won the 2006 season's Super Bowl. In the Colts' four playoff victories, three of the games were, dare I say, vintage Brady. Manning stayed out of the way and let his defense and running game win it. He had won the big one. No longer could we hold the "winner" argument against him.

Next season, Brady shattered several NFL records en route to an undefeated regular season. His team then lost to the Giants in the Super Bowl. It was, dare I say, vintage Manning (pre-2006, of course).

The proverbial wind had been taken out of the sails of a classic sports bar debate. Sure, you can still argue who you'd rather have, but it's not near as fun when both guys have resumes with so few holes. If you can't berate the friend with whom you are arguing, it's not even fun anymore.

At least we still have the Jeter-A-Rod debate.

Sigh.

This isn't just as simple as A-Rod having a ring now, though. It was a total 180. What did you always hear about Alex Rodriguez? He might have the numbers, but he doesn't come through when it matters. He's not clutch. He'll hit into a rally-killing double play in a big spot before he'll ever knock in a game-winner.

What did you always hear about Jeter? He may not have the numbers, but he gets it done when it matters. He never hurts his team. He's a winner.

The results of the postseason illustrate this seismic shift.

Jeter hit .407 with a .947 OPS in the World Series. He got some hits that mattered, of course, but the biggest plate appearance that stands out in my mind was his rally-killing double play in the ninth inning of Game 5. In a shutteringly ironic moment, most people watching that game will probably tell you they had this thought after Jeter's at-bat: "If they get to A-Rod, the Yankees will win." Um, what? If only 2004 could see A-Rod now. And Jeter was the one who hit into the double play. Jeter was, dare I say, vintage A-Rod.

A-Rod had a 1.500-plus OPS through the first two rounds, but hit just .250 in the World Series. Of course, he managed to drive home six runs and score five times in six games. He walked three times and got hit by pitch another three times. He also came through in a huge way in the most pivotal game of the series. With two outs in the top of the ninth and a 4-4 tie in Game 4, Rodriguez delivered a rocket to the left field wall. It was an eventual game-winning two-run double (Jeter had struck out earlier in the inning, by the way). A-Rod had entered the at-bat 0-for-3 on the game (sounds like he didn't have the numbers but came through when it mattered, no? That's what winners do!). A-Rod was, dare I say, vintage Jeter.

Remember, this was also a season in which A-Rod's return to the lineup did wonders for Mark Teixeira in terms of protection (intangibles?) and Jeter hit .334 at age 35 while breaking the Yankees' career hits record -- formerly held by Lou Gehrig (stats?). Jeter also sported the second-highest OPS+ of his career and completely reversed the trend of being a sabermetrically inferior defensive shortstop.

All things considered, this has been the unraveling of Brady vs. Manning all over again.

Sure, we can still argue, but it's no fun when the other side of the argument can say, "well, I agree with you on that, but ... " Obviously, both players are great (future Hall of Famers, in fact) and any team would be lucky to have either, but it's no fun to discuss sports without having arguments like this.

There's no room for agreement in a sports bar argument. None. I guess we'll have to find a new topic.

By the way, I was always squarely in the A-Rod (and Manning) camp. I'd just rather have the best players than having to count on some sort of "intangible" that can't really be quantified.

So, to my friends who disagreed: Told ya A-Rod would eventually win. I'm happy to be vindicated, but sad the once-heated debate has lost its luster.

The Death of the Jeter-A-Rod Debate originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>alex rodriguezAlexRodriguezderek jeterDerekJeterfrom the windupFromTheWinduppeyton manningPeytonManningtom bradyTomBradyMatt SnyderThu, 12 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST Rollins Rips Yankee Stadium Atmospherehttp://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/30/rollins-rips-yankee-stadium-atmosphere/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/30/rollins-rips-yankee-stadium-atmosphere/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/30/rollins-rips-yankee-stadium-atmosphere/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Jimmy RollinsNEW YORK -- This won't feel like a World Series, Jimmy Rollins said after two games were in the books, until the scene shifts to Philadelphia.

Yes, the latest man New York loves to hate is at it again.

The Phillies shortstop got Mets fans riled up in 2007 when he called the Phillies the team to beat in the NL East. And he was right.

Then this week he predicted a Philadelphia victory in the World Series, in five games.

And now he is on Yankee Stadium fans for being "tame."

"I was expecting some of that [Philadelphia rowdiness] here," Rollins said early Friday morning, after a 3-1 Yankees victory tied the series 1-1, "but it was very tame and civilized, really.

"You only had one big cheer, and that was on home runs."

"I was expecting some of that [Philadelphia rowdiness] here, but it was very tame and civilized, really."
-- Jimmy Rollins on the Yankee Stadium crowd Rollins was asked if this feels "more like a World Series" than last year's Series with Tampa Bay.

"When we get to Philly, it will," he said.

Because the atmosphere will be so different?

"Exactly."

The new, $1.5 billion Yankee Stadium has come under criticism since it opened for expensive (and often empty) seats and a sterile atmosphere resulting from pricing the die-hard fans out of the park.

In the second half of the season, as the Yankees heated up, the stadium rocked almost like the old place used to.

But in the World Series, with its pricey tickets and people showing up to be seen ... not quite the same.

Before Game 2, Rollins said of the new stadium: "They had a legacy over there from the hallways, the monuments, everything. Here it's brand new. It's a different ballpark. It's prettier, big ol' jumbo screens everywhere. I would have to say it's a lot different from what I would have expected it to have been."


Actually, the crowd was alive early. When Pedro Martinez went to the left-field bullpen to warm up before the game, fans began chanting "Who's your dad-dy?" -- a reference to Martinez's 2004 quote, after pitching for the Red Sox and losing to the Yankees, "I just tip my hat and call the Yankees my daddy."

Those chants picked up again early in the game -- and died off as he struck out eight of the first 24 batters he faced.

Rollins seemed to promise more intensity from Phillies fans in Games 3-5 at Citizens Bank Park.

"Not that we needed any more energy," he said. "It makes it a lot more fun, because you know they're your fans, and you know how that sound can echo off your ears when they're not your fans. It can make it a little uncomfortable.

"It's going to be uncomfortable for a couple of players."

Do the Yankees know what to expect?

"Heh, heh, heh," Rollins chuckled. "We'll find out."

Phillies manager Charlis Manuel has said he doesn't mind Rollins' outspokenness.

"He likes to talk," Manuel said, "that's kind of what he likes to do. He likes the attention, and he likes everything about that."

Before the game, Rollins was asked if his lightning-rod statements are premeditated.

"I wish I was that smart," he said. "No. They happen to ask the right questions at the right time, and I'll usually do my best to tell the truth about how I feel or what I'm thinking. For some reason, people like to write about it."
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Rollins Rips Yankee Stadium Atmosphere originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Jimmy RollinsEd PriceFri, 30 Oct 2009 01:20:00 EST Give Me the Old (Old) Yankee Stadiumhttp://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/28/give-me-the-old-old-yankee-stadium/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/28/give-me-the-old-old-yankee-stadium/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/28/give-me-the-old-old-yankee-stadium/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Joe DiMaggio in old Yankee StadiumNEW YORK -- While making one of those decades-old World Series trips on the subway from Manhattan to the Bronx, the New York Yankees' official theme song kept rattling my bones as much as the D-train.

Start spreading the news
I'm leaving today
I want to be a part of it
New York, New York

Then, all of a sudden, when I arrived at the corner of East 161st Street and River Avenue, another Frank Sinatra song popped into my head. It got louder and louder, especially the closer I got to an 86-year-old structure whose distinctive roar during every summer and most Octobers was gone. So were its seats. So was nearly everything else in the place, including its pinstriped monuments.

More striking, the whole place was surrounded by a blue wall of construction, its version of yellow police tape, which actually was appropriate. The old Yankee Stadium was dead. That's because the new Yankee Stadium was across the street with those pinstriped monuments preparing to host its first World Series.

The old Yankee Stadium hosted 39 of them, but it finished its run last season without the storied home team even reaching the postseason.


No wonder it almost never stopped raining on Wednesday. The baseball gods were upset, because since the old Yankee Stadium ended its first year with a World Series (and the Yankees winning it all), it should have closed with a World Series. So Bud Selig should use his authority as commissioner to do the following in the best interest of the game: He should declare that the rest of the American League portion of the World Series between the Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies will take place at the old Yankee Stadium.

Oh, that's right. It's gutted. It's history.

In the words of that other Sinatra song I keep hearing ...

And there used to be a ballpark
Where the field was warm and green
And the people played their crazy game
With a joy I'd never seen
And the air was such a wonder
From the hot dogs and the beer
Yes, there used to be a ballpark, right here

Now before I continue, it's not as if the old Yankee Stadium was Tiger Stadium or something. It wasn't. It lacked overwhelming charm, and except for the tiny clubhouses, you rarely had the feeling that anything about the place was putting you back into a magical time of baseball. For the most part, the 21st century edition of the House That Ruth Built was a dump, and it needed to go, which is an amazing statement since I've rarely met a storied ballpark or arena I didn't like.

Yankee StadiumIn contrast to such classic places as Wrigley Field, Fenway Park and Dodger Stadium, you couldn't see the field while walking around most of the concourses at old Yankee Stadium. They were too cramped and too dingy. There weren't enough rest rooms. And here's the worst thing: It wasn't close to the 20th century edition of the House that Ruth Built. It wasn't even a good imitation. Weather, time and neglect ruined the original Yankee Stadium by the end of the 1960s, and after renovations during the early 1970s, the next Yankee Stadium was a different animal.

A dog, perhaps, because it went woof, woof compared to the other.

Among other horrors, the copper frieze was removed from the roof when preparing the new Yankee Stadium. The field was lowered and shifted forward. A slew of bleachers were eliminated. The distances to the outfield fences were altered, most prominently in center, where it was reduced by 40 feet. Those pinstriped monuments were moved from the playing field and thrown behind the fence in left-center field.

Still, this basically was the same spot for Jackson, Winfield and Jeter as it was for Gehrig, DiMaggio and Mantle.

And there used to be rock candy
And a great big Fourth of July
With fireworks exploding
All across the summer sky
And the people watched in wonder
How they'd laugh and how they'd cheer
And there used to be a ballpark, right here.

Fan walks into new Yankee StadiumThe new Yankee Stadium is fabulous, by the way, and not just because it has all the modern goodies (a Hard Rock Cafe, underground parking and a swimming pool for Yankee players, etc.) you would expect from something built for $1.5 billion. The frieze is back along the upper deck of the roof. As in the original Yankee Stadium, you can see the subway zipping beyond the outfield bleachers, and you have manually operated scoreboards built into the walls in left and right fields. Plus, the outside of the structure is almost an exact replica of its grandfather as opposed to its father.

But it's not the grandfather or the father.

Now the children try to find it
And they can't believe their eyes
Because the old team just isn't playing
And the new team hardly tries
And the sky has got so cloudy
When it used to be so clear
And the summer went so quickly this year.
Yes, there used to be a ballpark, right here.

It's still there. It's just ... there.

Terence Moore is a national columnist and commentator for FanHouse. He is a frequent panelist on "Rome Is Burning," an ESPN show hosted by Jim Rome, that is seen Monday through Friday at 4:30 PM ET. Moore spent more than three decades working for major newspapers, including 26 years as an award-winning sports columnist for the San Francisco Examiner and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He resides in Atlanta.
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Give Me the Old (Old) Yankee Stadium originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Terence MooreWed, 28 Oct 2009 18:50:00 EST Those Rocks Are Slippery When Wethttp://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/23/those-rocks-are-slippery-when-wet/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/23/those-rocks-are-slippery-when-wet/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/23/those-rocks-are-slippery-when-wet/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Game 5 of the ALCS on Thursday night was a pretty exciting game for fans of both teams, and interested observers as well. Of course, not everybody in the world has an attention span long enough to focus on a baseball game for too long without deciding they need the world to be paying attention to them.

When alcohol is introduced into the mix, it speeds up this process, and we end up seeing a situation like the one that occurred in the sixth inning last night. That's when an Angels fan decided to make his way into the waterfall/rock formation that is beyond the left-field wall in Angels Stadium.

The biggest surprise about all of this? FOX actually choosing to show all of this during the broadcast. The status quo has always been that when a fan runs out onto the field or interrupts play in anyway, the television networks covering the game don't show it on the air.

Something about encouraging people to be idiots, because apparently television thinks we need to be encouraged to act stupid. Also, that doesn't stop them from airing shows like The Hills. Which is really more dangerous to society?

I'd like to thank FOX for just this once, having faith in my sense of responsibility, along with everyone else who was watching the game last night. Not one of us has interrupted a baseball game since.

Those Rocks Are Slippery When Wet originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:43:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>IdiotsTom FornelliFri, 23 Oct 2009 12:43:00 EST Bucky Dent: Yanks Will Win World Serieshttp://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/21/bucky-dent-yanks-will-win-world-series/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/21/bucky-dent-yanks-will-win-world-series/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/21/bucky-dent-yanks-will-win-world-series/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Bucky DentBucky Dent is one in a long line of October heroes in Yankee lore, best known for his game-winning homer at Fenway Park in the 1978 one-game playoff against the Red Sox.

Even though he's known best for one of the most gripping, back-breaking moments in the New York-Boston blood feud, Dent played parts of six seasons with the Yankees, won two World Series rings and was MVP of the 1978 Fall Classic, a series in which he hit .417.

FanHouse was lucky enough to catch up with Dent last Friday to talk about this year's Yankee team, his experience in the postseason and an auction of memorabilia from old Yankee Stadium that he's promoting with Steiner Sports.

FanHouse: Let's start with the obvious question, do you think this is the year the Yankees end their long championship drought?
Dent: Yeah, I think so. I think they've got a real good team, they got a good balance, good chemistry and they play very very well. I think this is the year they're gonna do it.

FH: What do you think separates this team from the other ones this decade?
Dent: I think they've got what you need. They've got good pitching. They play good defense. The offense is excellent. They've got good chemistry and good character guys like they had in the past. They have guys that know their roles and fit in and I think Cashman and Girardi have done a great job of putting this club together.

Yankee Stadium seatsFH: The Yankees opened the ALCS at new Yankee Stadium, but you're promoting a bunch of stuff from old Yankee Stadium for Steiner Sports, so I was wondering if you could tell us about that?
Dent: I'm here at ESPN right now, they're doing like an ALCS pep rally/kickoff here at the ESPNZone to help promote it. I've really enjoyed it, to come out and promote the old memorabilia from the Stadium I played in and all the memories I have, so it's been a good time.

FH: Is there anything you guys are selling or anything that you have from the Stadium? I know the media made a big deal out of it in New York about what Jeter took from the old Stadium.
Dent: Well, I've got some seats from the old Stadium and now from this Stadium, so those are a couple of things that I wanted to have some memories of from when I played there in the old Stadium. That's where all my memories are. Now it's gonna be kind of different because they've gone across the street and you know they can create that feeling in the new Stadium.

FH: You are sort of known for the one home run you hit in the one-game playoff (in 1978), but I don't think people know -- or at least I didn't realize -- that you were also the MVP of the '78 World Series and a great postseason performer. What is it like to be known for one play?
Dent: A lot of people forget that I was the '78 World Series MVP because that game was a one-game playoff between two teams that didn't like each other, two cities with a history, so they remember that because that was a big, big moment, so they forget that I was the '78 Series MVP, but it doesn't bother me that much.

FH: Would you like to see a Yankees-Dodgers World Series?
Dent: I think for the fans, Yankees-Dodgers, you know East Coast-West Coast, because of the history of the two teams going all the way back and now because of Joe Torre being the manager of the Dodgers, so I think that would create a big buzz. I don't think the Yankees care who they play in the World Series as long as they get there.

FH: Is there anything else you wanted to mention about Steiner Sports or anything else you're doing now?
Dent: With Steiner, they got some great stuff as far as memorabilia and stuff like that. People should check it out -- the history of the old Stadium, you know just having a piece of that is really neat.

Bucky Dent: Yanks Will Win World Series originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>bucky dentAndrew JohnsonWed, 21 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EST MLB Anticipating Attendance Bouncebackhttp://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/12/mlb-anticipating-attendance-bounceback/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/12/mlb-anticipating-attendance-bounceback/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/12/mlb-anticipating-attendance-bounceback/#commentsFiled under: ,

Dodger fansMajor League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig likes what he sees in his crystal ball for next season.

According to Sports Business Journal, Selig is predicting a rebound in 2010 from this year's attendance decline of 6.65 percent to 73.42 million, a season in which 22 of 30 teams posted drop-offs in attendance.

The reason for Selig's optimism is the improvement in the economy, including the 13 percent increase this year in the Dow Jones industrial average. Some experts, though, are arguing that the improvements may be short-lived because unemployment is continuing to rise. Many have argued that the economic recovery in the U.S. will be painfully slow to help many Americans hurt by the recession.

Average major league ticket prices rose 5 percent this year, according to Team Marketing Report while the Fan Cost Index, which measures the cost for a family of four to attend a game, rose 3.2 percent to $196.89. Even so, baseball held up remarkably well, posting its fifth-largest combined crowds in its history, despite posting the lowest figures since 2004.

Many teams posted year-over-year gains in television ratings, underscoring the popularity of all televised sports as a cheap source of entertainment during tough economic times. Single-ticket sales also rose as teams undertook more aggressive promotions to upsell them to season-ticket plans, said Matt Bourne, an MLB spokesman, in an email to FanHouse.

"Sports are normal goods and generally move with the economy," said John-Charles Bradbury, an economist who teaches at the sport management program at Kennesaw State University in Georgia, in an email. "You can see ... some leveling out during past recessions (early-'80s, early-'90s, and early-'00s), though the correlation is imperfect. But, the overall long-run trend is positive, just as it is for the entire economy."

When it came to forecasting how good the good times would get, Selig was less specific. He told the trade publication that baseball was in an "excellent position to rebound next season.

"How much we'll bounce back, I don't know."

MLB Anticipating Attendance Bounceback originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:56:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>bud seligJonathan BerrMon, 12 Oct 2009 19:56:00 EST Let's Give Holliday a Break, for Oncehttp://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/12/lets-give-holliday-a-break-for-once/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/12/lets-give-holliday-a-break-for-once/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/10/12/lets-give-holliday-a-break-for-once/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Matt HollidayContrary to popular belief, Ralph Branca didn't throw away a pennant with his pitch that became Bobby Thomson's shot heard around the world. All of the Brooklyn Dodgers kept themselves out of the World Series back then. They choked away a huge lead in September to force that playoff against the New York Giants.

Remember Bill Buckner's gaffe?

Overrated.

That was in Game 6. The Boston Red Sox still had a chance to win the world championship in Game 7, but they didn't.

On and on we can go, with a slew of examples -- even from other sports involving HUGE blunders that actually were just huge, which is to say folks should lay off Matt Holliday just a little. They won't, though. St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa had it exactly right when he said of Holliday's drop fly ball during the National League Division Series that supposedly triggered the Los Angeles Dodgers sweeping the Cardinals into the offseason: "Ain't no free lunch. Matt's going to take some hits for this."

He will, and he should. Then again, he shouldn't.

Yes, Holliday's drop occurred in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 2 in Los Angeles . Yes, there were two outs. And, yes, his catch of that routine line drive would have ended the game and tied the best-of-five series at 1-1. But consider this: Holliday wasn't on the mound for the Cardinals in the aftermath when the Dodgers tied the game and then won it. The Cardinals also were still alive in the series when they returned home for Game 3, but they lost 5-1.

And, please. When it comes to other infamous moments throughout sports history, no more talk about The Jackie Smith Drop. For one, it occurred in the third quarter of Super Bowl XIII. The Dallas Cowboys would have tied the game at the time with Smith's catch in the end zone, but it wouldn't have mattered. With Terry Bradshaw outplaying Roger Staubach, the Pittsburgh Steelers simply were better than the error-prone Cowboys along the way to a 35-31 victory.

Here's one more thing to ponder: When Georgetown's Fred Brown threw to the wrong man down the stretch of that 1982 NCAA basketball championship game in New Orleans, something rarely gets mentioned. Michael Jordan and his North Carolina Tar Heels were LEADING by a point at the time.

Who is to say Brown was dribbling Georgetown toward a game-winning shot? Maybe the Hoyas shoot and miss. Maybe there is a hurricane that rocks the Superdome and requires the game to be rescheduled and North Carolina sprints to a rout.

Maybe everybody should just chill in these situations. The sporting world loves anointing a singular scapegoat, especially when it has a chance to do so after the spotlight shines brightly on an inexplicable mishap.

So Holliday has become the Cardinals' Buckner, who was the Boston Red Sox's Leon Durham, who was the Chicago Cubs' Fred Merkle.

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DENVER - OCTOBER 11: Ubaldo Jimenez #38 of the Colorado Rockies pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Four of the NLDS during the 2009 MLB Playoffs at Coors Field on October 12, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/ Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ubaldo Jimenez
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    DENVER - OCTOBER 11: Troy Tulowitzki #2 of the Colorado Rockies reacts as he walks to the dugout after striking out in the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Four of the NLDS during the 2009 MLB Playoffs at Coors Field on October 12, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/ Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Troy Tulowitzki

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    DENVER - OCTOBER 11: Cliff Lee #34 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches against the Colorado Rockies in Game Four of the NLDS during the 2009 MLB Playoffs at Coors Field on October 12, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Cliff Lee

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    DENVER - OCTOBER 11: Cliff Lee #34 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches against the Colorado Rockies in Game Four of the NLDS during the 2009 MLB Playoffs at Coors Field on October 12, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Cliff Lee

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    DENVER - OCTOBER 11: Ubaldo Jimenez #38 of the Colorado Rockies pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Four of the NLDS during the 2009 MLB Playoffs at Coors Field on October 12, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/ Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ubaldo Jimenez

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    DENVER - OCTOBER 11: Ubaldo Jimenez #38 of the Colorado Rockies pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Four of the NLDS during the 2009 MLB Playoffs at Coors Field on October 12, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/ Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ubaldo Jimenez

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    DENVER - OCTOBER 11: Shane Victorino #8 of the Philadelphia Phillies rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the top of the first inning against the Colorado Rockies in Game Four of the NLDS during the 2009 MLB Playoffs at Coors Field on October 12, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shane Victorino

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    DENVER - OCTOBER 12: Shane Victorino #8 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a solo home run in the top of the first inning against the Colorado Rockies in Game Four of the NLDS during the 2009 MLB Playoffs at Coors Field on October 12, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shane Victorino

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    Baseball fans wait in line to buy tickets at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Monday, Oct. 12, 2009. The Los Angeles Dodgers will face the either the Philadelphia Phillies or the Colorado Rockies in the National League championship series in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

    AP

    DENVER - OCTOBER 12: Charlie Manuel #41 of the Philadelphia Phillies blows a bubble with gum as he watches batting practice before the game against the Colorado Rockies in Game Four of the NLDS during the 2009 MLB Playoffs at Coors Field on October 12, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Charlie Manuel

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    DENVER - OCTOBER 12: Charlie Manuel #41 of the Philadelphia Phillies watches batting practice before the game against the Colorado Rockies in Game Four of the NLDS during the 2009 MLB Playoffs at Coors Field on October 12, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Charlie Manuel

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Fred Merkle? Well, let's start with Leon Durham, who foreshadowed things to come for Buckner during the 1984 National League Championships Series. What many remember is that Durham allowed a crucial ground ball to roll between his legs in the fifth and decisive game. What they often forget is that it was only the seventh inning, and the error just allowed the San Diego Padres to tie the game.

The other Cubs helped Durham blow it from there.

As for Merkle, it all goes back to September 1908 at the Polo Grounds, where he took off from first base for the hometown New York Giants on what should have been a game-winning hit against the Cubs. He didn't touch second base. He eventually was called out on a force out to negate the run. Since the crowd thought the game was over and poured onto the field to head for the center-field exits, the umpires ruled that what still was a tie game had to be replayed at a later date.

It just so happened that the Giants and the Cubs finished tied in the standings. As a result, the replayed game was a playoff game, and the Giants lost. It sent the 19-year-old Merkle into a funk for the rest of his life.

That's why it's all up to Holliday these days. When you blow it for eternity in the often wrongheaded minds of others, you have two choices, and neither is good. You can live with it, or you can do the lesser of those choices by dying with it. To hear some tell it through the years, Donnie Moore literally spent his pitching performance in the 1986 American League Championship Series dying courtesy of the memory.

Moore found himself standing one strike away in Game 5 back then from sending his California Angels to the World Series in the top of the ninth. Instead, he gave up a two-run homer to the Boston's Dave Henderson. Then after the Angeles tied the game in the bottom of the ninth, Moore relinquished what would be a game-winning sacrifice fly to Henderson in extra innings.

Never mind the Angels still had a 3-2 lead in the series. The fans, the media and the demons inside of Moore blamed Moore.

Three years later, after Moore wounded his wife with gunshots in front of their children, he pointed the gun at himself and committed suicide. This wasn't all the result of his Game 5 meltdown, but it didn't help.

The point is, Holliday needs to forget about it.

Even though folks won't let him.

Terence Moore is a national columnist and commentator for FanHouse. He is a frequent panelist on "Rome Is Burning," an ESPN show hosted by Jim Rome, that is seen Monday through Friday at 4:30 PM ET. Moore spent more than three decades working for major newspapers, including 26 years as an award-winning sports columnist for the San Francisco Examiner and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He resides in Atlanta.
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Let's Give Holliday a Break, for Once originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>matt hollidayTerence MooreMon, 12 Oct 2009 19:35:00 EST Prisoner Released From Jail to Watch Red Sox Gamehttp://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/09/23/prisoner-released-from-jail-to-watch-red-sox-game/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/09/23/prisoner-released-from-jail-to-watch-red-sox-game/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/09/23/prisoner-released-from-jail-to-watch-red-sox-game/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

There won't be a happier fan in all of Kauffman Stadium on Wednesday night than Randy Aaron Barker. As you can probably guess by the fact that we referred to him by three names, Barker has had some trouble with the law, but unlike most of those thrown behind bars, Barker's pleas for mercy fell on willing ears.

A judge in Iowa allowed Barker, who is serving a 10-day sentence for interference with official acts and violation of a protective order, to be temporarily released so he could join his father and brother at the game. Barker told the judge that the three of them had been planning a trip to the game for three months, that they hadn't been able to attend a game in 25 years and that baseball was one of the "few pleasures" of his life.

KCCI in Des Moines spoke to Lance Morris who said that Barker has repeatedly harassed his family, including making more than 60 phone calls to his mother in one night. Morris learned of the release by reading the local newspaper, presumably because the judge decided that the family weren't Royals or Sox fans and, thus, unlikely to be in the stands with Barker on Wednesday night.

We may not be talking about an arch-criminal here, but isn't the whole point of putting someone in jail to punish them? Part of punishment is that you don't get to partake in pleasurable things, no matter how few of them there are in your life. While the judge's heart may have been in the right place, his robe shouldn't give him the right to remake Field of Dreams with a three-named stalker playing the role of Moonlight Graham.

If there's justice, which this story leads us to believe there isn't, the game will play out one of two ways. Either Josh Beckett will get shelled and the Royals will run away with a shutout victory, or the cops will escort Barker to the game will take him away after the top of the fifth inning with Beckett en route to a perfecto. It's an official game at that point, and we're real sticklers for the rules in these parts.

Prisoner Released From Jail to Watch Red Sox Game originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Josh BeckettJoshBeckettJosh AlperWed, 23 Sep 2009 19:15:00 EST From the Windup: The Sicknesshttp://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/09/18/from-the-windup-the-sickness/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/09/18/from-the-windup-the-sickness/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/09/18/from-the-windup-the-sickness/#commentsFiled under:


From the Windup is Matt Snyder's extended look at some aspect of America's pastime.

Being a fan of certain sports teams, by definition, means we aren't exactly the most rational people around. "Fan," after all, is short for "fanatic." The dictionary definition of fanatic? A person with an extreme and uncritical enthusiasm or zeal. So, yeah, when I say I'm a Cubs fan, you'll have to keep that definition in mind as you read this.

Earlier this week, I actually thought the Cubs were back in the NL wild-card race.

There, I said it.

Am I touched in the head? Of course I am. We all are. We're fanatics. After Tuesday night, the Cubs had won eight of their last 10 games and were only trailing Colorado -- who had lost four straight -- by four games in the loss column. Despite everything disappointing that had happened at the intersection of Clark and Addison this summer, the Cubs had a realistic shot at the playoffs.

I found myself going back over things and getting bitter again.

Why did Lou Piniella stick with that albatross, Alfonso Soriano, atop the lineup for so long? Surely that accounted for two losses over the course of the season.

What if Pineilla had done what everyone else in the baseball following world would have done coming out of spring training: name Carlos Marmol the closer instead of Kevin Gregg? Marmol hasn't been near a sure thing this year, but what if he was just mentally awry due to not getting the job he -- and nearly every Cubs fan -- thought he had already earned?

Not only that, I found myself questioning moves in individual games the Cubs lost. I found myself going nuts about why Jim Hendry changed the makeup of a team who won 97 games last year. And on and on.

I had been asking all these questions since the third week of August, when I stopped watching the games. I had to stop, for my own sanity, but I still checked the standings on a daily basis. It's part of the sickness, you know, not being able to let go. I just can't kick the addiction. No fan can. And here I was, having sworn to not watch another game this season, tuning in Wednesday to cheer on the Cubs like it was Opening Day.

It was a true, "just when I think I'm out, they pull me back in" moment. My wife said, "wow, I haven't seen them in a while," when she saw the mugs of Cubs announcing duo Len Kasper and Bob Brenley on our TV instead of Curb Your Enthusiasm reruns. My reply, "we're back in the race!"

Um, no. "We" weren't.

Being afflicted with this mental illness, my renewed optimism failed to consider myriad things. Such as the fact that the 2009 Cubs just aren't a good baseball team or the fact that they'd still have to jump over four teams -- all of whom have superior on-field products at this point.

And here we are, two days later. The Cubs have lost two straight and are now seven games behind the Rockies for the last playoff spot. No chance.

Thus is the life of a fan. It makes a normally rational and reasonably intelligent person nothing more than a moron, at times.

So, tell me: how long did you stick around?

Rangers fans? You still there? Seven games behind the surging Red Sox and 7 1/2 behind the Angels. Your team is out of it, but are you?

Rays fans, how long did you guys stick around?

White Sox fans probably got sucked back in a bit earlier this week, just like their North Side brethren. Maybe it was because we were depressed about the combination of Jay Cutler's picks and Brian Urlacher's injury and we just needed a distraction.

Marlins and Braves fans? How are the collective mentalities there?

Even the Mariners, Brewers and Astros: when did you guys finally see the writing on the wall? I bet it was a few weeks after the rest of us wrote your respective teams off.

Just follow my lead.

My name is Matt, and I am a Cuboholic.

Hey, the first step in solving a problem is admitting it. Of course, you can't kick the habit unless you really want to. And I sure as hell don't. I welcome the next 50 years of fandom, whether marked by misery or not. Bring it on.

Did I mention 2010 might be The Year?

Like Disturbed once shrieked, I'm down with the sickness.

From the Windup: The Sickness originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>from the windupFromTheWindupMatt SnyderFri, 18 Sep 2009 14:05:00 EST Bees Are Not Fans of Scott Borashttp://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/08/31/bees-are-not-fans-of-scott-boras/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/08/31/bees-are-not-fans-of-scott-boras/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/08/31/bees-are-not-fans-of-scott-boras/#commentsFiled under:


If bees are going to invade your dugout-level suite, just make sure you aren't there when they do. Fortunately, superagent Scott Boras didn't appear to be at the Angels-Athletics game on Sunday when a swarm took over his front-row seats directly behind home plate for the first two innings.

The bees were removed with the help of a vacuum, but didn't quite phase photo-happy fans like the one above.

It wasn't the first time an MLB game has been disrupted by insects. If you recall, swarms of bees also got cozy in the left-center bleachers at Dodger Stadium on Aug. 22. An Astros-Padres game in July was delayed 52 minutes by a swarm that descended during the ninth inning. The Padres estimated 2,000 bees had flown in from center field before settling near rookie Kyle Blanks in left field.

And who could forget the 'Midge Attack' of 2007, when pesky bugs from Lake Erie became a grand spectacle during a playoff game between the Yankees and Indians. New York pitcher Joba Chamberlain seemed to be the most affected that night, as he lost his control and uncorked two wild pitches.

Chamberlain's neck is thankful those days are long gone.

Pictures from that infamous postseason incident are below.



Bees Are Not Fans of Scott Boras originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>scott borasTom HerreraMon, 31 Aug 2009 00:35:00 EST Milton Bradley Is 'Never' Comfortable Playing at Wrigley Fieldhttp://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/08/26/milton-bradley-is-never-comfortable-at-wrigley/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/08/26/milton-bradley-is-never-comfortable-at-wrigley/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/08/26/milton-bradley-is-never-comfortable-at-wrigley/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Tuesday was one of the nights that Chicago Cubs fans have been waiting all season to see from free-agent acquisition Milton Bradley. Bradley went 4-for-4 with a home run, a walk and two runs scored for the Cubs, but, fittingly, it couldn't keep the Cubs from losing to the Nationals. It still had to be nice for Bradley to finally have a game in which he didn't provide Cubs fans the chance to boo him for anything.

Those types of days just aren't very common for Bradley, who has basically had a hate-hate relationship with the fans ever since stepping foot in Chicago. In fact, after Tuesday's loss, Bradley said that he's never comfortable playing at Wrigley Field and that he feels hatred every day.
"It's hard to be comfortable when you don't get a hit and get booed every time," he said. "When I go home and look in the mirror, I like what I see. My family is there I have people I can talk to who are very supportive, in spite of everything and all the adversity and the hatred you face on a daily basis. But I'll be alright. I always have."
So, in a roundabout way, what Bradley is saying here is that he hasn't performed well this season because the fans are booing him. That's not the greatest way to try to win their affection, and going on to say that you think the Cubs would be a lot better this year if they could "keep all the distractions and everything that comes with playing here and being a Cub out" will only make matters worse.

He's essentially blaming the fans for the team's struggles this season, which is one of the more idiotic things I've ever heard come out of an athlete's mouth in any sport. These are fans who continue to come out and support a team in spite of the fact they haven't won a World Series in over 100 years. They have a right to be angry.

They continue to pour through the turnstiles, handing over money that eventually goes to the paycheck Bradley receives every two weeks, and he wants to blame them for his struggles? Then give them a refund, Milton.

Milton Bradley Is 'Never' Comfortable Playing at Wrigley Field originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:36:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Milton BradleyTom FornelliWed, 26 Aug 2009 12:36:00 EST Neil Diamond's Music Career Started With Dodgers' Move to Los Angeleshttp://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/08/19/neil-diamonds-career-started-with-dodgers-move-to-los-angeles/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/08/19/neil-diamonds-career-started-with-dodgers-move-to-los-angeles/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/08/19/neil-diamonds-career-started-with-dodgers-move-to-los-angeles/#commentsFiled under: ,

Neil DiamondIf you're anything like me there are only two things you do with your life every single day. You watch baseball, and then when there's no baseball on, you spend your entire day rocking out and singing along with all of your Neil Diamond albums*. Whether singing along to the tune of "Sweet Caroline," "America" or "Love On The Rocks" it ain't no surprise that you are having a great day.

What is somewhat of a surprise, however, is what inspired Neil Diamond to begin what has been a pretty successful music career. It turns out that while growing up in Brooklyn, Neil had his heart broken when the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles, and as a result turned to music.
That hurt may still resonate, something any Dodgers fan of the '50s can relate to and empathize with, but it turns out if wasn't for the sting of that move Neil Diamond, music superstar may not exist. It was only then his parents turned to music to help his depression. "I remember when they left, they were leaving for a far-off place, Los Angeles," he recalls. "I went into a real funk and it prompted my parents to support the idea that to cheer me up cause I was always singing, to get me some guitar lessons just to bring me out of the funk. And I found something that absorbed me completely for the rest of my life."
So I guess American pop culture owes a great big thank you to Walter O'Malley, for if it were not for his greed our society would have been robbed of one of its great building blocks.

Now, if you don't mind me, I'm going to go put on my sequin jacket, puff out my chest hair, and put on the greatest show my bathroom mirror has ever seen.

*I can not stress enough how untrue this statement is.

Neil Diamond's Music Career Started With Dodgers' Move to Los Angeles originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:42:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Brooklyn DodgersNeil DiamondWalter OMalleyTom FornelliWed, 19 Aug 2009 14:42:00 EST Cubs Fan Who Showered Shane Victorino Turns Self Inhttp://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/08/14/cubs-fan-who-showered-victorino-turns-self-in/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/08/14/cubs-fan-who-showered-victorino-turns-self-in/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/08/14/cubs-fan-who-showered-victorino-turns-self-in/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The greatest mystery in the history of Chicago has finally been solved. The Cubs fan who dumped a beer on Philadelphia Phillies centerfielder Shane Victorino's head at Wrigley Field on Wednesday night has turned himself in, and now the people of Chicago can now rest peacefully at night without fear of someone pouring a beer on them.

Johnny Macchione was the kid who wasted his beverage on Wednesday, but after Wrigley Field security grabbed the wrong man, he was able to sneak out of Wrigley undetected. Then on Thursday it seems his conscience -- or the fact that there was videos and pictures of him everywhere -- caused Macchione to turn himself in and face the music.
A Bartlett man has been charged with two misdemeanors after a daylong search for the Cubs fan who threw beer on a Philadelphia Phillies outfielder during Wednesday night's game.

Johnny Macchione, 21, was cited for battery and illegal conduct within a sports facility late Thursday. The college student's face had been splashed across the Internet and television after the team announced it had ejected the wrong man in the incident and was looking for the real culprit.

"Chicago Cubs, I'm sorry I disgraced you," Macchione said as he left Belmont Area police headquarters after being charged.
Considering the Cubs were just swept at home by the Phillies by a combined score of 22-9 and have lost seven of eight, I don't think they need any help disgracing themselves, though I'm sure they appreciate the sentiment. If Macchione is convicted on both misdemeanors he faces a maximum of 544 days in jail.

Which is a very long time for pouring a beer on somebody's head, so I'm guessing he'll get probation and banned from Wrigley.

Cubs Fan Who Showered Shane Victorino Turns Self In originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:51:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Johnny MacchioneShane VictorinoTom FornelliFri, 14 Aug 2009 13:51:00 EST Now for Something Completely Different: The Electric Louisville Slugger Anthemhttp://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/08/10/now-for-something-completely-different-the-electric-louisville/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/08/10/now-for-something-completely-different-the-electric-louisville/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/08/10/now-for-something-completely-different-the-electric-louisville/#commentsFiled under: ,

Glenn DonnellanIf you're the kind of baseball fan that thinks "The Star-Spangled Banner" needs more energy, wait until you hear this guy. Glenn Donnellan, a violinist for the National Symphony Orchestra, made his major league debut before the Nationals-Diamondbacks game Saturday night as he played the national anthem ... on a baseball bat.

And not just any baseball bat. An electric violin hand-crafted from a regulation Louisville Slugger, the Derek Jeter model of course (aural delight after the jump).

As the story goes, Donnellan bought the bat at a local sporting goods store, ready to combine his two loves -- music and baseball -- into one unique creation. "I went to the Sports Authority with my fiddle one day after work, held it up to the bat, and it looked about right," Donnellan told the AP.

After meeting Robert Tanenbaum, one of the Nationals' owners, at an orchestra concert, Donnellan said he'd like to play the game-opening music on his new instrument. Tanenbaum witnessed a YouTube of the awesome solo showing and was sold on the idea.

The YouTube video, which can be watched below, has already amassed over 150,000 views since he posted it on July 1. Not only has Donnellan's performance been a big hit on the Internet, but it was also a rousing success at the Nationals game, as both fans and players cheered for the one-of-a-kind anthem rendition.

If you're in the Atlanta area and want to catch it live, he's going to be playing again at the Diamondbacks vs. Braves game on August 17.

Now for Something Completely Different: The Electric Louisville Slugger Anthem originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Mon, 10 Aug 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Tom HerreraMon, 10 Aug 2009 09:00:00 EST From the Windup: Enough Is Enough With Steve Bartmanhttp://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/08/06/from-the-windup-enough-is-enough-with-steve-bartman/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/08/06/from-the-windup-enough-is-enough-with-steve-bartman/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/08/06/from-the-windup-enough-is-enough-with-steve-bartman/#commentsFiled under: ,

From the Windup is Matt Snyder's extended look at some aspect of America's pastime each Thursday.

So I was on vacation last week. Anyway, I got home to the horror of this: "ESPN Orders Documentary On Cubs Scapegoat Steve Bartman." As if I wasn't in a bad enough mood returning home and having to get back to real life.

You see, the name Steve Bartman conjures a slew of emotions in me. Any time I hear his name, I find that I can simplify all these thoughts into three simple complaints about how this entire "situation" aggravates me.

Fans Don't Cost Teams Games or Series

I'm sure some readers who know my allegiance are thinking the worst -- that I blame Bartman for the 2003 NLCS loss of my beloved Cubbies. To borrow a line from one of my favorite movies, "that is ridiculous to the point of being offensive." (Bonus points if you can name the movie). Fans aren't paid to play the game and they don't do anything on the field. Anyone with half a brain knows this and would never blame their team's loss on a fan.

Really, in a seven-game series, you can't blame a failure on any one person. The Cubs had several players, and a manager, upon whom you could blame the 2003 NLCS loss. In Game 1, at home, Carlos Zambrano couldn't hold a 4-0 lead after the first inning. Joe Borowski allowed two ninth-inning runs to break a tie. Kerry Wood was dreadful in Game 7. The Cubs got shutout by Josh Beckett in Game 5. And then, you have Game 6.

- The Cubs led 3-0 heading into the eighth. Mark Prior took the ball with over 100 pitches.
- Prior got an out.
- Juan Pierre doubled.
- Luis Castillo walked -- following the infamous Bartman play.
- Ivan Rodriguez singled.
- Miguel Cabrera hit a textbook double-play ball to Alex Gonzalez of the Cubs, who promptly boots it.
- Derrek Lee doubled in two runs to tie the game.
- Finally, Dusty Baker pulled Prior.
- Kyle Farnsworth doesn't help matters, though, and when the inning ends the Cubs trail 8-3.

Can you seriously blame any of this crap on a fan? If so, please do me a favor. Don't ever tell anyone you are a Cubs fan. You are the reason Cardinals, White Sox, Brewers, Astros, Reds and probably legions more fans think we are all stupid.

If you want to blame one person, blame Alex Gonzalez. In just looking at this inning, I have to put some blame on Baker and Prior as well, but most people want one scapegoat. If you are one of those people, choose Gonzalez. Just check out this quote from Cubs third baseman, Aramis Ramirez:
"Mo [Moises Alou] had a chance to make that play, but the ball was in the stands," he said. "Otherwise, they would've called the batter out [for fan interference]. After that [Alex] Gonzalez made an error and they scored five more runs, so it wasn't Bartman's fault. We just didn't get it done."
He tried to pin the collective blame on the team, but notice that he singles out Gonzalez.

And who could blame him? The Marlins scored seven runs (not five as Ramirez states) after the Gonzalez error. Had a double play been turned, the inning would have ended with the Cubs leading 3-1. Yet, Gonzalez has gotten off scot-free, while Bartman has shouldered the load of the stupid fake-curse since that fateful night. We're blaming a fan instead of a guy paid millions to play -- and the player's mistake was much more egregious.

Just Leave Bartman Alone

As far as fans go, I'm pretty sure most individuals would just as soon forget about the guy and move on. That's a little hard when there are these constant reminders, though.

Remember in Men in Black when Will Smith said "people are smart," and Tommie Lee Jones disagreed? His point applies. "No, a person is smart. People are stupid," Jones said. In other words, mob mentality usually reduces a group to its lowest common denominator. You get a group of people together and tell them someone cost their favorite team a game, and of course poor Mr. Bartman is going to bear the brunt of a century of futility.

Does everyone remember where the real problem began, though? The same place that the problems with Bartman's life continue. The media.

All people knew after Game 6 was that some dude wearing glasses and headphones got in the way of a possibly spectacular catch by Alou in foul territory. The next morning, the Chicago Sun-Times ran his name and employer in the morning paper, which made it easy for any wacko to track him down. Talk about unethical, reckless journalism. Honestly, what good could they possibly have thought would come of doing that?

And now, ESPN is running a documentary about him, nearly six years after his life was altered forever.

Apparently, the basic premise is going to be on whether or not he forgives Chicago, though they haven't yet convinced him to take part. I'm guessing it would be a lot easier if he could get some separation from the incident and be allowed to move back into obscurity. It's obvious that's all he wants. He's reportedly turned down six-figure book deals and has never moved away from Chicago. Many people would have taken the money and moved across the country. Bartman just wants to be left alone.

Ramirez, who probably had the best view of the incident in 2003, doesn't understand the value of the production either.
"I don't know what difference it's going to make for the fans of Chicago, or for Bartman himself," Ramirez said of ESPN's plans to forge ahead with or without Bartman's cooperation. "To me, I don't see anything positive coming out of it for me as a player, or for us as players."
It's not lost on me that I might be perpetuating the problem by writing about him, but this is the first time and the last time I'll ever mention him on FanHouse -- and I'm doing so as a reaction to a network, that has just a few more viewers than I have readers, keeping him in the limelight.

While we're on ESPN: Before last season, Gene Wojokowski ran an article called "Free Bartman." The basic premise was that fans need to forget about him -- which I obviously agree with -- and then, there was an implication.

"You Know You Would Have Done the Same Thing"

I can't tell you how much this angers me. "Sure, he did something pretty stupid and in the moment, but you would have done the exact same thing ... even though I don't know you." Hell, look at the picture! The two people to Bartman's left had their hands back and were getting out of the way.

Of course, the two to his right were also trying to catch the ball. We see situations similar to this every day during the regular season. Sometimes the fans try to interfere, and sometimes they sit back and make sure the home team has a chance to catch the ball. When someone does make a mistake and interfere, it doesn't make what Bartman did right. (It's important to understand also that when I say interfere, I'm not saying he committed the rules violation of fan interference) He's admitted that mistake, though, and there's no reason to harp on it.

If you want to exonerate the guy, do so by leaving him alone, not by trying to guilt people into forgiving him. All guilt trips do is make people more venomous, especially in situations like this, because many fans believe they would always do the right thing. I know I do. The last thing fans need is a reason to keep thinking about him.

Just leave Bartman alone and turn the page.

From the Windup: Enough Is Enough With Steve Bartman originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>from the windupFromTheWindupsteve bartmanSteveBartmanMatt SnyderThu, 06 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EST Mark Buehrle's Perfect Game Lands Him Coveted Letterman 'Top 10' Spothttp://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/07/28/mark-buehrles-perfect-game-lands-him-coveted-letterman-top-10/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/07/28/mark-buehrles-perfect-game-lands-him-coveted-letterman-top-10/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/07/28/mark-buehrles-perfect-game-lands-him-coveted-letterman-top-10/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Reading the Top 10 on the Late Show with David Letterman is truly an honor, yada-yada-yada. Well, thing is, if you pull off something awesome in the sports world -- winning the British Open, throwing a perfect game -- you'll probably get to appear on television and read some Top 10 list related to your accomplishment. Mark Buehrle, fresh off a perfect game, did just that recently, with a pretty funny list (it made him laugh while reading it, so clearly he practiced) of "Things That Went Through Mark Buehrle's Mind During His Perfect Game."

Mark Buehrle's Perfect Game Lands Him Coveted Letterman 'Top 10' Spot originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 10:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>David LettermanMark BuehrleWill BrinsonTue, 28 Jul 2009 10:30:00 EST The Brooklyn Cyclones Are a Pregnant Woman's Best Friendhttp://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/07/20/the-brooklyn-cyclones-are-a-pregnant-womans-best-friend/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/07/20/the-brooklyn-cyclones-are-a-pregnant-womans-best-friend/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/07/20/the-brooklyn-cyclones-are-a-pregnant-womans-best-friend/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Why do kids get to have all the fun at ballparks? Cool hats, bobbleheads, even a trip around the bases. Where's the love for pregnant women, right?

Expectant mothers, the Brooklyn Cyclones are listening to you, even if your husbands aren't.

As part of the "Bellies and Baseball: A Salute to Pregnancy" event, the Mets' minor-league affiliate offered up some very unusual activities at Sunday night's game.

Forget video games. That's kids stuff. We're talking no shoes, food and Lamaze.

"Families are at the heart of our fan base," said Cyclones general manager Steve Cohen. "And we're proud to welcome new families or new members to the family with a night of Brooklyn baseball in their honor."

Take a look at what the fun-filled festivities included:

o. Barefoot & Pregnant: Expectant moms walked the bases with no shoes on before the game
o. Lamaze on the Lawn: A free class right on the comfort of center field grass
o. Pregnancy Pitch: Any woman in her third trimester got to throw out the ceremonial first pitch
o. Trimester Tricycles: A bike race between expectant fathers between innings. Definitely upstaged the mascot.
o. 7th Inning Stretch Marks: Singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," preggo-style right on the field
o. Craving Station: A table on the concourse level offered ice cream, anchovy pizza, and of course, pickles. God, what pregnant woman wouldn't die for a Costco-sized jar of dills right now? In my opinion, the only thing that beats that is "mushy peas in lashings of tomato sauce." Yum.
o. Water Break: Two expectant fathers competed in a race with water balloons attached to their bodies. The winner was the one who lasted the longest ... or finished the race without his water breaking.

But wait, that's not all! If any woman gave birth at the ballpark before the end of the game, she would have received free Cyclones season tickets for life for each member of her new family. No births were reported, and I imagine no woman would have traded doing so in front of a Coney Island crowd. Yankees tickets next to Richard Gere, maybe.

Also, any expectant mom who agrees to name her child Brooklyn or Cy gets free season tickets for life. I'm sure David Beckham would agree Brooklyn isn't such a bad name for a kid.

Strange promotions are actually the norm in the minor leagues. Mustache growing, spam carving, tighty-whitey races and massive pillow fights are all fair game.

If you think major-league ticket prices are absurd, opting for the minors is a whole lot cheaper, and quite possibly, much more enjoyable. I highly recommend Ben's Biz Blog, written by my pal Benjamin Hill, for more wacky promotional goodies.

The Brooklyn Cyclones Are a Pregnant Woman's Best Friend originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 05:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Tom HerreraMon, 20 Jul 2009 05:00:00 EST It's a Long, Cold Summer for Baseball Fans in Antarcticahttp://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/07/17/its-a-long-cold-summer-for-baseball-fans-in-antarctica/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/07/17/its-a-long-cold-summer-for-baseball-fans-in-antarctica/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/07/17/its-a-long-cold-summer-for-baseball-fans-in-antarctica/#commentsFiled under: ,


Ben Bonnet rediscovered his love for baseball in the oddest of places: Antarctica.

As he spent his first winter working at McMurdo Station, in Antarctica, he watched baseball on television.

"I'm watching a baseball game and they have grass and sun and T-shirts and beautiful beer and great hot dogs," said Bonnet, who was in a place with none of those things. "That's where I discovered a new found love for baseball. What an amazing sport."

Today, Bonnet is back for another tour at, "the Ice," as they say. He's at McMurdo, where he, John Miller and Joel Gilchrest are perhaps the most remote avid baseball fans on the planet.

The three of them recently talked by phone to FanHouse about how they get together regularly to talk baseball, razz each other about their fantasy teams and watch whatever televised games the satellites bring.

They are like any other die-hard baseball fans, except for the fact that they live in a place where the average high temperature in July is -16 F.

A place where sunrise and sunset are recorded not in times on a clock, but dates on a calendar.

A place where the months of darkness can cause short-term memory loss and attention issues, leaving people sometimes unable to complete a sentence or remember what they had for lunch.

A place that is so inaccessible in the winter that the only way to get in or out is via a medical emergency flight that takes a couple weeks to arrange.

But there they are -- voluntarily. Each has worked multiple tours in Antarctica.

"You come the first time for the adventure, the second time for the money and the third time because you can't find a job in the States anymore," Bonnet said, repeating maxim among "ice people."

Bonnet, a 30-year-old Mets fan from Denver, works in the supply department at McMurdo. Miller, a 49-year-old Red Sox fan from Reno, is an electrician. Gilchrest, a 33-year-old Phillies fan from Maryland, is a computer technician.

They are among fewer than 1,000 people spending the winter on a continent that is nearly twice the size of the 48 states.

At McMurdo Station, located about 2,200 miles south of New Zealand, there are 153 support personnel currently keeping things running smoothly until the scientists and researchers return when the sun comes back -- late August.

They have been shrouded in almost total darkness since April.

"It's just like working at night," Bonnet said. "Except it's night all the time. You get used to it."

Bonnet said a psychological test is required of workers before they spend a winter at "the Ice," to make sure they can handle it. The other problem is a physical one, a deficiency of the hormone T3 because of lack of sunlight. It is an extreme version of Seasonal Affective Disorder.

"It affects your short term memory, makes you slower," Bonnet said. "You have a harder time finding words to describe things. It's tougher to communicate, to express yourself."

Living in such a world, you can understand why Bonnet, Miller and Gilchrest cling to one of the ultimate symbols of sunny, warm summer days in the States: baseball.

"We follow it religiously," Miller said.

They do that mostly with the help of the Internet. When they can sneak away from work or on their lunch hour -- a 7 PM ET game starts at 11 AM, the next day, at McMurdo -- they can follow games on one of the sites that runs play-by-play accounts of the games.

They can't watch the games on MLB.TV because it requires too much bandwidth.

At McMurdo, they can watch whatever games are televised by the Armed Forces Network. Normally, it picks up ESPN games or other nationally-broadcast games. (In that sense, the guys are lucky that they all root for big-market teams who tend to get on ESPN more frequently. A Royals fan at McMurdo would be out of luck.)

Miller said he has a tough time watching his Red Sox "because I tend to get a little upset if things aren't going their way."

To Miller, though, working at McMurdo is like being in Boston, compared with the time he spent at the South Pole Station. Because it is even more remote than McMurdo, located 900 miles inland at bottom of the Earth, there is no television at the South Pole. Internet is only available for certain hours of the day, because of the position of the satellites.

Miller said when he was following the Red Sox last fall in the ALCS, the satellite window closed with the Sox down 7-1 to the Rays in Game 5.

"I had just kind of given up," said Miller, who found out later that the Red Sox came back to win that game and extend the series. "When you get to that type of thing, it can be a little aggravating."

Miller saw the Red Sox win the World Series in 2007 just before leaving for a tour at the South Pole.

Gilchrest, the Phillies fan, saw his team win the World Series from McMurdo.

"Even though the games were in the middle of the day, my supervisor let me turn it on," he said. "I snuck back and watched the last few innings."

Gilchrest, who is going be back home in October, is hoping to see another championship in person.

"I'm glad the other teams in the division are cooperating and playing even worse (than the Phillies), especially the Mets," he said. "I think the Phillies are back on track. I predict they'll win the division."

Bonnet, the Mets fan, has obviously taken his share of grief from Gilchrest. He's suffering with the Mets just as any fan in the States.

"They've got $50 million on the DL," he said. "I don't think any other team can claim that. I think they need to believe in themselves. They can win. They have enough there to win."

Like a true fan, seeing the bright side.

Even in a world of darkness.

It's a Long, Cold Summer for Baseball Fans in Antarctica originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Jeff FletcherFri, 17 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST Nationals Apologize to Fans via E-Mailhttp://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/07/13/nationals-apologize-via-e-mail-to-fans/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/07/13/nationals-apologize-via-e-mail-to-fans/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/07/13/nationals-apologize-via-e-mail-to-fans/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Well, this is a first. The Washington Nationals, who fired Manny Acta after an absolutely dreadful 26-61 pre-All-Star break record, were compelled to send an email to their fans Monday morning. We can't really tell at this point who had the bright idea to send out the letter or who actually wrote it, because it is simply signed, "Washington Nationals Baseball Club," thus, we have to conclude it's been approved by those in charge.

The letter seems to be an apology to the fans for one of worst first halves we've seen in baseball in recent memory, and it does state that the excessive losing is unacceptable.

The truth of the matter is that the Nationals were fighting a huge uphill battle when they first moved to Washington. The Montreal Expos were a glorified farm team for the last few years of their existence, so the Nationals were trying to build from the ground up. Their next move didn't help.

The hiring of Jim Bowden as the general manager was a disaster. He traded for one season of Alfonso Soriano and then wasn't able to keep him after the season. He had the chance to deal Soriano for a large haul of prospects at the trade deadline in 2006 and failed to do so. At the time, he probably could have gotten four prospects for Soriano, which is a franchise-changing type trade, but Bowden instead claimed the Nats were going to build around him. He may have been the only person in baseball who thought that was even remotely possible. Other moves like the signing of Paul Lo Duca and several reclamation projects didn't pan out. Bowden resigned under fire while being investigated by the FBI for skimming the signing bonuses of Latin American prospects.

The team gradually got worse under Bowden's watch, as he seemed to pick the wrong veterans to sign along with the development of prospects. The evidence of Bowden's work? Just look at the records during his tenure and carrying into this season.

2005: 81-81
2006: 71-91
2007: 73-89
2008: 59-102
2009: 26-61 (the .299 winning percentage puts the Nats on pace for a near-historically bad 48-114 record)

Anyway, this awful 2009 season shouldn't have been difficult to foresee. The Nationals have a decent enough nucleus, but absolutely no organizational depth and a wretched bullpen. The letter goes to great lengths to discuss the future direction and highlights some of the promising players on the horizon. Read the full text below:

TO: Fans of the Washington Nationals

No one is more dissatisfied in the first half of the 2009 Washington Nationals season than we are. Like you, we had hoped that some of our younger players would have matured faster and that the addition of some of our new veterans would have significantly improved our record from a season ago. Our hope was that a solid club leadership would emerge on and off the field and that some intangible combinations would begin to click resulting in many winning streaks.

We definitely do see significant pieces materializing for the future, and there have been many close, exciting games and optimistic bright spots: Strong outings by John Lannan, the home run and RBI production of Adam Dunn, the All-Star selection and 30 game hitting streak of Ryan Zimmerman, and the recent addition of speedster Nyjer Morgan. Much of the season, however, has been defined by weak relief pitching, poor defense, and youthful inconsistency. We have tried to work through this period with patience and focus but now we are faced with mounting losses which are beginning to take a toll on our entire roster. Clearly, some changes are required as we prepare for the second half of the 2009 season and, more importantly, build for a competitive future.

Today, we announced that manager Manny Acta is being replaced on an interim basis by Jim Riggleman, veteran manager, and currently the Nats bench coach. Both the Ownership and the entire Washington Nationals organization have the highest respect for Manny Acta and the role he has played in the short history of the Nationals. However, it is our belief that a fresh attitude and approach is necessary as we set out to improve our performance for the remainder of the year. We want to send a strong message to our clubhouse and our fans that the status quo is unacceptable. We believe that more is expected of everyone in the organization.

Baseball operations will be reevaluating all our players and our options for improvement over the next several months. We hope to sign our 2009 draft choices by the August deadline. We hope these new additions will join an already exciting Nationals youth movement headed by the likes of Lannan, Jesus Flores, Alberto Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmermann and Craig Stammen on our current roster, and the likes of promising minor league stars like Chris Marrero, Michael Burgess, Danny Espinosa, Derek Norris and Drew Storen, among many others. But, we also will be determining the viability of trades or roster upgrades that can be made without doing damage to the farm system or the developing talent we expect to blossom within the next two years.

When we bought the Washington Nationals in the middle of the 2006 season - just under three years ago - we committed to a patient, long term approach, building a strong farm system and core foundation that would deliver a perennial and consistent contender; to provide a second-to-none family entertainment value at Nationals Park; and to investment and involvement in the metropolitan Washington DC community. Today we remain steadfastly committed to each component of that mission. We are proud to represent the National Pastime in the Nation's Capital, and we are proud to call the Capital area home.

We know we have a way to go, but the end result will be all the richer for the early days we've spent together at Nationals Park. We are getting better. We want you to be with us as the pieces of the puzzle come together. Your support is powerful to the Nationals and baseball in Washington. Thank you for your continuing patience and your commitment to a shared dream.

Sincerely,

Washington Nationals Baseball Club

Nationals Apologize to Fans via E-Mail originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>jim bowdenJimBowdenmanny actaMannyActaMatt SnyderMon, 13 Jul 2009 14:55:00 EST From the Windup: Whining About Ticket Prices? Get Your Facts Straighthttp://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/07/09/from-the-windup-whining-about-ticket-prices-get-your-facts-str/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/07/09/from-the-windup-whining-about-ticket-prices-get-your-facts-str/http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/07/09/from-the-windup-whining-about-ticket-prices-get-your-facts-str/#commentsFiled under: ,


From the Windup is Matt Snyder's extended look at some aspect of America's pastime each Thursday.

First things first, I should probably tweak the little italicized intro here, because baseball isn't America's pastime anymore. Complaining is now the favorite pastime of too many Americans, especially the ugly woe is me type of whining that infests every message board and comment section across the Internet. One in particular got me going this week, and it wasn't an outlier. It's become far too common to see this ill-informed cry: "I can't afford to attend baseball games anymore."

I know it's easy to complain about money these days, and to those who have fallen unemployed, my heart goes out to you. I would also like to believe the truly unfortunate have much better things to worry about than whining about Major League Baseball's ticket prices on an Internet message board. Like looking for a source of income. If I was unemployed and trying to figure out how to feed my two kids, you can bet I'd be spending all my time looking for ways to make money instead of worrying about how much baseball players make.

Secondly, if you don't want to attend a baseball game for reasons other than price, that's your prerogative. I'm not going to sit here and tell people how to spend their money. You couldn't force me into the ballet or a WNBA game, so I'm not going to proclaim you have to like baseball. Everyone has their tastes.

This piece is intended as a rebuttal to the people who claim they used to go to games and can no longer afford it. It's in response to people who talk about "these escalating prices" and how "ridiculous" they are. It's to bring the real truth to light about the readily available and affordable tickets Major League Baseball has to offer. The only thing I have to gain here is my own sanity, so you can save those accusations about me being paid off by Bud Selig -- and I doubt he'd ever give me a dime.

Here's a list of each ballpark and the cheapest full grouping of tickets:

Chase Field, Arizona Diamondbacks: $5
Turner Field, Atlanta Braves: $6
Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore Orioles: $8
Fenway Park, Boston Red Sox: $12
Wrigley Field, Chicago Cubs: $9
US Cellular Field, Chicago White Sox: $9.50
Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati Reds: $7
Progressive Field, Cleveland Indians: $8
Coors Field, Colorado Rockies: $4
Comerica Park, Detroit Tigers: $5
Land Shark Stadium, Florida Marlins: $9
Minute Maid Park, Houston Astros: $7
Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City Royals: $9
Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Los Angeles Angels: $12
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles Dodgers: $9
Miller Park, Milwaukee Brewers: $8
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minnesota Twins: $8
Citi Field, New York Mets: $11
Yankee Stadium, New York Yankees: $14
Oakland Coliseum, Oakland A's: $9
Citizen's Bank Park, Philadelphia Phillies: $16
PNC Park, Pittsburgh Pirates: $9
Petco Park, San Diego Padres: $9
AT&T Park, San Francisco Giants: $10
Safeco Field, Seattle Mariners: $7
Busch Stadium, St. Louis Cardinals: $16
Tropicana Field, Tampa Bay Rays: $10
Rangers Ballpark at Arlington, Texas Rangers: $6
Rogers Centre, Toronto Blue Jays: $5 (US dollars)
Nationals Park, Washington Nationals: $5

Five dollars? That's a fast food value meal, if you get one of the cheaper options. Nine bucks? Seen a movie lately? Sixteen bones? DVD or CD, anyone? Of course, musicians and actors seem to get a free pass when the masses are whining about athletes who "play a kids game to make millions of dollars," so I wouldn't expect movies or music would come to mind as a comparison. Have you seen the earnings estimates of Will Smith or Brad Pitt recently? They make Albert Pujols look like a pauper. Elvis Presley made approximately $49 million in royalties last year, and he's been dead for almost 32 years. That's more than Tim Wakefield has made in his entire 17-year career. Do you think Donald Trump would trade his annual earnings with those of Mark Teixeira or CC Sabathia?

But, somehow, it's more horrifying to the masses that an athlete make lots of money. I don't get it -- other than simply accusing the complainers of jealousy, but shouldn't the jealousy still be redirected to the richest of the rich? Anyway, I digress.

To those complaining about prices, I'd simply like to ask if you've done any legwork on the deals each team has available.

The Astros currently have a deal going where you can buy a 10-game ticket for $20. Two dollars per game, per ticket. Say you have a family of four, and you are friends with a few families. Split it up. You could be taking your family to four Astros games for $32 plus parking.

Turner Field (Braves) has two sections in what Knox Bardeen called "the stratosphere" (sections 437 and 422) where they sell seats for $1. Also in Atlanta, they have a promotion called Two-for-One Tuesdays, where you can buy two tickets in the upper-reserved portion of the stadium for a total of $8. Four dollars per ticket, math majors.

It only costs $4 per seat every game all season in Colorado's "Rock Pile."

There are deals like this all over baseball. If you really want to attend a game and thought -- due to the all-too-popular misconception -- tickets were out of your monetary reach, I urge you to visit Fan Value Corner on MLB.com's tickets section and click on your favorite team. You just might find something within your budget.

Now, of course people are going to complain about how the cheapest seats aren't good enough. It's supply and demand. The better seats cost more, because they are in more demand, and, therefore, people are willing to pay more for them. If you can't afford to pay more, well, that's no different than any other walk of life. I don't drive an Escalade, I'm sorry to say, but I'm not about to go screaming from the mountaintops about how unfair life is that I'm stuck with a Pacifica. Life's perfectly fair. We've all made choices and have had to live with them. If you want to go to a baseball game and the $9 seats are the best you can do, you can either buy those or stay home -- but if you stay home, it's by choice.

Plus, have you been in those so-called bad seats before? I can tell you from experience the cheapest seats in Wrigley Field and Great American Ball Park are still just fine. You can see the entire playing surface and can always tell what is going on in the game. The photo below was taken by my FanHouse colleague Adam Gretz -- from the second-to-last row in Pittsburgh's PNC Park. His ticket cost him $16. He says, from personal experience, these seats are a better view of the entire field of action than the club seats (which cost $55).

PNC Park

Most stadiums' worst seats are like this. These aren't 100,000 seat football venues. In the ones that have extreme nosebleed sections, including football stadiums like in Oakland and Florida, the entire upper deck is usually a barren wasteland of empty seats. Buy the ticket, move down and sit in one of the front few rows of the upper deck. You can see the entire field and enjoy some peace you couldn't in an overcrowded section.

Next, we're sure to hear about the parking fees. There are ways to make it happen without just driving up and paying what you deem to be too much. Typically, you can park for $15 or cheaper right next to any stadium. In stadiums in the middle of city streets, you can park a few blocks away for a third of the cost, as long as you don't mind walking. The overwhelming majority of stadiums are accessible through various forms of public transportation. For example, you could park somewhere in a nice area of Chicago for roughly $5, and then, for an additional $2, board the Red Line (an elevated train or subway, depending upon where you board it) and get to Wrigley Field. Chicago isn't exactly a cheap city, either, so seven dollars is very reasonable. Gretz informed me he paid $5 to park right next to PNC before attending the game where he took the above picture.

Finally, let's attack the whining about concessions. I agree that most stadiums charge way too much for food and drink -- especially beer. If you don't want to pay exorbitant prices for food, pack a lunch and eat it on the way to the game. Dine at the fast food joint in the area. Bring a picnic basket or cooler and tailgate. If you live close enough, eat before you leave home or when you return from the game. There are options. It's not mandatory to purchase anything but a ticket to gain admission to a game. Everything else is your choice.

The figures listed above obviously get more expensive if the games are sold out and you have to go to a broker or scalper, but that isn't really happening too often around the league. Unless you are a fan of the Red Sox, Phillies or Cubs, there are pretty much always seats available. In fact, only 11 teams in the league are averaging more than 3/4ths capacity per game. More than half the league averages less than 60 percent of their capacity in home attendance.

Again, do you actually want to attend the games, or do you just want to complain?

There was one complainer in particular whose comments stuck with me. He said he lives within walking distance (read: Doesn't have to pay for parking) to Pittsburgh's PNC Park and can't afford tickets. Said he's never been to a Major League Baseball game.

Really? You can buy $9 tickets right now for Friday's Pirates game against the Giants. Those are outfield seats, which is a fun way to view a major league game. If you are reading this, kind sir, and you really can't scrape together $9, leave a comment about it, I'll email you and we'll discuss how I can help you attend what will allegedly be the first baseball game of your life. I'm dead serious (impostors, I still have the guy's email address, so don't flood with ticket requests; it won't do any good).

The problem, though, is that it's most likely not the nine bucks. It's the anonymous complaining. I have no idea why it's so popular to whine like a baby on a public forum about how society has wronged each of us, but that's the way of the masses nowadays. It's much easier to complain about how rough you have it instead of doing something about it. It's more convenient to say baseball doesn't make it possible for you to see a game at a cheap price than it is to seek out a deal that works for you and make it happen. This kind of laziness and mindless negative banter makes me sick. That, to me, is much more troubling than player salaries. Either come up with a legitimate reason to avoid baseball games -- "I'm boycotting because of steroids" or "I just don't like baseball" are two -- or start taking advantage of the reasonable deals out there. Whatever the decision is, quit blaming ticket prices. They are quite reasonable -- even in Yankee Stadium (check both grandstands and bleachers).

Hat-tip on cheapest seat figures: FlipFlopFlyin

From the Windup: Whining About Ticket Prices? Get Your Facts Straight originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:28:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>from the windupFromTheWindupMatt SnyderThu, 09 Jul 2009 11:28:00 EST