Tuesday, August 31, 2010

GOODBYE, JEFF FRANCOEUR.

So Jeff Francoeur is gone, traded to the Rangers, who, quite frankly, deserve better. People liked him for artificial reasons that had nothing to do with what he did on the field. He knew what to say and had an above average command of spin, which guaranteed you always saw good quotes from him. The beat writers loved him because he always had a smile and a quote. That’s not a good attitude, that’s savvy business. I don’t fault him for that but I do fault fans who don’t know the difference. He was a liability, and although he had a tremendous arm, I won’t remember the throws, I’ll remember every time the bases were loaded with 2 outs and Francoeur was up next. I will remember his agent using the royal “we” and taking his case to the media about not playing every day.

It shouldn’t matter that he’s gone. We shouldn’t even care as much as we do. It is sad that losing a player is a glimmer of light.

Now watch, he will go and pull a Barajas on us. Oh wait, no, he won’t.

Update: Thankfully, Baseball Think Factory has captured my feelings on Mr. Francoeur perfectly. Must read.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

WEDNESDAY WEEK. [8-25-10]

Mets v Marlins
8-25-10

At this point in the season, it is just about watching baseball. It is hoping that someone can shine, or excel, or show promise for the future. It is not about believing, or hoping, or even idly musing. Mathematically the Mets may not have been eliminated, but in mind, body and spirit, the 2010 are long gone, no matter what Jerry says. I would believe if I thought it would do any good. But if belief mattered, Citi Field has already levitated multiple times on the power of positive thinking.

Monday, August 23, 2010

SUMMER BALLPARK ROUNDUP, 2010.

Finally! I’ve completed my series of ballpark writeups for all of the ballparks I visited this summer. In descending order:

• Dodger Stadium
• Chase Field
• Oakland Coliseum
• AT&T Park
• PETCO Park
• Angel Stadium
• Nationals Park
• Target Field

And in case you missed it, my wrap-up posts (post 1 and post 2) on the West Coast trip.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

MOVIE NIGHT AT CITI FIELD.

Tonight was the premiere of the Billy Joel documentary “The Last Play At Shea”. If you don’t know, Billy Joel (who happens to be a Yankees fan, but that’s another story) played the last two concerts in the history of Shea Stadium, back in 2008. The movie made its official premiere during the Tribeca Film Festival earlier this year, so I’m not sure how exactly this was the premiere, but I also don’t really care: for $10, I got to sit in Sterling Club seats (row 6) and got to watch a movie I wanted to see anyway.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

THROWING LIKE A GIRL IS BACK!

We’re back! And just in time to talk Rob Dibble, K-rod, and how much the Mets and Cubs are sucking.

Friday, August 13, 2010

LOOK, MA, NO BULLPEN. [8-13-10]

Mets v Phillies
8-13-10

Tonight, I had expected the absolute worst. I rode out to Flushing in a subway car full of idiotic Phillies fans who refused to hang on and kept sliding into other passengers. I had security tell me that the water bottles I have purchased and brought to every single game this year were suddenly “too big”. I did not want to be at the game but it was Friday and I had a ticket so I was going. Worst case scenario, I thought, if it became too unbearable, if the suckitude was too great, if section 514 was teeming full of Phillies fans, I could simply go home.

Remarkably, it was not that kind of night after all.

DEAR ROB DIBBLE:

8/15: I am aware of Mr. Dibble’s apology and clarification, and thank him and MASN for his response. If you are a woman, married to a woman, have a daughter or a mother and do not understand the post, I offer this interpretation (also from a woman, my apologies). If you want something from a man, I offer this link from Can’t Stop The Bleeding (all dudes, so it’s kosher).

You’re a jerk.

If I had a dollar for every time I saw a man at a baseball game, talking to his friends non-stop, or doing anything except paying attention to the game, you would no longer be employed by MASN because I would have been able to purchase the network and then fire you. (I would fire you not just being a sexist clod, but for being a horrible announcer. The poor Nationals fans deserve so much better. But that is not my drum to beat.)

Listen, I hate looking at the fans behind home plate who are clearly there because someone got them the tickets. I hate the dorks who wave at the camera with their cellphone glued to one ear with a passion you cannot possibly understand because I (almost) never get to sit in those kinds of seats (when I did have that chance, I literally didn’t talk for three innings because I was so overwhelmed at being that close to the game). I am sure it is tiresome to watch the rich and lucky of either sex, especially in Washington DC, sit there and - to your view - ignore perfectly good baseball.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

THREE RING CIRCUS.

“No, I’m not. We’ve had a lot things go on here and there. We are men and things come our way. We still have a job to do”
—Jerry Manuel, via Andy Martino of the NYDN

The quote above was in response to what was likely the 37th question asking if Francisco Rodriguez’ arrest last night was a distraction for the team.

Really? It’s not a distraction? Really? Because I would think that your high-priced star closer allegedly going postal against a family member (if someone is carried out on a stretcher with visible injuries, I believe that rates the term ‘going postal’) on team property in front of other team family members, being arrested and held overnight, causing THE ENTIRE BASEBALL WORLD to focus on your team that is already making headlines by imploding so astronomically, would be a fucking distraction. The media swarm, the headlines in every paper, the police presence… but no, not a distraction.

How about: “Yes, it’s a distraction, but everyone else here still has a job to do, people bought tickets to see a team on the field today, so that’s what we’re going to do.” Wouldn’t that be a measured, reasonable, intelligent response?

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT. [8-10-10]

Mets v Rockies
8-10-10

I didn’t head out to tonight’s game expecting a win. I didn’t even expect a good performance from Mike Pelfrey. All I wanted was some time sitting up near the top of 517 (the location of our pre-All Star break pro-rated Weekday Plan) and a few hours of baseball, a few hours of knowing what was going to happen, a few hours of the comfort of the repetition of at-bats and inning breaks and sides up and sides down, of familiar at-bat music, of tedious commercial breaks, of familiar voices booming out of loudspeakers.

Sunday, August 08, 2010

BASEBALL ROADTRIP 2010: THE WRAP-UP [PART 1]

I came home from the West Coast with sunburned knees, pistachio shells rattling around my camera bag, and kept pulling ticket stubs out of random pockets. It was 11 days, 9 games, 6 ballparks. It was also one of the greatest trips I have ever taken.

Here’s a recap of the trip, with background, planning insight, and tons more awesome photos.