Friday, August 13, 2010

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.

BASEBALL ROADTRIP 2010: THE WRAP-UP [PART 2]

Monday was, on paper, an ‘off day’, and although we were supposed to run to a famous breakfast place, we instead slept until it was time to go back to AT&T Park for the tour. At this point we were officially exhausted. We love ballpark tours, and there’s another big plus for me: the tours are when I get all my beauty photos of the ballpark. When we go to the game, we’re so consumed with batting practice and finding our seats and checking out the food and the views and the bullpens and whatever else we’re supposed to see - I love that I don’t have to worry about getting ‘the’ stadium shot, I can just focus on the game because I’m coming back for the tour. This was not the case at AT&T because there was a private corporate event on the field. Not only did it mean that I didn’t get my photos, but it also meant that it severely curtailed tour access to the point that it should have been canceled. It also caused the tour to run overtime, and by the time I got my shots of the park from McCovey Cove, it was too late to have lunch at the Terminal Market or the Embarcadero or Fisherman’s Wharf, or ride a cable car. This wasn’t a huge tragedy since we had both been to San Francisco before, but it was still unfortunate.  Instead we ran back to the hotel to change to head out to the Oakland Coliseum to see the A’s v Red Sox. One of our good friends was in from the East Coast for the series so at least we had some rooting interest, and it was nice to go to the game with people we knew.

Friday, August 06, 2010

WHAT IF THEY STAGED A BOYCOTT AND NOBODY CAME?

There was some chat on Twitter tonight about fan disgust regarding team performance, and what would happen if everyone who had tickets stayed away from Citi Field on a particular date, in order to send a message.

My take: no one will do it. Six bloggers will write about it and there will be a litany of excuses about money spent and promises made and that it won’t help and the Wilpons already have our money and they don’t care (with a derail to blame Carlos Beltran, because what would a litany of complaints about the Mets be these days without blaming Carlos Beltran somehow)?

Would people do it?

The idea floated was to show up at Citi Field - don’t pay for parking, take the train or hike in from street parking - and sit outside in protest. August 25 was the date thrown out.

I love protest and civil disobedience like no one’s business but I don’t see the greater Mets fan community getting behind this. These are people who defended the Mets throwing out the guys with the K cards last year on the grounds that “duct tape could damage the signs!” (the same signs that are built to sit outside 365 days a year in all weather conditions). People will protest that we’re getting in the way of their good time.

I am happy to pound the virtual pavement in favor of this if anyone, at all, thinks it has legs. I just don’t think that it does. I wish it did.

Join The Citi Field Sit Out on August 25!

Sunday, August 01, 2010

TEARDROPS ON THE CITY. [8-1-10]

Mets v Dbacks
8-1-10

It was not a good game. In fact, it was the complete opposite of good. Given that it happened after the lovely Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, it was like going to church in your Sunday best and then throwing up all over your patent leather shoes.

The highlight of that part of the afternoon was this:
Oliver Perez appears out of the bullpen, but has not yet been announced by Alex Anthony. The gentleman to my left (wearing an I’M CALLING IT SHEA shirt, which to me indicates a level of taste and intelligence, especially since I was wearing one myself) sits up with interest. He straightens his shirt. He removes his hat and runs his hands over his hair. He opens a bottle of water, takes a sip, swishes it around his mouth.

“Now pitching for the Mets: number 46, Oliver Perez,” comes out of the speakers.

METS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY, 2010.

First things first: hats off to the Mets for doing this day right. This was a ceremony Mets fans could be proud of. (I am covering http://metsgrrl.com/index.php/site/comments/teardrops-on-the-city.-8-1-10/”>the debacle of a game in a separate post, so please save your cards and letters.) They have learned from previous events and it shows. The field had imagery that looked nice on television and if you were there in person, the ceremony was distinguished and moving, yet to the point - the principals got their moment but it didn’t go on forever. I’m sure we all would have liked it to, but this isn’t Cooperstown, there was a game to play, and people’s attention spans are short, especially on a Sunday.

Friday, July 30, 2010

MY WAVE. [7-30-10]

Mets v Dbacks
7-30-10

It wasn’t until I arrived at Citi Field, wearing my WE LIKE IKE shirt (it was on the top of the pile) that I realized that Mike Pelfrey was pitching tonight. That shirt was still at the laundry from the trip, so even if I’d wanted to wear it, it wasn’t an option.

But I wouldn’t have worn it even if it was.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

BATTING PRACTICE, CITI FIELD, 7-28-10.

I was invited to attend batting practice on the field yesterday as a member of the media. Shooting from the warning track instead of jockeying for position behind the dugout with the autograph hounds was a delightful experience.

[Be sure to read the game post, too.]