tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post6387217388870493745..comments2024-02-29T03:29:52.934-05:00Comments on A List Of Things Thrown Five Minutes Ago: Adamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02113168955236758821noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-90595117761953015712010-09-29T12:43:08.000-04:002010-09-29T12:43:08.000-04:00Genevieve, you'll love the quarter-season plan...Genevieve, you'll love the quarter-season plan. It's the perfect number of games (21 or 22), and sitting with the same group of people and getting to know them over the seasons is what fandom's built on. We talk now about how these early years of cellar-dwelling, false starts, and futility will make the Nats' Someday Success that much sweeter.<br /><br />The package at my seating level (300 mezz) includes a handful of single-game passes to the Stars & Stripes club area. These are very handy for strategic refuge both on 99-degree days in August and when Extreme Rowdiness is a problem. (After a very ugly Opening Day experience, we brought our passes to the three Phillies games on our plan. Used them once.) You can also trade in any tickets on your plan, as Barb does with her O's tix.The Other Katenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-23477330131116215052010-09-29T11:53:13.000-04:002010-09-29T11:53:13.000-04:00... and even better to experience. Everybody engag...... and even better to experience. Everybody engaged, rooting hard, having fun.<br /><br />(and yes! With all the chanting of "Sign Adam Dunn!" that had been going on throughout the game, his towering walkoff homer was the kind of ending that makes you love baseball. Wonderful.)The Other Katenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-50750507519596418892010-09-29T01:47:36.000-04:002010-09-29T01:47:36.000-04:00Thanks, Jenn, would have made those same points my...Thanks, Jenn, would have made those same points myself.patricianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-42620177961311760842010-09-29T00:45:12.000-04:002010-09-29T00:45:12.000-04:00Excellent! That's very good to hear, Kate.
(a...Excellent! That's very good to hear, Kate.<br />(also - go, Adam Dunn!)Genevievenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-76087477219425605572010-09-28T23:10:24.000-04:002010-09-28T23:10:24.000-04:00I'd love for that to happen, especially for th...I'd love for that to happen, especially for the chance to see genuine nice guy and (in our house, at least) still beloved former Phillie Jim Thome across the field. <br /><br />(Although revenge vs. the Yankees would be particularly sweet....)Adam C.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-80715833497667094852010-09-28T22:54:52.000-04:002010-09-28T22:54:52.000-04:00Just back from the ballpark tonight, and the Phill...Just back from the ballpark tonight, and the Phillies fans around us were friendly, chill, and totally classy.The Other Katenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-60739432023345205292010-09-28T21:20:10.000-04:002010-09-28T21:20:10.000-04:00Just wanted to add my 2 cents- before Tampa got go...Just wanted to add my 2 cents- before Tampa got good (and ticket prices subsequently increased), it was cheaper to fly there, catch a game, stay overnight, and fly back than to get equally good seats at Fenway, with dinner and parking. I'm sorry if there aren't many Oriole fans at the games, but I would blame that on the subpar performance of the team rather than the other team's fans who get to show up on the cheap.callieklnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-58900586169027443522010-09-28T20:50:20.000-04:002010-09-28T20:50:20.000-04:00As a Twins fan, another great francise to have bee...As a Twins fan, another great francise to have been rooting for recently due to both team success, and wonderful superstars that make you proud to be a fan, it is my fondest wish to see these two teams meet in the WS. So good luck!Lou Wnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-91063916666869845482010-09-28T20:47:42.000-04:002010-09-28T20:47:42.000-04:00I wish other stadiums (like mine) would adopt Fenw...I wish other stadiums (like mine) would adopt Fenway's policy of having a "family," i.e. alcohol-free, section. Then those of us who want to avoid extreme rowdiness could sit there.Genevievenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-62195595484502153222010-09-28T20:46:42.000-04:002010-09-28T20:46:42.000-04:00Also -- congrats, Phillies! Well done.Also -- congrats, Phillies! Well done.Genevievenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-9366458866734564612010-09-28T20:46:05.000-04:002010-09-28T20:46:05.000-04:00Barb, we're Red Sox and Nats fans living in D....Barb, we're Red Sox and Nats fans living in D.C., and when we go to Red Sox games at Camden Yards we make sure to behave well (my son points out we've done this while sitting in front of O's fans who were making rude comments about Red Sox - we just kept our mouth shut). Not that this says all fans do this, just that we try not to contribute to that problem.<br /><br />Kate, you're making me want to avoid Phillies-Nats games. Next year we're planning on buying quarter-season tickets, and I'll see if we can do that. Though maybe it's only a problem near the end of the season.Genevievenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-63233328161340018782010-09-28T20:01:47.000-04:002010-09-28T20:01:47.000-04:00And that was me again. Sigh.And that was me again. Sigh.Jenn.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-25743342064851887252010-09-28T20:01:07.000-04:002010-09-28T20:01:07.000-04:00Of course, it also helps to have (1) a tiny park a...Of course, it also helps to have (1) a tiny park and (2) night games for the playoffs. Most of the Braves playoff games in their last few playoffs were day games during the week. Mock if you so desire, but plenty of people can't get off of work to attend baseball games, or can't get their kids out of school. But night playoff games sell plenty well in Atlanta. <br /><br />I mean---don't get me wrong. I know that, as an Atlantan, I was an aberration, preferring baseball to college football. But there are reasons why I've been known to boycott baseball's division series on network TV. I firmly believe that every playoff team should get to have at least one night game, preferably on network TV, and that, to the extent that it is at all feasible, every playoff team should get to have at least one home night game. Dammit. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-32254045306992015192010-09-28T18:14:57.000-04:002010-09-28T18:14:57.000-04:00But, as you well know, my hatred of the Braves com...<em>But, as you well know, my hatred of the Braves comes not just from the NL East rivalry, but also because I have no respect for a team that can't sell out a playoff game. We can't take over your stadium if you buy the tickets yourselves.</em><br /><em></em><br />Of course, it also helps to have an extra 15 million people in your metropolitan area. Ramarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-64174317901364933362010-09-28T17:48:46.000-04:002010-09-28T17:48:46.000-04:00Cubs and Mets fans can get obnoxious anywhere, mos...Cubs and Mets fans can get obnoxious anywhere, most espeically when they gather out of town. I'm embarassed by my fellow fans when they do this. <br /><br />But, as you well know, my hatred of the Braves comes not just from the NL East rivalry, but also because I have no respect for a team that can't sell out a playoff game. We can't take over your stadium if you buy the tickets yourselves.Marshanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-30482616824930974752010-09-28T17:46:12.000-04:002010-09-28T17:46:12.000-04:00I agree with almost everything said here, but I wi...I agree with almost everything said here, but I will also add, if you're at your home stadium and see someone wearing the gear of the visitor's team, don't shove her and say something obscene. Especially in front of her kid.<br /><br />Once of the interesting things about the Cubs and Wrigley is that there are Cubs fans all over the country, in part due to WGN's insanely large broadcasting range (and the absence of MLB stadiums between Chicago and California until quite recently) and also fans of many other teams living in Chicago. So the person sitting next to you at Wrigley in, say, full Mets regalia for three games may be wearing a Cubs shirt the other 78 home games of the year. I take a lot of good-natured crap from my fellow season-ticket-holding section-mates when the Cubs host the Mets, but people are pretty good about it. When the Cardinals are in town, half of Wrigley Field is wearing red, and most of those peopel actually live in Chicago - and lots of them are season ticket holders. It's a very interesting dynamic.<br /><br />Some combination of the four members of my family attended 4 out of the five Cubs games from Wednesday to Sunday last week. Attendance was beyond pitiful, despite the fact that the weather was (mostly) beautiful and the official sales were close to sell-outs. I simply do not understand not attending a game for which you have tickets on a beautiful September night just because the team sucks.Marshanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-62006330860541486502010-09-28T17:36:06.000-04:002010-09-28T17:36:06.000-04:00I'm not sure I can even aim for being a good s...I'm not sure I can even aim for being a good sport - that would involve the Mets having ever been in contention in the first place.Marshanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-37611447618383432002010-09-28T16:06:52.000-04:002010-09-28T16:06:52.000-04:00Yup. I've been at Orioles games where Red Sox...Yup. I've been at Orioles games where Red Sox or Yankees fans come down---really uncomfortable, and I say that as someone who has never had a real dog in that hunt, you know? <br /><br />I've also seen some pretty obnoxious groups of Red Sox, Mets, Cubs, and Phillies fans at Turner Field. With the possible exception of the Cubbies---just because of the Chicago thing---I have trouble cheering for any of those teams to win, unless it's something like "to beat the Yankees." I have friends who are fans of each of those teams, so obviously, it's not all of their fans.Jenn.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-52007443137547072762010-09-28T14:43:21.000-04:002010-09-28T14:43:21.000-04:00I typically avoid Phillies games when they are pla...I typically avoid Phillies games when they are playing the Mets. I'm a partial season ticket holder but I don't like the invasion feeling. I will admit that it was pretty sweet this weekend. I went to two games and saw only two Mets jerseys.<br /><br />I am a born and raised Phillies fan and have never booed anyone, ever, in my life. Not a team, not a player who left the Phillies with a bad attitude, not a player from another team who bad mouths the Phillies. Please know that not all Phillies fans are boors. We get a crap reputation.Christy in Phillynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-51312304591238345402010-09-28T14:40:26.000-04:002010-09-28T14:40:26.000-04:00It's not like the Phillies fans bought the pla...It's not like the Phillies fans bought the place out. I read somewhere last night that paid attendance was under 15,000. My friend walked up to the gate before the game and bought a ticket for $5, walked right down to the first level of seating.Christy in Phillynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-39499304847630464752010-09-28T14:30:52.000-04:002010-09-28T14:30:52.000-04:00Yup, Guest was me via iphone. The Iphone was appa...Yup, Guest was me via iphone. The Iphone was apparently also having a hard time being a good sport.Jenn.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-31749482434051359372010-09-28T13:55:00.000-04:002010-09-28T13:55:00.000-04:00Adams, I don't have blanket discomfort the *co...Adams, I don't have blanket discomfort the *concept* of the visiting team's fans supporting their team in my team's stadium. But the actuality, when the balance of support tips the visitor's way, when they do take over, well, come on! It's depressing. It short-circuits the communical and civic-uplift aspect of attending the game. It's ... shaming. Absolutely, the solution is to Grow Our Own Boisterous Fans, and I hope we do.<br /><br />To the specific: I grew up an Orioles fan, and cheered for them like crazy (and "O!"ed the National Anthem) when I was living in Chicago and they came to Comisky, or to Milwaukee, Cleveland, Detroit. There were plenty of us in park (this was the 90s, when the O's were still something), and I like to think I was a good guest and a good sport. I was never confronted or made to feel unwelcome, or met with anything other than friendly razzing. <br /><br />Now I have a home stadium of my own, it seems right to be welcoming in return. As a city with lots of folks who grew up elsewhere, DC sees visiting fans all the time. We get plenty of tomahawk chops, for example, and the Mets draw like crazy. (Happily, "Let's go, Mets" and "Let's go, Nats" = basically same sound.) My group of ticketholders is a sociable bunch, so we chat with visitors a lot. When the guys in the KC jerseys showed up in our section, we bought them beer. So that's all good. <br /><br />Not good: When the stadium has tipped into "takeover" territory, and packs of visiting fans, bouyed with a fizzy sense of invicibility brought on by numbers and a terrific team, mass-crowdbrain-ly forget about civility/simple sportsmanship. And also keep drinking. It's there that boisterous turns ugly and bullying. And joy in a great team starts looking like glee at the undersized kid down on the ground getting kicked.The Other Katenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-63504648019732040382010-09-28T12:57:36.000-04:002010-09-28T12:57:36.000-04:00I was at the Giants-Braves NLDS game in 2002 where...I was at the Giants-Braves NLDS game in 2002 where we just smoked them and there were a few Braves fans here and there. I felt a little (*just* a little) bad for them when Giants fans started mocking the Braves with our own Tomahawk Chop. Usually, Giants fans are pretty relaxed with other fans -- even Dodgers fans. The Pathetic Earthlingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-89041628556804803032010-09-28T12:54:55.000-04:002010-09-28T12:54:55.000-04:00I'm looking forward to an awesome end-of-seaso...I'm looking forward to an awesome end-of-season run here from the Giants -- to have a race this tight with San Diego, and to have San Diego here for the last three games -- and with a real chance that the loser stays home (if the Braves rally and get the Wild Card), it's going to be fun. Of course, San Diego is my second favorite NL team, so I'd love for them to make the WC, but this will be great fun.<br /><br />Jonathan Sanchez's September ERA: 0.73, and the Giants (I'm told) have the best September ERA since the 1965 Dodgers (maybe just NL?). What fun this is.<br /><br />Also, thanks Cubs, for last night. The Pathetic Earthlingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953654.post-83794296134262061192010-09-28T11:52:38.000-04:002010-09-28T11:52:38.000-04:00I remember that series, and the awesomeness of the...I remember that series, and the awesomeness of the sweep, well, even though I was still growing up in Tampa at the time and merely following along on the Phils' Clearwater radio affiliate and the morning box scores. Adam C.noreply@blogger.com