One night at Fenway
Posted on July 8th, 2008 – 12:02 PMBy Howard
(Note to all: Gregg Anderson grew up in St. Paul, went to the U and has somehow ended up in western Massachusetts, where he teaches history. He married well — my friend Audrey from Macalester — and writes real good. Here’s his take on last night’s game.)
Fenway’s the greatest venue there is if you had a good seat- I had one last night- upper deck down by the right field foul pole (or the Pesky Pole as those with Sox credentials call it ). I walked up and bought it at the ticket window before game time — $50 face value, factor that in the next time you complain about the Dome. My attempts to work the ‘informal’ market were unsuccessful - $40 for standing room seemed a bit steep. (Don’t all us guys think we’re master negotiators when it comes to scalped tix?) It would also seem as if the South Boston Bulger mob (See Howie Carr’s excellent book The Brothers Bulger, for clarification) runs the ticket scalping operation outside the park-It looks like a cross between a Dropkick Murphys show and the Massachusetts Legislature. I could’ve had a box seat for only $200!
A tip for MN visitors- if you park a mile or so down Comm Av. (Commonwealth Avenue to those of you “from away”) you only have to feed the meter for an hour or so - beats $25-50 near the park. Also be advised that Mass. state statute requires that at least one member of your party have an Italian sausage outside the park- IT’S THE LAW! All that said it was a beautiful night for baseball — warm, a breeze blowing, friendly banter with the Sox fans once my cover was blown- people at Fenway in my experience ARE pretty knowledgeable. A terrific game, too even though the result was not what we had all hoped.
But as for the game:
*Let us begin with Delmon: Does he know that he’s not required to swing at the first pitch? Was he not paying attention when he was doubled off first? I didn’t see the replay so I’m not sure, but… 7 LOB, a run NOT scored- not a good night for the lad. I was coming around on him but last night - Yikes!
*Scott Baker (and not just because of his uniform number) reminds me a lot of Dave Goltz- not one outstanding thing you can point to, just a lot done well. I hope he has Goltzie’s career, too.
*I also think Kubel’s reached the point where he should not be pinch-hit for- dunno the splits in last night’s game though.
*Would Cuddy (and I’m a Cuddy guy) gotten to Coco Crisp’s almost HR?
*Memo to Daisuke Matsusaka: GET ON WITH IT! THROW THE DAMN BALL! I WAS A YOUNG MAN WHEN THIS A-B BEGAN….
And some non-game related questions: When Papelbon threw the ball a million camera flashes went of. Why? Doesn’t that have an effect on the players?
When (and where) did wearing team gear to the game start? It seems I’m the last hold out.
Anyway the life of a teacher is never dull. Off to Detroit for Thursday’s matinee!
other people are here too
73 Responses to "One night at Fenway"
$50 for a ticket in RIGHT FIELD? Yowza. I know the sets are REAL close to the action (what with the four foot fence and all…)
Don’t think I could do that. Beautiful ballpark or not it’s still a ton of money to drop on a game.
I think I have lost 6 months off my life so far this season because of Delmon Young. He is by far way too impatient of a hitter and too relaxed in the field (how many times has Gomez had to get to Young’s balls out in left?). I think we need to send Young to AAA or at least to the bench for awhile and let Kubel start in left or when Cuddy comes back start Span out there (can even lead off Span when Cuddy comes back too). i don’t know…that dang teenage mutant ninja turtle (Delmon Young) really urks me at times!
I was at Fenway a few years ago for an interleague game vs the Phillies. Glad I went. Glad I got to see it before it collapses out of decay (which I swear could happen any moment… I think you took your life in your own hands by risking 3 hours in the upper deck). I have no desire to go back any time soon.
My 2 cents on your questions, Gregg:
*Delmon is fair game for questioning his penchant for first pitches, but getting doubled off 1B was not something to criticize for. You have to take a secondary lead when the pitch is released and a line drive to the 1B behind you just means you’re dead meat, period. If he DOESNT take a secondary lead and the line drive goes through, everyone would whine about how he didn’t get enough of a “jump” with the pitch to get to 3B.
*Hadn’t made the Goltz-Baker connection, but I agree, if he has a Goltz-like career, I’ll be very happy.
*I’ve never been a huge Kubel fan, but I tend to agree. I would not have PH for him in that situation, but I also can’t say it was totally unreasonable either.
*Yes, I believe Cuddyer gets to the ball Crisp hits to the wall. He does not, however get there in time to have a sandwich and a hot dog while he waits for it to come down in to his glove like Span did. Kid is fast, no doubt about it.
*Agree on DiceK. Does make you wonder if Japanese baseball games run about 4 hours, doesn’t it?
I do wear Twins gear to games and have at least worn a Twins cap to games since oh… about 1961. I have, however, retired my Santana jersey and made a note that future investments should be limited to retired ballplayers’ jerseys… or bargain rack t-shirts (anyone got a “smell’em” tshirt they wanna get rid of cheap?).
JimCrikket- thanks for the clarification on the Young DP- I just wasn’t sure- After Monroe hit I was reminded of Joe Posnanski’s observation that a large part of the time a manager’s move doesn’t work-I wouln’t have PHed for Kubs, but not a stupid move by any means.
T- the seats still aren’t that close- and there are many chairs that cost more- ($90) that are much worse! I can’t get too many Sox games past the budget committee, but since the boys were away at camp and it was just me it was OK- I told my wife how much AFTER I got home…
I see I’m not the only person who subscribes to the “easier to ask forgiveness than permission” philosophy when dealing with the chair of the “budget committee”. 
BUT never tick off the chair and lose all the “fringe” benefits!!! 
Fenway’s a joke. The sooner they blow that place up and dump it the ‘hahbah’ the better
What? No mention of the Fenway Franks? Were they good?
TIckets for Yankees games aren’t any cheaper. Went to a day game last year and paid $80 for a $11 face value ticker. I feel your pain.
I’m shocked Yankee stadium still has $11 face value tickets.
Fenway Franks are highly overrated- the sausage is good though! And I lean toward MN Hicks assessment, but since the ownership has dumped about $200 Mill into the Park over the last few years, a new one is unlikely. And I’d hate to see what the market for Yankee tix will be next year!
One of the things about Fenway (Wrigley, too I suppose) that folks for get is they were built when a big crowd was 20K or so- if you have one of those seats the experience is great.. if not…
Interesting. I was at Dodger Stadium last year and the Dodger Dogs were everything they were hyped to be, imo. I had 3 of the damn things.
I’m as “old school” as anyone around here, I think. But whether it’s Fenway or Wrigley, those stadiums to me are just “old”. Unfortunately, they’ll probably be around a lot longer than I will.
Around here, “new” ballparks are all chain link fence and aluminum bleachers.
I don’t think that’s an upgrade over an “old” park. Just IMHO.
I get to about 6 Cubs games a year and I’ll agree that Wrigley is showing it’s age. The atmosphere is great, but the stadium itself is just old….
Can anyone defend Gardy’s move bringing Bass in the 8th, rather than Guerrier or Crain (or even Reyes, the lefty)?
I think they went with Bass as it was just his time - Crain and Guerrier had been used more and more recently, I think, and when a bullpen guy isn’t relegated to mop-up (Bonser this year, Ortiz last year) then you have to show confidence in him if you want him to have confidence in himself (or so the conventional thinking goes) as you may need him in critical situations down the line. Alternate theory: Bass is getting a last-minute audition to keep his roster sport - lots of people coming back from injury or playing too well to be sent down - and someone will have to go.
I was shocked he used Bass, Michael. As I mentioned in the previous thread, I personally am subscribing to malachy’s “Alternate Theory”. Gardy wanted to find out if he’s a guy that should be kept when Cuddy comes back. I’m personally not sure that giving up 1 run to the Red Sox constitutes “failure” of such a test, but it wasn’t the result we were looking for, for sure.
For a guy who likes to talk about how “everyone on the team has a role”, it was kind of a bizarre choice since that situation has certainly not been Bass’ “role” to this point.
I made my first visit to Fenway last year to see the last regular season game (Torii’s last game as a Twin). I am in love with Fenway. The renovations they have made over the past few years make it way better than Wrigley.
The ballpark has charachter and history. You can’t say that about the Dome (unless you count the constant smell of old boiling hot dog water as “Charachter”) or many of the newer ballparks.
Crikket says:
For a guy who likes to talk about how “everyone on the team has a role”, it was kind of a bizarre choice since that situation has certainly not been Bass’ “role” to this point.
-Exactly! Gardy talks out both sides of his mouth whenever it serves him… it’s very maddening… you can’t have it both ways! You either have players stay in their “roles”, go with the lefty/righty thing in the lineup, go with the numbers vs RHP/LHP, play small ball, do the little things, be aggressive at the plate, OR YOU DONT!
You can’t bring in Bass because it’s “just a hunch” and in the same inning, pinch hit someone because they have a better % vs LHP… what sense does that make?
Shame on you, Jeff! The Dome doesn’t have character and history? ? ?
I won’t go further.
I think people should give Delmon a break. His approach at times can seem rushed, however, when he’s hitting the ball through the right side of the field two or three times a night nobody seems to notice. The fans need to understand that there is a big picture to the game. Baseball is made up of many moves and many battles that make up a season. Some moves may seem detremental, but most likely are part of a bigger gain.
Twinsfix - I just read your blog post, good site, I have bookmarked you and may visit as often as I visit FireGardy and Gleeman…
Reasonablefan: I dont think people are jumping on Delmon as much as we are blaming the coaches (gardy, vavra, ullger) whoever, that in those situations you need to “TEACH” the young players that patience is key and making a pitcher throw strikes to you is a better approach to that particular AB… especially since DiceK had walked 2 of the 3 batters prior to that… that is not good coaching and it cost us the game in the end.
MarkW, sometimes Gardy tries my patience, too. But that said, a manager almost by definition can’t be “consistent”. If every decision should be made purely based off of a particular form of statistic, you wouldn’t need managers. Plug the situation in to a computer and have it spit out the next strategic move.
Managing is as much art as science. I don’t think one decision or one player cost that game last night. There were several things that could have been done differently that could have made a 1-run difference. Some games are frustrating that way.
When he’s asked why he did this or that, Gardy gives an answer that most of the time reflects his thinking at the time of the decision. Sometimes he goes with the odds based on statistical experience, sometimes he relies more on instinct. I don’t think he’s alone as a manager in doing both occasionally, do you?
that in those situations you need to “TEACH” the young players that patience is key
Funny thing about teaching…it requires a student to listen.
Problem #1 with No Child Left Behind.
Look at Torii Hunter. He was a free swinger when he got here, he was a free swing when he left. He’s still a free swinger this year.
PS: It’s important that a hitter learn patience, but not to the point that they let EVERY first pitch go by (see complaints earlier this season and in 06 regarding Mauer and being 0-1 in the count all the time)
T your not blaming Hunter’s free swings ways on No Child Left Behind are you?? IMO mechanisms in place to keep people accountable is always a good thing
IMO mechanisms in place to keep people accountable is always a good thing
A good student can make a lousy teacher look good. Likewise, a crappy student can make a wise teacher look bad.
You know, like how parents tell you “Don’t you touch that stove!”…and what will typically happen?
Yep, the kid touches the stove anyway. And then they get burned.
Same thing with some hitters. They have their mindset, and even the best coaches aren’t going to get them to drastically alter it.
Young was a free swinger when he got here…he’s still free swinging.
Hunter was a free swinger when he left…he’s stlil free swinging.
What do both have in common? First year with a new hitting coach. Is it possible that both may slightly change their approach over the next year or so. Yes.
Will they change it dramatically? It’s much more likely Delmon can change than Hunter.
To add: That’s where the FO and management make evaluations.
Can the Twins live with Delmon as a free swinger? Do they feel the trade-off in the long term will be worth it?
If he can put together a career that’s like the last few years Hunter had with the Twins, then I’d say yes. But they can’t cut bait on him after only one season with a new club.
It isn’t like he’s a Lamb, Sierra, White, or Everett…where’s past his prime and fading. He’s young, and he’s learning. And it’s going to take some work to change his habits.
T: You won’t see me complaining about what Mauer does at the plate, he IS our best hitter, w/out question, he is also the best 0-1 and 0-2 hitter I’ve seen in a while. Him at 0-2 is better than a lot of batters at 3-0.
Yes, the young players (Gomez included) need to LISTEN, but is it being said at all? When you hear Gardy say “that’s how he gets hits..” it doesn’t seem to me that they are preaching patience at the plate (as you can see by their # of walks this year)
Hunter ticked me off to no end, I dubbed him RK (Rally Killer) at one point… but his Defense usually overlooked his offensive struggles, although he developed more power through the years (and in his words, learned from Mauer on plate discipline when he arrived)
I just think the problem starts w/ management/front office and the philosophy they have and how they handle each player differently, like it’s little league and Jimmy and Johnny can do no wrong, but as soon as Billy messes up, he’s benched for a month (Kubel, Casilla come to mind) JimC - I’ll answer your questions in a few…
It is amazing how managerial moves are dissected in baseball…I guess that’s what makes baseball great.
If Monroe comes through in that situation (as he has before this season), then we all praise the move by Gardy. If he fails, then Gardy was dumb.
Well, if that’s the long and short of it, then I submit you have to look at Gardy’s overall body of work in light of the individual move.
If what Gregg says is correct, then Gardy was also wrong to play Monroe on Sat. and Sun. over the weekend. I submit Gardy got it right.
This, of course, all goes back to the origin of the Free Jason Kubel campaign–premised on the idea that Kubel is no longer a platoon player, but an everday player.
I disagree.
Kubel has had a very good season. But .265 doesn’t mean you can’t be pinch hit for or benched if the opportunity presents itself, particularly for a guy who has shown the ability to come through with clutch hits.
Problem is, Kubel has also come through with plenty of clutch hits this year. So this was ultimately a tough call for Gardy–a close call; but one that I can live with nonetheless.
Here’s the point: Gardy has got the most out of Jason Kubel and should be commended for it…the minute you “free” Kubel and have him play everyday and abandon the mix and match approach which Gardy committed to at the outset, you’re going to end up with two sore spots… 1. A stale, uninterested Craig Monroe and 2. A DH who hits .240.
I think it’s time to put last night behind us and give Gardy the credit he deserves.
I didn’t mind Delmon swinging at the first pitch as much as Dice K taking an hour between pitches. I grow more impatient at that than coaching decisions.
He DID walk two batters preceding Delmon, but they were unintentional intentional’s to Mauer and Morneau, which I wanted to do to Manny.
Just walk everybody with an “M” in their name.
LOL Jason Kubel has just as many HRs as Morneau and actually hits them more frequently then Morneau.. folks need to remember Kubel is also young(26) and lost 2 seasons due to a devastating knee injury he may finally be recovered from this year Kubel has the 6th most ABs on the roster I think he is FREED!!
JimC:
Agree, many things COULD have happened in that game that would have determined a different outcome…
I feel you need to have your best players in key situations (if they fail, then you did all you could) but the way Gardy manages is like he’s saving players for situations that may never come, a lot of the time it ends up not working out, and the other times he gets what he wanted and he’s heralded as such a great manager. I dont think it’s all about stats/computer models, etc.. I think it’s more common sense… like this: “8th inning, 2,3,4 hitters up, tie game, if they score, we face their closer in the 9th w/ our 7,8,9 hitters up, this is the game - who should pitch to ensure we are still tied and it’s our chance to win the game? Probably our best pitcher… right?” Well, that’s not what happened, Bass pitched and we lost… it’s the same thing that cost us the Oakland series when Perkins came out in the 7th or whatever because it was lefty vs lefty, instead of Nathan, because if they scored the game was basically over at that point…
did anyone listen to LaVelle filling in for “Common Man” today? any nuggets he tossed out?
FIRE: I did not listen to LEN3 today…
And I agree that Kubel is all but completely free, I’m still worried that Gardy will decide he doesn’t like him again and we’ll see him benched… but yes, he’s getting his AB’s at DH, which is good… I think he should be 5th in the lineup all the time, even if Cuddy comes back…
I came off as critical of Gardy’s Monroe and Bass decisions last night.
Watching the replay right now…….Bass almost struck out Manny but the foul-tip came out of Mauer’s glove. Then they continued to pitch Manny outside, and he finally caught on and flicked his game winning hit to right field.
So it’s no big deal. Just a good, close game.
Go Gardy!!
I better not hear any complaints about ticket prices going up with the Twins new ballpark. Because they WILL go up, and they WILL be worth it. Just like the $400 I dropped on a Fenway playoff game once, I don’t regret it for a second. Someday they’ll have to get rid of it, but it will always be the most compelling place to ever watch a game.
Any Lineups yet for tonight?
MNDuck23: I disagree to a point w/ ticket prices… they SHOULD NOT have gone up over the last 2 seasons while we are still in the Dome (what’s changed?)
As far as prices going up for seats in the new stadium, well, you can expect that because it’s NEW, BUT we are already paying in the form of a sales tax increase, so how much more are we going to be fleeced with to fund YOURS and MY MN TWINS?
Maybe Bass came in because they want to see if he can fill a role; IOW, maybe some other teams have been asking about Crain or Guerrier……
I never said they should go up in the dome, maybe only with the rate of inflation. As for the new park, good luck with that argument. They’ll charge much more than the inflation rate, and they’ll sell out. The sales tax pays for the park, not the operations, and demand will keep prices high for the foreseeable future. The Twins aren’t a charity, they’re a business.
When I went to Fenway for a game, I remember telling the coworker with me, “This place reminds me of our old minor league ballpark in Cedar Rapids. The baseball gods told us it no longer met minor league baseball standards and if we didn’t build a new one, we were going to lose our team.”
I can not imagine that Fenway meets any sort of standards baseball sets for stadiums. It should have been replaced decades ago. Wrigley, too… but having been to both, I’d give Wrigley a longer stay of execution than Fenway.
With that theory, shouldn’t we pay for every business in town in they want a new building? They aren’t charities either…
I’ll pay the price to watch a winning ball club, but they’ll raise the prices every year from now ’til 2088, whether or not they win or lose - where’s the justification in that?
I think the Twins are being a bit “slick” with their ticket pricing scheme. They went on record saying ticket prices at the new stadium would not be significantly increased over similar seats at the Dome.
Turns out, from what I’m hearing, that they are keeping their promise through two methods. First, they’re raising ticket prices at the Dome this year and next. The result is that a ticket priced at $25 last year might go up 10% or so for a couple of years before the new park opens. Then, when the price is set for the new seats, the increase is measured by the most recent Dome price… not the original $25. Slick.
Similarly, since all of the new park’s seats are closer to the field than the upper deck of the Dome, there really are no “similar” seats to the cheap seats in the Dome. So even the upper deck seats at the new park can be priced “similarly” to the pricier lower reserved seats at the Dome.
But they’ll have kept their word. 
Sometimes we do pay for businesses. States give tax cuts to large corporations to invite them here (I don’t know Minnesota’s history with this but it’s done in other states all the time). It depends on how bad the state wants that business. Just like they wanted the Twins to build a new stadium badly enough that they raised taxes. As for pricing the product, it’s mostly supply and demand. The Twins would do well to keep prices at a point that doesn’t come off as too exclusive, that way they can keep butts in the seats without lowering prices when they have bad years. I agree with you in principle, this is a community team and should be available to all income levels, but this new stadium will be a cash cow and (hopefully) the Twins will leverage that cash into an even more competitive team.
JimC: I think you’ve nailed their strategy…because that’s exactly what IS and WILL happen. Don’t worry, the $48 Diamond View tickets this year, will probably be $60 or more in the new stadium… the $7 cheap seats, probably will double… and wont be so “cheap” anymore - How will the rest change?
$106.00 Ticket Exchange Touchdown Club
$50.00 Lower Club
$48.00 Diamond View
$30.00 Lower Reserved
$24.00 Upper Box
$21.00 Upper Club
$20.00 Home Run Porch
DQ Sensational Saturdays
$13.00 Family Zone
$7.00 Cheap Seats
“Here’s the point: Gardy has got the most out of Jason Kubel and should be commended for it…the minute you “free” Kubel and have him play everyday and abandon the mix and match approach which Gardy committed to at the outset, you’re going to end up with two sore spots… 1. A stale, uninterested Craig Monroe and 2. A DH who hits .240.”
You are still going with this? Come on. Is it that hard to take an actual look at some numbers?
In the Twins last 24 games, Kubel has started 19 of them. In those games, he is hitting .333/.400/.623. Even if Kubel had started those other 5 games, and went 0-4 in every single one of them, he would be hitting .258 over that stretch.
I’m not trying to suggest that Kubel play every single day like Morneau does. Sit him against a tough lefty. Nothing wrong with that. But he should be past the “pinch hit with a right handed hitter” at this point, and you should realize that he isn’t a .240 hitter.
MarkW, I’m sure the Twins will gladly lower ticket prices in years where they aren’t competitive… just as soon as they get the Players Association to agree to have players’ salaries cut when they have poor seasons.
As fans, we like to complain when our team doesn’t fork over the cash for top talent. But the fact is that many times that top talent underperforms and the season goes in the tank. That doesn’t mean the organization’s costs are any lower and it doesn’t mean your ticket prices will be lowered.
That said… as I think Baltimore Oriole fans will attest… if the team REALLY becomes putrid, it WILL have a major effect on attendance and the laws of supply and demand will result in lower ticket prices than might be set when the stadium first opens. Whether those lower prices take the form of lower ‘face value’ or greater availability of ‘discounted tickets’, lack of demand will make it cheaper to go to a game.
I hope the Twins don’t have to prove that theory true for a very long time.
mnduck23: Yes, I understand that, government subsidies run amok in the so called “private sector” i.e Airlines, farmers and anything else the state/local governments think they need to protect for the “good of the people/state” I know that it was also put to a vote for the county and it was passed (and they are elected to those positions), doesn’t mean I agree w/ the idea of it… of course there are lots of things I dont agree with what the state spends money on (my property taxes are raised to fund local schools but I dont have any kids in those schools)…
But i agree, for the near future, they wont have an issue selling out the stadium, but it’s a winning team that keeps fans coming back and they will certainly have to spend some of that ticket revenue on the team (but as most of us are aware, the ownership has proven to be very frugal up to this point)
Mark, I will be surprised if there is a seat in the new stadium with face value under $20. Maybe Standing Room Only tickets or some special discounts for certain games. Just a hunch.
My two cents on last nights game.I get that Bass has pitched well recently,and Guerrier had pitched in three straight games i believe.That said Bass is still the 10th or 11th guy on the staff.Since Crain had to come in anyway to finish the inning I would have prefered him to start the 8th.
JimCrikket is right on with regards to Delmons getting doubled off first.Young is in a no win spot right there.Hershieser described it very well on ESPN last night.
This isn’t the free Kubel bit, but I think you need to let your #5 hitter take a shot here and save Monroe.The result might not have been any better,but at least you’ve got Monroe in the ninth to try and tie it with one swing instead of sending up LNP and Span.Monroe and Lamb could have been options in the ninth.That how I saw it anyway.
One more thing.The Espn guys spent the whole game talking up the Twins speed from Punto to Casilla in the order.Someone tell Gardy about it.He had two more excellent chances to steal a base last night (Span and Casilla) and wouldn’t pull the trigger.IMO,with the OBP Span and Casilla have, they should be running alot more than they are.
JimC: A valid point on the players salaries, although I think in the MLB, the salaries are much closer to actual player performance then any other sport… no rookie is making $25mil before he ever plays a game and it takes a long time for someone to really get paid (of course there are exceptions) but for the most part, these guys are earning their paychecks well before they ever hit the FA market or get a large contract…
Do I think Hunter was worth $18M a year? Not for 5 years, not a chance… maybe for 2 more years… Was Santana worth it? I think so, but a lot of people would say no (see Barry Zito)…
I’m not one to say throw your money at whatever FA is out there just because… but I do disagree w/ giving the RonDL’s, Craig Monroe’s, and Ramon Ortiz’s of the world, $3-6M… there are times to spend and there are certainly times to not spend.
$50 for Fenway spare seats, $50 for a call girl. You get “it” both ways.
Doug: I think you are right on as most of us have come to those conclusions about the game and agree on them.
With that said, I’m wondering what we will throw out there tonight vs the Lefty Jon Lester (who just shut out the Yankees)
MarkW-
Lineups are posted on Joec’s page.
$50 for Fenway spare seats, $50 for a call girl, win tonight against the Red Sox, priceless!
thx Doug, time to switch over I guess…
T.Block - Nice!
I love (read: do not love) how all the titles of the post game write ups included “Manny” and praise him, when he hit a routine grounder (and had looked awful against Baker, especially on the strikeout) but we had the infield in for the winning RBI, even the ESPN guys were like “maybe he’s turned a corner”…
I was also at the game last night! I think the 26 dollar bleacher seats were in the 100 range…. i got em for free though :). Nice 7.75 beers, etc…. was still the one of the best places to see a game and i even did the tour. The view from the monster is great! Maybe next time Gardy will let Kubel hit, Bass stay in the bullpen and pinch hit for the light hitters in the 9th.
FYI by the way, if you ever find yourselves in CT, go to a New Britian game! Great atmosphere, really nice park and amenities for AA.
standing room only are the only 20 dollar tix in Fenway.
If you think prices are too high at Fenway or at the Dome or at the New Park…
Stay home.
This is America, you vote with your pocketbook.
bison,
no one is staying at home from Fenway, they are sold out thru the end of 08
And that’s precisely why they’ve had the most expensive ticket in the league every year for a decade.
‘07 to ‘08 avg mlb ticket price increased 10.9%. Minnesota 7.3%. In 2007 the Twins had the 10th cheapest ticket in MLB, 2008, 10th cheapest again.
Another contributor on ticket prices. Boston is the largest market in the country with only 4 major professional teams and they’re about 25% larger than Philly, the next city on the list.
In contrast the only two markets smaller than the Twin Cities that support 4 professional teams are Phoenix and Denver.
According to a bizjournals.com 2006 study you could put another baseball team and another football team in Boston and the market conditions would still be better than they are in the Twin Cities.
Based on personal incomes our market is over extended by $25 billion and they’ve got $100 billion in excess capacity.
Boston also has the 3rd smallest stadium in america, per the tourguide yesterday….
they keep old seats installed to prevent new larger ones from further dropping their capacity.
RE: old seats in Fenway
Shawn, that includes at least one down the RF line (lower level) that sits directly behind a huge supporting pole. The pole is literally a foot in front of your face and completely blocks your view.
But the seat is there and being sold.
Yes, I know the upper deck at the top of the Dome is the same, but this is a higher priced seat.
Thanks, MarkW. Sorry I didn’t read that comment until now.
The atmosphere would be cool to see but I’ve never been the biggest fan of the stadium itself. Many of the aspects of the game such as homeruns and line drives in the corners just look less dramatic with the small sandbox size and a big wall on one end, a tiny fence you can trip over in center and an awkward corner at the other end. I also think homeruns to right in the dome look less exciting.
I’m glad you enjoyed Fenway always like to hear with others think. Tickets are steep and demand is high. I was at that game and ended up sitting in leftfield.
5 Years ago you could have blown Fenway up and except for a few save Fenway folks the decison would have been supported. Plenty of improovements and a better over all place. Still it has old building problems.
Especially, in rightfield where the seats face the Wall instead of the plate. A few years ago pre 2000. You could walk up and get a pretty good seat day of game. still can if your willing to stand in line for 1-3 hours.
Incidentally, you can’t beat teh Sausage King outside the ballpaerk just down from the Cask and Flagon on Landsdowne St. I hope the Twins heat up again for the rest of the ride.
