Nationals Park - Not Ready for Prime Time

Last night I went to my first game at Nationals Park to see the Red Sox against the Washington Nationals. As you can see below, the Nationals were concerned with the large expected turnout. This season, the Nats rank last in MLB in terms of attendance. But last night's game, set a stadium attendance record as the park was overrun by Red Sox fans.

Now, with advanced noticed that this would be a large crowd, you might expect the stadium to be prepared. Sure there might be some glitches, but at the same time, tickets went on sale in March and virtually sold out with the exception of some of the more expensive seats rather quickly. So there I was - bottom of the second inning, and decided to make a run to get myself a sausage and a couple of beers. I am with a friend, we are both very excited in anticipation of getting something to eat - sausage for me, and kielbasa for him. We wait in line for several minutes, only to find out - they were out. Of everything. Bottom of the second inning, and the Sausage Stand was out of sausages. And kielbasa. And peppers. And onions. They could have sold you a roll, but that was about it. In sheer disappointment, we venture on to find another sausage stand - this time we wait for what seems like an hour, missing many key plays. Finally we get to the front of this line - they are of onions and kielbasa (and something else, which I don't remember at the moment). Thankfully they had Italian sausages left, or else things could have taken a turn for the worse. So two beers and an Italian sausage later, I finally returned to my seat - top of the 5th inning. That's right, I missed from the bottom of the second to the top of the 5th all in a pursuit of something to eat.

From The Department of Redundancy Department

The Red Sox are coming to D.C. this week to play the Nationals. I am very excited for this and will be attending all three games. Unfortunately, the Nationals are not exactly accustomed to handling large crowds and they are expecting a large contingency of Red Sox fans to overtake Nationals Park.

So on Friday, I received the following e-mail from the Nationals. This is the first paragraph:

The Red Sox visit the Nation's Capital to take on the Nats on June 23 - 25. Nationals officials are expecting capacity crowds at Nationals Park on all three nights and encourage fans to arrive at the ballpark early when the team faces Boston to avoid rush hour delays and long lines.

Then, just in case that first paragraph was confusing, the Nats broke out their team president to reiterate that more than 38 people might be attending these games. Here is what Nats team president had to say.

"We are encouraging all fans to arrive early at Nationals Park when the team faces the Boston Red Sox next week in order to avoid delays and long lines." Nationals President Stan Kasten said. "We are expecting capacity crowds to be travelling to the ballpark during the heart of rush hour for all three games, and advise fans to plan for extra travel time."

See, much different than that first paragraph. Not to mention that I love that it falls on the shoulders of the team's president to tell people to arrive early. That isn't slightly below his pay grade?

What is wrong with ESPN

On the list of ESPN outrages, this may not rate the highest, but what is wrong with that network? Today is father's day and this is the poll question 0n the main page -

Which athlete would you want to be your dad?

Really? Isn't there something wrong with that question? Kids, don't respect your father and honor him on today of all days, but rather, sit at home, and wish you had someone else for a father. But of course ESPN's idiocy doesn't end there. The first choice all you sons and daughters out there can choose to replace your own father is Lance Armstrong. Inspirational story, sure. A good bike rider, absolutely. But someone who has been dogged by performance enhancing drug allegations.

It then gets worse. Choice number 2 - Kobe Bryant. I know ESPN loves him and Spike Lee did everything he could to make us all think Bryant is the greatest person in history. And let's forget for a second that Bryant, while an amazing basketball player, will never be confused for being the best guy to his teammates off the court. And lplease, for a second can we remember that at the very least Bryant used the cover of going to Colorado to rehab his knee to cheat on his wife. Yes please, can I have a father that cheats on my mom? Please, where do I sign up ESPN.

Any chance ESPN hires another ombudsman at some point?

One more thing on steroids in MLB

So this story came out yesterday - Manny Ramirez will report to the minor leagues to prepare himself to return to the Dodgers as soon as his 50-game suspension is over. It also says that Ramirez takes batting practice with Dodger coaches to stay ready during his suspension. Maybe this isn't the biggest deal, but I find something wrong with the fact that MLB allows Manny to take batting practice with his team's hitting coach and then go on a rehab assignment while he is suspended for cheating the game. Shouldn't the punishment be 50 games complete suspension. If he wants to work out, he does so on his own. But he can't go on a rehab assignment in the minor leagues to permit him to be ready to play at the major league level the day his suspension ends. After 50 games, that should be the first time he is allowed to do anything connected with a major league team. Just another example of how MLB still has this whole steroids thing wrong and how they are still bending over backwards to protect the guilty.

Time To Fake Outrage - Another baseball player caught for PED use

First, let me say, I am sick of the performance enhancing drug story in baseball. It is disappointing but at the same time, who can blame the players - the league certainly didn't care, so why shouldn't they have taken something that would make them better players, more famous, earn more money etc. We are unwilling to hold those who let it happen accountable (Bud Selig is still raking in millions as commish), so I don't find it fair to just blame the players. (I don't feel the same about players who are still getting caught, such as Manny Ramirez).

But, right now on the ESPN.com main page is the story about Sammy Sosa being caught for PED use. Then, at the bottom of the page, is a box with a link to a story about Ivan Rodriguez with the question who is the greatest catcher of all time - Isn't there something wrong with tearing down any baseball player who happens to get caught, but at the same time, acting as if a player who just happened not to be outed (yet) accomplished all of his achievements the natural way? Shouldn't we either not care who took PED and just assume most players did it, or be far more skeptical of any accomplishment in baseball over the last 15 years? But simply vilifying the minority who have been caught, and championing anyone else, seems to me rather naive and absurd.

Nothing Like Feeling Entitled to Everything

I saw this story on Friday. Yankee manager Joe Girardi is upset that Brad Penny hit Alex Rodriguez in the game with the Red Sox on Thursday June 11. Girardi thinks it was on purpose, and he doesn't like it. He is a Yankee, they can't throw at us. Who knows if it was on purpose or not. Maybe it was. But it wasn't at the head, it wasn't dangerous. And of course Girardi has no problem with the fact that this season, over the first seven games the two teams have played, Yankee pitchers hit a Red Sox 9 times - Yankees were only hit twice. (and a vast majority of those HBP were inflicted on Jason Bay and Kevin Youkilis, the two players who just so happen to have done the most damage to the Yanks this season). It is all part of baseball - but when your team has done the same thing over and over, and finally, the opponent responds (in a way it should, that wasn't dangerous), it is just complete b.s. to fake outrage the way Girardi has. Just shut your mouth and manage your team.

In a similar Yankee story, injured reliever Brian Brunney on Saturday said he had a problem with Francisco Rodriguez's antics on the mound. You have to love when guys on the DL feel the need to talk to the press, and then especially in this case when Brunney is a teammate of Joba Chamberlain whose antics rival K-Rod's (not to mention that Joba does not have close to the resume at this point that K-Rod does.

What I would love to happen is for the media to maybe do its job - why doesn't someone who hears Brunney's quote or Girardi's ask them about their apparent hypoctical stances. I am sure he would duck the question, but can't someone at least ask Brunney, "if you you think K-Rod is a tired act, what do you think when Joba celebrates on the mound?" But I won't hold my breath.