momadance wrote:http://deadspin.com/5283060/the-nationals-even-lose-to-fireworks

Nationals Park isn't that bad. I mean, the team sucks and isn't interesting, but it's a pleasant enough place to watch a game.

Move the team to Canada. Or Mexico.

Or Puerto Rico!

Didn't the article mention he was hit by an errant paper airplane or something like that? (not in the mood to go back and read it again)

If I were to guess... probably had some sort of unrelated bug up his butt prior to the issue/event. Don't think it coulda been a Nats loss, since that's such a common occurrence. If he lost a wager, bet the Nats, then that's a question of mental competency. Maybe wifey's getting it on with McGruff the Crime Dog?

BTW, the "Do you know who I am?" is smarmy, as I doubt it was said as a means to inform, but as a sword waving narcissistic grandeur thing (at least that's what the circumstance would tend to imply).

I was on the Metro all weekend going in and out of DC and it made me want to puke there were so many people with Mets jerseys on down there. There actually were some Phillies jerseys floating around in the crowd though.

SideshowBob wrote:Nationals Park isn't that bad. I mean, the team sucks and isn't interesting, but it's a pleasant enough place to watch a game.

I rather disagree. I share tickets with some people and I would say that Lerner built a mall with out the shops. It is often church like quiet, the atmosphere is contrived at best, the rule are (and have always been) enforced like the place is the toughest ticket in town, the food is pretty below average (third or fourth caterer), and <gasp> the beer selection absolutely sucks. There there is the product on the field. It is some shameful sh!!t I tell you.

The perpetually empty $300 and $175 seats are a great backdrop for the pitcher. I cannot figure out why you would price seats NOT to sell. Who would pay that? Worst of all is that the $175ers is where my old seats were at RFK.

That atmosphere doesn't suck because the stadium sucks, the atmosphere sucks because the team sucks and it doesn't have any fans.

The ticket prices are a bit high, and the beer selection could certainly be better, but the stadium itself seems to get a lot of blame for the team being awful, which I don't understand.

Oh, an absolute classic is the MASN (sport TV) National Defining Moments where fans bork around about the best moments in Nationals history. One of the, maybe about Dunn, talks about his power (defining moment was his inking). There is an elevated center field bar called "The Red Porch" and the fan says in the spot... he's gonna hit some blasts, "hey you out there in the Red Porch, heads up. Nice use of the singular with their attendance problems (down 30%).

I'll see if I can find it and link it. They play it on the radio, which is best because with the TV spot they past in fans, but the radio makes it like a fish hook.

Notes:

1. We get to share in some of these. One is the year we were in it to win it, end of the season series dealt the Phils some blows and the woman rejoices that they sacked our dream. Funny that it is a new commercial for the year the team is the "WFC".

2. The day after John Lanham "lost his role" as ace they were running his commercial about beating Smoltz.

3. I found this gem looking for the video about the 'fan':

"His next moment? It's the home opener. Nationals Park. Adam Dunn's gonna launch some bombs. The Big Donkey, trotting into D.C. Gresek has a replica 1949 glove. Dunn unloads. First batting practice home run. Up goes the glove. Here comes the ball, packing more punch than a drunk Phillies fan."

I guess you're probably joking, but in case you aren't, "you" is the plural of "you."

thephan wrote:The perpetually empty $300 and $175 seats are a great backdrop for the pitcher. I cannot figure out why you would price seats NOT to sell. Who would pay that?

Perhaps the best thing to happen for the Nats was that a team in their division won the WS. More opportunities for the movers 'n' shakers, politicos, et al to schmooze clients, foreign dignitaries, etc. by taking them to see the world champs

Barry Jive wrote:I guess you're probably joking, but in case you aren't, "you" is the plural of "you."

I am.

The Nats just make me laugh. It is like the new high school across the street from my house. They have a rock that gets painted, they have bonfires for teams that might not be able to get a win if there was a forfeit, and there is an out pouring of "pride" when the kids were brought in from other rezoned schools who out pour disdain. Like with the Nationals, things will come someday, but today it is a joke. My son has a shirt extolling their history to like 1901. Does that mean that the Twins needed to trim their history to 1960? The bland, meet too ball park in a part of town that is void of anything is just part of the fake land scape that started to arrive here about 20 years ago (Reston Town Center is the fake down town in a contrived community - outdoor shopping mall populated almost exclusively by brand name stores).

The spots for the Nats, and now I understand the O's, about defining moments are just bad. I thought not signing the first pick last year was definitional. At least the O's have a history the included success, even through it was oh so long ago.

Barry Jive wrote:I guess you're probably joking, but in case you aren't, "you" is the plural of "you."

We also accept yous, yous guys, y'all, and all y'all. I purposely used "yous" over the weekend for a laugh.

jerseyhoya wrote:That atmosphere doesn't suck because the stadium sucks, the atmosphere sucks because the team sucks and it doesn't have any fans.

Exactly. I won't deny that games at Nationals Park are kinda boring in terms of atmosphere, but that's not the park's fault. Put an interesting/good team in that park as the home team and there would be nothing wrong with the stadium itself. At least the sightlines are good and the concourses are open (I've sat in the OF seats that face center field in Camden Yards for example which suck).

The ticket prices are a bit high, and the beer selection could certainly be better, but the stadium itself seems to get a lot of blame for the team being awful, which I don't understand.

Yes, and I think a huge part of it is the massive cost and public subsidy.

I think the team would do well to lower ticket prices and be more fan friendly, but a lot of the complaints are stuff outside of the team's control (or at least immediate control, like the on the field quality). The area around the park is barren, but that will change over time especially as the economy improves. At least it's easily metro accessably, which is huge in DC.

As for beer selection, I dunno, I don't generally drink at games. I've always thought the food was decent and they have a lot of good local places there (but I don't tend to eat much at games either).

Werthless wrote:

Barry Jive wrote:I guess you're probably joking, but in case you aren't, "you" is the plural of "you."

We also accept yous, yous guys, y'all, and all y'all. I purposely used "yous" over the weekend for a laugh.

See, if I used "yous" in most company I know, it wouldn't be seen as anything out of the ordinary. (Not that I say "yous"--I generally say "y'all" or "you guys")

Oh, as for beer selection, how many major league ballparks actually do have good selection? Citizens Bank Park is a fabulous place, but their selection's pretty poor, especially when you consider that Philadelphia is one of the best beer cities in America.

Barry Jive wrote:Citizens Bank Park is a fabulous place, but their selection's pretty poor, especially when you consider that Philadelphia is one of the best beer cities in America.

I disagree, but maybe it's just because I'm a hop head -- they have Dogfish Head, HopDevil, Sierra Nevada, etc.

Barry Jive wrote:Oh, as for beer selection, how many major league ballparks actually do have good selection? Citizens Bank Park is a fabulous place, but their selection's pretty poor, especially when you consider that Philadelphia is one of the best beer cities in America.

I was up in that Red Porch or whatever it's called, and I though the selection was pretty good as ballparks go.

they do have $5 seats available on all game nights, and email out "buy one get one free" deals for basically every home series to people who've bought tickets online. the issue is the team, even if the park's a B-. it really is essentially what the vet was when new- just like all the other newish parks- but it's a good place nonetheless to watch a game. and it has ben's chili bowl, five guys, and funnel cakes. beer selection isn't great.

yeah, I like the selection there

Grotewold wrote:

Barry Jive wrote:Citizens Bank Park is a fabulous place, but their selection's pretty poor, especially when you consider that Philadelphia is one of the best beer cities in America.

I disagree, but maybe it's just because I'm a hop head -- they have Dogfish Head, HopDevil, Sierra Nevada, etc.

Where are these available? The only micro I've seen is Flying Fish, which is okay, I guess.