The Rocket Returns to the Bronx

[Matt Molnar]

What do you think about them picking up Clemens?

Good? Bad?

Are the Yankees saved?

Is he worth the money? If he pitches as well as expected, his prorated $28 million salary will work out to something like $2 million per win, and I like this figure best...$8,300 per pitch.

Personally I think the Yanks had no choice given the atrocious condition of their rotation.

[wunaladreamin]

The Yankees are a team of designated hitters. Their pitching is atrocious. He's gotta be able to do something.

[T-Bird76]

Two words....."Who Cares"

[mirrodie]

Two words....."Who Cares"

8)


IN a word where so much is so much more important, I've got to agree.

[Matt Molnar]

Two words....."Who Cares"

:?:

There are tens of millions of people in this country with at least a passing interest in this new fangled sport called "baseball." :roll:

[T-Bird76]

Two words....."Who Cares"

:?:

There are tens of millions of people in this country with at least a passing interest in this new fangled sport called "baseball." :roll:

There are also ten of millions in this country who can't name the Vice President. It’s all nicey nice that he's coming back to the Yankees but does it really matter? Can a normal American family even afford to take their kids to a baseball game anymore? I have to wonder how many children today won't know the experience of going to a ball game. So I say again "who cares."

[Matt Molnar]

There are also ten of millions in this country who can't name the Vice President. It’s all nicey nice that he's coming back to the Yankees but does it really matter?

To continue that line of thinking, in the grand scheme of things anything we do for entertainment...like looking at airplanes...and photographing airplanes...and talking about airplanes...isn't worth a damn either, is it? :D

[T-Bird76]

There are also ten of millions in this country who can't name the Vice President. It’s all nicey nice that he's coming back to the Yankees but does it really matter?

To continue that line of thinking, in the grand scheme of things anything we do for entertainment...like looking at airplanes...and photographing airplanes...and talking about airplanes...isn't worth a damn either, is it? :D

Well at least taking a picture of something and editing takes a rather high level of knowledge. Sitting there in your underwear drinking yourself into oblivion holding your leg up like a dog pissing on a pole because you think it will give the team good luck doesn't take much skill, LOL

[USAF Pilot 07]

Can a normal American family even afford to take their kids to a baseball game anymore? I have to wonder how many children today won't know the experience of going to a ball game. So I say again "who cares."

Unfortunately, not in NYC. Ticket prices are OUTRAGEOUS in the NYC market, but I suppose it all boils down to a supply vs. demand market...

Most ballparks have cheap tickets, located in the bleachers or someplace out in the outfield, and run promotions like family night etc... which make going to the games affordable. For example, Coors Field has I believe something like $2 or $3 seats in Centerfield.

Then again, the "quality" of baseball, and the overall atmosphere and feel that you'll see at many of these ballparks is nothing like the one felt at places like Yankee Stadium and Fenway....

[Matt Molnar]

Unfortunately, not in NYC. Ticket prices are OUTRAGEOUS in the NYC market, but I suppose it all boils down to a supply vs. demand market...

I'm afraid it's going to get much worse with the new stadiums being built...the teams will use them as justification to boost prices significantly...plus "Citifield" is being built with about 10,000 fewer seats than Shea, so aftermarket prices for big Mets games will be more insane than they are already.

[RDU-JFK]

I hate these new stadium projects. What's wrong with the stadiums as they are now? Sure, Shea's a dump but it was perfect for baseball (except no bleachers). You don't need fancy restaurants and big brick facades and stuff. When I go to the game, it's to be outdoors on a nice day to see good baseball, and buy the obligatory hod dog or two. Forget all of that other stuff.

There's no more character anymore. Give me Shea anyday.

I didn't realize Citi Field was going to be 10,000 seats smaller than the rest.

[PhilDernerJr]

As per Tommy, no one is allowed to have fun until you can pass a 5th grade history exam. :lol:

[moose135]

I hate these new stadium projects. What's wrong with the stadiums as they are now? Sure, Shea's a dump but it was perfect for baseball (except no bleachers). You don't need fancy restaurants and big brick facades and stuff. When I go to the game, it's to be outdoors on a nice day to see good baseball, and buy the obligatory hod dog or two. Forget all of that other stuff.

There's no more character anymore. Give me Shea anyday.

I didn't realize Citi Field was going to be 10,000 seats smaller than the rest.

It's going to be about 10K seats less than Shea - approximately 45K, vs. 55-57K for Shea. It's in line with most of the newer ballparks. On an average night, when the team is going well, that is plenty of seats. The problem comes when there is a big series (Yankees, Braves, etc.) and those tickets sell out fast. It's just economics, the law of supply and demand.

The reason all these new ballparks are adding luxury boxes, restaurants and other amenities is two fold:

- the "casual" fan wants something more than just a hot dog and a ball game. Unless you are in an American League slug-fest, many casual fans find baseball a bit dull. I would love a classic pitchers' duel, one or two runs, a few hits, a bunch of strikeouts, but I'm in the minority these days. All the other attractions keep your interest between innings, pitching changes, etc. Why do you think minor league teams have all kinds of other stuff going on during their games?

- that's where the real money is. Do some quick math: assume 40,000 tickets at $20 average (I know there are a lot of more expensive seats, but I have a 7-game plan at Shea this year, Upper Reserved, and the tickets are $9 - $17 each, so I'm assuming there are a lot of cheaper seats too). That's $800K per game. Over an 81 game season, that a little over $64 million. That covers half the Mets player payroll, to say nothing of the rest of the staff, front office personnel, vendors, maintenance, utilities, advertising, and so on. Luxury suites and other attractions bring in some big cash.

When you say Shea is "a dump", that is exactly why they are building a new ballpark. Who wants to bring their kids to a run-down, dirty, crowded ballpark? A new, clean, modern stadium, with improved sight lines, restrooms and concessions will attract more fans. I love Shea - it's where I went to my first baseball game, and would love nothing more that to see them renovate it, but it's just not going to happen.

[PhilDernerJr]

I fail to see what the problem is with the current Shea Stadium. It might not be gorgeous, but I can't find anything WRONG with it.

Moose, I hear what you're saying about filling the seats and keeping people entertained, but I think the NEw York crowd is different from a smaller city. New York has 8 million people, many of whom follow baseball very religiously. There is enough demand here to keep people happy with just a hot dog.

I don't think at all that people "want more than a hot dog" at a game. They buy other things because it's there. The only problem is that it's mor expensive than an airport...not that we need to redesign a stadium to accomodate more ice cream stands.

[USAF Pilot 07]

I fail to see what the problem is with the current Shea Stadium. It might not be gorgeous, but I can't find anything WRONG with it.

The problem is that a "Shea" stadium has a tremendous economic potential, and the current Shea stadium is not close to touching that potential.

I forget where, but someone published an article slamming major league baseball teams for being all about corporations and very rich people.

All these teams and cities are putting up new ballparks, but are cutting seats. Why? If baseball was meant exclusively for the "lay" people, they'd be increasing seat capacity. Instead, teams are going for where the money is. They are building these extravangant luxury suites, and catering to rich corporations and people. They are revamping all their services, offering a wider selection of things like food, drinks and entertainment, but are charging more for everything. While newer, cleaner facilities with more selection and the like will undoubtedly draw more people to watch games, ultimately it comes down to where the money is.

Yes, there's nothing physically wrong with the current Yankee Stadium or Shea Stadium, but economically, they could be perfoming far better, if they had the facilities to accomodate rich clients. This is why new stadiums are being built.