BASEBALL!

[AtLast]

Originally Posted by Yellow band

The pirates record for August was 8 and 22.

They had a late afternoon game (rain out/make up one game) and came to pgh via houston and onto Chicago.

Clearly, they have been awful. Since there was a televised Steeler game, I suspected, in lieu of the steadily declining popularity (again) of baseball
attendance would be low. I called my ticket Rep and asked him if they were discounting any tickets for the game...he said *No, why?* I said
Hey...you're not exactly rocking the house....and we are not going to leave work early, give you $110.00 and well....NEVER MIND!

Heard on the news, less than 4,000 fans came to the game. Seriously.
Could you pay your grounds crew with that money?

We have 4 more games in our ticket plan, I think it's going to be an empty ball park again. How anti climatic.

UGH!!!

The time a team really needs its fan base is when they are loosing!!!

[Dominique]

Originally Posted by AtLastHome

UGH!!!

The time a team really needs its fan base is when they are loosing!!!

The NLB has a page...who doesn't. Even I have a page. Anyhow, The NLB
page, each team has a sub page, so then it's the Pirates page. Ok, I just didn't want you thinking I was on FAKE BOOK. Well, pages and pages
and pages of unhappy Pirate fans. While the team has imploded, they announced they are raising ticket prices. I was all in favor of that. You can sit in the bleacher seats for $9.00, and right and left field, you know...way out there, for $10. Not bad seats for $10.00

Let me see if I can explain this. My season ticket package came yesterday. Season tickets, or half season or quarter season, is the way to go....if you are a fan. The savings is substantial. Well, now the pricing is not going to be bleacher seats, Rt. Field, Left Field. It's going to be all about the view. Every year that you are a season ticket holder, you are
given a chance to bid better. You can't get better (in my opinion) than my seats. Took me 10 years to get here. I am right behind home plate, two tiers up. Perfect for me, because i love to watch the pitching and the catching. With my little binoculars, I can see the black rubber around home plate. I'm such a nerd. So, looking at this price sheet....my ticket, and the view, will cost me $30.00 a ticket more. But then it goes on to say....significant price difference to renewal season ticket holders. But no invoice. I guess I'm supposed to become numb before the invoice and better bid sheet comes. When I heard ticket price increase, I thought oh, $5.00 across the table or something. We have not had an increase in 10 years.

So back to this Pirate page. Fans are calling for a total boycott. That's extreme. I have to tell you what Ryan Doumit (the scrappy catcher) did. I saw this on Sports Clips or something A. was watching. Runner on first. Pitcher throws a past ball. Doumit takes his good old time going to get it (it looked like he forgot
there was a runner on) he actually walked to the ball, didn't even whip off his face mask...then picked the ball up...the runner was on his way to third. All of a sudden Doumit looked at third, and here comes the runner
safe. no throw. Whats that??? I couldn't help but wonder if he was dissappointed no one took him from the trading block?

Good thing we live blocks from the ball park. I refuse to pay 20.00 to park a car. oH HECK, YOU KNOW ME....i REFUSE TO DRIVE A CAR!

[Reader]

Originally Posted by Yellow band

The NLB has a page...who doesn't. Even I have a page. Anyhow, The NLB
page, each team has a sub page, so then it's the Pirates page. Ok, I just didn't want you thinking I was on FAKE BOOK. Well, pages and pages
and pages of unhappy Pirate fans. While the team has imploded, they announced they are raising ticket prices. I was all in favor of that. You can sit in the bleacher seats for $9.00, and right and left field, you know...way out there, for $10. Not bad seats for $10.00

Let me see if I can explain this. My season ticket package came yesterday. Season tickets, or half season or quarter season, is the way to go....if you are a fan. The savings is substantial. Well, now the pricing is not going to be bleacher seats, Rt. Field, Left Field. It's going to be all about the view. Every year that you are a season ticket holder, you are
given a chance to bid better. You can't get better (in my opinion) than my seats. Took me 10 years to get here. I am right behind home plate, two tiers up. Perfect for me, because i love to watch the pitching and the catching. With my little binoculars, I can see the black rubber around home plate. I'm such a nerd. So, looking at this price sheet....my ticket, and the view, will cost me $30.00 a ticket more. But then it goes on to say....significant price difference to renewal season ticket holders. But no invoice. I guess I'm supposed to become numb before the invoice and better bid sheet comes. When I heard ticket price increase, I thought oh, $5.00 across the table or something. We have not had an increase in 10 years.

So back to this Pirate page. Fans are calling for a total boycott. That's extreme. I have to tell you what Ryan Doumit (the scrappy catcher) did. I saw this on Sports Clips or something A. was watching. Runner on first. Pitcher throws a past ball. Doumit takes his good old time going to get it (it looked like he forgot
there was a runner on) he actually walked to the ball, didn't even whip off his face mask...then picked the ball up...the runner was on his way to third. All of a sudden Doumit looked at third, and here comes the runner
safe. no throw. Whats that??? I couldn't help but wonder if he was dissappointed no one took him from the trading block?

Good thing we live blocks from the ball park. I refuse to pay 20.00 to park a car. oH HECK, YOU KNOW ME....i REFUSE TO DRIVE A CAR!

Bleacher seats for 10 bucks? Wow...theyre like 50 bucks at Yankee Stadium, plus a kidney donation to park. But, the Yanks did just scrape into first place last night.

I don't care what the reason is, Doumit should be fined by the coach. I love baseball, but, there is no reason to slack off even if your team is bad. Youre still playing BALL for a living! Any crap day on a shitty MLB ball team is 10 times better than the best day at my job. Any AAA player would love to get that job. Man. I was shocked when you posted that. That behavior is such a slap in the face to sooo many people...fans, players, teammates, working stiffs...crazy. :(

[Dominique]

Originally Posted by Hunter Green

Bleacher seats for 10 bucks? Wow...theyre like 50 bucks at Yankee Stadium, plus a kidney donation to park. But, the Yanks did just scrape into first place last night.

I don't care what the reason is, Doumit should be fined by the coach. I love baseball, but, there is no reason to slack off even if your team is bad. Youre still playing BALL for a living! Any crap day on a shitty MLB ball team is 10 times better than the best day at my job. Any AAA player would love to get that job. Man. I was shocked when you posted that. That behavior is such a slap in the face to sooo many people...fans, players, teammates, working stiffs...crazy.

Yes Hunter, they (the Pirate Organization) were very quick to point out the prices of the tickets at your ball ball park, the Bo sox, The Giants and the Brewers. This enraged the Pirate fans even more.....NO TEAM in baseball histrory has had a loosing record for 19 straight seasons and is
still around. The Pirate Organization was smart enough to Thank the season ticket holders for sticking with them, hell or high water, (we have a
fairly substantial fan base) Steelers #1, Penguins #2....both teams sell out every home game and then the Pirates. Now....even with $9.00 and $10.00
seats almost always available (even as season tickets) we still do not get people to go to the games because well, people, (in general) are tired of loosing. The team reportedly made 30 million dollars last year, with horrible attendance and the lowest payroll in MLB. (and lost 105 games). Ownership disputes that figure. Ownershio owns newspapers. So...I don't know. Show us the pricing of a mediocre team I guess.

And as for Ryan Doumit. Our team manager has a proven track record of
punishing players who minutely give the apperance of being a slacker. Andrew McCutchen is no exception. He failed to run out....all the way to first, an infield pop up to the catcher. And spent two days on the bench
(newspsper said he was fined two days of salary) Clint Hurdle said *we don't discuss discipline* We have a minor league catcher the Bo Sox gave us for cheap, Micheal Mchenry, who turned into an absolute sensation. The first defensive catcher we have had, ever since I can remember.....
Doumit is what critics call a terrible catcher. He lacks finess. Things like, his unprotected hand is always injured from foul balls (every year a broken bone or two) because he lacks the self discipline to put it behind his back
while recieving the ball. His throw out % is 28%. Micheal Mchenry is in the high 90's. Few will even try to run on him now. Not to mention how at least once a game, he catches some one AT ANY BASE, leading off too far
and makes that throw as if he was tossing back to the pitcher.

I have always been a fan of Ryan Doumit, but was very soured on what
I saw. Even sorrier for HIM, that it was broadcast on a sports channel. He may find himself in the minors or out of baseball next year. Passive Aggressive I think. Oh, one more thing....on a low payroll team...he makes 5 million dollars. They called up a catcher from the minors, I think the Pirates are done show caseing Doumit.

[AtLast]

WOOT!!!

SF took the first game vs AZ! And I hear the Pirates won yesterday, too! We had some great offense- Beltran got it going! Keppinger, Huff and Ross woke up, too!!

Let the september scrapping begin!! And with tejada gone, Crawford was called back up- YES!! Love those hands!! And he has potential with a bat.

I saw some clips last night and looks like Verlander and team are doing just fine! Since SF played the interleague series with Detroit, I have been watching them in the AL.

We had 6 runs last night to back up Matt Cain and it was a very sweet sight! So, we shall see.......

[Reader]

Hi Yellow-

These owners are just greedy pigs. They dont care about the fans bc they still get a cut of the other MLB teams $$. So, as long as they sell tickets they won't do anything to help the team bc they dont love the game. Its just another business they own, like another shoe store they happen to own.

Hell, I'd love to have a business that made 30 million a year. But they dont love the game. I hate to say this, and I mean NO OFFENSE, but it reminds me of the Yankees...they sucked until Steinbrenner bought them, bc he loved baseball and wanted to win for the fans and for the players and for the franchise. He bought the team and turned it into what it is bc he had passion. It wasnt just a business to him.

You mention the catcher Michael McKenry. He does look great. But, 90% throw out rate is pretty high...unless you were just teasing me. Why the heck dont they bring him up? Paying 5 mil for Doumit is absurd when you got that guy in the minors, kwim?

[Dominique]

Originally Posted by Hunter Green

Hi Yellow-Hi Hunter

These owners are just greedy pigs. They dont care about the fans bc they still get a cut of the other MLB teams $$. So, as long as they sell tickets they won't do anything to help the team bc they dont love the game. Its just another business they own, like another shoe store they happen to own. I understand it's a business, and you should be profitable.....but gee, can we please compete? We even gave the newspaper owners a taxpayer funded ball park!

Hell, I'd love to have a business that made 30 million a year. But they dont love the game. I hate to say this, and I mean NO OFFENSE, but it reminds me of the Yankees...they sucked until Steinbrenner bought them, bc he loved baseball and wanted to win for the fans and for the players and for the franchise. He bought the team and turned it into what it is bc he had passion. It wasnt just a business to him.I'm aware of that story. It gives me hope!

You mention the catcher Michael McKenry. He does look great. But, 90% throw out rate is pretty high...unless you were just teasing me. Why the heck dont they bring him up? Paying 5 mil for Doumit is absurd when you got that guy in the minors, kwim?

Micheal McHenry is here, hoping he is here to stay. He was brought here when Doumit was crushed on a play at the plate and broke his ankle, and our other catcher blew out his back two days later. Our own minor league prospect (talk about bad luck)
was hit by a pitch in the side of the head and had a fractured jaw. So here comes Micheal McHenry. He flourished
apparently because of desire. It's a feel good story. I think
as I have been saying, Doumit will no longer be a pirate next year. Rumors for two years that they have been trying to trade him. But always injured. He can hit. This incident of sloppy play is not Doumit like. He's playing today....and playing his heart out. I think he saw his fate on the sports wheel. Sad.