It's a crummy day in the big city, so Randy Levine has a ready excuse when no one shows up in the pricey seats to see his $160 million starter, CC Sabathia, take the hill at New Yankee Stadium. Meanwhile, the caste system story continues to pick up momentum. At the very least, the team could hand out some freebies to local schools/nonprofits to fill some of those entire sections that remain open–for the pr value if nothing else. Lefty Brett Anderson goes for the A's.
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129 replies on “Anybody Out There? A’s-Yanks Gamer II”
YF: there’s a link buried at “itsaboutthemoney” that is worth a click through:
http://itsaboutthemoney.blogspot.com/2009/04/embarrassment-of-rich.html
The bathrooms on the 300 level were atrociously designed, really just embarrassing – too small, with walls in inopportune places, one door for in AND out, so a bottleneck of, well, gross proportions. Sounds like the architects made a point of not doing some of that down below.
You guys have just argued against yourselves. If the lowest levels are empty, and those are the priciest seats, while the upper levels are packed, who exactly was most affected by the Yankee pricing structures? And the links you provide are now arguing that the prices on those pricey seats should be dropped? To what, $100-500 a seat? I don’t know who your friends are but the “have-not’s” I know including, um, me can’t afford that either. So your ballpark for the rich will get more affordable for the rich? How does that make sense?
I really don’t understand your argument any more, apart from the emotion. In your minds, how much should seats in the lowest level cost? If you lower those seat costs, won’t more people snap them up as a part of season ticket packages? Aren’t we then back to where we were at the last place but in the secondary market? Or are you arguing for some sort of price-control and lottery system? On a per game basis?
“one door for in AND out, ”
The bathrooms near my seats on this level both have 2 doors….
I don’t know that anybody’s argued against themselves here. The best seats don’t have to be made affordable for those who prefer the upper deck. I think what people are worried with the price increases (coupled with the bad economy) is a ripple effect. People who used to be in the old premium seats opted for ones further back in the new stadium, which set off a wave trending towards seats away from the field. I’m not saying that’s necessarily what is going on, but it seems to me that’s what is being discussed.
The problem, FSP, is even if there is a ripple effect no one really thinks the whole upper deck is overpriced, do they? Is $20 really too much for the lower-middle class? Those tickets are very available now – I can’t even give mine away. So what’s the effect of all this outrage? It seems to me it’s to lower prices for the rich or anyone who can afford $100+ for a baseball ticket. So, to me, as a “have-not” in this jargon, the debate means little. It’s not going to help me or anyone below my means.
If you want to hear my outrage, please someone explain to me how I can get YES in HD but not the actual games. What the hell? Instead of the game right now, I get…Seinfeld guy on Centerstage?
Rob – I would actually consider your tickets if I weren’t already going to go the game.. hehe..
That said, CC just gave up a 3 run HR..
And as for this moment in time, Anderson is at 23 pitches, an amazing 18 for strikes, and Matsui is up with 1 out down 3.
And Matsui hits a rocket out of there – just like that it’s 3-1.
Matsui and Melky going back to back? Winds again? Now it’s 3-2 the hard way.
And Ransom strikes out on 3 pitches.
Anderson with some control though, 29 pitches, 23 for strikes, getting through 2.
End of 2, 3-2 A’s.
By comparison, CC is at 40 pitches, only 23 for strikes through 2. Doesn’t look like it’ll be a good outing, unless he pulls himself together..
I can’t count or something, as there were only two outs after the Ransom K. Anderson still on the mound.
Jeter gets on on an error and JD now up.
And Anderson is really done with the 2nd this time with 40 pitches, 30 for strikes as the ratio normalizes a little bit.
And CC starts the 3rd inning with a ball. Sigh.
Does get OCab to ground out. Here’s Giambi.
Going 3-0 on Giambi is not a good way to get him out and Giambi responds by hitting it to JD, and reaches on a 2 base error. Lame.
Holliday with an infield single, and now we have a sticky situation..
Cust grounds out into an unearned run. Tough break for CC, and now it’s Suzuki with two outs, 4-2 A’s.
And Suzuki flies out. CC could not work around a 2 base error. 54 pitches through 3 for CC, and only 31 for strikes.
Belated lunch time! Go Yanks!
Red hot Cano up with Posada at second and Tesh at third. Anderson not looking good out there.
Cano with a ground out RBI to bring the score to 4-3 with 1 out. Swisher is up and can do the same.
And Swisher singles out Posada, but thrown out at second. So Matsui up with two outs, tied game.
Matsui grounds out to end the inning. We have a tied game after 3.
What’s up Lar? You seem lonely in here :-(
Heh, just got back from lunch. Looked like I lunched during quite an.. “exciting” series of plays.
Jeter is adding to his Captain Clutch thing.
I see the Red Sox is smashing again, 10-1. The game is delayed, and I guess some of the regulars will get rest, especially for the nightcap.
Jeter with his 4th HR this year. Wow. His defense will give some -VORP (or against average) but his offense should make up for it if this continues.
Tesh singles in a run and the Yanks have added an insurance run. Well, maybe it’s not insurance since it seemed needed. Still, first and second, two outs, 7-5 Yanks and Posada can add to it.
Posada grounds out. End of 6, 7-5 Yanks.
Jeter’s on my fantasy team, so I’m happy to see him doing well. And to be honest, I’ve always kind of liked him. Just a genuinely friendly guy.
There was a foul ball that rolled about 3 feet from the plate a minute ago and while the A’s catcher was watching it to make sure it went fair, Jeter ran up and put his face down near the ball too and stared intently. They shared a laugh, and it was an overall lighthearted moment. I don’t say that about many Yankees.
CC still out there with 100 pitches in the 7th inning, probably pitching until someone gets on. And then Bobby Crosby with an infield single to lead off the inning.
Hmm, they’re leaving Sabathia out there even with the runner on. I guess that’s part of Girardi’s Force-Sabathia-To-Get-All-Of-His-ER-Out-Of-His-System-In-April” plan, so that he goes 25-0 with a 0.00 ERA from May-September.
And then walks Sweeney. Two on and OCab is up. C’mon Joe, the pen rested yesterday and will have an off day tomorrow..
Two runners on and he’s STILL out there. Another run scores and it’s 7-6 with the tying run at 3rd. A funky bounce off the mound is the only reason that wasn’t a hit.
Girardi showing a lot of faith in his bullpen.
Girardi goes to the mound, but leaves Sabathia out there. This is like a goddamn reenactment of the Grady/Pedro debacle!
Another line drive up the middle, and Sabathia has erased his lead. NOW he gets pulled.
OCab sac’ed the runners over, and Giambi grounds out to bring one home. 7-6 Yanks. Man on third, two outs, here’s Holliday.
C’mon, walk the guy and bring someone in.
CC gives up a hit to Holliday, tying the game. You got to be kidding me. If it was a 2-1 game or something, I can see how he “owns” the game, but it was god damn 7-6..
What was Joe thinking?
In comes Coke in another high pressure situation.
Bad move by Joe there. Wow.
I just realized that I benched Jeter in favor of Yunel Escobar. Fuck my life.
Just because CC can throw 120 every game doesn’t mean he should!
Also considering how many high-pressured pitch he had to made (and failed..)
6.2 IP, 6 H, 7 R, 4 BB, 2 K’s, and responsible for the runner on first.
Ath – reading FML a little too much? ;P
Cust ends the inning. 7-7 game, or essentially a 2.5 inning game with the Yanks having the advantage of batting an additional time.
I would’ve taken him out after someone reached. Or at least, after he walked somebody. I don’t think I’m unique in this.
HAHA actually I just discovered it last weekend: my girlfriend found it and turned me on to it. I would post my Jeter-for-Escober screwup, but it wouldn’t be funny out of context.
Haha.. we should start a Fantasy Baseball FML.
“I didn’t set my roster because of Patriot Day. FML”
Cano singles to lead off the game.
Err, inning, of course you knew I knew that.. ;)
“Joe Girardi thinks it’s funny to do his Grady Little impersonation while we’re trying to win a ballgame. FML.”
Swisher walked, Cano to second. Matsui up and Melky on deck.
The Yankees lineup doing their best to foil Girardi’s attempt at throwing the game.
Springer not looking good out there, but then he only needs a triple play to get out of the inning.
Now the A’s are doing everything in their power to lose this game. Both sides bet on the other?
Matsui singles, but Cano could not score. Bases loaded, no outs, here’s Melky, Ransom, and then Jeter.
Ath – haha, the way you said it reminds me of that South Park episode where they’re trying to lose the game..
That was, other than double/triple plays, the worst possible outcome. Now a double play will not get a runner across.
Melky struck out, and Gardner will apparently come off the bench and hit for Ransom.
No, I’m not making that up. I guess it would cut down on the double play possibilities though.
And Gardner pops out. You got to be kidding me.
So now, bases loaded, two outs, Derek Jeter will show these young ‘uns what to do. Hopefully.
The responsibility is on Jeter to get the go-ahead run again. How many times do they expect him to do this per game?
I can’t believe they got out of that inning.
Ya, really. Though of course, if he was ARod and strikes out in the exact same situation, people would jump on him anyhow.
Jeter pops out and the Yanks refuse to win, leaving the bases loaded with no outs. FML.
Pena in to play 3rd base. Albaladejo (sp?) is in to face the 6th hitter, Suzuki.
Suzuki now on with an infield single and a sac. Here’s Powell trying to not be like Melky.
Powell giving Albaladejo a rough time, before getting a groundout that moves Suzuki to third. And now Bobby Crosby will try to do his version of the Jeter impression.
And Crosby strikes out to end the threat. End of 7 and half, it’s still tied at 7.
Bailey in to face the top of the order, JD, Tesh, Posada.
The only possible explanation for such a shitty game is that both sides have bet large amounts of money on the opposing team, and are trying to throw the game.
In other news, Bolovia is a joke of a country: http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/04/22/un.morales.earth.day/index.html
Great catch by OCab. He obviously didn’t get the memo.
JD draws a walk, but Tesh pops out. Here’s Posada.
Posada flies out and here’s Cano.
Another useless inning. This game is going to go on for like 14 innings before the A’s get fed up and intentionally walk four batters in a row so the Yanks win.
Mo in. If only the Yanks had a 2 run lead they didn’t give away..
Mo does end the inning. Now the Yanks can attempt to not win it bottom of the 9th.
Swisher, Matsui, Melky up to try to end the game. Ziegler too, with his pitching.
Swisher is going to make sure he doesn’t score by getting thrown out stealing 2nd here.
nice reverse jinx lar.
lead off walk to swisher to start the bottom of the 9th.
Swisher doing what he does best, drawing a 6 pitch walk.
Nope, just a DP from Matsui. If this were a Sox game I would have thrown myself out of a window by now.
free baseball……..now there’s a concept.
Unfortunately, Matsui grounds into double play, Melky strikes out.
So now we have bonus ball coming right now.
Marte comes in to pitch the 10th.
Marte is drinking the koolaid, lets the first runner get on base.
Ya, something something. Something. FML.
Davis steals second as Suzuki is fouling off tons of pitches.
Suzuki, in order to make people believe he’s actually trying, swings so hard that he falls to the ground.
Finally strikes out on 8 pitches.
Edwar comes in.
Why did Girardi pull Marte after that out? He went from not managing his pitching staff enough to overmanaging it in the space of a few innings.
Ellis drove one deep enough to move Ellis to third, but now with two outs it’ll take a hit or something anyhow.
Powell now up.
Not sure, but I think Marte hasn’t been trusted beyond a batter or two.
Though I wonder how long Edwar can last out there if this game keeps going..
My thoughts exactly Lar. And Edwar just walked somebody.
Powell walks on 5 pitches, now Crosby ul
*up.
Edwar does get out of it, despite throwing 11 pitches, only 5 for strikes.
The Yanks will have a chance to win it with the 9-1-2 batters up.
Here’s the very light hitting Pena, who came in for Gardner who previously pinched hit for Ransom.
Pena grounds out. If only Melky did that at better time..
Captain Clutch now with 1 out and nobody on.
Jeter grounds out, but JD walks with two outs, and here’s Tesh.
I know this turned into a Game thread, but I am disgusted at the way the new stadium is set up. It is just insane to have the best seats in the house 60% empty like that. not only is it sad, but it just looks pathetic. Last night, on a Tuesday in April, The bleachers were 95% full, The upper levels were 80-85% full, and the lower levels were probably 35-40% full.
It is understandable to have a lull in attendance in April, but when every section in the brand new stadium is 80+% Full, it is hard to imagine how someone hasn’t been fired over this gross over estimating of what fans would be willing to pay for tickets
A concrete example, which has probably been sighted several times, is that my friend had tickets 8 rows over the 3rd base dugout last year that he has had for the past 10 years, that were $80,000 for the season.
Those exact same tickets are now $810,000 for the season.
Who would even think that is remotely feasible?
Tesh flies out and now there are more free baseball.
Another unproductive inning. A shame there’s an off-day tomorrow for the yanks, because otherwise this could have great implications for the series against the Sox.
This is a gamer, which means it is a game thread, with the attendence thrown in a bit.
My first Yanks game this season is next Friday against the Angels, so until then I’ll figure it out.
Sweeney leads the inning off with a single.
Posada throws Sweeney out trying to steal.
Veras in with OCab grounding out.
Giambi walks with two outs and here’s Holliday.
And Veras gets out of the inning. Bottom of the Yankees lineup up.
I’m sort of glad work is almost over, so I don’t have to torture myself by watching this much longer. This is frustrating.
Josh Outman (perhaps aptly named) in for the bottom of the 11.
Frustrating for you? =P
Posada, Cano, Swisher up.
I know Wang already worked out, but it would be amusing (though probably a bad risk all-around) to see him trying to pitch a couple. I don’t know who’s left in the pen at this point though.
Posada strikes out.
Cano pops out, but I’m impressed with his approach thus far, relatively patient, though it didn’t help this encounter.
Here’s Swisher.
Okay, I’m done spamming this. Bah. Go Yanks.
I lie. Veras looks good getting the side out.
Came back to say Dan Giese came in to pitch. It’s like a reunion in here.
The problem is Wang is down in Florida right now, right Lar?
Jeter a few feet short of the walk-off.
Okay I’ve gotta leave now, see you guys later.
Looks like both the Yanks and the Sox are playing a doubleheader..
Ath – I forgot he was down there, and it’s probably not realistic, but it would be amusing..
Yanks with 16 hits, 7 walks over 14 innings and cannot score. Well, relatively.
MELKY WINS THE GAME!
WALK-OFF MELKY IS WALKING OFF
He blasted the shit out of the ball.
2 homers, one from each side? Well done, Melky. Well done.
Also: the lean-back pose and the point to the dugout? Badass.
I realize I am totally late on this, but since the game/thread is still going: “I sat Ryan Braun yesterday – in both my leagues – because he’d been struggling at the plate. He went 5/5 with 2 HR and 4 RBI. FML.”
And let’s not forget Veras, who pitched like a champion today. 3.1 IP, 0 ER, 1BB, 4K. 75 pitches, 46 for strikes.
He’s almost unhittable… as long as he throws his fastball for strikes and gets ahead in the count, because his breaking stuff moves so much. Today he did just that.
Nice Jackie!
It was not at all nice, Ath. :(