Fenway Park Sucks

So, I went to two games in a row, Sunday and Monday. The Sox lost Sunday against Toronto, 2-1. Beckett pitched 8 innings and got pretty much no help. I was sitting in the bleachers, which is my favorite place in the ballpark. Mostly cause there are no poles blocking your view, so you can actually see the game...well, for the most part. We couldn't see what was happening in in triangle at all. But, that's not really that big of a deal. True, we were still cramped in seats that are too small for toddlers, but you know, whatever. Originally, they had metal benches out there, way before my time. But they put new seats out there, probably in the 70s or 80s. I think they tried to squeeze too many seats in each row and definitely tried to squeeze too many rows into each section... But whatever, it's the bleachers. At least you can see the game really well.

Monday's game was simultaneously better and worse. First the better: The Red Sox beat Kansas City on a complete game shut out tossed by Kason Gabbard. However, this time our seats were in the Right Field Grandstand. Here, we have Wooden Seats, which probably haven't changed since 1912. And, your cramped much worse than in the bleachers. People must have been about half the size of your average 8 year old back then.

On a positive note, I had a great view of the Royals bullpen...probably the best view of Bannister warming up before the game started. But, if I sat in my seat and looked straight ahead, I had an excellent view of the big metal door in foul territory down the left field line where they keep the batting cages... which I guess is interesting. Also, there are a bunch of poles everywhere, including one that was strategically placed to more or less block out everything all the way down the right field line. I had to more or less put my head on the shoulder of some random guy sitting next to me to see home plate or first base. And, there's also a roof over your head which is so low that it blocks the view of the jumbo tron. But, fear not! This is Friendly Fenway! So the Red Sox Management put up a bunch of 20 inch televisions next to each pole! Including the one strategically placed to block my view of the game! However, aside from being smaller than the one I have at home, this television was messed up. The picture was all wavy something was wrong with the color, so the picture was in black and white. Whatever. Last time I sat in the grandstand, I got stuck between two poles, one strategically placed so that I couldn't see home plate, the other so I couldn't pitchers mound. Plus there were no televisions then...so I guess they're making improvements.

And I guess I'm still dumb enough to go to the games even though I know the ball park is a joke. As is the rest of this region. I swear, if you say this to anyone in Boston, whether or not they can name a single player on the Red Sox, they'll start cursing you out and going on and on about the tradition and about how great it is and how we have the oldest ball park and if I think Wriggly or US Cellular or Edison Field or Petco Park or Qualcomm Stadium are so much better maybe I should just go out there and root for those teams.

I know Fenway's not going anywhere. This team currently has the longest sellout streak in the Major Leagues so people are still coming. Also ownership keeps investing money in the ball park, and I'm sure the Monster seats and the Right Field Roof Seats are great. I've never gotten to sit up there, but I've seen them and they seem roomy and you get your own table and everything. But truth be told, on the Right Field Roof, your what, 600 feet away from the action? And in the Monster seats, your sitting in left field, pretty high up. I don't imagine you have that great of a view of left field itself. Left field is usually one of the cheapest places to sit in ball parks, and way up on the right field roof is too. But here, Left field is $140, and to sit way up on the right field roof, it costs $110.

I know what your thinking. Fenway Park is so great because of all the history and the tradition and the atmosphere and blah blah blah. Fenway Park is no more historic or rich than the Boston Garden was, and they got rid of that. Heck, the Boston Garden brought 16 NBA World Championships and Five Stanley Cups. What's Fenway have compared to that? An 86 year championship draught? With a few bad Boston Patriots football seasons mixed in for good measure?. Sure, everyone was mad at first, when the Boston Garden was torn down for the same reasons they'd be mad if we got rid of Fenway. However, that anger lasted all of a day. No one cares now, cause the Boston Garden was a dump and The Shawmut Center...I mean the Fleet Center...I mean T.D. BankNorth Garden is an awesome facility. Give me something like Petco Park or Edison Field. Gosh. I'd love that. You could put more seats in and it would be cheaper and people could actually go to games without having to buy tickets in February or else pay ten times as much as when they are getting them from scalpers.

Well, I think that just about sums up this rant. I'm in favor of a new ballpark for the Boston Red Sox. I got tickets to Saturdays game randomly from my boss, back in the bleachers, which is good cause I won't have to put up with the poles and broken televisions. I'll let you know how that experience is going.

On the Eve of the Second Half

Well, the Boston Red Sox have clinched homefield advantage in the World Series, again. This is the fourth time they've done so, but for some reason they've only taken advantage of it and actually played in a World Series once.

With a ten game lead in the division, it's kinda hard to complain. However, there's still an uneasy feeling. I went down to Cape Cod the other day (the peninsula part of Massachusetts that sticks out into the Atlantic) and my friend pointed out the Sox were 10 games ahead of everyone when we were still in school. So more or less, they've pretty much sucked just like the rest of the AL East the past month and a half. I think they're 17-18 in their last 35 games, riding a 6 game road losing streak. So, their record is a bit deceiving, especially as of late.

The question is, what do you do as the trading deadline approaches? Especially now that Curt Schilling's hurt, the starting pitching is a big question mark. Beckett's been everything anyone could ever ask for, Diasuke's been a good number three man. But you need three studs in the playoffs. If Schilling's in there pitching like he's been capable of in the past, you're all set. But he isn't getting any younger.

The power numbers are way down too. Talk about the Pirates not having a 30 homerun hitter, The Red Sox don't have anyone on pace to hit 30 homers (Ortiz and Lowell are tied with 14, which doubled is 28...and the Sox have already played more than half of their games...). Manny and Ortiz are especially disappointing, having a combined 25 home runs so far. That's more or less what you expect each of them to produce individually. And this team plays more than half of its games at Fenway Park. That's suppose to be a home run hitter's dream. Do you try to get someone to make up for their lack of production?

The other big question mark is the Shortstop Position. Alex Cora has given the team everything he's got, but he's not an everyday player. Julio Lugo sucks. He's suppose to be the everyday shortstop for this team, and the lead off hitter. This first place team, this team with a 10 game lead in their division, with the best record in the Major Leagues as the All Star Break closes. His batting average is .197. Thankfully he's a scrawny 175 lbs, so at least he's hitting his weight. He's under contract for three more years, so they can't exactly just dump him. The other day I was fantasizing about trading for Nomar Garciapara, but the Dodgers aren't out of contention. But just imagine him coming back here, to a hero's welcome, hitting .300, making spectacular defensive plays (I know he's a first baseman now, but I'm sure he'd adjust soon enough), erasing forever the cruel hand fate delt him when the Sox won it all without him. He'd be the perfect fit. I'm fully confident with the wall and returning to Fenway he'd hit 10-15 homers. Plus, he's be a really good number 5 hitter to protect Manny, in his number 5 jersey the Red Sox conveniently have been saving for him since his departure in 2004 (hanging up with the 21 and 45 jerseys...). You'd have Drew hitting first, then Youk, Ortiz, Manny, Nomar, Lowell, Varitek, Pedroia, and Crisp. Then when Drew started sucking again, you could switch him and Crisp in the lineup. Stupid Dodgers, not being out of it. Gotta go and ruin everything. Whatever... Kenny Loftin is someone else I'd like to see wearing the red B on his hat. He could hit leadoff and play Center. Crisp and Drew could take turns in right, with Francona letting whoever wasn't sucking during a particular stretch play. But that's not as good of a fit cause then you still have Lugo doing his best National League Pitcher imitation (it's tremendous, you should see it) at the bottom of the order.

Turning to more realistic topics of discussion, the Toronto Blue Jays are coming to town, and I'm actually going to a game this series (first this year). I'll be at Fenway Park on Sunday, seeing Josh Beckett take on Jesse Litch, who I've never heard of. According to the scouting reports, he's more or less the Blue Jays' version of Kason Gabbard, coming up from AAA to pitch in place of injured starters. He's starting in place of A.J. Burnett, which is unfortunate as otherwise I could have seen two former Marlins pitch.

So you might be asking, after waiting till after the all star break to go to one game, when am I going back to Fenway for a second? The very next day, seeing the 1985 Champions of the World, the Kansas City Royals. The aforementioned Kason Gabbard gets the start for Boston against Defending AL Rookie of the Month Brian Bannister.

Opening Day at America's Most Beloved Ball Park

That's what they call Fenway anyway... I personally think its overated, but maybe I'm just spoiled. I wouldn't mind a new ball park with roomy seats and without obstructed view. I'd also like a bigger capacity so they didn't rob you with ticket prices, but that's just me. The Red Sox could easily fill a 40,000-50,000 seat place every night. They're at 35,000 and in order to stay competitive they charge you $100 to sit in Left Field seats that anywhere else would be $7-$10. Yeah, I know its the Green Monster. But still, that means the seats are even further away than the $7 ones elsewhere. But, enough complaining for now...

As a result of the 2PM start and my 2:30 class, I missed the first five innings of the game. When I walked in, it was 13-1 and Beckett was on the mound in the sixth. He was blowing guys away too. All in all, he went 7 innings allowing one run and most importantly, I don't think he walked anyone. He also had a stretch where he retired 15 batters in a row or something. I'm pretty sure that streak ended only cause he came out. All in all an excellent start. It was pointed out that the Mariners are rusty cause they haven't played in about 6 days due to snow and stuff in Cleveland, but whatever. A win is a win, and the fact Beckett didn't walk anyone is extremely encouraging.

Oh yeah...Donnally got ejected. Basically, he and Jose Guillen had a verba confrontation after Donnelly struck Guillen out in the 8th. The benches and the bullpens cleared, but at first only Guillen was tossed...until the Donnelly drilled the next guy in the butt with a fastball. Red Sox Hall of Famer (which is different than MLB Hall of Famer-the Red Sox have their own Hall of Fame) Jerry Remy, a former second baseman and the current color commentater, said that the two must have a history of other incidents cause nothing happened to spark the incident. Announcer Don Orsillo then replied "According to records, that's the first time the two have faced each other in a major league baseball game, but they were teammates in Anaheim." It was pretty funny. One of my friends pointed out that was when Guillen got suspended for the postseason for saying and/or doing something stupid by the team...we couldn't remember what. Brilliant move, cause Guillen was awesome that year and the Red Sox ended up sweeping Anahiem on their way to a World Series Title. I wonder if Donnelly's still mad about that?