Here's One Reason Baseball Sucks

[THUNDER HANDS]

I really really really wanted to go to last night's Mets game against the San Francisco Giants and see Barry Bonds play.

A few weeks ago when I looked online for tickets I noticed that the prices for last night's game were almost $10 higher in all sections than they were for tonight's game against the Milwaukee Brewers.

So the Mets are increasing ticket prices based on who they are playing.

As if that wasn't bad enough. Once Bonds actually comes up to bat, he's intentionally walked. Which means that all the extra money that fans paid to see Barry Bonds at the plate is wasted by the opposing manager, who pussies out and doesn't challenge Bonds.

Not withstanding his 0-3 start in last night's game, the Mets still walked him in the 9th and in the 11th.

Fans didn't come to see that. They came to see the Mets pitcher challenge Bonds and see if the pitcher can get him out. Or, see if Bonds can hit the ball 600 feet or knock down one of the Laguardia-bound flights that cruise over Shea Stadium.

But what do the fans get, another free pass to Bonds because major league managers have no guts.

I'd have no problem with walking Bonds four straight times...as long as you don't increase ticket prices just to see him walk to first.

And I have no problem with increasing ticket prices, as long as you give the fans what they came to see.

Baseball sucks. It's the only sport where you can totally take the best player in the game completely out of the action. There needs to be a rule change put in place to guard against this.

Do away with the intentional walk, I say. And while your at it, do away with the rotating ticket prices if you're not going to give the fans an all-out effort.

Booo to the Mets. And boooo to baseball.

[GOPisEvil]

1. I agree. The Mets should be ashamed of themselves.

That's a horrible business practice. You have every right to be pissed.

[THUNDER HANDS]

3. I'm going to tonight's game

And I'm going to boo Art Howe (who's such a loser anyway) when they announce his name.

[GOPisEvil]

6. I need to get to a baseball game, soon.

I think I'll go up and see the Rangers. They're pretty exciting these days.

[VelmaD]

2. I've never heard of a team...

doing that with the ticket prices before. I know it makes a difference with scalped tickets, but I've certainly never seen the Rangers do it with tickets purchased through the box office. You're right thought...that really sucks ass.

[Richardo]

12. I remember some talk about this ('market priced tix') a year or two ago...

It figures New York would try it out first. A big enough market to make it stick. Do the Yankees do this?

[Bertha Venation]

4. "because major league managers have no guts"

No, it's because major league managers want to win games. Love him or hate him, Bonds can knock the shit outta the ball. One swing and the Mets lose.

I agree with your outrage on many fronts. I just disagree that they walk the jerk because they have no guts. I don't know who manages the Mets but maybe he just knows his pitchers' limitations very well and does not want to chance losing the game because he "had guts." :shrug:

[THUNDER HANDS]

8. Art Howe definately lacks guts

This is a guy who won't let his starting pitchers pitch past the 7th inning - EVER - even if they're throwing a 2-hit shutout.

And, personally, I think it'll send a better message to your pitching staff if you ask them to challenge Bonds rather than just giving up and walking him.

How are you supposed to instill confidence in your pitchers if you wimp out all the time?

[Bertha Venation]

10. "How are you supposed to instill confidence in your pitchers "

Good point. Too, something I hadn't thought of earlier: It is just the first week in May.

[Champ]

5. I hate baseball because....

I didn't start Griffey yesturday(Fantasy Baseball) and he went 3-5 with 5 RBIs. Damn that would've helped!

[Teddy_Salad]

7. Intentional walk......2 bases?

I also hate the intentional walk.
I've always thought an intentional walk should get 2 bases, not one.

Well, maybe that would kill it off once and for all and a batter could still be walked kind of intentionally by throwing way outside but at least there is still always the chance of a passed ball or the batter being able to hit it.

But you're right, it sucks when a great player can be completely taken out of a game.

[Commendatori]

9. If you think THAT is shameless profiteering, do you recall

the "security improvements" that MLB enacted directly after 9/11? I used to work stadium security and can tell you that nothing they enacted had anything to do with improving security - it was to stop fans from saving a few dollars by bringing in their own food and cans of soda.

I used to attend about 25-30 MLB games a year, and never even brought my own food, but after that bullshit I stopped going to games entirely. I haven't seen one live game since 9/11, and have turned down plenty of chances to go to Camden for free. I will not go to the games, will not buy their popcorn / hot dogs / beer, I will not buy any merchandise with the MLB logo. And, unlike a bunch of people who said "that's it for me" after the strike, I have followed up on my vow and will continue to so do.

"Security improvements," my ass. I'm afraid of bombs, not ham sandwiches.

[Ready4Change]

11. Major league tickets are too expensive.

It used to be kids dreamt of playing in a major league game. Now they dream of being able to afford tickets to SEE a major league game.

But I guess if all the seats are full for all the games it must all be good, eh?