My buddy got them for free from a connection who wasn’t using them … they would have been two more empty seats otherwise. Basically my only cost was making sure the bartenders and food runner lady in that section were tipped well.
I've parked in $5 lots and walked, I don't buy one concession there and I don't drink. Yes, I know I'm weird. Deserve? Do you know the economic impact a pro sports team, especially baseball, has for a city?
People forget that most of the seats in the lower level are paid for, all 80 games (Reds/ Cubs in Iowa was a Reds home game). So yes, there may look like there are 2-3 thousand there, but at that point who cares? The new thing some of these teams do is have a "resale" ticket exchange where they actually sell the same seat twice because a company may have seats they don't want to give up but no one wants to go.
It does, but it's not everything. 7 of the top 15 teams payroll wise this season will not make the playoffs. 2 of the bottom 7 in payroll will make the playoffs this season. It can be done.
You are right that MLB owners make money even with little to no attendance, thanks to the TV and radio money. However, great attendance dramatically increases the teams' profit. You keep saying that attendance doesn't matter to owners, but it does. Simple math: 20,000 extra fans paying on average $35 per ticket for 81 games: 20,000 X $35 X 81 = $56.7 million dollars. Plus parking, concessions, souveneirs, etc.
I think the Guardians/ Indians fans are partly to do with the name change and the fact that I feel fans know deep down although the Guardians have played way above their heads this year, it's a team in first place only because of the division they are in. I wonder if MLB is setting up the scenario that since we're going to a balanced schedule next year, the top "x" number of teams will make the playoffs, and not necessarily what division you're in?
It is not just "fringe fans" who love to win. Every fan wants their team to win. It is the entire reason for playing sports contests. Only money-grubbing owners like the Dolan and Castellini families put winning second.
I simply cannot imagine my like or dislike with whomever owns the team dictating my fandom? That seems absolutely insane to me. But to each their own.
Funny you mention this. And if we were stocked with major league talent I'd say fine. But here's the deal, at this point, making a significant run next season is likely not happening. Senzel, while he's underperformed and has been hurt often, is cheap. He's probably going to be in the $2-$3 mill range next year - the average major leaguer is in the $4-$5 mill range. So I don't think it would hurt to bring him back next season. Now at this point with our current outfield group, I'd put Fraley and Friedl ahead of him and possibly even Stuart Fairchild. I think Senzel's ability to play multiple positions is also valuable. We just have to hope and pray that somehow he can revert back to that first round pick. I'd like to see us go get a veteran outfielder with some pop. We NEED a 25-30 home run guy next season. We play in a home run hitters ball park and the club leader is Brandon Drury with 20, and he's been gone for 6 weeks.
It seems clear that Senzel is never going to get it turned around in Cincinnati. Does he even want to be here? I think it’s a legitimate question after the rumors of him going AWOL last year while recuperating from one of his many injuries.
When his velo started dropping after the first month I said he was probably dinged up. Turns out he was. No mystery here. When fully healthy, he is the guy you saw in St Louis.
I believe that too. I just think that since he can play multiple positions and he's cheap, he's worth keeping around as a utility guy. Let's face it, few MLB teams have a starting 8 anymore. Most teams have about 5-6, then rotate a bunch of utility guys in. Maybe a change of scenery would do him good, but we've really not seen any long sustained success from him. I don't think he's going to change much.
But my point is he's not going to be able to sustain that velo start after start. He was shut down for a time, then ramped back up. My guess under "normal" circumstances, he's going to be a 95-98 MPH pitcher.
Yeah but in his defense that's a small sample size he hasn't played even 100 games in a season yet and has been platooned every year except for this past month.
I really don't know how you could ever give him 500 at bats in a season. I'm afraid you'd have the same Aquino. he's just not a guy who's going to hit a high average, and he'll occasionally run into one.
And the Mets set an offensive record for batters being hit in a season, I think at 106.
Which may not be a bad thing. How many pitchers have burned themselves out after a few seasons? Pitching now.
Greene is a pretty big guy with a smooth delivery, I think he can sustain a pretty good fastball, but yes, he'll need to continue to develop pitches and not rely on the heater as much.
Team is bad but has also completely quit on its coaching staff and fans. I would say it could not get much worse but I see nothing to suggest otherwise. I’ve lost interest and I’ve been a diehard fan for my 61 years. Sad.
No way have they "quit". 100% guarantee the players on the field are trying their best. Athletes that make it to the elite level are all very competitive by nature. Plus, they are trying to improve their future contract. They are giving their all, they just are not quite as good as most other MLB players.
We'll see how it turns out with Luis. I wish him all the best. He's pitched his BEST baseball the last 3 months. If Seattle is paying for that, they got a great deal. However, if he is the Castillo from most of his time in Cincy...well, we'll see.