Sunday, April 12, 2009

BASEBALL ON THE HOLIDAYS

Granted, Easter does not make you think of sports, but this weekend is also time for the Masters. That's golf for all you baseball couch potatoes. Unfortunately, golf's big two, Mickelson & Woods, are 7 strokes back going into the final round. At least they're tied for 10th and still playing, instead of selling t-shirts out of a van in the parking lot across the street, like John Daly is reduced to doing. A sad ending for one of golf's most talented players.

***SOMEBODY IS LISTENING***
Last Thursday, Picasner ranted about the timing of World Series games. Yesterday, ESPN ran a poll, asking if the WS should have any day games. Only 56% of the over 30,000 voters thought there should be. Either people weren't thinking or corporate sponsors flooded the polls. Very disappointing.

***MORE MONEY THAN BALLGAMES***
The big topic on the Sports Reporters this morning, was the cost of tickets at the New York City ball parks. I guess it's the right thing to do, since, as Mitch Albom says, "The economy is a factor everywhere except the Big Apple." Earlier on Sportscenter, one fan says that it was one thing to pay $75 a seat for his 4 season tickets, but at $250/seat, no way. Even with a great economy, what 'regular' fan would spend over $80,000 to watch baseball? In 1955, Mickey Mantle was paid only $75,000 and he had to PLAY all 154 games. Picasner might be willing to pay $75 to go to a single game during the year, as a special occasion, but now...? And as for Vod Kanockers? Well, we lost him when ticket prices reached double figures.

***I THINK NICK SWISHER IS GOING TO BE FUN***
It appears the he is a hell of a ball player, but he's also a bit of a nut. Friday, when he started in place of Nady, they showed him on the bench, wrapping up Xavier in a half a dozen towels, so he'd be "comfortable" watching the game. After the two games Swisher had, maybe Nady should get used to the bench.

***ARE THE GAMES BORING THEM?***
Michael Kay should write down his questions before he says them out loud. "David (Cone), was it more fun in the Major Leagues or the Minor Leagues?" Why the minors, of course, Michael. You haven't lived until you've ridden for 6 hours in a 40-year-old bus over mountain roads at 4:00 AM. Then, he and Cone spent a half an inning discussing first names and a half an inning discussing last names. much to the consternation of John Flaherty.

I especially liked the discussion of meals:
John 'Wild-Man' Flaherty: "Yeah, I had a salad, a grilled chicken breast, a couple of veggies and a couple glasses of water."
David Cone: "I found myself in a Waffle House at 5:00 AM."

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL.

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