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Wally, after one game, says Citi is a "tomb."

metsguyinmichigan Apr 15 2009 09:59 AM

Realizing, of course, that a column by Wallace Matthews is an opportunity for comedic reading and not to be taken seriously. But you gotta love that Wally is writing off the new stadium because he saw a couple fans take off early. Enjoy... There used to be a ballpark here, a raucous place where the fans were rowdy, the team was lovable and the game was fun, whether the Mets won or lost. But they tore that one down and replaced it with a tomb - a ridiculously expensive tomb to be sure, but a place where the fans cheer as if they have one hand on their wallets and one eye on the train schedule back to Westchester. The first game at Troubled Assets Relief Program Field - its official name is a great big bird-flip to everyone in New York not named Wilpon or Katz, and therefore will never appear under my byline - felt a lot like the last one at dear, departed Shea Stadium. Some of that had to do with the performance of the home team - with the exception of one moment in the fifth inning, the Mets were as lifeless as their fans - but mostly, it seemed to be a reflection of the clientele. Case in point: At the end of the sixth inning, with the Mets trailing by a mere single run to the San Diego Padres, who won all of 63 games last season, I saw a friend of mine who had spent more than $100,000 for Mets season tickets this season. He was heading out the door. "I had enough,'' he said. Second case: An inning later, three guys sitting in choice seats in front of the press box also got up to leave. As they passed in front of the open window before me, you could clearly hear one of them say to his two companions, "Let's get out of here and get a latte.'' True story. It certainly seems as if when Mets ownership decided to cut out those 13,000 cheap seats from the top of their new park, they also eliminated the people who made most of the noise at Shea. Despite the announced attendance of 41,007 - that means 993 empty seats - there was a curious lack of buzz in the ballpark all night, from the opening introductions, to the ceremonial first pitch from Tom Seaver to Mike Piazza, to Jose Reyes' first at-bat of the night. By the seventh inning, there were wide swatches of empty seats, especially in the high-rent district behind home plate. But then the Mets, and Mike Pelfrey, set the tone early when the third pitch thrown in the new park came down in the rightfield seats off the bat of the Padres' Jody Gerut. The place was barely one minute old and already the first boos were heard. Unfortunately, they were not the last. Maybe Shea Stadium wasn't the problem after all. Instead of a jubilant opening night at a new ballpark in the heart of New York City, it seemed more like a dismal closing night on Broadway. Even the best news of the night - the out-of-town scoreboard flashing the Yankees getting filleted, 9-0, after two innings by the Tampa Bay Rays - was met with one big shrug. The first "Let's Go Mets'' chant didn't arise until the game was more than two hours old, and it died of natural causes five seconds later. But then, most of the people in the park might never have heard it before. Maybe over time, it'll catch on. The CEOs and their children rose to their feet only once in the game, with two Mets on base and David Wright at the plate in the fifth inning, and he rewarded them by belting a 3-and-2 pitch into the leftfield seats to tie the game at 5. But after the Padres retook the lead on Pedro Feliciano's balk in the sixth to provide the deciding run in a 6-5 victory, the crowd never seemed to get back into the game. Instead, a lot of them got back into their cars and headed home. That never would have happened across the street, where the faithful stayed until the bitter end - and often, it was very bitter indeed. Even last year, after the Mets completed their second straight final-game collapse by losing to the Florida Marlins, the fans stuck around for a farewell to a ballpark that may not have been pretty but always pulsated with life. The new park is a beauty, all right, but last night, it was an ice queen, all looks and no heart or soul. And you wonder how much better it will get, because the tickets aren't getting any cheaper, and for the time being, the games aren't getting any bigger. It will be interesting to see how many people are here tomorrow night, and how long they stick around if things start to go wrong. But then, the people the Mets, and the Yankees, have chosen to eliminate from their new ballparks are precisely the people they need to bring the places to life. But those people, and the park that welcomed them with open arms, are both gone, and the Mets have no idea how much they're going to miss them.

Edgy DC Apr 15 2009 10:06 AM

]There used to be a ballpark here, a raucous place where the fans were rowdy, the team was lovable and the game was fun, whether the Mets won or lost. And you wrote such wonderful things about the place back in the day. ]But they tore that one down and replaced it with a tomb - a ridiculously expensive tomb to be sure, but a place where the fans cheer as if they have one hand on their wallets and one eye on the train schedule back to Westchester. Westchester? You mean we're stealing fans from Yankee country? ]The first game at Troubled Assets Relief Program Field - its official name is a great big bird-flip to everyone in New York not named Wilpon or Katz, and therefore will never appear under my byline - felt a lot like the last one at dear, departed Shea Stadium. Keep repeating the TARP joke, but you still having gotten a laugh or an ounce of consent, Mr. Populist. Dear, departed Shea? When did you say anything so nice to her face? ]Some of that had to do with the performance of the home team - with the exception of one moment in the fifth inning, the Mets were as lifeless as their fans - but mostly, it seemed to be a reflection of the clientele. Yeah, it was a bad game. ]Case in point: At the end of the sixth inning, with the Mets trailing by a mere single run to the San Diego Padres, who won all of 63 games last season, I saw a friend of mine who had spent more than $100,000 for Mets season tickets this season. He was heading out the door. "I had enough,'' he said. Your friend is in the wrong tens. It's "I have had enough." Present perfect. And I'd be happy to take his seats off his hands. ]Second case: An inning later, three guys sitting in choice seats in front of the press box also got up to leave. As they passed in front of the open window before me, you could clearly hear one of them say to his two companions, "Let's get out of here and get a latte.'' True story. You have something against gay people, Wally? Ah, I'm done.

metirish Apr 15 2009 10:14 AM

One fucking game Wally .....one game is all...when Wright hit the three run shot Monday night I thought it sounded loud....I'm not sure any stadium will ever be like Shea was when it was full and the place would shake.

Edgy DC Apr 15 2009 10:17 AM

Hve to say, he's a douche for picking only facts that suit his sour perspective, but he's right about good people being priced out of both parks.

G-Fafif Apr 15 2009 10:19 AM

The "faithful" did stay to the bitter end at Shea, but there were plenty who were faithless on a given night, skedaddling by the seventh and staying away in droves at the threat of rain. Not saying they didn't have good reasons and responsibilities, but let's not kid ourselves. Spent many an eighth and ninth inning there the last few years in relative solitude.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Apr 15 2009 10:21 AM Re: Wally, after one game, says Citi is a "tomb."

A baseball stadium on Opening Night had more casual fans than die-hards in attendance! Four people-- including a friend of Wally's-- left an April night game at 10 pm! More may have left with them! This is a house of iniquity! Burn it to the ground! Tear Danny Meyer's flesh and behead Dave Pasternack! Crucify Jeffy! Give Jay Horowitz a sore throat! Sanctify! Sanctify! (The column's even funnier if you imagine Madonna's "This Used to be My Playground" playing as it unspools.)

batmagadanleadoff Apr 15 2009 10:24 AM

="Edgy DC":e41xbywi]Hve to say, he's a douche for picking only facts that suit his sour perspective, but he's right about good people being priced out of both parks.[/quote:e41xbywi] I'd bet anything that some bad people also got priced out of the new stadium. Edgy DC Apr 15 2009 10:27 AM No doubt. My only position is that the real enemy is the exclusive system MLB has set up that gives these two teams a shared monopoly to a tri-state area that has far more people than these two serve. batmagadanleadoff Apr 15 2009 10:32 AM ="Edgy DC":27rpkhft]No doubt. My only position is that the real enemy is the exclusive system MLB has set up that gives these two teams a shared monopoly to a tri-state area that has far more people than these two serve.[/quote:27rpkhft] Well ... that's a whole 'nother can of worms. Trust me. G-Fafif Apr 15 2009 10:33 AM This reminds me of a column, I don't remember whose, written after Scott Kazmir made his MLB debut in Seattle. The key phrase was something about the Mets blew it, he'd be making his debut at Shea in front of 50,000 if they hadn't. And I was thinking, late in the 2004 season, there's no way Scott Kazmir or anyone short of the Pope draws 50,000 to Shea right now. Not to be statistically literal here, but the idea that if the Mets didn't trade Scott Kazmir his September recall to a lousy team would have generated mass waves of interest (as opposed to an uptick among the curious) was ludicrous. Kazmir became a cause after he was traded. Before, he was a prospect with a moderately high profile among the cognoscenti and no great recognition to the public at large, the kind of thing you'd need to attract the mythic 50,000 to a ballpark solely based on name. A little tangent there, but Matthews paints this "it should be like THIS!" picture knowing damn well it will never be the exact ideal he's decided it will be because, well, it won't. Which is fine except somebody pays him to write that crap. Edgy DC Apr 15 2009 10:34 AM No doubt, as well. And probably beyond Wally. SteveJRogers Apr 15 2009 11:01 AM ="G-Fafif":6tnp5x57]The "faithful" did stay to the bitter end at Shea, but there were plenty who were faithless on a given night, skedaddling by the seventh and staying away in droves at the threat of rain. Not saying they didn't have good reasons and responsibilities, but let's not kid ourselves. Spent many an eighth and ninth inning there the last few years in relative solitude.[/quote:6tnp5x57] Excellent point Greg. Not that it excuses that kind of behavior, but it isn't like this is some brand new concept that just started with the new stadium. Hell, it says more about the type of crowd that GOES to opening day than anything to do with the stadiums themselves. I don't have it in front of me, but what did you say about the comparision between the opening day crowd and the closing day crowd? Opening Day is more for those looking to go to an "event" while the closing day is more for the baseball diehards. SteveJRogers Apr 15 2009 11:08 AM ="G-Fafif"]This reminds me of a column, I don't remember whose, written after Scott Kazmir made his MLB debut in Seattle. The key phrase was something about the Mets blew it, he'd be making his debut at Shea in front of 50,000 if they hadn't. And I was thinking, late in the 2004 season, there's no way Scott Kazmir or anyone short of the Pope draws 50,000 to Shea right now. Not to be statistically literal here, but the idea that if the Mets didn't trade Scott Kazmir his September recall to a lousy team would have generated mass waves of interest (as opposed to an uptick among the curious) was ludicrous. Kazmir became a cause after he was traded. Before, he was a prospect with a moderately high profile among the cognoscenti and no great recognition to the public at large, the kind of thing you'd need to attract the mythic 50,000 to a ballpark solely based on name. Also keep in mind, and this is very telling about Wally, the day the trade was announced, he was in full favor of the trade. Soley because he "knew" who Victor Zambrano was (and only because he was a pitcher on a big league roster, whom I think had some success against the MFYs) and "didn't" know a damn thing about Scott Kazmir. His radio partner at the time, Tom Keegan, thought that the Mets should have drafted Jered Weaver in the draft for the same reason. I sent him a spreadsheet chart of the last highly drafted Met's first season's home starts, Paul Wilson, where it showed no real difference in his starts and the rest of the season's attendance figures. Hell, even Darryl Strawberry in 1983 didn't have quite the impact on attendance that one would have thought, if anything Tom Seaver had a bigger impact in 1983. batmagadanleadoff Apr 15 2009 11:26 AM At this point, does a Wally Matthews column merit thoughtful analytical review? This is a farce. metirish Apr 15 2009 11:28 AM I thought Wally might be gone when James Dolan bought Newsday but Wally is exactly the kind of moron that Dolan would like. Farmer Ted Apr 15 2009 01:23 PM The guy is so full of optimism it's contagious. Wally Matthews, dog kicker. Ashie62 Apr 15 2009 05:35 PM It ain't Shea.. Kong76 Apr 15 2009 06:48 PM SJR: Hell, it says more about the type of crowd that GOES to opening day than anything to do with the stadiums themselves <<< This was the first opening day I've missed since like 1994 ... what kind of fan was I all those years and what type of crowd did I fall in with? And not to throw it in your face, but I do like to join in on Stevierazzin', you told me that going to opening day with tickets at your disposal was up to a coin flip and I'm guessing you lost ... or did you not want to hang with that type of crowd? I'd say we're both in the unlucky crowd if ya gotta put a type on it. SteveJRogers Apr 15 2009 07:19 PM ="Kong76"]SJR: Hell, it says more about the type of crowd that GOES to opening day than anything to do with the stadiums themselves <<< This was the first opening day I've missed since like 1994 ... what kind of fan was I all those years and what type of crowd did I fall in with? And not to throw it in your face, but I do like to join in on Stevierazzin', you told me that going to opening day with tickets at your disposal was up to a coin flip and I'm guessing you lost ... or did you not want to hang with that type of crowd? I'd say we're both in the unlucky crowd if ya gotta put a type on it. Kase, I was there Monday night, but you darn know that I wasn't talking about me and you, and that I meant the non fan or causal fan. The fan that wouldn't know your handle is a reference to Dave Kingman. The fan that wouldn't know Steve Rogers the ex-Expo from the secret identity of Captain America. Okay, those last references are way too dated, but the point still stands even if we were talking Ryan Howard or Roy Halladay. The fan that couldn't rattle off the names of 5 well known Mets through the years, or worse throw up someone who never played for the Mets (curiously, at lunch today a MFY fan was giving me a hard time about ex-Mets who played for the Yankees and listed Rusty Staub. Yeah, HUH?) The fan who is just there because its an event. It is a place to be seen. Sure there are circumstances where you HAVE to check out early for whatever reason on a weeknight (something Wally failed to mention FWIW), but more often than not, I'm sure, it is that type of "wanna be seen" fan that would leave Opening Day (or night) early. Kong76 Apr 15 2009 07:30 PM Steve with the surprise left. I thought I remembered you were posting in the IGT on Monday but I ain't gonna look. Glad you got there. Rockin' Doc Apr 15 2009 08:29 PM Wally Matthews strikes me as a self absorbed, unenlightened, Yankee shill. The more of his work I subject myself to, the more I end up regretting having done so. Edgy DC Apr 15 2009 08:51 PM After two games, it's a crypt. Of course, at YSIII, that's a good thing. Frayed Knot Apr 15 2009 09:04 PM ="Rockin' Doc":15fno8yn]Wally Matthews strikes me as a self absorbed, unenlightened, Yankee shill. The more of his work I subject myself to, the more I end up regretting having done so.[/quote:15fno8yn] Not a Yanqui shill, merely a self-appointed curmudgeon. And while curmudgeon-ing certainly has a long and useful history in newspapers, as time goes on his version just seems more gimmicky and contrarian than anything else. More schtick, iow, than towards any useful purpose. Kong76 Apr 15 2009 09:11 PM He's a jilted Mets' fan. One of those Sell The Team NOW!!! guys from back in the day. (that's my opinion, I have no evidence, but I'm right) G-Fafif Apr 16 2009 05:14 AM ="SteveJRogers"]or worse throw up someone who never played for the Mets (curiously, at lunch today Whatever the original point of this message, the idea of throwing up someone who never played for the Mets, at lunch, would have to be worse. Particularly with [url=http://quoteshall.com/quote/12077-rich-folkers-is-throwing-up-in-the-bullpen.html]Jerry Coleman[/url] in town and Rich Folkers having played for the Mets. metsmarathon Apr 16 2009 08:05 AM lets see... which one looks more like a mausoleum...? Edgy DC Apr 16 2009 08:16 AM The first step is admitting you're a tomb. Rockin' Doc Apr 16 2009 06:00 PM The Indians bury the Yankees under an avalanche of runs in the opening game of YSIII. So Wally, which NY ballpark is a tomb now? Elster88 Apr 16 2009 07:10 PM Seriously though, the house that roids built does look like a prison in that picture. seawolf17 Apr 17 2009 08:43 AM ="Rockin' Doc":7cmgze6l]The Indians bury the Yankees under an avalanche of runs in the opening game of YSIII. So Wally, which NY ballpark is a tomb now?[/quote:7cmgze6l] No kidding. Where's his story about how the place cleared out in the seventh inning yesterday? Ass. Edgy DC Apr 17 2009 08:55 AM How about a "Yesterday sucked, but that's largely because the Yankees have set impossibly high standards" story? Steinbrenner created a monster -- and a ballpark Wallace Matthews 11:27 PM EDT, April 16, 2009 Thanks a lot, Boss. Of all George Steinbrenner's accomplishments of the past 36 years, this is probably the most remarkable. Despite his reputation as an impossible-to-please taskmaster, he has succeeded in transferring the enormous pressure of winning from his players to his sons and his son-in-law, who now inherit the unenviable chore of keeping it alive. And they must do it not just every season, but every day. The seeds of this were planted in 1975, with the signing of Catfish Hunter, his first major free agent, and a year later with Reggie Jackson. Now, with the yearly payroll having ballooned to more than $200 million dollars, the Boss' garden is overgrown. The current Yankees roster is populated with the latest version of Reggie and Catfish, play-for-high-pay guys whose abundance on this team made such a ballpark not just possible, but necessary. It is the Boss' very own Catch-22: You simply can't charge the kind of prices the Yankees do without fielding a high-end roster, and you can't afford a high-end roster unless you charge the kind of prices the Yankees do. And then, they have to win. Yesterday's 10-2 loss to the Cleveland Indians on Opening Day of the third, and by far most opulent, incarnation of Yankee Stadium did more than merely ruin what had begun as a gala occasion. It also raised the specter of something much uglier, and more unthinkable: What if the Yankees revert to the team they were before Steinbrenner, a brash, unknown shipbuilder from Cleveland, stole them out from under the noses of Mike Burke and CBS in 1973 for the now puny sum of $8.7 million? The year before Steinbrenner took over, the Yankees went 79-76 and drew 966,328 people. Now, they are expected to win more than 90 games and draw four million. In fact, they need to, just to remain profitable. If not, empty seats and empty coffers are sure to follow. The seventh inning of yesterday's game, in which the Indians scored nine runs, including a grand slam by Grady Sizemore, gave a glimpse of that very prospect. To that point, what had been a pitchers' duel turned into a total skulldragging. And what had been a large, festive Opening Day crowd turned into an angry mob as disgusted fans headed for the exits. The good news to report is that the wide concourses and many exits make for a smooth and swift exodus, and that the big ballpark is every bit as gorgeous empty as it is full. But that is where the happy talk ends. Simply put, the Yankees, and to a lesser extent, the Mets, can't afford to have too many more days like the ones they gave their fans at their openers this year. This year, the Yankees have spent a league-high $200 million on players and $1.3 billion on the Stadium, the Mets a second-highest $149 million on the roster and $850 million on the crib. (Throw in the $500 million the Wilpons reportedly lost to Bernie Madoff and their number comes pretty close to the Yankees.) That is why, while watching the game yesterday, I tried without success to come up with a sobriquet that would effectively capture this ballpark the way "The House That Ruth Built" defined the old one. I toyed with The House That Jorge Built when Posada, like the Babe 86 years before, hit the first Yankees home run in the new park, but I didn't like the sound of it. If the fill-in third baseman had emerged a hero, I would've gone with The House of Ransom, to symbolize when Steinbrenner held the city hostage in the '90s with his baseless threat to move across the river to Jersey. Had the real third baseman been around, I might have christened the new park The House That Juice Built, but unfortunately, the return of Alex Rodriguez is still several weeks away. And when the ticket prices were originally announced, I had already used my personal favorite, The House That Ruthless Built. In truth, there's only one appropriate name for this ballpark -- The House That George Built. He created it and nurtured it. Now, he leaves it to others to figure a way to keep it filled. PiggiesTomatoes Apr 17 2009 02:53 PM I thought the son-in-law was bounced from management once GSS's daughter filed for divorce??? metsguyinmichigan Apr 17 2009 03:00 PM "skulldragging" What the hell is that? Frayed Knot Apr 17 2009 06:19 PM Edited 3 time(s), most recently on Apr 18 2009 08:31 AM ="PiggiesTomatoes":1d5bb52o]I thought the son-in-law was bounced from management once GSS's daughter filed for divorce???[/quote:1d5bb52o] This is son-in-law #3. For years while the brothers were uninterested in having anything to do with the team, older sister's hubby (Joe Molloy) was the guy slated to run things ... then she divorced him. Then the other sister's spouse was anointed as heir-apparent (Steve Swindal) ... then they went splitsville right after he got caught DWI on Valentine's Day at about 4AM). So now this new guy in the mix (Lopez) is first daughter's second husband. Hope you got all that straight cuz there'll be a quiz later. G-Fafif Apr 17 2009 06:22 PM I hear the Yankees suck and Matthews is a tool. OlerudOwned Apr 17 2009 06:53 PM http://www.theonion.com/content/news/mr ... leeping_in seawolf17 Apr 21 2009 11:07 AM Look! Wally's picking on the Yankees now! http://www.topix.net/forum/source/newsd ... BNDESHS3O8 Well, maybe not. He's picking on Jason Giambi, blaming him exclusively for the MFY's failure to win a WS. Never mind the 209 home runs he hit, or the .900 postseason OPS, or the fact that the REAL thing that all those 2001-2008 seasons have in common are Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, and Mike Mussina, all of whom escape Wally's clutches. (Ignore Jeet's .800 OPS in the postseason since 2001, or Mussina's 5-7 postseason record as a Yankee. It's all Giambi's fault.) Dickhead. Vic Sage Apr 21 2009 11:44 AM ]In truth, there's only one appropriate name for this ballpark -- The House That George Built. In truth, when a German industrialist erects an architectural tribute to the greatness of his folk and the glory of its past, there's only one appropriate name for it -- Nuremberg. G-Fafif Apr 21 2009 12:03 PM I'm a little confused as to why Wally didn't use the occasion of Giambi's visit to blame the Mets for ruining the Yankees by being too cheap to sign him and thus preserve the integrity of the only dynasty New York had to rely on.