soupcan

holychicken wrote: Who else was convinced, right up till that last out, that the BP was going to blow it? I wasn't 'convinced' they would blow it, but I was half-expecting it.

="HahnSolo":9zu9g7v4]One thing I don't "get" from the place is the bridge motif. I can't understand why it was so important to do it. I tried to explain it to my wife and she was like, "I totally don't see NYC bridges." [/quote:9zu9g7v4] The boroughs are all connected by bridges. Its not a stretch. ="Edgy DC":9zu9g7v4]It would make more sense if it was a suspension bridge.[/quote:9zu9g7v4] Agreed. metirish Apr 06 2009 09:07 AM I have a silly question. Are these restaurants open on off days and days the Mets are on the road? themetfairy Apr 06 2009 10:05 AM batmag - I was in the Promenade, and the view from my seat was nice. Analogous to my old Mezz seats, I think. I'll know for sure once the season starts and I'm actually focusing on a game or two. Agreed about the noise level, especially when Chris Carlin was yelling into the mike. I never thought much of him before, but after yesterday I hat him. SteveJRogers Apr 06 2009 10:24 AM ="soupcan":3ko0a4i5]Granted - Everyone who has a tcket has a club that will accomodate them (I think) - whether it be on the field level or the Promenade (upper deck) level, but still. Walking by the club entrances and knowing that you are not allowed access to that particular one is a bit of a downer. And I don't know this for sure but I'd guess that the Promenade level club somehow isn't as nice as the the field-level (Ebbets Club maybe?) club.[/quote:3ko0a4i5] Actually, you have to pay a bit extra for the club pass. Don't know how much more, but from what I gathered, it was substantial. Gwreck Apr 07 2009 09:24 AM The access to the various clubs is based on your seats. If you're seated in the "Promenade Club" seats, you get access to the Promenade Club. If you're in the "Ebbets Club" seats, you get access to the Ebbets Club. If you're in the "Delta Club" seats, you get access to the Delta Club. If you're in the "Caesar's Club" seats, you get access to the Caesar's Club. The restaurant in left field, the "Acela Club," is open to Metropolitan Box, Field Box, Ebbets Club Gold, and Delta Club Platinum and Gold ticket holders. holychicken Apr 07 2009 09:30 AM ="batmagadanleadoff":357bumo9]To those who already went to Citi Field for any of the exhibition games, what were the views like from your seats? Is it really true that every seat is a good one?[/quote:357bumo9] My experience is that all the seats I saw (and I went around to most parts of the stadium) felt very close to the infield and had a good view of the infield. However, the draw back to this is a lot of the seats outside the infield lose a bit of a corner of the outfield AND if you are in a covered seat, you lose views upward. Like sitting in the Mezz in Shea, you really only can see where a pop fly is going by watching the fielders. But, overall, the view of the field is MUCH better, especially for the type of seats I buy. Farmer Ted Apr 07 2009 10:27 AM There's an Acela Club? As in the amtrak train? Let me get this straight. Bankrupt bank has naming rights the stadium and a money-bleeding rail line sponsors the A-list dining area? LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Apr 07 2009 02:04 PM ="Farmer Ted":1wt09uid]There's an Acela Club? As in the amtrak train? Let me get this straight. Bankrupt bank has naming rights the stadium and a money-bleeding rail line sponsors the A-list dining area?[/quote:1wt09uid] That's nothing... wait until you hear who's sponsoring the "Fair and Balanced" no-flush urinals. themetfairy Apr 07 2009 05:46 PM We stopped by today en route to Long Island. D-Dad checked out tailgating spots, and we all visited our brick. Kong76 Apr 07 2009 06:24 PM I've been hesitant to whine here about it, but my front row promenade seats kinda suck. The railing sucks and the staircase with glass around it that is right in the same place as home plate sucks. It will suck even more when there are people on it all game. I called to try and move and the only thing they'd give me was like the next to last section of the outfield in row 13 and was reminded that upgrading year after year from there would be harder than from my crappy seats prolly. It's only a Sunday plan, and I can shift around and carpetbag, and watch from other areas, and the tickets aren't all that expensive ... but I feel gypped especially since on a whole the rest of the place is just so damn nice. seawolf17 Apr 07 2009 06:31 PM Hey, nothing wrong with bitching about it. Ultimately, though, you're probably screwed, because if you want to give up those seats, there are probably plenty of folks who would take them from you next year. The Mets -- and the Yankees -- knew they had us all over a barrel with these stadia; if we wanted to get in, we'd have to pay the price. I hate to say that Mike Francesa is right, but in this case, he is; the only recourse we have is with our wallets. If we think ticket prices are too high, or the views suck... then we don't buy the tickets. (They've priced me out, and that's fine; maybe we go to a game, but more likely we don't.) Kong76 Apr 07 2009 07:00 PM I'm more hesitant to whine about it more because I posted how excited I was to be in row one. I sat in row six with a poster in the same section and those seats are fine. They weren't the best available when I got mine days before they could log on and renew their Sunday plan if theirs are better. Who's Mike Francessa, where does he post? As for high ticket prices, my tickets are much cheaper this year than last and location is fine ... if I wasn't in row one. MFS62 Apr 07 2009 07:12 PM ="Kong76":3ru6ijum]I'm more hesitant to whine about it more because I posted how excited I was to be in row one. I sat in row six with a poster in the same section and those seats are fine. They weren't the best available when I got mine days before they could log on and renew their Sunday plan if theirs are better. Who's Mike Francessa, where does he post? As for high ticket prices, my tickets are much cheaper this year than last and location is fine ... if I wasn't in row one.[/quote:3ru6ijum] Well, if he had them, I'm sure Bob Uecker would exchange yours for his in the very last row. Later Rockin' Doc Apr 07 2009 07:39 PM KC, thanks for the excuse to post a classic beer commercial. MFS62, thanks for the perfect lead in. MFS62 Apr 07 2009 07:55 PM Doc, All I see is a big white rectangle. Later themetfairy Apr 07 2009 07:58 PM I see the Uecker ad, Doc. I just showed it to MK - he had never seen it before. Thanks. Rockin' Doc Apr 08 2009 05:23 AM MFS62 -"Doc, All I see is a big white rectangle." You wouldn't believe how many times I've heard that line before. Kong76 Apr 08 2009 05:38 AM Close your eyes and walk slowly towards the white rectangle.

Damn that kid grew up fast. I totally agree about the noise, although the sound system is MUCH better than it was at Shea.

Well then - there you go.

="metirish":10v2x56u]When Burkhardt was in The Acela Club I think Saturday he mentioned that you needed reservations to get in.[/quote:10v2x56u] But even if you have reservations, your ticket has to say 'Admit One To Acela Club' John Cougar Lunchbucket Apr 06 2009 08:06 AM Hey Soup, I talked to the restaurateur who is opening the place and came away with the impression that although policy errs on the safe side especially at launching time, if you asked the right people nicely they'd probably accommodate you. soupcan Apr 06 2009 08:08 AM Well then - there you go. seawolf17 Apr 06 2009 08:18 AM We were there for the workout yesterday. I enjoyed it; I think I'm over Shea. Two negatives, I thought -- the navigation was difficult (although I'm sure that'll go away once I'm familiar with the place), and it was way, way too fucking loud. Seemed like everything and everyone was on full volume. Maybe that'll be better in game situations, where the music isn't going to be blasting the whole time, but it was a major turnoff yesterday. It took me a full hour to relax and enjoy myself, because I spent so much time shouting to Ms. Wolf and MiniWolf to be heard. A few photeaux. First, MiniWolf mourns the loss of Shea: Taking his cuts at Kiddie Field: Playing the outfield, like his dad. Notice his dad in centerfield, talking with a couple of other Poolers who were on the scene: metirish Apr 06 2009 08:20 AM ="soupcan":e6xl82n7]="metirish":e6xl82n7]When Burkhardt was in The Acela Club I think Saturday he mentioned that you needed reservations to get in.[/quote:e6xl82n7] But even if you have reservations, your ticket has to say 'Admit One To Acela Club'[/quote:e6xl82n7] I suppose if I called to make a reservation they would ask if I had the ticket, but in any time especially these tough times that doesn't seem like a smart business plan for the owner of the restaurant. soupcan Apr 06 2009 08:21 AM Damn that kid grew up fast. I totally agree about the noise, although the sound system is MUCH better than it was at Shea. Edgy DC Apr 06 2009 08:25 AM Edited 3 time(s), most recently on Apr 06 2009 08:26 AM wolf: So I had this great house until the neighbors put in this damn whiffleball monstrosity. And now soupcan says... KC: Yeah, blahblahblah. Get off the field. There's a game goin' on. HahnSolo Apr 06 2009 08:25 AM One thing I don't "get" from the place is the bridge motif. I can't understand why it was so important to do it. I tried to explain it to my wife and she was like, "I totally don't see NYC bridges." Seawolf, how does the wiffle ball thing work? Is it free? A wait your turn thing? My son is already angling to hit that first when we go next week. Edgy DC Apr 06 2009 08:28 AM It would make more sense if it was a suspension bridge. batmagadanleadoff Apr 06 2009 08:31 AM To those who already went to Citi Field for any of the exhibition games, what were the views like from your seats? Is it really true that every seat is a good one? seawolf17 Apr 06 2009 08:38 AM ="batmagadanleadoff":1tq93prv]To those who already went to Citi Field for any of the exhibition games, what were the views like from your seats? Is it really true that every seat is a good one?[/quote:1tq93prv] We only really "sat" for any length of time in the 330s, out in left field, second tier up, just to the home-plate side of the glass-windowed restaurant. I thought the view was great, but you completely lose the left-field corner, right under you. Didn't bother me too much, because there were plenty of places at Shea where you'd lose a corner also. ="HahnSolo":1tq93prv]One thing I don't "get" from the place is the bridge motif. I can't understand why it was so important to do it. I tried to explain it to my wife and she was like, "I totally don't see NYC bridges." Seawolf, how does the wiffle ball thing work? Is it free? A wait your turn thing? My son is already angling to hit that first when we go next week.[/quote:1tq93prv] I agree on the bridge thing. I think if you're going to go bridge, you have to go Brooklyn Bridge, or a suspension bridge -- something that's really distinct. Or, say, the BRIDGE THAT'S IN THE TEAM'S LOGO. Call me crazy, but doing the logo bridge in right-center field would have kicked ass. The wiffle ball thing is free, but the line was monstrous yesterday. I don't put too much credence into yesterday's lines, because the majority of folks were on the concourse, not at their seats. Probably better during a regular game, I'd think. For yesterday, the line snaked around Kiddie Field, and when you got up there, you (the kid) went into left field, then center, then right, then you got your AB, and you got anywhere between three and six swings, depending on if you were a toddler who was just up there hacking (six) or a teenager who was really to big for it (three), then you got to run the bases. So you got four "at-bats" in total to run around. MiniWolf was beyond thrilled. soupcan Apr 06 2009 08:47 AM ="HahnSolo":9zu9g7v4]One thing I don't "get" from the place is the bridge motif. I can't understand why it was so important to do it. I tried to explain it to my wife and she was like, "I totally don't see NYC bridges." [/quote:9zu9g7v4] The boroughs are all connected by bridges. Its not a stretch. ="Edgy DC":9zu9g7v4]It would make more sense if it was a suspension bridge.[/quote:9zu9g7v4] Agreed. metirish Apr 06 2009 09:07 AM I have a silly question. Are these restaurants open on off days and days the Mets are on the road? themetfairy Apr 06 2009 10:05 AM batmag - I was in the Promenade, and the view from my seat was nice. Analogous to my old Mezz seats, I think. I'll know for sure once the season starts and I'm actually focusing on a game or two. Agreed about the noise level, especially when Chris Carlin was yelling into the mike. I never thought much of him before, but after yesterday I hat him. SteveJRogers Apr 06 2009 10:24 AM ="soupcan":3ko0a4i5]Granted - Everyone who has a tcket has a club that will accomodate them (I think) - whether it be on the field level or the Promenade (upper deck) level, but still. Walking by the club entrances and knowing that you are not allowed access to that particular one is a bit of a downer. And I don't know this for sure but I'd guess that the Promenade level club somehow isn't as nice as the the field-level (Ebbets Club maybe?) club.[/quote:3ko0a4i5] Actually, you have to pay a bit extra for the club pass. Don't know how much more, but from what I gathered, it was substantial. Gwreck Apr 07 2009 09:24 AM The access to the various clubs is based on your seats. If you're seated in the "Promenade Club" seats, you get access to the Promenade Club. If you're in the "Ebbets Club" seats, you get access to the Ebbets Club. If you're in the "Delta Club" seats, you get access to the Delta Club. If you're in the "Caesar's Club" seats, you get access to the Caesar's Club. The restaurant in left field, the "Acela Club," is open to Metropolitan Box, Field Box, Ebbets Club Gold, and Delta Club Platinum and Gold ticket holders. holychicken Apr 07 2009 09:30 AM ="batmagadanleadoff":357bumo9]To those who already went to Citi Field for any of the exhibition games, what were the views like from your seats? Is it really true that every seat is a good one?[/quote:357bumo9] My experience is that all the seats I saw (and I went around to most parts of the stadium) felt very close to the infield and had a good view of the infield. However, the draw back to this is a lot of the seats outside the infield lose a bit of a corner of the outfield AND if you are in a covered seat, you lose views upward. Like sitting in the Mezz in Shea, you really only can see where a pop fly is going by watching the fielders. But, overall, the view of the field is MUCH better, especially for the type of seats I buy. Farmer Ted Apr 07 2009 10:27 AM There's an Acela Club? As in the amtrak train? Let me get this straight. Bankrupt bank has naming rights the stadium and a money-bleeding rail line sponsors the A-list dining area? LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Apr 07 2009 02:04 PM ="Farmer Ted":1wt09uid]There's an Acela Club? As in the amtrak train? Let me get this straight. Bankrupt bank has naming rights the stadium and a money-bleeding rail line sponsors the A-list dining area?[/quote:1wt09uid] That's nothing... wait until you hear who's sponsoring the "Fair and Balanced" no-flush urinals. themetfairy Apr 07 2009 05:46 PM We stopped by today en route to Long Island. D-Dad checked out tailgating spots, and we all visited our brick. Kong76 Apr 07 2009 06:24 PM I've been hesitant to whine here about it, but my front row promenade seats kinda suck. The railing sucks and the staircase with glass around it that is right in the same place as home plate sucks. It will suck even more when there are people on it all game. I called to try and move and the only thing they'd give me was like the next to last section of the outfield in row 13 and was reminded that upgrading year after year from there would be harder than from my crappy seats prolly. It's only a Sunday plan, and I can shift around and carpetbag, and watch from other areas, and the tickets aren't all that expensive ... but I feel gypped especially since on a whole the rest of the place is just so damn nice. seawolf17 Apr 07 2009 06:31 PM Hey, nothing wrong with bitching about it. Ultimately, though, you're probably screwed, because if you want to give up those seats, there are probably plenty of folks who would take them from you next year. The Mets -- and the Yankees -- knew they had us all over a barrel with these stadia; if we wanted to get in, we'd have to pay the price. I hate to say that Mike Francesa is right, but in this case, he is; the only recourse we have is with our wallets. If we think ticket prices are too high, or the views suck... then we don't buy the tickets. (They've priced me out, and that's fine; maybe we go to a game, but more likely we don't.) Kong76 Apr 07 2009 07:00 PM I'm more hesitant to whine about it more because I posted how excited I was to be in row one. I sat in row six with a poster in the same section and those seats are fine. They weren't the best available when I got mine days before they could log on and renew their Sunday plan if theirs are better. Who's Mike Francessa, where does he post? As for high ticket prices, my tickets are much cheaper this year than last and location is fine ... if I wasn't in row one. MFS62 Apr 07 2009 07:12 PM ="Kong76":3ru6ijum]I'm more hesitant to whine about it more because I posted how excited I was to be in row one. I sat in row six with a poster in the same section and those seats are fine. They weren't the best available when I got mine days before they could log on and renew their Sunday plan if theirs are better. Who's Mike Francessa, where does he post? As for high ticket prices, my tickets are much cheaper this year than last and location is fine ... if I wasn't in row one.[/quote:3ru6ijum] Well, if he had them, I'm sure Bob Uecker would exchange yours for his in the very last row. Later Rockin' Doc Apr 07 2009 07:39 PM KC, thanks for the excuse to post a classic beer commercial. MFS62, thanks for the perfect lead in. MFS62 Apr 07 2009 07:55 PM Doc, All I see is a big white rectangle. Later themetfairy Apr 07 2009 07:58 PM I see the Uecker ad, Doc. I just showed it to MK - he had never seen it before. Thanks. Rockin' Doc Apr 08 2009 05:23 AM MFS62 -"Doc, All I see is a big white rectangle." You wouldn't believe how many times I've heard that line before. Kong76 Apr 08 2009 05:38 AM Close your eyes and walk slowly towards the white rectangle.

No, that's nice that you can do that - and I know that the Diamond Club was only open to ceratin ticketholders as well. My point was more that its more obvious that certain ticketholdres aren't permitted in certain places is all. At least it was more obvious to me.

="Edgy DC"]That restaurant makes me feel hostile. I guess I just have to tell myself that those swells are paying for Wright's next extension. But man. Not just a 'restaurant' it's a 'club'. The Acela Club. And if that doesn't tighten your colon even more - its an exclusive club, open only to holders of tickets in certain areas of the park. As a matter of fact that's another thing about the park that I didn't particularly care for - there are several 'clubs' within the place that cater to only ticketholders of certain sections. Granted - Everyone who has a tcket has a club that will accomodate them (I think) - whether it be on the field level or the Promenade (upper deck) level, but still. Walking by the club entrances and knowing that you are not allowed access to that particular one is a bit of a downer. And I don't know this for sure but I'd guess that the Promenade level club somehow isn't as nice as the the field-level (Ebbets Club maybe?) club.

We went on Saturday. The place is really great. It is definitely a bit disconcerting to see the Mets in their home whites in a completely different ballpark. Realizing that this new place with the high outfield fences, enclosed centerfield and green seats is the new home is odd. The food as has been said is so much better than I'm used to having while watching a Mets game. Shake Shack burgers are 2 die 4. There is a place sort of near us in Bethel. CT called The Sycamore which has burgers very similar. I try to get to there a few times a year simply for their 'Dagwood'. No need to do that anymore since I'll be getting my burger fix at good ole City Field (see what I did there?). The game was sold out but there were empty seats everywhere because everyone was walking around checkin' out the new digs. Made it hard to walk around even with the wide concourses. I'm guessing it will be about mid-season before that calms down. The only criticisms I had is that concourse celings are low and they could be lit better. Other than that, its really, really nice. I agree that the outfield walls are high but I think eventually we will all get used to it and adopt the mantra that The City is indeed a pitcher-friendly park and take some pride in that.

Stole this from baseball-fever.com...

Going tomorrow. Going to miss Opening Day in Flushing for the first tme in 25 years as I'll be out-of-town. I still haven't decided who I'm going to let present Jerry with the horseshoe-shaped bouquet. Any volunteers?

="LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr":1y9neu1x]Defined columns are nifty, and long overdue-- It's nice not to have to guess at whether certain numbers are OPS or SLG.[/quote:1y9neu1x] Oh, yeah - much better. Edgy DC Apr 03 2009 12:08 PM The column borders allow them to not pad the columns as much, but the effect can initially be jarringly busy. metsmarathon Apr 03 2009 12:28 PM seeing as how i can now copy and paste directly into excel, i'm ecstatic about the layout. tho, if the changes had taken place before i had posited my guess as to trivia question #2, i never would've gotten it. the postseason and all star pitching stats are only available through a click off the player pages, and are therefore on degree more difficult to get at now. i personally wouldn't mind a single massive page of information at my fingertips. attgig Apr 03 2009 12:32 PM i like the auto highlighting of years, and it giving me averages. what other easter eggs are there? Gwreck Apr 03 2009 12:39 PM Didn't see the need for change. Liked the old version. Fman99 Apr 03 2009 12:42 PM Tree Men Does. G-Fafif Apr 03 2009 12:45 PM They still fail to list more than two Mets world championships. Nymr83 Apr 03 2009 12:59 PM i LOVE the new layout, particularly being able to sort a players career by any columns i want Frayed Knot Apr 03 2009 01:14 PM Sortable stats, club sub-totals and averages, hi-lighted leader stats, ... what's not to like! John Cougar Lunchbucket Apr 03 2009 03:28 PM I remember freaking out at their first renovation. It will take some getting used to but ok with me. batmagadanleadoff Apr 03 2009 03:39 PM From Baseball Reference's Home Page: Today in Baseball History--1966 - The New York Mets sign University of Southern California star Tom Seaver to his first contract, including a $50,000 bonus. Seaver had been selected by the Atlanta Braves in the January draft, but Commissioner Spike Eckert voided the deal when he signed a contract after USC's season had already begun. The Mets beat out the Cleveland Indians and Philadelphia Phillies in a lottery for Seaver's services. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Apr 03 2009 03:46 PM Awfully stinky? Really? I kinda want to hear from that person, because the more I click over, the more little pretties I discover (in-place glossaries of stats, e.g.). AND it's exportable? This is f-ing stat Christmas! Kong76 Apr 03 2009 03:58 PM I chose like it, it's better than the one it replace but I really liked the one before that the best. We'll be used to it two weeks and that'll be that. Rockin' Doc Apr 03 2009 05:57 PM I like it. I'm sure I'll like it even better once I get more accustomed to it. When did the change take place? I swear I was on the site early this morning (7:00-7:30 AM) and it looked the same as before. Of course, it may have changed and I simply didn't notice since I hadn't finished my first cup of coffee. A Boy Named Seo Apr 03 2009 06:06 PM I wanna change my vote from like to lub. The more I click around, the more I dig. Kong76 Apr 03 2009 06:17 PM What's up with the 320 pixel jheri curl commercial? OlerudOwned Apr 04 2009 02:35 AM ="Kong76":ih5n8qjp]What's up with the 320 pixel jheri curl commercial?[/quote:ih5n8qjp] Doc and Sheff. Kong76 Apr 04 2009 08:13 AM I know who they are, I was hinting that the image was a tad wide :-) TheOldMole Apr 04 2009 08:57 AM Love the sortable, love all sorts of little extras, still would like to see them have every box score. OlerudOwned Apr 04 2009 11:52 AM ="Kong76"]I know who they are, I was hinting that the image was a tad wide :-) Gotta appreciate that kind of style in widescreen. SteveJRogers Apr 04 2009 12:11 PM ="TheOldMole":2ie83a2s]Love the sortable, love all sorts of little extras, still would like to see them have every box score.[/quote:2ie83a2s] You want them to step on retrosheet.org's turf? LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Apr 04 2009 11:43 PM ="Kong76":3uzqu7br]What's up with the 320 pixel jheri curl commercial?[/quote:3uzqu7br] Apologies-- a(n appropriately a-holish?) temporary nod to our new a-hole. Frayed Knot Apr 07 2009 11:10 AM They don't have today's games/pitchers shown on the front page like they used to -- but they also haven't changed last year's season-ending standings in favor of this year's so maybe they're just a bit behind at the moment. Fman99 May 05 2009 06:27 AM My Ron Darling sponsorship is up for renewal... except they jacked the price from $20 to $30. I think I'll try to find some other Met(s) to sponsor and continue to pimp the pool.

I'd go for the free Rolfing over the average wine. Also, while it may be true that Leiter is a Republican, Dwight betrayed me. I can't let that go. Leiter over Jones is a tough call but what can you do?

You're assuming that I would most want Tom Seaver and least want Craig Swan when in fact the opposite is true.

Excuse me, my answer is correct as well.

All guys that have never been in my kitchen in order of whether I'd want them there or not.

Delgado, last night. Cool, huh?

="Benjamin Grimm":3rv0nqrw]I kinda like the Minnesota park. The Nationals less so, but it's not bad either.[/quote:3rv0nqrw] Yeah - the Minnesota park has a sort of retro Jetsons feel to it. Edgy DC Apr 03 2009 08:29 AM The Nats park has like five different tiers, each one more heavily raked than the one below it. Sometimes the price of everybody being closer to the field horizontally is that you get some crazy options vertically. I'm sure you'll hear Keith complain this season about the vertigo-inducing situation of their press box. That is, if Mr. Fancy Pants makes a road trip to Washington. HahnSolo Apr 03 2009 01:35 PM Hmm. I guess my perception of Nationals Park was different. I took the Metro to the game and walked in through the CF promenade. And we sat field level, so I didn't notice the slopes in the upper reaches. I never saw the glass encasings in the photo above, and liked the interior of the ballpark. metirish Apr 03 2009 06:33 PM ="Nymr83"]In the post this morning Sherman says bad things about the New Yankee stadium while Kevin Kernan has some faint praise for Citi Field (though more dumping on Shea) Sherman just about takes a dump on the doorstep of the new MYF stadium I'm biased of course but I have tuned into YES a few times and if I didn't know better I would think they were playing the the MFYII.... IN TOUGH TIMES, A MONUMENT TO GREED ] IT IS beautiful, of course. But in the way that a woman who went to the world's best plastic surgeon might be beautiful. It is supposed to remind you of the previous incarnation, and ends up feeling artificial and overdone. The new Yankee Stadium has just about everything you would want in a modern sports facility, except charm and a sense of proportion. If you can afford the prices, you should have a good time there. The sightlines are wonderful. The large screen in center field is so clear you really do feel as if you could reach out and touch the people on it. The concourses are wide, and the food choices abundant. Yet the place brought nausea, not nostalgia. It just feels like the wrong time in the history of this country and this city to be opening up the George Mahal. When the project was initiated 2 � years ago, the Yankees could not have known what the state of the economy was going to be now. But this is about more than wrong place, wrong time. The Yankees' sense of entitlement and unrestrained excess is timeless. They will tell you they built this stadium for the everyman, stressing what they consider still affordable pricing and amenities. But this stadium, in actuality, was built for a moneyed class that in many respects does not even exist in this city any longer. Those $2,625-per-game Legends tickets behind home plate are selling slowly, and that certainly is because there is a whole class of banking/Wall Street/real estate mogul who would have scooped them up but has gone the way of flannel uniforms. But also because those seats not long ago would have screamed status, and now speak only to greed. The working world will not look onto those sitting there with envy. They will wish that those seats came with a dunk tank, not waiter service. The Yanks also want to make you believe that the history and romance could be easily shipped from the old place to the new one simply by recreating dimensions, reconstructing the facade or replanting Monument Park. However, the new Stadium didn't make me think of the place just across the street. It made me think about Vegas or Disney World, since it made me think of a fake place designed to manipulate my emotions and get into my wallet. "We don't see it as ostentatious or flashy," Hal Steinbrenner said. "We see it as classy." For me, class is out. In truth, sadly, the Yanks have conjured up a building that defines them: cold, corporate, over-privileged. At a financially distressed time in which Bud Selig has appealed to teams and players to be more fan friendly than ever, the Yanks have constructed even more of a moat between their players and those paying for all the goodies. For example, Yankee executives see it as a positive that the players now have underground parking rather than in the old place, where they had to walk 50 feet outdoors from the parking lot to the Stadium. In those 50 feet, fans held back by barricades could scream to their favorite players and -- if one of those players indulged -- get an autograph or two. Now the interaction between fans and players, and media and players, will be less than ever. I know no one sheds a tear for the media, but I think the new clubhouse, overstocked with off-limits areas and clandestine exits, only leads to a group that will feel less accountability. And an over-privileged nature and lack of accountability have hurt recent editions of the Yankees. "We are not a regular team," Brian Bruney said. "We are the New York Yankees, and it has to be nicer." Nice is in the eye of the beholder, and if you work for one of those few places left where the corporate card is still set on unlimited, then the new Yankee Stadium is for you. For many others, this place will have all the charm of Bernie Madoff. seawolf17 Apr 03 2009 06:44 PM And Brian Bruney, you're an overpaid tub of goo who can't find the strike zone with a guide dog who's lucky the Yankees wouldn't know pitching talent if it punched them in the neck, or you'd find yourself pitching for the Sioux City Sand Gnats. So shut the hell up and join Caveman on the Ass Line. Edgy DC Apr 03 2009 08:16 PM Wolfie, save something for the regular season. MFS62 Apr 03 2009 08:56 PM I just went on mlb.com to check the box scores. I noticed that the Mets' game tonight was played at "CitiField". The Yankees' game tonight was played at "New Yankee Stadium". Is that going to be the official name of that place? Later seawolf17 Apr 03 2009 08:57 PM Didn't they call it "New Comiskey" for a while too? themetfairy Apr 03 2009 08:58 PM ="seawolf17":3ge41hzz]Didn't they call it "New Comiskey" for a while too?[/quote:3ge41hzz] Yes - that's what it was called when I visited the park in 1991. seawolf17 Apr 03 2009 09:08 PM ="Edgy DC"]Wolfie, save something for the regular season. I know, but again, this stuff pisses me off. Who the hell is Brian Bruney? Good thing crappy middle relievers don't bat in the American League, or if I'm Lou Piniella tomorrow, I buzz an exhibition fastball right past his manboobs. You are "a regular team," Bruney. You're one of 30 teams that all need each other, or professional baseball doesn't exist. MFS62 Apr 04 2009 06:27 AM ="seawolf17":11yncmqm]Didn't they call it "New Comiskey" for a while too?[/quote:11yncmqm] Who is they? The White Sox? White Sox fans? The fans in Chicago? The papers in Chicago? But this is the official website of major league baseball itself. And that's why I asked if anyone knew if this is the official name of that place. Not just what some may call it. Later Frayed Knot Apr 04 2009 06:44 AM No, I don't believe 'New' is part of the official name. 'Fucking Gargantuan Edifice to Conspicuous Consumption' may be, although I'd have to check on that to be sure. SteveJRogers Apr 04 2009 06:45 AM ="MFS62":2qks5l00]="seawolf17":2qks5l00]Didn't they call it "New Comiskey" for a while too?[/quote:2qks5l00] Who is they? The White Sox? White Sox fans? The fans in Chicago? The papers in Chicago? But this is the official website of major league baseball itself. And that's why I asked if anyone knew if this is the official name of that place. Not just what some may call it. Later[/quote:2qks5l00] Yes, yes, yes, yes and yes. Reinsdorf didn't sell the naming rights until 2003. So it was Comiskey II from 1991 through 2003. G-Fafif Apr 04 2009 06:55 AM I believe that someday Seawolf will punch that arrogant Brian Brueny at New Yankee Stadium on his fat nose. MFS62 Apr 09 2009 06:56 PM Here's one you might not have heard about. (Thank you, Onion) http://www.theonion.com/content/video/yankees_buil ding_new_vacation Later Kong76 Apr 09 2009 08:39 PM Dude, your link actually pointed to this: http://www.theonion.com/content/video/study_children_exposed_to Figure out how to work stuff, child porn humor ain't for here. Later metsguyinmichigan Apr 09 2009 10:01 PM I clicked the link and thought, "Damn, the bleeping Yankees really ARE trying to appeal to everyone. Now I know why they have that massive video board in center." MFS62 Apr 10 2009 07:36 AM Let's try that again. And let the ad finish. http://www.theonion.com/content/video/yankees_building_new_vacation EDIT: I tried it after I re-posted and it worked. Later

="Edgy DC":292rjkrd]Glass fa�ades and baseball go together like bleach and baby baths. Even if there's no real threat of the two actually coming together --- and even if the vulnerable element is reinforced against the dangerous element --- it creates an atmophere of anxiety.[/quote:292rjkrd] That's an interesting point, but perhaps the juxtaposition of those types of elements is what appeals to an architect trying to make a statement? I'm certain Art Van DeLay would find a way to make it work, soupcan Apr 03 2009 08:20 AM ="Benjamin Grimm":3rv0nqrw]I kinda like the Minnesota park. The Nationals less so, but it's not bad either.[/quote:3rv0nqrw] Yeah - the Minnesota park has a sort of retro Jetsons feel to it. Edgy DC Apr 03 2009 08:29 AM The Nats park has like five different tiers, each one more heavily raked than the one below it. Sometimes the price of everybody being closer to the field horizontally is that you get some crazy options vertically. I'm sure you'll hear Keith complain this season about the vertigo-inducing situation of their press box. That is, if Mr. Fancy Pants makes a road trip to Washington. HahnSolo Apr 03 2009 01:35 PM Hmm. I guess my perception of Nationals Park was different. I took the Metro to the game and walked in through the CF promenade. And we sat field level, so I didn't notice the slopes in the upper reaches. I never saw the glass encasings in the photo above, and liked the interior of the ballpark. metirish Apr 03 2009 06:33 PM ="Nymr83"]In the post this morning Sherman says bad things about the New Yankee stadium while Kevin Kernan has some faint praise for Citi Field (though more dumping on Shea) Sherman just about takes a dump on the doorstep of the new MYF stadium I'm biased of course but I have tuned into YES a few times and if I didn't know better I would think they were playing the the MFYII.... IN TOUGH TIMES, A MONUMENT TO GREED ] IT IS beautiful, of course. But in the way that a woman who went to the world's best plastic surgeon might be beautiful. It is supposed to remind you of the previous incarnation, and ends up feeling artificial and overdone. The new Yankee Stadium has just about everything you would want in a modern sports facility, except charm and a sense of proportion. If you can afford the prices, you should have a good time there. The sightlines are wonderful. The large screen in center field is so clear you really do feel as if you could reach out and touch the people on it. The concourses are wide, and the food choices abundant. Yet the place brought nausea, not nostalgia. It just feels like the wrong time in the history of this country and this city to be opening up the George Mahal. When the project was initiated 2 � years ago, the Yankees could not have known what the state of the economy was going to be now. But this is about more than wrong place, wrong time. The Yankees' sense of entitlement and unrestrained excess is timeless. They will tell you they built this stadium for the everyman, stressing what they consider still affordable pricing and amenities. But this stadium, in actuality, was built for a moneyed class that in many respects does not even exist in this city any longer. Those $2,625-per-game Legends tickets behind home plate are selling slowly, and that certainly is because there is a whole class of banking/Wall Street/real estate mogul who would have scooped them up but has gone the way of flannel uniforms. But also because those seats not long ago would have screamed status, and now speak only to greed. The working world will not look onto those sitting there with envy. They will wish that those seats came with a dunk tank, not waiter service. The Yanks also want to make you believe that the history and romance could be easily shipped from the old place to the new one simply by recreating dimensions, reconstructing the facade or replanting Monument Park. However, the new Stadium didn't make me think of the place just across the street. It made me think about Vegas or Disney World, since it made me think of a fake place designed to manipulate my emotions and get into my wallet. "We don't see it as ostentatious or flashy," Hal Steinbrenner said. "We see it as classy." For me, class is out. In truth, sadly, the Yanks have conjured up a building that defines them: cold, corporate, over-privileged. At a financially distressed time in which Bud Selig has appealed to teams and players to be more fan friendly than ever, the Yanks have constructed even more of a moat between their players and those paying for all the goodies. For example, Yankee executives see it as a positive that the players now have underground parking rather than in the old place, where they had to walk 50 feet outdoors from the parking lot to the Stadium. In those 50 feet, fans held back by barricades could scream to their favorite players and -- if one of those players indulged -- get an autograph or two. Now the interaction between fans and players, and media and players, will be less than ever. I know no one sheds a tear for the media, but I think the new clubhouse, overstocked with off-limits areas and clandestine exits, only leads to a group that will feel less accountability. And an over-privileged nature and lack of accountability have hurt recent editions of the Yankees. "We are not a regular team," Brian Bruney said. "We are the New York Yankees, and it has to be nicer." Nice is in the eye of the beholder, and if you work for one of those few places left where the corporate card is still set on unlimited, then the new Yankee Stadium is for you. For many others, this place will have all the charm of Bernie Madoff. seawolf17 Apr 03 2009 06:44 PM And Brian Bruney, you're an overpaid tub of goo who can't find the strike zone with a guide dog who's lucky the Yankees wouldn't know pitching talent if it punched them in the neck, or you'd find yourself pitching for the Sioux City Sand Gnats. So shut the hell up and join Caveman on the Ass Line. Edgy DC Apr 03 2009 08:16 PM Wolfie, save something for the regular season. MFS62 Apr 03 2009 08:56 PM I just went on mlb.com to check the box scores. I noticed that the Mets' game tonight was played at "CitiField". The Yankees' game tonight was played at "New Yankee Stadium". Is that going to be the official name of that place? Later seawolf17 Apr 03 2009 08:57 PM Didn't they call it "New Comiskey" for a while too? themetfairy Apr 03 2009 08:58 PM ="seawolf17":3ge41hzz]Didn't they call it "New Comiskey" for a while too?[/quote:3ge41hzz] Yes - that's what it was called when I visited the park in 1991. seawolf17 Apr 03 2009 09:08 PM ="Edgy DC"]Wolfie, save something for the regular season. I know, but again, this stuff pisses me off. Who the hell is Brian Bruney? Good thing crappy middle relievers don't bat in the American League, or if I'm Lou Piniella tomorrow, I buzz an exhibition fastball right past his manboobs. You are "a regular team," Bruney. You're one of 30 teams that all need each other, or professional baseball doesn't exist. MFS62 Apr 04 2009 06:27 AM ="seawolf17":11yncmqm]Didn't they call it "New Comiskey" for a while too?[/quote:11yncmqm] Who is they? The White Sox? White Sox fans? The fans in Chicago? The papers in Chicago? But this is the official website of major league baseball itself. And that's why I asked if anyone knew if this is the official name of that place. Not just what some may call it. Later Frayed Knot Apr 04 2009 06:44 AM No, I don't believe 'New' is part of the official name. 'Fucking Gargantuan Edifice to Conspicuous Consumption' may be, although I'd have to check on that to be sure. SteveJRogers Apr 04 2009 06:45 AM ="MFS62":2qks5l00]="seawolf17":2qks5l00]Didn't they call it "New Comiskey" for a while too?[/quote:2qks5l00] Who is they? The White Sox? White Sox fans? The fans in Chicago? The papers in Chicago? But this is the official website of major league baseball itself. And that's why I asked if anyone knew if this is the official name of that place. Not just what some may call it. Later[/quote:2qks5l00] Yes, yes, yes, yes and yes. Reinsdorf didn't sell the naming rights until 2003. So it was Comiskey II from 1991 through 2003. G-Fafif Apr 04 2009 06:55 AM I believe that someday Seawolf will punch that arrogant Brian Brueny at New Yankee Stadium on his fat nose. MFS62 Apr 09 2009 06:56 PM Here's one you might not have heard about. (Thank you, Onion) http://www.theonion.com/content/video/yankees_buil ding_new_vacation Later Kong76 Apr 09 2009 08:39 PM Dude, your link actually pointed to this: http://www.theonion.com/content/video/study_children_exposed_to Figure out how to work stuff, child porn humor ain't for here. Later metsguyinmichigan Apr 09 2009 10:01 PM I clicked the link and thought, "Damn, the bleeping Yankees really ARE trying to appeal to everyone. Now I know why they have that massive video board in center." MFS62 Apr 10 2009 07:36 AM Let's try that again. And let the ad finish. http://www.theonion.com/content/video/yankees_building_new_vacation EDIT: I tried it after I re-posted and it worked. Later

These two come to mind when I think about new stadiums with a modern bent. Target Field, which is the new stadium now being built for the twins in Minnesota. Nationals -

Times has its architectural reviews of both stadia today... ] April 3, 2009 Architecture Review Two New Baseball Palaces, One Stoic, One Scrappy By NICOLAI OUROUSSOFF American stadium design has been stuck in a nostalgic funk, with sports franchises recycling the same old images year after year. Still, if you have to go with a retro look, New York City could have done worse than the new Yankee Stadium and Citi Field. Both were designed by Populous (formerly known as HOK Sport Venue Event) and are major upgrades over the stadiums they replaced, which had been looking more and more dilapidated over the years. Both should be fine places to spend a few hours watching a game. What�s more, each stadium subtly reflects the character of the franchises that built them. Yankee Stadium is the kind of stoic, self-conscious monument to history that befits the most successful franchise in American sports. The new home of the Mets, meanwhile, is scrappier and more lighthearted. It plays with history fast and loose, as if it were just another form of entertainment. Yankee management started talking about replacing the old stadium more than a decade ago, and this seemed to be the tougher challenge: the stadium sparkled with the memories of 26 World Series championships. Architecturally, however, the stadium was charmless. Renovation in the 1970s may have made it more comfortable (fans loathed the painful wooden seats of the original version), but it also destroyed many architectural features. The original copper frieze that lined the stadium�s upper deck was ripped out. (A partial concrete replica was added later.) The monuments that had once stood in the deepest recesses of center field were moved to an insipid space behind the left-center field fence and named Monument Park. The little personality the stadium had came from its site: a tight urban lot framed by elevated subway tracks on one side and a city park on the other. The new stadium, which stands across the street from the old one, spruces up that image while reviving some of the lost history. The towering arched windows that dominated the original exterior, an echo of the Roman Colosseum, have been recast in a mix of limestone, granite and cast stone, and they are as imposing as ever. A small urban plaza, raised just above the level of the sidewalk, faces the bars and souvenir shops along River Avenue and the entry to the elevated train, strengthening the structure�s relationship to its urban setting. The city has also promised to build a park and several ball fields just to the south of the stadium in an effort to put a more community-friendly face on the project. A broad pedestrian walkway will eventually link the stadium to the fields and a Metro-North station farther to the south. The biggest improvements, however, are the interiors, which have been organized with an eye to the fans. The concourses are broad open spaces, with concession stands set along the perimeter so that they don�t obstruct views down to the field. More seats are concentrated below the mezzanine level, closer to the action. Even the luxury suites, which suddenly look like a holdover from the era of corporate excess, are discreetly set back so that they don�t detract from the shared intimacy of watching the game. There�s history here, too, or at least a facsimile of it. The Yankees have brought back the old manually operated scoreboards in left and right field, a feature that was last used in the 1960s. A replica of the old frieze sits along the top of the upper deck. Best of all, the slot that separated the scoreboard from the right-field stands in the old stadium has been recreated, so you can still catch glimpses of the subway rumbling by � a reminder that the stadium has been carved out of the heart of a living, thriving city. All in all, the new Yankee Stadium may be an austere, even intimidating place, but there�s nothing tacky about it. It�s straightforward, paint-by-numbers architecture. Getting to Citi Field is a more drawn-out aesthetic experience. Descending from the elevated 7 train in Queens, you have to cross a wide landscaped plaza before arriving at the main entry gate. A sea of parking stretches out in both directions. A pile of rubble (once the old Shea Stadium) currently lies just beyond the parking to the left. The building fits comfortably in this setting. Yankee Stadium�s facade is dominated by vertical lines, which emphasize its monumentality. Citi Field�s facade, which is loosely modeled on Ebbets Field, the former home of the Brooklyn Dodgers, is more low-key. Its brick cladding gives it a warmth that Yankee Stadium doesn�t have. A pre-cast concrete band cuts across the arched exterior, breaking down the structure�s scale and emphasizing its horizontality. History also feels less heavy here. Like the Yankees, the Mets built broad concourses that open up to the field so that you feel close to the game even while you�re standing in line for a beer. But the design is far more eclectic. A porch that cantilevers out over right field is modeled on the old Tiger Stadium. Big steel trusses conjure the structure that supports the nearby elevated train. A soot-colored pedestrian bridge that spans the bullpen behind center field is a miniature version of the Hell Gate Bridge. Even the color of the seats � dark green � was copied from somewhere else: the Polo Grounds, where the New York Giants baseball team played and the Mets played their first two seasons. The casual mood is reinforced by a number of spaces that have little to do with watching a baseball game: an auditorium, a Wiffle ball field � even an event room for weddings or parties. What saves the design from becoming completely hokey, however, is its openness to the real world outside. Most of Queens, from the faded remnants of the 1964 World�s Fair to the Whitestone Expressway and the muddy waters of Flushing Bay, is visible from the main concourse level. Farther up, you can see the Manhattan skyline several miles away. The visitors� bullpen has a view of dilapidated garages and auto body shops across 126th Street to the northeast. The reality of this working-class landscape tempers the artificiality of the interior. Even so, most serious architects today strive to create buildings that reflect the values of their own era, not a nostalgic vision of the past, no matter how open they may be toward their surroundings. And in that regard both stadiums will be a disappointment to students of architecture. For us, the buildings are just another reminder of the enormous gap that remains between high design and popular taste.

This carpet is god-awful.

Stupid story by a stupid kid who can't see the forest for the trees. Risking his job to wear a jacket advertising an entity that gives less than two shits about him or his well-being. Talk about misplaced allegiances. Comments by people who read that story... ]Posted by: CMc62480 | Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at 02:01 PM who has two thumbs and likes to start trouble? this guy............. That guy gets it. ]Posted by: Len | Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at 02:35 PM I would write a letter to the dean of your university. Conduct like that is absolutely unacceptable and should easily be grounds for the dismissal of your department head. Mets fans are such cry babies. I can't wait to invade that stadium and piss on it. Oh, absolutely! Fire the department head! Puh-lease. ]Posted by: Albert | Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at 02:36 PM I hereby nominate you for Phreedom Phighter of the Year. Take no guff from those swine. You are a patriot and a forward thinker. You will go very far in life, son. Continue to fight the good fight. Soldiers in Iraq could take lessons on patriotism from Ole Two Thumbs up there. ]Posted by: sponge-worthy | Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at 03:30 PM I commend you on the way you handled yourself and definitely support what you did. Job or no job, the way they treated and judged you is tantamount to judging you based on ethnicity. I've seen a lot of opposing teams' fans at Eagles games. They all get harassed to a point, but the ones that act like you did are never asked to leave and are respected as loyal fans. Your Mets fan coworkers and Mets fan department head should all be ashamed of themselves for their actions. Considering it wasn't an MLB event at all, Citi, the Mets and all Mets fans should be embarrassed. ]Posted by: Chuck | Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at 03:32 PM Sounds like you have a valid discrimination lawsuit you can threaten the department with. Discrimination Lawsuits! See, now you know how Nelson Mandela felt being locked up in prison for all those years. ]Posted by: will.H | Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at 04:17 PM I was wearing a phillies shirt while shopping for furniture and the guy told me he would give me half off a chair I was looking at if I put on a Mets shirt. You know what I told him, "Go get the shirt." Exactly.

Great combo but its not original.

Elmer. Great name. We named our boys Henry & Joe. Elmer & Oscar would've been so much better.

Gracias.