Comments on East Coast Bias: Nationals Park - Opening Night Review

Yeah, I like NL baseball more too. Too bad the NL...

2008-04-02T09:53:52.679-04:00

Yeah, I like NL baseball more too. Too bad the NL's been getting spanked by the AL lately. I'm beginning to think the interleague stuff isn't really fair. The NL teams have no reason to pay a good hitter that can't play a position, so their DH sucks. On the other hand, the AL team's DH can be used as a switch hitter or just stuck in the field for a day or two.

NL baseball > AL baseballThere's really no debate,...

2008-04-01T10:50:49.579-04:00

NL baseball > AL baseball

There's really no debate, unless you want to spend 4 hours watching a 10-5 game with no tension instead of a thrilling 2-1 game that is done in less than three hours.

J-Red, after going to lots of Orioles from 1986-20...

2008-04-01T10:05:01.025-04:00

J-Red, after going to lots of Orioles from 1986-2005, and going to lots of Nats games from 2006-2007, I can tell you that any true baseball fan would enjoy NL baseball ten times more than AL baseball. It's like Blades of Steel vs. Hockey on 8-bit Nintendo. Sure, Blades of Steel had the gimmicky fights. But it didn't simulate the real sport of hockey the way you could if hockey teams were made up of only thin fast guys, average guys, and fat slow guys.

Can we toss out the possibility that NL baseball r...

2008-03-31T23:53:35.914-04:00

Can we toss out the possibility that NL baseball really is truly boring, and Jeremy got bored in a 2-1 "pitchers' duel"...in a brand new stadium...on Opening Day...when he took public transportation...and didn't have to be at work prior to 7 am...and was with his father rather than a weak woman?

I can understand the booing thing. I can't unders...

2008-03-31T20:32:47.003-04:00

I can understand the booing thing. I can't understand leaving early. I would say short of his wife going into labor there is no reason to leave a game before extra innings. If it was like the 14th inning you might leave because you don't know how long it can go. I wouldn't but I would accept that rationale.

Closing on a house requires nothing. If you are afraid you will forget how to sign your name 1000 times then I guess it makes sense.

But you knew major league games were nine innings, right? So when you bought the tickets you HAD to expect it to go nine. In the future, I would plan for it to go nine and if it goes more, take it from there.

"Still, who would leave a game that might go extra...

2008-03-31T15:40:26.186-04:00

"Still, who would leave a game that might go extras?"

I was not suggesting that was a sufficient excuse in this case, but on a sliding scale of how much I want to smack Jeremy, it would be less sickening if he left in the top of the 10th because he did not want to possibly wait through 15 innings with no resolution, only to leave before it ends in the 16th.

That theory only holds if you have a real reason that you have to get home before 4 a.m. Jeremy did not, it appears.

It was likely to go to extras though. The Braves t...

2008-03-31T15:27:29.730-04:00

It was likely to go to extras though. The Braves tied it at 2 in the top of the ninth. Still, who would leave a game that might go extras? That's when walkoffs are most likely to happen.

There are reasons to leave a baseball game early (rain delay, extreme blowout), but none applied last night, especially on opening night.

Jeremy, closing on a house requires no sleep. I do...

2008-03-31T13:39:43.594-04:00

Jeremy, closing on a house requires no sleep. I don't agree with J-Red that there is no excuse possible, but yours is not even in the ballpark (pardon the pun).

It was a fast game. I guess that happens when the Nats go 24-up, 24-down before the most exciting moment in Washington Nationals history (J-Red, insert your joke here). It was the ninth inning. I wasn't like it was going to extras so you decided to cut your losses.

You have no room to snap at anyone right now, especially since you should be well-rested.

Just take your medicine. I'll get over this travesty sooner or later.

Leaving early is never excusable. My Dad and broth...

2008-03-31T12:50:36.997-04:00

Leaving early is never excusable. My Dad and brother walked out of the Ravens-Seahawks game a few years ago and missed a 21-pt fourth quarter comeback. I didn't speak to him for a week since I was in New Orleans and would have killed Jacque-Imo for the chance to go.

Plus, Jeremy, you're an attorney. What the hell do you need sleep for?

Also, I was distinctly in the minority of those wh...

2008-03-31T11:32:29.256-04:00

Also, I was distinctly in the minority of those who left early. I guess closing on a house is never a good enough excuse. I am truly sick about what I did and missing that ending.

Dude, your panties are still in a bundle because D...

2008-03-31T10:39:42.981-04:00

Dude, your panties are still in a bundle because DC fans actually booed Bush. Lighten up. What "real baseball town" do you live in?

Jeremy, it will take me a while to forgive you, bu...

2008-03-31T10:33:28.716-04:00

Jeremy, it will take me a while to forgive you, but I'm sure I will...someday.

I believe I have seen J-Red predict failure for th...

2008-03-31T10:14:35.617-04:00

I believe I have seen J-Red predict failure for the Nats. I think I would have to agree if people are leaving opening day early when the game is close. I can't imagine that happening in Boston, New York, Detroit or any real baseball town.

You wonder how the hell an opener doesn't sell out and I think you answered your own question. If a presumably big fan of the team can't be bothered to stay for the whole game why do you expect a fringe fan to buy up a ticket?