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One cannot help but notice just how sparse some of the attendance has been this year in Major League Baseball. Most teams see a drastic drop in attendance after their opening series, especially teams that are not necessarily expected to compete (sorry Pirates, Reds, and Blue Jays). This can largely be attributed to the state of the economy, however most teams continue to raise ticket prices without offering many enticing deals. I don't quite understand why MLB Organizations find that they need to charge ridiculous prices for seats in the lower level.
Here are some prices for good seats at a handful of stadiums:
New York Yankees, Yankee Stadium, Field Box Lower Level: $300-$375
Colorado Rockies, Coors Field, Infield Box Lower Level: $47-$100
Chicago White Sox, U.S. Cellular Field, Premium Lower Level: $53-$70
Just to name a few...
One team, the New York Yankees, has really been under the microscope already early into the 2009 season. Specifically, their lack of filling up their most expensive seats, which are being sold for about to $2,500 per ticket. One would think, from a managerial standpoint, that the Yankees would want these seats to be full for each game. Well, they are not, and it looks terrible. This is supposed to be America's representation of a baseball team, with all of the pride and glory surrounding the Yankee franchise, the best seats in the house should not be the empty ones. Major League Baseball cannot be happy with this situation, and nor should they. However, is this a result of greed, or did the Yankees just underestimate not only the economic climate this year, but the public's willingness to buy high end tickets for astronomical prices? Just something to ponder...
Meanwhile, there are currently 8 teams averaging under 50% attendance for home games so far this season. Of those teams, Toronto, the best team in baseball, is averaging 40% per game. How does that happen, even if it is Canada? If winning doesn't put the fans in the stands, then I don't know what will. Granted, it is not technically summer yet, and attendance typically grows during June thru August. But I think the attendance issue is something to take notice of, and a growing issue that is affecting our nation's pastime.
Wisconsin Sport Tidbits -
- The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (new Brewers Low-A Affiliate) played a "Border Battle" at Miller Park versus Midwest League rival and Cub's affiliate Peoria Chiefs. The Rattlers win 5-3 in front of 17,000+. This is a great investment by the Brewers to showcase their organization's talent on a more local level.
- Unless you live in a cave, you're aware the Green Bay Packers had what has been called an excellent draft this past weekend. ESPN's Mel Kiper gave the Packers a grade of an "A", the only one of the entire draft. Other than the 1st round, most fans are not aware of the players the Packers drafted, I will talk about rookie progress in an OTA article coming soon.
We're now less than two weeks away from the 2009 NFL Draft, and I can barely subdue my excitement. The Green Bay Packers have a high draft pick again this year, and I have a hard time believing they will disappoint. But who will they draft? Well, I decided to breakdown each of their picks and make an educated guess as to who they will draft with each pick.
1st Round. 9th Overall - DT B.J. Raji, Boston College (6'2" - 337 lbs.)
Assuming he falls this far, this would be a great pick. He is filling one of the major needs in the 3-4 defense, at Nose Tackle. Those that believe that Ryan Pickett is an adequate player at this position are right, he could fill the role if Raji is picked earlier, however having a dominant NT would be a great building block toward the future and in terms of progress for this defense. He has had some off-the-field problems, however, these should only be deemed minor and probably will have little affect on not only his draft status, but with his play on the field.
2nd Round, 41st Overall - OT Jamon Meredith, South Carolina (6'5" - 304 lbs.)
Meredith is an interesting prospect, and a bit overshadowed in college. He was rotated at the Tackle position throughout his time at South Carolina, getting significant starting time at both RT and LT. He's got great height, and is fairly quick for an offensive lineman (4.86 40-yard dash). He is also a character guy, which Ted Thompson would be very excited about, earning a 3.7 GPA in college. He would certainly fit in on the offensive line in Green Bay, with his versatility being key to him earning playing time very early.
3rd Round, 73rd Overall - CB Mike Mickens, Cincinnati (6'0" - 184 lbs.)
Lets face it, neither Charles Woodson nor Al Harris are getting any younger, and the need to find the potential replacement has becoming a growing issue. Tramon Williams has a lot to offer, but that only fills one of the possible open CB spots in the future. Mickens is quick, running 4.43 40, and has great open-field tackling skills. He was argulably the cornerstone on a defense the led the Bearcats into their first BCS bowl game in 2008. His durability is the only real question, having knee problems in college, but seems to be healthy and also would be a great addition to the defense.
3rd Round, 83rd Overall (from NYJ) - DE Lawrence Sidbury, Richmond (6'3" - 266 lbs.)
Sidbury is another guy that may not last this long in the draft. There are a lot of NFL teams that are high on his potential, including Green Bay. Coming from a Division 1-AA school, some scouts have their doubt that he can perform at a high-level and make a successful transition to the NFL, a point a would argue is moot simply because so many players have proved this to be wrong. He would shift to OLB in the 3-4 defense, and play on the opposite side of Aaron Kampman. He registered 11.5 sacks in his senior year, continuing his trend of increasing his sack total each year he played.
4th Round, 109th Overall - TE Chase Coffman, Missouri (6'6" - 244 lbs.)
If you're thinking that this selection was picked because of the first name Chase, then you're right. However, Coffman has a lot to offer as a Tight End, and has a tremendous amount of value at this point in the draft. Some scouts say that he has the best hands out of all the TEs in the draft class, and his height gives him a huge advantage over smaller LBs that will be covering him. His blocking needs some improvement, but having compliment and develop with Jermichael Finley gives the Packers some security at a position that used to be a strong suit in the 1990s.
5th Round, 145th Overall - ILB Antonio Appleby, Virginia (6'3" - 243 lbs.)
This selection would give the Packers a lot of depth at the linebacker position, which is exactly what they need. There's really no telling what the lineup will be defensively going into next year, so the more players that can be thrown into the mix, the better. He is coming off an ankle injury, but his tackling ability is what has scouts excited.
6th Round, 182nd Overall - P Chris Miller, Ball State (6'2" - 206 lbs.)
Fans are still confused as to why Ted Thompson let Jon Ryan go last season, he was the best executer of fake punts that Canada had ever seen. That aside, the Packers need a Punter who cannot only boom the ball, but place it too. Miller can do that, placing the ball inside the 20-yardline 23 times last season, and he averaged 46.0 yards per punt. These are all upgrades over Jeremy Kapinos and Durant Brooks, who do not really excite anyone.
7th Round, 218th Overall - OG Andy Kemp, Wisconsin (6'5" - 314 lbs.)
This draft needs to end on a high note, no matter how the rest of the draft goes. Mark Tauscher was a 7th Round draft pick out of Wisconsin, so why not Kemp? Sure, he needs to get a little stronger and needs some refining, but he is definitely worth a late round waiver. Wisconsin has a good record of developing pro-style NFL lineman (Joe Thomas in 2007), and his position being Guard gives the Packers a little more needed depth at the position.
If the draft turns out this way, I would say the Packers had a fairly successful weekend. Make sure to tune in to ESPN on April 25th and watch one of the most exciting aspects of the NFL.
Just a little insight on what is going on in the season opener today between the Milwaukee Brewers and San Francisco Giants:
3:05 pm - Okay here we go, I have to watch this on MLB.tv, and I have already had issues with it today. I tune in just in time to watch the Giants introduce everyone on their entire team. Who cares about Jeremy Affeldt's first regular season game as a Giant?
3:15 pm - Taylor Hicks is singing the National Anthem, this is probably his biggest crowd and performance since leaving American Idol.
3:25 pm - Mind you, the game was supposed to start 20 minutes ago, however the Giants are allowing longtime fan and American hero Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger who landed an airliner safely in the Hudson River in New York, saving 155 lives, to throw out the opening pitch. His effort is respectable.
3:29 pm - Now we are underway, Rickie Weeks promptly leads off the season with a walk. Continuing to build on his reputation for having a good OBP, but failing to be a good hitter at all.
3:36 pm - Braun vs. Lincecum, Round 1. Lincecum brushes him off the plate, fearing Braun's dominant numbers against him, and then decides to bean him later in the at-bat. Brewers end up stranding a few in scoring position, without any hits in the inning.
3:45 pm - Brewers fans couldn't help but get excited when they heard Jeff Suppan named the opening day starter. He looks awful in the first, throwing balls all over the place. For being a control pitcher, his control looks like it may be off today.
3:54 pm - Travis Ishikawa smacks a full-count, 2-out triple with the bases loaded. Off to a great start, 3-0 Giants after one.
4:03 pm - With Mike Cameron proceeding to 3rd base, Bill Hall deciding to strike out, Kendall grounds out, now Suppan comes up to bat. What does he do? Doubles down the 3rd base line scoring a run. Aw, I can't stay mad at you Jeff! Brewers down 3-2 in the 2nd inning after Rickie plates Suppan.
4:11 pm - Burriss (yeah, the Giants have a lot of unknowns) is hit by a pitch, so Lincecum comes to the plate. I feel fairly safe, but Suppan serves up a single to Timmy, prompting the San Francisco announcers to say, "This game is weird". Giants pick up a run, lead 4-2 heading into the 3rd inning.
4:16 pm - Brewers fans are spotted by the cameraman, they show a girl drinking two beers with both her hands. The announcers label this "double-fisting", showing just how in tune they are with the younger college aged crowd. As for the Brewers female with two beers, go you...
4:19 pm - Braun vs. Lincecum Round 2. Timmy not giving him much to hit, but manages to make the count full. He gives him just one to hit, and Braun ropes a single to left. For those keeping score, it's Braun = 2, Lincecum = 0.
4:21 pm - A heckler is yelling cheeseburger comments at Fielder, I wonder how often he gets that?
4:26 pm - Braun steals a base, continues owning Lincecum. Lincecum's pitch count in the middle of the 3rd inning is 66, looks like this may be a short outing for him. Mike Cameron plates a run with an infield single. Giants up 4-3 going to the bottom half of the third.
4:37 pm - Pablo Sandoval looks more shapely than Prince Fielder, so go eat another cheeseburger Pablo. Jeff Suppan makes quick work of the Giants going into the 4th inning, on only six pitches.
4:40 pm - I open up a bag of Alexia's Natural Onion Strips, this is probably the best thing I have ever snacked on. Oh yeah, and Lincecum only completes 3 innings in his first start of the year, Joe Martinez takes over for him.
Tim Lincecum: 3.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 K's
4:43 pm - Rickie Weeks gets hit by a pitch, reaching base all three times this game so far. Although, he hasn't managed a hit yet.
4:47 pm - Brewers tie the game on a throwing error (via Fred Lewis) off a base hit from Corey Hart, pitcher Joe Martinez (a rookie) looks lost right now.
4:51 pm - Fielder follows Braun's base hit with one of his own, plating Hart. Brewers take the lead 5-4, but sadly there is no more Braun vs. Lincecum.
4:59 pm - Aaron Rowand take Suppan yard for a 2-run shot, Suppan goes back in my Dog[shit] house. And unlike my fellow blogger, I will continue to hate Rowand, he just looks like a douche. Giants lead 6-5.
Side Note: Why is Suppan owned in even 4.4% of standard mixed fantasy baseball leagues?
5:09 pm - Suppan's day is done, a good 4 innings of 6-run ball against him. Seth McClung will take over, and if it weren't for Suppan's ridiculous contract, McClung probably would take his spot in the rotation.
5:12 pm - The Giants don't have their names on the backs of their home jerseys, out of all teams in baseball to this, the Giants would benefit the most from changing it up. It's apparent that sometimes even the announcers have issues with names, not to mention the fans.
5:20 pm - Brad Nelson pinch-hits for Milwaukee, and grounds out in an uneventful half-inning. Nelson is 6-2 266 lbs., meaning he also enjoys eating cheeseburgers.
5:27 pm - McClung looks terrible, almost gives up a 2-run HR to Bengie Molina. It's going to be a long year with most of these pitchers. Then he walks in a run. Giants up 7-5 going into the 6th inning. I lost interest for most of that inning, wasting time watching Andrew Zimmern eat lizards.
5:42 pm - Giants color announcer Mike Krukow refers to Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo as "the Harvard of the West". This was followed by a long awkward silence, and then a correction of "isn't that Stanford?" Braun then strikes out, allowing them to start a new knowledgeless conversation after commercial.
5:48 pm - The sun finally comes out giving McClung a better opportunity to find the strike-zone, it doesn't seem to help. He wills his way through the inning, off to the 7th inning with the score still 7-5.
5:58 pm - Fielder legs out a lead-off double to the start the inning, giving him his much needed exercise on the day. Also noticed, the ballboys for the Giants seem to be about 60 years old. This doesn't seem to be the most effective way to snag balls.
6:02 pm - Bill Hall grounds into a frustrating double play to end the Brewers' half of the inning. I sit and ponder when the last time I cheered for Bill Hall was...
6:06 pm - Dave Bush in the game, also looking terrible, gives up a solo-shot to a Molina. I question why Ken Macha would bring in Bush in a winnable game that was still close.
6:11 pm - The umpires absolutely blow a call resulting in the Giants 9th run of the game. Aaron Rowand ropes a ball down the third base line, foul, and he stands there. Then he takes off when he realizes it has been called fair. Replay shows the ball is clearly foul, and the Brewers get screwed over in the bottom of the 7th inning. Giants now up 9-5.
6:19 pm - Craig Counsell is pinch-hitting now, and he's playing on a torn meniscus in his knee. He misses hitting a homerun in to McCovey Cove by about 10 feet. That would have made him the weakest player ever to hit a ball into McCovey Cove.
6:22 pm - Pablo Sandoval is NOT athletic enough to play 3rd base, at all.
6:28 pm - I am cutting this blog short with one full inning left, things not looking good for the Brew Crew. I am a college student, and really need to do some classwork.
Thanks for reading!Update: Brewers end up losing 10-6, pitching was terrible, no real game-changing hits. A pretty ugly opening day, however the pitching can only get better.
Two years removed from an appearance in the NFC Championship, and coming off of a frustrating 6-10 campaign, you would think that a General Manager would be inclined to bring in some fresh faces. Certainly we all know how much Ted Thompson likes to build his team through the draft, but is that alone a formula for success? And furthermore, a way to win Superbowls? While teams like the Bears and Vikings (sorry Lions) are making headline moves, the Packers seemingly go into hibernation once the NFL Free Agency signing period starts. This is a just one of the reasons fellow cheeseheads have been demanding that Ted Thompson be handed the pink slip, and high-tail it out of Green Bay. Is there a method to his madness? Defenders of TT argue that he has a keen eye for talent, both in the Draft and in Free Agency. Unless there is a glaring need, it is not necessary to overpay for a big name on the market. There was a glimmer of hope when Thompson lured in Charles Woodson in 2006, but he has failed to match the magnitude of that move since. He has gone on record saying that he prefers to build his teams through the draft, and has done so fairly well. Drafting Greg Jennings and picking up Ryan Grant off the practice squad from the Giants are two of the more successful moves, but completely missing the mark on the mainstay PUP list name everyone has grown to love. All this being said, the criticism facing Thompson is warranted.
Let's take a quick look at the free agent additions made so far:
Anthony Smith - Safety (UFA, via Pit)
Smith, a safety with experience playing in a 3-4 defense, comes over from a Steelers defense that played at a very high level and was key in spelling Ryan Clark at critical junctures on route to a world championship. He should fit in well with Dom Capers' defense this season, but he certainly is not going to take away the starting spot from Nick Collins or Atari Bigby, leaving him in a similar backup role that he served in Pittsburgh. Although, hopefully he doesn't read this, because I think he is under the impression he will be competing for significant playing time (uh, no). And if you were wondering where you heard his name before, this is the same Anthony Smith that guaranteed a win for the Steelers over undefeated New England in 2007, and then was fittingly burned all game long by Tom Brady and Randy Moss.
Duke Preston - Center (UFA, via Buf)
When I first saw this signing, I had a hard time debating whether or not Duke was black guy or a white guy. I settled on the fact that he was black as a shot in the dark, and I was right. As unrelated as that is to him as a football player, it does explain the fact that I have never heard of him. This is probably due to offensive lineman often times getting recycled from team to team, and the fact that he played in Buffalo. His signing in Green Bay makes him one of the latest additions to the statistics of people leaving Buffalo. But on a serious note, Preston will probably make a shift to Gaurd, taking over for Mark Tauscher if he reamins unsigned. He is also an obvious versatile backup for Scott Wells at center if he has injury issues again this season.
Aaaaaaand it's gone.
Seriously, that's it. Thompson must have snagged the two guys he really wanted. Two guys, one who will probably play most of the season, and another guy who will be a backup. Both of these moves make sense, but they are nothing to brag to your fellow NFC North rival fans about. There may be a few of you who read this that were not even aware of these moves. For Thompson, it is way too close to the NFL Draft for him to continue worrying about free agents. However, it's always easy to be critical of a GM because of a lack of major influential moves, and I am not one to criticize without thinking of a solution, or for lack of better wording, "What Ted Thompson Should Have Done".
What Ted Thompson Should Have Done
Needs: 3-4 DT, DE, OLB, Safety (check), CB, RT (check)1. Gone after Bart Scott in free agency. Sure they attempted to bring in Kevin Burnett from the Cowboys, but Scott would have fit in well to the new 3-4 scheme.
2. Resigned Collin Cole -- now with Seattle, he was the progressing as a player, and would have been great rotating in at NT with Ryan Pickett, who isn't a model for staying in shape.
3. Locked up Nick Collins, Greg Jennings, and Tramon Williams (still can). Collins and Jennings are self-explanatory, and Williams could fit in at CB when Al Harris or Charles Woodson decide to call it quits.
4. Assign Brandon Jackson to 3rd Down Back -- a lot of teams have the "two-headed monster" approach to running back, and Jackson is great change of pace from Ryan Grant's downhill running style.
5. Draft someone who played well and wasn't hurt in college in the first round. A.J. Hawk has worked out just fine, Justin Harrell was drafted based on potential, we all know how well that has worked out.
This list could go on...
This season, the transition to a 3-4 defense is going to be a tough one, considering it's primarily going to have to be done with players better suited for a 4-3. Not bringing in anyone with significant playing experience in the 3-4 is going to hurt how quickly the transition happens successfully.
His job is not an easy one, but maybe this is all part of Thompson's master plan. There is so much extra salary cap room he can really do whatever he wants when it comes to bringing in a big name. I side with the virtue of patience when it comes to people calling for his head.
One more season that was similar to last year's debacle, and we'll be having a different discussion in 2010.
Fellow fans probably remember just how much fun it was to pee your pants for the Brewers last year after they ended a 25 year drought of playoff appearances. It makes me smile just thinking about that Sunday where Sabathia took the mound and finished off another complete game gem in front of a sold out crowd at Miller Park, with the Brewers beating the Cubs 3-1. The city of Milwaukee turned into a playoff frenzy, and not even the Packers losing in stomach churning fashion could have subdued the overall excitement of the Brewers finally making the playoffs...
But that was 2008, welcome to a new year. The 2009 Milwaukee Brewers.
Lets get a few things straight. This team will be competitive, it is not as if the Brewers are reverting back to the year 2002, which could now be commonly referred to as Richie Sexson's glory days. They have too much offensive firepower, and good enough pitching that will allow them to stay in games. And, although he is on the DL at the moment, Trevor Hoffman is a giant upgrade over the closer option (we can relate) going into last year. Do not forget the talent on the farm either; Gamel, Escobar, Salome, and even Jeremy Jeffress. All that said, this team will first have to take one step back in order to take any steps forward.
New Faces, well, there will be a handful. Some familiar from late appearances last year, and some almost completely new. As with any offseason, moves are made, and the Brewers chose to make few impactful changes.
Pitchers: Braden Looper (FA, via STL), Jorge Julio (FA - ATL, CLE in '08)
Looper will join a mediocre back end of the rotation (with Suppan and Bush), with little difference to me in who you would rather call the #3, #4, or #5 starters. And Julio will probably be nothing more than Bullpen arm, seeing at best 7th inning duty, although he did save 36 games with the Orioles in 2003.
Hitters: Casey McGehee (Waiver Claim, via CHC)
McGehee (not related to Willis) has turned into an interesting story during Spring Training. No more then an afterthought by the Chicago Cubs, he actually put up relatively intriguing minor league numbers. He will be nothing more than a utility guy, with availability at 3rd, 2nd, 1st, and the outfield, but has shown an ability to hit in Spring Training this year (.345, 6 HRs, 15 RBI). These numbers mean little in the grand scheme of things, but he certainly won himself a job on the opening day roster.
These simple moves aren't anything to brag to your friends about (who in my case, are Indians and Twins fans), but they will have in a role in the overall success of the Brewers in 2009. Let us not forget the addition of two former successful Managers to the coaching staff in Ken Macha (Manager) and Willie Randolph (Bench Coach). And finally, the success of the 2008 Brewers is something to build off of, and they still have their core young players in place. Remember folks, Bud Selig is no longer the owner, and Attanasio has an itch for a World Series Championship.
And lets be honest, there will be bigger news than this focused on the Milwaukee Brewers this season.
Interesting Tid Bits -
- Manager Ken Macha is pondering a lineup move that will have Corey Hart batting 2nd, and J.J. Hardy batting 5th, suggesting that Corey's speed and style of play are more suited for him in that spot.
- Could Rickie Weeks be in line for a breakout season this year (3rd straight season of speculation)? He's hitting .324 in Spring Ball and has 3 HRs, and hasn't been caught stealing.
- Lefty Reliever Mitch Stetter will be taking over the absence left by former specialist Brian Shouse (now with TB). He is younger, better, and could potentially see time closing while Hoffman is out.
- Tony Gwynn Jr. is out of options and in danger of not making the opening day roster this season, it's really too bad he was not even half as good as his father.
Did You Know?
- Robin Yount designed the field and created dimensions at Miller Park, his reasoning was based on seeing frequent "most exciting plays in baseball", when a runner tries to stretch a single to a double, or double to a triple.
- Chase Fiebig
Fairweather or not, being a Milwaukee Bucks fan often offers little to no pride, at least in recent decades. Yes, we can listen to the glory days talked about by our elders of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson. But quite frankly, when those two men played in Milwaukee, the NBA was a completely different game. Now, the NBA has been built on the backs of superstars like Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, and Superman himself.
So what hope does that leave for the smaller cities of the NBA, struggling to compete with a lack of superior talent? Well, not much. In fact, the gloomy outlook in Milwaukee has fans talking about a potenital relocation. Herb Kohl quite honestly may be the least knowledgable owner in the association. And the Bradley Center (yes, zero naming rights) is one of the most basic, run down arenas next to the Target Center in Minneapolis. But the most humiliating aspect affecting Milwaukee lately is the fact that no one wants to play there, not even the Chairman himself, who prefers beautiful New Jersey instead.
"But we have Michael Redd!"
"Andrew Bogut still hasn't reached his potential!"
"Richard Jefferson can be viewed as a superstar... right!?"
In response: Michael Redd will be nothing more then a complement player to the likes of a Superstar like Lebron James, similar to that of Ray Allen on the Celtics, but not even quite on that level. Andrew Bogut, although productive, has never really lived up to the billing of a #1 overall pick, and never will. And Richard Jefferson hasn't been happy being in Milwaukee since the beginning of his tenure.
On a serious note, there is hope. Herb Kohl, as bad as he may seem at times, isn't really in need of any sort of quick money. I don't know if you have seen any of his stores, but the revenue coming in from them has been strong and there is an outside possibility that a new arena will be in the works very soon. Also, prior to the 2008-09 season, the Bucks fired GM Larry Harris, and hired former Assistant GM for the Detroit Pistons John Hammond, and also hired a hard-nosed, defensive focused coach in Scott Skiles. And with another potential lottery draft pick coming to the team in the 2009 NBA draft, the Bucks definitely have some things to look forward to...
- Chase Fiebig
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