- “Red Carpet” Treatment
- A different giveaway each day of a Hat, T-shirt, and Towel
- Players greeting and signing Autographs
- The New Owners greeting the fans
- Introduction of New Foods and New Foodcourt
- Cutting of Prices
- According to Opposum-Palooza, Giant headed President races
- More kids activities and games
- Music before, during, and after the game
So let’s analyze what we (the fans) really got, and since I’m a skeptic….this isn’t going to be pretty.
First of all I went on Sunday at 1pm, and apparently the “hoopla” was worn about by now. I made it to the parking lot, and noticed the most important change that they hadn’t decided to make…..parking was still $12.
Note: No players or owners outside (The pic is from Friday)
RFK INSIDE: Walking in I received my “Paint the Town Red” Towel. Now I know it’s my fault for not going to the first two games, but I was really banking on Sunday being the T-shirt day. The towel was tiny and the logo was already coming off from the heat, but hell….it’s free. I grabbed a Guinness (which I hadn’t noticed they offered before at RFK) and proceeded to climb up to the 500 level (you can’t just go seat jacking in the first…you have to give it four innings at least).
On the way up the ramp I noticed the new “Food Court” between levels. It’s a quaint little place with about 5-7 different booths where people can pick different foods. The only problem…..IT’S IN BETWEEN TWO SECTIONS ON ONE SIDE OF THE STADIUM!!! How does that even constitute an upgrade? Finally comfortable in my seats, in section 548, I was treated to even MORE music as The Pat McGee Band was rocking the stadium. If you’re not familiar with said PMB all you need to know is that there’s another band with very similar initials that they are apparently trying to imitate. Well Pat sang the National Anthem and later God Bless America…..there’s your music before, during, and after.
AFTER THE GAME: This is the point of any experience where I begin to pick apart things as best a pessimist can. Maybe it was because I came during the last game of the series, but things seemed more of a cover-up than anything. As Nats fans were giving the Cubs fans the business I couldn’t help to think that DC Fans were again being brainwashed….again.
The Nationals are still in last place. So much so that a sweep only pulled them within 3 games of the second to last place Phillies. They are 16.5 games behind the NL East leading Mets and are third to last in the entire National League. They are on the verge of trading the only player worth the price of admission on the team in Soriano. And no matter how much you polish a turd….RFK is still a 45 year old stadium. Prices weren’t cut, the Foodcourt was found only by chance, the music sucked, the giveaway was cheap, I didn’t meet any players or owners, and most importantly I missed the damn President’s race while I was stealing lower level seats in the fourth.
THE DAY AFTER: Here’s where it gets bad. I’m an Orioles fan…I always have been, and unfortunately always will. But over the past two years the Nats have had a chance to take the honor of being my favorite “National League Team”. I generally like the players, I have fun at the games, and it’s only 6 miles from my house. But even after this weekend I open up the “Virtual” Papers and find nothing but negativity.
MLB is accusing the DC government of missing deadlines that could threaten the April 2008 opening of the new ballpark.
This was the perfect opportunity for the Nationals to “steal” Orioles fans in Northern Virginia like myself (I mean come on the Orioles just called up Fernando Tatis!), but they botched this like everything else so far.
The Soriano trade watch has him going to a different team almost daily. With the new wrinkle being that he wants a No-Trade Clause.
“I’ve never in my career — three teams, all these many seasons, [even with] all-stars, Hall of Famers — no one has ever had a no-trade contract,” Kasten said. “That’s just a matter of history. . . . I have a philosophy about that. You can give a guy what you want, you can pay as much as you want. What you can’t give away is your power to improve your club.”– Stan Kasten, New Nationals President.
And even as I’m writing this down there’s more to piss me off about the Nationals. Apparently The White Sox are “extremely close” to trading for Nationals outfielder Alfonso Soriano, a source close to the situation told ESPN The Magazine’s Tim Kurkjian. The Nationals have great interest in pitcher Brandon McCarthy……that’s right Brandon “Stuck in the Bullpen” McCarthy. Just shoot me now.
I have just one thing to say to the Lerners and Stan Kasten….actually make that 31,000 things. You Better Not Trade This Guy.
Comments are closed.