.comment-link {margin-left:.6em;}

Thursday, June 10, 2004

GUEST POSTER

Jim Caple recently had an article on Jim Bouton’s desire to have a ball club in Pittsfield, Mass. – the birthplace of baseball – at Wahconah Park. A buddy of mine who also happens to be a big baseball fan (Sox season ticket holder) and until recently a life-long resident of the Pittsfield area weighs in on Bouton’s development.

I don't like Bouton but I do applaud him for trying to bring baseball back to Pittsfield. I think something fishy was going on between Bouton and the newly elected mayor Ruberto. Apparently, the 1780s baseball ordinance was found a year ago but not made public until last month, after Ruberto won the election and after Bouton gained control of Wahconah Park. Probably just another of my conspiracy theories, but it still seems a little strange to me...whatever.

Needless to say, I will not be coughing up $10G's to buy stock in Wahconah Park and Bouton's Indy League team. Call me greedy, but we don't need an Indy team. I want MLB affiliation back, which would probably come with a new stadium, or at least a modernized one. The reason why the Cubs left 15(?) years ago and why the Mets left 5 years ago was because they were moving to cities with new stadiums. It probably also had something to do with the economy and GE moving out of town. The Mets now play in the brand new KeySpan Park on Coney Island. We also had the Astros for a season before they moved to a new stadium in the Hudson Valley. I don't think a new stadium will solve the cities problems and I don’t even think a we need a new stadium; an updated Wahconah Park will be sufficient. But there’s so many problems with it though...for one, its right near the Housatonic River and the field gets flooded all the time. Also, the parking lot is a mess and it’s not in a very safe section of town. Not to mention sun delays...yeah, it’s cute in all, and the delays are infrequent but if you're sitting behind the plate, you are still staring into the sun for 30 minutes every night. It gets pretty annoying, pretty quick.

As for an Indy League team...well as a fan, I don't want to go to Wahconah Park to watch "a bunch of has-beens and a couple of never-will-bes". I want to go see guys trying to play their way to the majors. When I was a kid, there was always something special about going to Wahconah Park and getting these guys autographs after the game, hoping someday they would be in the major leagues...and a lot of them were. Palmerio, Grace, Maddux, Girardi, Daubach, and Alfonzo all played seasons in Wahconah Park when I was growing up. I even went just a few years ago to see the Astros take on the Jamestown Jammers (Braves) to see Wilson Betemit...this guy could do it all...hit, run, field and throw. It was exciting to see these guys playing in my hometown, where the biggest thing since minor league ball left has been the Friday Night Mice Races at Pepe's, which ironically is located right next to the Park. And then there was Brian House...a guy that, in 88 for the Cubs, was among the Eastern League batting leaders, and then impregnated a Pittsfield woman, stayed in Pittsfield and now he can be seen playing guitar for a local reggae band only in Pittsfield.

I appreciate what Bouton is trying to do and all but I don't think it will work until there’s MLB association again. It just won’t draw consistent crowds. The game that they are televising on ESPN Classic on July 4th weekend is only bringing in a big crowd because its tradition for everyone to take their kids to the ball game on 7/4 for the fireworks display after the game. I guarantee if there wasn't a game being played, 5000 people would still show up for the fireworks.

Now we aren't talking Newark Bears with guys you've heard of before (Rickey, Canseco, etc)...we're talking about no-namers. The only guy anyone in Pittsfield could relate to on last years team (Northern League) was Varitek's brother...and 1) He wasn't that good and 2) I can’t even remember his name. And there’s very little to no chance that these guys will be in MLB. I love watching baseball, but watching these guys is just not that appealing. It’s like going down to the Softball Complex and watching some Men's League games except at the complex the admission is free, beverages are cheaper and you don't have to worry about extra innings.

I guess I've just been spoiled for too long and I want a minor league team. But if it comes down to Indy League or nothing, I'll take the Indy League...for now. But when the park is updated, I want Bouton to push for a minor league team, something that he has yet to even mention as an option.

|



<< Home

0 Old Comments:

Thank you - Red Sox!

This site is not associated with the Boston Red Sox, Major League Baseball nor Major League Players Assoication

© 2003-2010 Thomas J. Fratamico, III

All Rights Reserved

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?

Best deals on Red Sox Tickets at Ticketmomma.com. Over 25 years experience.

Who is El Guapo's Ghost?

Want to become a sponsor?

Follow ElGuaposGhost on Twitter

Join our team of experts that provide the latest strategies and tricks in Poker, we dare you to Playusout. If that's not your specialty, maybe you can try going Extreme in Europe, or visit our revolution portal at D-rev.

2009 A.L. Playoff Preview

Part 1 Part 2