Vintage Cardinals

In 1985 I remember feeling somewhat taken aback by the amount of complaining, whining, and basic bellyaching - that erupted from the St. Louis Cardinals (fans and players) after losing the World Series.  As most folks who live along the I-70 corridor remember, the cause of the whining wasn’t a series deciding call or even a game deciding call.  It wasn’t even a call involving home plate.  It was simply a blown call at 1st base…the kind of thing that happens now and again in the course of a baseball game.  I remember the missed call, but I also remember the Cardinals dropping easy foul balls, throwing wild pitches, and blundering plays in that particular inning.  No doubt it was a frustrating inning for the Cardinals, but I was stunned afterwards that Cardinals fans (and players) didn’t seem to remember any of the shoddy fielding…they only remembered – and incessantly whined about – the botched call.  Indeed, history has shown that the Cardinal’s allegiance actually believe they lost a seven game series from one missed call  - at 1st base no less.  I have a friend who since says about the Cardinals, “they never lose…they’re always cheated.”    

A few days ago Matt Holliday let the third out of (what appeared to be) a Cardinals win in the first round of the NL Playoffs bounce off his groin allowing the Los Angeles Dodgers to rally and beat the Cardinals in a three game sweep.  A post game interview with Cardinal’s pitcher Adam Wainwright revealed the following quote:

“It’s not fair that they (the Dodgers fans) can bring white towels to a game which uses a white ball.  Why can’t they wave Dodger’s blue towels?  Something should be done about this.  It’s not fair.”

When I saw this interview I smiled.  Classic Cardinals!

Did Anyone Else See This…

or did I just dream it?  I swear I turned on the Royals game this past weekend (perhaps Saturday night) and my beloved Royals were batting.  The bases were loaded with no outs.  John Buck was up to bat and had a 3-0 count.  Let me reiterate: the bases were loaded and the batter had a three balls/no strikes count.  

The Royals proceeded to make three outs without scoring a run.  Did that happen?  Can that happen?  Surely it was a bad dream…

Thoughts on New Stadium…

I checked my son out of school Thursday, and together we went to see the Royals play an afternoon game against the Mariners.  Great day.  The Royals won – six in a row (and counting).  I’m happy and enthused by the Royals so far – please keep that in mind.  

This was my first trip to the new stadium and I’ve been desiring to record my thoughts.

Overall – it’s pretty much what I expected – a stadium that primarily exudes a “family fun center” ethos.  It’s not that I’m against family fun centers, or that I think they did a poor job executing a design, etc.  It’s just that the new stadium embodies one of my frustrations with the Royals marketing branch for generations…

 

…They refuse to understand that baseball can sell itself.  

 

If you market baseball in an authentic and honest way, the sport can sell itself – it’s that unique.  It’s that beautiful.  I have traveled to many stadiums, and other organizations seem to get that (take a trip to Texas and see how well baseball can sell itself in Arlington by going to one game at the Ballpark).  

The Royals organization however (marketing) downplays baseball in favor of trying to create a day at an amusement park (your thrills will be catored to you – you do nothing and invest nothing).  I’m not sure they even employ anyone with an understanding of and love of the game.  If so, the “stadium” experience would feel a little more historical – a little less Party Deck, etc.  

Here’s a brief list of my complaints (and suggestions) this year and throughout the years:

• Why call this a “stadium”?  Stadiums are for football and concerts.  Baseball is about “Parks” and “Fields”.  We had the perfect opportunity to rename this place, “Kauffman Field”, “Kauffman Park”, or even “Kauffman Yards” – all of which evoke baseball.  Not “Stadium”.  
• Related to the above – why take the only good part of our park’s name (“Kauffman”) and reduce it to “the K”?  Are we ashamed of the name Kauffman?  Or is it just easier to say “K”?  (I’m sure the Party Cove leftovers on the “Party Deck” approve).  What about the logo for “the K”?  Is it just me, or does it evoke images of an all-night convenience store?  One must ask – who is the target of this marketing ploy?  Who reduces one of the great baseball names in Kansas City to a “fun-filled” letter and thinks that is more likely to sell tickets?  
• I am appalled when I go to a baseball game and am treated like I’m going to a youth group/Young Life event.  I’ve always felt like the Royals organization is trying to shape the game into a kids’ club experience (let’s play the song “Another One Bites the Dust” when an opposing pitcher is taken out.  Get it…get it???).  The new stadium has ratchet up the youth group cheese element – a ton.  Now between innings, our club leader/mc for the day travels around different sections asking fans to play silly games and do silly things.  I couldn’t believe we didn’t see a fan stick as many marshmallows in their mouth as possible…that’s coming soon, I’m sure.  

I love the Royals and want to love the game experience.  Every time I go to a Royals game (at the K!!) I leave feeling more and more, however, like I don’t belong in this town and need to move to the east coast.  (By the way, can you see Royals marketing men during a seventh inning stretch at Fenway?  ”Why are they playing Sweet Caroline?  Is the pitcher’s name Caroline?  Why are the fans singing so wholeheartedly?  There’s no bouncing ball and mascot telling them to?)

I want my son to love the Royals and I’m working on that (turns out, it’s not hard…he loves them).  But to foster his love of baseball I’ll have to take him to Arlington (or just about any other baseball city – not Arizona…we have a lot in common with them…), and that makes me sad.

Royals Opening Day ‘09

AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

Opening Day

I went to the Royals home opener this week and I certainly want to thank my friend Chris for sharing his “lottery” tickets with me.  What a game and what a way to start the season.  My wife says I am currently in “sports nirvana.” 

I have to confess, however, that opening day is consistently my least favorite day at the ballpark.  The reason?  (I hope this observation makes sense and doesn’t offend any football lovers out there, but…) My friend Chris and I agree that opening day is the one day where Kaufmann Stadium seems over-run with Chiefs fans.  Anyone else know what I mean?