The Wight Pages

Ticket scalping

2009-06-16T18:30:00.000-04:00

Singer Miley Cyrus announced that her upcoming tour will be paperless, meaning that Ticketmaster will only offer e-tickets in an attempt to thwart ticket scalpers. Other anti-scalping technologies will be implemented at each venue as well.

My experience has taught me that there are two kinds of ticket scalpers.

There is the guy whose wife's cousin couldn't go to the game, so he is stuck with an extra ticket. He is wearing khaki shorts with his polo shirt neatly tucked in. Footwear consists of penny loafers and no socks.

He tells everyone else in his party to go ahead into the stadium and he will sell the ticket. His wife will think he is such a sweet guy. The reality is he doesn't want her to witness the pathetic display that is about to happen.

He holds the ticket up in the air, but does not say anything. Scared out of his mind, he will sell the ticket to the first person who approaches him. The guy walks away feeling like a rebel, a bad-boy. The misses will have his wine cooler ready when he meets her at the stadium bar.

The "professional" ticket scalpers are the guys you see with a sign in one hand and 50 tickets in the other. On the back of their sign will be a seating chart. This is to show you how great the seats are.

If they do not have anything that you want, their buddy down the block will certainly have your perfect seat. He will walk you down the street to another guy with a crooked baseball hat and clothes big enough for an elephant.

They also know where all ATM machines in the area are located.

Is this American capitalism at its finest? Or is this the way that many fans get screwed out of going to games?

If someone in your party is unable to attend a game at the last minute, shouldn't you be able to sell that ticket? However, should a ticket broker be allowed to buy up hundreds of tickets just to walk down the street and double the price for a family to see a ballgame?

Maybe Ticketmaster and Miley Cyrus are on to something. But how do you manage it? How do you monitor the situation without checking each person's identification as they enter the venue?

I really don't have an answer. I believe in the free market. I also believe that kids should be able to see their favorite singer or sports team even if their parents don't have six figures in the bank.

Meeting Red Dawson

2009-06-08T09:00:00.000-04:00

Marshall University's Great American Thunderfest kicked off yesterday in Cincinnati. Fans, friends and alumni gathered at Great American Ball Park to watch and/or participate in numerous activities.

Former Marshall star and current Bengals safety Chris Crocker threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

As far as I am concerned, the highlight of the day came as my family was having lunch at the Machine Room.

We were sitting at a table overlooking leftfield. Just as we were finishing our food and gathering our stuff, a man leans over and asks if we are fixin' to leave. At first, I did not recognize the man. He asked my son's name, then proceeded to sign a picture and hand it to him. I looked at the photo.

Red Dawson.

I shook his hand and said what a pleasure it was to meet him. He could not have been nicer.

If you have never seen the movie, We Are Marshall, check it out. If you do not know the story, prepare to be immersed in a tremendously emotional journey.

The Star-Spangled Banner

2009-05-26T13:30:00.000-04:00

At the Reds game on Sunday, we were having lunch in the outdoor area of the Machine Room. It is a little patio area overlooking the field at Great American Ball Park.

The public address announcer notifies everyone that the National Anthem is about to begin. I stand up, remove my hat and place it over my heart. My four-year old son does the same. My wife and six-year old daughter both stand and put their hands over their hearts.

There was a couple seated next to us that didn't even stand up. There was a table of four people behind us that couldn't stop stuffing their face for the three minutes it takes to sing the song.

Of course, I would never expect someone to stand that is physically unable to do so. My mother is in a wheelchair. She will look at the flag with her hand over her heart and sing proudly.

Several weeks ago we were inside the Machine Room sitting at our table. As the National Anthem was being performed, the server brought our food. I stood still with my eyes on the flag and am proud to say that my family did the same. The server paused for a moment, thinking I would take the plates. He then leaned around us and put the plates on the table.

Was I being a jerk?

How far we distanced ourselves from the unity that this country had eight years ago is amazing to me.

Sports played a big role in returning our lives to a state of partial normalcy after the attacks on September 11, 2001. It allows people to forget about the real world for a few hours and cheer on their favorite team or player. Besides, what exemplifies being an American more than a sunny afternoon with your family at a ballpark?

Please feel free to express your opinions on this subject. This is something I feel very strongly about. I have taught my children to respect the flag and what it stands for. I have taught them that we should be proud to be Americans.

Both of my grandfathers served in the military. My father did as well. I did not, but have tremendous respect for those who did, do and will.

All soldiers and their families make a sacrifice. Some make the ultimate sacrifice. The only sacrifice I am asking people to make is to stand up and shut up for three minutes.

I just might have the answer

2009-05-07T13:00:00.000-04:00

So, the steroid problem continues. Manny Ramirez has been suspended for using performance-enhancing drugs.

The difference here is that, given his history, I don't think Manny Ramirez really cares. We have all heard the phrase "Manny being Manny". We have watched him lazily go after a ball in the outfield. We have seen him walk to first base, only to have the ball hit the top of the wall and him end up with a long single. The contract negotiations this spring was just to get out of spring training workouts. Frankly, I am tired of his act.

To be fair, I must note that Manny Ramirez claims that the substance he tested positive for was for a personal medical condition. He has also supposedly apologized to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Please excuse me if I don't shed a tear.

I am not sure what the policy is across the United States. But in Ohio, people convicted of drunk driving have a yellow license plate with red letters.

Hmmmmm.....

Instead of suspending Manny Ramirez, make him play without pay. Also, make him wear a yellow uniform.

Do this from now on, and go all out. Head to toe. Yellow hat/helmet, jersey, pants, socks and shoes. From now on, any player who tests positive for performance-enhancing drugs must wear the yellow uniform!

Who suffers from Ramirez being gone for 50 games? The Dodgers and their fans. Make him play in the yellow uniform. If he doesn't give the expected effort, add a day to the suspension.

You can't take away his money. You can't take away his ability to hit a baseball. But you can take away some of his pride. Point at him. Laugh at him. Embarrass him. Humiliate him.

Here we go again...

2009-05-07T12:30:00.000-04:00

Manny suspended 50 games for PED use

Ramirez biggest name to be sidelined by MLB's drug policy

LOS ANGELES -- Major League Baseball suspended Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez for 50 games on Thursday for use of performance enhancing drugs.

Major League Baseball made an official announcement shortly after noon ET.

Ramirez, who turns 37 on May 30, will begin the suspension with Thursday night's Dodgers-Nationals game. He would be eligible to return around July 3, depending on rainouts.

Ramirez -- an 12-time All-Star who immediately became the face of the Dodgers franchise upon his acquisition last summer -- is the biggest name player to be issued a 50-game suspension under the MLB's more stringent drug policy that was adopted in 2006.

According to the drug policy, a player receives a 50-game suspension for a first positive drug test, a 100-game suspension for a second positive test and a lifetime ban for a third positive test. The suspensions are without pay.

Ramirez re-signed with the Dodgers as a free agent this spring to a two-year contract that was to pay him $25 million.

Ramirez has been a key component in leading the Dodgers to the best record in baseball this year. In 27 games, he is batting .348 with six home runs and 20 RBIs. He is among league leaders in slugging and on-base percentage and has become the biggest drawing card the Dodgers have had since Fernando Valenzuela, even recently having a portion of the left-field box seats rechristened "Mannywood."

Juan Pierre would be the immediate replacement for Ramirez in left field, while the Dodgers are expected to promote rookie Xavier Paul from Triple-A Albuqueruque to replace Ramirez on the active roster.

A-Rod drama

2009-05-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

Let's get the easy stuff out of the way first. Doug Mientkiewicz, who was a teammate of Alex Rodriguez in high school, says there is no way Rodriguez took steroids in high school.

"There's no way," Mientkiewicz told Yahoo! Sports. "I was with him too much, I was with him for too long. Our team was together, like, 20 hours of the day. Every day."

Obviously (hopefully) he is exaggerating. Being together that much would surely violate some high school athletic rules and would also be just plain weird. Anyway, to tell you the truth, I don't care if Alex Rodriguez took steroids in high school or not.

I do think that clubhouse chemistry is important. Baseball players spend more time with each other than they do with their own families. But when a star player gets special treatment, other players often get offended and distance themselves from the star. It certainly does not shock me to read that his teammates in Texas saw him as a spoiled superstar. The article also suggests that he does not have a good relationship with his Yankee teammates either. But in the end, doesn't winning cure everything?

I certainly don't care if he is fooling around with Madonna or not. That is tabloid crap. If he cheated on his wife, it makes him a jerk, but doesn't matter when he steps between the lines. The fact that he may or may not be a bad tipper is also irrelevant. Again, that is tabloid crap that has nothing to do with baseball.

Now, the important stuff.

Pitch-tipping?

Are you freaking kidding me?

Joe Girardi said himself that guys have been stealing pitches for years. Players will watch pitchers, catchers and the opposing dugout. Heck, I have done it myself a million times! However, there is one difference.

IT WAS TO BENEFIT MY OWN TEAM!

Tipping pitches to an opposing player just so he will do the same for you is one of the most selfish things I have ever heard of happening on a baseball field. What about your own pitcher? I don't care if it is 10-2. I don't care if it is 100-2.

Suppose the pitcher is some 22-year old kid just up from the minors. It is 10-2 in the bottom of the eighth. Game in hand. No problem, right? So A-Rod swipes his foot across the dirt in front of him to let the hitter know that a slider is on the way. Whack! Two-run homer. No problem, still up 10-4. Game outcome not affected.

You know what was affected? The 22-year old kid who was pitching for his professional life. The kid who has waited for the chance to pitch in the big leagues since he could pick up a baseball. That is who was affected! His ERA just jumped and may have earned him a trip back to the bus leagues. But that's ok, A-Rod, the outcome of the game wasn't changed.

What is the difference between Pete Rose and Alex Rodriguez? I love Pete Rose the baseball player. Pete Rose was banned for life for conduct detrimental to the integrity of the game. If tipping pitches to the other team is not detrimental to the game, I don't know what is.

And while we are on the subject, pitch-tipping can also affect things like...yes...point spreads. I should not have to explain any further. Anyone who has taken the time to read this far knows what I am talking about.

If I am Derek Jeter, I get to the bottom of this. Yes, Joe Girardi is the manager. The Yankees are filled with big-name players. But Jeter is the heart and soul of the team. I also might include Jorge Posada in the meeting. If all of these accusations are indeed true, it is unforgivable.

What do you do? I really don't know...

America's Pastime (if you want it to be)

2009-03-25T07:30:00.000-04:00

Can anyone honestly say that baseball is not America's pastime?

Anyone who loves baseball and is over 30 years old can remember the good 'ol days of playing ball outside, collecting cards and listening to games on the radio. In today's world of high-priced collectibles and Nintendo Wii, it has become very common for "over-the-hill" fans like myself (I am 33) to long for the days when you spend all day outside shagging fly balls.

As a kid, I would play from dawn until dusk (or later if my mom would let me). I can remember when my dad had one of those bright lights installed on the front of our house. To him, that meant a well-lit, safer place to live. To me, it meant whiffle ball night games in the front yard! I have broken my share of windows and totally destroyed the siding on the house by throwing rubber balls against the chimney.

Now, fast forward to today...

Baseball takes effort and commitment. You need a bat, ball and glove at least. You also need a place big enough to play. Ball fields are not in every neighborhood the way they used to be. Baseball equipment can also get expensive. It is much easier to get several friends, one of which is bound to have a basketball, and go find a hoop. Strike 1.

I also will admit that I am a video gamer. I love technology. My family has a Wii. My kids and I have a Nintendo DS. I have a BlackBerry that I play around with constantly. I also write one of those blog-type things. Strike 2.

Oh no, two strikes...now it is time to choke up and rip one in the gap.

Is baseball popular in our household? My wife and I coach our kids' team. My kids and I actually have an Opening Day dance. You can't walk 10 feet in our backyard without stepping on a whiffle ball. My son wears his Reds hat just the way I did when I was his age. Why? Because I showed my kids how much fun it actually is to play the game.

Anyone taking the time to read this blog most likely already loves baseball. But what about their kids? Are they taking the time to play ball in the backyard? Did they show them the proper way to field a ground ball? Did they explain the proper way to wear their uniform, even if it is t-ball?

I don't believe in making your kids play baseball, or any other sport for that matter.. But at least expose them to sports. I feel it is my responsibility as a parent. It's also fun! You loved baseball as a kid. Share one of your childhood passions with your child and see what happens. Chances are you find something magical that will form an even tighter bond and allow you to see the game through the eyes of a child.

Is Curt Schilling a Hall of Famer?

2009-03-24T07:00:00.000-04:00

Is Curt Schilling a Hall of Famer?

On ESPN Radio this morning, Erik Kuselias said you can use the Little League test. There are two types of players. Player 1 wants every single ball to be hit right to them. Player 2 wants the ball to be hit anywhere except right to them. Curt Schilling was definitely Player 1.

He was the ultimate big-game, postseason pitcher. He went 11-2 with a 2.33 ERA in the postseason, giving him the highest winning percentage of any pitcher ever with at least six postseason decisions.

Schilling never won a Cy Young award, but did finish second three times (2001, 2002, 2004). Since 1992, only Pedro Martinez and Roger Clemens had more strikeouts than Schilling (3,116). His K/BB ratio is the best in the modern era (4.38). Oh yeah, he also won 216 games.

Schilling posted some great numbers throughout his career. He was also a dominating personality. You either loved him or hated him. He was not shy about speaking his mind, whether it be to the media directly or through his blog. He also did more than his fair share of charity work.

So, it he a Hall of Famer? A great pitcher, yes. Hall of Famer, no. I have always felt that if you have to ask the question and think that much about it, the answer is probably no.

If you just look at numbers, it is borderline. He has impressive numbers, but not earth-shattering in two big categories - wins and Cy Young awards. The staple used to be 300 wins, and some will argue that has dropped to 250. Schilling has 216. Yes, he finished second in 3 times in the Cy Young award, but did not win any.

However, I am talking about your gut-feeling, your initial reaction. The Hall of Fame should be considered sacred ground. It is the supposed to be the best of the best. Schilling was the best sometimes, and often one of the best. He was not the best of the best.

How good is Mike Scioscia?

2009-03-23T08:00:00.000-04:00

So, how good is Mike Scioscia? As a player, I always thought he was the guy you hated if he was on the other team, and loved if he was on your team. As a manager, I think Scioscia may just be the best in the game.

He is the longest-tenured active manager in the American League. The past four seasons, the Angels have the best winning percentage in the game (.583). He also has led the team to a World Series title and four AL West championships.

He must manage a team stacked with guys who can just mash...right? He has a pitching staff full of aces...right? Not exactly. The 2008 Angels were the first team since the 1931 Cardinals to win 100 games without anyone driving in 100 runs, hitting 30 homers or winning 20 games.

Baseball is a numbers game. Everyone loves talking about statistics. The numbers don't lie! However, when it comes to successfully managing a baseball team, it goes a little deeper than just knowing when to hit and run. You are managing people from different backgrounds. You are managing people with different personalities. Mike Scioscia has proven to be a master at promoting team chemistry.

Mike Scioscia is a hands-on manager who knows his players. He is open with his players and stresses communication. He runs a clubhouse that players want to be a part of. And hey, who can argue with the results? The numbers don't lie.

My 15 minutes of fame

2009-03-10T07:00:00.000-04:00

Please take a moment to check out Mark Newman's great article on mlb.com: For fans, baseball a haven in the storm. Here are the highlights...

Russell Wight of Columbus, Ohio, has a four-seat, 20-game season-ticket package for Reds games, and he said the economy won't stop him from making the 100-mile drive to Cincinnati along with his wife and two children ages 4 and 6.

"In these tough and uncertain economic times, we simply let the love of baseball, the Reds and our family time at the ballpark be our main source of entertainment during the summer months," Wight said.

"We are both fortunate enough to have decent and somewhat secure jobs, but we also know that no matter what the state of the economy, our children will only be young once ... [and] watching the game through the eyes of a youngster is something you cannot put a price on."

Clubs are doing their best to help alleviate the overall strain, and the Wight family will be making their usual drive down from Columbus to see if this might be the year at Great American Ball Park. Jenna is 6 and Rusty Jr. is 4. The father lights up when you ask him about the pair, and many baseball parents will relate when he adds that his son "can flat rake." Hitting lessons from the pros will ensue soon in the big pantheon, just as they once did when you went to see Pete Rose, Johnny Bench and Tony Perez rake.

"The Reds have not raised ticket prices, but I have heard some news about them offering value meals at the concession stands for around $5," Russell said. "My family and I usually eat at The Machine Room, a sports-bar type restaurant at the stadium. It is around $30 for the four of us [no alcohol], which is very comparable to a dinner at any local establishment. ... We love the experience of going to the ballpark."