Sunday, September 14, 2008
Thanks Bud
Does anyone else think it's an absolute crock of shit that the Astros "home" series against the Cubs has been moved to Milwaukee? Thanks, Bud Selig. Convenient how you own the Brewers, whose stadium the teams are using, and who the Astros have been steadfastly moving in on in the wild card race. The Cubs have a 90 minute drive, while the Astros have a 3+ hour flight. More importantly, Cubs fans have a 90 minute drive. Hence, Miller Park is full of Cubs fans. It may as well be in Wrigley. There is no reason that this series could not have been either (1) moved to some place that isn't 90 miles from Chicago or (2) made up at the end of the regular season, if necessary. Instead, the streaking Astros are forced to play two away "home" games during an unbelievably crucial stretch. Bush league tactics by Bud Selig. At least this can't possibly result in the first Cubs no-hitter since 1972. Oh wait. Fucking bullshit.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
12 comments:
stop bitching. stros suck my ass.
were any more centrally located stadiums like st. louis, kansas city, or cincy even available?
St. Louis was available 9/12-9/15. Kansas City was available 9/12-9/14. Cincy was available 9/12-9/15. Atlanta was available 9/12-9/15. The Ballpark at Arlington was available 9/12-9/14 (although I'm not sure if those games would have been rained out anyway due to Ike). Regardless, there was no reason to play in Milwaukee.
All I'm saying is that if the opposite were to happen, and the Cubs had to play a couple "home" games agains the Astros at the Ballpark at Arlington, Cubs fans would be bitching up a storm. But this is even worse because the man who controls the decision owns the team that the Astros are chasing in the wild card.
You are just mad that Miguel Tejada didnt want to trade you batting helmets from the game on Memorial Day.
I think a lot of it also had to do with the fact that it was shitting rain all over this country and Milwaukee is a domed stadium.
That being said, it'll be a great day when Bud Selig is no longer the commissioner
Perhaps the reason for playing in Milwaukee is money? Astros fans don't exactly travel or have much of a national following. The prospect of filling a stadium for the game was probably tempting to both the MLB and Houston. Baseball is a business.
Given the comments of Drayton McLane (the owner of the Astros), I don't think money was a driving factor (he said something to the effect that it was a Cubs home game). Playing two games closer to home (or more than 90 miles away from the team you're playing) when you're in a heated playoff race would hopefully give you a better chance to make the playoffs, which I assume would bring in more money than two games of a half-full Miller Park with 99% Cubs fans.
Astro's could have secured a more neutral/centrally located site if they would have been proactive and moved the games earlier in the week. Unfortunately they gambled with Ike, hoping to keep the series in Houston (understandable). Sucks the way it worked out, but I would have held out to have a true home game as well, and right now I would be pissed that I lost the gamble.
The stros chances of winning the wildcard are slim to none anyway. Doubtful this made a difference. Not to mention the fact that Zambrano pitched one of the games, a very probable loss for the astros no matter where played.
And by memorial day I mean labor day...
I'd hardly say that 2 1/2 games out (2 back in loss column) with 13 games left is "slim to none," especially with the way they've been playing in the second half (best record since the break). Not to mention a fairly easy schedule down the stretch (at Fla, at Pitt, Cincy, and ATL, and then one game at their real home against the wittle Cubbies, if necessary), whereas Milwaukee is at the Cubs, at Cincy, Pitt, and Cubs at home. However, Philly finishes at ATL, at Fla, with ATL and Washington at home to end, so maybe they have an advantage.
They got to the stadium something like an hour before the game because they arrived yesterday afternoon -- after dealing with a hurricane. I'm sure it makes a difference. Look, if the Astros were 10 games out, fine. It doesn't matter. But with the way they've been playing and with the hurricane, there had to have been better options.
The angst of the Astros players and owner Drayton McLane is understandable, but they had to sign off on playing the Cubs last week in Milwaukee. With a host of Cubs fans present, Carlos Zambrano no-hit them, then Ted Lilly beat them, 6-1, with six more no-hit innings. The decision might very well cost the Astros a playoff spot. Many on the Astros side expressed anger about the situation, including McLane. So why did he agree? The games could have been played in Arizona or Minneapolis. "McLane took the best deal," said one National League official. "That's the story."
Boston Globe
CNNSI.com
Post a Comment