or how to squander your brand
No, this isn’t about politics or social policy — it’s something far more important — baseball.
Yesterday was Opening Day and the San Francisco Giants hosted the New York Yankees. I am a day baseball guy, and this game was moved to a 5:05 pm start to accommodate TV. But close enough, and it was the only early game that worked for my friends, so I sprang for four Club Level tickets — much more expensive than I would normally pay, but what the heck — Opening Day is special!
The day before the game, the Giants blasted an email encouraging us to be in our seats by 4:30 for pregame festivities. I was certainly expecting the usual introductions of players, maybe a speech by Buster Posey, introduction of past players and Hall of Famers and remembrance of those who have passed away.
What did we get? Bupkus. What was going on at 4:30? The grounds crew was putting lime down on the foul lines. There was a little bit of unintelligible happy speak by some on-field announcers, but NOTHING for the fans in the ballpark. I was at the ballpark, so I didn’t see the disastrous first baseball broadcast by Netflix, but I did experience its collateral damage.
And to poke a middle finger in my eye, throughout the game, the scoreboard pitched “Opening Day” on Friday. What the F___ did I spend my money on?
The game itself met my low expectations for the Giants this season. I know that hitting is hard, and the Giants proved it, although somehow the Yankees managed to pound our ace Logan Webb. But what really struck me was the low-minor league defense. Heliot Ramos did surprise me with a catch along the third base line — surprised because in the first game I saw last year, he misplayed a fly ball resulting in Logan Webb’s loss. But he did redeem himself later with an off-line throw. In the infield, we had a series of rushed and errant throws, twice hitting runners as they slid into base, and one throw in the dirt to miss a double play and allow the runners to advance and one more run. I’m not sure if second baseman Arraez was mis-positioned but he certainly was both late and slow as balls went through the infield.
And then there’s the fan experience which was definitely minor league.
- Having arrived early, we grabbed a slice of Pizza — luke cold — the temperature you get a couple of hours after the pie has been sitting on the counter.
- Later, we grabbed some brats — these were at best luke warm — kind of in the danger zone.
- And how about in the stands? There was no usher to regulate traffic during the action, so there were always obstructed views. It was a great example of incivility that Jeff Jacoby wrote about in yesterday’s Boston Globe.
- Oh and one of restrooms was not operating.
One other point on the food, which in year’s past, was generally above par. Not as good as Petco Park in San Diego, but quite satisfactory for a ball game. Yesterday, I felt like it was near the bottom of baseball — I’ve had better at minor league parks.
So I have bought tickets to go with a friend in May, but given the quality of the baseball and the ball park experience, I may be done.