I believe we are nicely positioned to rise above the .500 mark tonight with the Giants' Matt Cain on the hill. He's a fantastic pitcher but he's all hard luck versus San Diego. My optimism runneth over...
[UPDATE: I began writing this in the afternoon. Matt Cain got no run support this evening. Padres won. They are above .500. I WAS RIGHT!!!]
I mentioned, in an earlier post, that I wanted to discuss the "fan experience". Since I attended Friday night's "Chase Headley Walk-Off-Win Bonanza" I figured I'd address that "fan experience" now. The items up for discussion are as follows:
- OBSTRUCTED VIEW SEATS: People who complain about obstructed seats are, in general, a useless lot. When constructing a park where the objective is to get the fans close to the action and you've included a historic brick building into the park, you run the risk of cutting off some viewing angles. Get used to it, crybabies! Having qualified my opinion on people who cry about obstructions, let me say that sitting in Field Pavilion Section 124 SUCKS!!! Can't see the Jumbo and difficult to track all of the other boards simply because I'm not used to it. The 2B by Eck in the 9th required me to jump out of my seat and run down the aisle to see if it cleared the LF's head....it did. I then craned my neck to see the replay. It was nice. I was locked into these seats because I was with a group so there was little I could do about the view but in the future I'll be sure to grab a better seat. I advise you do the same..... or at least keep your mouth shut about those obstructed view seats (click below to continue reading).
- DIRECTIVES FORM THE SCOREBOARD: Seriously, stop telling me to make noise. I know when I should be standing and clapping. I also know when I should just be standing in anticipation. Just because you have fancy graphics doesn't mean you need to use them. I'll try to tell fans when to make noise.....kinda like when you're teaching someone to play Blackjack because you don't want them to take the dealer's bust card and ruin everyone's night. It'll be just like a hand of Blackjack except no money will change hands......
- GAME DAY PROGRAMS: Ooops! Because I was required to socialize at the game in question I didn't dive into the program.....and I forgot it there! Crap! But it was free, small and will allegedly be given away at every game. Dope!
- UN-INFORMED UNIFORMED FOOD STAND PERSONNEL: It came to that point in the game where I needed to switch from cold to hot beverages and boy did those in uniform have a difficult time directing me. I was told to go see a person who then directed me across the way to another who then looked to her partner for guidance.....who then sent me to the appropriate stand. Need a flow chart for that? If I had time I'd make one......since I don't..... PLEASE GET THIS FIXED, MR. GARFINKEL! Every employee should know EXACTLY where all concessions are located. In customer service it's simply not good enough to say "I don't know." Or in this case, to keep sending someone down the line, in hopes that they find what they're looking for. I'm done sounding like grumpy old man.
- YOUNG PLAYERS GETTING IT DONE: When ever young, home-grown players contribute to a win, it's a recipe for a great "fan experience".
- FIREWORKS: They were cool.
