Saturday, April 5, 2014

Wrong Guys Hitting the Bull


Season: 1-1; Home Stand: 1-1
Wrap, Box, Herald-Sun

Another pleasant night at the ballpark. Enjoy it folks because there will be a couple of really ugly days before we get to the summer.

Far be it from me to wish a player ill—and it is very early in the season— but do I need to point out that the G’Braves Ernesto Mejia has an OPS of 2.270, 3 home runs, and 6 RBI in two games? Couldn’t he just take a day off? I know it’s early in the season, but maybe?

On the Bulls side, Kevin Kiermaier is off to a very hot start. Two games, two home runs, 4 RBI and several very nice plays out in center field. He just might be the best center fielder we’ve seen in a Durham Bulls uniform.

Otherwise, it was an early season game: Too many errors, too many pitches that got touched for hits.

We did get to see reliever Juan Carlos Oviedo, a Rays rehab project who has been on the Rays payroll for something like a year and a half. This was officially a rehab assignment and we are likely to be seeing a bit of him before the Rays make a decision on where he fits in their scheme of things.

Outside the game —
  • I didn’t have anything negative to say about opening day because it was so clearly a work-in-progress. But Mike Birling, the Bulls GM has had plenty to say in an email that went out to everyone who bought a ticket. A classy apology on his part and an offer of a free ticket to any Monday-Thursday game for the rest of the year. But the offer is only on the table from April 7 to April 13. 
  • The new video and sound capabilities are very impressive. I’m expecting to see a lot of tweaks to the basic display, but I certainly appreciate the data that are out there. I didn’t notice the display up below where the press box used to be. That’s handy sometimes.
  • I’ve got to wonder just how the radio guys are able to call pitches (location and type) from where they now sit. Terrific eyesight? 
  • Speaking of the radio, pleased to hear Scott Pose back on the air with Patrick Kinas. They make a pretty good team.
  • About the turf: All I can say is that if you didn’t see it 10 days ago (I think I had a webcam shot of it) you have no idea how much progress has been made getting it in shape. We have it on good authority that all should be right for the next home stand. 
  • Patience, grasshopper.
  • But we sure were looking forward to cup holders, those of us on the front row of the Terrace Reserved sections. Sigh. Maybe part of the next $20 million.
  • Great to see the racers back and the Bulls are running a very clever introductory video with the racers on their way back from Spring Training. Choice of the South of the Border parking lot for some shots was inspired. Nuke still having trouble getting across the finish line.



7 comments:

  1. Why was there an apology? and a free ticket offer what went wrong on opening day?

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  2. You know, I'm really not sure. I noticed the long lines at concessions and all the construction still going on. I just went to my seat and watched the game (and caught up a bit with the folks who sit around me). I did not make any special effort to check stuff out. Birling's letter apparently went only to ticket holders of the day.

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  3. Yeah despite my B- grade yesterday I really didn't expect the Bulls GM to send a letter like that. To be clear, the stadium is in at least as good shape now as it was at the end of last year, it's really just the rough edges of the new stuff that hasn't been finished. Considering the Bulls didn't raise ticket prices (although I guess they partially raised my property tax /w the agreement with the city), it's still in a great state.

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  4. About the stadium, display, scoreboard, etc.

    I hate the outfield displays when they have yellow, red or any other bright colors - too much. At least from 3rd base side. Also at night the bright displays wash out the scoreboard.

    The player data display was blurry (maybe my eyes are getting old) but nice. However it would have been nice to see at least the pitcher's name and even nice to see some basic pitcher stats.

    I don't really use them, but the refreshment pitchmen seem to be missing from the stands. Speaking about refreshments, I'm very unimpressed by the items that are available - it's a step down from what it was.

    At least you can read the numbers on the Bulls uniforms.

    Sorry for all the complaints.

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  5. When I used to go to Madison Square Garden back in the 70's to watch the Rangers play they never had a line for a hot dog and a beer and they moved thousands .
    The worked fast and loud no meek and confused like they do at the DBAP
    They also had roaming beer vendors working the stands , yelling
    BEEEEEEEEEEEEER HERE

    That is what needs to happen at the ballpark or next year it will be Deja Vu all over again

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    Replies
    1. I'll bet that on opening day at Madison Square garden they had a line. Let's give the folks a few weeks/games to sort it out. Not as if they had a lot of time to train with the awful weather we had.

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  6. I have seen the same problem for the past three years, it is not going to go away with a "few more games"
    They need "Regime Change" in the food department

    But actually this is a win/win situation for my waistline so I'll opt out of junk food and brewski and just watch the game LOL

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