The cost of going to the MLB opener

[Kevin Finnerty]

If my son and I were to attend the Angels' opener tonight, it would break down like this:

Tickets: $170

Parking: $10

Gas: $30

Dinner (restaurant on way): $40

Other options include beverages, snacks, a new cap, etc. can easily reach another $100

If we were to attend the UCLA Bruins game instead, it would break down like this:

Tickets: $0

Parking: $0

Gas: $10 (Westwood's a lot closer than Anaheim)

Dinner: $40

Guess which game we're going to attend.

(MLB's exorbitant prices courtesy of Butt $elig.)

[Welpe]

And that's why we attend Minor League Hockey games and will be attending games for the new minor league baseball team here.

It's nuts how expensive it can be to go to a game. :no:

[grayhawk]

I am taking my son to the Angels opening game tonight and it will break down like this:

Tickets (purchased on Stubhub the day Pujols signed): $115

Metrolink Angels Express: $11 (round trip for the 2 of us)

Food: TBD

Friday Fireworks: Included

So not too shabby for the most anticipated opening night ever for the Angels.

I do have to say that I love going to UC Irvine games, however. Closer and cheaper and a great experience. I'm going to see a couple of Cal State Fullerton games this year as well.

[sdix00]

I'm with you KFinn.

Give me a UCR game or a game at one of the 4 CAL League parks within an hour of my door. I am never out more than $60 for the family of 5. (big) Hot Dog and a bottomless Coke at UCR is a whopping $4.

And the baseball is just better. A lot more small ball, especially with the new bat rules last year. Player mistakes that test the umpires. GREAT umpires. Many of them are local clinicians, assignors, former association members, etc.

[yawetag]

And that's why we attend Minor League Hockey games and will be attending games for the new minor league baseball team here.

One of the local Frontier League teams has a $20 promotion for children; they get into every Sunday home game for free. A ticket for me would only be $5 or so. On TOP of that, I get to watch some of the best local umpires,s too. Guess which games I'm going to?

[dumbdumb]

If my son and I were to attend the Angels' opener tonight, it would break down like this:

Tickets: $170

Parking: $10

Gas: $30

Dinner (restaurant on way): $40

Other options include beverages, snacks, a new cap, etc. can easily reach another $100

If we were to attend the UCLA Bruins game instead, it would break down like this:

Tickets: $0

Parking: $0

Gas: $10 (Westwood's a lot closer than Anaheim)

Dinner: $40

Guess which game we're going to attend.

(MLB's exorbitant prices courtesy of Butt $elig.)

He's broke and needs a little help, just like the owners even when they sell for 2 billion.

From guidestar on non-profits 2006 for Commissioner Butt Selig, so that is 6 years ago.

Commissioner Bud Selig 2006-------------17,500,000 + 460,000 Benefits and deferred compensation + 422,000 expenses.

Commissioner- Bud Selig 2004-------------14,500,000 + 82,000 benefits and deferred compensation + 20,000 expenses.

President -Robert Dupuy 2004--------------4,875,000 + 73,000 benefits and deferred compensation.

Ex. V.P. Business Affairs-John McHale----1,300,000 + 41,000 benefits and deferred.

Ex. V.P. finance/CFO-Jonathan Manner--1,245,000 + 27,000 benefits and deferred + 60,000 expenses.

Ex. V.P. -----------------Robert Alderson---- 875,000 + 42,000 benefits and deferred.

Ex. V.P.---------------Jimmie Lee Solomon-543,000 + 5,000 benefits and deferred.

Ex. V.P. Labor-------Robert Manfred-------1,900,000 + 41,000 benefits and deferred

Baseball has left the non-profit status so Butt Selig does not have to publish his salary anymore.

[johnnyg08]

I honestly don't think I could sleep at night. What would you do w/ all that money? Seriously.

[Replacematt]

I honestly don't think I could sleep at night. What would you do w/ all that money? Seriously.

I'd spend it on women and wine, and the rest I'd waste.

(Points for reference.)

[mstaylor]

He could get financial advice from the basketball player that bought $10,000.00 for lottery tickets and won nothing.

[dumbdumb]

If my son and I were to attend the Angels' opener tonight, it would break down like this:

Tickets: $170

Parking: $10

Gas: $30

Dinner (restaurant on way): $40

Other options include beverages, snacks, a new cap, etc. can easily reach another $100

If we were to attend the UCLA Bruins game instead, it would break down like this:

Tickets: $0

Parking: $0

Gas: $10 (Westwood's a lot closer than Anaheim)

Dinner: $40

Guess which game we're going to attend.

(MLB's exorbitant prices courtesy of Butt $elig.)

Now, come on Kevin. Those Bruin tickets and parking aren't free to us others on the board.

It looks like you are on someone's pass list for the UCLA games.

You mean to tell me you would not be at that LA game if you were on Scosia's pass list and many more of their games if Scosia had you and your son on his permanent pass list like UCLA?

Let's compare oranges to oranges here.

And, to TOP it off, you turned down a chance to see last year's Crew chief of the world Series, balkin Bob, the owner of an umpire school, and a phenom who got to MLB full time in his 9th year, after only 144 call up games. wow.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Unless you're Scioscia's son, there's no room on the pass list on Opening Day. (Openers, Yankees games, or postseason games are out.) But anywhere on the road, or any normal weeknight, or a weekend against the ordinary teams, then we can call some in and save the $170 and sit in some sweet seats. He takes care of my son when he calls, too. (I've known the guy since 1981, but my son and his son were teammates.)

UCLA is sort of a permanent pass, with a wave at the parking gate. Otherwise, the tickets are $5, and parking's $8. So if we paid for that, it would be $18 for both of us---still a crazy value.

I suppose the point is that the whole big league game experience is absurdly expensive, and perhaps most importantly, a system that is unsustainable. Check your values and principles at the door. It's become disgraceful.

[love2ump]

Andrew is that the River City Rascals if so i used to live 2 miles from there and would go to every game. Its cheaper than a movie. Friday instead of going to the Rays home opener i went to watch the Clearwater Threshers Florida state league and spent right at $20 bucks for the evening for wife and me.

[Kevin Finnerty]

See!

[dumbdumb]

Unless you're Scioscia's son, there's no room on the pass list on Opening Day. (Openers, Yankees games, or postseason games are out.) But anywhere on the road, or any normal weeknight, or a weekend against the ordinary teams, then we can call some in and save the $170 and sit in some sweet seats. He takes care of my son when he calls, too. (I've known the guy since 1981, but my son and his son were teammates.)

UCLA is sort of a permanent pass, with a wave at the parking gate. Otherwise, the tickets are $5, and parking's $8. So if we paid for that, it would be $18 for both of us---still a crazy value.

I suppose the point is that the whole big league game experience is absurdly expensive, and perhaps most importantly, a system that is unsustainable. Check your values and principles at the door. It's become disgraceful.

Well, you did get to see the former D-1 coordinator and 2 former PCL umpires, one of whom worked 75 games as a call-up and had the bean ball war between San Fran and Colorado back in April 2006 with Derryl Cousins.

[semper_fi_72]

If my son and I were to attend the Angels' opener tonight, it would break down like this:

Tickets: $170

Parking: $10

Gas: $30

Dinner (restaurant on way): $40

Other options include beverages, snacks, a new cap, etc. can easily reach another $100

If we were to attend the UCLA Bruins game instead, it would break down like this:

Tickets: $0

Parking: $0

Gas: $10 (Westwood's a lot closer than Anaheim)

Dinner: $40

Guess which game we're going to attend.

(MLB's exorbitant prices courtesy of Butt $elig.)

Went to a Quake and 66er game last night, Single A clubs for Dodgers and Angels.

8 tickets behind home plate = $62.50

Gas $15

Parking $4

3 Quakes baseball and a Foam Finger = $20

Assorted food items for my 3 girls = $40

First Professional baseball game for my daughters, wife and Mother In Law = PRICELESS

Oldest daughter Tara said my butt stuck out more then the umpire on home plate.

So you saying Daddy has a big butt

Even at 8 yrs old, she already notices the umpires on the field.

SWMBO even asked why the PU kept touching the catchers back when he was setting up.

I think Umpiring must be in the air in our house.

[24sdad]

If my son and I were to attend the Angels' opener tonight, it would break down like this:

Tickets: $170

Parking: $10

Gas: $30

Dinner (restaurant on way): $40

Other options include beverages, snacks, a new cap, etc. can easily reach another $100

If we were to attend the UCLA Bruins game instead, it would break down like this:

Tickets: $0

Parking: $0

Gas: $10 (Westwood's a lot closer than Anaheim)

Dinner: $40

Guess which game we're going to attend.

(MLB's exorbitant prices courtesy of Butt $elig.)

Went to a Quake and 66er game last night, Single A clubs for Dodgers and Angels.

8 tickets behind home plate = $62.50

Gas $15

Parking $4

3 Quakes baseball and a Foam Finger = $20

Assorted food items for my 3 girls = $40

First Professional baseball game for my daughters, wife and Mother In Law = PRICELESS

Oldest daughter Tara said my butt stuck out more then the umpire on home plate.

So you saying Daddy has a big butt

Even at 8 yrs old, she already notices the umpires on the field.

SWMBO even asked why the PU kept touching the catchers back when he was setting up.

I think Umpiring must be in the air in our house.

Lou, we live about ten minutes from Quake stadium. Still fun to go, cheap and you can sit pretty much anywhere you want. My problem with going to any BB game now is I tend to watch the umpires more than the game. Watching MiLB single A guys is great. They have to put up with all the entertainment crap between innings...but they hustle, they are hungry and their mechanics are a great teaching tool.

Yesterday, I went to the Fullerton/UC Davis game with the Big West umpire evaluator. (my job was to use the stop watch and track the between innings time - 90 seconds lol). Watching these guys work was awesome. I have not done a lot of three man, but learned a ton just watching these guys communicate, rotate and hustle. Good stuff.

[Jeff C.]

I went to MSU v. U of M yesterday and spent $36, which included tickets and concessions. A gorgeous day and great baseball. My SWMBO mentioned that I watch the umpires more than the ball game! Which, by the way, I do.

[dumbdumb]

Went to a Quake and 66er game last night, Single A clubs for Dodgers and Angels.

8 tickets behind home plate = $62.50

Gas $15

Parking $4

3 Quakes baseball and a Foam Finger = $20

Assorted food items for my 3 girls = $40

First Professional baseball game for my daughters, wife and Mother In Law = PRICELESS

Oldest daughter Tara said my butt stuck out more then the umpire on home plate.

So you saying Daddy has a big butt

Even at 8 yrs old, she already notices the umpires on the field.

SWMBO even asked why the PU kept touching the catchers back when he was setting up.

I think Umpiring must be in the air in our house.

Maybe Nate White on the plate or Eric Gillam on the bases will be a MLBU one day. Lucky you.

24sdad and Jeff C got to see several post season umpires work. Hopefully they learned a lot. Lucky them.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Well, you did get to see the former D-1 coordinator and 2 former PCL umpires, one of whom worked 75 games as a call-up and had the bean ball war between San Fran and Colorado back in April 2006 with Derryl Cousins.

The best of the three was Pat Riley (the MLB call-up?). The other two had a few rough spots in this series.

[dumbdumb]

Well, you did get to see the former D-1 coordinator and 2 former PCL umpires, one of whom worked 75 games as a call-up and had the bean ball war between San Fran and Colorado back in April 2006 with Derryl Cousins.

The best of the three was Pat Riley (the MLB call-up?). The other two had a few rough spots in this series.

Pat Riley (former PCLU but not call up) opened on the plate Thursday. Travis Reininger who had the plate Friday is the former PCLU-75 game call-up. Dave Yeast who had the final game on the plate Saturday is the former National coordinator for all of D-1 baseball and has worked the 91 and 95 CWS.

If they were having a few rough spots, you should have gone out there and helped them smooth things out. I am sure you had your uniform in the car in case 2 or them went down with concusions or something. Let's go, don't just sit there like a knot on a log. Don't let them die on the vine. Go out and help the guys. I am sure your buddy was rating them for post season conference assignments. He could have taken a look at you if you had gone out to work a 4 man and helped them out. Maybe he would submit your name for the Regionals to get you started.

Come on, just don't sit there, let's go. Bare (seems like I read that word somewhere) down out there.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Back off.

No need to mock me. I made an objective, albeit vague statement. I was vague in an effort to be kinder in my appraisal of their work---especially Yeast's. Rough spot was a kind term for Yeast's troubles. If you want to blindly support every umpire you see, go ahead. I'm a realist, I'll either be honest about it, or I have nothing to say. If you want to defend Yeast's performance this weekend, you can (did you even see it?). You have to be pretty blind to approve of some of his work out there. Blind loyalty to people I don't even know is not one of my practices.

I'm a somewhat well-qualified observer of umpiring at that level. I have never once made any claim to be anything more than an off-season D-I scrimmage umpire, and a summer wood bat collegiate league umpire. I am out there because I love the game. I have been around baseball forever and I know a lot of people throughout the game. But I have only umpired in recent years. I moved up pretty fast, but I got in too late to ever be a D-I aspirant.

Be whatever you are, and do whatever you do, but painting me as some poser is out of line! It wasn't funny, and I have a pretty good sense of humor.

And, just so you know, it's bear down.

[dumbdumb]

Back off.

No need to mock me. I made an objective, albeit vague statement. I was vague in an effort to be kinder in my appraisal of their work---especially Yeast's. Rough spot was a kind term for Yeast's troubles. If you want to blindly support every umpire you see, go ahead. I'm a realist, I'll either be honest about it, or I have nothing to say. If you want to defend Yeast's performance this weekend, you can (did you even see it?). You have to be pretty blind to approve of some of his work out there. Blind loyalty to people I don't even know is not one of my practices.

I'm a somewhat well-qualified observer of umpiring at that level. I have never once made any claim to be anything more than an off-season D-I scrimmage umpire, and a summer wood bat collegiate league umpire. I am out there because I love the game. I have been around baseball forever and I know a lot of people throughout the game. But I have only umpired in recent years. I moved up pretty fast, but I got in too late to ever be a D-I aspirant.

Be whatever you are, and do whatever you do, but painting me as some poser is out of line! It wasn't funny, and I have a pretty good sense of humor.

And, just so you know, it's bear down.

Wasn't meant to mock or anything else. My apologies if you took it that way. Sorry they had some trouble, I never like to see that for anyone no matter their level, and you were kind the with your comments. I took your word that they had some rough spots, without needing any further explanation. I was just making the comment that I have heard other people make to an umpire that is observing the game out of uniform when there is a rough patch (can't you go help them out). They were just kidding and the umpire just took it that way also.

I am upset though, that a good umpire cannot make it to D-1, if they can quickly get a lot of experience, and they can flat bust butt it on the field (plate and bases) in the 45-55 range if they so choose, even if it is non-conference games. As long as you can do a D1 umpire job, who cares about the other stuff. A 5 or 10 year career in D1 would not be bad.

Once again, offending you was not my purpose and my apologies.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Thank you, thank you. I'm sorry I let it blister me like that.

I've always enjoyed reading your words tremendously, including these.

[24sdad]

In the Fullerton/UC Davis game we had a bit of a mix up.

R2/R3, U1 is in deep B, U3 is on the line. Base hit to L/C gap with both runners scoring. B/R heads to second. As B/R was half way to second, U1 is moving back toward first base. U3 had come into the infield between 3rd and SS. The throw was going to 2nd and it was going to be close. I don't know why U1 was moving back toward first...maybe did not know B/R was going for two??? Either way, it looks like U3 may have seen U1 moving away from second and came in, but he would have never arrived in time. They both stopped and looked at each other as the play was unfolding (and I am sure experiencing an "oh crap" moment). Apparently a light clicked on for U1 and he started sprinting BEHIND B/R toward second base. B/R beat the throw and was called safe by U1. They both kind of looked at each other and then went to their positions.

I would imagine no one noticed except the three umpires on the field and, unfortunately, their evaluator. Their evaluator pulled his CCA manual out, noted the page number for this particular coverage and documented it. He also told me U1 (crew chief) was one of the best umpires he has ever evaluated.

It was obvious there was a screw up, but what impressed me is they didn't allow it to continue...they acted and did the best they could with the situation they put themselves in.

Who knows why he did what he did, but everyone screws the pooch now and again. I guess the moral of the story is to limit the amount of pooch screwing, learn from your mistakes and strive not to repeat them.

[dumbdumb]

Thank you, thank you. I'm sorry I let it blister me like that.

I've always enjoyed reading your words tremendously, including these.

Glad you chilled out. Maybe one day my communication skills (writing and spelling) will be half yours. Don't hold your breath.

Now about that bear down in the Valley. I ain't ever visiting the Valley if you got a bear down there, even if your last name is Crockett.