Were baseball games always this bad?

[TrogL]

Just sat through most of Edmonton Trappers vs. Salt Lake City.

Four errors in one inning. Three overthrows of first base.

I was in the cheap seats off to the side on the metal bleachers. About a dozen kids were jumping up and down pretty much continually, raising the noise level to where they should have been issuing ear protection. Two little brats were throwing peanut shells at me. I think the parents were encouraging them because I was reading before the game (damn faggot liberals). The same two brats kept running back and forth behind me, crashing into me each lap. While I was in the bathroom, one of them stole my drink. I retrieved it from under his father's seat. The father ignored me.

Five or six other kids were screaming pretty much at random, but also pretty much continuously. Their screaming had nothing to do with the game. One of the little kids noticed something floating overhead and announced at the top of his voice to all and sundry, "look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon look daddy a balloon". Daddy ignored him.

Several fly balls came our way. I was the only person to have the presence of mind to yell "heads up". Everybody else was apparently watching a different game. One ball hit within a foot of a teenage girl. She chattered on her cell phone, totally oblivious.

One man behind me screamed abuse at the ref, players on both sides and passing birds and aircraft.

Several of the staff wandered by to talk to me as I appeared to be the only person actually paying some sort of attention to the game, even though I was reading papers between innings.

Some visitors from Venezuala over on the other bleachers seemed to be into the game. There was a cadre of about 20 of them waving flags and chanting and trying to get a wave going. Eventually even they gave up in disgust.

The mascot was practically screaming with frustration as everybody was totally ignoring him except the Venezulans and some kids on the sidelines.

I left after the seventh inning with a screaming migraine.

[dennis4868]

1. baseball....

has a long season and you will therefore have good and bad games from time to time,.....it is unlike all the other sports! It is a marathon and not a sprint to the finnish line.

[TrogL]

4. I dunno, I guess I'm spoiled watching soccer

At least something happens once in awhile and the fans are involved in the game (sometimes too involved).

[dennis4868]

5. soccer.....

"something happens once in awhile "

Yeah, the grass grows.

[salinen]

2. Balloons!

Wow, how festive.

[PVnRT]

3. If I'm not mistaken

both of those are AA teams - you're going to see some not-to-magnificent play at that level from time to time.

[TrogL]

6. Yeah, one of the teams is a feeder for the Expos

God help them.

The opening pitcher threw like a girl. I've never seen anything more awkward in my life. He was eventually replaced by some spindly little kid. I could throw a faster fastball.

[PVnRT]

7. Ahhh, the Expos

There you go. 'Nuff said.

[Bossy Monkey]

8. I can only comment on the errors and overthrows

Yes, it's been that way at least for the past 20 years. I always had the impression that the point of the minors is to teach fundamentals, but if so, they haven't been too successful. As to the oblivious crowd, here it's just too friggin' hot for baseball, so mainly they come disguised as empty seats. I'm a big fan, but haven't been in years. Those that do come, though, are mostly clueless. The true fans are wonderful, though, and easy to find; they're the ones with a program scoring the game. Mostly minor league ball is a hoot, but you have to be openminded about the quality of play.

[TrogL]

9. One of the staff was complaining to me

Some of the people watching the game were asking "What's a foul ball?"

[OneBlueSky]

10. wanna see REAL baseball? . . .

watch the Little League World Series games . . . kids playing because they love the game . . . FAR more enjoyable than professional games, imo . . .