Reflections on Today's Milwaukee Brewer Game Part II

Two Brewer games in less than forty eight hours, two losses and no opinions changed after writing Reflections on Today's Milwaukee Brewer Game.

Tuesday's game, a 3-2 loss to Colorado, was polished off in two hours forty-five minutes. Reasonable by modern standards but way too long for a low scoring affair that featured nineteen strikeouts and only two walks.

We sat along the left field line two rows behind the tarp. The proximity to the field was great but the perspective on judging sharply hit ground-balls to the left side of the infield was poor.

Alexandra and her boyfriend Dustin agonized over the loss but it was to be expected. Two runs are not going to stand up against the Rockies, especially when you get only one baserunner in the last six innings.

Thursday's loss was the Brewers at their frustrating worst. For some reason the Brewer starting lineup did not include Cory Hart, Bill Hall, J.J. Hardy, and Mike Cameron. I can understand benching or giving a day's rest to a couple of these guys, but it is best to not surrender before the first pitch is thrown.

We sat in one of the luxury suites (Don't ask, don't tell.), which is not the way to watch a ballgame. (Does that make me ungrateful?) Next game we plan to try the right field bleachers. I am still convinced that the best seats are anything between first and third and height is not that important, though it is always more fun to sit as close to the field as possible.

Thursday's game would never end. Too bad Ryan Braun did not hit a grand slam in the seventh rather than the three run blast in the ninth.

The shabby lineup necessitated numerous pinch hitters and before the game concluded after almost four hours, 34 players were penciled onto my scorecard.

Despite Tuesday's comments, which elicited such responses as

• you're old Paul... What Noise?
• Two words: Wrigley. Field.
• So use earplugs!
• ...you sound like a grumpy old man. Grab a beer and enjoy the games.
• Two words: Madison Muskies.

I stand by everything I said, to wit:

• Television requirements will extend the games at least thirty minutes longer than necessary.
• Stadium fans will endure sensory overload as Miller Park provides them racing lights around the edge of the upper deck containing sanguine messages about the Brewers interspersed with mind bending commercials.
• The sound system will be even more offensive. The blaring stadium music and needless reminders about upcoming promotions will ruin one of the most enjoyable parts of the game. Fans will not be bale to discuss each pitch, each at bat, and the nuances of the game without difficulty. The excessive noise, and that is what it is - noise - will make the game less enjoyable.

I plan to go to plenty more games.

Comments

[Tim M.]

As one who spent his 60th birthday with his family at Miller Park a couple weeks ago, and as one who has attented scores of games at that fine facility, I must say that while I agree with everything you say about the annoyances and television-based needless elongation of the games, there is one thing even more annoying.

It's the "child announcer" which is foisted upon us in the home half of the 4th inning. Robb Edwards has been a colleague and friend of long standing, and I think he's a fine p-a announcer; one of the best. The sound system resonates with his dulcet tones and crisp delivery (and, like you, he's a heart attack survivor). I understand he's forced to do those inane promotional and commercial announcements, but when that child takes over the mike, as cute as some may think it is, it's torture to my ears.

At my "birthday game" at Miller Park, sitting next to my 24-year-old daughter, when Prince lofted a fly to right field, she said dejectedly - while the ball was in flight - "F-9". We have indeed raised our kids to be baseball fans. Though you would not expect it, both "kids" decry the constant distractions from the game itself. And even I have come to accept the snippets of songs played when each Brewers player comes to bat, and have embraced "Hell's Bells" when Trevor Hoffman makes his late-game appearances.

All the rest is sound and fury, signifying nothing - to steal a line. Flashing scoreboards, racing semi-circular lights, inane commercial banter,all the annoyances you describe that have been contrived to "enhance the game experience" be damned. There's still nothing like the sound of a cleanly-hit ball leaving the bat and soaring into the air, as the crowd noise escalates, and the release of endorphins when it clears the outfield wall.

That, Paul, they can't duplicate....and let's hope they never wreck. Many more happy games to you. And yes, the luxury boxes suck.

[James Rowen]

Too bad you weren't at tonight's victory over The White Sox and your favorite manager.

I spent the afternoon and early evening in Spring Green instead of the ballpark.

[Phyllis DD]

I saw the (great) game on Memorial Day, Brewers vs. Cardinals, and I agree with you about the noise detracting from the experience. Who wants or needs that overwhelmingly loud wall of sound?

Thanks for the informative and enjoyable blog.