Reasons for the Missing "Buzz"

by Orval Overall on Oct 2, 2008 9:59 AM CDT

A common theme for the TBS announcers last night was that the crowd was shockingly quiet and passive, and it certainly looked that way on TV.

Al said the same thing in his wrap-up.

And I saw the same thing first-hand at last year's Game 3 loss, where the stadium really only got rocking just one time, when DeRo came up with the bases loaded. Otherwise, people were quiet for most of that game.

All of that is completely different from the Wrigley Field we have all seen dozens of times for relatively meaningless games, and especially for the meaningful ones like Opening Day or any series involving the Sox or Cardinals. So what gives?

I think the most commonly floated reason is that the fans are too nervous -- afraid of failure, they sit through a playoff game like its a horror moving just waiting to see how terrible its going to get.

I have a different theory. It seems to me that in the stubhub era its just too easy for wealthy, mildly-passionate, bandwagon type fans to offer a price for tickets that the average, everyday, die-hard (and yes bleed-cubbie-blue) fan just can't match. So instead of the full-throated season ticket holder who is living and dying on each pitch, you have a bunch of fans who aren't as passionate and are going because its the thing to do and they have the means to do it. When a $50 face value ticket is going for $800 or even $1,200, it reaches a point where people who would be in the seats screaming their heads off decide they'd be crazy not to sell to someone who will sit there passively with a cardigan tied around his neck.

Your thoughts?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation, Bleed Cubbie Blue, or Al Yellon, editor-in-chief. FanPost opinions are, however, valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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I was at the game last night

Bleachers, Section 341 Row 13 and COULDN’T BELIEVE that people started trying to do “The Wave” in the 8th inning. They couldn’t have cared less about what was happening in the game. I went to several postseason games in ’03 and to a T they all were rocking all game long.

I have to agree with you. Last night’s game wasn’t at Wrigley Field. It was at Disneyland for the wealthy and moderatly stupid.

"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance 1B/Manager 1908 World Champion Chicago Cubs

by imknowdummy on Oct 2, 2008 10:10 AM CDT 0 recs

The wave? Are you freakin' kidding me?

Guess that’s all you need to know about the makeup of a segment of the crowd.

I know THIS fan couldn’t get tickets through the lottery and wouldn’t pay a term’s college tuition for tickets via the “brokers” (cough: scalpers). Hard to tell your kid you can’t afford their next term because you went to see a baseball game.

The lines to the bathroom sure were shorter in my house. The Old Style didn’t taste as good though.

Go Green! Go White! GO STATE! (#13031 on the Cubs season ticket waiting list...)

by Zeke on Oct 2, 2008 10:37 AM CDT up 0 recs

yeah that enraged me to look over and see the wave

although thankfully it went nowhere. there were two awful women wearing an incredible amount of makeup and fancy non-cub clothes right in front of me, they left in the 7th inning. it made me incredibly sad to know that they had 2 of the tickets to a playoff game, and there were likely many more like them around the park.

by Canseco's Roid Party on Oct 2, 2008 11:05 AM CDT up 0 recs

Watched on TV

I felt the same thing. The fans at the game were not the fans that have to Wrigley during the season. It was very spooky watching. As for the game, not sure what the problem was, especially with Dempster. His location was terrible, with no help from the umpire.
Hitting was pathetic, try going with the pitch guys. Lets go tonite and get back HomeField.

They were "Cubbed". Any team that gets beat late by the Cubs.

by flacub08 on Oct 2, 2008 10:31 AM CDT 0 recs

Well...

I know i wasn’t there… and I’ve been there screaming and yelling all season long. Unfortunately, the guy I share seasons with is being a complete D-bag, selling out his seats, and not even offering me my share. Needless to say, I’m never sharing with him again.

The girls who share seasons right behind us were sending me text messages last night. They said it just wasn’t the same without me:(

I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008

by SackMan on Oct 2, 2008 1:01 PM CDT up 0 recs

i think there's a generalization here that's not fair

just because someone can afford to go to the games doesn’t mean they’re less passionate or knowledgeable than the blue collar fan

i had plenty of “blue collar” types in our section who left in the 7th inning, started hoffpauir chants and repeatedly got up in the middle of innings

by DartmouthCubsFan on Oct 2, 2008 10:39 AM CDT 0 recs

I disagree

To a point at least. Is it a hard and fast rule for all rich folks, obviously no. But I do think a lot of the loud fans are the same type of people that couldn’t afford to go to the game and rich people tend (that’s the key word) to not be more quiet.

I don’t think the poster is questioning their loyalty, rather the way they show their support.

"Pounding sand since 1982...."

by cubswynn on Oct 2, 2008 11:34 AM CDT up 0 recs

its a generalization

to say the least. Whether you “think” its true or not, doesn’t make it true by any means.

It’s interesting, i’ve seen others post there was more “boo-ing” than typical at last night’s game. Would this be attributable to the type of person attending the game as well? Because i find it hard to believe that the quietness or lack of energy in the stadium is because of the older/richer fans, but the increased booing is also their fault? Wouldn’t make any sense

I think the lack of energy in the crowd was based on the lackluster pace and results of the game along with a natural nervousness that comes from Cubs fans

by DartmouthCubsFan on Oct 2, 2008 12:23 PM CDT up 0 recs

Oh c'mon

Did you even read my post? The first thing I said was it’s not a hard and fast rule.

I didn’t say anything about boo’ing. The boo’ing was a result of the Cubs laying a big fat egg….comparing the two is apples and oranges.

The fans last night were garbage, there is no getting around that. And you can talk about the pace of the game all you want, the fact is they weren’t into the game from the first pitch on.

"Pounding sand since 1982...."

by cubswynn on Oct 2, 2008 12:40 PM CDT up 0 recs

what i'm saying is

on one hand you’re saying people weren’t loud enough in a positive manner

on the other hand you openly acknowledge (or those who are also arguing this position) that where was booing which you could hear

my point is you’d generally think if the crowd wasn’t loud enough in a positive manner and it was because they were of a certain “ilk”, wouldn’t it stand to reason that certain type of person wouldn’t make a lot of negative noise either?

in that case wouldn’t it make more sense that the lack of enthusiasm was performance dependent as was the presence of boos?

by DartmouthCubsFan on Oct 2, 2008 1:23 PM CDT up 0 recs

I really didn't think the boo's were that loud

That’s where your argument fails for me. You are grouping me in with a bunch of people and their opinions, when I never mentioned the boo’ing to begin with.

But I’ll go further and play devil’s advocate. If there was boo’ing, it was after the final out. So collectively the same crowd could on one hand boo for 15 seconds and be quiet for the rest of the game.

"Pounding sand since 1982...."

by cubswynn on Oct 2, 2008 1:42 PM CDT up 0 recs

the boo-ing in question

was after a Soriano AB, pre-game during introductions (booing the Dodgers)

I understand your points and while I’m aware I’m lumping you in with another group’s opinion, i’m trying to point the contradictory nature of some of these sentiments.

As someone who was at the game and was on my feet every big moment and screaming (like many others around me), only to have those moments deflated by Ball 4’s and deep drives to CF. I do feel like any momentum garnered by the crowd was challenged by the on-field performance

by DartmouthCubsFan on Oct 2, 2008 1:50 PM CDT up 0 recs

Absolutely the Cubs didn't give you much reason to cheer

I guess my two points are, it definitely didn’t come across like that on tv. Cubs fans are much more rowdy during regular season games in terms of how it came across on TV.

Obviously I don’t doubt you were on your feet, but as a whole, the crowd sucked last night.

My second point is, this is the freaking playoffs and we are the Cubs. Those things are usually mutually exclusive, therefore it shouldn’t have taken on the field momentum, the fans should have been jacked to be there for the NLDS….period.

"Pounding sand since 1982...."

by cubswynn on Oct 2, 2008 7:22 PM CDT up 0 recs

thats what I figured.......

I have no problem with people making a buck off of selling tickets, but damnt if you are gonna go to a PLAYOFF game. get loud. get excited. make some noise. if you can’t be bothered to do that give me the ticket and I’ll do it for you.

---AC 00 00 00 - Believe

by mjk83 on Oct 2, 2008 10:40 AM CDT 0 recs

I think a pitcher throughly dominating

a team not only shuts IT down, it shuts the crowd down, as well.

And, another momentum stopper is that the commercial breaks now are a minute longer — 3 mins! You don’t think stopping the flow of the game….tacking at least another 18 mins into the process…slows things down further? And if a crowd is already quiet — it shuts things up even more?

Would you prefer having a video board that tells the crowd what to do — artificially?
Do you want a freakin’ money jumping up and down in vain?

Let’s face it — we are not too well versed in this team winning a home playoff game.

The action on the field (which we have seen too many times before) will chill one’s enthusiam in a hurry.

Winning a game will solve this so-called ‘problem.’

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Oct 2, 2008 10:56 AM CDT 0 recs

Overrated....

….Sorry but the Cubs lost the game and it had nothing to do with the fans at the game. We were standing and cheering for the Loney AB and it’s not like that willed Demp to get him out. He hit a grand slam and after that it didn’t matter. The fans were trying to get into it. The stadium was probably at it’s loudest when everyone thought Edmonds hit it out in the 8th.

by seang03 on Oct 2, 2008 10:57 AM CDT 0 recs

nobody said the fans caused the loss

"Pounding sand since 1982...."

by cubswynn on Oct 2, 2008 11:35 AM CDT up 0 recs

I think it is a combination of both...

It is inevitable that you may get a slightly-less passionate group of fans, the ones willing to pay $300-400 for a bleacher seat, but I do feel that Cub fans in general are very nervous about this year playoffs.

I, personally, was a nervous mess from the first pitch on… I really tempered my enthusiasm all year long because I didn’t want to be let down in the playoffs. Maybe the rest of cubdom is feeling the same way. I’m going to the game tonight, and honestly, if we get down by a few runs…I’ll probably be an emotional wreck.

by smitster2008 on Oct 2, 2008 11:00 AM CDT 0 recs

I'm 100% with you, definitely a combination

But if the Cubs get down, don’t let it get you down…..the players need the support tonight. It’s amazing the affect a few loud fans can have on the rest of the crowd.

"Pounding sand since 1982...."

by cubswynn on Oct 2, 2008 11:38 AM CDT up 0 recs

The real fans cant get a fucking ticket. thats why

by xene on Oct 2, 2008 11:01 AM CDT 0 recs

i would have been rocking wrigley argentine style. just look at my icon. hahah

by xene on Oct 2, 2008 11:05 AM CDT up 0 recs

The real fans....

…such as the real fans with season tickets who are at the game? What are you talking about? This non-real fan stuff is garbage. If the players suck it up, stop pressing, and play loose they will score runs and the fans will be as crazy as they were all year.

by seang03 on Oct 2, 2008 11:07 AM CDT up 0 recs

nope. its not. season ticket holders account for what? 5% of the crowd?

by xene on Oct 2, 2008 11:11 AM CDT up 0 recs

Wrong.

The Cubs have over 25,000 season ticket holders, between full and partial plans. There’s no doubt in my mind that “real fans” were, for the most part, there.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Oct 2, 2008 11:36 AM CDT up 0 recs

Do you think there is a Stub Hub affect?

I do to a certain point…

"Pounding sand since 1982...."

by cubswynn on Oct 2, 2008 11:40 AM CDT up 0 recs

Why would the Stub Hub issue not be evident in LA last night or Philly?

The LA crowd was noticeably more vocal than Wrigley…even at the beginning. I think it is the “fear” factor. We, as a group, of fans are scared to death of having the best team of our lives loose just like last year.

"Cub fans like to think of things in catastrophic terms." - Crane Kenney

by NashvilleBlue on Oct 2, 2008 11:54 AM CDT up 0 recs

That's a fair point about the Phillie fans

But like I said, I still think to a certain point there is a Stub Hub affect.

Also, I haven’t verified this, but I would guess there was a huge price difference between the Phillies game and the Cubs game.

"Pounding sand since 1982...."

by cubswynn on Oct 2, 2008 12:01 PM CDT up 0 recs

I wish I could agree w/ you Al

but the season ticket holders I work with beg to differ. There’s 3 of them here in my office and you know how many games they plan on going to this Postseason? 0. That’s right, none. As soon as they received their tix in the mail, they were champing at the bit to post them on StubHub. They each made a pretty penny on their tix last night apparently, so much that they’re adding bookmarks to their favorite HDTV’s online as well as other expensive items. And what pains me the most is that these guys ~~are~~ were good fans. They rarely if ever sold their tix during the regular season but w/ the market the way it is now, they couldn’t resist. And who’s to say who is actually buying these tix online but something tells me it’s not the 20-somethings like me who would be on the edge of their seat w/ every pitch. And from the very first pitch of the game (as mentioned in your recap) I think that was highly evidenced last night.

Go All In and Enjoy The Ride.

by Jayo525 on Oct 2, 2008 2:09 PM CDT up 0 recs

under this scenario though

were those season ticket holders really “true” fans that would’ve made a difference?

by DartmouthCubsFan on Oct 2, 2008 2:58 PM CDT up 0 recs

Your point is taken.

I could have done the same thing — but I never would. Sell my playoff tickets? Never. That’s what we live for, making the postseason, and being there.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Oct 2, 2008 4:06 PM CDT up 0 recs

i ran into a friend after the game who didn't go, but he told me that they

were offered standing room in the 5th inning for $50. Turned out to be wise they didn’t take it because shortly after was the grand slam (they were $50 when we were still up 2-0, at least).

So anyone just wanting to get in for some PLAYOFFS- maybe check this type of thing out? I’m thinking about doing it tonight, I haven’t decided whether to go to Wrigleyville for sure or just go to somewhere around my neighborhood (logan sq. or anywhere around the blue line) for the game, but I feel like if I could get tickets for double face or so, even partway into the game, it’d be worth it to go in. Maybe the deflation from last night’s game will lower prices a bit? Doubt it, but one can hope.

by Canseco's Roid Party on Oct 2, 2008 11:10 AM CDT up 0 recs

there was a freaking lottery!

that allowed real fans the chance to purchase tickets.

I got tickets for $25 a pop, I’ve NEVER been able to get them for that price to a regular season game.

I don’t get the price argument here…. the lottery system was designed to help keep more tickets from the brokers

by DartmouthCubsFan on Oct 2, 2008 12:25 PM CDT up 0 recs

Could it be that there simply wasn't much to cheer about last night?

Other than the home run, the Cubs didn’t really put together any kind of a threat at any point. Dempster was walking a tightrope, walking 1-2 batters every inning, and I think everyone knew that eventually that would catch up with him.

Sure, there may have been a demographic switch, but the assumption that these fans are less passionate than “real” fans seems like sour grapes to me.

The simpler explanation is that, like Game 3 last year, there wasn’t a whole lot to cheer about.

by Wreckard on Oct 2, 2008 11:22 AM CDT 0 recs

Only once the game began

I was there last night. As Al said in his post, there was no electricity even before the game! Maybe I was expecting too much. I’m hoping it’s different tonight. Maybe Z can get the crowd pumped up.

"I'm a Cubs fan. I'm very, very patient." -- from a Shoe cartoon.

by No Southern Belle on Oct 2, 2008 11:27 AM CDT up 0 recs

I don't doubt the crowd...

…was not typical (compared to regular season) and I would imagine the was a higher level of nervousness amongst the group.

To me, the more important question is; why did one of your better pitchers throw up all over himself when the game was in hand and very winnable?

The self-implosion that was Dempster’s performance, bothers me a hell of a lot more than the crowd reaction.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Oct 2, 2008 11:33 AM CDT 0 recs

I think it was the lack of thundersticks

I kid, I kid!

by daeviant on Oct 2, 2008 11:34 AM CDT 0 recs

Thundercats....hooooooooooooooo!

by Arbusto on Oct 2, 2008 11:57 AM CDT up 0 recs

Other theory

FWIW, I believe in the StubHub effect but I just heard this from my friend at the game that the Ushers were NOT allowing people to stand up during the middle of an at bat, basically only on 2 strike count or other crucial pitches. Mind you, he was not in the bleachers but UD Box seats. They claimed Because it didn’t allow people to see behind them and if they did so they were told they would be tossed. My friend said it was nothing like he’s ever seen before although it was his first playoff experience there.

Go All In and Enjoy The Ride.

by Jayo525 on Oct 2, 2008 1:54 PM CDT 0 recs