Hey Stros.....Its all about the money

by tedinSoCal on Sep 16, 2008 9:47 AM CDT

Do the Astros players and manager not know pro sports is ALL about the money?

When I hear them whining about having to play in Milwaukee instead of Atlanta or Florida I just shake my head. Its real simple guys.

When having to pick a "neutral site" for theses games, MLB (and Im sure Drayton McLane) wanted to make as much money as they could after having to cancel the games in Houston.

So which of the 3 sites would draw the most fans that would be willing to pay premium rates....?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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gotta go with the juice box

the astros would make the most $ by playing the games in Houston the first week of October- not just ticket sales, but concessions, parking, etc. However, they ran the risk that the games would only be played “if necessary”- a possible $0 payday for both clubs. Probably turns into a loss of $ when they have to refund or credit season ticket holders…

by baked mcbride on Sep 16, 2008 9:54 AM CDT reply actions

Wouldn't that potentially delay the playoffs?

If so, it would be completely unacceptable. Milwaukee was chosen because there was absolutely no chance of the games being delayed.

by Kornchex on Sep 16, 2008 11:09 AM CDT up reply actions

That's a big part of the reason.

There’s no way the playoff schedule was going to be disrupted by forcing three additional games to be played after 9/28.

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

by Al Yellon on Sep 16, 2008 12:53 PM CDT up reply actions

Also...the Brewers and Phillies

Among other teams, would have thrown a holy fit had those three games been put off. The Cubs had, even without the two wins against the Astros, a very good chance of clinching before the end of the season.

That gives them no incentive to play, giving the Astros a huge advantage. It would have been a joke had the Astros clinched because the games didn’t matter to the Cubs.

And the Cubs would have been vilified all over again because they didn’t try.

Now, the Astros look like the quitting punks. Better them than us.

Pluto will always be a planet to me!

by DaBard on Sep 16, 2008 1:35 PM CDT up reply actions

+ 1

by Fraggin Judge on Sep 16, 2008 2:58 PM CDT up reply actions

I have a suggestion.

The series is over. The Cubs won both games in spectacular fashion.

Can we put this to rest now? Time to focus on the Brewers tonight.

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

by Al Yellon on Sep 16, 2008 10:00 AM CDT reply actions

agreed

lets move on.

I wandered over to the crawfish boxes to see what the guys on their side were saying. Let’s just say that thanks to a few of our guys they don’t think very highly of us down there.

No reason to add to that.

besides Cubs – Brewers tonight with a chance to clinch the division at Wrigley. How sweet would that be?

---AC 00 00 00 - Believe

by mjk83 on Sep 16, 2008 10:07 AM CDT up reply actions

And I'm sure everyone would have the same opinion

if something similar happened to the Cubs.

Everyone here was complaining that having to play a make-up game on Monday would mess up the Cubs rotation for the Brewers series. I can imagine what would have happened if the Cubs lost a 3 game Wrigley series.

You can point at McLane if you want but the Astros players have gotten a bad deal here. The way the Brewers and Mets are playing, they could have been right there for the wild card.

It is funny how so many people laughed when they were picking up players like Randy Wolf as it appeared they were out of it. If it wasn’t for Ike, they very well could have been this year’s Rockies. They still might be.

by rlpete on Sep 16, 2008 10:26 AM CDT reply actions

You know, I never noticed something

Apparently there is a magical force-field around Miller Park that prevents Astros players from performing well when they enter. MLB ought to look into that.

But seriously, I have a feeling this Cubs team would have went out and played the game if the shoe were on the other foot, rather than moaning about it. All the people crying for the Astros have yet to advance a viable alternative solution, especially when it was the Astros unrealistic hopes of playing in Houston that forced them to come to Milwaukee.

Have fun cheering on the Astros in their quixotic quest for the wild card.

by SuperContext on Sep 16, 2008 10:34 AM CDT up reply actions

I didn't say that there were many better options

but if you don’t think the Astros players were distracted then no sense arguing.

by rlpete on Sep 16, 2008 11:00 AM CDT up reply actions

Sure they were

But there are many instances in the professional lives of ballplayers, and in fact of anyone who works for a living, whether its a cashier at Wal-Mart or the CEO, where there are distractions.

The key is how you deal with the adversity – do you rise to the challenge or use it as an excuse?

On that score, the Astros failed.

by SuperContext on Sep 16, 2008 11:27 AM CDT up reply actions

If it's all about the money..

why didn’t the Astros agree to play the games at Wrigley Field and get ticket revenue on 40,000 fans/game?

by chipwood23 on Sep 16, 2008 10:44 AM CDT reply actions

Part of the reason was the weather.

Weather in Chicago was horrible this past weekend. They’d have been rained out Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

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

by Al Yellon on Sep 16, 2008 12:54 PM CDT up reply actions

I know this is a dead horse but . . .

the Astros didn’t have a problem with hostile fans while sweeping the Cubs at Wrigley two weeks ago.

If the Astros were true contenders, they would have put their head down, focused, and not made excuses.

by hoosiercubbie on Sep 16, 2008 10:59 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Not so sure

McLane didn’t want to go to Miller Park knowing that would be the only place (besides Wrigley) where he could make any money at all. Once that business decision was made the next is how to save face with players and fans: complain about the choice of sites. It’s over, let’s move on.

This is only the beginning....Lou Pinella end of '07 season and Chicago Transit Authority (the band when they were really good).

by mrcubsfan on Sep 16, 2008 11:35 AM CDT reply actions

To look at this from the "typical" Astro fan

point of view, follow this link:

http://blogs.chron.com/gamedayastros/2008/09/stay_classy_cubs_fans.html

There is a lot of hateful spit being flung our way. The initial blog post does its job of inciting readers and it just snowballs downhill from there. “Wonderful” piece of journalism here—professionalism at its best.

Time is an illusion--lunch time doubly so.

by snowyman28 on Sep 16, 2008 2:28 PM CDT reply actions

"So what do Cubs fans do..."

“when the Astros take the field at Miller Park? They boo them. Nice going, Cubs fans.”

What, we’re supposed to cheer for the other team?

What a bunch of crybabies.

by ChipSet on Sep 16, 2008 8:10 PM CDT reply actions

"Alibi Ike" Has Taken A New Meaning

Never, but NEVER, put ketchup on a hot dog.

by CaliCub on Sep 17, 2008 7:39 AM CDT reply actions

Hey, that's what you have to deal with for teams in that climate

It’s p/o geography. They have to learn to deal with it. Bottom line is McClain and Bud Light F’d it up for the team. Wed night or at the latest Thur AM, Bud Light had to have the balls (which he never does) to come out and say the series is canceled, immediately engage a neutral site (didn’t have to be Milw) and simply say Sat night, Sun night and Monday afternoon games will be played at that site.

‘stros players, personnel and all family members can be chartered out of Hou by Midnight Thur going into Fri – money is not an issue here – go to the neutral site and begin to prepare for the games that wouldn’t start for more than 24 hours after they got there. No rushing to get out AFTER a storm hits, families are safe and the bottom line, Mr. McClain, you’d get more money in gate receipts from the THREE games being played.

But of course, this takes brains and leadership; qualities that apparently have not found their way into the heads of the parties making the decisions.

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Sep 17, 2008 2:49 PM CDT reply actions