BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: L.A. Times: Simers: No signing bonus for the ‘riffraff’ at Dodgers games (RR)

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Tuesday, April 08, 2008

L.A. Times: Simers: No signing bonus for the ‘riffraff’ at Dodgers games (RR)

Next you’ll be telling me that fans will be chained to their seats, while...Herankles Unchained!

There’s a new rule in Dodger Stadium that allows only the rich kids to get autographs, while keeping the unwashed away from box-seat holders.

...I didn’t hear from Joe again, so I called the Dentist, the Dodgers’ new PR guy, who doubled as PR guy and dentist for the Red Sox. He said the biggest complaint from Dodgers field box-seat holders “was the crowded conditions pregame at their seats and on the concourse from fans trying to get close to the players.”

I always thought the rich were the last to arrive, batting practice over and fans returning to their seats before the boxes filled up. The McCourts never take their seats until after the national anthem.

But then I blame the McCourts, who supposedly are big on tradition, just not the tradition of kids getting autographs before games.

The McCourts have taken a snooty approach to the unwashed for some time now. They have a guard standing at the entrance to their field box seats almost four hours before every game. They also have it roped off, so no one will dare plop their butt into their seats before they do.

Repoz Posted: April 08, 2008 at 12:18 AM | 28 comment(s)
Related News: General, LA Dodgers

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1. Red Juice Posted: April 08, 2008 at 01:55 AM (#2734577)

how can you not read Simers and smile or giggle multiple times. I know he is hated around here for the most part, but he always cracks me up.

And if Lacy, Law and Gott were the best the Dodgers could do the first three days of the season, there's a good chance F.P. Santangelo will be signing in August.

2. Hello Rusty Kuntz, Goodbye Rusty Cars Posted: April 08, 2008 at 02:07 AM (#2734583)

I've never understood the hatred for Simers. He doesn't take his job too seriously, and he's usually making fun of himself.

3. Shock Posted: April 08, 2008 at 02:09 AM (#2734584)

It's just a matter of taste. If you don't find him funny, then you just see his column as a useless waste of ink.

4. Hello Rusty Kuntz, Goodbye Rusty Cars Posted: April 08, 2008 at 02:11 AM (#2734585)

To be completely honest, even the best baseball writer is a useless waste of ink.

5. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: April 08, 2008 at 07:04 AM (#2734617)

"how can you not read Simers and smile or giggle multiple times."

I never have any trouble with it. That bit you quoted? Does absolutely nothing for me. Looking at it, I can't even tell why someone might, in theory, think it was funny.

I have to say that I actually agree with the Dodgers on this one. I bought a partial field-level package at PNC one year, and it was a real pain in the ass trying to push past all the autograph-seekers jamming up the aisle. Particularly if I was carrying a beer and a burger. Double particularly for the part of the year where I was on crutches.

If kids want an autograph, they can always line up outside the players' entrance, just like they did in the old days. Or the team could designate a separate area with better traffic flow for autographs, if players feel like signing.

6. scareduck Posted: April 08, 2008 at 12:16 PM (#2734781)

Simers is better than Plaschke (a low hurdle, to be sure) for this one reason: he occasionally writes those things that need saying that no other columnist will say.

That said, I'm not sure this is one of those times. Given the results of some of their previous promotions (anybody remember their $2 tickets in the outfield and the ultimate effect on Milton Bradley?), it's probably best to keep the riffraff away from the players.

7. Red Juice Posted: April 08, 2008 at 12:59 PM (#2734825)

Looking at it, I can't even tell why someone might, in theory, think it was funny.

F.P. Santangelo is Simers personal whipping boy. he is always cracking on FP Santangelo.

8. baseballing powerhouse (phredbird) Posted: April 08, 2008 at 01:03 PM (#2734830)

i don't think much of simers, but this is the kind of article he's good for. it really does irk me the way the people in the boxes get the star treatment at the stadium. they're almost never occupied, and if they are he's right, it's never before the 2nd or 3rd inning. let the darn kids have their 15 minutes or so to bug the players for an autograph, then shoo them away. but that's just me. i get really riled up at the slightest suggestion that certain people get a privileged treatment.

9. DKDC Posted: April 08, 2008 at 01:06 PM (#2734837)

Won't someone think of the poor kids' fathers' EBay income?

10. Halofan Posted: April 08, 2008 at 01:10 PM (#2734841)

Simers in rare form here - could have stoked the rivalry with LAA of A by pointing out that starting Angel players expressly sign autographs just before the National Anthem near their dugout and all fans are encouraged to crowd into the expensive seats - expensive seat holders are told their seat is for the GAME and the crowd is dispersed before then.

BOO-YAH!

11. flournoy Posted: April 08, 2008 at 01:12 PM (#2734848)

i get really riled up at the slightest suggestion that certain people get a privileged treatment.

Those "certain people" paid for that privilege. That's why they get "privileged treatment." The other people did not. That's why they don't.

12. Moscow Hiding In The Shadows Posted: April 08, 2008 at 01:17 PM (#2734858)

If kids want an autograph, they can always line up outside the players' entrance, just like they did in the old days.

Yeah, that wouldn't be so bad. There are few more enjoyable experiences for a 10-year old and his parents than waiting for autographs outside a player's entrance after midnight when the kid has school the next day.

13. Cowboy Popup Posted: April 08, 2008 at 01:18 PM (#2734861)

Those "certain people" paid for that privilege. That's why they get "privileged treatment." The other people did not. That's why they don't.

During the game they did. There's no reason to keep people from milling around certain parts of park before the game. I mean, what the hell is wrong with someone who doesn't feel that children should be able to go up to the front of stands during batting practice and see the players up close? I guess that'll teach them to be poor. There's a tradition in place already, changing it is not only stupid (look at Halofans post to see how this might effect the fan base in LA) but cold hearted.

14. baseballing powerhouse (phredbird) Posted: April 08, 2008 at 01:18 PM (#2734864)

whatever. the ballpark already has enough perks for the suv set. they paid a lot to sit up close, nobody is denying them that. like i said, it wouldn't hurt to let the kids -- or adults who have a legitimate autograph request -- have some time down at field level before the game. this is in response to 11.

15. Rafael Bellylard (p8p) Posted: April 08, 2008 at 01:42 PM (#2734934)

Tampa has the same policy. Of course, the kids are all trying to line up on the visitor's side of the field.

16. snapper Posted: April 08, 2008 at 01:53 PM (#2734960)

Those "certain people" paid for that privilege. That's why they get "privileged treatment." The other people did not. That's why they don't.

BS. Clear the kids out 20 min before gametime. All the player are back in the locker-room/dugout by then anyway.

17. Brian Posted: April 08, 2008 at 02:27 PM (#2735016)

Kids? BS. I've had box seats at Yankee games a bunch of times in the last few years and the crowd of autograph seekers is not just, or even primarily, kids. It's a bunch of 30-40 year-old morons who step on the people sitting in their own seat to get one of the dozens of photos, balls and other items they've brought to get signed. If there are kids there they're in danger of getting trampled.
Phredbird thinks the box seat holders don't ever show up until the 2nd or 3rd innings and ridicules them for it. Now there are people complaining the the box seat holders have no right to get to their seat until game time. Pretty small window you're opening for them.

18. bads85 Posted: April 08, 2008 at 02:42 PM (#2735061)

could have stoked the rivalry with LAA of A by pointing out that starting Angel players expressly sign autographs just before the National Anthem near their dugout and all fans are encouraged to crowd into the expensive seats - expensive seat holders are told their seat is for the GAME and the crowd is dispersed before then.

All fans aren't encouraged to crowd into the expensive seats -- you can't even get to the field level that close to game time (unless you sneak down) if you don't have field level tickets. The Angels have the outfield sections on both sides opened up until 40 minutes before game, but fans are whisked out when the batting cage is removed.

The Angels or their fascist security certainly do not tell their season ticket holders that their tickets are "for the game only", which is very untrue. That seat is for the ticket holder from the minute the gate opens. What happens by the Angels dugout is that the season ticket holders don't mind the autographs (if they are in their seats at all). All it would take is for a couple of them to make a stink, and the autograph seekers would be forced to leave.

The Angels are without a doubt the worst park I have ever been to in terms of letting kids get close to the field.

19. baseballing powerhouse (phredbird) Posted: April 08, 2008 at 02:42 PM (#2735066)

brian, have you been to the games at dodger stadium? no, i didn't think so. i don't think its quite the same scene as NY. from what i've seen, the autograph crowd is not mostly grownups, and the seats are not heavily occupied. so i don't 'think' it. i see it. and they should be ridiculed for it if box seat holders want nobody around when they're not even there, because that's what this is turning into. i do believe we are talking about letting autograph seekers down to field level for a short period before the game.

20. flournoy Posted: April 08, 2008 at 03:05 PM (#2735130)

The problem is not having people sitting in someone's seat before the paid occupant arrives. The problem is having that person sitting in someone's seat after the paid occupant arrives, or during the game, whether the paid occupant arrives or not. Ushers can go around checking tickets, but that's a lot of hassle, and it's easy to avoid.

21. Brian Posted: April 08, 2008 at 03:06 PM (#2735133)

Actually, I was at Chavez once and it was the ultimate in ballpark luxury. We had seats right behind the plate in something called the Dodger Club. You could only get to the seats through the restaurant under the grandstand and it was blocked off from the riff-raff. All the food and drinks were covered in the ticket price and there were great looking young girls getting you whatever you wanted.
Strange for a baseball game, especially for someone who grew up going to Yankees games and sitting in the bleachers, but it was fun. Plus, the seats behind the plate at Dodger Stadium stick out further than the dugouts so, even though you were behind home plate, you could clearly see into both dugouts. Strange.

22. baseballing powerhouse (phredbird) Posted: April 08, 2008 at 04:00 PM (#2735357)

flournoy, please read the article. simers is writing about autograph seekers being denied access to field level before the game. nobody is sitting in somebody else's seat. simers points out that box seat holders rarely take their seats before game time. a dodger pr flak's weak b.s. included the comment that the policy is to alleviate box seat holders coming to sit down and finding hot dog wrappers in their seats. god forbid they should have to deal with such an inconvenience at a ballpark. i just find the dodger management's arbitrary behavior irksome at times.
brian, you are describing the legendary Dugout Club. i have been fortunate to be invited a couple of times and it is awesome. if the game is good, and luckily the two times i've been involved one-run games, its just a wonderful experience. i definitely felt like a privileged person there. guess i should have sneaked in a couple of 'unwashed' ...

23. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: April 08, 2008 at 04:07 PM (#2735380)

"F.P. Santangelo is Simers personal whipping boy. he is always cracking on FP Santangelo."

Yes, but why is that funny?

24. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: April 08, 2008 at 04:10 PM (#2735391)

"nobody is sitting in somebody else's seat."

It happened quite a lot here in Pittsburgh. I had to kick people out of my seat at least a dozen times, and they always gave me a ton of #### for not just taking a different seat that someone else had paid for.

25. pthomas Posted: April 08, 2008 at 04:33 PM (#2735487)

Let's see....I guess all these teams with seating and autograph issues have fired all the ushers.

Isn't this a simple crowd control problem?

26. bads85 Posted: April 08, 2008 at 04:42 PM (#2735507)

I had to kick people out of my seat at least a dozen times, and they always gave me a ton of #### for not just taking a different seat that someone else had paid for.

Same thing happens with my Angels' seats. What is probably most annoying is when another season ticket holder tries to snag your seat, then acts indignant.

However, the article is about auotgraphs during BP. Just about all those seats are empty then -- the autograph seekers are standing and the season ticket holders are on the freeway.

27. Los Angeles Waterloo of Black Hawk Posted: April 08, 2008 at 07:27 PM (#2735745)

TJ Simers is horribly unfunny, but is okay when doing actual reporting, as in this piece. But the jokes therein are horribly lame.

My biggest complaint about Simers, beyond the horrible and usually nasty "humor" is the fact that he seldom gives any indication of actually liking sports.

28. Brian Posted: April 08, 2008 at 07:59 PM (#2735785)

Phredbird, that was it, The Dugout Club. Pretty nice gig.

If the ticket holders aren't there that's one thing but when they are and there is a crowd of people swarming over you that sux. The whole begging for autographs thing is insane anyway. At Yankee Stadium it seems like many players will come over if it is a bunch of actual kids but they don't want to sign for the adults. This of course leads to cute 7 year-olds asking Jeter to sign a dozen copies of an SI cover he was on. EBay has rspoiled that idea.

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Tuesday, April 08, 2008

L.A. Times: Simers: No signing bonus for the ‘riffraff’ at Dodgers games (RR)

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