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Friday, September 14, 2012

Nationals Manager Davey Johnson: Citi Field ‘Like A Morgue’

Phantom of the Hu Morgue.

In town this week with his first-place Washington Nationals, Johnson couldn’t help but notice the difference between then and now.

“Citi Field is like a morgue here,” Johnson told 106.7 the Fan on Wednesday. “I remember when I was here, we had 50,000 packed in Shea.”

Johnson’s club would later complete the three-game sweep, adding to the post-All-Star-break misery of the Mets.

And while fans haven’t exactly been heading out to Nationals Park in droves, Johnson insisted the juice is there for his team.

“Let me tell you, I love our ballpark, man,” he said. “The fans have been outstanding. I mean, they’re into it. It’s great. I’ve seen a big change since I’ve been there. … I really like the fans. I love the ballpark.”

Repoz Posted: September 14, 2012 at 11:05 AM | 25 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: mets, nats

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1. Esoteric throws a 'hard slider' Posted: September 14, 2012 at 11:15 AM (#4235711)

Davey is feelin' it. No question but that he's having a little fun twisting the knife at this point.

After sweeping the Mets in Citifield, it's amusing to realize that there's a remote possibility that the Nats' road through the postseason could go directly through all the OTHER teams that Johnson used to manage: the Dodgers for the NLDS, the Reds for the NLCS, and the Orioles (ha!) for the World Series.

It's not going to happen, obviously, but man...that would be hilarious.

2. Joey B. has ignited his October #Natitude Posted: September 14, 2012 at 11:29 AM (#4235732)

Eh, it's one thing for us fanboys to talk trash on the net, but if I were Davey I would just let sleeping dogs lie. The repeated on-field ass kickings this year were more than enough of a message. Plus, I imagine that a lot of older Mets fans probably still have positive feelings for him, so I'm not sure why he would risk tampering with that legacy.

3. zack Posted: September 14, 2012 at 11:34 AM (#4235742)

Davey Johnson does not strike me as the type to be particularly concerned about politeness or his legacy.

I snorted at the headline, because I live in DC and my girlfriend and I have been to a few dozen games at Nats Field. We went to one at Citi and she was amazed at how much more energy there was at Citi, to the point of flipping her opinion of the Mets. (I've always been a Mutts fan).

But then it was hispanic heritage night, which was awesome, and she hasn't been to any newjack Nats games.

4. Esoteric throws a 'hard slider' Posted: September 14, 2012 at 11:41 AM (#4235755)

But then it was hispanic heritage night, which was awesome, and she hasn't been to any newjack Nats games.

Nats park has been pretty hoppin' recently. It's not hard to see what Davey's referring to. The only series I can think of where the energy (and attendance) level was less than electric were the recent Cubs and Marlins series...understandably enough.

5. Joey B. has ignited his October #Natitude Posted: September 14, 2012 at 11:48 AM (#4235765)

I snorted at the headline, because I live in DC and my girlfriend and I have been to a few dozen games at Nats Field. We went to one at Citi and she was amazed at how much more energy there was at Citi, to the point of flipping her opinion of the Mets. (I've always been a Mutts fan).

Since you live here, you obviously know that D.C. just isn't a true baseball town in the way that New York is. But you also know that people here can (and will) jump on board a bandwagon with the best of them anywhere, and that we're just days away from many thousands of new "fans" buying their ticket to hop on board the playoff train.

6. Spectral Posted: September 14, 2012 at 11:51 AM (#4235769)

I don't think he's referring to some intrinsic awfulness of Mets fans, or some intrinsic greatness of Nats fans; I think he's just talking about it being an odd experience for him to have experienced Shea at its best, and now to see Citi at its worst. Meanwhile, Nationals Park hasn't exactly been an amazing atmosphere before this year, but the games this year have really had some great vibes in the air. Sure, there's some bandwagon flavor to it, but there has to be a bandwagon rolling at some point for a fledgling franchise before it turns into a great fanbase. I can tell you that you'll see an awful lot of kids in Nats hats that don't really care about whether their parents are "real fans".

7. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: September 14, 2012 at 11:59 AM (#4235780)

I was at the game Wednesday night and he's right. Seemed like the place was practically empty.

8. Gamingboy Posted: September 14, 2012 at 12:05 PM (#4235788)

You know, it's weird that we call near-empty stadiums morgues. It's not like you ever hear a jam-packed stadium be called a "Delivery Wing" or something.

*ba-dum-dum*

9. charityslave is thinking about baseball Posted: September 14, 2012 at 12:22 PM (#4235811)

a jam-packed stadium be called a "Delivery Wing" or something.

I spend a lot of time on OB wards, and I have to say, that analogy is apt. Lots of screaming, crying and cheering. And I guess being sprayed with amniotic fluid (which has happened to me on occasion) is kind of like a Gatorade shower?

10. Swedish Chef Posted: September 14, 2012 at 12:33 PM (#4235821)

I spend a lot of time on OB wards

I guess that means you're either a medical professional or Elijah Dukes.

11. The Long Arm of Rudy Law Posted: September 14, 2012 at 12:43 PM (#4235839)

And I guess being sprayed with amniotic fluid (which has happened to me on occasion) is kind of like a Gatorade shower?

Who can forget the time Deion Sanders sprayed Tim McCarver with amniotic fluid?

12. charityslave is thinking about baseball Posted: September 14, 2012 at 12:51 PM (#4235847)

Does that make Deion a big pu••y?

13. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: September 14, 2012 at 01:01 PM (#4235859)

Amniotic fluid or Gatorade: Which has more electrolytes?

14. The Long Arm of Rudy Law Posted: September 14, 2012 at 01:04 PM (#4235862)

"You're a real mom, Deion. You are a real mom."

15. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: September 14, 2012 at 01:30 PM (#4235892)

“Citi Field is like a morgue"

Then Jason Bay is in the right place.

16. McCoy Wilfong for Money Posted: September 14, 2012 at 01:48 PM (#4235919)

Anyone know when the Nationals are going to sell playoff tickets to the general public? I know tomorrow is the artificial deadline for season ticket holders but I haven't heard when they'll let us schlubs buy them.

17. The Clarence Thomas of BBTF (scott) Posted: September 14, 2012 at 01:55 PM (#4235928)

Davey was managing the Mets back when I still got bathed by my parents. They used to tell me when they were about to dunk me to get the shampoo out of my hair that I was going to Davey Jones's locker- I always misinterpreted that as going to Davey Johnson's locker. I was cool with that, I loved the Mets! I made them tape all the playoff games from 1986 when I was 4 so that I could watch them the next day! Who wouldn't want to go to the manager's locker?!

18. Flynn Posted: September 14, 2012 at 03:04 PM (#4236009)

Did you keep those? I still have my dad's tape of Super Bowl XXIV (Niners 55, Broncos 10). Still plays perfectly too.

19. Gamingboy Posted: September 14, 2012 at 03:29 PM (#4236037)

I spend a lot of time on OB wards, and I have to say, that analogy is apt. Lots of screaming, crying and cheering. And I guess being sprayed with amniotic fluid (which has happened to me on occasion) is kind of like a Gatorade shower?

God, I love BBTF.

20. The Yankee Clapper Posted: September 14, 2012 at 05:33 PM (#4236171)

If the Nationals can finish 11-8 or better, they will top the 1933 Senators for most wins by a Washington MLB franchise. Most wins ever. Given the Senators (both versions) generally lousy performance, that might be setting a low bar, but it is quite a break from the past. Probably still too soon to start talking about Mike Rizzo's Hall of Fame candidacy?

21. jingoist Posted: September 14, 2012 at 06:06 PM (#4236193)

When I linked to this topic, 3 of the top 4 topics were Nats discussions
Oh, how the lowly have risen!

22. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: September 14, 2012 at 08:19 PM (#4236246)

I believe that there are hedge funds out there that can consistently beat the market, and I don't think it's impossible to identify them. The problem is that there are a lot more hedge funds out there than there should be, and many of them do not offer anything differentiated, and they manage a lot more money than they should.

23. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: September 14, 2012 at 10:19 PM (#4236291)

Oops wrong thread.

24. charityslave is thinking about baseball Posted: September 14, 2012 at 11:03 PM (#4236308)

Oops, wrong thread

Wrong site?!? But now I'm intrigued.

25. Harold Posted: September 15, 2012 at 12:20 AM (#4236343)

Wrong site?!? But now I'm intrigued.

That's a nice shotgun, by the way.

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Friday, September 14, 2012

Nationals Manager Davey Johnson: Citi Field ‘Like A Morgue’

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