I love the wave. Haters gonna hate.

This is an issue in Boston too, not the wave specifically (though it happens), but the "other" stuff. Sweet Caroline, beach balls, etc...I've never quite gotten the hate. I understand if it interferes with the game itself, that's unacceptable, and of course if the artificial noise level is such that you can't have a conversation that's no good either.

But fans enjoying themselves on a night out at the ballpark is a good thing, not a bad thing. Baseball is fun. It's something I've experienced on a different level this year than in many years as a Red Sox fan. Oh don't get me wrong, I'd trade my right leg for this club to be in first place right now but last night I got to appreciate Mike Trout storming around third base like Usain Bolt coming off the turn in the 200 in a way I wouldn't have if the Sox were fighting the Angels for a playoff spot. At the same time, 30,000+ people singing along to a cheesy song between innings is fun. People smile, they laugh, they dance or sway, fun things are fun.

I can't imagine not living and dying with every win, loss or rain out but I'm fine if others don't. As long as they don't block my view, spill beer on me or actively interfere with my ability to watch the game what do I care what others are doing?

I was hoping this article was by Dan Savage.

Miller Park has always been very Wave friendly. But noticeably less and less of it in the past couple of years, as the onfield product has become more sufficiently entertaining.

I was hoping for John Savage... maybe have some anti establishment hippie musical article type thing...

Anyway, never saw the wave at a cubs game, but jesus if they dont love it at Cellular Field.

In oakland staduim if someone tried to start the wave the ushers would actively yell at them. "This is not Dodger Stadium! Sit your ass down!". I always loved that. Those are some mean ass ushers in Otown. Dont know if they still do that.

I was hoping for Randy Savage... because I imagine the dead have interesting perspectives on us.

I hate the wave, as idiots that do it in front of me block my view of the game.

I don't like the organ/music/jumbotron urging fans to make noise, but at least it doesn't interfere with my ability to watch the game.
If they want to do crazy stuff in between innings (or during pitching changes), that's perfectly fine by me. But not while the ball is live.

So can we expect the Fenway sellout streak to end? If they are playing in front of 25,000 people in late September with tickets available through the box office, will they persist in their PR madness?

2003-2008 will go down as one of the great eras at any ballpark in history, btw. Fenway and Boston in general was the place to be for baseball, period. (And will be again next time they win)

I hate the wave, as idiots that do it in front of me block my view of the game.

I don't like the organ/music/jumbotron urging fans to make noise, but at least it doesn't interfere with my ability to watch the game.
If they want to do crazy stuff in between innings (or during pitching changes), that's perfectly fine by me. But not while the ball is live.

Generally agree... though in defense of Wrigley waves (and I've seen plenty... gone are the days when they'd get stopped dead cold at the bleachers, now they start there) - the Steve Trachsel years made it easy to forget that the ball sometimes IS occasionally in play. So yeah, I blame Tracshel for this.

In oakland staduim if someone tried to start the wave the ushers would actively yell at them. "This is not Dodger Stadium! Sit your ass down!". I always loved that. Those are some mean ass ushers in Otown. Dont know if they still do that.

That's interesting because one claimant for the origin of the wave was at an Oakland Athletics home game.

That's interesting because one claimant for the origin of the wave was at an Oakland Athletics home game.

This was in 2005-2007 when I went to a lot of games there. I had not heard that it was a possible origin.

So can we expect the Fenway sellout streak to end? If they are playing in front of 25,000 people in late September with tickets available through the box office, will they persist in their PR madness?

My guess is next year. I suspect that enough tickets are sold for this year that they aren't going to end the streak if they've got a few hundred unsold seats. Barring some sort of big acquisition this off-season I don't expect the advance sales are going to be the outrageously high percentages they've been in the past decade. According to RedSox.com seating capacity at Fenway is 37,493 at night, 37,095 during the day and the Sox are averaging 37,618 per game (per BBRef), over 100% with just one game all year at less than 37,000. Oddly, that was the 100th anniversary game, I wonder if they took away some seats for media.

Just a gut feel, the Sox are going to need to have less than 36,500 before they run a "thanks fans for the incredible sell out streak, let's start a new one!" ad in the Globe and Herald.

Just a gut feel, the Sox are going to need to have less than 36,500 before they run a "thanks fans for the incredible sell out streak, let's start a new one!" ad in the Globe and Herald.

Sold or in the house? I'm guessing we will be seeing crowds of <30,000 after the Sox are eliminated. Of course, the tickets will be sold, so you're probably right that the streak stays intact.

Sold (or distributed, whatever the relevant figure is).

I'd be surprised if attendance declined THAT much. I don't remember it doing so in 2006 though of course that team was more successful than this one and still had some very recent glory to piggyback on. Assuming no weather issues I'd be surprised to find that 15% of people who had paid money for tickets didn't use them which is what needs to happen to get under 30,000. Just speaking for myself even with the team sucking I can always find someone who would take my tickets free and bring their dad or their kid or a date or whatever.

I think you'll find a different crowd. A lot more people lingering over dinner and coming in in the second inning or leaving after seven to beat traffic type things. To out and out not use tickets that are paid for? I'd be surprised if it was that widespread.

So true about the Cell - they have some chant or applause-inducing gimmick after just about every damn pitch. Can't stand it.

The most egregious offense by those who do The Wave occurs when their team is pitching, thus distracting the pitcher and defenders in the field. Totally thoughtless and detached from the baseball game happening right in front of them. It happened late last night in the high dollar seats at Nationals Park.

Happily, when the Nats hosted the Giants in early July in which everybody, and I mean EVERYBODY, was wearing throwback uniforms and costumes commemorating the 1933 World Series, they even went so far as to eliminate all scoreboard, music, and loudspeaker crapola. The crowd apparently loved it and--GOSH--actually knew when to cheer and boo without prompting. Word.

The Wave is worse than reclining airline seats.

The most egregious offense by those who do The Wave occurs when their team is pitching, thus distracting the pitcher and defenders in the field. Totally thoughtless and detached from the baseball game happening right in front of them. It happened late last night in the high dollar seats at Nationals Park.

In fairness, the Nationals' fans are still trying to figure out how to be fans of a team where what happens on the field matters. The stadium generally has good atmosphere and the fans are pretty sincere so I'd bet that kind of thing goes away over time as the Nats stay competitive.

I maintain that 90% of down to the last strike comebacks are because fans start screaming on any 2 strike count in the bottom of the 9th. Although this behavior isn't limited to baseball. I remember the year after the Razorbacks beat Texas at Texas when they were hosting the Longhorns in Fayetteville. The place was so loud the center snapped the ball over Matt Jones's head, leading to a safety. End of the game the Hogs lost by 2 points.

Happily, when the Nats hosted the Giants in early July in which everybody, and I mean EVERYBODY, was wearing throwback uniforms and costumes commemorating the 1933 World Series, they even went so far as to eliminate all scoreboard, music, and loudspeaker crapola. The crowd apparently loved it and--GOSH--actually knew when to cheer and boo without prompting. Word.

The problem is that owners are so wedded to their goddam focus groups that they'd be too ####### scared to try this on an ongoing basis, even if the actual crowd at the game went for it.

Of course since they've invested so much moolah in their electronic gimmicks they're never going to get rid of them anyway, so I know it's a hopeless bit of Quixote-ism to even mention it. At least they don't come through on TV.

I was hoping this article was by Dan Savage.

I'm going to see his play Miracle! tomorrow night. The story of Helen Keller transposed to the world of drag queens? Should be interesting...

So true about the Cell - they have some chant or applause-inducing gimmick after just about every damn pitch. Can't stand it.

Unless you're referring to organ music, I can't agree. Care to elaborate?

I mean, there are a few of those "fan meter" things on the scoreboard through the course of a game, yes. And between innings, there are various races and fan dancing competitions that are really dumb, but are just distractions during downtime.

I haven't noticed U.S. Cellular Field as being particularly notable among the stadiums I've been to.

I was hoping for Randy Savage... because I imagine the dead have interesting perspectives on us.

I was hoping it was Vandal Savage because...I mean, damn, he's immortal for chrissake.

Happily, when the Nats hosted the Giants in early July in which everybody, and I mean EVERYBODY, was wearing throwback uniforms and costumes commemorating the 1933 World Series, they even went so far as to eliminate all scoreboard, music and loudspeaker crapola. The crowd apparently loved it and--GOSH--actually knew when to cheer and boo without prompting. Word.

Actually, they were commemorating the 1924 World Series, because that was the one Washington won, and the electronic scoreboards were shaded dark green, to sort of replicate Griffith Stadium.

And in the apparent first-ever "turn back the clock" game -- at old Comiskey Park in July 1990, commemorating the champion Chisox of 1917 -- they had no loudspeakers at all; the starting lineups were announced by megaphone.

The problem is that owners are so wedded to their goddam focus groups that they'd be too ####### scared to try this on an ongoing basis, even if the actual crowd at the game went for it.

If Bill Veeck came back to life, his gimmick might be the absence of these gimmicks. (Of course, the main difference between Veeck and his successors is that Bill -- aside from one fateful twi-nighter at Comiskey in 1979 -- respected the game, and his customers.)

Well, he respected his customers and their right to be entertained. The game not so much.

And in the apparent first-ever "turn back the clock" game -- at old Comiskey Park in July 1990, commemorating the champion Chisox of 1917 -- they had no loudspeakers at all; the starting lineups were announced by megaphone.

They did this in a throwback game at Fenway recently.

And in the apparent first-ever "turn back the clock" game -- at old Comiskey Park in July 1990, commemorating the champion Chisox of 1917 -- they had no loudspeakers at all; the starting lineups were announced by megaphone.

They did this in a throwback game at Fenway recently.

Now, get a few players to form up a little barbershop quartet, have them sing to the crowd from behind home plate before the game, and then we'll really have something.

Actually, they were commemorating the 1924 World Series

Yeah, I knew that. :-)

and the electronic scoreboards were shaded dark green, to sort of replicate Griffith Stadium.

I hear that Rizzo nixed the idea of building that little cutout in center field for that one game. So...not authentic.

Can't remember what year it was except that it was sometime in the 90's, but my favorite throwback game was the Saturday Game of the Week where the TV cameras in the early innings were stationed to give the same angle that they did in the first years of TV, and as the game progressed, the equipment and the views became more and more up to date. Can't even remember the park or the teams, but it may have been one of those games that were being referred to above.