Results tagged ‘ Greensboro Grasshoppers ’
An Ejection, In More Ways Than One
On Tuesday night in Greensboro, NC, the hometown Grasshoppers lost to the Asheville Tourists by a score of 9-6.
The specifics of this contest will soon fade from memory, but one event from the evening will live forever: Master Yogi Berra, the Grasshoppers canine mascot, was ejected from the game after using the playing field as his personal toilet.
From the press release (yes, there was a press release):
“Battling a stomach virus and fever, Yogi attempted his usual between inning promotion of fetching a ball shot to deep center field. Sprinting back to the home dugout, he inexplicably stopped and let nature take its course. [Home plate umpire Jason] Hutchings immediately tossed him, and in doing so, it is believed that he made Yogi the first dog to ever be ejected from a professional baseball game.”
Being the well-connected individual I am, I have obtained photographic evidence of this momentous event. I have two pictures to share, the second of which may be considered in poor taste. But share it I must. After all, an informed citizenry is the bulwark of democracy.
Here’s the wind-up:
And now, the pitch:
(Photos by Dano Keeney)
benjamin.hill@mlb.com
Five Bucks, Four Blogs, and a Pinball Place
Not surprisingly, the dominant topic in the Minor Leagues this offseason has been the economy and the effect it will have on teams’ ability to make money.
I have weighed in on the issue several times, most notably here and here. What I have heard time and time again from those who work in Minor League front offices is this — while there are significant worries regarding the ability to attract and retain sponsors, attendance figures should remain strong. In fact, some teams are counting on an increase in ’09, due to the fact that Minor League Baseball offers an unparalleled bang for the buck.
Some teams are doing everything they can to drive this point home — teams like, oh, I don’t
know, the Greensboro Grasshoppers. On Feb. 28th, the club will be staging “Tickets On Sale Day.” Admittedly, this is probably the most boring name for a promotion that I have ever come across. But the deal being offered is phenomenal — in recognition of the team’s fifth season, ALL seats to ALL games during the 2009 season will be sold for $5 each. Running concurrently with this sale will be the third annual Hoppin’ Fun Yard Sale, featuring all manner of team merchandise as well as vendors from within the community.
The bottom line is that events such as “Tickets On Sale Day” make it startlingly clear that Minor League Baseball is a bargain. $5 is about half the cost of a movie ticket, but it will provide access to so much more.
I am a New York City resident, where $5 bargains are few and far between. The best deal that I am currently aware of is the shot and beer special at Zablozkis in Brooklyn. I like to take advantage of this because the bar has a Sopranos pinball machine in the back, where I can play undisturbed for long periods of time. Yes, I am currently making the most of my life.
Moving On…I am usually wary and vaguely hostile towards new technological innovations, so it was with some trepidation that I signed up for Twitter yesterday. But if this allows me to stay in touch and communicate with readers in a quick and casual fashion, then I’m all for it. Check it out here:
In additional “housekeeping” news, I have added four new blogs to the link section. They are:
– The Watson Files — News, notes, and observations from Fort Wayne Tin Caps broadcaster Dan Watson.
– Senators Fans Unite — Harrisburg fan blog.
– Will Inman — San Diego pitching prospect tells some
– Shawn Haviland — From the Ivy Leagues to MLB
Am I missing anything? If so, email benjamin.hill@mlb.com
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