RMJ 168 August 2
SATURDAY, AUGUST 2 ● Houston, vs Mets
Ryan is playing in a tournament in Waller, Texas, this weekend. He has to travel about 50 miles to my 20. We both left the house at 9 a.m.
Today we play for Fox again. This time they are going to put the microphone on Mets coach Bruce Benedict, and Brad Ausmus is going to wear a special catcher’s helmet with a camera built into it.
From what I understand, Fox is getting good reviews — but lousy ratings. They are thinking about starting the games later in the day next year. That will appeal to those of us who have worked a game on Friday night. I hope it will appeal to more fans.
My guess is that the quality of the coverage has little impact on the ratings. I think most folks prefer their own home team. They may watch the playoffs or the World Series when two other teams are playing, but because most teams televise 100 or more regular-season games, why watch the Astros play the Mets, unless you are in Houston or New York, or you have a vested interest in the outcome of the race?
Who watches television on Saturday afternoon? I don’t. Not for football, basketball, or baseball.
In the evening, I’ll watch. Otherwise, I have things to do.
Apparently Fox was thrilled with the results of their catcher-cam; they got closeup shots of why the Mets were having fits with Mike Hampton.
Hamp had the sinker and the slider working, along with an occasional changeup. He pitched a nifty three-hitter, walking three and striking out seven.
Baseball looks so easy from the box seats, or from your easy chair at home. Perhaps the catcher-cam will give folks a sense of how difficult it is to hit a baseball that travels 75-95 MPH and moves a bit as it approaches the plate.
I got more than 100 hits and I still don’t know how I did it, other than luck.
Jeff Bagwell gets lucky once in a while, too. But mostly, he just hits the ball hard on purpose. He hit a home run his first time up today, and he ended up 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Thomas Howard, Luis Gonzalez, Derek Bell and Bill Spiers all contributed RBI. We made it look easy, 6-0.
I signed about 50 autographs out in the parking lot; I do this a time or two each homestand. After a day game, you can work up a sweat in a hurry. Most of our players sign occasionally. Some, like Gonzo and José Lima, sign almost every day.
The sad thing is, you can’t meet the demand; there were at least 300 people out there this afternoon. Usually, there are at least 50. It’s impossible to satisfy everyone.
Some people understand the situation, and they keep coming back until they get what they want. It’s like a hunting trip — autograph hunting.
Others are not so understanding.
Yesterday, I got a long letter from a lady who brought her grandson to the game, and he only got a few autographs after he waited an hour in the parking lot. It was her first game, and I guess she thought the autographs came with the ticket. The grandson was sorely disappointed, and she vowed never to subsidize baseball again.
Sometimes I wish these folks could spend a “day in the life,” as they say. But then, they may offer the same in return, and I don’t suppose many of us would accept the offer.
Ryan had a good day. Only nine kids showed up, so he got to play both games and got a few hits and had a good time.
Judy and I joined Solly and Betty Hemus, and Bill and Shirley Virdon, for dinner at Maxim’s. We dined lavishly and talked baseball until the women started yawning. As married men of long standing, we took our cues and departed.
Ryan was at Julia’s apartment. When we arrived to pick him up, he begged to stay and finish watching the movie Julia had rented. It was some sort of twisted plot of poverty and violence that had Judy on alert. She didn’t wait for the sex; when the language turned bluer than blue, she issued the order to depart.
“It’s really a good movie!” Ryan pleaded.
“Well, you can finish watching it later,” Judy said — meaning, I’m sure, several years later.
“You have to be up first thing for two more games in the sun. It’s time to go home.”