4/16/09 Post-Game: Chicago White Sox @ Tampa Bay Rays

by R.J. Anderson on Apr 16, 2009 10:25 PM EDT

Player	WPA
Pena	0.272
Iwamura	0.173
Bartlett	0.087
Burrell	0.071
Niemann	0.057
Balfour	0.031
Cormier	0.011
Upton	-0.058
Kapler	-0.125
Zobrist	-0.153
Aybar	-0.178
Crawford	-0.213
Navarro	-0.226
Gross	-0.248

The worst part about losses like this is how irritatingly long it takes for your heart to return to normal speed. I say irritating, not because I'm unhappy that we almost came back, but that it's a reminder we didn't complete it. I mean really heart, do you have to beat that fast for that long?

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Dam shame

7/10 QS (Sonny should be 8) and what do we have to show for it?

by Raymondo on Apr 16, 2009 10:30 PM EDT reply actions

Boston Red Sox ads

by Sylar on Apr 16, 2009 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions

So tired of Crawford and Navarro

when the pitcher cannot locate, going after the 1st pitch

by Raymondo on Apr 16, 2009 10:31 PM EDT reply actions

And 14 H in 27 Innings, won't cut it

by Raymondo on Apr 16, 2009 10:32 PM EDT reply actions

perhaps I need to learn more about WPA

but it surprises me a bit that Niemann’s was as low as it was.

by yeseggs on Apr 16, 2009 10:44 PM EDT reply actions

So Niemans WPA was low because the majority of the game was in a lower leverage situation?

Due to the 2 run deficit early on?

by kurby on Apr 16, 2009 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions

That and the hits.

by R.J. Anderson on Apr 16, 2009 10:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Announced attendance

13,803

by GomesSweetGomes on Apr 16, 2009 11:00 PM EDT reply actions

sheesh

by plasticman on Apr 16, 2009 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions

ugh

I could be wrong though

by staplemaniac on Apr 16, 2009 11:18 PM EDT up reply actions

that's very dissapointing. hopefully, 25 a game over the weekend

by RaysTheRoof on Apr 17, 2009 3:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Tampa Bay is nothing

more than a town full of ‘bandwagon’ fans

And that’s scary. If we don’t compete, these “crowds” will be the norm

by Raymondo on Apr 17, 2009 6:59 AM EDT reply actions

Attendance was horrible

We just aren’t a baseball town.

We have a major problem hitting, especially with RISP. Same story.

by matthan on Apr 17, 2009 8:20 AM EDT reply actions

Shocked and saddened...

I was so confident the absolute minimum attendance we would have at any game would be 17-18k in this year, even for mid-week against crappy teams. That upset me more than the loss last night.

Delmon Young is a big fan of Delmon Young. - Jonny Gomes

by JDeLuca on Apr 17, 2009 8:40 AM EDT reply actions

The economy is in the shitter...

We just set a record for a midweek series. Relax, this isn’t Fenway. This is why I have said all offseason to temper your expectations.

by rglass44 on Apr 17, 2009 9:01 AM EDT reply actions

I was about 13 at the time

But I don’t think the Bucs sold out every game and had that massive season tix waiting list immediately after the playoff win against the Lions in ’96.

In this economy, I think your casual fan will want to see way more from the Rays before paying to see the White Sox on a Thursday night. Not everyone investigates how well stocked the team is going forward, or understands things like processes v results. Results dictate attendance. If the Rays make the playoffs again, expect midweek games in 2010 to be well attended. The only two retailers in the world that have seen revenue increases over the past year are McDonalds and WalMart. Value is king right now. People want more assurance that their dollars will be well spent. Losing a home series to the Yankees probably didn’t help.

by PlayOnWords on Apr 17, 2009 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions

This

Well-reasoned post, and I couldn’t agree more.

by rglass44 on Apr 17, 2009 9:22 AM EDT up reply actions

So you're saying attendance for a Thursday night game (the only game all week with no giveaway)

After the baseball fans in town just dropped double the normal ticket price for the first three games…was low?

You’re shitting me.

by ReasonableDoubt on Apr 17, 2009 10:20 AM EDT reply actions

Indeed. Of course, anyone who bought half-season or 20-game plans, this game wasn't included.

Unless someone specifically bought the weekday plan, none of the plans included last night’s game.

Also, to be fair, if I had a family, after Tuesday’s debacle, I would not be bringing them to a game any time soon. That was insanity and poor foresight on behalf of everyone involved.

by ReasonableDoubt on Apr 17, 2009 11:01 AM EDT reply actions

Reply fail, but the point remains

by ReasonableDoubt on Apr 17, 2009 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions

Make all the excuses you guys want

I’ve heard them all last year. And the year before that.

Bottom line. If this team doesn’t start drawing more soon, they will move. And they won’t get any better because payroll will be slashed.

by RaysTheRoof on Apr 17, 2009 11:29 AM EDT reply actions

This is the bottom line

Tickets are 10 bucks. If you are strapped for cash then just cut back on the number of beers you drink or the number of hot dogs you buy. Just don’t not go to the game totally. That just seems a bit extreme

by matthan on Apr 17, 2009 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions

This has been covered multiple times, and I'm sure I don't need to tell you, but anyone who may comes after this...

The people on this site aren’t the ones you need to preach to. Of course, it should be pointed out that for the casual fan, who goes through Ticketmaster, a $10 seat quickly becomes a $17.50 seat.

The people on this site are still going to go to their fair share of games (the ones in the area, that is).

by ReasonableDoubt on Apr 17, 2009 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Bottom line. If this team doesn’t start drawing more soon, they will move.

Where?

by rglass44 on Apr 17, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions

I hear Montreal is nice this time of the year.

by R.J. Anderson on Apr 17, 2009 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Montreal is never nice at any time of year.

Damn Frogs.

by ReasonableDoubt on Apr 17, 2009 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Exactly

Attendance is a problem, and needs to go up this year. But just because this viable market is under-performing doesn’t mean that there are other markets with a greater chance at success…and the population figures of a lot of these places doesn’t do anything to help that argument.

by GomesSweetGomes on Apr 17, 2009 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Either does the fact that they'd have a hard time...

getting tax payers to fork the bill for a new stadium in this economy. No way they move the team and pay to build a new stadium.

But don’t let facts get in the way of Bud and the media’s “ZOMG NOBODYZ GOIN 2 TEH GAMEZ!!!!!!!!!!”

by rglass44 on Apr 17, 2009 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Anyone know why Friday home games are now starting at 7:38?

by R.J. Anderson on Apr 17, 2009 1:14 PM EDT reply actions

They sent out a survey at the end of last season regarding start times

And determined that a later start would make more people happy. Plus, Friday’s attendance has traditionally played out more like a weekday game than a weekend game, so maybe there’s something to it. I suppose it does allow for more 9 to 5 types from Tampa to make it out, and on a Friday night, people aren’t as likely to complain about the games ending too late.

by GomesSweetGomes on Apr 17, 2009 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions

To me, the funny result of the survey

Was that they made an announcement to season ticket holders along the lines of ’we’ve heard your concerns about start times and as a result have moved up weekday games…by two minutes’

by GomesSweetGomes on Apr 17, 2009 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions