take me out OF the ball game

Summer is here and catching speed, and our National Passtime is hitting its strides as hundreds of thousands of families will make their way to the ball parks to take in a game. But just how much of the game will they watch? And how much is the game suffering because of the rising trend of "fan friendly experience" while at the game?

While there is no denying that overall attendance at baseball games is going up since the strike-shortened 94-95 season, and millions will ultimately visit stadiums around the league this year, I have a theory that the quality enjoyment of taking in a game live is in decline because of all the bells and whistles.

For the past two summers my wife and I have visited many major league ball parks. I grew up a Mets, Pirates, and Orioles fan long before my beloved Marlins were in existense so most of my early baseball experience was on tv or the local minor league teams. But once South Florida had the Marlins the emphasis was on bringing people to the stadium and keeping them there during the hot and humid Florida afternoons and evenings. I soon began to see pitching cages for the kids, increased numbers of beer carts and vendors, and the dreaded t-shirt launchers (first the sling shot and now an air cannon). These things, to me, are not baseball. A few beers, yes, but hundreds of places where you can buy a brew? C'mon. The "crowd" was starting to turn into a place I didn't want to be taken to.

A few weeks ago we were visiting AT&T Park in San Francisco for the first time. I take great pleasure in just going to the ball park, especially ones I have not been to before, but I saw that a good portion of those in attendance were not even paying attention to the game. When I went inside to get a hot dog in the fourth inning there were literally hundreds of people hanging out in one of the eatery areas just sitting and talking at tables as if they were in a food court at the mall. For someone that loves the game like myself, it was very annoying. Why even come if you're not going to take in the game?

The same can be said for our trip to PETCO Park in San Diego last weekend. We sat on the wall in right field and there were probably a score of college aged kids behind us on the walkway, drunker than Hancock, dancing and talking, and playing games during the whole game. From what I could tell they spent more time playing with the mascots than watching the game. Granted, it was a game between two of the worst teams in baseball, the Mariners and Padres.

Its just really hard to go and enjoy the game these days when the focus seems to be less on the product on the field, and more on the products in the concessions.

And long gone are the days when a dog and a beer or softdrink were your only choices. I think one of the draws of the ball park these days is the variety of food stuffs a fan can get. I'm actually not knocking the expanded menu here, as everyone likes choices. I just think having been to so many stadiums that your choices should be equivalent to your location. Examples:

At Fenway you have to drink beer and have a Fenway Frank. At SafeCo Field in Seattle you should try the sushi. It was Garlic Fries in San Francisco. A Coke at Turner Field. Boogs BBQ at Camden Yards or Ben's Chili Bowl at the new Nationals Ballpark.

But I think you should limit your intake to these items to preserve your experience at the game. Afterall, actually going to the game to watch it live is why you are getting off the couch in the first place. Otherwise why not stay home and have a smorgasbord or go watch the game at ESPN Zone? Last night I went to Cashman Field in Vegas to watch a game between the Salt Lake Bees and the Dodges AAA team, the Las Vegas 51s. The game was sold out but throughout the game each line for beer was at least 100 deep until they stopped serving. I have nothing against beer, I love it, but I do have something against spending 20-30 minutes in line when I paid to see a game. Apparently these people have no problem with it.

The cost of fan loyalty has risen along with everything else these days. Real fans of the game shell out thousands of dollars each year for the chance to watch their favorite players and are constantly at odds with the growing numbers of "devoted followers" of the away team. Until this year in Tampa, when the Red Sox came to town, if you were at the "Trop" the only way you'd know you were at a Rays homegame is if you kept looking at your ticket to remind yourself. I witnessed this first hand last year, and again at an Orioles game. Of course when your team stinks and one of baseballs most storied teams rolls in you can expect that I guess. It happens all over whenever the Yankees, Cubs, and Mets play, too. But it is quite disheartening to bare witness to these band-wagoneers when you really want to see the home team win.

But on the flip side, going to a game where the fan base is on full tilt - - there is nothing like it. For our first trip to Fenway we came away with the feeling of having had the total experience. The crowd, 100% Red Sox Nation. The game, down 0-5 to the Angels the Sox roared back with a David Ortiz Grand Slam to win 10-5. The atmospere, pure adrenaline and attention. There was never a doubt that people cared more about the game and players then they did the peripherals. That was being at a baseball game. And no one was rooting for the Angels, that's for sure.

Despite all the distractions from the game, despite the fact that PETCO Park is sponsored by one of the Nation's largest pet stores and yet they do not have a kennel or dog park in which you can travel to the stdium and leave your pet so you can watch the game, and despite the fact that the game is more commercial now than it ever was - - I still love it.

I love the bits and pieces of history I soak up with each trip to another park. I love the dads who still are teaching their sons how to keep score. I love the players who still sign autographs even though I am sure they don't want to. I love the 7th Inning Stretch more than ever. But most of all I love baseball.

It may not be perfect and it isn't fast paced, but it is a grand game. So we'll continue to go and try to ignore those who have ignored the game. We'll shell out hundreds of dollars on food and drink and parking, just to be a part of the crowd. And we'll root for the home team...unless we're at Yankee stadium.