http://blog.washingtonpost.com/grounds-crew/ 15 en-us Copyright 2008 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:22:03 -0400 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.36 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss In Thomas Boswell's most recent online chat, he said: "I think, in stock market terms, this is "the bottom," or close to it. This winter, some semi-fans may not renew their tickets at Nats Park. Then, perhaps, more of the best seats in the house__and within various sections__ will be returned to their rightful owners." I'm one of those "semi-fans" who is unlikely to renew. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/grounds-crew/2008/07/hitting_bottom.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/grounds-crew/2008/07/hitting_bottom.html Scott Watson Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:22:03 -0400 Just a quick "thank you" to the popcorn / pretzel guy working behind Section 238 last week (he declined to give his name, saying he was "just doing his job"). Your good service is appreciated. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/grounds-crew/2008/07/thanks_pretzel_guy.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/grounds-crew/2008/07/thanks_pretzel_guy.html Scott Watson Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:49:34 -0400 As many of you know, Nationals Park has a great big scoreboard out in center field. If you've ever heard team president Stan Kasten or owner Mark Lerner talk, you'll eventually hear something about how amazing the scoreboard is. Unfortunately, our "great and amazing" scoreboard is putting up some of the most pathetic stats you'll ever see. Just look up at the scoreboard when a National comes up to the plate. Ignore the low batting average and non-existent power numbers, but look in the top center of the scoreboard. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/grounds-crew/2008/07/really_really_pathetic_stats.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/grounds-crew/2008/07/really_really_pathetic_stats.html Gillum Ferguson Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:45:27 -0400 I went to my first Potomac Nationals game on the 4th of July. It was exactly like the big Nationals only cheaper and the team played better. I was completely charmed. Highlights: Elite, Field Box Seats: $13 An attendant toweling off our seats, another taking food orders from our seats: priceless. The manager, Randy Knorr, is also the 3rd base coach. My friend Amelia said he's also the mayor and runs the Post Office. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/grounds-crew/2008/07/the_other_nationals_are_pretty.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/grounds-crew/2008/07/the_other_nationals_are_pretty.html Rachel Gibson Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:41:17 -0400 Wasn't it just spring? Didn't we just have a bright, new season ahead of us? Weren't the concessionaires nice? I try to be positive, despite the climbing temperatures, the growing belly and the team's win-loss record, but I can't help but wonder where our happy-to-serve-you concessionaires went. You know ... the ones who spent weeks learning how to love their job and believing the customer is always right? And while there is no one more sympathetic than a pregnant woman on a very hot day, I don't understand why the people working the concession stands have gone from happy to belligerent in a matter of months. Is it really so hard to be nice to a person who politely asks for a hot dog and soda? Yeah, it's hot working the grill. Yeah, the Nats are terribly inconsistent. Yeah, the pay probably does stink. But why do you have to http://blog.washingtonpost.com/grounds-crew/2008/06/the_flogging_will_continue_par.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/grounds-crew/2008/06/the_flogging_will_continue_par.html Kyra DeBlaker-Gebhard Mon, 30 Jun 2008 11:37:16 -0400 This weekend, I finally caught a game with my season ticket partners. Sharing a plan had the paradoxical effect of keeping us from seeing as many games together, and a lot of our experiences were shared by e-mail or phone rather than at the park. To my surprise, we all independently came to the same conclusion: "I wonder how much we'd love the stadium and the experience if the team didn't . . . stink." http://blog.washingtonpost.com/grounds-crew/2008/06/the_flogging_will_continue_unt.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/grounds-crew/2008/06/the_flogging_will_continue_unt.html Scott Watson Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:27:18 -0400 The heart of DC's summer is descending upon us and you might be tempted to wear shorts to the ballgame thinking you'll be more comfortable. A brief word of advice: don't. Don't even think about wearing shorts unless they reach near your knees. Let's just say 3 hours of bare skin on hot, sticky plastic can lead to discomfort. Here at Grounds Crew, we suffer so you don't have to. Consider yourself warned. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/grounds-crew/2008/06/beware_the_hot_seats.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/grounds-crew/2008/06/beware_the_hot_seats.html Rachel Gibson Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:26:33 -0400 So after a hiatus due to switching employers, I was unable to attend a Nationals game for a while. Okay, almost a full two months. Inexcusable, I know. Yet I remain unapologetic. I like being me. My first experience at Nationals Park was in the 400 section and the view was very good for the amount I paid, so being the natural vagabond that I am, I decided for the other extreme. On Monday, June 23, I sat in Section 128 row DD seat 10. My gratitude to Tom L., a season ticket holder and a coworker, hopefully you will continue to find it in your heart to throw some more tickets my way. The view, I must say, was terrific. Sitting about 20 rows back from the Nationals dugout was just right. Not too close, just the right elevation from the playing field and a good view of the http://blog.washingtonpost.com/grounds-crew/2008/06/a_view_from_section_128.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/grounds-crew/2008/06/a_view_from_section_128.html David Park Thu, 26 Jun 2008 18:46:30 -0400 A few weeks ago, I watched as a hearing impaired family struggled to communicate their food order to a concessionaire not prepared to deal with the challenge of taking an order from a family that could not simply say what they wanted to eat. The couple and their two children were able to make a drink request when they could lift up the bottle of water sitting on the glass shelf. However, the family struggled to communicate an order that consisted of more than one type of food (hot dogs, half smokes with and without chili, pretzels, and fries) simply because they could not easily point to what they wanted. The family could not communicate their order in a simple, straightforward manner. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/grounds-crew/2008/06/difficulties_for_the_impaired.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/grounds-crew/2008/06/difficulties_for_the_impaired.html Kyra DeBlaker-Gebhard Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:28:14 -0400 This water bottle fascism is getting ridiculous. My friend Amy was stopped at the gate by security on Saturday. Her crime: One or two "teeth" had come disengaged from the seal on her just-purchased water bottle and it was deemed "open." Nationals Park policy states, "Metal, plastic or glass containers of any kind (except factory-sealed, plastic water bottles, no larger than 1 liter and juice boxes) are prohibited at Nationals Park.Only one bottle of water per person will be permitted." http://blog.washingtonpost.com/grounds-crew/2008/06/this_water_bottle_fascism_is.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/grounds-crew/2008/06/this_water_bottle_fascism_is.html Rachel Gibson Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:33:49 -0400 I was surprised to see that the city seems to have suspended the broad post-game police presence and traffic detail around Nats Park. Friday night saw beautiful weather and a respectable crowd over 30,000. At the end of the regulation nine innings, baseball fans strolling back to the Nats Express bus had to rely on the talking electronic crossing system ["wait . . . . wait . . . .wait]. The previously-overstaffed traffic control guards from DC's finest were nowhere to be seen on M Street -- 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Streets SE were all without the familiar glow-in-the-dark traffic vests. All in all, it seemed a good decision; cross-town traffic on M is reliably light after games, at least this year, and the crowds are surprisingly well-behaved. Downright obedient; we all stood there listening and waiting to cross ["wait . . . wait . . . wait"] without an http://blog.washingtonpost.com/grounds-crew/2008/06/hello_traffic_guards.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/grounds-crew/2008/06/hello_traffic_guards.html Scott Watson Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:51:07 -0400 It was lovely out at the park yesterday. Nice weather and crowd! If you haven't been out in a while, you will notice that the Povich Media Center (where Carpenter and Sutton call the games) now has the title on the outside. PMC was named, of course, for the legendary Shirley Povich. The announcer told us about an exhibit there. As it is not open to the public, some sepia colored pictures flashed across the scoreboard to give us a glimpse of it. Maury Povich was on hand to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Not a bad arm on the guy! KPMG had its annual Family Day at the park today. Most of the participants were wearing orange KPMG shirts and they really stood out. And finally, there was a notice put up for a former Senators pitcher, Bert Shepard. May he rest in peace. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/grounds-crew/2008/06/a_sweet_day.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/grounds-crew/2008/06/a_sweet_day.html Sloan Baker Mon, 23 Jun 2008 11:43:10 -0400 As many of you now know, there is a Five Guys at Nationals Park behind section 243 in the outfield. I must tell you that when I first heard that my favorite burger place would have a new location at the stadium I was simply ecstatic. Unfortunately my enthusiasm was curbed when I first went there to find nothing but incredibly long lines and insane prices, with the cost of my usual bacon cheeseburger, fries, and drinks totaling at $20.50. Therefore I embarked on a search for the quality of Five Guys in and around the stadium that would not tear my wallet to shreds. On my search through the Navy Yard area, I actually found another Five Guys. Located at 1100 New Jersey Ave which is right across the street from the Navy Yard metro exit that doesn't go towards the stadium. My favorite part about the place is http://blog.washingtonpost.com/grounds-crew/2008/06/phew_a_cheaper_5_guys.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/grounds-crew/2008/06/phew_a_cheaper_5_guys.html Gillum Ferguson Sun, 22 Jun 2008 18:43:35 -0400 I really don't get this crowd running the new stadium. Of course, I am the fat man who cried "wolf" -- I've enjoyed going over the top talking about the fascists running the place, and yakking about the ushers being a drag. But anyone reading can tell that I actually understand that there has to be discipline, and that it's not a simple thing to simultaneously be considerate, and to corral, contain, and control a crowd. So I do get it. But I'm now legitimately so fed up with the Nats that it's affecting my thoughts about renewing season tickets. My friend Kurt has been a season-ticket holder since . . . well, since Bud Selig announced that MLB had selected Washington as the dumping ground for the Expos. His family has owned season tickets to the 'Skins since Sonny was losing games and waiting for Lombardi. That means that http://blog.washingtonpost.com/grounds-crew/2008/06/i_really_dont_get_this.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/grounds-crew/2008/06/i_really_dont_get_this.html Scott Watson Sun, 22 Jun 2008 14:51:17 -0400 (Photo By Ed Ramras) No worries about getting dehydrated while in Seattle, unlike the blazing heat of a D.C. summer. The only issue at Safeco Field was whether they would have to close the roof to keep in the body heat of the crowd gathered to pick up their Adrian Beltre bobblehead (note to Nats' front office: the Mariners have 25,000 statuettes to give away versus the 15,000 the Nationals ordered, even though Mariner's attendance is averaging about 1000 less per game). (Photo By Ed Ramras) I went to a couple of games at the Kingdome before moving away from Seattle 23 years ago, and it was like going to a game in a tomb. I went to game at Safeco Field about 5 years ago and was very impressed by the layout of the park and the ambience of the area. The stadium is located south of the http://blog.washingtonpost.com/grounds-crew/2008/06/greetings_from_wonderfully_gra.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/grounds-crew/2008/06/greetings_from_wonderfully_gra.html Ed Ramras Mon, 16 Jun 2008 07:00:26 -0400