Margalus: Considering and reconsidering the ballpark after ‘Ballpark’
From SABR member Jim Margalus at Sox Machine on July 9, 2019:
I was in San Francisco a couple weeks ago, but the only game in town was in Oakland. I imagine the Coliseum is everybody’s second choice when wanting to see baseball in the Bay Area, but I don’t like letting that seep into my thoughts.
For one, all non-Sox fans say the same thing about the South Side when they visit Chicago when the Cubs are away, and that reflexive rejection hurts. Also, I could get to the Coliseum easily via public transportation and a second-row ticket down the foul line only cost $20, so I had no reason to prejudge it harshly.
Oakland’s Coliseum an old, unloved facility, and it’s a facility more than a ballpark until the game starts. But as a place to watch a game? It’s fine. They had a wide range of beer selections, they had grilled sausage, the video boards presented relevant information, the employees were friendly and the fans friendlier, and while Mount Davis is a regrettable monstrosity that blocks what would be fine scenery, I do like watching an inning or two from dead center field, because most stadiums don’t offer seats where you can see balls and strikes.
Read the full article here: https://www.soxmachine.com/2019/07/09/considering-and-reconsidering-the-ballpark-after-ballpark/
Originally published: July 10, 2019. Last Updated: July 10, 2019.