Unknøwn Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 MIAMI - First baseman Kevin Youkilis is accustomed to playing in front of big crowds with the Red Sox [team stats], so the disappointing attendance figures for Team USA’s games in the World Baseball Classic has surprised him.In Sunday’s win against the Netherlands, just 11,059 fans were on hand at Dolphin Stadium. A night earlier, the U.S. drew 30,595, but more than half of the crowd was there in support of Puerto Rico.“I don’t think we have enough pride in this,” Youkilis said yesterday at Team USA’s workout. “It’s kind of a sad day - and I know it’s a tough time (economically) to buy tickets - when you see that. I don’t think there’s as much pride in the USA as there is for these other countries. There was a whole section of Dominican fans (Sunday) night just here to watch baseball. I think we’re losing a little bit of pride for, quote, ‘America’s national pastime.’ ”Beyond the economy, there is the market in South Florida, which seldom draws well for baseball. Dolphin Stadium isn’t easily accessible for fans, and it’s a poor facility for the sport.Still, the lack of fan support is puzzling to Youkilis.“It definitely hurts a little bit to know that you’re always the away team in your own country,” he said. “There are some good people out there, but it would be nice to have a lot more of those people chanting ‘USA,’ holding up American flags. That’s the one thing we didn’t see much of the other night - there were more Puerto Rican flags than American (flags).”Youkilis often has said the intensity that comes with playing in front of packed houses at Fenway Park [map] every night can be an advantage for the home team. He wishes Team USA could experience the same.“If there was 45,000 people it would definitely get the guys going a lot more,” he said. “From playing in front of that every night, it gets you going. There are days when you’re dragging and the fans lift you up with the support. I wouldn’t say that’s a factor in games we’re not winning, but it’s more (about improving) the environment overall.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_ATL Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 It's because this whole thing is a stupid waste of time. They need to worry more about a WS title than a WBC one. Big friggin' deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.C. Collins Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 It's because this whole thing is a stupid waste of time. They need to worry more about a WS title than a WBC one. Big friggin' deal.Plus Florida, at Dolphin Stadium is probably the worst place in the world to have this thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unknøwn Posted March 17, 2009 Author Share Posted March 17, 2009 Good point, nobody in Miami is interested in baseball it seems new stadium or not I think the Marlins are doomed there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.C. Collins Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 Good point, nobody in Miami is interested in baseball it seems new stadium or not I think the Marlins are doomed thereThey would have been much better off playing in the Tampa Bay baseball stadium and they may have had some of the spring training crowds coming to the night WBC games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unknøwn Posted March 17, 2009 Author Share Posted March 17, 2009 Tampa would be a good place to have it especially with Jeter being on the team and all the Yankee fans in Tampa which is the home of the Yankees during spring and the fan base there is energized right now with the Rays run last season Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.C. Collins Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 Not to mention that most people do not understand this thing yet. It is fairly new and has gotten almost zero coverage in the past. Why would people get excited about a Baseball tournament they don't really grasp yet. In years to come they should market it better and get a better location. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unknøwn Posted March 17, 2009 Author Share Posted March 17, 2009 I agree with what Carlos Delgado just said its a cultural difference the Latin and Asian countries are so serious about this its just a different level than the US fans because we have MLB they even said the other night that in Korea a gold medal in the olympics or a WBC Championship can get those players exempt from mandatory military service back home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.C. Collins Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 I agree with what Carlos Delgado just said its a cultural difference the Latin and Asian countries are so serious about this its just a different level than the US fans because we have MLB they even said the other night that in Korea a gold medal in the olympics or a WBC Championship can get those players exempt from mandatory military service back homeTrue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ransack Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 It's because no one gives a **** about a world baseball classic. We already have 162 games to watch plus playoffs. Why did we need more pointless games? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.C. Collins Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 It's because no one gives a **** about a world baseball classic. We already have 162 games to watch plus playoffs. Why did we need more pointless games?That is kind of what Delgado said apparently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott da 6'0 Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 If anyone wants to watch tonight's game and doesn't have MLB Network, here's a link:http://atdhe.net/watch-baseball.php?i=581500 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott da 6'0 Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 SMH....McCann just got robbed of a HR by Carlos Beltran. McCann crushed that ball. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ugadawg Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 11000 fans in Marlins stadium that is like double what they normally have so what is the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fanboy3000 Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 Hey Youk,We'll start coming out in mass for the WBC when:1. You convince all the best American players to play, so we're not left with Dunn at 1st when you get hurt.2. The players start training 2 months beforehand and are actually ready to go.3. Managers stop leaving struggling pitchers in so they can "get some work."4. The WBC drops it's ticket prices to a more reasonable amount. Not sure you noticed, but we have this recession thing going on.5. They stop holding games at the worst baseball stadium in America, one that happens to be a ***** to get to for just about the entire country.6. You realize that American sports fans already have a pretty full plate, and just adding a new event and slapping USA on your chest isn't enough to get us interested. To give you an example, I have to have money to go to: 15-20 Atlanta Braves games, 8 Falcons games, 15 or so Hawks games, 7-10 Thrashers games, 1-2 Georgia Football games, 2-4 college basketball games, and occasionally a golf or NASCAR event. I'd love to spend more, but it's just not feasible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goodoleboy58 Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 Hey Youk,We'll start coming out in mass for the WBC when:1. You convince all the best American players to play, so we're not left with Dunn at 1st when you get hurt.2. The players start training 2 months beforehand and are actually ready to go.3. Managers stop leaving struggling pitchers in so they can "get some work."4. The WBC drops it's ticket prices to a more reasonable amount. Not sure you noticed, but we have this recession thing going on.5. They stop holding games at the worst baseball stadium in America, one that happens to be a ***** to get to for just about the entire country.6. You realize that American sports fans already have a pretty full plate, and just adding a new event and slapping USA on your chest isn't enough to get us interested. To give you an example, I have to have money to go to: 15-20 Atlanta Braves games, 8 Falcons games, 15 or so Hawks games, 7-10 Thrashers games, 1-2 Georgia Football games, 2-4 college basketball games, and occasionally a golf or NASCAR event. I'd love to spend more, but it's just not feasible.i agree with everything here.. especially holding the games in Toronto, San Diego, and Miami... not very easy to get to locations Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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