04/20/24
March 18, 2003
War fallout begins: Baseball scuttles Mariners-A's series in Japan.: "The season-opening series in Japan between the Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics, scheduled March 25-26, has been canceled by Major League Baseball because of the tense world situation. ... Selig said the 2003 season opener will now feature the World Series champion Anaheim Angels against the Texas Rangers on Sunday, March 30."
posted by worldcup2002 to baseball at 07:06 PM - 14 comments
Why was it a dumb idea? Half the Mariners' fans are in Japan. The dumb moves are being made by all the sports establishments trying to appear relevant and respectful "in these tense times." Just hit / kick / throw / shoot the ball and shut up, fer crissakes! And dump the ESPN war reports while you're at it. /rant
posted by dusted at 11:03 PM on March 18, 2003
I have to agree with dutsed. Ditto. What he said. Play ball.
posted by 86 at 11:20 PM on March 18, 2003
Just thought it was a good time to let you know that if a labor stoppage or pesky war halts the beginning of the regular season, and you happen to live in Seattle, the Diablos are looking tough this year. We've moved up a division to a more competitive league (whis is of coure what you're obliged to do if you're the reigning champions). So we'll be playing good competitive free baseball around King County starting in another month. We picked up two, count 'em, two starting pitchers and a collegiate-level leadoff hitter. We should be goddamn stellar. I'm drunk. Sorry. You're the only people I can talk to. ps. they'll break your heart soon enough. Don't get too comfortable.
posted by vito90 at 11:52 PM on March 18, 2003
"...whis is of coure..." –drunk Vito Oh, man what a great, sloshy comment, start to finish. Goddamn stellar.
posted by dusted at 11:59 PM on March 18, 2003
That was brilliant, vito. Of course, now that we're in a war, you should cut back on your drinking. Or NOT!
posted by worldcup2002 at 12:42 AM on March 19, 2003
Put your flags down people. War or no war, this was a dumb idea. It's a publicity stunt thought up by the boys in marketing. Instead of trying to appeal to kids here, they want to sell to a country that already has an established league. A country that resents the fact that we are taking all of their best players. Didn't a team of all-stars go during the winter? As for Mariner fans in Japan, I think they will follow Ichiro wherever and whenever he plays.
posted by silent4lie at 03:00 AM on March 19, 2003
If it's all about the Mariners fans, what was with the Cubs - Mets tilt a few years back? Something for the teeming hordes of Shinjo fans?
posted by yerfatma at 06:36 AM on March 19, 2003
DrunkFilter! I have to agree with dutsed. Sorry about that dusted.
posted by 86 at 08:21 AM on March 19, 2003
A little St. Pat's Day carry-over, eh fellas? dutsed and whis of coure. Good times. Good sloshy times. Me, I wouldn't travel abroad personally. But I don't think we should be canceling events as of yet.
posted by jerseygirl at 09:03 AM on March 19, 2003
yerfatma: If it's all about the Mariners fans, what was with the Cubs - Mets tilt a few years back? I didn't mean that this trip is only for Mariners fans, I meant that the Mariners, and MLB in general, have a huge following in Japan. I heard that over 200,000 tickets had been sold (and will have to refunded, I guess). Yes, this is marketing, but only to satisfy a large existing market.
posted by dusted at 02:05 PM on March 19, 2003
Selig said the 2003 season opener will now feature the world champion Anaheim Angels against the Texas Rangers on Sunday, March 30. Here's something for the conspiracy theorists.
posted by Bag Man at 04:49 PM on March 19, 2003
So the way I see it, we go to some Diablo games and they win a bunch and we’re all happy cause next year’s the really big year and we’re early on the wagon, and then next year the ‘home’ opener isn’t in King County it’s Mexico City or San Juan or Baghdad and we’re all screwed. Sure, sure they’re popular all over the world, but what about us regulars? Damn you Vito, damn you.
posted by kloeprich at 05:50 PM on March 19, 2003
Here's a pretty even analysis from ESPN's Jim Caple, even if he does reach a different conclusion than I did. I still dislike the appropriateness of playing ball argument. There's also a good explanation of the relationship between the Mariners and Japan. 86, Vito, Jerseygirl, are you up for some baseball and Asahi or Suntory, Japanese-style?
posted by dusted at 06:45 PM on March 19, 2003
It was a dumb idea. Good Riddance.