The Potential Of Mike Cameron

By
Michael Leggett
Fenway Nation Correspondent in New York City

January 8, 2010—Back in 2005, Mike Cameron (who does have power) had a power collision with one Carlos Beltran—back when when Cameron played RF for the NY Mets. Both crashed head on, allowing someone to circle the bases with an inside-the-park HR. While Cameron does have power, he does the Whiff thing a bit too often—although he did once hit 4 homers in a game in the now departed Kingdome. With his whiffing, wind power could be used to power Boston (The same could be said whenever Tim Mc Carver talks too much— not to mention all those grandstand managers who call either WEEI or WFAN). But, Cameron, WHEN HEALTHY, is an asset.

The Twenty-Seventh Tragedy
Yes, The Damn Yankees Won The World Series in 2009

LET IT BE SO-NOTED THAT I’M NOT A HAPPY CAMPER ON THIS EVENING


November 4, 2009—Larry? John? Tom? An ancient “Shrine” with a capacity of 39, 028 is NOT going to cut it in a Revenue Sense of the word. Neither is the lack of Luxury Boxes. On this night in my Home Borough of Queens, I sit in mourning. I’m thinking back to 2007 when our last World Championship occurred. I also remember that over that Winter when the Red Sox sat on their laurels, making no major deals.

With that Lyrical Bandbox of a ballpark in Kenmore, the question I ask is “Does it produce enough REVENUE to keep a competitive edge? Is THIS our day of reckoning for keeping a few bone-headed “Preservationists” happy?

Having listened to an Architect during the 2.5 Hour Rain Delay of May 20th, 2007, he wondered aloud how all this “Shoe-Horning” could continue in Fenway Park. I wondered about this as well from my folding chair in the top row of Grandstand 3, in Disabled Seating and I’m NOT even Disabled. Of course, the folding chair was infinitely more comfortable than one of those ancient blue rattletraps called Grandstand Seats.

To the credit of the two MLB Franchises in New York City, both constructed new facilities, with plenty of Luxury Boxes. One of the two teams, at least the one in Queens, has 56 Suites, with 54 of them sold out for a number of years & two available for rental on a per game basis. The capacity is 41,800 Seats + 2500 for Standing Room. The other team constructed a stadium, with 56 Suites & a capacity of 51,000+ Capacity.

With Fenway Park having 39,028 Total Capacity, including Standing Room, one must realize that shoehorning more seats into the seating bowl is not going to cut it. Even if the NOG decides to add a fourth deck and sells that out, it is not going to generate that much more revenue. Besides, Fenway Park is 98 Years Old. Can it stand any more expansion?
With the New Yankee Stadium(Yankee Stadium III to be exact) in place, it has limitless potential for revenue all year round, enriching the coffers of the Yankees, which is WHY they can have deep pockets for Free Agents. Citi Field in Corona, Queens also has that potential, though that park has fewer seats.

Brad Penny? John Smoltz? With the Somewhat-Limited Revenue produced in the current Fenway Park, which is rather cramped, Mr John Henry and Company will need to face facts and do some-thing. As much as I would miss Fenway Park, a new Fenway Park is badly needed if “The Olde Towne Team” wishes to stay competitive.
Or else, there will be steady nights of misery which The Nation is experiencing on this evening.

Michael Leggett, now an Actor in a “Webisode”, in a Black Comedy being filmed in his native Brooklyn, writes a Red Sox Themed Rant at http://www.rfredsoxnyc.info, called “Lansdowne & 126th Streets.” He has written two short novels called “Southie O’” & “The Master Racket”, both set in Boston, describing the life of Boston PD Detective Paul “Southie” O’Brien and Friends, both on sale at Amazon.com & Createspace.com. Though Michael is Irish Catholic, he is “Sitting Shiva” over the NY Yankees 27th World Series Championship.

Thoughts On New CITI Field

by Michael Leggett, FN Gotham Correspondent

Mr Henry? Mr Werner? Mr Lucchino? 50 MORE Years of Fenway Park? Are you kidding your Season Ticket-Holders?
That's what I've heard from a Fenway Season Ticket-Holder, who was down at the NY Mets Brand-Spanking New Ballpark in the Corona Section Of Queens on Friday Evening, as that Holder of Red Sox Season Tickets, remarked. He said Fenway is America's Most Beloved Ballpark, but Fenway Park is NOT Forever;

Now, HOW does a team compete if it doesn't have Luxury Suites? Citi Field has 54 SOLD OUT Luxury Suites, all of them rather spacious;
When The Red Sox played the Mets in the 1986 World Series, there were 45 Luxury Suites on the Press Level at Shea Stadium, as the Mets took Extra Revenue, QUITE-SERIOUSLY, in the 1980s';

The Outside of Citi Field(Often called Bailout Field by Mets Fans and New Shea Stadium by other Mets Fans), looks like Ebbets Field, at Bedford Avenue and Sullivan Place in the Crown Heights Section Of Brooklyn, even unto the point of the Rotunda, a huge gathering place, with Faux-Marble, Terrazzo Floor inside of that Rotunda. The Rotunda is now called the Jackie Robinson Rotunda and will be dedicated on Wednesday, April 15th, on the 62nd Anniversary of Mr Robonson's Breaking of Baseball's Color Line. It's really a sight to see;
Inside of The Park, the Seats pay tribute to Upper Manhattan's Polo Grounds by being shaded Dark Green, as the Giants played there from 1911 until 1957, and The Mets played there from 1962 until 1963. In the Area called The "Pepsi Porch", the stands do extend over Right Field, in the manner of Tiger Stadium-Detroit and The Polo Grounds;

This is an asymetrical park. Now, in Shea Stadium, the Distances were 338 down the Left and Right Field Lines, 358 in Left and Right Fields, 371 in Left and Right Center Fields, 396 in both Right and Left Center Fields and 410 to Straightaway Center Field. Distances in the New Park are so much-different. In Left Field down the Line, it's 335 Feet, 3 Feet less than Shea Stadium, then it's 364 to Left Field, 379 to Left Center Field, 408 To Center Field, 415 to the Bullpens in Right Center Field, 383 Up The Right Center Field Power Alley, and 330 Feet Down The Right Field Line, or 8 fewer feet than Shea Stadium. Walls are 15 Feet High, except center field, where it's 12 Feet High, something of a Polo Grounds Tribute to Fields Of Dreams;

There are plenty of Rest Room Facilities, which are many times roomier than Shea Stadium's Rest Room Facilities(One could understand why the NY Jets fled Shea Stadium)and much-cleaner. Toilets in the Men's Rooms are the "Green" Non-Flush Variety, saving water;
There is 360 Degree Circulation around the stadium, allowing for excellent views of the game in progress, not unlike Citizen's Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia. In passing through Field Level, one can walk on a Foot Bridge, which was designed as a Bridge to NY City's National League Heritage, as well as it being designed like the Hell Gate Bridge, a rail bridge, which I've ridden over on Amtrak, on the way to Fenway Park, from Penn Station. There are food concessions galore, including a Seafood Establishment, selling Clam and Lobster Rolls and other Seafood, as well as other NY Restaurants, from the Sublime to Pedestrian, all of it local, whether Manhattan or Queens;
There's even a Scale Model Fan Fest Park, called "Kiddie Field", which is where youngsters 12 and under, can play Wiffle Ball and run the bases. E S P N was filming a segment on it;

The Upper Level, called Promenade, is pretty good, as it's only the height of Shea Stadium's Old Mezzanine Section. My only complaint is that when the Mets built the new park, in their quest for the seats to hug the field, Promenade Reserved tries to get too close to the field, unto the point of obstructing the view into Left Field. Other than that, it's a great place to see a game;
Mets Fans and Red Sox Fans got along so very well, eating and imbibing together, and wishing each other's teams well. BUT, there were the Garden Variety "NEW YORK" Fans, who acted like bloholes, especially some Bozo in Promenade Reserved, Section 537(I was in 536), who kept chanting Bill Buckner's Name, and he shut his trap when I mentioned that I saw Seaver and Koosman, next door in Shea Stadium as rookies(Nice being a Red Sox Fan with a NY National League Heritage to back up my Red Sox Fandom, though it does give away my age-LOL);

The Two Scoreboards are nice, making it easy to follow the game. All Seats are contoured towards 2nd Base in The Park, and are wider than in both Shea Stadium and, certainly wider than the Old Blue Grandstand Seats in Fenway Park, and the Aisles are considerably wider than in Fenway Park(Or Old Shea Stadium, for that matter). There are even Out Of Town Boards in Left Field, making it easier to follow an inning, like who's on base; This is a FUN, MODERN Ballpark. It's tremendously-informal. A Female Fan threw out the Ceremonial 1st Ball, after winning a Contest on W F A N Radio in NY. Interactive Games, from the Shea Stadium Days, are held every Inning. "Lazy Mary" is still sung as a 7th Inning Stretch Song; On The Concourses, there are Picnic Tables and plenty of Stands to buy Souvenirs and Food from. In one part of Concourse, I actually felt like I was on Fenway's Big Concourse. The Only thing missing was a statue of Wally The Green Monster;
John? Tom? LARRY? 50 MORE Years of Fenway? SURELY, You Jest! Come to Corona and See The FUTURE, as seats on the Scoreboard or a 4th Fenway Deck isn't going to cut it.

Mike Leggett writes a Baseball Blog about The Red Sox, among his other critiques at "Lansdowne and 126th Streets". His Seat at Citi Field, didn't cause him a nasty backache, unlike his times spent in Fenway's Grandstand.

CITI Field And A New Fenway

by Michael Leggett, FN Gotham Correspondent

Ebbets Field, The Ballpark often serving as inspiration for the newer "Retro-Style" Stadia, only drew 6,702 Fans on Tuesday, September 24th, 1957(The Last M L B Game in the Borough Of Brooklyn). The Brooklyn Dodgers only drew 1.026 Million Fans in that last season. Ebbets Field was, like the current Fenway Park, rather cramped, though fans were close to the action: In the parking lot, outside of the remains of Shea Stadium, lies Citi Field, with 42,500 Seats and 2500 Standing Room. Concourses are wide, the new park is light and airy, and seating is wider than it was in Shea Stadium, Meanwhile, having been to Fenway Park, 7 times since my 1st appearance in Grandstand 8, in 1997, one can actually see a great deal of improvement in the park, under the COG(Current Ownership Group), but how long are those medieval torture devices, called Grandstand Seats, going to remain a Fenway Park Staple? The Columns have blocked many a clear view of the field. Even with NESN playing on Monitors around the park, as I've seen in Outfield Grandstand Section 3, I still chafe from sitting there, as have so many others(Ouch);

The Current Citi Field takes its' cues from Ebbets Field's Exterior and Rotunda, Tiger Stadium's Right Field Overhanging Stands, PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Great American Ballpark in Cincinatti, and a little nod to Fenway Park, hand operated league scoreboard in Centerfield. The Seating Bowl faces towards the Infield. Of course, tickets will cost more than they did in Shea Stadium;
Is Janet Marie Smith perhaps planning another deck of seats above the current ones in State Street Pavilion? Another deck above the Coca Cola Corner? Sky Seats above The Bleachers? WHERE can She Shoehorn any more seats?

Time For a New Fenway Park! If the 2 Architects who were at the May 20th Game with The Braves, are any indication, just how long can all this over-building of Fenway Park, continue? Since Wrigley Field is falling into disrepair and Tribune Company, owners of The Cubs and Wrigley Field, having declared Bankruptcy, may have to pull the plug on The Cubs and Wrigley Field. Nostalgia can only sell for awhile, but not forever;
A 36K Park cannot compete with Stadia with over 50K Seats and Luxury Boxes up the Kazoo. Now, a 44K Facility, that would be something. It's time for John W Henry to make up his mind on this, as a New Fenway Park, will still draw The Fans. AND, there will be 21st Century Seating and Comfort, with no Poles in the way.


Mike Leggett has spent time in Fenway Park, with his back aching from those Torture Devices called Grandstand Seats. He can be accessed at twc6462626298@gmail.com, or on the web at http://www.rfredsoxnyc.info

The Farce

by Michael Leggett, FN Gotham Correspondent

The Farce being perpetrated on UNSUSPECTING Baseball Fans, is the "Farewell" to a 32 year old stadium, PRETENDING to be an 85 year old one. ESPN will televise its "Farewell" (Barring ANY Post-Season, IF At All) on Sunday, September 21st, 2008 at 8:05PM. At The All Star Game this past July, it was called "Our Roman Coliseum". One wonders just what kind of Ripple the Lords Of Baseball were drinking and how many bottles of that Sweet Rotgut, it took to come up with this idea of a "celebration" for a DUMP. We locals of Red Sox Nation, refer to as "The Toilet"(Or Terlit, as Archibald Bunker of Sunnyside, Queens would put it). I was at the Farewell of The ORIGINAL Yankee Stadium, painted frieze and all, on Sunday, September 30th, 1973. The crowd, to say the least, was underwhelming, with a lot of it Anti-Yankee fans present. The Stadium was closed, ripped to shreds, and disappeared until the New Yankee Stadium, called Stadium II, opened its doors in April, 1976. So WHERE did The Yankees, who at the time were crying POVERTY, play in 1974 and 1975?

No, they didn't play at Macoombs Dam Park across West 161st Street, which is where Stadium III is now being assembled. They went across Long Island Sound to Shea Stadium, in Corona-Willets Point, Queens, to play for two Seasons. It was at Shea Stadium, that "The Rivalry" came to life as New Englanders, joined by Mets Fans, hounded the crap out of the Yankees. Meanwhile, Yankee Stadium was gone, being replaced by a new ballpark. So WHERE Does Major League Baseball get the Idea that Yankee Stadium has been in continuous use for 85 Years? You can't fool a Brooklyn born and raised guy who was 8 1/2 months old when the Brooklyn Dodgers took the 1955 World Series from The NY Yankees, but you can fool anyone born in the late 1970s on. I never knew many Yankee Fans, who could recite Yankees History, outside of "26 World Championships".

Twenty of them took place in the Stadium which was demolished after September 30th, 1973; because Shea Stadium has 45 Luxury Suites while Yankee Stadium II has ONLY 18 Luxury Suites. The Steinbrenners wanted to build a whole new Stadium, after the Mets put forth their New Ballpark Plan, to build a Tribute Park to Ebbets Field (which, by the way, is on time and on budget, while Stadium III has a slew of cost over-runs). Season Ticket Holders will pay dearly for the new Yankee Stadium, with Ticket Prices about 5 Times Greater than Citi Field, according to Forbes Magazine. But, Baseball and The Yankees are living a LIE. Remind me not to visit "Toilet III", which will be trashed, just like Toilets I and II were. Shea Stadium is actually OLDER than the Current Yankee Stadium (44 Years Old, VS Yankee Stadium II, which is 32 Years Old). Shea's The Senior Ballpark, here in NYC, and a fine place to meet actual New Yorkers, who appreciate baseball, as well as Boston and Providence Area Folks, who have a HARD Time getting Red Sox Tickets at Fenway Park. I've met a Mom-Daughter Combo at Fenway Park, who did the South Station to Shea Stadium run, twice in '06.

Mike Leggett, is listening to all the Bull-Bleep here, shaking his head and laughing, knowing what The Truth Is. He can be reached @ twc6462626298@gmail.com, and on the web at http://www.rfredsoxnyc.info

Consequences Of Trading An "Idiot"

by Mike Leggett, FN "Gotham" Correspondent

August 1, 2008—I remember one trade on June 15th, 1977, which touched off a firestorm here in N Y C. Yes, It was painful and done out of a sense of cheapness, from a franchise which collected money at the gates, but did little in the sense of spending any money. OK, their home base is Shea Stadium, home to many ownership conspiracies. The first Seaver Trade, sent Mets Fans running for the exits, and staying clear of Mets Games. The team was hideous to watch. There were about 6K fans, on the night after the Seaver Trade; Attendance was down, dramatically. In those days, Stub Hub didn't exist. Mets Scalpers went on to become Yankees Scalpers;I don't see this being a problem in Boston, as Stub Hub will be used, regularly this year. Tickets are now being sold online from the Red Sox Box Office for the Coca Cola Corner for $75 for tonight; Is Epstein a Genius "Boy Wonder"? Last Year, a deal for Broken Down Mitchell List Member, Eric Gagne', almost blew up in the Sox Faces. Many of us suffered from Gas, watching Gagne' "Pitch";Whenever a Marquee Player is traded for someone lesser, it has consequences. Often, the Gate Suffers;The Sell-Out Streak may fall short;NOT a good sign for a Team and the businesses which depend on the team;AND pitching is needed, especially the 'pen. THAT was NOT Addressed @ The Deadline;BARF! Later!

Mike Leggett, Resident of Queens and 8.5 Months Old when the Brooklyn Dodgers Won It All, in his native Brooklyn, can be reached at mailto:twc6462626298@gmail.com. His Blog is at : http://www.rfredsoxnyc.info/

Assorted “Curses”
by Michael Leggett, FN Corresspondent

Perhaps, Baseball runs on so called “Curses”, because of the fact it gives fans a shipload of excuses, as to WHY their team hasn’t won anything, in the last number of years. It, allegedly, adds to mystique: Frankly, it’s all sheer nonsense, as these are usually Management Issues, of what they have done, and what they have FAILED to do. The “Curses” are things of Lore, by and large, bad jokes, to make people laugh; The Chicago Cubs are the Victims of STRANGE Ownership. They wouldn’t upgrade Wrigley Field, nor install lights. While Phil Wrigley was alive, he was a Baseball Man of his times. His son, Bill, was NOT, but was a sheer penny pincher. Bill’s High and Mighty Comment on Night Baseball was “Baseball is a day game and shall be played without lights.” So much for Tradition, as the 1969 Cubs will tell you. On August 15th, 1969, the Cubs had an 8 1/2 Game lead over the St Louis Cardinals and a 9 1/2 Game lead over the NY Mets. The Cubs were a power and pitching-laden team. But, the Summer Heat in Chicago, known to be warm and humid, eventually sapped the Cubs from all that day baseball on the North Side and the “Curse Of The Billy Goat” grew in stature. Bad Management Prevailed.

For a period of 86 Years, if one is to believe “The CHB”, it was “The Curse Of The Bambino”, with Babe Ruth being sold to the NY Yankees for $120K. Actually, Babe Ruth was a partying wild man, who would disappear for a few days at a time and action had to be taken. Harry Frazee is never given credit for pushing to save the World Series in 1918, which the Red Sox, power of that time, won over the Chicago Cubs. After Frazee, various owners just never got the message, nor did various managers. Today’s Internationally-Acclaimed Red Sox, would never have played for Pinky Higgins and other assorted characters who managed the team, as the Yawkey Ownership, tended to be a “Hands Off” Operation, leaving everything to The Baseball People. It took “Hands On” People like Messers Henry, Lucchino and Werner to right the ship.

“The Curse Of A-Rod”-Frankly, the NY Yankees don’t have the pitching, if Mike Mussina is any indication. At Any Given time, Andy Pettitte’s Back will bother him. So, the NY Yankees re-sign the Ultimate “Me, Me, Me” Player, a stats padder called Alex Rodriguez, who called a Press Conference during the 8th Inning of Game 4 of The ‘07 World Series, to tell the world that he wasn’t re-signing with the Yankees. His Contribution to Team Chemistry? ZILCH, wherever he’s been. But, The Yankees Problem has been Pitching, hence early exits from ALDS in ‘05, ‘06 and ‘07, as well as the Historical Collapse in the ‘04 ALCS, and this is well-known, that A-Rod never seems to get a hit in a key situation, which is currently happening, especially in a Comparably-Balmy April. Last Year’s Rather Chilly April, was when A-Rod was at his hottest.

“The Curse Of Keith Hernandez”-According to those who watched him with the Cardinals, he was the Slickest-Fielding 1st Baseman, EVER, in St Louis Cardinals History. The Cards defeated the Brew Crew Brewers of Milwaukee, in a 7 Game World Series. Keith was said to have snorted the 1st Base Line, as he was a “Blowhead”, a term for Cocaine Users. So for 25 Years, Cardinal Teams might go to Postseason and get blown out, right away, or wrecked in The Fall Classic.

“The Curse Of Ray Knight”(C.O.R.K)-The 1986 World Champion NY Mets, the Screwiest And BADDEST Bunch of Players, ever to win a World Series, from Bench-Clearing Brawls, to bar fights, to totally destroying the Interior of The Plane, carrying these Lunatics back to NY, from Houston, after winning the ‘86 NLCS. It cost Doubleday And Company, The Mets Primary Owner, $25K for Plane Damage. Ray Knight was something of a Spirited One, just like Keith Hernandez, Kevin Elster, Kevin Mitchell and Company. The Mets Parted company with Knight, after winning the ‘86 World Series and got rid of Kevin Mitchell, because he would be a bad influence on Darryl Strawberry. Trouble is, Both Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden, would be 2 of the biggest blowheads and drunks, ever to wear a Mets Uniform. That team was broken up by Ownership and that Team has NOT been the same since ‘86, with the ‘86 Limited Partner, now as Majority Owner, is seen as More-Meddlesome by Insiders than George Steinbrenner is with the Yankees. I guess a World Series Flag is only Good for The Sherry Sippers at Citi Field and not for those Loyal Denizens of Shea Stadium;So much for curses, or for we natives of Brooklyn, “Coises”.

Mike Leggett writes a Primarily Red Sox Blog(Along With His Own Personal Rantings) @ http://www.rfredsoxnyc.info. He can be contacted @ twc6462626298@gmail.com. He wonders why the Fenway Faithful do The Wave and stood all during the 8th Inning of Sunday, April 20th, ‘08’s Game. It’s easy-Those Grandstand Seats can be AWFULLY-Uncomfortable(Ouch). He should know-he was there.

“Roger? You Lie Like A Rug”
by Michael Leggett, FN Corresspondent

Actually, that would be picking on an inanimate object, so it would not be fair to the Rug Community(LOL). Why would William Roger Clemens NEED an anesthetic to have a Vitamin injected into him. when he could have gone to the Vitamin Shop, and purchased the bottle of B12, to take a B12 Pill @ anytime he wanted or needed one? This is UTTERLY Preposterous. Why would anybody want to subject themselves to being numbed to get a Vitamin injected into one’s buttocks? Common sense says that this is ridiculous. In talking about Andy Pettitte, thinking he was confused over hearing 3 older men talking about steroids in a movie, was Roger watching “Going In Style”, starring George Burns, Walter Matthau & Art Carney? They played 3 men on Social Security, who thought about robbing a bank. Now, I know of a Retired Line Of Duty-Disabled NYPD Officer, who walks using a cane. He has required Steroid Injections to the damaged part of his ankle. Lidocaine is injected ahead of the steroid, as the injection is close to bone. After being numbed, the prescribed steroid is then injected, to aid in the healing of the ankle. The Retired Officer thinks Roger is full of it, by the way. Oh, about that Vitamin B12, Roger? It’s not Oil Based like a Steroid. It was that Oil Based substance, injected into your butt, which caused for that little bit of bruising, as well as contributing to your Legendary Larger Than Life Look, you’ve sported. Your head did not get big on its’ own. But, your ego is larger than the Sears Tower in Chicago. And that’s what landed you before the Halls of The House Of Representatives.

Michael Leggett writes a (Mostly)Red Sox Baseball Blog, in his home borough of Queens, in New York City. He can be reached @ twc6462626298@gmail.com. He’s also an avid Mac User.

Roger Is A "Flop" In More Ways Than One
by Michael Leggett, FN Corresspondent

And I have seen Roger do it TWICE in 2001 in person. In August, 2001, it was a Saturday Afternoon Game, with the Cleveland Indians facing "The Rocket", in August(A FOX Game). From what I remember of that day, The Yankees won 9-6 and Roger's Pitching was questionable, giving up those runs. If it had not been for a strong Yankees Offense, Roger would've been a sure-fire loser. This was in the 5th Inning, when, suddenly, Roger fell on the mound, his legs going out from under him.

Torre came rushing out of the dugout, as his Ace collapsed on the mound, but "The Rocket" stayed in until the 7th Inning.It was the ALDS in October & it was Game 5 & with 4 2/3 innings gone, Roger collapsed on the mound. Things were NOT going well for him. I had been thinking back to 2000, when he had a blank stare after beaning Mike Piazza, later telling the NYC Press Corps that the beaning was an accident, to which that same Press Corps said 'Yeah, Sure'. Coupled with throwing the broken bat, and mistaking it for the ball, I wondered at this point about what kind of drugs, Roger had been using. He looked like a deranged coke head. The word "Steroids" had not yet entered the lexicon in Baseball.

That lexicon was usually reserved for Professional Wrestling, not Baseball. But Baseball Players were getting bigger. One example is Lenny "Nails" Dykstra, who in 1986, during the World Series, while playing for the 1986 New York Mets, didn't look more than 140 Pounds, Soaking Wet, but he homered in Fenway Park and still looked skinny as a rail. But, in 1989, he showed up in Spring Training, tremendously-bulked up. He was traded in Mid-Season of 1989 for Juan Samuel, to the Phillies.

Now, by 1993, Roger showed up in Spring Training, a number of pounds heavier than before and wouldn't last as long as he used to and showed up with a string of 4 mediocre seasons in Boston. One wonders if he had been either experimenting or just celebrated the new contract, by getting fat. Guys who throw almost exclusively heat, tend to break down a lot quicker, than those with a good mix of pitches, so the assessment by Mr Duquette and Company was NOT unfounded, in 1996.He had one last season, supposedly doing it naturally, in 1997 and won the Cy Young Award and had a strength coach, later his personal trainer named Brian McNamee, some guy from Rockaway Beach in Queens, about 25 minutes by car from my home. The next year, Ol' Roger started off in mediocre fashion, making many wonder if he was done. Then, McNamee introduces Roger to his "Fountain Of Youth", commercially called Winstrol, which is Stanolozol, an anabolic steroid. Roger went on a tear after that, going 16-0 for the rest of 1998. He was now in "The Enhanced Era".

Having realized that the Toronto Blue Jays were going NOWHERE, he demanded a trade to the NY Yankees & got his wish, but was nothing spectacular in 1999. It was in 2000, when he got his power back, through Winstrol and Testosterone "Therapy", combined with Human Growth Hormone, turning him into a monster, as well as a crazed maniac, if the Piazza Beaning was any indication. Roger couldn't deal with the success that Mr Piazza of the Crosstown NY Mets, had versus Roger, so the beaning took place, in July,2000, which in Roger's Mind, perhaps affected by all that "Therapy", was an "Accident." Roger also knew that in the American League Parks, he would never have to come to bat, so he expected no comeuppance for the consequences of his actions, hence no accident. In '01, Roger was the ultimate power pitcher, winning 20 Games & losing 3 Games(Two of which were to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays), winning his 6th Cy Young Award. The "Therapy" Continued & it was his last good season. In reality, it wasn't THAT good, because Roger had no complete games. He, as a young, lean pitcher, in 1985, had 10 COMPLETE Games. In '02, when he wasn't being injected with his "Therapy" Junk, he was hurt. In a Saturday, June 15th, 2002 Game at the Home Of The Mets, Shea Stadium (to be torn down in November, '08), Roger had to pitch in the National League Park. He didn't have his backup of the Designated Hitter, there & had to bat for himself. Rumors swirled around the Site of Game 6 of The 1986 World Series, that Roger was going to be plunked with a pitch. Mets Pitcher Shawn Estes threw a pitch behind Roger, throwing him & his game way off-balance. Now according to one of my associates, Mr Joseph Francis Buck of FOX Sports, was calling for Roger to get his comeuppance, in the form of being hit with a fastball, for a taste of Roger's own medicine. While Mr James Timothy Mc Carver, Mr Buck's Booth Colleague was telling the Audience of Millions that the rift between Roger and Mike Piazza had healed, Buck became more-strident in his tone of voice, calling for "Rocket's" comeuppance.

Mr Shawn Estes hit a 2 Run Homer off "The Rocket" into the Left Field Area, sending fans in Shea Stadium into delirium, while the sarcastic, cascading chant of "Roger", grew loud. In the next inning, Mr Michael Piazza homered into the Left Field Bullpen, as Roger looked stunned, with the derisive chanting growing as loud as an English Soccer Stadium. NY Mets & Boston Red Sox Banner Flags were being flown, as this went on. Roger doubled off Estes in the next inning(With Fans Screaming "Throw at Him"), but came up lame at 2nd Base. In the bottom of that inning, on a fielder's choice, he hurt his foot. Roger was gone for a month and a half after that, with fans serenading him with the derisive chant of "Roger". The NY Yankees lost 8-0. When Roger's name was announced as the Losing Pitcher, a long cheer went up. It was the beginning of the end for this dude. There was '03 when he won his 300th Game at which he promptly donned a Commercial Sponsor's Cap, something which Mr Glavine did NOT do, when he won his 300th Game in '07. There was his last Yankees World Series where he came up lame. He announced that he was retiring after the '03 season.

Then, he joined old Yankees Pitching Teammate Andy Pettitte, with the Astros in Houston with a Sweetheart Deal and had one LAST Good Season, winning his 7th Cy Young Award and declined further in '05, going lame in his 1 WS Game, as he was without his "Therapies."
He pitched 1/2 Season with Houston, which started to spin its' wheels in the mud, in '06, for huge money;
Then there was one last gasp of "The Texas Con Man", as the Late Will Mc Donugh, would call Roger. in May, '07, with a declining Yankees Ball Team. The Announcement was made in a packed Yankee Stadium that he had returned to lead the Yankees to Ultimate Victory in '07. Yankees Radio Commentator, Suzyn Waldman's famous "Oh, My Goodness Gracious, Roger's in George Steinbrenner's Bawx", would be all time mockery material, especially on WFAN 660-NY. Roger was a FLOP in his attempted, money-driven revival, at the cost of $18.7M, as he had NOTHING in his tank.

For a last postseason appearance, he had a pulled muscle in the 2nd inning of Game 3 of The ALDS, which a number of Red Sox Bloggers figured would take place in the 1st 3 Innings of that game & it did in the 2nd Inning. In the Prayer, "Salve Regina", "O Clement" is "O Clemens" in Latin, meaning merciful. This Clemens was unmercifully about HIMSELF:He tried to fool Nature with Injected Chemicals. Because he used these chemicals, he tried to rationalize why he did outrageous things, as mis-judgements and accidents.

And there were the times when he came over as a PUNK, when he made the comment in 1986, after winning both the AL Cy Young Award & AL MVP, when Baseball's All Time Home Run King, Henry Aaron had opined that perhaps Pitchers shouldn't be eligible for MVP, as they're not everyday players. Roger offered this remark that he'd like to put Aaron at the plate so Roger could drill him with a fastball, possibly to Aaron's Head. From that point on, I disliked Clemens and figured that he might be headed for trouble, down the road;
And there was the threat to Umpire Terry Cooney, who ejected Roger from a 1990 ALCS Game, when Roger told him that he'd like to find out where Cooney lived, so Roger could 'Take him out'. I'm surprised that Roger wasn't suspended for 20-30 Games by either the League or Commissioner's Office.

Roger's Rationalizing that The Piazza Beaning was an "Accident", sent me over the edge, making me wonder if Clemens had gotten hold of some mind-altering drugs, as his expression looked blank. WHY was Baseball so afraid to do anything to him? Were some of those Higher Baseball Executives his "Lodge Brothers"? His wisecrack on "The Late Show With David Letterman", "It Doesn't Matter whether you win or lose at least that's the way it was in Boston", was to say the least, sad. His proverbial "Throwing John Mc Namara In front Of a Speeding T Commuter Train", over Roger's leaving Game 6 Of The 1986 World Series, over a blister, by claiming it was forced on him by Mac, when Roger was fearful of losing control of that game, was contradictory, all a part of Clemens' repertoire. I also never knew that Toronto was closer to his home in Texas, which is a farce in itself.

I remember some girl in a Catholic School, in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, in 2003, brought her "Show & Tell" Project to School. The "Show & Tell" Project was, sure enough, Roger himself. As this girl is probably taking her SATs' in her Junior Year in High School this year, I wonder if she's been turned off by the appearance of Clemens in "The Mitchell Report", turned off by Baseball & the Yankees, or was moved to tears. I just hope that her friends aren't teasing her to tears because of all this. And there's his utter nerve for demanding that when he goes into the Hall Of Fame, he wants to go in as a NY Yankee, or he'll skip the Ceremony and take his mom to Palm Springs for an old fashioned barbeque;
For the past two seasons, he's been an EXPENSIVE Part Time Player, who has hustled owners like a pool hustler and gave false hopes to the fans in NY and Houston. In short, Roger Clemens is a FLOP. I would advise that Roger Clemens not to let the door hit him in the arse on his way out. If it did, he'd be crying for his Lidocaine to relieve HIS pain; But, What about the Fans Pain, which he's caused?Or, for that Matter, Baseball's Pain?
Or, even that of HIS Family?


Michael Leggett in NYC, writes a Predominately Red Sox Blog, which is @ http://www.rfredsoxnyc.info & his e-mail is twc6462626298@gmail.com

New Fenway Overdue
by Michael Leggett, FN Corresspondent

September 1, 2007—Perhaps long overdue. Thirty-six thousand plus seats doesn’t really cut it, as far as revenue-generation and comfort are concerned. Given the sold-out status of Fenway, fans in this bandbox consider four games to be a lot to attend in a given season.

This reminds me of another famous little bandbox in Brooklyn, called Ebbets Field—home to The Dodgers. Ebbets didn’t always sell out, but it does serve as a model for today’s modern retro parks. Mr Henry has to be looking at that possibility right now. He realizes that the New "Retro" Yankee Stadium, truer to the Old Stadium on the outside, will seat 53,000 and generate much more revenue—even with 4,500 fewer seats. Unless Janet Marie Smith is thinking of Electronic Board Sky Boxes, over the right field bleachers, a New Fenway Park could incorporate all of the best features of the current park, without all those poles in the way.

I was at the Friday, August 31st game, seated in cramped Box 90, by Grandstand 4 (with the State Champion Taunton High School Softball Team) and a woman and her daughter were seated right behind me. I was in an aisle seat and it was any wonder that I got to see the game at all—with people running to concession stands all game long. No wonder people do “The Wave” before the 7th Inning Stretch—they’re getting cramps from sitting too long in those seats. The woman behind me, mentioned that she was at Shea Stadium, in Corona, Queens, something of a destination for displaced Fenway Faithful, because of the ease of getting Mets tickets. Of course, to be fair, in the Upper Level there, you can end up on a first name basis with pilots on approach to La Guardia.

Even in a New Fenway Park, the fans will still be fun, will “Still Believe”, will “Keep The Faith” as they always have. The difference will be that they will have comfortable seating and leg room. Selling nostalgia to sit in an out-dated park will not generate the revenues to compete. This is the 21st Century, Mr. Henry. Ow, my back-ouch!

Mike Leggett can be reached at twc6462626298@gmail.com

Of Poles & New parks

by Michael Leggett, FenwayNation Columnist In New York City

It was Saturday, September 2nd, 2006 & I was at The Old-New Ball Yard. Remnants of Tropical Storm Ernesto, threatened to turn Boston into a river, if the Game had started at 7:05PM, so new plans to get the game with the Toronto Blue Jays, played, were in motion.
I had just arrived home from work, in Lower Manhattan, &, as is my custom, I headed to my Mac to check my e-mail. I opened up an e-mail from the Red Sox, announcing the Game Time Change, from 7:05PM to 1:05PM. I later received another communication from the Writer of Brooklyn Sox Fan, on Born In To It, advising me to get to Chinatown-Lower Manhattan, very-early to catch the earliest bus to South Station. As I had bought these tickets 1 week in advance, I had no trouble changing my departure time & left 139 Canal Street @ 8:37AM.
It was a 3:45 trip from the foot of the Manhattan Bridge across 4 Boroughs, Westchester County, & CT, before getting on to Mass Pike to the Old-New, “Never Gets Old” Pantheon called Fenway Park. While passing through Worcester, I realized that Boston was not far away, as Worcester is the westernmost city of M B T A Rail. I finally arrived at South Station Bus Terminal at 12:25PM, & hurried myself to my Subway Connections.
Took the Red Line to Park Street & changed for Green Line C Light Rail to Kenmore Station. The Green Line didn’t feel like a traditional Subway ride at all. At Kenmore Station, as I was exiting, the ticket scalpers were offering tickets at BELOW Face Value.
I got to my seat & had a wonderful view of the many sections of the park, which were renovated. I had a great view from Section 16, Row 3, Seat #1, of the field. But, there was one problem, & it was called a Column or Pole. Now, the team had been decimated by injuries(David Ortiz, Jason Varitek & this was supposed to be Jon Lester’s Next Start, but on 9/1, the horrific news about his Cancer Of The Lymph Nodes, was announced, plus Manny & his Knee, Etc). To me this looked like a “Bleak Futures At Fenway” Game, to say the least.
I noticed that Grandstand Seats, which I 1st sat in, during a June, ‘97 Game with Detroit, looked like they haven’t changed in appearance, since my 1st trip to Fenway, Does the New Ownership Group think that this seating is charming, or do they think that people are really stupid?
The Red Sox Lost 5-1 to Toronto., so my record is 0-2 at Fenway, when I’ve been seated in Grandstand(Both Outfield & Infield), though I’m 2-0, when having been seated in the Lower Bleachers(Both Games in 2000).
While I had a great time, with great fans(From NY, NJ, PA, VA & MA), & the party atmosphere can’t be beat, it is my belief that one cannot keep adding sections of the park & new seating without taking care of the Grandstand viewing problem with all those old poles obstructing one’s view.
Another thing is capacity. As Fenway keeps getting sold out all the time & seats are not that reasonable, unless one can get bleacher tickets, or has Donald Trump’s Expense Account to sit in the Monster Seats or the E M C Club Section, Red Sox Fans will head to Baltimore to catch Red Sox-Orioles, Toronto to catch Red Sox-Blue Jays, or, as I’ve observed over this Spring, Summer & Autumn, to Mets Games at Shea Stadium, which will be replaced in 2009 by their 45,000 seat new ball park, paying tribute to Brooklyn’s old Ebbett’s Field, with the Junk Yard Area being eliminated for areas to party & for hotels & other fun places.. The 7 Line Elevated & Subway, is beginning to sound somewhat like the Green Line to Kenmore.
Just looking at PETCO Park in San Diego, makes me wonder “Why Not Us.” What next? “Cask ‘N Flagon Sky Boxes?”
Mike Leggett Can be reached at twc6462626298@earthlink.net

On Sox Pitching & Fielding

by Michael Leggett, FenwayNation Columnist In New York City

Spring Training is a time of warm-ups and practice. Games don’t count. Bronson Arroyo’s bad start in Spring Training, was for him, a time to work out the kinks in his delivery of pitches. He eventually did that and in his last Spring start, he appeared to be back on track.

Then, the Front Office intervened and traded Arroyo for a “Promising, Power-Hitting Outfielder” named Wily Mo Pena. According to Mr Terry Francona, Field Skipper of The Sox, “We have a Surplus of Pitching.”

Pena’s fielding is somewhat akin to a Mets outfielder named Lastings Milledge, so you get the picture, which is pitiful. He does hit, but not as advertised. Arroyo, with the Cincinnati Reds, is pitching well, but just recently won his 10th Game, perhaps due to their porous bullpen.

Speaking of porous bullpens and starting pitching, Manny Delcarmen and Craig Hansen are awful. The surprise best pitcher of the recent past has was Julian Tavarez, with 2 1/3 Innings of sparkling pitching (Did Wallace perform a miracle), allowing 1 hit last Friday. Keith Foulke was fine, just back from rehab at Pawtucket. Ironically, Jason Johnson pitched fairly-well in Firday's 1st Game, before the ‘pen played Arson Squad, was designated for assignment to make room for Foulke.

Without the horses, there is no race. And, at this rate, with blowing it, badly, in Kansas City and Tampa Bay, it’s going to be a long winter of discontent all over Red Sox Nation. The bleeding has to stop NOW. Does any body have ANY idea of what it’s like living amongst braying, jackass fans from Yankees Land? Some days, I hate living in New York, where the braying is most-constant.

On FOX Saturday Baseball Coverage

By Michael Leggett, FN Contributor

July 24,2006—Actually, my focus is on “exclusivity” in this series, which has been seen since 1996. FOX, as many of you know, has the exclusive TV rights for baseball from 1PM to 7PM, ET. Even for those of you paying for the MLB Extra Innings Package on cable or satellite, you may be out of luck, if your favorite team’s game is being played at 4:05PM, ET on Saturday.

A few weeks ago, a number of us gathered to watch The Red Sox at our favorite pub in Manhattan. It was an inter league game, involving the Marlins at Miami. On the evening before, we watched the Sox on FSN- Florida, which was no bargain, but it was NOT the YES Network, which we in NY-RSN, so despise. The Saturday night game started at 6:05PM, ET. Just earlier, the NY Mets ruined Randy Johnson’s Day, by smashing the Evil Empire, 8-3, (replete with Joe Buck & Tim Mc Carver, performing “Verbal Butt-Kiss”, over an A-Rod Homer, which would’ve been foul in most other ball parks.) It was 6PM, ET and all we received was the following Extra Innings message: “Game Not Available In Your Area” Because of the start time of the game, we couldn’t watch it. Luckily, a Good Samaritan, who was a Yankee Fan, actually had his notebook hooked up to his cell phone, so we got MLB TV for a shadowy image of Red Sox-Marlins. The Red Sox won that game, though everything looked like we were watching on a 3 inch screen, from an old television, from 1947.

Did The Marlins schedule a 6:05PM Game, so only South Florida and New England could have the Game to themselves? The Marlins barely have fans going to the ball park, while the Red Sox have a Nation—and a STRONG ONE at that. Besides, Jeff Loria, the Marlins owner, is a long-time Yankee Season Ticket-Holder, so the 6:00PM start isn’t surprising to me. Extra Innings Subscribers should be given a choice as to which feed to watch and for what game. They’re paying for it-let ‘em have a choice. That includes choice of which FOX Game to watch.
Hey! It’s Your airwaves and your team.

On Dave Wallace—Pitching Guru

By Michael Leggett, FN Contributor

July 19,2006—The last time the Dodgers were in contention for a playoff spot, Dave Wallace was Pitching Coach and Mike Piazza was National League Rookie of The Year. Orel Hershiser was the staff’s gem of a pitcher. Let’s fast-forward to 1999. The NY Mets Pitching Staff, under the direction of Mets Pitching Coach and personal friend of Bobby Valentine, Bob Apodaca, was faltering. After getting blown out in the 2nd Game of the "Subway Series" at Yankee Stadium, Mets General Manager G. Steven Phillips, called for heads to roll. Dave Wallace was named Pitching Coach by Phillips. Bobby Valentine, who absolutely despised Phillips, also despised Wallace—because Wallace was Steve’s Choice and Wallace was a friend of Phillips. So, Valentine subscribed to the theory of “The Friend of My Enemy, is my Enemy.” Other new coaches were brought in, to stabilize the Mets, to make them contenders, for their 1st Post-Season run since 1988.

The results included an appearance in the 1999 NLCS, where the Mets lost to the Braves, 4 Games to 2, with some help from Kenny Rogers (Mr Key-Lol). The results in 2000 were even better, when the Mets made it to the World Series, but lost. After all that, Wallace departed. Bobby V got his way with Pitching Coaches, again, and boy did the Mets ever go bad! That’s why Bobby V is back in Japan, winning their World Series and not the one in North America. He was a control freak, who thought that he knew it all, while Wallace was the key to those two good seasons. Sorry, Bobby, but you’re overrated in my book.

Fast-forward to 2003: Wallace, a New Englander, is named Red Sox Pitching Coach. He toiled first under Grady (Should I Or Shouldn’t I Take Out Pedro) Little. The Red Sox made it to the ‘03 ALCS, before losing 4 Games to 3 to the team which would blow a 3-0 lead in the ‘04 ALCS. The next year was the Big Cherry for the Red Sox, and we all know the rest of that great story, even if Tim Mc Carver keeps getting it all wrong. Anyway, Dave Wallace was in the middle of it all. He doesn’t get all the credit, but he deserves more than he’s given. Hurry back, Dave—you just might salvage “Rudy & Julia.”

Shea As Fenway South?

MAY 9, 2006. Fenway Park is old & sold out all the time. Granted that the existing facilities are being upgraded, but this will not solve the problem of not-enough seating. There is nothing charming about paying $45 to sit behind a pole. I am located in the New York Metropolitan Area, in the Borough of Queens, as some readers may know. Putting seats on the Cask & Flagon will not alleviate this short-capacity situation. A ballpark needs 45,000 comfortable seats to keep the fans coming in, as well as amenities. A 36,000 seat park, built before World War I, just doesn’t cut it.

This is what is taking place as we speak:Families from Boston, who cannot get Red Sox Tickets, will follow the team on the road to Baltimore or Philadelphia, as Fenway is sold out. But, an increasing numberof families are either driving down to or taking Amtrak to New York City to catch METS Games at Shea Stadium. I met a number of these "day-trippers" recently coming from Boston. The 7 Subway Line is starting to sound like the Green Line to Kenmore Square.

Their reasons for this are:
(A) Fenway is sold out;
(B) Fenway is priced out;
(C) The Upper Level at Shea Stadium is reasonably priced.

Tickets for this past Saturday’s Mets-Atlanta Braves Game were $16. The attendance was 48,639, with seats to spare. A father andhis 2 sons came down andgot tickets, easily right at the Shea Ticket Window. Red Sox Fans all over Shea Stadium got into the game chanting “Let’s Go Mets.” (That chant sounds so cool in a Boston Accent.) Both sets of fans let loose with a chant of “Yankees Suck.”

The Mets are beneficiaries from the overflow from Fenway Park. But, that need NOT be the case in Boston. A New Fenway, with 44-45,000 seats & plenty of room, would solve the problem. Next month, the Mets will begin to construct their new field of dreams, in the Shea Parking Lot. It’ll seat 45,000 fans. Building seats on top of the Fenway Scoreboard, or on the Citgo Sign, or on top of the current Green Monster Seats, just won't do. Just what’s in the Minds of the NOG?

Maybe, they’re waiting for the team to return to losing ways so the team can be unloaded on another NOG. One of those owners, the ones who own 17%, are reporting a revenue shortfall in their core business. Tough Times may be ahead.