Support Your Local Minor League Teams, And Other Fan Options

By Deb McIver
Posted Monday, January 21, 2008

I got to thinking about our grand poobah’s wonderful “Screw The Wilpons” column of January 2, 2008.

You know, this one: http://www.flushinguniversity.com/moxie/columns/screw-the-wilpons.shtml, the one where Mike talks about how the Wilpons hate us, think they’re better than us, treat us with disrespect and arrogance – that column.

So I’m thinking.... assuming this is all true, what alternatives do we, as Mets fans, have? Obviously, most of us aren’t going to abandon ship; we love the team too much, and probably have for many more years than some of us (who, me? lol) wish to count. Most of us aren’t going to stop watching games, or going to games, or paying the exorbitant usurious prices for concessions and merchandise, aren’t going to change our fandom too much, even though we know, or suspect, that we are being used and abused and laughed at most, if not all the time.

So, what’s a fan to do?

Well, I’ve got an idea for you. It’s not a new one, but it’s as good a one as I can think of. And it grew out of Mike’s column, where he talks about taking your kid to a game.

Why not give “going to the game” a whole new meaning for 2008? That’s right, folks, instead of pissing and moaning and fighting the traffic associated with the trip to Shea, or taking that nasty mass transit thingy, and paying overinflated ticket prices, dealing with monstrous and half-nasty crowds, and generally being abused and gouged for the pleasure of watching your favorite major league team, why not make the baseball experience more enjoyable, rational, calm, reasonably priced and humane for you and your kids?

And how do you do this?

Why, by supporting your local minor league team by going to those games in place of a few games you might have gone to at Shea this year.

Odds are, if you live in the tri-state Mets area, there are plenty of minor league affiliates from which to choose. Living in Central New Jersey, myself, I can support the Somerset Patriots, the Newark Bears, or even the Trenton Thunder, easily, and without too much hassle. Further out, there are the Lakewood Blueclaws, the Sussex Skyhawks, the New Jersey Jackals, the Camden River Sharks, and even the Atlantic City Surf. In the New York Metropolitan Area, how about the Long Island Ducks, or, if you have to, the Brooklyn Cyclones, a Mets A ball affiliate? Or, dare I say, the Staten Island Yankees? Oh, how that pains me. But even if you decide to visit the dark side’s local minor league affiliate, with the average seat costing about $8, it’s a cheap night out, and every seat’s a good one. Travel is minimal and relatively hassle-free, and much more cost-effective than traveling to Shea.

And hey, I can even keep track of the “big leagues” by radio, and I’ll betcha the minor league parks even track the “big boys’” scores on their scoreboards.

And it’s fun to watch the guys of the future compete, many on the verge of the big leagues, many teams managed by former big-league fan favorites, in nice, cozy, accommodating, fan-friendly stadii.

A couple of years ago, I went to Opening Day at Keyspan Park, home of the Brooklyn Cyclones. I actually went because two Met fan friends of mine were eager to embrace the return of baseball to Brooklyn, and requested our presence in order to help them do so. Our seats were $8 apiece, and we were situated right behind first base, about 20 rows up, which is about as far up as the stadium went, on that side, anyway. And you know what? It was a GREAT seat, much better than its counterpart in Shea Stadium.

Sitting back in our seats, and looking over the outfield wall, we were treated to the lovely sight of the expanse of the Atlantic Ocean, and in the background, a little off, the Coney Island ferris wheel and the world-famous Cyclone rollercoaster loomed in the warm evening air.

And the original Nathan’s on the corner. Now, what could be better?

The four of us had a great time, drank a few beers, enjoyed a Cyclones win, then had hot dogs and the fixins’ at Nathan’s after the game, at much less a price than we would have paid in ANY major league park.

I know lots of folks (Matt Himelfarb included) that regularly patronize the Somerset Patriots or Lakewood Blueclaws or Trenton Thunder, and to a man (and woman), they rave about their experiences.

So why not take in a couple of minor league games with your family, or “the boys” or “the girls” in place of some Shea Stadium games?

And if you really want to get crazy about it, why not rethink buying season tickets or going to Shea Stadium at all? Or at least, buying partial season plans instead of full ones, or limiting your visits to Shea. Hell, with the prices they’re charging, the lousy parking situation due to the construction of CitiField, the nasty experience of mass transit, and the ever-multiplying concession prices, you might be left with little or no choice, anyway.

So don’t let ‘em force you out – opt out yourself! Visit your local minor league ballparks, save your money, and spend it on new and better toys for yourselves and your kids!

And here’s another idea for you -- with the money you’ve saved from the non-trips to Shea, why not simply watch the Mets on your new large screen plasma TV, with an upgraded cable or Dish package? Buy yourself a nice new recliner, grab some microwave popcorn, a couple of beers, and sit your butt right smack in front of the plasma, watching the game on HDTV, yelling and cursing and screaming and crying in the peace and quiet of your own home, where nobody can throw you out or yell at you too much, and where you can’t possibly get arrested.

At least, not for yelling, screaming, cursing, crying, or harassing the fan next to you, or for simply voicing your displeasure or opinion in a rather loud, obnoxious and boisterous manner.

And hey, there’s always something to be said for staying home with the family, right?

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(And don't forget, folks, if you're in for the plasma, Our Forum Mom is in the business, and would be happy to hook you up! And if you're in for the microwave popcorn, check your local supermarket circulars!)

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