Am I Just Stating the obvious?

[Phhhl]

The Pete Rose dedication tonight was great. But, it is just another example of baseball rolling Pete out when they can use him. MLB is obviously concerned about low attenance for this Reds team. My case?

Most of these "honors" are held during the summer months, and they are announced at the beginning of the season. It was not something that was put on the agenda last spring. Sagging attendance at the ballpark in Cincinnati has been an embarassment to Bud and the brass of this game as the team continues to force it's way onto the first six minutes of Baseball Tonight. Even if BCAST initiated the thing, Bud had to approve it. So it is kind of a small corporate conspiracy. Messing with Pete has become one of the emperor's favorite guilty pleasures over the last decade, so how could resist?

I tried to tune in to watch the proceedings at 6:30, and guess what? For the first time in the last six months Reds Live could not breach the fortress of contractual agreements to air. What a coincidence! The message was very clearly that seats are for "a**es", as Pete famously said, and YOU are the A** that needs to get down here and buy tickets and become an extra on the only decent reality tv show with ties to the Queen City. Oterwise, you are going to have to wait for the replay tomorrow like all of the other deadbeat fans who would rather sit in air conditioning in September to watch these games on a $400 big screen television.

Or, at least, I was thinking they thought something like that...

But, you know what? I don't care how underhanded it is at it's core, ownership and MLB makes a point here. This team has earned a decent crowd for every single home game moving forward, and if you are honest about it, they deserve payback for some horrible crowds in the immediate past. The sleazy commissioner should not have to tug at our base instincts by rolling out the greatest living sports legend this city has ever known in the middle of a penant race. This team has earned first billing over the greatest legends of our incredible past as a franchise. Maybe not historically, but I am talking about right now.

As for Pete, he came across looking like a champ tonight. He danced for Bud like a Marionette, literally hopping on first base like he was seeking style points on "Dancing with the Stars". Where a younger, dumber Pete might have held that deal with the casino to the chagrin of the organization that banned him for life, he accepted his honor like a choir boy. By several thoughtful gestures, he indicated what was truly important about this calendar date (and it had absolutely nothing to do with baseball). He was as contrite as a politician after a tax hike while warning us not to do as he had done. He drew attention to the wishbone "C" on his modern Reds jersey and suggested this dream of the first professional baseball team dominating the game at certain glorious times and bringing such joy to the modest city of Cincinnati was the most important action point for now. Not himself. It could not have been better. I am sorry, but this town loves the guy and always will.

And so, it was a great scene tonight, starting with Pete Rose and topped off by one of the best players in the last 35 years of this franchise winning the game with a walk off. If not for conspiracies, I would not believe what I am seeing.

[reds1869]

Being in the stands last night was one of my best experiences as a Reds fan. From the 4192 ceremonies to the 9/11 commemorations to the walk-off win, it was perfect. I am proud to be a Reds fan, proud to live in in the City of Cincinnati and proud to see Pete Rose doing the right thing. I jut hope more fans get on board. In a metro area with millions of employed people the economics argument doesn't wash.

[Always Red]

"MLB rolling Pete out when they can use him?"

Really, I think it's pretty obvious that MLB wishes Pete Rose and "The Pete Rose Problem" would just disappear.

Attendance sagging? Attendance is down all over MLB, but Cincinnati shows the 3rd largest increase in attendance, of nearly 3000 rear ends a game. Minnesota, with their new stadium and fine team, have nearly 11k more a game, and the Texas Rangers who are also having a good year, are 2nd. As far as actual souls at the park, the Reds rank 20th out of 30 teams, not bad for such a small market team: http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/current_attendance.shtml

Butts in the seats are only one way that MLB teams make money. TV viewing is also very lucrative, and this year the Reds are 4th in MLB in TV ratings: http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2010/08/02/story2.html?b=1280721600^3730991&s=industry&i=media_marketing

I loved Pete the player, and was happy that he was able to celebrate with the fans on the field last night. At the roast afterward, he apparently was extremely humble and repentant. That's all good!

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100911/SPT04/9120366/Sobbing-Pete-Rose-repents-for-betting-on-baseball-

Who has more to gain, MLB or Pete Rose, from a deal like last night? Who is using who? As a fan of Rose's, I still think he gains more from last night than MLB does. Rose didn't use anybody- he was an invited guest. I just think it was a nice gesture on the part of Castellini and the Reds, and very kind for Selig to allow it to happen.

The Reds have really stepped up and done a lot of things, mostly off the field, to increase the class of their organization. They are beginning to pay attention to the little things that endear them to the local community.

As for FSN not showing it live- it's the first time in 6 months they have had college football to deal with. No nefarious plot to force one to go to the game.

[membengal]

Whatever Dusty wants, I am pretty okay with. And Rolen could probably use a day off.

[macro]

The team's attendance at the past eight Saturday home games before last night, starting with the most recent on August 28 against the Cubs and ending with the game played back on May 15:

41,292
37,445
41,611
41,300
37,757
34,240
36,918
41,326

Source: Baseball Reference (http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CIN/2010-schedule-scores.shtml)

Saturday attendance clearly has not been a problem at Great American Ballpark this season, at least since the game played May 8, when they drew 26,404 against the Cubs.

The capacity of the park is listed at 42,271, so if last night was part of a MLB conspiracy to increase attendance, based on recent numbers, the increase would have been only about 5,000-7,000 people, even if it were a sellout. Every one of those extra tickets would have been $14 View Level, $7 Bleachers, or $5 Outer View Level seats. How much extra revenue are we really even talking about here?

Last night's attendance was 36,101, the second-lowest Saturday attendance since the May 8 game. Yes, the argument could be made that, without Pete, attendance would have been even lower. But if there was a conspiracy, the effects of it at the box office were most likely negligible.

I just can't imagine MLB saying "Man, the Cincinnati Reds are only averaging about 40K a game for their Saturday home dates this season. We're going to have to cook something up to increase attendance at that September 11 game."

[Sea Ray]

MLB can't win with some fans. Let's say they did OK the Pete thing because Bud thought the fans of Cincinnati would like to see him again. What's wrong with that?

If he'd said no to the 4192 ceremony then there'd be even more fans moaning. I think Selig made the right decision here

[Roy Tucker]

Frankly, Rose stopped being relevant years ago. At least to me.

And this whole 4192 thing was a little sad that they didn't even sell out the ballpark. There was a time when they would have sold the place out several times over and the place would have thundered. But the Cincinnati fire for Rose has died out.

[Cooper]

Teams tend to get an increase in attendance the year after a good season. This issue has been studied quite often.