It took a month and a half before Jen, Jason and I were all able to attend an Astros game together, using our season tickets, without someone being out of town or otherwise engaged — but last night was finally the night! We headed downtown with hopes of seeing the Astros perform better than they had on Monday night (when they lost 10-1) and with hopes of seeing Barry Bonds hit home run #714 to tie Babe Ruth for second place all-time.
We saw neither. In fact, I don’t remember ever seeing a less enjoyable baseball game than the Astros 14-3 loss to the Giants last night. And though it certainly made things less enjoyable, it wasn’t the ugly loss that made the game so uncomfortable.
The fans were bad. The entire ballpark was filled with what I can only describe as negative energy. Barry Bonds was booed, loudly and repeatedly. A large group of fans in front of us held up signs with an asterisk and the outline of a syringe. The Giants fan behind us complained loudly about the booing. The fans in front of us told him to take a hike.
In the 6th inning, Bonds was brushed back from the plate by a poorly aimed pitch from Russ Springer. Both benches were warned. Springer then came inside on Bonds a second time. The crowd cheered as Barry hopped back. The next pitch hit Bonds on the shoulder. Springer was tossed, and the crowd cheered. They cheered loudly. The fans were cheering because our pitcher had just been tossed from the game, because he had hit Barry Bonds.
It made me physically uncomfortable, to hear the fans behaving so badly. To me, it was just wrong. I don’t care what you think about Barry Bonds, or the home run record, or steroids — cheering because your team plunked a hitter is low. And lame.
The epilogue? When Bonds was taken out of the game in the 7th inning, 75% of the fans left the ballpark. Those of us that stayed were able to watch the final innings in peace.
I would have walked Barry every single time, regardless of the situation.
Barry’s an ass. The only difference between he and Ty Cobb, other than their home-run hitting prowess, is that Cobb wore spikes and tried to spike infielders at second on overly aggressive – and sometimes errant – slides.
But some would say that – sans spikes – was and is part of the game. Does it make it right? No.
I think Garner said it best a few nights ago that (paraphrasing) Bonds brings it on himself.
Sounds like a game in Philly. Except the general hatred is directed at the entire visiting team and its fans rather than one person. Booing was part of the fun. Of course, not with the negative energy (except for the occasional riot) that you describe.