I think this has more to do with everyone having to find something to complain about when it comes to the Yankees.
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Exactly; it’s not like “fake” fans getting postseason tickets is a new phenomenon

FWIW, in the YES pre-game tonight, Paul O’Neill referenced the crowds at Shea in the NLDS and the crowds at Yankee Stadium in this ALDS and said something along the lines of it being more intense at Shea.

I keep hearing this thing about how “real” Yankee fans aren’t in the Stadium anymore and that “real” fans can’t afford tickets. It’s bull. I go to a handful of regular-season games and one game in each playoff series every year. The people I find around me are not corporate CEOs. Not even on the few occasions where I was sitting in field-level seats. On Tuesday night, in my seats that cost eighty bucks a pop, I was surrounded by people who looked decidedly working class. Yes, I see a lot of young girls at the Stadium who are dressed like they’re at a club, but this corporatization of Yankee fans seems like a bunch of bull to me.

I also flatly reject the idea that the Stadium doesn’t get loud and crazy anymore. Last year in the ALDS, game four, top of the ninth, Mo on the mound, facing Vladdy to close out the game. I’ve never heard the place so loud. It was literally quaking. Mo even mentioned it the next day.

I think this has more to do with everyone having to find something to complain about when it comes to the Yankees.

The idea that the Stadium is packed with people who don’t understand baseball just doesn’t hold true when you’re there.

That’s not a fair comparison. That was a best-of-1 playoff. And vs. Boston. And yes, a long time ago.

10/2/78 was a pretty exciting day game, IIRC.

Granted, that was on the road and a long time ago.

The same things could probably be said about Twins fans. That’s supposed to be the loudest place to play, but if the Twins are losing, it’s quiet as a mouse too.

I dont know about that writer, but I was at Wednesday night’s ‘game,’ and it WAS electric waiting for the game to start (7:45 – 8:10), but rain has a way of killing energy, as does a day game. Day games are like lazy days at the beach. Night games are exciting.

I was at the Stadium both Tuesday and Thursday and there was a big difference in the 2 crowds. Sure the level of play had something to do with it. But I think part of it is that yesterday was a day game. Even during the regular season, the night crowds just seem more into it. It felt more like Opening Day than a playoff game. When was the last time the Yanks played a 1:00 post-season game at home?

Also, the fact that it was a makeup game, I think a lot of people that wouldn’t normally go, ended up with tickets. People probably went to work with their extras and pawned them off on whoever could take them. There were a lot showing up in their business suits. Hell, 2 of mine went to customers of ours (although those guys were really into the game).

On a personal note, I find myself holding my breath in certain situations, unable to do anything but gnaw on my fingernails. Sometimes it’s just superstition. I won’t stand and cheer if our pitcher has 2 strikes on a batter and there’s less than 2 outs (unless it’s the 9th inning). ‘Cause when I do, there’s always a wild pitch or the guy gets a hit. I could write book on all of my cheering superstitions. And I know I’m not the only one.

See…I understand “when the home team is winning” argument. But two things:

1. The Yanks were winning! The crowd was dead after a standing ovation for Damon.

2. The point was that the Shea crowd was into it from pitch one. The Yankee crowd? Not so much.

3. I wouldn’t call the atmosphere at Shea “wonderful.” As a Yankee fan, it sucked! But at least they were into the game.

In the end, this crowd was the least electric crowd at Yankee Stadium in the postseason and I’ve seen some VERY crazy postseason crowds in the Bronx over the last 11 seasons.

I think Rich hit the nail on the head – it’s always louder when the home team is winning. If Ben didn’t like what he saw from Yankee fans yesterday, it could be because Yankee fans themselves didn’t like what they were seeing. I mean, to scream and clap and cheer for a team that didn’t look like they were as into the game as the other guys…well, it’s hard to get riled up when the play is so uninspiring.

While I’m sure there’s a degree of apathy setting in, I don’t think it’s fair to come down on those of us that simply can’t afford a ticket when the playoffs roll around.

And it’s pretty silly for Ben to talk about how wonderful the atmosphere was at Shea. Please. Not only were they winning yesterday (Shea was a morgue in September when they were getting their asses handed to them) but the Mets had their best season in two decades and they still didn’t pull the attendance title in the NL, despite the benefit of the NL’s largest market.

All fans are true fans. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been rooting for them, that’s plain nonsense.

The ‘unexpected’ scheduling of Thursday’s game didn’t help. Two friends of mine were beat after sitting through the ‘rain delay’ and having to reschedule for yesterday, too. Not excuses, just some possible reasons for yesterday’s crowd. There were empty seats there.

It also could be like the “Back in my day, I walked 30 miles to school” riff. Things (and audiences) change.

And it’s always louder when the home team is winning.