As boxing fixtures go, the upcoming Major League Baseball games at the SCG could be real humdingers.
Nine months ago, a game between the LA Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks descended into tit-for-tat brandings at the hands of the respective pitchers and then into an all-in brawl, resulting in eight player suspensions.
The very next day, it was announced the two teams would open the 2014 MLB season 12,000 kilometres from home in Sydney. No doubt the SCG Trustees could not believe their luck.
If you’re worried they might have kissed and made up in the meantime, don’t be. The last time they played each other, in September, the Dodgers took a dip in the Diamondbacks’ pool after winning the National League West title and the home team went ballistic.
What’s the biggie, you ask? It’s just a swimming pool. Ah, but it’s a swimming pool made sacred by the Diamondbacks themselves by celebrating a previous title win with a team dunking.
That the Dodgers had the temerity to mimic this victory ritual had Arizona Senator John McCain, no stranger to coming second in a big contest, tweeted:
No-class act by a bunch of overpaid, immature, arrogant, spoiled brats! “The #Dodgers are idiots” http://t.co/KfZZliBFBV
— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) September 20, 2013
One Phoenix journalist called for “a high-profile draining and cleansing of the pool. Maybe even bring in Bill Murray in a HAZMAT suit.”
Down Under, while the teams have tried to play down any residual animosity, quotes like “Our focus is on taking these guys down,” and “These aren’t friendly games,” have still found their way into media conversations.
So there’s a reasonable chance we could get two sports for the price of one in the ticket price.
For what it’s worth – and it’s worth $US310 million – this weekend represents the highest-paid assortment of sports stars ever to set foot in Australia.
The Dodgers make up $220 million of that amount, with pitcher Clayton Kershaw recently signing a seven-year deal worth an eye-watering $215 million. Kind of puts Buddy Franklin in the shade, doesn’t it?
It’s also a far cry from the Australian representative team that toured the US in 1897, who didn’t even have baseball mitts and later discovered there wasn’t enough money to get back to Australia.
A further $2 million has been spent converting the SCG into a baseball field, including the importation of 250 tonnes of San Diego clay.
The transformation hasn’t pleased everyone, with cricket purists miffed they now have to travel three hours to Canberra to watch a NSW Sheffield Shield home final.
But let’s be honest. As much as I love my cricket, the Blues were never going to fill the SCG for four days or attract the 170 million global viewers the baseball is going to bring.
So, I’m up for the spectacle. My daughter and I will be there, if only to see what $310 million looks like.
Wombat
Guest
Yep. Sure was expensive..but in my book it was worth it. I like all sport, but to see a Major League game on hallowed turf, in my lifetime was sensational. It is interesting to see the "complaints" about ticket prices, but I regularly see people go out on the town on a Friday or Saturday night and blow 2-300 dollars on booze. Each to there own.
Glenn Innes
Guest
Jorji - Because like football (soccer) the nature of baseball means in one off games big upsets can happen..that is one of the sports attractions. Also like soccer it is a sport that requires patience and is not set up for instant gratification it requires patience and knowledge.. this is why many younger Americans think it is boring and American Football eclipsed it a couple of decades ago.This tells us more about modern society than it does about the great sport of baseball.
p.Tah
Guest
Thanks!
kazblah
Roar Guru
10.30-ish
p.Tah
Guest
anyone know what time the game on Saturday night finishes (approximately)? cheers
Chim Richalds
Guest
You really think they took that game seriously? C'mon. For them it's just an extra practise session that they want to get over with. They have real games to play.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Its preseason, and the kids pitching were pitching for their careers.
josh
Roar Rookie
Can someone explain how a team of amateurs from Hong Kong beat professionals from Bangladesh? It's sport these things happen, any given day. May the Dodgers weren't taking it seriously, throwing maybe 80% (it is just an exhibition game). When Australia went 2-0 they had to save face. then boom 4-2. But, you right Australia is a relative hot spot of baseball talent, we have a few in the MLB. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Major_League_Baseball_players_from_Australia Also if you dig a little deeper you will find the Dodgers have a multi-national roster, with American's, Cubans, Dominican Republicans (if that's the right word), Japanese etc...
The Sheriff
Guest
Like the Yanks in WWII; they are "overpaid" and "over here". They look flabby and unfit, too.
Jorji Costava
Guest
Can someone explain to me how the Australian team almost beat this fully professional US club with players on 100s of millions of dollars? Maybe the LA club is paying way too much for it's players or the Australia team is full of uncovered diamonds. You can see the skill difference in basketball when the US team wins by 30/40/50 points, but this is questionable by the American baseballers on their worth.
Rocco75
Guest
agreed. Not that I'm taking anything away from the LA Dodgers and Clayton Kershaw but those prices aren't good value. Even the Rolling Stones concert tickets are cheaper than that...... and they've flown home..... whoever set the prices (and I guess the NSW Government, SCG Trust and event organisers did) need to have a re-think because in my opinion I don't think it's value for money.
kazblah
Roar Guru
The prices are eye-watering, Rocco75. Tonight's game between TeamAus and the Diamondbacks is cheaper. We got Trumper Concourse tix last night for $42.50 each. Still not cheap, but more in the ball park.
Rocco75
Guest
anyone seen the ticket prices for the games? Platinum $499.00 Gold Grandstand $369.00 Gold Concourse $369.00 Silver $259.00 Bronze $189.00 Outfield $99.00 Grandstand Outfield $69.00 Concourse Outfield $129.00 Trumper Concourse $89.00 Miller Bullpen Bar $149.00 even for a one off event (2 games - Saturday night and Sunday afternoon), I think the prices are ridiculous. Even trying to take a child under 16 to the game would be expensive. Major League Rip Off. I will be watching it on TV. I would suspect even the Man Utd and Liverpool visits to Australia had cheaper tickets than that.
josh
Roar Rookie
Not having a crack at the game, I follow the Athletics through the season. Tickets are still available on Ticketek.
kazblah
Roar Guru
Last night was a cracking game and Team Aus were well in the hunt against the Dodgers. Then the eighth innings happened. But, yes, not a huge crowd. I understand the weekend games all be sold out though.
kazblah
Roar Guru
Yep, hard to argue with that, Johnno. Have a read of today's piece by Rob from Brumby Country on his ideas for shaking up the Shield. Some interesting thoughts.
josh
Roar Rookie
Sydney won't turn up. They only like having events , not turning up to them. Odd place.
Johnno
Guest
Ah the cricket purists and traditionalist haveing a whinge about the sheild final being moved to Manuka Oval Canberra. Well if these so called purists really had a beef, then why don't they turn up to shield games including the final the last 30 years. I reckon there are more LA Dodgers fans in all of Sydney than there are state cricket fans in all of OZ.