Fillipponi: Pittsburghers Aren't The Only Ones Who Don't Like Baseball.
"Where the #%!@ is everyone!"
I had to utter that line a dozen times. I was walking around the upper deck concourse of Progressive Field in Cleveland and I felt like I had broken into my neighbor's house. There were whole sections of seats roped off. Concession stands closed for business. Was I in the right place? I thought the game was in the second inning?
It was. Just no one seemed to care. You think baseball apathy in Pittsburgh is at an outer space level, check out Cleveland. It will cheer you up. The Indians have the best record in baseball (11-4), and the worst attendance (14,000 fans a game). The number of empty plastic seats outnumber fans sitting in them by 2:1.
I sat behind home plate with a perfect view of the field for 12 dollars. Cleveland wants a winner (so they say), they currently have one, but they're not paying attention. I'd like to think if the Pirates were in first place we'd get more than 13,000 fans for a Sunday matinee.
Is that right? Or would it take something more to win you over? If the Bucs had the best record in the National League, would that get you to the ballpark?
