I realize that some folks think that Rob Neyer is a good writer, and they’re entitled to their opinion. I think he’s a hack with marginal writing abilities.

Funny thing, I just re-read Josh Wilker’s piece about the stadium (he’s a HUGE Sox fan) and a search for the word “Fenway” didn’t return a single reference. And while I wouldn’t flip the bird at Boston’s Park, at least Josh’s memories were about the park he was supposed to write about.

As for his take on Yankee Stadium, I don’t agree with it, but I believe that some of his reservations simply come from a purist streak regarding the bells and whistles of the modern ballpark. Let’s face it, Yankee Stadium during its final years was anything but a purist’s haven, particularly when it came to noise levels and the canned music and cheesy video stuff and the crappy security and lousy concessions and high prices…

This past June, during the Cincinnati series, I happened to see Rob and a couple of his friends during a rain delay at the stadium. I know him a little via SABR and Baseball Prospectus, correspond with him occasionally, so it wasn’t out of line to go up and renew acquaintances. He and I and our respective entourages wound up sitting together after the rain subsided, and it was a rare pleasure, even if he couldn’t be swayed to come around to the park’s charms. He visibly winced during “YMCA” and “Cotton Eyed Joe.” Really, can you blame a guy?

I did get a chance to point out a few of my favorite features – the black batter’s eye, the formerly-in-play flagpole, and the way the history of Yankee Stadium unfolded via those three leftfield walls. I thought he’d at least get a kick out of that, but it drew a grudging nod, at best. There’s just no convincing some people, I guess.

as to Fenway though, have never been there. two Boston friends, one claims it’s a classic park, best in the majors…other pal says it’s an over-rated, over-priced dump and should be demolished…

Neyer may be a Royals fan, but he was rooting for Boston and waxes poetically about Fenway being “the place” and about “Peky’s pole, the Green Monster and Pesky’s Pole and Lansdowne Street and all the rest” yada, yada.
Sorry, but this is supposed to be about Neyer’s Yankee Stadium, not a backhanded opportunity for him to tell us about a “real park” in Boston.

He’s allowed his bias to overwhelm his writing. Oh, and if you want to believe Fenway is better then you’re certainly entitled to you opinion. But again, this is a Yankee web-blog, and the subject is supposed to be Yankee Stadium memories not how Fenway is better.

But, in my opinion Fenway’s an absolute sewer. Cramped seating, obstructed views, and rats are the real charm of a park, which was built partially on a swamp. (If you want a great old park that’s got less of the problems of Fenway, try Wrigley; now there’s a great old park).

Ted Williams once said, “I won’t shed a tear” if Fenway were torn down. Can you imagine Babe Ruth saying that about Yankee Stadium? I sure can’t.

And let the record show that even many Yankee fans knew that was a great game, loss notwithstanding — and also know that Fenway is a better park than Yankee Stadium, may it RIP. And I’m one of them.

My dislike for Trot Nixon came from that day-before-Memorial-Day game. I’ve always felt cheated that, as brilliantly as he pitched, Clemens lost.

What a shock. ESPN shill thinks aliens will fall in love with Fenway.