Where Was I: Marlins Park, Miami, Florida (May 20, 2013)

Stadium Count:
For the trip: 5
Active MLB: 17
Overall MLB: 25

Seat: Section 136: Row 3; seat 21, in an upper RF bleacher section that overhangs the lower section.

Result: Marlins 5 Phillies 1.

Jeffrey Loria and David Samson are arseholes.

They took ownership of the Expos and promptly went cap in hand to the provincial and municipal governments looking for predominantly public financing of a new ballpark in Montréal. When that did not happen, they scrapped the ball park plans, essentially surrendered the franchise to MLB control, and were given a sweetheart deal to take over the Marlins franchise.

What did they do? They went cap in hand to the state and local governments to get a publicly funded facility built in Miami. It was the only way they could ensure enough revenue streams to field a winning team, ya know, otherwise, they would move the team.

This time the blackmail worked and Loria and his sycophantic son-in-law Samson got their white elephant, I mean, publicly financed stadium.

All the while, the Marlins were receiving proceeds from the MLB's revenue-sharing scheme ... and not spending them to better their team.

I am not even going to get into the great free agent frenzy of off-season 2011-12, followed by the great free agent signee giveaway of off-season 2012-13. Or that the 2013 marlins team is replacement-level at best (Nick Green?).

So Jeffrey Loria and David Samson are arseholes. Check that, they are fucken arseholes.

So what is a former Expo fan who is on a quest to see all 30 MLB stadiums to do?

He buys the cheapest ticket available ($10), does not spend anything on concessions and does not write a peep about Marlins Park itself. No publicity, good or bad, for The House That Loria Stole.

Also, he derives a fair amount of satisfaction that the crowd on Monday, 13,300 or so, was the lowest ever for Marlins Park.

Take that Loria.


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