Et tu, U2?
Posted by Andy on January 27, 2011
Add the band U2 to the things of things more important to many than the Marlins and Mariners franchises.
Posted by Andy on January 27, 2011
Add the band U2 to the things of things more important to many than the Marlins and Mariners franchises.
January 27th, 2011 at 2:48 pm
U2 is the worst band of all time
January 27th, 2011 at 2:54 pm
Somehow, this news strikes me as the perfect symbol that inter-league play has run its course.
P.S. Factual correction: U2 is one of the greatest rock bands ever. Their "WAR" album featured groundbreaking sabermetric work by The Edge.
January 27th, 2011 at 3:14 pm
You didn't see the Mets vacate Shea for the Beatles...they scheduled around each other. Who the hell promoted this concert into a venue already booked? Baseball is slowly becoming just an afterthought to the public at large. It's sad.
January 27th, 2011 at 3:17 pm
Sean Forman will love another one of these series wreaking havoc with home/away stats and park factors.
U2 was a great band until the early '90s. Since then, who cares. Maybe they should have tried some of those PEDs I hear were all the rage at the time.
January 27th, 2011 at 3:27 pm
JT -- You didn't like "All That You Can't Leave Behind"? (2001)
January 27th, 2011 at 3:29 pm
#4/... Johnny Twisto Says: "U2 was a great band until the early '90s. Since then, who cares. Maybe they should have tried some of those PEDs I hear were all the rage at the time."
Johnny T., you're saying that U2 had a nice long peak, but an even longer decline phase?
Where do you think they would rank in music history in RAR (Recordings Above Replacement)?
Are they inner-circle?
Are there any era or park adjustments to make?
January 27th, 2011 at 3:30 pm
It's a pity that former Marlins closer Ugueth Urbina won't be able to attend either event.
January 27th, 2011 at 3:32 pm
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bonogu01.shtml
January 27th, 2011 at 3:33 pm
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/e/edgerbi01.shtml
January 27th, 2011 at 3:34 pm
À propos of practically nothing at all: Hewson.
You understand that moving the games to Seattle is just Loria trying to pad his pitchers' numbers, right? (-;þ
January 27th, 2011 at 3:34 pm
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/claytro01.shtml
January 27th, 2011 at 3:35 pm
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mullebi01.shtml
January 27th, 2011 at 3:39 pm
The idea that a concert could get a three-game series moved insults me as a baseball fan. I looked into this situation further, and I found out that this leg of their tour was supposed to happen a year ago, but got postponed because Bono needed back surgery. In 2010 the Marlins took an extended road trip just to accommodate the concert before it ended up getting put on hold.
What really amazes me is that U2 needs to set up their concerts ten days in advance according to that article (though the Marlins play a home date on June 22, so they'll only get seven days this time). They must have an extremely elaborate stage show.
As much as the Marlins annoy me, I hope they get more attendance in their new ballpark. You know this wouldn't be happening if their turnout weren't so consistently pathetic.
January 27th, 2011 at 3:51 pm
Bill Edgerton (linked to in John's #9) — there's your Seattle connection. Edgerton is also one of 18 post-1960 players whose career sacrifice hits exceed one half of his career plate appearances.
I hope [the Marlins] get more attendance in their new ballpark. You know this wouldn't be happening if their turnout weren't so consistently pathetic.
The upcoming season will be the Marlins' 19th in the same stadium. The stadium has had six different names during that time.
January 27th, 2011 at 4:15 pm
Of course it makes sense for U2 to take precendence over the Marlins. At least U2 will fill up the joint. Move the Marlins games to Fort Lauderdale stadium, which holds about 8,300. It will give the Marlins an opportunity to play before a near-sellout crowd.
I thought Boy was an excellent debut album. October had some decent songs but it was a 'sophomore slump' album. Rather than going the way of Joe Charbonneau, the boys from Ireland came back roaring with War, one of the greatest albums of all-time. The Unforgettable Fire had some very good songs but had too much filler. The Joshua Tree was simply amazing, and Rattle and Hum succeeded in showing a different side of the band. Although it took awhile to get used to, Achtung Baby is beautiful. It is one of their top 3, along with War and Joshua Tree. Wasn't a big fan of Zooropa, and I haven't heard enough of the following albums to render an opinion.
January 27th, 2011 at 4:15 pm
In the 1992 playoffs, a Pittsburgh TV station did a commercial for the Pirates with various highlights from the season intercut with the world series trophy and the song "I still haven't found what I'm looking for" as the music...
January 27th, 2011 at 4:19 pm
Maybe we are looking at this wrong.
Maybe the Marlins are very smart.
Suppose they take the gate or a portion of the gate at Seattle.
My guessing is part of the gate at Seattle is better than some of the gate in Florida. Add to that a full gated attendance for the U2 concerts. Double Dip!
Also, they remove the always lingering threats of rain to the retractable confines of Safeco for three games.
As a fan or season ticket holder of the Marlins (I am not either) I would be pissed as hell. As a business owner, whether it be a concession owner/operator inside the stadium, or a Bar owner who bought the property/liquor license or hotel with the Stadium and crowd in mind, I'd sue the bastards. I know you're thinking not a big deal, but if you are relying on 81 home games and the money brought by them to pay your bills, and the Marlins decide to make more $ by axing 4% of your best days...
OUCH!
January 27th, 2011 at 4:45 pm
@ # 13 Ian W.
I attended a U2 concert years ago, I think in support of their Zooropa tour.
It was a gift/date type of thing, I have nothing against U2, but wouldn't go out and pay to see them.
Anyway, as a veteran of quite a few concerts, I have to say the stage show was the biggest and most elaborate thing I ever saw. I am not saying 'bigger and elaborate' = better. But as for the 10 day set up time - it wouldn't/doesn't surprise me in the least.
Overall however, the concert left me feeling so disassociated with the band. Our seats were not great, but the overwhelming stage show was just... overwhelming. It reinforced why I think concerts are not worth attending unless you have; a small intimate setting, or great seats. It is like boxing. Why go to a boxing match if you spend the majority of the time honed in on the jumbo-tron.
At the U2 show, it could of been prerecorded music and there would of been virtually no difference.
January 27th, 2011 at 4:58 pm
I'm sorry, I must have missed something. Please clue me in.
And although I didn't agree with him on politics, the only musical Bono who has ever meant anything to me was Sonny, who used to be married to Cher and sang with her. (And it was the Sonny-era Cher that I remain a fan of, not her more recent stuff.)
January 27th, 2011 at 5:00 pm
And the only other Bono who has meant anything to me is http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BonoSt00.htm - one of multiple QBs who were 49ers before becoming Chiefs in the 1990s.
January 27th, 2011 at 5:18 pm
@1
DUDE! There are hundreds, make that thousands of bands who couldn't carry U2's, uh, catcher's protection (love to hear who you think are the best bands). U2 started out great, faded in the middle, and has been making a comeback.
Don't diss the baller
January 27th, 2011 at 6:25 pm
"War, one of the greatest albums of all-time."
My personal U2 favorite! I still think they never surpassed that one on the Biff-o-meter, even given their success of Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby.
"You didn't like "All That You Can't Leave Behind"? (2001)"
My least favorite. I was a big fan of Pop (1997) actually, which most U2 fans hate, and found ATYCLB a major letdown.
"As much as the Marlins annoy me, I hope they get more attendance in their new ballpark. You know this wouldn't be happening if their turnout weren't so consistently pathetic."
I agree. I think it has to be better. I love the heat, but have to admit that sitting at THAT STADIUM during the dog days of summer is downright brutal. It traps the heat right in.
January 27th, 2011 at 8:07 pm
Isn't back surgery nature's way of telling you you're too old to be a rock star?
January 27th, 2011 at 9:02 pm
An omen. Me thinks the Marlins will be leaving all together soon. That's ok. It takes a second to say goodbye.
January 27th, 2011 at 10:51 pm
You didn't like "All That You Can't Leave Behind"?
Nah. Bloated and boring.
Pop music is a young man's game. Stick with it too long, you become an embarrassment or just repeat yourself.
Where do you think they would rank in music history in RAR (Recordings Above Replacement)? Are they inner-circle? Are there any era or park adjustments to make?
Tough questions. Even a single great song can be indelible. How do we define replacement level? Surely not against any band that ever played a school talent show. But then we can't limit it to groups that charted either, because tons of great groups/songs never did. Park adjustments....hmmm, did they have an unfair advantage being produced by Lillywhite and Lanois?
Why go to a boxing match if you spend the majority of the time honed in on the jumbo-tron.
Ha. I saw the fight at Yankee Stadium last year. Indeed, I was compelled to watch the jumbotron most of the time.
U2 played Yankee Stadium on their Zoo TV tour in about 1992. The centerfield grass didn't recover for the rest of the season.
January 27th, 2011 at 11:11 pm
@25
"How do we define replacement level?"
I hope it's not as low as the newest rappers
And U2 really would spell it Grey ink.
Pitching coach Brian Eno did help. Two Hearts Beat As One shows their on-bass percentage. Do we have to adjust them for IRA? U2 was probably helped by spying on the competition. They have a home-field advantage because they're always doublin', but they've had a lot of Pop. They lead the league in War and do well in October.
January 28th, 2011 at 8:21 am
#3: The best infield in Shea Stadium history in front of a cheering crowd: John, Paul, George and Ringo in 1965 and 1966.
January 28th, 2011 at 9:29 am
@2--John Autin, U2 also supports the ONE/DATA project.
Beyond sabermetrics, they released the album "October" and the hit single "The Fly".
January 28th, 2011 at 9:34 am
On the attendance issue--U2 was the only arena band to have sold out every one of their scheduled shows from 2000-2009. This information is from Wikipedia; I don't know the minimum number of Appearences to qualify.
January 28th, 2011 at 9:52 am
@27 Leave it to the Amazin' Mets to try to put two left-handers (Paul and Ringo) in the same infield
January 28th, 2011 at 10:41 am
#26/Jeff J. - and BOY, did they get off to a great early start - though their WAR in the past decade-plus has been barely above replacement level...
January 28th, 2011 at 11:22 am
@30 Like too many Met infields, the Beatles had only two guys who could play bass.
January 28th, 2011 at 3:21 pm
U2 was REALLY good until "Joshua Tree", but that was when they got REALLY popular. They were kind of hit and miss through the 1990's.
But "All That You Can't Leave Behind" is one of the best albums by any group in their 20th+ year. "Beautiful Day" is one of the best Songs of the 2000's.
January 28th, 2011 at 3:35 pm
The thing about U2 that I have always loved was how they never hesitated to change things up. Joshua Tree was a fairly standard rock album (although also a very good one) which they then followed with Rattle & Hum, which had a lot of non-standard rock songs.
I will never forget the first time I heard Achtung Baby, which was just so weird. Mysterious Ways was SUCH a weird song--The Fly, Even Better than the Real Thing, even One was a very unusual ballad. Now those songs are like the foundation of rock that came after them--it really changed the landscape of modern music. I cannot emphasize how different and weird EVERYBODY thought that album was when it first came out. And now it almost sounds dull, although still a fantastic album.
Since then, each album they've come out with has been a deliberate attempt to change up from their own past. Some have been more successful, and some less so, but they never bring out the same old crap. They are always trying to do something new.
January 28th, 2011 at 3:39 pm
The only real problem I have with U2 is their Grammy wins for Best Rock Performance (by a Group) in 2005 and 2006 over Green Day and The Killers.
ESPECIALLY "Vertigo" over "American Idiot" in 2005. That was ridiculous.
January 28th, 2011 at 3:55 pm
#35/ Tmckelv Says: "The only real problem I have with U2 is their Grammy wins for Best Rock Performance (by a Group) in 2005 and 2006 over Green Day and The Killers..."
In the same way that some people here hold it against Andre Dawson that he won an MVP award that (they think that) he didn't deserve in 1987, I wouldn't hold it against U2 that they won Grammys in 2005/06 that you think they didn't deserve.
This reflects more on the voters than the recipients of the award.
One area that I would give U2 major major credit for is that they're been at or near the top of an incredibly competitive biz for a quarter of a century - long-time success on their level in the music business is nearly unprecedented.
This not to say I think they're the greatest - I liked them a lot through the early nineties, but have been neutral towards them since then.
January 28th, 2011 at 4:33 pm
Lawrence @36,
You are correct about the voters of Grammys. I shouldn't hold it against U2. But I CAN hold against them that they allowed the "Vertigo" song to be used in that IPOD commercial that played insessantly and perhaps influenced the weaker-minded Grammy voters. So U2 probably contributed to the problematic end result more than Andre Dawson ever "intentionally" did.
January 28th, 2011 at 5:38 pm
The Grammies have always been a joke. Why would any serious music fan pay attention to them? They will hardly ever recognize any progressive music. The great artists they do honor are always 20-30 years late. Awards for art are a questionable enterprise anyway.
"I never let a statue tell me how nice I am" -- Phife Dawg
"Who gives a f--- about a goddamn Grammy?" -- Flavor Flav
January 29th, 2011 at 9:03 pm
To Pete @16:
Sadly, Fort Lauderdale Stadium will be turned into a water park soon. Apparently, demolition of that historic venue may coincide with U2's visit to South Florida.
January 31st, 2011 at 9:31 am
JT @38,
Many times the MVP voting is just as much of "joke" as some of the Grammy decisions. Should we question why any serious baseball fan would pay attention to it?