Need Some Cards Advice

by Big Rev on Mar 18, 2007 10:28 PM EDT

So I nonchalantly dropped the idea of either MLBTV or DirecTV Extra Innings to the wife in conversation during Sunday dinner, and she absolutely floored me with her response. She said that either I can get an out-of-market package listed above OR take a trip to the Lou to see one game at new Busch with my dad (neither of us have been to see a game at the new stadium)....but not both. So she asked which it will be? I'm stuck between the possibility of being able to watch every Cards game at home in Chicago or getting to see a live game finally at the new stadium. We also visit Miller Park once a year to see a Cards game. What should I do? What would you do? Thanks for the advice.

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get the television bit

one game is not worth it.

satis superque

by ortic jones on Mar 18, 2007 10:38 PM EDT reply actions

TV

New Busch is like old Busch, only not as interesting.

by DanUpBaby on Mar 18, 2007 10:42 PM EDT reply actions

TV

Take the TV package but in the meantime do everything you can to earn good husband points and mention the trip again -- after sufficient points have been earned.

by Elle on Mar 18, 2007 11:07 PM EDT reply actions

I think we have a winner

Sneaky.

by DanUpBaby on Mar 18, 2007 11:50 PM EDT up reply actions

The counteroffer

"I'll take the DirecTV. Then you can get me and my dad the trip to Busch as our combined birthday/Father's Day/Cinco de Mayo present."

Husband points are the wrong way to go--you're negotiating from a position of weakness. You never know how many it's going to take, and a premature attempt to cash them in voids all accumulated points (you gotta read the fine print on those husband point coupons).

by blove121 on Mar 19, 2007 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions

TV

You should definitely take the TV package. As great as seeing a game in person is, following them all is, in the long run, more satisfying, in my opinion.

Invite your father over, open up a couple of beers, and enjoy the fact that you didn't have to pay nine dollars for them.

I like the stadium, but I love the team. I think I would lose my mind if I had to only see one game.

by the red baron on Mar 19, 2007 12:20 AM EDT reply actions

No

Actually, do both. Take in the game, buy the wife a hot dog. Drive home, or better yet, have a couple beers, have her drive you home, then get the package.

(C'mon people, it's a Cardinals board. We don't have to give out sound marriage advice.)

by mikeoat on Mar 19, 2007 4:30 AM EDT reply actions

I'm not getting married.

by plh903 on Mar 19, 2007 9:27 AM EDT reply actions

Put me down...

for a solid vote for the package. I've had it for a few years, and am going to miss having it this summer. (We are in the process of moving, doesn't make sense.)

I've been to New Busch, and it is eh. Besides, its hard to get decent seats and I maintain that the road show at Miller is a better atmosphere and you can better seats and will probably have a better time.

Make the trip to Miller and get the package.

by Brock20 on Mar 19, 2007 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Hmm

not sure why this is directed at me. But, I'll be making the trip to Busch a few times this year, buy the MLB package, and get MLBtv, just to have stuff on demand.

Then, I'll drink beer in my underwear while I watch baseball as much as I please. Maybe go to the bar later in the night, try my luck there. Perhaps I'll call an old fling to come over if that doesn't work out.

Either way, I won't be getting into a relationship that I have to decide whether I can "watch the Birds on TV" or "make a trip to Busch to see old friends and enjoy the game."

But, that's just me.

by plh903 on Mar 20, 2007 3:54 AM EDT up reply actions

Another question for the masses...

Big Rev, I apologize for hijaking your thread, but I too have a dilemma. I live in NYC, and am moving. I am wondering what people's experiences are with MLBtv. I am worried that it wont be good on my computer...will be delayed, or skip or not sound or look right. I have a Dell 2003 laptop with Windows XP and a cable modem. Otherwise, I think i'll be switching to Direct TV to get Extra Innings. Thoughts?

Thanks so much.

by sdelek on Mar 19, 2007 11:41 AM EDT reply actions

MLB.TV

It worked fine for me, provided I had a cable/DSL service connection.

Sometimes there were glitches, but I think these occured as often as they would with cable or satellite.

Personally, I don't care about watching on big screens, and prefer the portability of a laptop. But if you like a big screen and nicer picture in exchange for portability, then perhaps go with the DirecTV.

matty fred is a web log.

by matty fred on Mar 19, 2007 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions

I used mlbtv

with an s-video cable from my laptop into my 31" TV. The resolution wasn't great but it was good enough to watch, and I really think it looks better on the TV than on the laptop screen.

I got the premium mlb tv this year; it'll be interesting to see how much difference the higher bandwidth makes.

"God is back in the National League. Matter of fact, he is staying at my house." -Joaquin Andujar

by SleepyCA on Mar 19, 2007 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions

you certainly

get more for your money with the package; however, i discovered that i enjoyed watching games on tv/computer much more after having seen the new park.

it would seem to me that you wife is more likely to at some point relent on the trip if you get the package rather than relent on the package if you go on the trip...

by sdesserman on Mar 19, 2007 3:35 PM EDT reply actions

Blackout Area?

If I were you I would check to make sure that you are not in the Card's blackout area. I live about an hour west of Chicago and I am in there blackout area so I had to fight with Dish Network last year to get the cost of the EI package back. Hopefully you will have better luck than I did.

by stl4all on Mar 19, 2007 5:02 PM EDT reply actions

Wife

tell her you'll do whatever you damn well please, and then do whatever you damn well please.

okay, okay. i'm joking. i'd go with the TV, and then your dad into springing for the trip.

by kindred on Mar 19, 2007 7:09 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah

tell her to get back in the kitchen!

Cheers

by Alxfritz on Mar 20, 2007 4:51 AM EDT up reply actions

And

Make you a pie!

by the red baron on Mar 20, 2007 7:01 AM EDT up reply actions

Then

After you've done that, you can totally bunk on my couch for a couple of days.

by the red baron on Mar 20, 2007 7:01 AM EDT up reply actions

This is Brilliant

I'm going to print this out and frame it.

by liam on Mar 20, 2007 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Thank you all for the advice!

Wow, I wasn't expexcting the turnout for this diary, but you all helped me considerably. The premium MBLTV package is less money than a DVR DirecTV Package (to match MLBTV's downloadability of games) plus Extra Innings. So, I'm telling the wife that I want MBLTV. BTW, I will totally try the S-video cable to my TV idea. We're still going to Miller Park to hopefully see Suppan lose (Soup was her favorite Cardinal...she's still pissed he left). I might even get my dad to drive up here and take him to a Card/Cub game at the Ivy. We'll see.
But thank you all for your advice! I appreciated the husband-points advice too!

by Big Rev on Mar 20, 2007 10:56 PM EDT reply actions