Earlier this week, Yankees COO Lonn Trost touched off comparisons to Marie Antoinette with his response to a question about allowing the unwashed masses who visit Yankee Stadium a chance to get close to the field for batting practice.
"There's an area by the Legends Suite which is not an area that fans can get into," Trost said. "If you purchase a suite, do you want somebody in your suite? If you purchase a home, do you want somebody in your home?"
He also said there wouldn't be any change in the policy. Given the way the first season at the new Stadium has gone, it shouldn't surprise you that Trost's words were worthless. On Thursday, the Yankees announced that they would be allowing fans into field-level seats during batting practice.
They won't be allowed into the precious Legends Suite, but they'll be welcomed in sections down the left and right field line while the Yankees tune up for games. Why? Because they looked at the old policy and decided that there wasn't much of anything wrong with it in the first place.
At some point, the Yankees may want to start advising the people who speak on their behalf to stop and think for a half a second before opening their mouths. Here's a phrase that might come in handy for such moments: "We're still working out all the kinks of a new stadium. As such, we are analyzing all aspects of its operation and will make adjustments as necessary."
That way they can avoid the negative news cycles that they get from scoffing at people's well-reasoned complaints like they are evil despots rather than a professional baseball team. You'd think they want to avoid those negative cycles since they always end up doing just what they say they'll never, ever do in a million years.
Josh Alper is a writer living in New York City and is a contributor to FanHouse.com and ProFootballTalk.com in addition to his duties for NBCNewYork.com.
