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IN THE SECOND inning of last night’s MLB meeting between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees, things got nasty (even by the standard these sides normally bring to the table).
Boston’s Ryan Dempster appeared to hit Alex Rodriguez on purpose, possibly because of the ongoing ‘Biogenesis’ probe surrounding the Yankees star.
Dempster’s first pitch to A-Rod went behind the slugger’s legs. The next two pitches were both inside, that clearly left Rodriguez upset. Finally, on the fourth pitch of the at bat Dempster hit A-Rod with a pitch up and in. The beaning sparked warnings from the umpire and an eventual ejection of Yankees manager Joe Girardi.
YouTube credit: WorldstarhiphopHD1
Rodriguez will leave Boston bruised, but still looking smug. In the sixth inning he hit a home run off a Dempster pitch to set the Yankees up for a 9-6 comeback win.
YouTube credit: MD TAMZID KHAN
“The Aviva Stadium is expected to be at a reduced capacity for the game, in the region of 27,000, although that could change in the event of exceptional demand” surely that’s how it is with moat teams? I’d imagine there will be a lot more of a demand than the 27,000 capacity anyway.
@Dave Murray: I would have thought that certain sections will not be used with restricted capacity, resulting in a smaller staff requirement. If they put all 52k tickets on sale, all sections will have to be available and therefore full match day costs applied.
@Paul Ennis: I get that, just thought it(a little)odd that they would announce a 27,000 capacity restriction before tickets are on sale to the public and see what the demand is etc. But I guess with a short turn around and Easter weekend it could be harder to shift 50,000 tickets and get staff in like you said.
@Dave Murray: EPRC also organising the game rather than Leinster, and they’re shit at running things.
Without being presumptuous – is the semi final
Draw already planned out?
@Daithi Mc Ghiollamhairtin: Yeah. Leinster/Leicester v Toulouse/Sharks and La Rochelle/Salarycens v Exeter/Stormers
@baz dunne: many thanks
@baz dunne: Salarycens hahaha
5 day turnaround with the knock on effect of potential reduced capacity due to the limited timeframe is a great reward for going through as top seed. This is an absolute joke
@Rob Doyle: Your prize for top seed is its at “home” or at least 10mins down the road from it, so be thankful you’re not coming from Welford Rd with a week to plan it!! it does feel too near, be better if a 2 week gap but all the teams that are through are in the same scenario regardless of they seeding. 27k is an average sized rugby stadium, crucially it’s circa 10k more than full RDS capacity, and the fans all know the weekends of the semis well in advance, if not the exact day. I’m not overjoyed by a half full Aviva myself but it is what it is.
Real shame it’s not in a packed RDS, a half full Aviva sucks.
I think we’ll Leinster, Sharks, Stormers, and La Rochelle in the semis.
@Brenda Collins: 3 from URC? they’ll be due an ol restructure soon enough so.