Is the game more important than following a team?

Discussion in 'MLB General' started by hielo español, Aug 8, 2009.

  1. hielo español

    hielo español Welcome aboard Dre

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    Last night "my" team the Twins were up against the Tigers, a massive game and yet I was watching Yankees v Bosox.

    Can I really call myself a fan of Minnesota?

    I mean I respect them, I've had the odd moment where I thought I was a serious fan but it is dawning on me that it was the games and how they went not the team.

    I find myself liking more teams than any other sport. The only team I actually hate is the Yankees.

    I love watching the Rays and they were what brought me back to the sport in the first place and Joe Maddon is by far my favourite manager but I didn't see Tampa as a viable option for 2 reasons. 1 I'd like to follow a team with real history from a "baseball town" and 2 I didn't want to jump on the waggon after their ALCS win last year.

    I don't really know what the point of this is just random thoughts.

    In "Soccer" I have the same mindset but I was born in Liverpool and am a diehard and though I like and respect other sides there is no chance any could ever be mine other than Liverpool F.C and I wouldn't want them to be.

    I suppose I am just spoilt for choice with the MLB which is a good thing in one way but in another I don't know if I'll ever support just one team.

    Twins
    Red Sox
    Nati(o)nals
    Braves
    Rays
    Indians
    to name just a few.

    A friend of mine keeps telling me I'm a Red Sox fan I just don't know it yet because they are the team that are most like my soccer team. In a way I think he is right but I don't know if I will ever just follow one team in baseball.

    Should I? Do the same rules apply to foreign fans? I used to think so but now I'm not too sure. You get a lot of bravado and one upmanship from other fans who "would never dream" of following anyone else but I wonder how much of that is down to a luke warm passion for the game and more of a mob mentality, a radicalism if you will.

    Just a few thoughts, back in the box I go.
     
  2. Kaydow

    Kaydow Well-Known Member

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    First of all - you have a Rudy Fernandez avatar so you must be a good guy! (Blazer fan here)

    I read your post and here's what I think. You, like many of us have grown to hate the Yankees with a passion. My favorite baseball team is the Atlanta Braves. But around 2003 or 2004 I realized the Braves were not going to contend for World Championships anymore. However, I had to root for somebody to beat the Yankees. You could say I became a de facto Red Sox Fan because they were the logical choice of teams to root for. Now if thet Braves played the Red Sox in the World Series, I'd still pull for my Braves. But these days I root for Boston b/c of my absolute disdain for the Yankees. I can't help it - I just hate those guys.

    But all of us Yankee-Haters need to brace ourselves this season because they ARE GOING to win the championship. They finally have good pitching again, and they always hit the ball better than anybody else. With Sabathia, Burnett, & Joba as a 1-2-3 with Hughes and Rivera in the bullpen, it's just lights out. Congratulations NY - it looks like you finally bought your title.

    One more thing, and remember I sympathize with you here - being a Twins fan will be painful. Like the Atlanta Braves that I root for, they are a fiscally responsible organization (they are cheap) They will never be able to compete with the juggernauts in the sport because they don't pay well. Sure, they will win some division titles, and then they'll have to match up with teams like the Yankees in the playoffs and they just have no chance. Your best 3 players (Morneau, Mauer, Kubel) are close to as good as their best 3 (A-Rod, Tex, Jeter) The match up problem is their depth. They have guys like Damon, Cano, Matsui, Posada, Cabrera, etc who are "role players" on that team and superstars on any other team. While the Twins start guys like Denard Span, Brendan Harris, & Carlos Gomez - those guys are bench players at best for the Yankees. It just sucks - it's the haves vs the have nots in baseball. And the bigger market teams will always be the front runners because they sign all of the free agents. The Yankees can afford to make a $50 to $100 million mistakes (Carl Pavano, Jason Giambi) while other teams simply can not. It's just the way it is.
     
    Last edited: Aug 8, 2009
  3. hielo español

    hielo español Welcome aboard Dre

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    See I've never seen a full game of basketball that I've ever cared about and not that many games at all. The game itself didn't appeal to me, mainly because I didn't understand it, which is quite funny because I played the game and apparently was quite good at it.

    I've started to get a handly on it but have still never seen a full game from "my" team Portland but I have read a lot during the off season and really made the effort and Rudy is my boy, no doubt about that. I spent a large part of my child hood staying with family in Mallorca so I really have a lot of time for Spaniards, particularly those from Palma de Mallorca.

    I think I am in the same boat as you for similar reasons. Even though my idea was not to support Boston it just seems to be making real sense in all areas.

    First off, they are a great team to watch win or lose and that is important to me, it's the same reason I chose the Twins.

    Second of all, in general they are on at a much more reasonable time (although last night it was 6am waiting for that end... as you can tell I wasn't happy).

    The problem is that I used to support the Yankees. I say support, I watched them and hoped they won but when they lost there was no real connection, the only time that happened was when Mussina was pitching, he was my boy, loved Mussina and that will never change.

    I don't want to become an ABY (Anyone but Yankees) and I want to have a connection with a team who I can follow as my own but my problem is there are so many teams I have time for so I just end up supporting everyone.

    I'm seriously starting to think I will never have just one team in Baseball.

    Not even my hatred of all things Philly (The Big Lebowski was spot on!) can guide me in this one as guess what.... yeah I have a lot of time for the Phillies if only really for Utley who is one of my favourite players.

    So is that it for me? I just support most teams, just not the Yankees. :P
     
  4. panthersare#1

    panthersare#1 The GM

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    For me, following a team is much more interesting that watching a single game. When you know almost everything about a team and the farm system, you can understand the strategy of the manager and GM. I go to around 10 Braves games a year in the summer (because my parents live in Atlanta) and 1-2 Rays game a year, but for me watching a Rays game on TV is more fun than going to a Braves game because I know all the players strengths and weaknesses. But I do like to watch the Yankee-Red Soxs series when the outcome has an effect on the Rays system.
     
  5. Shapecity

    Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

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    Watching an intense rivarly like the Yankees vs. Redsox is more intriguing. It's tough watching a full MLB game on TV, but when you have these matchups the game is more entertaining and every at bat takes on more meaning.

    I've been a fan of the SF Giants & NY Yankees (grew up idolozing Don Mattingly) all my life, but since I moved to SoCal I've followed the Angels closely because I love how their organization is run and also Scosia's approach to the game.
     
  6. Big Frame

    Big Frame Well-Known Member

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    Watching the Red Sox and Yanks is boring to me.
     
  7. hielo español

    hielo español Welcome aboard Dre

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    Angels are another team I really like. :clap:

    I've been thinking about this more and more and I'm starting to realise what is important to me.

    I like the Twins as I say but the new ballpark doesn't appeal to me. Sure it is just a building BUT with Liverpool to leave Anfield (apparently if they ever get it sorted) that is something I will REALLY miss and so I would rather support a team in an original ballpark given I have the choice.

    I started following the Red Sox as I say and I really enjoy their games but they will never be my team despite them ticking all the boxes, but why? Well because their whole persona was built on "1918" and now that is gone you were either a part of it or you weren't and I wasn't. Why follow a team that will never have a greater moment? It's like giving someone a dollar and them putting it on a 2/1 horse, sure they will probably win more but when they do what do they really get out of it? They've hit their jackpot and I wasn't there to share the spoils.

    The Cubs are looking more and more interesting. Original stadium, biggest losers story, great fans from what I've seen in general (other than those that like to give CF the odd free beer). I would have to learn to love them but they are definetly an option. Does it matter that I can't stand that Cubs song? Well not to me.

    I still don't have a team that are my team, I wonder if I ever will but I love the sport and that won't change so I suppose I owe it to myself to find a team I can follow 100%
     
  8. hielo español

    hielo español Welcome aboard Dre

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    Each to their own.
     
  9. Big Frame

    Big Frame Well-Known Member

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    I am suprised you passed on the Twins-Tiggers.
     
  10. hielo español

    hielo español Welcome aboard Dre

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    Well there were a few red flags that I could never be a diehard Twins fan but they will always be my second team.

    I settled on the Nats and that's that.

    First game ends in a 4-3 loss but for just a second I thought it was going to be a walk off triple for Zimmerman after Guzman snapped his 0 for 17 hitless streak. It wasn't to be but it was a brave effort none the less.

    Oh and "can't stand" really wasn't a harsh enough description of the pure unadultarated hate I have for the Cubs song. It makes me want to physically harm myself and anyone I know or have ever known or even those I may ever meet.
     
    Last edited: Aug 18, 2009

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