Baseball

[hopefullytrusting]

Jeter has a reputation for being a good guy.

Joe D, despite some stories we hear from his private life, knew how to work a crowd. It's one of the reasons he was more beloved at the time than Ted Williams - Ted refused to play the game with the fans and the press, and it cost him some love, I think.

How can you not be romantic about baseball? I love talking about the history of the game. 

I didn't say they weren't nice, although that is debatable - I said they weren't humble, and I think that is difficult to dispute.

I don't like any sport enough to be romantic about it, but I get it. The NBA is my favorite sport followed by Formula 1.

[NumberSix]

Formula 1

I went to a Formula 1 race once. A guy at work had an extra ticket at the last minute.

It was way more fun than I expected it to be. I thought I would be bored, especially because I didn't know the drivers. But you end up picking one or two as it goes; then you have someone to cheer for.

[San Antone]

@San Antone post is a perfect encapsulation of why I loathe the Yankees. You hate them because they are winners, lol - the height of delusion.

Yankees haven't really been a dynasty in two decades, and their last appearance in the World Series was 15 years ago. But people still get bitter because backlash always occurs against the team that wins over and over.

You guys can't get your story straight.

Also, New York as a people/culture is seen as arrogant and looking down on everybody else.

I lived in NYC for eight years in the '80s and came to see how its reputation for being "arrogant and looking down on everybody else" was something of a distortion.  I came to learn that if you were in trouble there was no better friend than a New Yorker.  But thb, New York is a world class cultural center, and for its citizen to claim a high city-esteem, to coin a term, is deserved.

But there also as aspect that New Yorkers indulge in that was called "one-downmanship". New Yorkers love to tell stories on themselves, of bad times, beginning sentence when someone describes a bad experience with, "that ain't nothin'" and go on to tell an even worse story.

Not saying any of those things are the correct way to be. Just my opinion about why a lot of people don't like them. Of course there's also the idea that they're not lovable Rascals like the Oakland A's from the 1970s were, for instance. Or the 1993 Phillies or any number of other such teams.

NumberSix, you are right they haven't been in the WS since 2009, which is why this year there was so much anticipation. 

I think it would be hard to find more lovable rascals than Casey Stengal, Yogi Berra, and Babe Ruth. 

As  I said earlier I became a Yankee fan when I was nine years old in 1961 during the Mantle-Maris home run race and have stayed one ever since - bad years and good years.  And I've suffered through abuse from Boston fans, and in general the attitudes on display in this thread. So, of course I'm biased.  But this year the Yanks really let their fans down by their sloppy defense in the 5th game.

I will still root for them next year, and every year.

[NumberSix]

@San Antone I said I didn't think it was necessarily the right way to be. Just trying to imagine the kinds of reasons someone might not like the Yankees.

1. People frequently backlash against teams they see as always winning -- even if the team is not always winning right now.
2. People perceive NYC as being an arrogant place.
3. People often like lovable underdogs, and the very professionalism you describe about the NYY might work against them.


It kind of happened with the Red Sox, too. Following 2004, they were no longer the lovable underdogs living under a Curse. And before long the "they always win, and it's boring" backlash set in.

 

[Szykneij]

With spring training underway, thoughts of better weather and opening day action are in the air.

I've been a Red Sox fan all my life, and have never been more disappointed in the team as I have been over the past few years. They finally made some positive off-season moves this past winter, and although I'm not as enthusiastic as most of the local press is (I think they could have done more), I'm looking forward to seeing Boston be competitive again.

It's been almost 10 years since the last "Who's Who in Baseball" magazine was issued and I'm still feeling the loss. Seeing it hit the newstands was a harbinger of the upcoming season. It ceased publication because of the internet but, ironically, out of the multitude of sports websites there are, I've found none that are as easy to use and as useful as the pages of my red-covered "Who's Who" digest was.

Older members here probably remember when local newspaper sports sections listed the standings, hometown averages, and league leaders on a daily basis. It only took a small fraction of the page, but that's also a thing of the past.

I still read the newspaper every morning, albeit on line, from back to front - starting with the comics, then the sports section, and finally the actual news of this crazy screwed-up world. Thank God we have music, sports, friends, and family to escape from reality when we need to.

Hopefully, this thread will stay active during the baseball season. It's good to hear about different teams across the league from a hometown perspective.

I'll clink my Dewar's on the rocks tonight in a toast to Iago, wherever you are.

[ChamberNut]

I'm still praying for a return of the Expos one day. 

They were the very first professional sports team I ever became a fan of as a young boy, even before any hockey!

My Dad bought be a hard hat and a blue and red kids Expos baseball glove. And my 3rd grade photo I had a Montreal Expos T-shirt.

Gary Carter, Tim Raines, Andre Dawson, etc. Those were the days! 

[Szykneij]

I'm still praying for a return of the Expos one day. 

They were the very first professional sports team I ever became a fan of as a young boy, even before any hockey!

My Dad bought be a hard hat and a blue and red kids Expos baseball glove. And my 3rd grade photo I had a Montreal Expos T-shirt.

Gary Carter, Tim Raines, Andre Dawson, etc. Those were the days! 

Are you still a baseball fan? If you don't follow the Blue Jays, it looks like the Red Sox are geographically the closest of all MLB teams, so hop aboard the bandwagon!

[Kalevala]

I've had a hard time getting enthused about baseball much after the big steroids scandal(s).   

K

[ChamberNut]

Are you still a baseball fan? If you don't follow the Blue Jays, it looks like the Red Sox are geographically the closest of all MLB teams, so hop aboard the bandwagon!

Not as much of a baseball fan anymore. Closing team geographically for me has always been the Minnesota Twins.

I do like the Blue Jays, but never been as passionate towards them as my beloved Expos.

[Szykneij]

I've had a hard time getting enthused about baseball much after the big steroids scandal(s). 

K

Unfortunately, steroid use wasn't limited to baseball. Fortunately, for baseball, that seems to be pretty much in the past. Pick a team and get on board for a pleasant summer diversion!

[Szykneij]

Not as much of a baseball fan anymore. Closing team geographically for me has always been the Minnesota Twins.

I do like the Blue Jays, but never been as passionate towards them as my beloved Expos.

I used to work with a young lady from Minnesota who was a Twins fan back when they had the big baggie in center field. She loved Kirby Puckett.

[ChamberNut]

I used to work with a young lady from Minnesota who was a Twins fan back when they had the big baggie in center field. She loved Kirby Puckett.

He was terrific. I definitely rooted for the Twins in their World Series wins against the Cardinals and Braves.

[Szykneij]

I think there are few people who bother with this thread, and so I'll go ahead and post this and gamble it doesn't take a complete political turn. I just read that Trump wants to pardon Pete Rose for his past misdeeds. First, he thinks he's king. Now he thinks he's God.

[Number Six]

Once again with a new season starting soon, I am tempted to pick a team or two and follow them. (Phillies, Braves, Red Sox, Royals, Reds have all been selections in the last few years)

But I always fail to keep up. I love baseball, but there are just soooooo many games! 

[Kalevala]

I think there are few people who bother with this thread, and so I'll go ahead and post this and gamble it doesn't take a complete political turn. I just read that Trump wants to pardon Pete Rose for his past misdeeds. First, he thinks he's king. Now he thinks he's God.

This is another reason why I soured to professional baseball when I was younger.  I don't know much about the rules, but I don't think that Pres. Trump could do anything about this--in terms of who is in charge of the decision making...please correct me if I am wrong.

K

[Number Six]

This is another reason why I soured to professional baseball when I was younger.  I don't know much about the rules, but I don't think that Pres. Trump could do anything about this--in terms of who is in charge of the decision making...please correct me if I am wrong.

K

I believe that Pete got in trouble for breaking MLB's internal rules, and there were no federal convictions or charges involved. I have never heard of him being in federal criminal court, anyway.

[Kalevala]

I believe that Pete got in trouble for breaking MLB's internal rules, and there were no federal convictions or charges involved. I have never heard of him being in federal criminal court, anyway.

That's what I remember from back then too; it had to do with the betting/gambling rules,so if we're correct, Pres. Trump could do nothing about it.

K

[Kalevala]

I believe that Pete got in trouble for breaking MLB's internal rules, and there were no federal convictions or charges involved. I have never heard of him being in federal criminal court, anyway.

Apparently (according to one article that I read), Pete Rose filed false tax returns in 1990.

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/cincinnati-reds/news/donald-trump-pete-rose-pardon-explained-late-mlb-hall-fame/110e73d07053c09cd6b8b70f

K

[San Antone]

As a lifelong Yankees fan I was of course disappointed that they were unable to re-sign Juan Soto (Juan and done). But I like all the moves they made over the winter.  They may even be a stronger and more balanced team without Soto - which to sign him, they would have been hard pressed to make other moves they did when the cash was freed up.

I am a little concerned that Stanton cannot swing a bat and has not done so for a month or more.  And I'm hoping they ultimately make a deal for a solid third baseman before the trade deadline - unless one of the internal options works out well.

But I can't wait for the season to begin, and from what I've read, the Yanks are predicted to win their division and a likely repeat for the AL pennant.

[Number Six]

Apparently (according to one article that I read), Pete Rose filed false tax returns in 1990.

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/cincinnati-reds/news/donald-trump-pete-rose-pardon-explained-late-mlb-hall-fame/110e73d07053c09cd6b8b70f

K

I get it. So pardon him for that, but talk about it like they're pardoning him for his MLB suspension.

Sounds about right.