WARNING!! Annual Off-Topic Baseball Thread. Esteemed Members BEWARE!!

[ChuckElias]

Padgett doesn't usually post in this thread, so I'll do it for him:

PETA = People Eating Tasty Animals.

Weaver's still cruising. Glavine's done for the night.

[ChuckElias]

I gotta go to bed. But the Cardinals have this one all wrapped up now, I think. Of course, that's what I thought about the other Cardinals last night when I went to bed. . .

[M&M Guy]

Originally Posted by ChuckElias

I gotta go to bed. But the Cardinals have this one all wrapped up now, I think. Of course, that's what I thought about the other Cardinals last night when I went to bed. . .

Unless you see Urlacher pinch-hitting...

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by M&M Guy

I know this fan didn't put the blame on Dusty because of that. I did put the blame on him when I saw players that were playing doing things like not hustling out ground balls, making bad decisions out in the field, being last or next to last in advancing runners and hitting w/runners in scoring position.

I agree with you. Just understand I live in this area and the types of comments I would hear from fans when interviewed or calling into shows, it seemed very fashionable to blame Dusty for damn near everything.

Originally Posted by M&M Guy

I think it's more of a NY attitude, rather than a Yankee fan attitude. According to a friend who watched a game at Yankee Stadium last year, he made the comment about how he wasn't sure he would feel comfortable about taking his daughter there to watch a game, just because of some of the things fans were yelling. Is that an issue everywhere? Perhaps, but he said it was more noticeable there.

I cannot speak for everywhere. I have not attended many pro baseball games in my lifetime. You are probably right.

Originally Posted by M&M Guy

Which people are you talking about? White Sox fans? Certainly not people outside the city of Chicago. White Sox fans have always had an inferiority complex when it comes to dealing with Cub fans.

I am a Cards fans. It is not like my only experience is what goes on here. Even Cards fans across the state think Cubs fans are more concerned with the tourist attraction called Wrigley Field.

Originally Posted by M&M Guy

Meaningless?? The number of people that go to a team's games is meaningless when it comes to determining a fan base? What criteria do you use to determine fan base?

Fans can watch games at home too. How many people attend the games is not a direct reflection on the fan base. That just shows who is going to spend money. If my team was terrible and not doing what I think is best for the team, I would not give them money until they show some signs of effort to make the team better. I hear fans that do nothing but complain about management and all the decisions and still go to games. If you honestly think the Tribune Company only cares about money that comes into the stadium and you are not winning, why would you spend your hard earned money and keep giving it to them?

Originally Posted by M&M Guy

How many games have you been to since that particular game? I've been to 5 baseball games this past season - 2 at Wrigley, 1 at the Cell, 1 in Cleveland, and 1 in St. Louis. I've noticed that at every game I've been to, so I'm not sure that's a "Wrigley" phenomenon as much as a society issue. There were any number of people talking on cell phones, talking about their job, telling their kids they had enough cotton candy, etc, etc. Heck, in Cleveland there was a group of guys that spent an inning and a half discussing whether Steve Perry from Journey was the greatest rock-n-roll singer ever. Can I extrapolate that Cleveland fans really are the dumber than Cub fans???

Understand I am not a Cubs fan. I am not going to attend Cubs game unless the Cards are in town. The time I went I got free tickets and the game was against the Pirates. I just went because my roommate's cousin wanted to go and I went with him. I have had a couple of other opportunities but it is hard to attend any ball game when you have other things going on. Usually Spring Baseball and Summer Basketball keep me away from any MLB game.

Originally Posted by M&M Guy

Again, I contend anyone can be a fair-weather fan. A real fan supports their team even when the team is horrible. Cub fans show up, buy merchandise, and support the team. How else do you measure how good a team's fans are than during the down years (yea, yea, centuries...)?

I agree to a point, but most fans when the team is that bad and they are not happy with management do not keep attending games and bad games at that. I guess if you think that makes Cubs fans good fans, you have a right to your opinion.

Peace

[dblref]

Originally Posted by Dan_ref

What? God doesn't have a sense of humor?

Of course he does, did you see the Cardinals/Bears game?

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Dan_ref

What? God doesn't have a sense of humor?

If Jeff Weaver can win a play-off game, He must have a helluva sense of humor.

[mick]

If the Cards make it, the Leyland-La Russa relationship will be one of the more poignant sidebars. Except that Leyland doesn't plan on discussing it.
"If it happens -- and I don't know that it will -- I am not going to discuss Jim Leyland and Tony La Russa with anybody," he said. "Don't ask me any questions about that because it's not going to happen. I am not getting into any of that (garbage)." - detnews.com

[ChuckElias]

Originally Posted by M&M Guy

According to a friend who watched a game at Yankee Stadium last year, he made the comment about how he wasn't sure he would feel comfortable about taking his daughter there to watch a game, just because of some of the things fans were yelling. Is that an issue everywhere? Perhaps, but he said it was more noticeable there.

Well, I was at Yankee Stadium in '04 for a Yankee/Red Sox game. I had those same apprehensions. But I have to be honest, we didn't see any of it. We didn't hear any vulgarity, other than what you'd hear in normal conversation; along with the occasional "_________ suck" chant by fans of each team. And we sat in the center field bleachers, wearing our Red Sox hats. Maybe b/c the Sox got blown out that day, we only heard good-natured ribbing and no hostility or vulgarity. (And one obnoxious call on my cell phone. . .)

I've noticed that at every game I've been to, so I'm not sure that's a "Wrigley" phenomenon as much as a society issue. There were any number of people talking on cell phones, talking about their job, telling their kids they had enough cotton candy, etc, etc. Heck, in Cleveland there was a group of guys that spent an inning and a half discussing whether Steve Perry from Journey was the greatest rock-n-roll singer ever. Can I extrapolate that Cleveland fans really are the dumber than Cub fans???

In fact, I think this is a direct by-product of the pace of the game itself. For better or worse, baseball is not non-stop action, like hockey or basketball. The game lends itself to leisurely conversation and minor distractions. I think that's what made it the "national pastime". When baseball first became popular, I think that's more like what the pace of everyday life was.

As for Steve Perry, well, I've got a couple Journey CD's like any other child of the 80's. But the greatest rock singer ever?

[Dan_ref]

Originally Posted by ChuckElias

Maybe b/c the Sox got blown out that day, we only heard good-natured ribbing and no hostility or vulgarity. (And one obnoxious call on my cell phone. . .)

Obnoxious? I think the call would be better characterized as cordial and very welcoming to a visitor. In fact, I recall the first thing you were asked was "enjoying the game?"...I recall also you were advised to take your sox hat off before you visited the restroom...

[M&M Guy]

Originally Posted by ChuckElias

Well, I was at Yankee Stadium in '04 for a Yankee/Red Sox game. I had those same apprehensions. But I have to be honest, we didn't see any of it. We didn't hear any vulgarity, other than what you'd hear in normal conversation; along with the occasional "_________ suck" chant by fans of each team. And we sat in the center field bleachers, wearing our Red Sox hats. Maybe b/c the Sox got blown out that day, we only heard good-natured ribbing and no hostility or vulgarity. (And one obnoxious call on my cell phone. . .)

Maybe that's just as much "reputation" as it is reality. I wondered if being at Yankee Stadium is really any different than sitting next to a bunch of drunken frat boys at any stadium.

Originally Posted by ChuckElias

In fact, I think this is a direct by-product of the pace of the game itself. For better or worse, baseball is not non-stop action, like hockey or basketball. The game lends itself to leisurely conversation and minor distractions. I think that's what made it the "national pastime". When baseball first became popular, I think that's more like what the pace of everyday life was.

Good point. You must remember those days fondly?

Originally Posted by ChuckElias

As for Steve Perry, well, I've got a couple Journey CD's like any other child of the 80's. But the greatest rock singer ever?

Absolutley not. And it wasn't our group that was doing the arguing, it was a group of local, drunken frat boys.

[ChuckElias]

Originally Posted by M&M Guy

Good point. You must remember those days fondly?

Shut up.

[M&M Guy]

Originally Posted by ChuckElias

Shut up.

I assume you mean that in a non-bothersome, Christian way?

[tjones1]

Game 7 is a few hours away. Predictions?

Of course, I've got the Redbirds...5-3.

[M&M Guy]

Originally Posted by tjones1

Game 7 is a few hours away. Predictions?

Of course, I've got the Redbirds...5-3.

5-3; isn't that Eckstein's height?

My prediction: the winner of this game will play the Tigers on Sat. It will not go to a game 8.

(Vegas never returns my calls?...)

[Dan_ref]

Originally Posted by M&M Guy

5-3; isn't that Eckstein's height?

No it's Chu ....ahhh nevermind, too easy

My prediction: the winner of this game will play the Tigers on Sat. It will not go to a game 8.

I'm tempted to agree but I'll wait for Mr Big Dawg to chime in before giving my final answer Regis.