I've always considered "fair weather fans" annoying, mostly because they're not around for the losing, when the rest of us are miserable, but still here.
So imagine my surprise when I was called a fair weather fan over at C. Trent's blog.
Fair weather fan? I've been around through the dismantling of the Big Red Machine, Marge Schott's ridiculous reign as owner, Pete Rose's gambling, the injury calamity of 1989, the Jim Bowden three-ring circus and his parade of 5-tool washouts and pitching retreads, Carl Lindner's nearly-as-ridiculous-ownership, and now, what appears to be the Reds' seventh consecutive losing season.
In fact, the only time I really "went away" was during college, when I didn't have time to follow the games every day. While I was away, they won a pennant in 1995 and made a run in 1999. Fair weather fan, indeed.
No, that's not it. Call me passionate, question my knowledge of the game, call me flat out wrong -- but fair weather fan? That's not gonna cut it.
The context of this came during a debate about why Reds fans boo. Well, lots of fans boo when they're pissed, and in Cincinnati, they have every right to be pissed. I mean, just re-read my third paragraph. It ain't like Cincinnati has a legendary level of positivity. The franchise has been a laughing stock for years.
And guess who's still here.
People are quick to blame the fans for not being supportive. That's just bunk. Give fans something to support besides a parade of incompetent owners, general managers, managers, and players. Give fans something besides racial insults and gambling scandals. Give them something to get behind.
If you want their fandom, you need only exist in a baseball town. People will come. James Earl Jones said so.
But if you want their money, you need to build a winner and commit to winning. You can't just provide the same lip service that previous regimes provided, with the same result. Fans see through that. You can't blame them for complaining.
That's not "fair weather" fandom. That's just capitalism at work. Surely a town crawling with so many conservatives understands basic business. You can't expect fans to line up all smiles for miles to watch a last place team. Won't happen. That shit only works in Chicago, and that's only because of beer and WGN, and the inexplicable notion that it's cool to like the Cubs.
So what do you call a passionate baseball fan who doesn't go away but refuses to attend another game or give the organization another dime until it commits to winning -- really commits to winning? What do we call that?
Can we call that a fan? Sure.
Can we call that a die-hard fan? Why not?
Can we call it a savvy consumer who doesn't want to get duped for a $7 beer and a sunburn? Oh hell yes.
Just don't call it a fair weather fan. Because that doesn't make any sense. Especially in a town like Cincinnati, where there hasn't been any fair weather in years.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Friday, May 25, 2007
Fire Sale?
Fans are calling for yet another one...but will that solve the problem?
2003
July 30, 2003: Traded Scott Williamson to the Boston Red Sox. Received Phil Dumatrait (minors). Traded Jose Guillen to the Oakland Athletics. Received Aaron Harang, Joe Valentine, and Jeff Bruksch (minors).
July 31, 2003: Traded Aaron Boone to the New York Yankees. Received Brandon Claussen, Charlie Manning (minors), and cash. Sent Gabe White to the New York Yankees as part of a conditional deal.
August 12, 2003: Traded Kent Mercker to the Atlanta Braves. Received a player to be named later. The Atlanta Braves sent Matt Belisle (August 14, 2003) to the Cincinnati Reds to complete the trade.
August 21, 2003: Traded Scott Sullivan to the Chicago White Sox. Received Tim Hummel and cash.
August 31, 2003: Traded Kelly Stinnett to the Philadelphia Phillies. Received Eric Valent.
Of the above, Dumatrait, Harang, and Belisle remain in the organization. Harang is now the ace (in a slump), Belisle is a .500 pitcher in the rotation, and Dumatrait might see a Reds uniform this year. Maybe.
2004
July 30, 2004: Traded Todd Jones and Brad Correll (minors) to the Philadelphia Phillies. Received Josh Hancock and Andy Machado.
August 9, 2004: Traded Cory Lidle to the Philadelphia Phillies. Received a player to be named later, Javon Moran (minors), and Joe Wilson (minors). The Philadelphia Phillies sent Elizardo Ramirez (August 11, 2004) to the Cincinnati Reds to complete the trade.
This wasn't a "fire sale" even though fans were calling for one. This was a "rebuilding year" in which Harang and Belisle and other young players got thrown into the pool to see if they could really swim.
Of the above, only Elizardo Ramirez and Anderson Machado have surfaced in a Reds uniform. One is hurt, and one probably won't be back unless the entire infield goes on the DL. Maybe not even then.
2005
July 23, 2005: Traded Joe Randa to the San Diego Padres. Received Justin Germano and Travis Chick.
Neither of these guys are still around. More below.
2006
June 15, 2006: Traded Brandon Roberts (minors) to the Minnesota Twins. Received Juan Castro.
July 6, 2006: Traded Travis Chick to the Seattle Mariners. Received Eddie Guardado and cash.
July 13, 2006: Traded Austin Kearns, Felipe Lopez, and Ryan Wagner to the Washington Nationals. Received Gary Majewski, Royce Clayton, Bill Bray, Brendan Harris, and Daryl Thompson (minors).
July 31, 2006: Traded Zach Ward (minors) to the Minnesota Twins. Received Kyle Lohse. Traded Justin Germano to the Philadelphia Phillies. Received Rheal Cormier.
August 7, 2006: Traded a player to be named later to the Philadelphia Phillies. Received Ryan Franklin and cash. The Cincinnati Reds sent Zac Stott (minors) (August 9, 2006) to the Philadelphia Phillies to complete the trade.
Castro is here, being Castro: all defense, no offense. You get what you get with this guy. Lohse got into the rotation and then starting pitching batting practice every time out. Guardado has been hurt for most of his time with the Reds. Majewski just got back after spending most of his time in the same way. Bray is hurt. Only Daryl Thompson, the low minor leaguer, has been performing well and relatively healthy. The rest are gone, traded away or released because they just couldn't hack it.
So really, is a fire sale the answer? What will that accomplish? Won't we be right back where we are in 3-5 years, when most of the prospects either don't work out or, in the absence of progress, get traded away for veteran washouts when the Reds make a fluke run at the division?
Can a franchise realistically do this every 3-5 years and hope to maintain a fanbase, especially in a town as fiery as Cincy?
Why should it have to, really?
Doesn't this raise larger questions?
At what point will MLB realize that "small market" teams simply can't compete with "large market" teams? We're looking at evidence of a class system in the game -- one that does not afford much opportunity for small-budgeted teams. This is the kind of stuff that small market teams struggle with each year.
And what if those trades work out differently and the Reds hit the jackpot with a bunch more rising stars who quickly get expensive? The organization is still doing this in five years, but not a "fire sale" so much as a "salary dump."
Look at the Marlins, the Twins, the Athletics. Develop and bring up young, cheap talent, make a run or two, and when the talent gets too expensive, let 'em walk or trade them away for more young, cheap talent. Suck for a few years, then one year make another run, and repeat.
This model means there is no such thing as a "small market dynasty," when the large market teams -- your Braves, Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, etc. -- can contend every single year.
Yeah, I'm making this a small market/large market issue, because it is.
Seriously, when was the last time a large market team had to have two fire sales in five years? Can we finally say, at long last, that the system doesn't work? That the NFL has the right idea?
2003
July 30, 2003: Traded Scott Williamson to the Boston Red Sox. Received Phil Dumatrait (minors). Traded Jose Guillen to the Oakland Athletics. Received Aaron Harang, Joe Valentine, and Jeff Bruksch (minors).
July 31, 2003: Traded Aaron Boone to the New York Yankees. Received Brandon Claussen, Charlie Manning (minors), and cash. Sent Gabe White to the New York Yankees as part of a conditional deal.
August 12, 2003: Traded Kent Mercker to the Atlanta Braves. Received a player to be named later. The Atlanta Braves sent Matt Belisle (August 14, 2003) to the Cincinnati Reds to complete the trade.
August 21, 2003: Traded Scott Sullivan to the Chicago White Sox. Received Tim Hummel and cash.
August 31, 2003: Traded Kelly Stinnett to the Philadelphia Phillies. Received Eric Valent.
Of the above, Dumatrait, Harang, and Belisle remain in the organization. Harang is now the ace (in a slump), Belisle is a .500 pitcher in the rotation, and Dumatrait might see a Reds uniform this year. Maybe.
2004
July 30, 2004: Traded Todd Jones and Brad Correll (minors) to the Philadelphia Phillies. Received Josh Hancock and Andy Machado.
August 9, 2004: Traded Cory Lidle to the Philadelphia Phillies. Received a player to be named later, Javon Moran (minors), and Joe Wilson (minors). The Philadelphia Phillies sent Elizardo Ramirez (August 11, 2004) to the Cincinnati Reds to complete the trade.
This wasn't a "fire sale" even though fans were calling for one. This was a "rebuilding year" in which Harang and Belisle and other young players got thrown into the pool to see if they could really swim.
Of the above, only Elizardo Ramirez and Anderson Machado have surfaced in a Reds uniform. One is hurt, and one probably won't be back unless the entire infield goes on the DL. Maybe not even then.
2005
July 23, 2005: Traded Joe Randa to the San Diego Padres. Received Justin Germano and Travis Chick.
Neither of these guys are still around. More below.
2006
June 15, 2006: Traded Brandon Roberts (minors) to the Minnesota Twins. Received Juan Castro.
July 6, 2006: Traded Travis Chick to the Seattle Mariners. Received Eddie Guardado and cash.
July 13, 2006: Traded Austin Kearns, Felipe Lopez, and Ryan Wagner to the Washington Nationals. Received Gary Majewski, Royce Clayton, Bill Bray, Brendan Harris, and Daryl Thompson (minors).
July 31, 2006: Traded Zach Ward (minors) to the Minnesota Twins. Received Kyle Lohse. Traded Justin Germano to the Philadelphia Phillies. Received Rheal Cormier.
August 7, 2006: Traded a player to be named later to the Philadelphia Phillies. Received Ryan Franklin and cash. The Cincinnati Reds sent Zac Stott (minors) (August 9, 2006) to the Philadelphia Phillies to complete the trade.
Castro is here, being Castro: all defense, no offense. You get what you get with this guy. Lohse got into the rotation and then starting pitching batting practice every time out. Guardado has been hurt for most of his time with the Reds. Majewski just got back after spending most of his time in the same way. Bray is hurt. Only Daryl Thompson, the low minor leaguer, has been performing well and relatively healthy. The rest are gone, traded away or released because they just couldn't hack it.
So really, is a fire sale the answer? What will that accomplish? Won't we be right back where we are in 3-5 years, when most of the prospects either don't work out or, in the absence of progress, get traded away for veteran washouts when the Reds make a fluke run at the division?
Can a franchise realistically do this every 3-5 years and hope to maintain a fanbase, especially in a town as fiery as Cincy?
Why should it have to, really?
Doesn't this raise larger questions?
At what point will MLB realize that "small market" teams simply can't compete with "large market" teams? We're looking at evidence of a class system in the game -- one that does not afford much opportunity for small-budgeted teams. This is the kind of stuff that small market teams struggle with each year.
And what if those trades work out differently and the Reds hit the jackpot with a bunch more rising stars who quickly get expensive? The organization is still doing this in five years, but not a "fire sale" so much as a "salary dump."
Look at the Marlins, the Twins, the Athletics. Develop and bring up young, cheap talent, make a run or two, and when the talent gets too expensive, let 'em walk or trade them away for more young, cheap talent. Suck for a few years, then one year make another run, and repeat.
This model means there is no such thing as a "small market dynasty," when the large market teams -- your Braves, Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, etc. -- can contend every single year.
Yeah, I'm making this a small market/large market issue, because it is.
Seriously, when was the last time a large market team had to have two fire sales in five years? Can we finally say, at long last, that the system doesn't work? That the NFL has the right idea?
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Too Little, Too Late
Todd Coffey shipped to AAA to make room for Gary Majewski.
Enrique Cruz left off the 40-man roster, leaving 39 on with 1 spot open. Homer Bailey's rotation spot comes up Sunday, if that's what they're thinking.
If not, I don't know what they're thinking.
Time to start the fire sale...again. This time, though, they need to unload Griffey, Dunn, and Freel. But especially Dunn, who is young, has 40-homer power, and yet is a liability every time he steps to the plate or has a ball hit near him in the outfield.
Joey Votto would make a fine left fielder for the rest of the season. Votto-Hamilton-Hopper?
Feels like 2003 all over again. Man, this team sucks big donkey dick.
Enrique Cruz left off the 40-man roster, leaving 39 on with 1 spot open. Homer Bailey's rotation spot comes up Sunday, if that's what they're thinking.
If not, I don't know what they're thinking.
Time to start the fire sale...again. This time, though, they need to unload Griffey, Dunn, and Freel. But especially Dunn, who is young, has 40-homer power, and yet is a liability every time he steps to the plate or has a ball hit near him in the outfield.
Joey Votto would make a fine left fielder for the rest of the season. Votto-Hamilton-Hopper?
Feels like 2003 all over again. Man, this team sucks big donkey dick.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
I have no solutions.
The operative word for the 2007 Reds' season...
Trade Griffey to a contender. For his own good.
Trade Griffey to a contender. For his own good.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Just...wow.
This is the worst Reds team I've ever seen.
EDIT: I'm too young to remember when Ron Oester and Dan Driessen were the best position players they had, and Johnny Bench was in the twilight of his career, and when they routinely squandered Mario Soto's work.
My head might've exploded back then. Apologies to those who lived through that...
EDIT: I'm too young to remember when Ron Oester and Dan Driessen were the best position players they had, and Johnny Bench was in the twilight of his career, and when they routinely squandered Mario Soto's work.
My head might've exploded back then. Apologies to those who lived through that...
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Reds vs. Oswalt: Guaranteed Loss
If you're a Reds fan, and you ever find yourself with tickets, and those tickets are for a game in which Roy Oswalt pitches against them, you might as well just stay home.
The guy's 18-1 lifetime against the Reds, with another one tonight in the bag.
You'd think the Reds' advance scouts would have found a way to beat this guy by now. The Reds can beat every other elite pitcher in the game, but not this guy. Unreal.
"I really love him as a fan," Scott Hatteberg said.
Those are the kind of words spoken by a team that doesn't have a problem with a pitcher getting a guaranteed, easy victory every time he pitches against them. Instead, this team just rolls over. No difference in their game approach, no difference in their aggressiveness. They just roll over. It's pathetic.
The guy's 18-1 lifetime against the Reds, with another one tonight in the bag.
You'd think the Reds' advance scouts would have found a way to beat this guy by now. The Reds can beat every other elite pitcher in the game, but not this guy. Unreal.
"I really love him as a fan," Scott Hatteberg said.
Those are the kind of words spoken by a team that doesn't have a problem with a pitcher getting a guaranteed, easy victory every time he pitches against them. Instead, this team just rolls over. No difference in their game approach, no difference in their aggressiveness. They just roll over. It's pathetic.
Denorfi gone to the A's
Did anyone else miss the Denorifia trade? I saw that they dealt him for cash and 2 TBNL players. Have they announce who they got? What do you guys think of the trade?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
