Tuesday, May 22, 2007

I Feel Robbed

I saw Felipe Lopez' Grand Slam. I smiled... a little bit. And that was it. No sheer joy. No running around pumping my fists, doing that little dance of glee I do when I think nobody's looking.

I dunno. I guess that's the faustian bargain I made this year. The losses won't kill me, but the wins won't thrill me.

Is it worth it though? Doesn't that kill half of what being a fan is?

I read this, and I can feel his excitement (must be THE CAPS!!!). But I don't share. I did last year. And I did in '05. But not this year. A win's better than a loss, but... meh. Just another game.

But why? Is it just because we knew going in that they wouldn't have any chance of competing. "The PLAN!" requires us to suffer for Uncle Teddy's bottom line the fruits of the future, so did I just write off the season?

The mantra in the offseason was "If they don't care about '07, why should I?"

Maybe I took that a little too much to heart.

Nats win. That's great and all, but...

posted by Chris Needham at 11:45 PM

16 Comments:

  • Surely they do care. Surely, if a guy like Lopez can hit like that 7 games in a row, he'll be worth at least 1 middle of the road prospect, who'll do an elbow shaking hands with Stan for the press.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5/23/2007 12:44 AM  

  • Hey Chris and all, check this out-from the Associated Press:

    http://thestar.com/sports/article/216274

    "Oh, baseball in DC is doomed, they're only averaging 22,000 fans a game this season". I mean, can people get off our backs about the attendance already?? We're averaging over 22 grand a game, depite being considered by most to be the WORST TEAM IN BASEBALL!! We currently have a pitching rotation consisting of guys who should barely be starters in triple A, and the AP is writing stories about our attendance? Sorry, but it has nothing to do with the fact that some people in DC don't care about baseball, they just have better things to do these days than go out to the park and watch the awful Nats play the awful Marlins. Get off our backs, national media!!!! And fuck you, Jay Gibbons. The only reason more than ten thousand people pay to watch your crappy team is because of retro-chic Camden Yards and Boog's BBQ.
    /rant complete

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5/23/2007 12:51 AM  

  • With apologies to Ford Maddox Ford, it's the saddest blog post ever blogged.

    Not really kidding, it is sad.

    But we'll see how you feel when you're stretched out in the Diamond Club with courtesans peeling your grapes and all.

    -- Sam

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5/23/2007 12:55 AM  

  • So here I was, navigating to Chris' blog to get his take on things, and I typo'd. Instead of dcbb in front of blogspot.com, I typed bcbb.

    Ever done that?

    Oops.

    Not for nothing...there it is.

    By Blogger Jim H, at 5/23/2007 1:01 AM  

  • I had just returned from a quick errand to the store when I saw the score on MLB Gameday. I rubbed my eyes to be sure that it said 8-4 and that made me quite happy.

    These gems like the Lopez granny or Bergmann's stellar pitching performance last week are pretty much all we have to brighten this season, so take them. It will get you preferred bitching rights when the new ballpark opens next year.

    By Blogger Bote Man, at 5/23/2007 1:45 AM  

  • And could everybody please at least choose a handle when posting, rather than anonymous?

    I saw more than one anonymous poster the other day and it got confusing. Just pick a name, any name.

    By Blogger Bote Man, at 5/23/2007 1:46 AM  

  • Chris, if you don't care, what does that mean for the rest of us!?!

    You're the analytical fanboy!

    "Fight the apathy!" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apathy

    Wait...isn't that an oxymoron? Meh, who cares?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5/23/2007 6:00 AM  

  • Let me add some perspective: I've been a Ravens season ticket holder since they moved to Bawl'mer. Let me tell you, those early Marchibroda years really tried my patience, especially the way the team got virtually ignored by just about every media outlet.

    Then the next thing you knew, we were on a Superbowl run and I was bitching about all the new bandwagon fans.

    There definately is some satisfaction in suffering through the bad years provided, of course, that great years follow.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5/23/2007 7:43 AM  

  • Honestly, you can enjoy this season. There are different things that occur each and everyday in games that thrill me. Nothing like seeing Ryan Zimmerman play third. Or, if healthy--Shawn Hill prove all his doubters wrong--or Jason Bergmann come out of nowhere. Sunday's come from behind victory over Baltimore was enjoyable. It does not matter that both teams are struggling. At the same time, I love watching Ryan Howard Bat, or Jose Reyes. John Smoltz Pitch. There is so much. There is no doubt I have a far different view on Our Washington Nationals than many others--its still fun for me. And, when, if and by all gods graces-we become a good team it will be all the more enjoyable. Recently, I ran into the Curly W Boys in Lot 8 and they mentioned how much they are going to enjoy this season, spreading out in the ballpark, relaxing--knowing that, for the most part--only real baseball fans are coming to RFK. Because once all the hangers on start showing up to be seen--it will not be the same. I agree. So, I love it now. And, I will love it then.

    By Blogger Screech's Best Friend, at 5/23/2007 8:42 AM  

  • It's not that I don't enjoy it. I wouldn't watch the games, or think about them as much as I do if I didn't.

    I just don't feel passionate about them. I don't get excited, up or down, when watching them.

    It's sort of an emotional detachment.

    By Blogger Chris Needham, at 5/23/2007 8:46 AM  

  • For 15 years I was able to be passionate about the Pirates... it is an easy transition for me to be passionate about our beloved Nats.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5/23/2007 9:29 AM  

  • So it goes.


    BRAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIINSSS

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5/23/2007 11:04 AM  

  • I am an ex-O's fan, so enjoying the Nats is easy, even this season. The O's under Angelos have always wasted all their budgets on old guys and still do (Mora, Millar, and the old relief guys). So it is still refreshing for me to see a team building for the future. I assume the Nats will get better and better, unless they change THE PLAN or unless the FO shows that THE PLAN is just an excuse to go small market.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5/23/2007 11:45 AM  

  • There's nothing at stake. That's why. Honestly I'm more excited about the June draft and ensuing trade deadline to see what happens rather than what's happening on the field.

    If it were one of those surprise "future building blocks" who hit that shot, would you have been more excited? Lopez kinda did what he was supposed to do there, being one of the more seasoned guys on the team. But if it was Flores, or to a lesser extent, Zimmerman I bet you'd feel differently.

    I thought it was cool though. Sort of a Rated G version of Guillen's homer against the angels back in 05.

    Speaking of which--I always hear FLop talking about how the Reds "didn't want him there." What was that about? He was an all star for Cincy. What put him so much on the outs with the team? Was it the front office? The fans?

    -Mick

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5/23/2007 12:30 PM  

  • "'The PLAN!' requires us to suffer for Uncle Teddy's bottom line (or) the fruits of the future,"

    Yep. I think Stan Kasten is one of those employees who immediately senses what the boss wants, and gives it to him. I view "the Plan" as an elaborate subterfuge for simply saving nickels each season, and when Stan delivered it to Ted Lerner, I'll bet the old man recognized a true acolyte and lapped it up.

    So far, "the plan" has yielded poor attendance and low audience ratings for TV and radio. So the skinflint management will have every incentive to low-ball the operation each year while explaining there's not enough income to justify significantly higher outlays. A self-fulfilling prophecy is in the works, IMHO. Sad to think there were other competent ownership groups in the running and we got stuck with the worst.

    However, we do get to see major league teams in town :-)

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5/23/2007 7:07 PM  

  • https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=8833096&postID=114394710085952750&page=1

    By Blogger Unknown, at 10/28/2009 8:12 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home