Wednesday, April 12, 2006
" My Season"
The end of March Madness only means one thing for sports fans...the beginning of Major League Baseball. Opening day is an exciting time for fans, especially for me, being a Texas Rangers fan. You see, your typical Yankees, Red Sox, or Cardinals fan is also excited about the concept of opening day, the beginning of the new season, but not so much the actual outcome of the first game of the season. This is where a fork in the road emerges and I along with a select group of fans, such as Devil Ray fans, Royals fans, and Pirates fans wave goodbye to most of the other teams in the league as we travel on the "less desired" side of the road...one in which our season ends seemingly seconds after it begins.
For fans like us, the probability of our teams experiencing success seems less likely than being given the chance to join August National. No? Let these facts settle into your stomach: Texas has won zero, yes zero, playoff series since the franchise was moved to Texas in 1972. In Tampa Bay's eight year existence, the best they have ever placed is 18 games out of first place in their division. Brewers fans haven't even experienced post-season play since President Reagen's first team. While it is hard to cope with the realization that winning consistently throughout the season is just a pipe dream, at times we are forced to trick ourselves into believing things that really aren't logical. For myself, it is believing that Millwood, Eaton, and Padilla is a solid core, that has the potential to anchor the team into the playoffs and hopefully beyond that.
Also, because "our" seasons are so short, we try to fit the wide ranged emotions experienced by normal baseball fans into a microcosm of about two or three games. This became so truly manifested when after Kevin Millwood pitched three shutout innings in Texas' opener versus Boston, I began talking trash to a Red Sox fan not only insisting that last year's AL ERA leader was still unhittable in the hitter's park in Arlington, but I also proclaimed after 1/3 through the first game of a 162 game season that "the Rangers are going to the playoffs!" Literally moments later I was throwing the squeaky wooden table in my ridgewood across the room as Boston scored three runs in the fourth and then two more in the fifth. At the end of the 7-3 shellacking let's just put it this way, my table couldn't function as a table anymore but at least it no longer squeaked.
Did I believe the season was over? Well I will let my actions speak for themselves: I tried to cancel my mlbtv subscription after the first game. Unfortunately mlbtv is non-refundable or at least that is what the lady operator told me. By the next morning I came to realize my actions were silly and premature. I vowed that I wouldn't pull an Adam Morrison and give up before the season is over. That evening newly acquired Vincente Padilla outdueled knuckleballer Tim Wakefield and as the Rangers' offense came alive, scoring 10 runs, so did my competitive spirit and optimism about the team.
More than a week later, Texas is now 2-7 and it seems this feeling I experienced after the team's first victory of the year will serve as this season's high point. I hope the Rangers can turn it around, but they are already in a 3.5 game hole out of the lead in the AL West!
Throughout this first week of the major league season I have experienced optimism and pessimism, cockiness and humililty, happiness and sadness. So sports fans, if you have encountered a baseball fan lately who appears to be a little bit crazy or even possesses bipolar characteristics please let it be. While your season may have just begun, ours has just ended.
For fans like us, the probability of our teams experiencing success seems less likely than being given the chance to join August National. No? Let these facts settle into your stomach: Texas has won zero, yes zero, playoff series since the franchise was moved to Texas in 1972. In Tampa Bay's eight year existence, the best they have ever placed is 18 games out of first place in their division. Brewers fans haven't even experienced post-season play since President Reagen's first team. While it is hard to cope with the realization that winning consistently throughout the season is just a pipe dream, at times we are forced to trick ourselves into believing things that really aren't logical. For myself, it is believing that Millwood, Eaton, and Padilla is a solid core, that has the potential to anchor the team into the playoffs and hopefully beyond that.
Also, because "our" seasons are so short, we try to fit the wide ranged emotions experienced by normal baseball fans into a microcosm of about two or three games. This became so truly manifested when after Kevin Millwood pitched three shutout innings in Texas' opener versus Boston, I began talking trash to a Red Sox fan not only insisting that last year's AL ERA leader was still unhittable in the hitter's park in Arlington, but I also proclaimed after 1/3 through the first game of a 162 game season that "the Rangers are going to the playoffs!" Literally moments later I was throwing the squeaky wooden table in my ridgewood across the room as Boston scored three runs in the fourth and then two more in the fifth. At the end of the 7-3 shellacking let's just put it this way, my table couldn't function as a table anymore but at least it no longer squeaked.
Did I believe the season was over? Well I will let my actions speak for themselves: I tried to cancel my mlbtv subscription after the first game. Unfortunately mlbtv is non-refundable or at least that is what the lady operator told me. By the next morning I came to realize my actions were silly and premature. I vowed that I wouldn't pull an Adam Morrison and give up before the season is over. That evening newly acquired Vincente Padilla outdueled knuckleballer Tim Wakefield and as the Rangers' offense came alive, scoring 10 runs, so did my competitive spirit and optimism about the team.
More than a week later, Texas is now 2-7 and it seems this feeling I experienced after the team's first victory of the year will serve as this season's high point. I hope the Rangers can turn it around, but they are already in a 3.5 game hole out of the lead in the AL West!
Throughout this first week of the major league season I have experienced optimism and pessimism, cockiness and humililty, happiness and sadness. So sports fans, if you have encountered a baseball fan lately who appears to be a little bit crazy or even possesses bipolar characteristics please let it be. While your season may have just begun, ours has just ended.
5 Comments:
Alright, a question to ponder.
With David Wells going on the DL, that leaves the Red Sox with 4 starters: Schilling, Wakefield, Beckett, and Clement. So, do the Red Sox promote someone like Abe Alvarez or Jon Lester and give them a shot at being the 5th starter, does a long relief guy like Lenny DiNardo fill that spot for the time being, or does the man who originally pitched in spring training like he deserved to and looked to win the 5th spot, Jonathan Papelbon, leave the bullpen (and closer role) for the starting job? Would the Sox do this, and would it be wrong to? Foulke has pitched well besides his first outing (the only other bad outing was one where Wily Mo Pena should have easily caught what he MADE a two run homer). Should he regain the closer role, that, to be fair, he didn't justly lose? Comments?
That's more like 7 questions.
In order. No. Yes. No. No. No. No. Yes.
It's up to you to figure out what I'm talking about.
I am confused...I have a headache now. Haha. I really think the Red Sox have no faith at all in Foulke. I would leave Papelbon in the bullpen and use a spot starter until David Wells gets healthy.
Chris Shelton with 9 HRS! He was my pick for MIP, but I mean maybe I should have said MVP!
I guess the way the Rangers are playing lately, won 8 of last 10 and are tied for first in the AL West, my post looks kind of silly. Regardless, I am still cheering and I am loving it! Go Rangers!
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