The Public Opinion Soapbox

Coppy · Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 2131 Location: Chambersburg

As previously mentioned, my family is from New York. My grandfather was a die-hard Brooklyn Dodgers fan. Unfortunately he passed before I had the pleasure of knowing him, but my father and grandmother both expressed how distraught he was when they moved to Los Angeles. Left with only the Giants (briefly before their move to San Fran) and the hated Yankees, there was no one for the Queens and Brooklyn fans left in the dust by the move west.

Then came the Mets in 1962, just in time for my father's formative years as a young New York baseball fan. This was back when baseball was the only sport to city youth who played stickball in the streets, sometimes for hours without a single car rolling by. It was pretty much ingrained; disenfranchised Dodgers and Giants fans had the Mets as the Yankees grew a huge fanbase in the Bronx and greater New York area.

I can't tell you how many Mets games I went to as a kid; dozens perhaps. You could see Shea stadium from the stodgy apartment in Flushing my grandmother moved into shortly after my grandfather died. She married a curmudgeonly (and notably Polish, much to the disdain of a family of Italian New Yorkers) former mirror salesman from Brooklyn whose only saving grace was a die-hard love for the Mets.

Sorry if this is starting to sound like a snippet of "This American Life."

So anyway, being a Mets fan is most certainly part of my very being. I'm not a ridiculous football kind of fan who pants his face and wears all team colors on game day... it's so easy to be a football. I much prefer the marathon of the baseball season to the short bursts of sprinting that is football season.

That said chel, don't give up on your Braves yet... my most mortal enemy, the Mets' greatest rival in my lifetime and not a grudge I'm willing to back down on despite the emergence of Philadelphia as the new NL East team to beat. And Chipper... oh dear lord how I hate chipper. The "Met Killer." Chipper Jones has had such success on the road against the Mets that he named his first daughter 'Shea' after the stadium he's had the most success in. Thankfully he's on the downhill of his career.

But the Braves have a good team. Mark Teixeira is their new power hitter, Brian McCann may very well end up being a better hitting catcher than Javy Lopez ever was, and Jeff Francoeur is proving that some Frenchies can friggin hit. Tim Hudson is due for a bounceback and Mike Hampton may actually be healthy.

It's always been easy to be a Braves fan; all you need is TBS Razz

.45chel · Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 2572 Location: Chambersburg

Ted Turner is a GOD.

A crazy god, but a god nonetheless.

Thank you, Coppy, for the whole, completely thoughtful post.

I envy the fact that you always know just what to say.
_________________
I demand euphoria!

Coppy · Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 2131 Location: Chambersburg

Chel, a lot of analysts are picking the Braves to win the NL East this year. Their dominance is dependent on their pitcher, but Smoltz is still there, and Mike Hampton is finally healthy. Plus; Tommy Glavine is back in a Braves uniform and, although he's old, was the Mets most consistent pitcher last year.

When you consider their young lineup, with Teixeira, Kelly Johnson and the upcoming Yunel Escobar, you have to get excited. These may not be household names now, but just wait. And Brian McCann... come on, he's like Javy Lopez on steroids (no pun intended... maybe).

Now these are the analysts picking AGAINST the Phillies, who absolutely dominated in the last quarter of 2007. The Phillies have a decrepit pitching staff... Cole Hamels will no doubt dominate with his amazing changeup, but Brett Myers is back in the rotation and he has health issues. Brad Lidge is the new closer and the Astros demoted him last year after failing to get the job done. So once again, it's the Phillies' pitching that brings up a huge question mark.

But the Mets got Johan... the undisputed best pitcher in baseball.
!Believe me, if you're a Braves fan, this year is worth watching!

Tele · Joined: 28 Jan 2008 Posts: 41 Location: Chambersburg

The NL East is going to be a battle between the Mets, Braves, and Phillies. Personally I think the Braves are better than the Phillies this year. I'm not sure they can compete with the Mets though now that they have Santana.

The Braves lineup is very solid this year. I think Kelly Johnson and Yunel Escobar are going to both have very good years hitting at the top of that lineup. If Larry(Chipper) Jones can stay healthy they will score a lot of runs. I also like their pitching way more than the Phillies.

I am pulling for Victorino to have a big year though because he's on my one fantasy team Laughing

Braves - Nationals tonight!!

.45chel · Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 2572 Location: Chambersburg

Just to be clear, it isn't their playing in the past few seasons that has me questioning my loyalties (see: lifelong Georgia Tech fan>>I'm used to the losing side) I've just found that it is hard to get excited about them.

Maybe it's because I'm not anywhere near a ballpark where I could see them play. Maybe because I don't like to watch alone (even though it's better when no one can see you yelling at the TV) Maybe it's because Chipper looks like one of my Alabama cousins and I hate all but one of those living stereotypes. Or maybe it's because Chipper was (is?) such an a-hole.

Or maybe it is because it doesn't feel like a team anymore, or at least not the team I loved for so long. I remember going to games and my Grandma using binoculars to ooh and ahh over Dale Murphy (ick) while my Grandpa rolled his eyes and bought me hotdogs and cracker jacks. He's the one who taught me to yell! (Mummy has never been a sports person and Dad only liked a few FLA teams, plus they didn't have baseball at the time.)

Or maybe I'm just a whiner who will never be happy now that all those players from a decade or so ago are gone.

Bah. If someone finds my lovin' feelin' for baseball, please send it back. I need something to do this season. Smile

_________________
I demand euphoria!

Coppy · Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 2131 Location: Chambersburg

You could be a Nationals fan; they won't be competitive for a few years, but they've got a fun-to-watch young team and a beautiful new ballpark in DC.

.45chel · Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 2572 Location: Chambersburg

I'm sure I'll figure it out. Eventually.

Thanks for the input.
_________________
I demand euphoria!

Tele · Joined: 28 Jan 2008 Posts: 41 Location: Chambersburg

Yikes, Pedro out for 4-6 weeks. Good news for the Braves I guess. Nice to see the Nationals start off the season well. Their new ballpark looks gorgeous. I may have to try and get down there this year.

On a side note, I've been trying to see about getting tickets to Yankee Stadium this year because I've never been there. My buddy calls me the other day with a ticket for April 30th against the Tigers 6 rows back on the 3rd base line. Of course I got stuff going on at work that I can't get out of... Mad

Coppy · Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 2131 Location: Chambersburg

Pedro

Not that I'm particularly surprised. He's like a little girl at this point in his career, and he's never been particularly athletic (except that time he threw Don Zimmer on the ground... awesome).

I'd like to see Shea one last time before that goes; spent plenty of time there as a young kid. I was never much of a Yankees fan; I still can't get over the designated hitter things either. Stupid AL.

Mets clobbered Florida tonight though and Oliver Perez had a stellar performance. At least we've got that going for us.

Good luck getting to see a Yanks game though; I'm actually planning to take a few trips down to DC to catch some games at the great new Nationals ballpark.

QueenofHearts · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 362

I've save this post especially for this topic.

All of my Padres men will have the batting average of the number of posts that I have as I post this for the season. (300) Ok, wishful thinking, but so it sitting in those seats at every home game and watching those men play their hearts out! (My Dad, Sister and her Hubby does!!!) See ya in October! Laughing

Coppy · Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 2131 Location: Chambersburg

Chris Young is due for a breakout season and Peavy is looking as good as ever. They have a light offense, but that park is pretty pitcher friend. Doubt they have enough to make the post-season, but keep thinking (wishfully) Smile

Tele · Joined: 28 Jan 2008 Posts: 41 Location: Chambersburg

Well the Padres sure have been a big disappointment so far this year. I thought that they would compete a little bit at least, but they haven't done much at all. Doesn't help that their pitching has been injured.

I'm glad to see my Red Sox hanging in there with some of the injuries they've had. Hopefully they can get thru this stretch without Papi not fall behind. It's been an interesting season so far with some teams playing surprisingly well. It's a long season though and a lot can happen in the next few months.

I'm also happy to report that at least one of my fantasy teams is in 1st at the moment. Razz

convoyducky · Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 88 Location: Mercersburg

I've got some catching up.

for chel, Braves, not doing so bad. Chipper is on fire though. AVG>.400
Nothing to shake a stick at

Personally an Indians fan myself. Outside the AL Central, I get a little questionable on knowledge. I can say this though, it will definately be an interesting season. Predictions putting the best teams at <85 wins. The late stretch will definately be an nail biter for most fans.