Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Finally jumping off the largest bandwagon that has ever existed
I'm dumping my allegiance to the Red Sox Nation. I've finally had it. I just don't want to be associated with all of these jackasses that have jumped on board in the last five+ years.
So, I am leaving it up to my good friends here at Heavy Soul to determine what the Deuce's new baseball team will be. You can decide between five teams and I have outlined the pluses and minuses for each team. You guys can push it over the top one way or another.
1) The Florida Marlins
Pluses
So, I am leaving it up to my good friends here at Heavy Soul to determine what the Deuce's new baseball team will be. You can decide between five teams and I have outlined the pluses and minuses for each team. You guys can push it over the top one way or another.
1) The Florida Marlins
Pluses
- The ownership and general management of this team just gets how to run a mid-market team. They've won just as many world series since the team was founded as the Red Sox have in that time period.
- They always end up in contention as long as the fire sale didn't happen the year before and even then they're usually competitive.
- The team has never lost a series in the post season.
- I really like Josh Willingham and Hanley Ramirez.
Minuses
- There won't be as much continuity with the team as they tend to dump just about everybody on their roster about every five to seven years
- I will never get to see them play at home (This should be a positive as the Dolphin Stadium is not a good place to watch baseball)
- Its a Florida team
- No DH (Sorry, I'm not a baseball purist)
2) The Arizona Diamondbacks
Pluses
- Another mid-market team that understands how to put the pieces together.
- Definitely could see them play every spring as long as we are still going to Phoenix for Spring Training
- I absolutely love Eric Byrnes, any clubhouse he's a part of is good by me
- Brandon Webb is good (and I mean GOOD).
Minuses
- Feels like I'd be jumping off one bandwagon and onto another
- The jerseys are NOT good
- No DH (again, fuck you guys)
- The National League West means I have to start watching baseball games that don't have the opening pitch until 9 at night.
3) The Minnesota Twins
Pluses
- Four hours away, I can go to games in the fall
- I like Morneau, Mauer, and Blackburn
- I'd have friends to root with
- DH
Minuses
- Paul and Kourtney like the Twins
- The Metrodome is a piece of junk
- The Metrodome is a piece of junk
- The Metrodome is a piece of junk
4) The Seattle Mariners
Pluses
- Safeco is an awesome field in a pretty awesome town
- I have always liked Richie Sexson
- I'm coming around Adrian Beltre even though I still think he's one of the more overpaid players in baseball
- When it comes to Felix Hernandez and Carlos Silva, I'm in.
- There are only four teams in the AL West so there's a better shot of seeing them in the playoffs
- DH
Minuses
- Home games are on late
- They haven't been to the post season since 2001
- Who the hell is a Seattle Mariner's fan?
5) The Goddamn Cubs
Pluses
- Every person I know is a Cubs fan
- I already basically know everything about the team
- I've been to more Cubs games than Red Sox games
- I love Sweet Lou
- The Fukudome (that's all that has to be said)
Minuses
- Every person I know is a Cubs fan
- I already basically know everything about the team
- I'm kind of tired of Cubs fever
- They're a lot like the pre-2004 Red Sox, I don't want to have to switch teams when their bandwagon goes through the roof when they finally win it all
- NO DH
So choose wisely Heavy Soul. My sports fate lies in your hands.
Labels: Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, Florida Marlins, Jumping off the bandwagon, Minnesota Twins, Pick my team for me, Seattle Mariners
Comments:
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I think you have three good choices with the exception of the DBacks and Cubs, as those teams are far too bandwagony to switch to at this point, also they really shouldn't be factors since you clearly don't want to root for a National League team due to the DH (which is ridiculous, the DH sucks). Cross off the Marlins for DH and economic reasons (they would be an awful team to root for due to fluctuation and that deplorable stadium, it belongs in Rwanda).
That leaves you with the Mariners and the Twins. The fact that you think the Metrodome is a dump is almost irrelevant thanks to the new stadium being built Downtown, which is going to be awesome. Like every team, they do have some problems:
1. Their announcers suck
2. Gardenhire is at worst an awful manager and at best a competent one
3. Terry Ryan, GM Guru, retired before this year and his replacement, Bill Smith, still has the book out
4. They do not seem to believe in developing players that have on-base skills while developing an arsenal of pitchers that are instructed from rookie ball that walks are the worst thing in the world. It makes no sense, but it's reality.
5. Dome Dogs are garbage. GARBAGE!
On the plus, they are close, they have fantastic fans, they serve Grain Belt at the park and they have a solid core and will spend money smartly and constantly develop talent, especially pitching talent.
The Mariners are a solid choice as well. They have a cool park, although they lose points for retractable roof, but on the other hand it is Seattle, whatever.
I'm glad that I don't have to follow games that start that late.
Also this is the site of the infamous Rickey Henderson-John Olerud exchange:
RICKEY: That's funny, I had a teammate in Toronto that wore a helmet in the field.
OLERUD: Yeah. That was me.
So you could tell that joke for the rest of eternity, which sounds great.
On the other hand, liking Richie Sexson and Adrian Beltre probably makes me think you are a lost cause and I shouldn't have wasted the last five minutes thinking about this.
That leaves you with the Mariners and the Twins. The fact that you think the Metrodome is a dump is almost irrelevant thanks to the new stadium being built Downtown, which is going to be awesome. Like every team, they do have some problems:
1. Their announcers suck
2. Gardenhire is at worst an awful manager and at best a competent one
3. Terry Ryan, GM Guru, retired before this year and his replacement, Bill Smith, still has the book out
4. They do not seem to believe in developing players that have on-base skills while developing an arsenal of pitchers that are instructed from rookie ball that walks are the worst thing in the world. It makes no sense, but it's reality.
5. Dome Dogs are garbage. GARBAGE!
On the plus, they are close, they have fantastic fans, they serve Grain Belt at the park and they have a solid core and will spend money smartly and constantly develop talent, especially pitching talent.
The Mariners are a solid choice as well. They have a cool park, although they lose points for retractable roof, but on the other hand it is Seattle, whatever.
I'm glad that I don't have to follow games that start that late.
Also this is the site of the infamous Rickey Henderson-John Olerud exchange:
RICKEY: That's funny, I had a teammate in Toronto that wore a helmet in the field.
OLERUD: Yeah. That was me.
So you could tell that joke for the rest of eternity, which sounds great.
On the other hand, liking Richie Sexson and Adrian Beltre probably makes me think you are a lost cause and I shouldn't have wasted the last five minutes thinking about this.
Also, even though they are in the National League, the Nationals deserve a shot here.
They have fantastic unis and a sweet new park, plus they really don't have a bandwagon yet so no one can really accuse you of hopping on it.
Ryan Zimmerman would be fun to root for. Here's what my list would look like if I were you:
1. Nationals
1a. Twins
3. Mariners
4. Cubs
5. Marlins
6. Dbacks
They have fantastic unis and a sweet new park, plus they really don't have a bandwagon yet so no one can really accuse you of hopping on it.
Ryan Zimmerman would be fun to root for. Here's what my list would look like if I were you:
1. Nationals
1a. Twins
3. Mariners
4. Cubs
5. Marlins
6. Dbacks
For posterity's sake I'd like to point out that there is plenty of room over here on the Royals' bandwagon.
I left the Red Sox last year, Todd. The Royals are where I landed, because they're close, A-Gord (LSE Alum, in case you forgot), the K is enjoyable - as opposed to the metro, plus the K has good brats/sausages, oh yeah, it was also the place of my first MLB experience as a youth.
I considered the Royals, but I don't think I could stomach an ownership that clearly does not care about the fans and takes its revenue sharing % and laughs all the way to the bank.
This is Todd's future wife.
I just want it to be noted that I do not appreciate being lumped in a category with Dr. Douchebag for ANY reason.
AND, don't pick the Mariners. You would then be jumping on the bandwagon my dad did when he ditched the Twins about five years ago. Come on, you LIVE for having NOTHING in common with my dad!
That is all. GO TWINS!
-Kourtney
I just want it to be noted that I do not appreciate being lumped in a category with Dr. Douchebag for ANY reason.
AND, don't pick the Mariners. You would then be jumping on the bandwagon my dad did when he ditched the Twins about five years ago. Come on, you LIVE for having NOTHING in common with my dad!
That is all. GO TWINS!
-Kourtney
# posted by 
: 1:35 PM, May 07, 2008
: 1:35 PM, May 07, 2008
Don't you go sleeping on the A's.
--They have a brief but current history of drafting former Huskers (Jed Morris, Shane Komine, Dan Johnson).
--Since the 70's they have had a notorious (Get it? Notorious.) penchant for having the baddest clubhouse in the bigs.
--Billy Beane is the GM most teams would kill for.
--The new owner Lewis Wolff is going to rip open his wallet once the new stadium opens up in Fremont in '12.
--They've always had a strong farm system.
--Their mascot is an elephant. Very toungue in cheek for the Athletics.
--Their 2008 slogan is, "Try us out Todd, you'll like us!"
--They have a brief but current history of drafting former Huskers (Jed Morris, Shane Komine, Dan Johnson).
--Since the 70's they have had a notorious (Get it? Notorious.) penchant for having the baddest clubhouse in the bigs.
--Billy Beane is the GM most teams would kill for.
--The new owner Lewis Wolff is going to rip open his wallet once the new stadium opens up in Fremont in '12.
--They've always had a strong farm system.
--Their mascot is an elephant. Very toungue in cheek for the Athletics.
--Their 2008 slogan is, "Try us out Todd, you'll like us!"
Dear Deuce,
Our bandwagon is full. There would probably be room for you, but your goddamned e-mail signature is too big.
Warmest Regards,
The Official Chicago Cubs Bandwagon
Our bandwagon is full. There would probably be room for you, but your goddamned e-mail signature is too big.
Warmest Regards,
The Official Chicago Cubs Bandwagon
It's all about the Detroit Tigers, man. Don't pay any attention to their awful record and inconsistent hitting. They were in the world series only two years ago!
What better way to settle this than with a poll? Vote here.
Um, needless to say, I had some time on my hands.
Um, needless to say, I had some time on my hands.
I voted for the Royals. For once I'd like the Deuce to not just pick the best team (I'm looking at you Michigan State)
That's bullshit. I liked Michigan State long before they won the national title. You can fault me for liking the 49ers or the Lakers, but Michigan State was a reasonable choice.
Nice work on the poll, A. I love how The Deuce is able to defend one of his three team selections in good conscience.
I still don't buy that Michigan State shit.
In fact, the only way I do is if you started liking them once you found out Magic played for them...either way, it's bandwagon time, baby!
And that is a great poll, A.
In fact, the only way I do is if you started liking them once you found out Magic played for them...either way, it's bandwagon time, baby!
And that is a great poll, A.
Deuce. Are you worried about having to support something others consider "poor" if the wrong team is selected.
Deuce it looks more and more like you should be buying a Gordo T-shirt Jersey here in the near future.
Thanks for putting the poll together Adam, but after talking with your brother I've decided to go with the Minnesota Twins. I'm not really sure how the Royals ended up as a choice since I would rather remain a Red Sox fan than cheer for that franchise. Thanks to the people who provided honest input, while the few people who were just snarky and mean spirited should rethink how they treat their friends.
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