Baseball

[ckd]

When I started typing this entry, I had the Giants-Padres game on in the other room.

I'm not a Giants fan.

I'm not a Padres fan.

I don't live in San Francisco, or San Diego, or even in California.

I'm watching it just because it's baseball.

This provides an excuse for explaining how I decide which team to root for in any particular MLB game.

1. Seattle Mariners (my old hometown team)
   
2. Cleveland Indians (hr_macgirl's old hometown team)
   
3. Boston Red Sox (the local gang; remember, I moved here in 1986)
   
4. Tampa Bay Devil Rays (for Lou Piniella; besides, they could use the help)
   
5. team that isn't the Yankees, if the Yankees are involved
   
6. whichever team has more of my favorite players who used to be on one of the top 3
   
7. whichever team will help one of the top 3 in the standings by winning
   
8. team with the best player names (you gotta root for anyone stuck with the name "Milton Bradley", for example)

In this case, the presence of Omar Vizquel and Jeff Fassero meant I was rooting for the Giants, who sadly lost.

Comments

[veejane.livejournal.com]

> I'm watching it just because it's baseball.

I am coming to know this sensation. I was transfixed Monday night by the Astros/Braves pitchers' duel -- Clemens v. Hudson. Although I am told I am supposed to hate the Braves, I couldn't help rooting for Hudson. (a) He is amusingly skinny and small, for a pitcher; (b) he is not Roger Clemens; (c) 9 shutout innings, which is a complete game, except when your offense sucks. There was a heartstopper of a 10th inning, Astros with men on 2nd and 3rd no outs, and somehow the Braves got out of it (including a double play at the plate).

It's pretty hard to root for Tampa, though. They're pretty bad. Minnesota I can root for, but not Tampa.

[ckd]

he is not Roger Clemens

That's almost a special case of "not-the-Yankees".

It's pretty hard to root for Tampa, though. They're pretty bad.

In the 80s and early 90s, the Mariners were pretty bad themselves. There were plenty of games where the between-innings hydrofoil races on the Jumbotron were more exciting than the game. The Indians were a joke for years as well.

I'm used to bad baseball. Probably more used to it than I'd like to be.