MLB - 2006 Season! Continued!

[Imran Siddiqui]

More often than not though, the WS win and the resulting arrogance of Red Sox fans (who were 'cute' in their defeatism before) has pushed the Red Sox more into the catagory of Yankee-lite than 'enemy of my enemy'.

I mean the Mets and Angels spend a ton of money, but you don't see the vitrol there... I think it's mostly because they've sucked for so long that there isn't an arrogance there. Even when the Mets are good, Mets fans realize they are the 'second team' when it comes to the media.

[Arrian]

Well, 'tis true, most people don't hate a loser.

The Angels? They won the WS in 2002! I know this well, given that they knocked out a VERY good Yankee team in the ALDS that year. I think they're not hated for a combo of reasons:

1) They spend, but the Yankees pretty much take the cake there, and most other teams get a pass.

2) They win, but they're not there every frickin' year.

3) They're on the West Coast. Nobody cares about the West Coast.

-Arrian

[Imran Siddiqui]

The Angels? They won the WS in 2002!

And? What's their record before and after that? Next you are going to tell me the Marlins haven't generally sucked the last decade because they won a couple WS in the middle.

[OzzyKP]

Originally posted by Ming
Now that is funny... especially if they include ESPN in their thinking. Many national fans are against them, but not the East Coast media... It was good to hear on ESPN this morning that there is a "good" chance that only one team from the East will make the playoffs... and that Detroit or Chicago will be the wild card...

NO KIDDING! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHA

ALWC	W	L	Pct	GB	HOME	ROAD	RS	RA	STRK	L10
[B]DET[/B]	54	25	.684	-	26-14	28-11	413	289	Won 6	9-1
NYY	44	32	.579	8.5	24-16	20-16	423	353	Won 1	6-4
TOR	43	34	.558	10	26-16	17-18	415	370	Won 2	6-4
TEX	40	37	.519	13	20-21	20-16	407	386	Lost 3	5-5

[Arrian]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

The Angels? They won the WS in 2002!

And? What's their record before and after that? Next you are going to tell me the Marlins haven't generally sucked the last decade because they won a couple WS in the middle.

I am indeed.

First, the Angels also made the playoffs last year, as you well know, and were knocked out by the eventual Champs. They have not sucked for some time.

The Marlins are a special case, but I refuse to view a team that has won the WS twice in the past 10 years sucks. They've have big-time peaks and valleys.

Which would you rather see? The Indians (often in it, never champs) or the Marlins (only occasionally in it, but seem to close the deal everytime they have a shot)?

-Arrian

[Arrian]

It's been obvious that the WC is coming out of the Central for some time now.

What, you thought ESPN offered intelligent, cutting-edge analysis?

They're conserative... much like fans... in that they seem to be of the school that says "show me, and I'll believe." They tend to "not count out" the old champs/good teams, and are cautious about jumping on bandwagons.

I'm sure there are guys at ESPN who think the 2006 Tigers = the 2005 Orioles (which is absurd, but again, these people employ Joe Morgan!).

-Arrian

[Sava]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Vendors brats are the best

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Arrian
First, the Angels also made the playoffs last year, as you well know, and were knocked out by the eventual Champs. They have not sucked for some time.

Before their World Series win in 2002, the Angels hadn't made the playoffs since 1986. In 2003 they missed the playoffs again, but for the past couple years have finished first. However, that is still only 3 playoff years in the last 19 years.

That kind of thing has an effect on people who still remember how they used to suck. Especially that one late season collapse they had in the mid-late 90s where they blew a 10 game lead.

The Marlins are a special case, but I refuse to view a team that has won the WS twice in the past 10 years sucks. They've have big-time peaks and valleys.

And aside from TWO seasons in their history, they have sucked. When they won their second WS, that was only their 2nd year they finished above .500. Now they have done so the last couple of years, but haven't made the playoffs.

Which would you rather see? The Indians (often in it, never champs) or the Marlins (only occasionally in it, but seem to close the deal everytime they have a shot)?

Well we can compare attendance figures to see who most people would rather see.

[Sava]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

Well we can compare attendance figures to see who most people would rather see.

Irrelevant.

Attendance doesn't have anything to do with the quality of the baseball team on the field.

/me points to the North Side of Chicago.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Sava
Irrelevant.

Attendance doesn't have anything to do with the quality of the baseball team on the field.

* Sava points to the North Side of Chicago.

He said "Who would you rather see".

[Arrian]

Well we can compare attendance figures to see who most people would rather see.

1. I asked you, not "which would people rather see."
2. That comparison is also at least partly Cleveland vs... whereverthehell the Marlins play in Florida.
3. The Marlins are totally imcompetant when it comes to capitalizing on their on-field success.

However...

The choice I offered is a bit silly. The fact that the Indians couldn't quite win it all and the Marlins pulled it off twice is more a factor of luck than of team construction - the Marlins got lucky. The Indians have been far better than the Marlins the vast majority of the time.

But I still stand by my basic response of "the Marlins don't suck because they've won it, TWICE, in recent memory."

The Royals suck. The Devil Rays suck. The Marlins do not suck. The Marlins are Dr. Jekyl & Mr. Hyde.

-Arrian

[Arrian]

The Marlins are, IMO, Dr. Jekyl & Mr. Hyde in more ways than one.

This is a team that seems to really get how to produce championships in a "small market" type situation, by turning over older, established rosters for really good young talent and then taking a shot when the window of opportunity opens.

At the same time, from a business standpoint, they appear to have no clue whatsoever as to how to market their product.

-Arrian

[Imran Siddiqui]

I asked you, not "which would people rather see."

Well I'd probably like to see a constant winner.

That comparison is also at least partly Cleveland vs... whereverthehell the Marlins play in Florida.

They play in (formerlly know as) Joe Robbie Stadium, where the Dolphins play and they don't suffer for attendance.

But I still stand by my basic response of "the Marlins don't suck because they've won it, TWICE, in recent memory."

They still suck because in the years they haven't won it, they've generally been horrible. That's suckage to me. A lucky WS win followed by a fire sale doesn't change that for me. To get out of suckage requires continued success, at least 5 consecutive years of good baseball (but they can falter in one of those 5). The Angels are almost there... well were, though that depends on whether they stay in last place in the AL West.

[Arrian]

To each their own. I really think the Marlins could market their approach to their fans, and were I one of them, I'd go with it. Perhaps I'm atypical.

If they honestly said something like "look, we do not have the resources to put a playoff team out there every single year. So this team will built and rebuilt cyclically. Some years we will be taking our shot at winning it all, and some years we will be rebuilding. We can promise you, at any given time, one of two things: a chance to see a winner, or a chance to see exciting young players blossom into stars."

But instead they spend their time whining about the stadium.

-Arrian

[Ming]

Originally posted by Arrian
To each their own. I really think the Marlins could market their approach to their fans, and were I one of them, I'd go with it. Perhaps I'm atypical.

I wouldn't mind that kind of honesty either... As long as they have a plan (that has proven successful) I would support the team during it's off years... knowing that my investment would pay off in the long run...

On the other hand, I'm a Cubs fan...