but at this point I could not care less about A-Rod, the deal, or anything like that. Hate Texas because they’re Texas, not because of something that happened eight years ago that was going to happen anyway.
I can't think of any possible reason to root for a Rangers' win other than the game Cliff Lee starts.
Any real success the Rangers might have at all in the post season, works against us financially. To root for them to advance will allow them to gain revenue that they will use against us in the coming years. I don’t love the Rays, my AL team is the Twins, but I’d rather have the Rays get the money than the Rangers. We don’t play the Rays as often as we play the Rangers.
And I’d like to see that changed—that way accomplishments are not discounted, and players aren’t assumed to be worse than their performance because they play for a team in a weaker division.
I think part of that is a strong post season performance by an AL West team. Obviously, the real answer is for the AL West to be a better division. But right now, we can pick between two teams, one of which can demonstrate that it is possible for an AL West team to succeed.
Perception, perhaps is the only manner in which anything will change.
Still, all things being equal, why not want a division team to have a strong showing? The Rays winning does nothing on this front.
And yes, Rangers success does not affect the performance of other teams, in or out of their division. At this point, nothing can, because teams have stopped playing. Except a few. Of those few, I want the one from the AL West to win.
Because I couldn't give less of a damn if Texas is a good team or not
if the Mariners are not the AL West’s playoff representative, I’m not going to root for Texas just because they are. The AL West is not a family, it’s four rival teams, and I’m not about to start rooting for a rival that has something I desperately want just because they have it.
But as long as east coast sports editors get to scoff at the AL West, the Mariners, when they do win, will have their achievements not taken seriously.
Well, it's baseball, so ultimately it doesn't matter.
I’m not actually following this series. In fact, outside of Cliff Lee starts, I doubt I will watch any of it.
A quick disclaimer: I am not retarded. No, nothing here will actually change the performance of the AL West, or the Seattle Mariners, in real terms—obviously, because the AL West teams aren’t playing, and no amount of games in which a team doesn’t play can improve their performance.
I guess your question, though, sort of strikes at the heart of what it is to be a sports fan. It’s not like I don’t have plenty of good books to read, family to catch up with, or work to do. It’s an agonizing form of entertainment, when you think about it. So I don’t know why I care. But to the extent that I do, I’d prefer one outcome over the other. I have no influence over this, of course, and it has no real effect on me or my various loved ones. Either outcome has no effect on my health, security, or pocketbook, so I don’t really care.
The part of me that cares, though, wants Mariners successes to be recognized outside of Mariners fans, and not simply skipped over while waiting for the next AL East team to do something interesting. I guess I feel baseball would be a whole lot less fun without other teams and other fans also clamoring for accomplishments. And when their teams have a day in the sun, most will applaud, and some will try to shit all over it for any reason handy because it wasn’t their team standing up there.
It has happened to the Mariners before, and it will happen again. I remember folks lessening how amazing the 2001 season felt because the Mariners played in the AL West. So, you know, it’s not like its a real accomplishment. Like if the Yankees did it.
Like somebody planning revenge years ahead of time, in the meantime living through absolute shit, I want it to be perfect when it happens. Especially after the 162 games we were just put through. So, I look at two teams playing each other, and I care about neither of them. But, one of them, might, maybe, provide this entirely bullshit intangible fringe benefit that may help partially validate my future hypothetical fandom (if the Mariners can keep me. I only have one more season of arbitration).
But no outcome of Rays vs. Tejas can accomplish that.
It will literally have no effect on that at all, no matter what happens. It is not possible in any way for it to have an effect on that. So, while we have no skin in the game, lets try and nail the consolation prize’s ugly cousin.
The Rays were my 2nd favorite team back when they were an expansion and sucked and then they went to the World Series. Now my 2nd favorite team will have to be the Royals.
Rays, but will root for the Rangers and Cliff Lee the rest of the way if they win
I do not quite understand the backlash against the Rays, as they have not been good for very long and suffered like the pre-1991 Mariners for a long time before that. Plus, Jonah Keri seems like a nice enough fellow, and a Rays World Series might help book sales.
I'm still kinda invested in Cliff Lee.
MT Olson - October 4, 2010
Hard to root against Cliff Lee
But fuck everything about Texas. I’m still pissed about them giving A-Rod a quarter of a billion dollars.
moyerLIVES - October 4, 2010
this seems like a healthy, logical stance to take in 2010
pdb - October 4, 2010
Logical no, healthy yes
seattlebruin - October 4, 2010
I'm all about "fuck everything about Texas"
but at this point I could not care less about A-Rod, the deal, or anything like that. Hate Texas because they’re Texas, not because of something that happened eight years ago that was going to happen anyway.
pdb - October 4, 2010
Was more sarcastic than anything, agreed with the entire point
seattlebruin - October 4, 2010
I'm hugely invested in Cliff Lee, but don't want the Rangers to get any more
post-season revenue than is necessary. Go Rays!
TrustBaseball - October 4, 2010
Exactly.
sanford_and_son - October 4, 2010
I can't think of any possible reason to root for a Rangers' win other than the game Cliff Lee starts.
Any real success the Rangers might have at all in the post season, works against us financially. To root for them to advance will allow them to gain revenue that they will use against us in the coming years. I don’t love the Rays, my AL team is the Twins, but I’d rather have the Rays get the money than the Rangers. We don’t play the Rays as often as we play the Rangers.
TrustBaseball - October 4, 2010
I think the Rangers' playoff victories should stay at 1.
seiferguy - October 4, 2010
Them blowing a 2-0 lead would also be neat.
Robert - October 4, 2010
Sadly...
I’d take it.
ghostofErikThompson - October 4, 2010
The Rays have been my bandwagon team since preseason 2008, and I still would rather see them win than any other non-Mariners team.
lailaihei - October 4, 2010
I still love Cliff, but I will never root for a division rival. Rays.
JAH - October 4, 2010
Frankly I'm a bit sick of the Rays
but I still want them to win this series. Hopefully the Rangers win Cliff Lee’s start but otherwise fuck ’em.
Eyeball Kid - October 4, 2010
There was no choice for "none"
pdb - October 4, 2010
There was no choice to root for the Angels, either >:(
seattlebruin - October 4, 2010
Rangers only because I'd love to see both AL East teams eliminated in the DS
The Rays are still the most likable team in the east, but seriously… I’m so sick of listening to how supposedly superior the AL East is.
BaronVonBullshit - October 4, 2010
Supposedly?
seattlebruin - October 4, 2010
How about this:
I would like people to stop robotically discounting anything good in the AL West because conventional wisdom calls it a weak division.
For that, and Cliff Lee, I am bandwagoning Tejas for this one.
SeattExPat - October 4, 2010
Conventional wisdom and also actual wisdom.
Aaron Campeau - October 4, 2010
The AL West is a weak division, though
pdb - October 4, 2010
Sure is.
And I’d like to see that changed—that way accomplishments are not discounted, and players aren’t assumed to be worse than their performance because they play for a team in a weaker division.
I think part of that is a strong post season performance by an AL West team. Obviously, the real answer is for the AL West to be a better division. But right now, we can pick between two teams, one of which can demonstrate that it is possible for an AL West team to succeed.
SeattExPat - October 4, 2010
If one AL West team succeeds that does not automatically make the AL West a strong division though
pdb - October 4, 2010
Right, but it makes it stronger than if they don't succeed.
SeattExPat - October 4, 2010
How?
pdb - October 4, 2010
Or, to elaborate a bit
The Rangers winning does not improve the strength of the AL West as a whole. It proves that the Rangers are a strong team, and that’s about it.
pdb - October 4, 2010
Perception, perhaps is the only manner in which anything will change.
Still, all things being equal, why not want a division team to have a strong showing? The Rays winning does nothing on this front.
And yes, Rangers success does not affect the performance of other teams, in or out of their division. At this point, nothing can, because teams have stopped playing. Except a few. Of those few, I want the one from the AL West to win.
SeattExPat - October 4, 2010
Because I couldn't give less of a damn if Texas is a good team or not
if the Mariners are not the AL West’s playoff representative, I’m not going to root for Texas just because they are. The AL West is not a family, it’s four rival teams, and I’m not about to start rooting for a rival that has something I desperately want just because they have it.
pdb - October 4, 2010
I just want shit-talking about the AL West to stop.
SeattExPat - October 4, 2010
Don't listen to it.
Matthew - October 4, 2010
Among the dumber sportswriters, though, it may cost Felix a Cy Young.
SeattExPat - October 5, 2010
And, of course, for the Mariners to win.
But as long as east coast sports editors get to scoff at the AL West, the Mariners, when they do win, will have their achievements not taken seriously.
And that will be less fun for me.
SeattExPat - October 4, 2010
No offense, but why?
Why do you care?
Aaron Campeau - October 4, 2010
Well, it's baseball, so ultimately it doesn't matter.
I’m not actually following this series. In fact, outside of Cliff Lee starts, I doubt I will watch any of it.
A quick disclaimer: I am not retarded. No, nothing here will actually change the performance of the AL West, or the Seattle Mariners, in real terms—obviously, because the AL West teams aren’t playing, and no amount of games in which a team doesn’t play can improve their performance.
I guess your question, though, sort of strikes at the heart of what it is to be a sports fan. It’s not like I don’t have plenty of good books to read, family to catch up with, or work to do. It’s an agonizing form of entertainment, when you think about it. So I don’t know why I care. But to the extent that I do, I’d prefer one outcome over the other. I have no influence over this, of course, and it has no real effect on me or my various loved ones. Either outcome has no effect on my health, security, or pocketbook, so I don’t really care.
The part of me that cares, though, wants Mariners successes to be recognized outside of Mariners fans, and not simply skipped over while waiting for the next AL East team to do something interesting. I guess I feel baseball would be a whole lot less fun without other teams and other fans also clamoring for accomplishments. And when their teams have a day in the sun, most will applaud, and some will try to shit all over it for any reason handy because it wasn’t their team standing up there.
It has happened to the Mariners before, and it will happen again. I remember folks lessening how amazing the 2001 season felt because the Mariners played in the AL West. So, you know, it’s not like its a real accomplishment. Like if the Yankees did it.
Like somebody planning revenge years ahead of time, in the meantime living through absolute shit, I want it to be perfect when it happens. Especially after the 162 games we were just put through. So, I look at two teams playing each other, and I care about neither of them. But, one of them, might, maybe, provide this entirely bullshit intangible fringe benefit that may help partially validate my future hypothetical fandom (if the Mariners can keep me. I only have one more season of arbitration).
Plus, hey, Cliff Lee.
SeattExPat - October 5, 2010
Best thing to do would be to give them nothing to scoff at.
MT Olson - October 4, 2010
But no outcome of Rays vs. Tejas can accomplish that.
It will literally have no effect on that at all, no matter what happens. It is not possible in any way for it to have an effect on that. So, while we have no skin in the game, lets try and nail the consolation prize’s ugly cousin.
SeattExPat - October 5, 2010
The Rangers deserve some respect, but people are correct when they say the West is weak in comparison.
Texas is the only team in the West that finished above .500, while the East had four. And those four teams didn’t get to play the M’s 19 times.
Teej - October 4, 2010
This is yet another reason 2010 pissed me off so much
THIS DIVISION WAS SO DAMN WINNABLE THIS YEAR
pdb - October 4, 2010
I/we were right on 75% of the AL West teams!
Pretty much nailed them actually.
Matthew - October 4, 2010
So wouldn't a successful Mariners team have screwed all the other projections?
MT Olson - October 4, 2010
No
Matthew - October 4, 2010
Oh.
MT Olson - October 4, 2010
Name a better division
pdb - October 4, 2010
Aw shit I don't want either of them to win
Dewey N - October 4, 2010
This is my dilemma
I want to watch a lot of playoff baseball but I just don’t really give a damn about this series.
pdb - October 4, 2010
I hear you brother.
I would be ok with the Rays as long as the home lost every game.
Robert - October 4, 2010
Word
Dewey N - October 4, 2010
I am also sick of Tampa Bay, but we can't very well have Texas winning a playoff series.
Goose - October 4, 2010
So, is it the cool thing to hate the Rays now?
JAH - October 4, 2010
They're so good it's infuriating
Dewey N - October 4, 2010
Be your own person
Jeff Sullivan - October 4, 2010
Based on your vote I see you were not your own person
Jeff Sullivan - October 4, 2010
I never root for divisional rivals.
I am just a little confused, it seems like people suddenly are sick of the Rays.
JAH - October 4, 2010
Jeff and I are sick of them
probably some others as well. Still others think differently.
Such are the state of things
Matthew - October 4, 2010
Fair enough.
JAH - October 4, 2010
I fucking hate their fans and want them all to be sad.
Robert - October 4, 2010
You can't hate what doesn't exist
pdb - October 4, 2010
But I thought you loved furries, Robert.
Decatur - October 4, 2010
Do you interact with their fans a lot?
I’ve found Tampa fans are like bears, you have to really go looking for one to find one in the wild.
JAH - October 4, 2010
I am talking about the fans that won't go to games despite being the best team in the American League over the last three years.
Robert - October 4, 2010
It's worth noting that the unemployment rate in the area is amongst the highest in the country and their TV ratings are through the roof.
Aaron Campeau - October 4, 2010
I am unemployed and live equally far away from the city that my sports teams play in.
Robert - October 4, 2010
You don't have a family to raise on an unemployment check
pdb - October 4, 2010
The easy solution is that people in Florida shouldn't have children.
Robert - October 4, 2010
Florida: The New China
Kenneth Arthur - October 4, 2010
Makes their situation less embarrassing, but it's still embarrassing
Jeff Sullivan - October 4, 2010
I would hate on the more except I don't want it to appear as if I am being LLemminged off of them
Poochie - October 4, 2010
The Rays were my 2nd favorite team back when they were an expansion and sucked and then they went to the World Series. Now my 2nd favorite team will have to be the Royals.
I root for Cliff Lee.
Kenneth Arthur - October 4, 2010
So you only like teams that suck?
Interesting.
pdb - October 4, 2010
When rooting for non-Mariners teams in the playoffs, I usually root for the team with more historical suckage.
I think it is because I understand what their fans have been through.
Jed MC - October 4, 2010
I like to root for teams that are building. Afterall, I am a Mariners fan first and foremost.
Kenneth Arthur - October 4, 2010
The Royals should really stop trying to rebuild in a tornado alley
Matthew - October 4, 2010
optimism!
pdb - October 4, 2010
Worked well for Haiti
Matthew - October 4, 2010
Rangers, since I have despised the Rays ever since they dropped the Devil.
Patrick Stites - October 4, 2010
I love the Rays, but Cliff Lee carved out a bigger niche in my heart.
Reluctantly, I voted for the Rangers.
njpozner - October 4, 2010
I still love Cliff Lee, but I love the Rays more.
Heydude - October 4, 2010
I hope the Ranger's get swept out of the playoffs so they can lose 12 playoff games in a row.
I also hope not Felix gets shelled for 17 runs in the post season.
joof - October 4, 2010
Criff Ree! The Rangers are overdue for a playoff appearance- hard not to root for them
Corco - October 4, 2010
Rays, but will root for the Rangers and Cliff Lee the rest of the way if they win
I do not quite understand the backlash against the Rays, as they have not been good for very long and suffered like the pre-1991 Mariners for a long time before that. Plus, Jonah Keri seems like a nice enough fellow, and a Rays World Series might help book sales.
G_ - October 4, 2010
Rangers, baby, Rangers!
Poochie - October 4, 2010 via mobile
I root for Cliff Lee.
ignacio - October 4, 2010
Rays all the way.
BigR - October 4, 2010
Rays
Wilder. - October 4, 2010
How the hell did the Rays score 800 runs?
Poochie - October 4, 2010
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