Things and Stuff

I want to congratulate Blogi for stepping up to the plate and announcing the return of our awesomeness - or maybe that our awesomeness never went away, but was simply dormant and has now returned with a vengeance: a powerful, piss and vinegar vengeance.

There is a lot to talk about, and there is little to talk about. The Yankees rolled over like whipped curs around two months ago, after going on an 8 game win streak after the All-Star break to get us believing, and when everyone had finally given up hope, they were 6 games back with six to play and a three game series against the Red Sox. The Yanks won and the Sawx lost. 5 left to play, 5 down. A Boston win ices it. And they did it. Those freakin' jerks. They then had the nerve to go and smack the Halos around like a punching bag, pissing all over the "Angels are way better than the Sox and they are built to win" argument I got into with a friend in July that almost led to me reaching through the computer, over the internet, and physically shaking him through his monitor.

A lot has changed since then. There's a great football season going on at both the professional and collegiate level, but that isn't what I'm thinking about right now. I'm thinking about baseball and all the horrid teams that haven't won in years (Cubs specifically, Mets and Phillies come to mind). Has anyone noticed that the the four teams in the two most recent expansions - Arizona ('98), Tampa Bay ('98), Colorado ('93), and Florida ('93) - have 4 trips to the World Series between them, while in that time, the Cubs - starting with a firm foundation, long history, and big bank account - have no trips to the Series. In that time the Phillies have gone once ('93), the Mets have gone once, ('00), the Red Sox have gone twice (and won both might I add), the Braves have gone 3 times (won once), the Cardinals twice (won once), and the Yankkes have gone 6 times (4 rings baby).

Now I'm not going to sit here and make unfounded claims that indicate I believe expansion teams have an easier time - I don't. But what I do believe is that there are extablished clubs that are doing things horribly wrong. There are teams that have just been horrible - Pirates, Royals, Reds, Expos/Nationals that beg the question - are you trying to put a winning product out there or are you just trying to get your revenue dollars? These teams baffle me. What baffles me more though are the losers - the Cubs, the Orioles, and until recently the Dodgers - teams that put a ton of money on the field and do absolutely nothing. The Orioles haven't gotten it together since the mid-90's. The Cubs have been a threat for a few years now, but they just choke. The Phillies will see their day before the Cubs do. I'm convinced the Rockies will, even after that choke job they pulled in the World Series last year; and don't forget the Rays. They are young, they are talented, and they are going to be a power for a looooong time.

Some of this losing is criminal - and who should we blame: the organizations that don't field a good team and comfortably take their cut of the revenue sharing, or the fans who don't protest how poorly they are treated by their teams? The closest thing we have seen to that is when Pirates fan publicly rallied to stage a walkout, then only a fraction of the fans did because the Pirates were leading when the walkout was supposed to happen. You can't win a battle you don't fight.

-Jobimoto out.
"And that, Tom, is what really Grinds my Gears..."