It’s the eighth inning of a 1-1 tie. You have runners at first and second, nobody out. The batter chases a 2-1 pitch at the ankles on a bunt attempt. You don’t score. You proceed to give up two solo shots in the top of the ninth and then go down without so much as a whimper in the bottom half.
That is terrible baseball. What’s to analyze?
#144@parlo: Alan did not say that fans “don’t have the right” to boo. His point is that it’s not right.
That seems to be one of the disconnects in this discussion today. There is a difference between “having a right” and “something being right.”
I support fans’ right to boo. But I have the right to say they are wrong and shouldn’t do it.
#146@Stephen: I find it extraordinarily impressive! I cannot even fathom how a guy can be leading the leagure in RBI, almost half way through the season, when his team has scored the 2nd fewest runs in the league and plays in the park which suppresses offense more than any other in the league. AMAZING!!
#151@Kevin: Jeez, it took us 150 posts to get here? Nicely done, Kevin!
#147@parlo: No, I oppose booing in this case because it’s stupidly short-sighted to boo one of the best players in franchise history who has shown great loyalty to this franchise. I care about other people booing because it reflects badly on all San Diego sports fans, including myself.
I can honestly say that I have never read or heard so much on such an inane topic.
I’m just glad I went to bed when the game was tied 1-1.
I am late to the discussion today, but I did read all the posts in the past 30 minutes.
As you may have guessed, I’m on the anti-booing side. I actually agree with basically everything Tom said. Who would have thunk it?
But there have been a number of specious arguments today.
– Fans have the right to boo because I pay their salaries. This is a cliche, and how do you know that? Maybe you do, maybe you don’t. What about TV revenue? Concession sales? Etc.
– The booing was because of frustration with the game/season. That may be, but since booing is not a nuanced act, booing usually relates to only the last play or last couple plays.
– The players are self-righteous or petty or whatever for defending Hoffman. Wait a second. Players have the right to boo with vitriol because they pay for a ticket. But players aren’t allowed to say: We didn’t think the booing was a good idea, especially concerning the second most important player in franchise history?
– The comparison to Phillies and Yankees fans. Yes, they boo like crazy, and it makes Padres fans look mild. But that’s doesn’t make them or Padres fans right. I’ve always thought fans in New York and Philly were out of line, and I think it would be better if San Diego fans did not become more like them.
#151@Kevin: This isnt Constitutional Law. If you are telling them they are wrong, you are saying that they should not do it. My point is that it is not your decision to determine if, and how other fans are allowed to express their disapproval. Who left you in charge?
My last post was probably too long.
But I forgot this: I thought the topic of the day would have been whether the decision to bunt (twice!) was good or bad. Not the booing.
My view: The sac bunt is always a bad idea. You don’t give away outs. The Padres had a better chance of scoring with no outs with runners on first and second than second and third with one out.
Yes, all major leaguers should be able to bunt. But they can’t. So Black didn’t put his players in a position to succeed. That’s his job. It’s not the player’s job to do something he can’t and make the manager look good.
#154@Ben B.: #154@Ben B.: As I stated earlier, you oppose it because you are image conscious. (As opposed to some here who believe it is more of a right/wrong issue)
#157@parlo: Yes, I am telling them they are wrong and saying that they should not do it.
I would never say I am in charge.
I have a right to an opinion — in this case, that most booing is wrong. But I will always fight for free speech — in this case, the booing.
#155@Turbine Dude: Amen.
Just found this at the UT site
http://weblog.signonsandiego.com/sports/drooz/weblog/archives/024668.html
#156@Kevin: I don’t care one way or another whether the fans boo the Padres (whether it’s Trevor for getting the loss, Jody Gerut for not getting the bunt down or P-Mac for running around on the field looking clueless) nor do I suspect the players do either. Sure, they’d rather not be booed, but more because winning teams don’t get booed.
However, I do care that the players are complaining to the press about the booing. It’s a sure way of turning the fans against the team. If you don’t like getting booed, maybe you should perform better.
#163@Schlom: That is your right to think that.
#162@parlo: They’re not booing.
They saying “Alan Drooz.”
#158@Kevin: Yup, that would have been a better topic … or see #31 for what I thought would have been a good topic … both can/will come up on another day …
#27@Ben B.: Am I the only one who believes that starting the” wave” is bad luck when your team is hitting? I cant remember a wave happening during an opposing teams AB this entire year! I sit through every home game and I am sick of this “party” attitude when 1.) the home team is at the plate and 2.) We’re LOSING (have a clue people! I also noticed the “PAD SQUAD” starting a shouting match (Also during the bottom of an inning).
Shouldn’t we be trying to distract the opposing teams hitters and not our own!!!
btw. I was booing Buddy Blacks call to bunt Gerut (our hottest hitter, esp w/ RISP), and probably the failure to execute. By the time Trevor gave up the twin dingers I was on my way out the door. I refuse to watch him pitch during non-save situations, I can’t stand it anymore…
#155@Turbine Dude: Really? You think?