seeking help finding a new baseball team (1 Viewer)

[pollardsvision]

i know some of you will think i'm scum, but i think i am perfectly justified.

the team i am deserting is the mets.

i wouldn't consider it "jumping off a bandwagon" as the mets are widely considered one of the most talented teams in the league.

the main reason i have to leave is that it just feels terrible rooting for a NY based team in a sport with no salary cap.

i've been a "fan" for over 20 years, but it's been years since i really could find it in me to care about them.

also, i am fully comfortable with the fact that once i leave, i can never ever come back (which is necessary to understand as the mets could become a powerhouse with some decent pitching)

so on to the search:

-i'm from NC living in VA and being from NC there is no hometown team to choose from, but it gives an advantage to BAL/WAS now.

-i generally prefer watching AL baseball over NL baseball

some of the candidates:

Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays:

pros: great young talent. in the AL east, so i could (futily) cheer for them to topple the yankees/redsox.

cons: i can't find any reason to believe that they can or will try to retain and build on their solid foundation. watching their home games is simply depressing with all the empty seats

Kansas City Royals:

pros: great young talent. great history. great, underappreciated american city.

cons: same as tampa bay

Baltimore Orioles:

pros: a nice geographical choice. nice base of a pitching staff

cons: i hate cal ripken, so i doubt i could become an orioles fan

Washington Nationals

pros: some nice young pieces. i'd certainly pick them over the orioles. great name.

cons: not sure about commitment to winning. cheering for an NL team with an anemic

Detroit Tigers

pros: i pretty much love everything about this team and have been rooting for them already. jim leyland's my favorite manager. they're built around great young pitching and have veteran, workmanlike lineup. love pudge. love sheff. love guillen. i like teams from detroit and used to live in michigan. i love AL central baseball. the closer is an old guy with mediocre stuff and a fu-man-chu. i've always loved miggy

cons: the timing would be terrible since they just signed miggy. it would feel bandwagony even before they signed the next arod. it's a little late to the party (but i might come anyway). also, i don't imagine leyland has many more years left and i'm not sure how much i'd like them without leyland.

Chicago White Sox

pros: ozzie guillen is my 2nd favorite manager. it'd be fun rooting for the team that shares a city with the cubs (i could never root for the cubs). i'd trust kenny williams.

cons: i might like the tigers too much already. their unis are somewhat nauseating to me.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of Orange County of California of the United States of the Earth

pros: love the pitching staff. vlad is my favorite player to watch.

cons: can't think of too many

Oakland A's

pros: smart organization

cons: possibly too smart. as a fan, i'd want to them to give great players bad contracts to keep them around. it's not my money.

Arizona Diamondbacks

pros: great young talent. spent more "mlb extra innings" time watching them than the mets last year

cons: way too much of a sexy pick

Milwaukee Brewers

pros: i absolutely love the state of wisconsin. nothing not to like about this great young team.

cons: sexy choice and i have a close buddy that's already a huge brewers fan. it wouldn't feel right.

teams i'd never, ever consider: yanks, bosox, blue jays (can't get behind a canadian team), dodgers (torre), braves

those are the candidates

finding the right baseball is hell.

teams fall into 1 of 3 categories:

1-teams with money and a commitment to winning. your a bandwagon guy if you choose them.

2-teams that lack the money and/or the commitment and becoming a fan would be miserable

3-teams on the upswing, but you have no idea if they're commited to keeping it going and your a bandwagon guy for picking them anyway

anyway. any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ooofffaaa]

Good riddance.

You deserve to be a Baltimore Orioles fan as soon as they trade Bedard.

 

[JoeSteeler]

Go with the Indians. Same pros as KC without the cons + you love AL Central baseball

 

[pollardsvision]

Go with the Indians. Same pros as KC without the cons + you love AL Central baseball

the indians have been a tough one for me. they have everything to like-sabathia is my favorite pitcher to watch, plus he led the american staff in the WBC and i like that-there may not be a better nickname in sports than Pronk-sizemore should be a great player for years to come-commitment to winning with a small market feel.despite all that, i have a hard time with them. i'm definitely considering them, though.

 

[dcffl]

Funny that the "con" for hating the Orioles is Cal Ripken instead of Peter Angelos.

 

[Greco]

If you feel at all responsible in any way for the Mets collapse last season, please do not come to the Detroit Tiger party. TIA.

 

[pollardsvision]

Funny that the "con" for hating the Orioles is Cal Ripken instead of Peter Angelos.

it's nothing personal toward ripken, who was a great player and, i'm sure, is a fine human being.just something about that games played record just annoys me. i think it's the most over-rated record of all time.

 

[Bogart]

Here on the Texas Ranger bandwagon we have plenty of room.

Pros for joining:

Wonderful ballpark

Minor league system is well stocked and considered one of the up and comers in MLB

The pro team can't get any lower, you would be getting in on the ground floor

newbergreport.com - simply the greatest fan site for any team in baseball - great forums, excellent writing and during the season a great daily e-mail following all things Rangers

Cons for joining:

Tom Hicks - Guy is in a top 5 market, but spends like he is in Milwaukee

Team has few identifiable players right now - Mike Young is really the only face of the organization

History - Decades and decades and only one playoff victory (only three playoff appearances)

TV schedule - With AL West bunkmates all on the West Coast, games start really late

This team will not contend this season, and will fight Oakland for the cellar in the AL West, but I think they are starting to build something that could be solid.

 

[Dreamer]

Rays.

 

[Statorama]

Milwaukee is a great choice. Good divisional rivalries, nice young team on the rise, and really great fans. They have a good scouting department, so they should be in the thick of things in a very winnable central for years to come.

I'm a Cubs fan, but that's a circle of hell I wouldn't wish on anyone.

 

[shadyridr]

Go to the Mariners. My friend left their bandwagon to jump on the Mets bandwagon before last season.

 

[Widbil83]

Come ride the Ozzie train.

 

[Mr. Know-It-All]

I am a lifelong Cardinals fan and you are always welcome to root for the Redbirds.

My 8 year old son loves the Rockies, so I pay attention to them.

My 10 year old son loves the Royals, and we get a lot of their games on FSNMW. So I pay attention to them.

In the AL I usually root for the Rangers or Royals and outside of Cardinals and Rockies cames, it is the Rangers I watch the most on season ticket. I guess I am just a fan of small to medium market teams.

 

[Bogart]

I am a lifelong Cardinals fan and you are always welcome to root for the Redbirds.My 8 year old son loves the Rockies, so I pay attention to them.My 10 year old son loves the Royals, and we get a lot of their games on FSNMW. So I pay attention to them.In the AL I usually root for the Rangers or Royals and outside of Cardinals and Rockies cames, it is the Rangers I watch the most on season ticket. I guess I am just a fan of small to medium market teams.

Or teams that act like small market teams.Rangers = Dallas/Fort Worth = 4th largest market.

 

[Reaper]

Another day, another Met fan jumping on and/or off the wagon.

 

[igbomb]

The Tigers have enough bandwagon fans preventing me from getting tickets to the games, so feel free to occasionally root for some other team. Thanks.

 

[whoknew]

Detroit Tigerspros: i pretty much love everything about this team and have been rooting for them already. jim leyland's my favorite manager. they're built around great young pitching and have veteran, workmanlike lineup. love pudge. love sheff. love guillen. i like teams from detroit and used to live in michigan. i love AL central baseball. the closer is an old guy with mediocre stuff and a fu-man-chu. i've always loved miggycons: the timing would be terrible since they just signed miggy. it would feel bandwagony even before they signed the next arod. it's a little late to the party (but i might come anyway). also, i don't imagine leyland has many more years left and i'm not sure how much i'd like them without leyland.

Please leave them alone. We don't need your kind of "fan."

 

[pillowpants]

No one should ever desert their team...unless you are a NY Knicks fan. Or a Raiders fan as Davis is trying to Out-Dolan, Dolan.

 

[Greco]

No one should ever desert their team...unless you are a NY Knicks fan. Or a Raiders fan as Davis is trying to Out-Dolan, Dolan.

Although I have never left them, the Detroit Lions are a franchise one could leave without feeling any shame whatsoever.

 

[Angry Beavers]

FWIW, the Reds have a ton of young talent.....

 

[pillowpants]

No one should ever desert their team...unless you are a NY Knicks fan. Or a Raiders fan as Davis is trying to Out-Dolan, Dolan.

Although I have never left them, the Detroit Lions are a franchise one could leave without feeling any shame whatsoever.

You are much more of a man for sticking with them. Besides, it will be incredibly sweet for you when the Lions win it all*!* Madden 09 is set for release in August of 2008

 

[cheese]

FWIW, the Reds have a ton of young talent.....

And they basically play like an american league team if thats your style.

 

[Greco]

No one should ever desert their team...unless you are a NY Knicks fan. Or a Raiders fan as Davis is trying to Out-Dolan, Dolan.

Although I have never left them, the Detroit Lions are a franchise one could leave without feeling any shame whatsoever.

You are much more of a man for sticking with them. Besides, it will be incredibly sweet for you when the Lions win it all*!* Madden 09 is set for release in August of 2008

Here's hoping Matt Millen is the cover boy!

 

[prosopis]

Plenty of room for you on the Dbacks wagon. We are going places

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Although I have never left them, the Detroit Lions are a franchise one could leave without feeling any shame whatsoever.

If I would have left them as an adult I would feel guilty. I didn't, so I don't.

 

[jamny]

Let's Go Mets!

 

[pollardsvision]

Although I have never left them, the Detroit Lions are a franchise one could leave without feeling any shame whatsoever.

If I would have left them as an adult I would feel guilty. I didn't, so I don't.

i'm guessing you're from detroit. i assume the thought process is far different when you grow up around a team. being from NC, i'm a fan free-agent.we get our expansion teams and decide on them as we go. (the south is a terrible place for pro sports anyway, as everyone's too obsessed with amateur athletics).i never could get into the panthers, but i do love those bobcats.if i had grown up around a team, i assume i'd go by the "til death" philosophy.as it stands, i have a good divorce lawyer.

 

[Eephus]

Although I have never left them, the Detroit Lions are a franchise one could leave without feeling any shame whatsoever.

If I would have left them as an adult I would feel guilty. I didn't, so I don't.

i'm guessing you're from detroit. i assume the thought process is far different when you grow up around a team. being from NC, i'm a fan free-agent.we get our expansion teams and decide on them as we go. (the south is a terrible place for pro sports anyway, as everyone's too obsessed with amateur athletics).i never could get into the panthers, but i do love those bobcats.if i had grown up around a team, i assume i'd go by the "til death" philosophy.as it stands, i have a good divorce lawyer.

who cares?

 

[Greco]

Go back to the Mets while you still can. And eephus...

 

[awesomeness]

im surprised no one has mentioned the Blue Jays. They have the benefits of the Rays and Orioles, without the cons. I got a feeling that this is the year that the Jays beat out the Sox or the Yanks. Theres no way the Jays can be destroyed by injuries 3 years in a row.

 

[Tom Servo]

Go with the Indians. Same pros as KC without the cons + you love AL Central baseball

the indians have been a tough one for me. they have everything to like-sabathia is my favorite pitcher to watch, plus he led the american staff in the WBC and i like that-there may not be a better nickname in sports than Pronk-sizemore should be a great player for years to come-commitment to winning with a small market feel.despite all that, i have a hard time with them. i'm definitely considering them, though.

Plus, they have a minor league team in Kinston, NC. Don't know how close that is to you, though.

 

[Eli2Shockey]

people do this?

 

[pollardsvision]

Go with the Indians. Same pros as KC without the cons + you love AL Central baseball

the indians have been a tough one for me. they have everything to like-sabathia is my favorite pitcher to watch, plus he led the american staff in the WBC and i like that-there may not be a better nickname in sports than Pronk-sizemore should be a great player for years to come-commitment to winning with a small market feel.despite all that, i have a hard time with them. i'm definitely considering them, though.

Plus, they have a minor league team in Kinston, NC. Don't know how close that is to you, though.

not too close, but i think those kinston indians do have a proud tradition, which is a plus.

 

[Liquid Tension]

i know some of you will think i'm scum, but i think i am perfectly justified.the team i am deserting is the mets.i wouldn't consider it "jumping off a bandwagon" as the mets are widely considered one of the most talented teams in the league.the main reason i have to leave is that it just feels terrible rooting for a NY based team in a sport with no salary cap.i've been a "fan" for over 20 years, but it's been years since i really could find it in me to care about them.also, i am fully comfortable with the fact that once i leave, i can never ever come back (which is necessary to understand as the mets could become a powerhouse with some decent pitching)so on to the search:-i'm from NC living in VA and being from NC there is no hometown team to choose from, but it gives an advantage to BAL/WAS now.-i generally prefer watching AL baseball over NL baseballsome of the candidates:Tampa Bay (Devil) Raysros: great young talent. in the AL east, so i could (futily) cheer for them to topple the yankees/redsox. cons: i can't find any reason to believe that they can or will try to retain and build on their solid foundation. watching their home games is simply depressing with all the empty seatsKansas City Royalsros: great young talent. great history. great, underappreciated american city. cons: same as tampa bayBaltimore Oriolesros: a nice geographical choice. nice base of a pitching staffcons: i hate cal ripken, so i doubt i could become an orioles fanWashington Nationalspros: some nice young pieces. i'd certainly pick them over the orioles. great name.cons: not sure about commitment to winning. cheering for an NL team with an anemicDetroit Tigerspros: i pretty much love everything about this team and have been rooting for them already. jim leyland's my favorite manager. they're built around great young pitching and have veteran, workmanlike lineup. love pudge. love sheff. love guillen. i like teams from detroit and used to live in michigan. i love AL central baseball. the closer is an old guy with mediocre stuff and a fu-man-chu. i've always loved miggycons: the timing would be terrible since they just signed miggy. it would feel bandwagony even before they signed the next arod. it's a little late to the party (but i might come anyway). also, i don't imagine leyland has many more years left and i'm not sure how much i'd like them without leyland.Chicago White Soxpros: ozzie guillen is my 2nd favorite manager. it'd be fun rooting for the team that shares a city with the cubs (i could never root for the cubs). i'd trust kenny williams.cons: i might like the tigers too much already. their unis are somewhat nauseating to me.Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of Orange County of California of the United States of the Earthpros: love the pitching staff. vlad is my favorite player to watch.cons: can't think of too manyOakland A'spros: smart organizationcons: possibly too smart. as a fan, i'd want to them to give great players bad contracts to keep them around. it's not my money.Arizona Diamondbackspros: great young talent. spent more "mlb extra innings" time watching them than the mets last yearcons: way too much of a sexy pickMilwaukee Brewerspros: i absolutely love the state of wisconsin. nothing not to like about this great young team.cons: sexy choice and i have a close buddy that's already a huge brewers fan. it wouldn't feel right.teams i'd never, ever consider: yanks, bosox, blue jays (can't get behind a canadian team), dodgers (torre), bravesthose are the candidatesfinding the right baseball is hell.teams fall into 1 of 3 categories:1-teams with money and a commitment to winning. your a bandwagon guy if you choose them.2-teams that lack the money and/or the commitment and becoming a fan would be miserable3-teams on the upswing, but you have no idea if they're commited to keeping it going and your a bandwagon guy for picking them anyway anyway. any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Play fantasy and root for players