2009 MLB Thread

[hugman]

That's a pretty cool link. Although I don't think it's all that accurate, I've always liked this map.

That's cool.  There are a lot of old-time cards fans out here in california since up to a certain point, they were the westernmost club.  A historical retrospective series of these maps would be good.

[nec13]

The Red Sox, Yankees, Braves, Cubs, and the Cardinals should take up a large portion of that map. Those are the teams in baseball with national followings.

It seems like the Sox fans, mainly the bandwagon Sox fans, tend to be the most obnoxious. I've seen Orioles games on television where at least half of the ballpark was taken over by Red Sox fans.

[chrisfoll577]

It seems like the Sox fans, mainly the bandwagon Sox fans, tend to be the most obnoxious. I've seen Orioles games on television where at least half of the ballpark was taken over by Red Sox fans.

I believe the same thing happens when the Yankees visit the Orioles. The reason why we Red Sox fans go down is part due to Southwest Airlines' ultra cheap fares to BWI, Baltimore's proximity to Washington DC and the experience of actually sitting in a beautiful modern ballpark instead of the broken down old ruin we have up here.

I agree that post-2004 bandwagon Red Sox fans can be annoying (although I think we were just as insufferable as miserable, fatalistic bastards).  A good way to recognize the old Sox fans is that they're the ones usually hunched over watching the game intently, muttering stats and strategies and keeping their hands occupied either cracking peanuts or keeping score.  New Sox fans are decked from head to toe in brand new gear, double fisting $10 lite beers, mispronouncing opposing players' names and obnoxiously shouting or singing 'Sweet Caroline'.  Trust me, I hate them as much as you do.

Although, if Baltimore fans really hate Red Sox fans coming to Camden Yards, they should at least try and buy some tickets and shut us out.

I hate to bring it back to New York, but have you ever sat in the Bleachers at the old Yankee Stadium?  Obnoxious is too weak a word to describe the fans there.  I'm happy to see the new Stadium has drained all the life (and money) out of the them.

[hugman]

unfortunately Missouri looks the same on the electoral map.
 

[yesno]

That United Countries of Baseball map is inaccurate in that it shows Phillies territory in NJ in what is definitely Mets territory.  Although the word "hoagie" slips into conversation now and again (e.g. school lunch menus), and the occasional Phillies or Eagles fan can be found, northern Ocean County (Toms River, Brick, Point Pleasant) is definitely Mets (and Giants) territory.

[scratchbomb]

i like that map a lot. although methinks they were a little generous with the Nationals' territory.

[buffcoat]

Yes, Eastern NC would be surprised to hear that they are Nats fans.  Redskins, absolutely.


Raleigh-Durham, due to the unbelievable asininity of Time Warner, is the largest market in the country that has no "home team" broadcasts.

We're supposed to get the MASN broadcasts of the O's and Nats, but the dispute, which TWC has carried through at least three and maybe different lost appeals at different levels of courts, means no local games for us.

[Stupornaut]

See, if Twins Territory (as it is officially called in promotional materials) is the third-largest region on the map, you'd think ESPN would pay attention to 'em in terms outside "catalyst for the Yankees resurgence" or "where this really great catcher is biding his time until an East Coast team signs him in less than two years". I don't even think the Dugout gives a shit about 'em, and they're playoff-caliber like every other year.

[yesno]

The Twins might cover a lot of land, but not as many people. 

[nec13]

It seems like the Sox fans, mainly the bandwagon Sox fans, tend to be the most obnoxious. I've seen Orioles games on television where at least half of the ballpark was taken over by Red Sox fans.

I believe the same thing happens when the Yankees visit the Orioles. The reason why we Red Sox fans go down is part due to Southwest Airlines' ultra cheap fares to BWI, Baltimore's proximity to Washington DC and the experience of actually sitting in a beautiful modern ballpark instead of the broken down old ruin we have up here.

I agree that post-2004 bandwagon Red Sox fans can be annoying (although I think we were just as insufferable as miserable, fatalistic bastards).  A good way to recognize the old Sox fans is that they're the ones usually hunched over watching the game intently, muttering stats and strategies and keeping their hands occupied either cracking peanuts or keeping score.  New Sox fans are decked from head to toe in brand new gear, double fisting $10 lite beers, mispronouncing opposing players' names and obnoxiously shouting or singing 'Sweet Caroline'.  Trust me, I hate them as much as you do.

Although, if Baltimore fans really hate Red Sox fans coming to Camden Yards, they should at least try and buy some tickets and shut us out.

I hate to bring it back to New York, but have you ever sat in the Bleachers at the old Yankee Stadium?  Obnoxious is too weak a word to describe the fans there.  I'm happy to see the new Stadium has drained all the life (and money) out of the them.

I don't have a problem with Sox fans packing other ballparks. In fact, it's probably the only way a lot of Red Sox fans get to see the team in person. I'm just saying that a number of Red Sox fans have become increasingly obnoxious after 2004. But I guess after 86 years of "misery," they want to revel in the team's success. I even lurk on SOSH from time to time and those are some of the smartest baseball fans you'll find.

And yes, I did sit in the Bleachers at Old Yankee Stadium. However, the fans weren't all that bad. Perhaps it was because the Yanks were playing the Blue Jays that night. That stadium was a dump. But I don't think I would ever want to set foot in the new ballpark. It seems too much like a shopping mall. While the old stadium was decrepit, it was fun to watch a game there. The new place seems to be like every other HOK park-too antiseptic.

[scratchbomb]

Yes, Eastern NC would be surprised to hear that they are Nats fans.  Redskins, absolutely.


Raleigh-Durham, due to the unbelievable asininity of Time Warner, is the largest market in the country that has no "home team" broadcasts.

We're supposed to get the MASN broadcasts of the O's and Nats, but the dispute, which TWC has carried through at least three and maybe different lost appeals at different levels of courts, means no local games for us.

TWC is definitely a buncha jerks for doing this (they pulled similar moves when first the Yanks, then the Mets created their own networks in NY). But I know that MLB also has extremely arcane and outdated rules about blackouts and which teams get what territories. A lot of the strictures date back to the 40s and have been pretty much not updated ever since.

[buffcoat]

Yes, Eastern NC would be surprised to hear that they are Nats fans.  Redskins, absolutely.


Raleigh-Durham, due to the unbelievable asininity of Time Warner, is the largest market in the country that has no "home team" broadcasts.

We're supposed to get the MASN broadcasts of the O's and Nats, but the dispute, which TWC has carried through at least three and maybe different lost appeals at different levels of courts, means no local games for us.

TWC is definitely a buncha jerks for doing this (they pulled similar moves when first the Yanks, then the Mets created their own networks in NY). But I know that MLB also has extremely arcane and outdated rules about blackouts and which teams get what territories. A lot of the strictures date back to the 40s and have been pretty much not updated ever since.

The particular dispute in this case is unfortunately not particularly arcane.  We have the "right" to see those games by virtue of living where we do.  MASN wants to be on regular cable, TWC wants to put them on a pay-digital tier.  They can't agree, even though they have an agreement in place.  Sucks.

[nec13]

The Dodgers just completed a three game sweep of the Mets. The Mets have huge problems right now. Their DL's a veritable MASH unit. And once again, the blame lays at the desk of Omar Minaya.

[Steve of Bloomington]

I'm surprised the Cubs don't take up more of the map.

It is a pretty fair representation of Indiana, though: Reds, Cards, and Cub fans duking it out (with some White Sox fans up around Gary, the good hard-hat/steel mill types).

The Red Sox, Yankees, Braves, Cubs, and the Cardinals should take up a large portion of that map. Those are the teams in baseball with national followings.

It seems like the Sox fans, mainly the bandwagon Sox fans, tend to be the most obnoxious. I've seen Orioles games on television where at least half of the ballpark was taken over by Red Sox fans.

[nec13]

I have one qualm with that Nike map, there is no way that Texas Rangers territory is that huge.