Booing Doesn’t Help
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Seattle is in a frenzy. Our Mariners are having one of the best seasons they have had in the last 5 years. They are second in the West and leading the Wild Card chase. They have the third best record in baseball.
So why are you booing when Richie grounds out?
Okay, let me go back.
I was angry at the beginning of the season because he is making a lot of money and was barely over the Mendoza line. I would boo when he struck out and I would be prepared for the worst when he came up to bat. But then something awesome happened.
The date was August 13, 2006. The Minnesota Twins were in town and all anyone was hearing was how amazing Johan Santana was. Don’t get me wrong, I think the guy is one of the better pitchers in the last 25 years. But no one was giving the M’s a chance.
Then in the bottom of the first, with two on and two out, Richie rips a double off the top of the wall. He gives the team the lead. Everyone cheers.
His next two at bats go as if they were scripted and he strikes out to a flurry of boos and hisses.
In the bottom of the ninth he steps into the box and cracks one over the wall for a walk off homer. People cheer.
This makes no sense people!!! Come on, enough with the “What have you done for me now” mentality. He WON the game for you (twice in one game, really).
He was later quoted as saying: "I'm sure tomorrow if I make an out, they'll boo me again."
Very classy Seattle.
I bring this up because I was at the game last night. The game where they were winning 5-0 in the first then got outscored 10-1 and lost 10-6.
I bring this up because a LOT of people grounded out.
I bring this up, because again, Mr. Sexson was the ONLY one getting booed. I couldn’t stand it; I stood up, cheered and clapped for the man.
Why? Because booing isn’t going to make him hit the ball. Booing is NOT going to make him hit a home run. All it is going to do is put more pressure on him and cause even MORE bad swings.
Some guy in front of me argued with me that we can boo since Richie is getting paid so much.
Really? Because last I checked, you didn’t get to choose how much he made. Do you boo your boss when he makes a mistake? You didn’t get to choose how much HE makes. Oh, and by the way, he is still the team leader in home runs with 21.
Sure, maybe he should sit, but if you knew how to run a team, you wouldn’t be sitting with me.
So I have decided, and I informed my new friend of this. If you boo a player you now have no right to cheer when they do something right. Why? Because you are a bandwagoneer. You do not follow the team because it is your team, but because they might make the playoffs.
I really do think that he will get out of a slump, and when he does he can carry us. But until then, I will continue to give him encouragement, because I’m not going to boo my own team.
More at http://afraidofedhochuli.blogspot.com/
