Amen, Preach on, brother!
Chris S | 09.12.08 - 5:18 pm | #

I don't view you as a Grade B fan. You are passionate about your sports teams. That is a good thing. The word "fan" actually stems from fanatic, for anyone who didn't already know that. You take the team's performance on the field differently than I do, but that's not a bad thing. Fans do tend to get emotionally involved with their teams. Try talking to a Packer fan after blowing Super Bowl XXXII. To this day, I still cannot watch highlights of that game.

I take a different approach, one my dad used as a fan. I fully realize that unless I bet my house and everything I have on a game, I gain nothing or lose nothing by whatever takes place on the field. The sun will come up the next day, I will have to go to work, pay bills, etc.

It's still just a game, but you have every right to vent out your frustrations as a fan in any way you see fit. I am trying to stay optimistic, since it doesn't appear anyone else in the NL seems to want to get into the playoffs either. Plus, the last three World Series champions suffered an extended losing streak in September. The White Sox doggone near blew a 9½ game lead before rallying to win the AL Central.

I enjoy reading the passion of a die-hard fan.
Peter | Homepage | 09.12.08 - 7:58 pm | #

About the only sports team I have a non healthy reaction to after a loss is Badger Hockey. Then it only takes me about 12 hours to get over it.

I have the same opinion about the Brewers recent play as Chris does, but I find it easier to just stop caring. Which probably makes me the ultimate b-grade fan.

I can't do that with the Badgers.
Chris S | 09.12.08 - 8:15 pm | #

I don't think anyone said you were the "number one" b-grade fan. Just a run-o-the-mill b-grade fan. It has nothing to do with "faith" or lack there of. To me, being a fan means a couple things. First, love your Brewers like you love your children, not because they're good, but because they're yours. Second, seperate your feelings from your expecations, and be realistic about expecations based on the available data. I'm not just blindly believing that the Brewers will win the Wild Card. I'm looking at the numbers. I don't expect them to win the wild card, but they have a better chance than anyone else.
Danny | Homepage | 09.12.08 - 8:52 pm | #

Put another way:

1) I wan't the Brewers to win the wild card.

2) And I think there is a strong chance they will, based on the evidence before me.

Those are two seperate things.

If they were 5 games out, I would still want them to win, but would think the odds were very slim. #2 can change, but #1 never should. With you, Chris, it seems as soon as something goes bad, you feel as if the Brewers have personally wronged you or something. You forget about #1 when #2 changes a bit.

Also, the guy that says that you have the right to "vent your frustrations any way you see fit" is totally missing the point. Describing things in terms of "rights" in a sports blog post about whether or not someone is a "good fan" is just dumb.
Danny | Homepage | 09.12.08 - 8:57 pm | #

"I'm looking at the numbers. I don't expect them to win the wild card, but they have a better chance than anyone else."

That sure sounds like blind faith to me

But you know the rules Danny I do not argue with you any more so I will just give in and say you win

There that should make you happy

Are you happy now Danny?
Chris | Homepage | 09.12.08 - 9:18 pm | #

Oh and I can declare myself the number one B grade fan if I choose too.

Prove me wrong Danny since you do know everything.
Chris | Homepage | 09.12.08 - 9:20 pm | #

that's not blind faith, that is actually math
ESK | 09.12.08 - 11:15 pm | #

Math. I've never once seen math make a difference in a season. It is great at measuring what has happened, and that in turn can be rather useful in predicting future performance. But baseball is a season of dozens of 'mini-seasons' where performance can differ wildly.

In this current instance, the cumulative effect of the entire season would indicate that the Brewers should be the favorite to win the wild card. Unfortunately, the results of the most recent stretches (mini-season) for the Phillies, Astros, and Brewers indicates that they are in serious trouble. Could that change tomorrow? Certainly. But more recent results are the more reliable predictor right now as the season winds down, and that means fans have every right to be concerned.

With a hair over 2 weeks left in the season, relying on the math from April to August isn't blind faith, but it certainly is faith that the results over the long sample of the completed season will be replayed over the small sample of the remaining season.
Jib | Homepage | 09.12.08 - 11:44 pm | #

The upside to not making the playoffs is that it would make Ned Yost's being fired an absolute certainty.
Peter | Homepage | 09.13.08 - 12:29 pm | #

To be honest I am not sure of that Peter they picked up his option for 09 after last years failure.

Ned does not care he will go down to Atlanta and sit on Bobbie Cox lap for a season then take over the Braves

They loves them some Yost down in the heart of Dixie
Chris | Homepage | 09.13.08 - 1:03 pm | #

well said Jib
Eric | 09.13.08 - 3:04 pm | #

To be honest I am not sure of that Peter they picked up his option for 09 after last years failure.

Point taken. With them likely to lose Sabathia and Sheets via free agency, they have a built-in excuse for losing next year. That might justify another season of getting Yosted game in and game out.

Wonder what the effect on season ticket sales will be after another late-season collapse, losing their top two pitchers via free agency and keeping the idiot manager.
Peter | Homepage | 09.13.08 - 5:46 pm | #