The saddest part of being a fan (for me)

[LookitsPuck]

14 hours ago, Frobby said:

For me, the saddest part of being a fan is watching players who were huge contributors to your team decline to the point where they can't help the team anymore.   

Reading the board, there seem to be a lot of fans for whom the players are just playing units who are fungible, to be discarded without a second thought when their parts wear out.     But I've never seen them that way.    I see them as people, who have worked very hard to perfect their craft, who have close relationships to their teammates, and who in certain cases have contributed a tremendous amount to the success of the team over a considerable period of time.

That's why it's killing me to watch Chris Tillman and J.J. Hardy this year.    I want so badly for them to rally and put together a season where, even if they're not as good as they used to be, they can still be seen as contributing to the team.    And nearly halfway through the season, I know that it's not likely to happen, and that at the end of the year, it will be time to part ways with them.    And yes, I know it's possible that the team would be better off parting ways with them right now, instead of waiting until the end of the year.    That still could happen, especially with Tillman if he can't find a way to get more hitters out.     But as I said, I really hope it doesn't come to that. I'll be watching watching Tilly today and rooting for him to find a way to keep the Rays at bay.    And if he can't, I won't be mad.   I'll just be sad.    I'll never forget that he and J.J. were huge contributors to an enjoyable period of Orioles baseball, who were good teammates and did everything they could to help the team win.     They'll never be just worn out playing units to me.

And this is why you're my favourite poster on the forum, Frobby. You really do bring the human, emotional element back to these discussions...and I often times lose track of that. So for this, thank you.

[Nevermore]

14 hours ago, weams said:

No ball players are trash unless they are murderers, paedophiles, or wife beaters. 

 

And there is always one more year. Isn't there?

Which is why I either cringe or get angry when Orioles  fans refer to Ubaldo (or other Orioles player) as ''trash" or "garbage" in the various forums,  Facebook, etc, which I see all too often.  Or else I see versions of his name  (Ublowdo , Usucko, etc) or else exhortations for him to leave,  be run out of Baltimore on a rail, etc. He isn't a murderer, pedophile,  wife beater, or hate crime committer.  He is a struggling pitcher who (I am sure)  is trying the best he can,  as inadequate as it might be. And he is an Oriole.

 

[Nevermore]

32 minutes ago, birdwatcher55 said:

Whenever I see Ubaldo implode, i ratchet up my Duquette hater-meter a notch.

So are some of these Oriole "fans" going to take it out on Tilly once Ubaldo is gone?

[Frobby]

1 hour ago, Nevermore said:

So are some of these Oriole "fans" going to take it out on Tilly once Ubaldo is gone?

Some will.    But I think a lot of people who trash Ubaldo will be more respectful of Tillman considering his previous contributions to the team.     Ubaldo's been very disappointing in 3 of the 4 years he's been here, and just OK in the 4th, whereas Tillman was a big contributor most of the last five years (2015 being the exception).

[TouchemAll]

As a life long O's fan it's NEVER easy to see the guys who contributed to so much winning and see their skills degrade. I go back all the way to 60's and to see those guys like Brooks fade is TUFF.

With that said over the years It's been easier for me to accept that, and I try not to get emotionally attached to any one player. With free agency they are here today, and GONE tomorrow. This is a business, and it's all about WINNING, and it's just as hard to see your club make mistakes on long term contracts that don't work out.

I want so bad for Tillman to turn it around, because if he does we're going to WIN, BUT you can't wait forever there's got to be a point where you say OK we tried and it didn't work out, and no I don't have the answer on how long we wait hopefully the FO office makes good decisions here.

 

[Nevermore]

47 minutes ago, Frobby said:

Some will.    But I think a lot of people who trash Ubaldo will be more respectful of Tillman considering his previous contributions to the team.     Ubaldo's been very disappointing in 3 of the 4 years he's been here, and just OK in the 4th, whereas Tillman was a big contributor most of the last five years (2015 being the exception).

I  would blame Duquette far more than Ubaldo . It was an unwise signing. Ubaldo has the same problem that many pitchers in their 30s have: decline in velocity and (So far) inability to adjust and Duquette failed to see that. Ubaldo has acknowledged his failures to the team. I have never seen Duquette acknowledge his own failures.

As far as I am concerned, Toronto is welcome to Duquette. Not just because of Ubaldo but mainly for having gutted our farm system . It's going to take a few years of rebuilding to recover from that.

Next year, I will wish Ubaldo the best on his new team as long as it's not the Stinkees or the Blow Sux. I  will also wish for Tilly's success and return.

 

 

[Nevermore]

On 6/25/2017 at 0:53 PM, weams said:

I'm sure they do not. And I do not think Tillman is done.

I  don't think that Tillman is done,  either. He does have to make adjustments and this might take time and ALOT of work. Perhaps in some team's minor league system or while pitching mop up in some team's bullpen.  That's how Bud Norris resurrected his career . Now he is the Angels closer.

[SteveA]

12 minutes ago, Nevermore said:

I  don't think that Tillman is done,  either. He does have to make adjustments and this might take time and ALOT of work. Perhaps in some team's minor league system or while pitching mop up in some team's bullpen.  That's how Bud Norris resurrected his career . Now he is the Angels closer.

He was the Angels closer for about three weeks when Huston Street, Cam Bedrosian, and one other guy all were hurt at the same time.

Then Bud got hurt.   He is on the DL now.   Street is now back so he won't be the closer when he comes off the DL.

But I get your point he has resurrected his career.