The "Bandwagon Fan" Thread

[jaybird2001wi]

With the Brewers in the running to have one of the best records in its history, there are obviously going to be some "casual" bandwagon fans jumping on board and acting like they have been there through thick and thin yet they likely cannot name a single player off the 1995 Roster or ask dumb questions on the jsonline.com Mailbag (I have noticed some fans have asked what OBP is or basic questions a diehard Brewer fan should know.)

 

Here are some of the things I have noticed in some Opinion pages:

1) In the Racine Journal-Times Letter to the Editor section, there was a fan who "complained" of the prices at Miller Park by saying something along the lines of "15 dollars to park, 10 dollars for a Bloody Mary.... Mr. Attanasio you claim that you will be losing money this season, can I have the number of your accountant to do my taxes?"

I wanted to respond to his letter by saying he is an idiot because a) it was likely his first ever game, b) buying a Bloody Mary at a Brewer game basically says he does not know jack about how to be a fan at a Brewer game and c) he does not have any knowledge of the intricate parts of baseball economics.

 

2) Q: R Feran of Waukesha - What does OBP mean?

 

A: Brewers Mailbag - On-base percentage. Most folks think it's more important than batting average.

From the August 11 mailbag

I know I may over critical of the casual fans, but shouldn't there be more pressing issues? Couldn't the guy just go online and google OBP?

 

3) Q: DJ of West Bend, Wis - Why don't the Brewers make a trade for Ben Sheets now. He is now, always has been and always will be a 12 or 13 game winner with a .500 or so record. We can talk about how good he is, or will be, until we are blue in the face but look at the facts. I will be glad to see him go next year and I think we should try and move him now while we can possibly get something for him.

 

A: Brewers Mailbag - A trade like that basically tells everyone that you've given up hope of making the playoffs when two weeks ago they looked like World Series favorites. If they did that trade, Miller Park wouldn't be standing 24 hours later.

From the August 6th Mailbag

This guy seems to be mis-informed of the following: The trade deadline has passed, we are in the middle of the pennant race and I don't really have to explain his bad logic at that point of the season.

 

I picked a couple questions from this month's mailbag but could probably find about 20 or so if I went back to the beginning. But based on my experience attending Brewer games, I have the feeling most of the fans that attend during the remainder of this season must think the following:

1) It is still cool to do the wave

2) Poor etiquette, getting up in the middle of an at bat

3) Fans asking "Who No. 25 on the Brewers is."

4) Typical bandwagon fans will talk about "how they were the biggest Molitor and Yount fans up to the year 2000"

5) They will complain about the price of hot dogs and say "the last time I was here it cost $1.75"

6) They will complain about beer prices and state "the last time I was here it cost $3.75"

7) Bandwagon fans will try to "act like they know" the game by running off stats they just found in that days newspaper.

8) Will think Ryan Braun has been around has been around for five years.

9) "Suddenly" think they JUST discovered a "true Brewers ace" in Ben Sheets.

10) Will get mad when a Brewer hits a sacrifice fly to advance a runner and believe "we stink because we can't hit a homer every time."

 

Any other thoughts?

[dlk9s]

I bet you hate it when a band you like gets popular because you "heard them first."

 

This is my favorite part:

I wanted to respond to his letter by saying he is an idiot because a) it was likely his first ever game, b) buying a Bloody Mary at a Brewer game basically says he does not know jack about how to be a fan at a Brewer game and c) he does not have any knowledge of the intricate parts of baseball economics.

a) Good for him. He was probably pretty excited to go to his first game. b) Whatever. I don't like beer. Does that make me a bad fan? c) Not many people do.

[brewcrew00]

Some people just don't get into the details of baseball or any sport for that matter as much as others. I say the more the merrier, spend your money, let's keep some quality talent around this joint!

 

Idiot fans is pretty harsh, as at some point, you didn't understand these things either.

[And That]

Yah, "Idiot" sounds quite elitist and a bit condescending towards the fan base. I took it out of the thread title.

 

If people want to spend money on the team, great. That makes the on-the-field product better for the fans who, um, "get it" I guess.

[datrain711]

lol buying a bloody mary doesn't make you a true brewer fan? I guess I've just wasted my time at the 350 or so games i've attended in my lifetime.

[bucks2281]

1) In the Racine Journal-Times Letter to the Editor section, there was a fan who "complained" of the prices at Miller Park by saying something along the lines of "15 dollars to park, 10 dollars for a Bloody Mary.... Mr. Attanasio you claim that you will be losing money this season, can I have the number of your accountant to do my taxes?"

 

I don't like when people complain about prices at Miller Park -- especially like this guy who acts like it's Mark A's fault. It's like the guy only thinks Miller Park has high food/drink/parking prices. Everybody pays $10 for a Bloody Mary and $15+ for parking when they attend a sporting event, a theme park, etc. It's a principle of economics.

[nate82]

With the Brewers in the running to have one of the best records in its history, there are obviously going to be some "casual" bandwagon fans jumping on board and acting like they have been there through thick and thin yet they likely cannot name a single player off the 1995 Roster or ask dumb questions on the jsonline.com Mailbag (I have noticed some fans have asked what OBP is or basic questions a diehard Brewer fan should know.)

Not all fans are into the stats of baseball. I really couldn't tell you who was on the 1995 Brewers team I tend to forget those bad years by choice. I have been following the Brewers for all my life and I couldn't tell you a single person on the Brewers 1995 roster without looking it up first to make sure they were on it.

 

Bandwagon fans are good for the Brewers. The more merchandising the Brewers sell the better. The more fans at Miller Park the better. I could care less if the person sitting next to me at Miller Park was a casual fan, a bandwagon fan, a Cubs/Cardinals/Twins/whatever fan (OK maybe I would mind if it was a Cubs fan), or a die hard Brewers fan. The people in those seats no matter what their agenda is are supporting the Brewers and that is what is important. The more sales for the Brewers the better the team becomes. The Brewers front office doesn't care if you are a die hard, casual, bandwagon, or put any other name in front of the fan.

[Invader3K]

I do get tired of people who complain about the prices of concessions and parking. First off, compare the concessions to what you pay at a movie theater or amusement park, and chances are they're pretty comparable. Plus the quality of the food at Miller Park is generally much better. As far as parking, I'm just glad there's easily accessible parking, and I don't have to circle some downtown area for half an hour looking for a spot. The prices we pay are still probably cheaper than what fans pay in places like New York, Boston, etc. Plus, the Brewers let you bring in your own food and drinks anyway, and are one of the few parks that allow tailgating. You don't have to drop a ton of cash on concessions if you don't want to.

[datrain711]

I do get tired of people who complain about the prices of concessions and parking. First off, compare the concessions to what you pay at a movie theater or amusement park, and chances are they're pretty comparable. Plus the quality of the food at Miller Park is generally much better. As far as parking, I'm just glad there's easily accessible parking, and I don't have to circle some downtown area for half an hour looking for a spot. The prices we pay are still probably cheaper than what fans pay in places like New York, Boston, etc. Plus, the Brewers let you bring in your own food and drinks anyway, and are one of the few parks that allow tailgating. You don't have to drop a ton of cash on concessions if you don't want to.

Yeah I sometimes wonder if people even realize how good we have it in the fact that we can bring in food and unopened drinks to the game. The people that are complaining should buy a bag of peanuts and candy at the store and bring in a sandwich. Its really not tough to get around.

[lcbj68c]

I bet you hate it when a band you like gets popular because you "heard them first."

 

Oh I love those people. It's great that you have hours upon hours in your day and you spend it listening to obscure musical talent.

 

As far as those mailbag questions, I have a sneaking suspicion that some days the editors just make up the questions and say it is from Rob in Tomah.

 

Here's one I overheard at the park last week when a man reached against Riske with the Brewers in control of the game, "Why isn't Ted Simmons going out there to get him settled down?"

[Invader3K]

Here's one I overheard at the park last week when a man reached against Riske with the Brewers in control of the game, "Why isn't Ted Simmons going out there to get him settled down?"

Well, why isn't he?

[bucks2281]

And, it's not like it's hard to park for free. I park in West Milwaukee or on Wisconsin Ave. all the time. Heck, I don't have a lot of money, but I can afford to go to a million games because I park on the street, carry-in my own food and drink, and I am always searching for ticket deals.

 

That dude was actually blaming Mark A for the high prices. I don't know about anyone else, but I'm grateful that he bought the Brewers. He invested a ton of $$$ into this organization and helped to reinvent baseball in Milwaukee -- can we not criticize him because Nachos are $4?

[And That]

Oh I love those people. It's great that you have hours upon hours in your day and you spend it listening to obscure musical talent.

Or watching baseball...

[Fatter than Joey]

Any other thoughts?

 

I have a few...

 

Jaybird -- I know you are a newbie SABR guy -- If we sat down for a few drinks, and you told me you recently joined SABR, I could do one of two things, I could make you feel stupid by overwhelming you with my superior knowledge of the history of the game, or I could welcome you aboard and encourage your new interest. Which would you prefer?

 

This thread comes off as jackassish, and I would hate for someone that is new or rediscovering the Brewers to read it and think that your post is representative at all of longtime Brewer fans.

 

I was sitting at a campfire the other night, and it was so refreshing to be talking about the Brewers in August, yeah -- I had to answer questions like "Why did we trade Jenkins?" but, so what? I got to talk baseball instead of listening to people talk about Nascar.

 

These casual fans that you are ripping on, are people like my mom, and other members of my family and friends circle, that are just looking to support Wisconsin sports and are legitimately giddy to have a team to follow, love the new park and enjoy the new crop of talent.

 

I know I can be pessimistic about the Brewers, but I am sincerely excited about the record crowds, and Brewer gear I see around town.

 

You seem sort of sour, and for the life of me I cannot understand why. Get pissed off at communists, Osama Bin Laden, boy bands, or Kevin Costner... but getting whizzed at our expanding fanbase seems misguided -- and I know you are a better dude than that.

[lcbj68c]

I don't like when people complain about prices at Miller Park -- especially like this guy who acts like it's Mark A's fault. It's like the guy only Miller Park has high food/drink/parking prices. Everybody pays $10 for a Bloody Mary and $15+ for parking when they attend a sporting event, a theme park, etc. It's a principle of economics.

I agree, I don't know how many times I've had to hear about the stadium tax and how tickets, etc should be cheaper. Other than the 5-county sales.

[Invader3K]

I got to talk baseball instead of listening to people talk about Nascar.

Or the Packers...one nice thing is that there actually seems to be more Brewers talk than Packers talk right now! Or at least, it's very close...sure, on most of the sports shows they still talk about Rodgers, etc. but it seems very relegated. Lots of talk about how the Brewers are playing right now.

[jhart05]

I bet you hate it when a band you like gets popular because you "heard them first."

 

 

I really hated it when the Chili Peppers went "mainstream".

[jason21nl]

One of my good friends who is 25 knows nothing about baseball, but he is moving in with me and has watched more baseball games in the last week than he has in his life. I have been trying to teach him about baseball and and even small things like why not every pitch is supposed to be a strike. The other day he came home from work, I was watching the game and he asked how are WE(the brewers) doing. I couldn't have been happier, the Brewers gained a fan.

[lcbj68c]

and he asked how are WE doing.

 

Here's hoping he meant the Brewers and didn't think you were mad at him for leaving the seat up.

[jason21nl]

haha, changed that. This isn't Brewers related but kinda along the same lines. I saw a guy at work wearing a Jets hat that had a sticker still on it. I would be willing to be he wasn't a Jets fan a month ago.

[secondsith]

You have to remeber that it is those same "bandwagon" fans that are making this consecutive game sellout streak happen. If the stands were filled with nothing but die-hard fans, there would be about 15,000 at each game.

[SoCal Brew Crew Fan]

The Brewers, like anyone else, prices their concessions to maximize profit. If a hot dog is $4, someone is buying it. If people were willing to pay $6, it would be $6. Since they would sell far less dogs at $6, they price it at $4. Same for a bloody mary, a beer or one of those big foam fingers. With an owner who has shown a willingness to to pump the profits back into the product, I say enjoy those $10 bloodies and remember it's going to a good cause!!!

[Principessa21]

The only "bandwagon fans" I don't like are those of rival teams who feel the need to scream to me about how great their team is and how mine is just poop.

[BrewCrewForever]

I don't have a problem with the "bandwagon" fans. If more people like the Brewers that can't be a bad thing, can it? However if they come out the yard and start booing for no real reason then I have a problem. But we have all been over that in other threads.

[brewjihad]

I think the point is kinda being missed here. It's great to get new Brewer fans, I know a bunch of people that are just following the Brewers now that could've cared less about baseball a couple years ago. That's how we all start being fans, isn't it?

 

However there's a major difference in being a new fan vs. being someone who thinks they know it all about the Brewers and baseball. I'll throw out names like JDLR, Joe Winkelsas, Trent Durrington, Chris Magruder, Victor Santos, Moeller, Justin Lehr, and nobody knows any of them- and that's only back to about 2005, when I first started caring about the Brewers.

 

Also, this is kinda relevant to the conversation, does anyone else think that if FSN showed some different stats on their little graphic when batters come up it might help some of these new fans education about the game? It'd be awesome to have Avg/Obp/Slg and even OPS on that graphic instead of average, homers, RBIs. Those are the stats that "casual" fans are quoting when trying to discuss, and it's hard to convince them otherwise. It's hard to tell someone that Mike Cameron is a better offensive player this year than Corey Hart because of that.