Boo Birds

[pretendastronaut]

So this was a thread I had meant to make when Houston was in town, but now that there's an article about it on the Brewers' main site, I thought I'd actually get to posting it.

 

I have to say I'm pretty disappointed with the boo birds at MP this year, and I understand a lot of it is probably bandwagon fans, but its still disturbing. (I know I don't have 20 posts here yet, but I'm hardly a bandwagon fan, I've been going to Brewers games regularly since I moved here 10 years ago, and a ticket holder for 3).

 

Two instances of late have bothered me, the first being the third game against the Royals, Turnbow was booed quite loudly when he gave up the hold, and I know he's got a rocky record with a lot of fans, but he wasn't the only pitcher who was booed. I just couldn't believe people were booing our own players, after the incredible season they've given us so far. I understand it was frustrating, but still, that's the only game they dropped in the entire homestand. I remember saying to my friend, "who do they think we are, Yankee fans?"

 

The other one, which didn't bother me as much, but all the same, was the booing of Carlos Lee. I remember having a conversation with some people the first time he came to town this year, that they were going to boo him, and I couldn't understand why. I know its often a tradition to boo old players who have left your team, but Carlos was traded and never said anything disparaging about this team or this city. He gave us something to cheer for while he was here and played hard.

 

Anyway, I don't know what the point of this thread is really, but I just felt like I needed to say it, and hopefully next time something goes wrong for a game we can have enough smart fans who don't boo our team for one bad game. I know there's a lot of people who apprecaite the way this season is shaping up and can respect it, but unfortunately there's a lot of people who only care cause we're winning and don't have any respect for the club.

 

BTW, here's the article I referenced earlier;

 

Brewers bullpen deserves more credit

 

 

(Shortened up link by adding text -1992casey)

[bigredrobbo]

Bonds, Sheffield, Giambi, Sosa.

 

There endeth the deserving recipients of any booing IMO. I agree that booing your own players lowers us to the level of Phillies, Cubs or Yankees fans and I hate us being compared to their "fans".

[logan82]

Most fans think it is their right and responsibility to boo. They will boo at perceived bad calls and other such things. I personally only boo Cubs players and poor sportsmanship on the field. I only boo Cubs players because we have to drown out the cheers of the Cubs fans. I guess I agree with you, I hate booing our own players and see no point in booing opposing players.

[Sepolevne]

The one I've never understood is when people start booing pitchers making repeated pickoff moves. It's not like after the 6th pick off move in a row, the guy is going to get picked off.

[DocLuna7]

Can we make the one exception for when Mench swings at the first pitch after an opposing pitcher has walked the previous two hitters?

[Nearsighted Views]

I was at the first Astros game this year when Carlos was back. I stood and cheered to no avail when he was announced. By and large, I think that people who fill the stadium are uniformed.

 

I will boo someone who gives up when they shouldn't. I DID boo Lee on his solo dinger the other night (out of respect)

 

But by and large, the majority of people in the stadium at any give time have little knowldege of the game. Anyone who follows the Crew knows that Lee would have been an idiot to sign with this team and they also know that he played hard when he was here. I cheer him every time he is announced.

 

As far as Turnbow, people have heard the term Turnblow. Again, the fans are misinformed.

 

Ignore it. To figure it out will frustrate you. Just boo responsibly. That's all I ask.

[goirish2107]

i think its getting to be rediculous. they boo after half the walks we give up, let alone any bad play. its like they expect the crew to be the perfect every time. what don't these people get about baseball (life?). my hope is that the guys are tough enough that it doesn't bother them. if it were me, part of me would be upset, but part of me would want to prove em wrong. thats just me though

[adambr2]

Booing is just part of the game, and I think most of the players are smart enough not to take it personally. I highly doubt Lee's trips to Miller were the first time he got booed, and I doubt it'll be the last. I didn't personally boo him, but he had the opportunity to stay here, and left for more money. Can I blame him? Certainly not, but I don't have a big problem with him being booed. It's just part of the game.

 

As far as who DESERVES to get booed, that list looks like a pretty good one. I'd add any player that ever had any negative remarks to make about Milwaukee or the team, thus you can add Gagne and Zambrano to the list. Sheffield is still public enemy #1, and will be until the day he retires. I don't think there's a guy in baseball I respect less.

 

Remember, some years back, when Roberto Alomar spit in that umpires face? Oh man, he got booed EVERYWHERE he went for a LONG time before people gradually started to forget about it. Deservedly so, though.

[billyhallfan]

I don't boo Carlos he was one of my favorite players, that being said, him being traded, IMO, has nothing to do with him being booed. There are a lot of idiots that just boo former players, but I think the people that know what is going on are boing Carlos because he did turn down an offer from the Brewers. However, most everyone here understands that is baseball and most everyone here wanted him traded, but regardless, even if he did leave for more money, it is not like he left on bad terms, that is basesball, and that is the way it works.

 

I boo for things like Emil Brown delaying the game arguing, or for lack of effort, or for Sheffield. I don't boo any other players, I don't boo for a pick-off throw, that is part of the game, I don't boo for opposing home runs, hits, I even clap for them sometimes when they make a nice play.

[PeaveyFury]

Carlos Lee was offered a 4 year, 51 million dollar deal by the Brewers (that's before the insane offseason market was set), and not only did he blow them off, Carlos and his representation didn't even bother to counter-offer.

 

I have no problem with people booing Carlos Lee.

[billyhallfan]

once again, I was always a Carlos fan, but let's not give him to much credit, he never "tried hard" I shouldn't say never, but I can remember lots of times where he would run like Estrada or just throw the ball in like a rainbow, he was a good player, but he wasn't a hard worker, don't give him to much credit, he was very pre-modana.

[pretendastronaut]

I understand that there's plenty of times to boo players, certainly Sheffield for one, so I'm not condemning booing players, I just was put off with the fans that were booing on Sunday mostly. I can understand why people think they should boo for Carlos, I just didn't agree. The bigger issue was booing our own players and hopefully I don't see that happen again. Hell, unless we go 0-74 in the second half, I'm expecting everyone to give these guys a standing O at the end of the season. Hopefully all the johnny come lately's can do the same.

[davebobn]

When I was at the game on Tuesday I heard a pretty good mixture of cheers and boos for Carlos Lee. I suspect a good number of the cheers were from "fans" who're convinced that he's still with the team.