By Marilyn Green
I’ve been a St. Louis Cardinals fan since I was six years old. I went to my first Cardinals game at Busch Stadium II when it was brand new. My family consists of over the top baseball fans. My father played high school baseball, and coached both my brothers in Little League. Baseball in the Green family is sacred.
I take my fandom very seriously.
Because I love baseball and the Cardinals so much, it disturbs me to hear and see the things I have from St. Louis Cardinals fans. I have been to three games so far this season and three last season. I would go to more if I could but it is not possible. But I don’t have to go to every game to see the disturbing trend of fan behavior. Fans booing at players who don’t play well. Yelling and cursing at players. Constant harping and criticizing every at bat, every defensive play that isn’t up to par. This kind of behavior may make the fan feel better, but the fan is not playing the game. The players hear and hear about that kind of behavior. They are not automatons. They are human beings with feelings and insecurities just like you and me. They have special skills and they are paid well for those skills but they do not deserve to be treated like their feelings don’t matter.
I was privileged to have access to some players and players’ families at the game against the Blue Jays on Saturday. It is easy to criticize and complain about that guy you see on your TV or from a long distance away in the stadium. But when you actually meet them face to face, hear them speak, talk to their parents or their spouses, you realize that they are no different from you. That player’s wife or child, or mother or father, feel the same way you would feel if someone cursed a member of your family or called them ugly names. And believe me, that does go on at games – with the player’s family sitting within earshot. Players hear what it is yelled at them from the stands. Think about how you would feel if you had other people screaming at you how worthless you are. Wouldn’t it affect you adversely? Of course it would.
The players don’t mess up on purpose. Have you ever had a boss or a co-worker constantly harping at you? How did it make you feel? Did you get to a point where you just didn’t care anymore because you knew it didn’t matter what you did? Do you think the players don’t have these same feelings at times? I can say without reservation that I performed the best at my job when I felt appreciated, when I received encouraging words from those around me. Yes, I still messed up at times, but I picked myself up and was more determined to do better when I knew I had the support of my boss and my co-workers.
We love our Cardinals. We have been recognized as the Best Fans in Baseball. However, from what I have seen going on in the stands in the last couple of seasons, that moniker is in serious jeopardy. Bad behavior becomes contagious. We as Cardinals fans need to respect the game, other fans and most importantly, the players. Booing and cursing is not respect. Booing and cursing do not make the players play better. Please Cardinals fans, continue to be the Best Fans in Baseball.
I am in 100% full agreement with you…I couldn’t have said it better! The ONLY caveat which I might bring forth, would have to do with completely inappropriate, unacceptable behavior on the part of the player…re: Garry Templeton’s gestures to the fans. In such a circumstance as that, I not only think booing is acceptable…I’d say it’s mandatory!
Thanks FM. I don’t think Garry Templeton behavior would be tolerated by the current organization so I don’t see that happening.
I would say we do want to be a good/ attractive home to players, and should strive to do what is right and have good manners regardless, your article is good food for thought.
Amen Crdswmn. You are a dedicated/passionate fan and give Cardinal nation a good name.
Thank you K.
Yeah, this is a good writeup, crdswmn. Cardinals fans are usually more supportive than what you’ve seen lately, for sure.
No real surprises. Both returnees playing with Hamilton at DH.
1. Ryan Theriot (R) SS
2. Jon Jay (L) RF
3. Matt Holliday (R) LF
4. Lance Berkman (S) 1B
5. David Freese (R) 3B
6. Colby Rasmus (L) CF
7. Yadier Molina (R) C
8. Mark Hamilton (L) DH
9. Nick Punto (S) 2B
Looks ugly when you have Hamilton as a DH…………….. I like Hamilton, but he has been disturbingly impotent…………… especially against LH pitchers……… lets hope this is his day ……. if not, Letting Lohse hit from the RSide looks as good………… isn’t that a sad state of affairs………..
Probably using this as an opportunity to get Hamilton some at bats and get him going. He isn’t getting enough off the bench.
Tough lefty CRD……….. when is the last time the Cardinals gave the starter a laugher………..????? Carpenter……..???? even that was tense until the late 6 runs…………. these pitchers need to have the offense beat a few teams up so they can just be bully boys……………. it doesn’t happen here. When we get a lead………….everyone just tries to develop their payday numbers……… which is why we never get away……
The MM philosophy that everyone can go long…………that all the hitters should take there “guesses” based on count….. sucks…………….. we don’t need Skip and Theriot and Descalso taking two hacks before they try to get their roles filled…………. it takes all of your chances to get that single, that includes all the swings when the count favors you to do it…………………… if you watch much baseball, regardless of their numbers here, these guys don’t get a job anywhere else in the league…… hitting this way……………. Theriot likes money……..where is he going to play next year? he is in trouble and he knows it……….. his arbitration status makes him a “lost soul”…….. he is pressing……Skip the same…….. he isn’t coming back……. he’s pressing……..Danny D. is a great kid… if he was playing a role………he finds a job…..he has to become a 325 slapper………too many big swings trying to become part of the Cardinal power players………. the league doesn’t need that player…… I haven’t seen this anywhere else in my experience.
Any guesses why its not Hamilton 1B, Berkman DH. Seems like Tony would want to rest Lance some without losing his bat.
Okay, keeping my fingers crossed. I am going to hang out here for awhile unless nobody shows up.
I have the page up on my phone but I don’t know if I will be able to talk my inlaws into putting the game on
Hope Lohse has his stuff tonight.
Holiday take a swing?????????? Jay even close??????????
I can’t agree with you crdswmn. They are performers. If a stand up comic sucks he gets bood, and rightly so. Same thing. You and I don’t have an audience stand and applaud if we do our job well, so would not have to put up with boos if we do poorly. One goes with the other. I would guess that the families understand that the player as a person is not being bood, rather the performance.
Cards fans don’t boo a player for a bad day. It takes a lot to get bood in St. Louis. And sometimes, as was the case with Chris Duncan, the fans are not booing the player himself, but rather the manager’s decision to have him out there in the first place. Its sort of the equivalent of a complaint department.
Then you haven’t heard what I’ve heard.
I don’t mean profanity and such.
I didn’t think you did.
How has the booing worked for Franklin so far?
It’s convinced Tony to not keep trotting him out there to fail. Not at Busch at least.
And he is taking up a roster spot that could be used by somebody that could help the team. Yep, it is working just great.
Oh, and he is certainly pitching better because of it.
Just pitching bad less often.
Because he is pitching less often. And he did pitch at Busch on Saturday and he gave up a home run.
Face it, booing has no positive effect except maybe for the fan.
Grrrrr
Okay I’ll stop.
Thanks for taking time to do the article and sharing more of the experience. I’m jealous.
No problem. Brian asked me to do it and I was happy to oblige.
Wow. I’m liking what I am seeing so far.
Lohse is pitching classic Dave………all location……… he needs more sliders………..
The towering foul gets Colby the walk…………. Hamilton scales down with 2 strikes… and singles… Punto takes the best swing………….. Theriot looks a one..hacks at on…and then shortens up and takes the middle…………. Jay is Jay………….. Lohse will give up a few the way he is attacking …..
Lohse got the DP grounder. So they get 2 extra outs this inning.
He has made a few big pitches to get out of the big inning………. looked like he gave up a 3 run jack there for a moment……………….. they are slowing him down and I think thats wrong……….. We need more runs…………………
tough try for Theriot……….he knocks it down we at least get 1 out……
Theriot, as always, has no business manning SS with Punto on the field.
Tony is so hard headed. No legit reason not to swap positions.
Is losing your team games a legit reason? They still have a groundball pitching staff.
When you’re a Tony guy it doesn’t matter, like with Skip.
Got the game on. Good to see some faces back picking up where they left off
Way to put your foot down Kansas.
I’ve learned to cry and wail from my 1 month old
Molina swinging way to hard…………… Colby showing some well consider knee flex……and a nice loading move…….. that is still the out pitch to him right now….up and in………
Yankees are spanking the Brew Crew 7-0 in the t3.
I guess Lohse is saving the good change up? I guess Molina sees everyone waiting for off speed……… from here it looks like he is just looking for contact………. we need more runs……….
Maybe Dave wants him to be able to give them a different look after a couple times through the lineup.
Thats what it is………….. I disagree…………. Surprising power (almost) by Theriot…………. we are loosing momentum………….. I look for them to score here………. Theriot sucks.
What you mean is Theriot’s play on the field sucks. I’m sure he’s a righteous person.
Of course BB………..he a nice guy………..he is thinking of his family……… Skip doesn’t turn that DP…
Punto is a professional…………
Punto is looking fantastic in the field tonight, no doubt.
Theriot has been a solid hitter, when he keeps the ball out of the air, yes. He’s a fine second baseman.
I say Skip DOES turn that DP. Schumaker is no amateur. But I do like Punto…a lot.
This kid isn’t pitching any better…………….we are riding the 3 runs…… I don’t like it………..
Lohse’s fastball and changeup both have a tail. It’s pretty consistant though, doesn’t seem like he can vary it. When the changeup tails it looks like a screwball.
The DP’s help…………..Punto and Freese….hitting away from MM’s influence…. sure look good.
Beautiful picture on the Baltimore feed RC, of Colby’s swing from behind…….. nice push back….he drops his hands about 4 inches in plenty of time to hunt……deals with the high fastball…………. that is the money………….. you can see how catchers and pitchers react to his more “athletic” approach….fear…
You can see WC that he has made some adjustments to the contact approach he had and the high hands. Dropped the hands back down and is getting a better load right now. Still not where he needs to be but better. He will launch some bombs the rest of the way because he will be in a better position. Knee is better and the hands are better. Getting on his legs much better. My intel tells me that he has a guy that is going to be hitting with him once a week from here on out. I believe he has hit in like 6 of his last 8 or 7 of 9, something like that.
I thought Colby was supposed to be slapping out opo dinks this year.
That will be it for Lohse……………………… this is a likely rain out win………… they are liable to extend the wait as long as they can, trying to get at the BP…………..I hope they don’t…………..we need a walk away…..
Sounds like its Lynn now. This is his job for the taking, if he wants to hang with the cool kids.
Here comes the scary part.
Scare me some more.
Amen. The rest of the bullpen, not so much.
Punto missed a golden opportunity to commit a baserunning blunder.
There is only 1…….one…..1 ……..reason Tony is throwing Franklin……….. he has been told that any money saved on resolving his contract……will go to a rent a player…………. if he looses this game, or further compromises Salas…………….by threaten a 2 inning appearance……… Tony has to be called out on this ……….along with Mo………..
Can we clone Lance Lynn?
Can we make Franklin disappear?
I feel bad for him. He looks pretty down.
Well I do too. But he needs to retire.
Right. He’ll stick around and collect his pay, however. The team won’t be getting any trade value for him whatsoever, so they might as well simply show him the door.
So, what if they DFA him? What are the chances someone picks him up? I would think they are pretty low. He clears waivers and goes to the minors and works on his pitching. What am I missing here?
he would be resigned the same day CRD……… he just needs a new start….his stuff looks ok….. he is just dying of self inflicted bites……………..
I’m sure that Franklin has enough service time to veto a demotion to the minors. I think that he would pass through waivers, but yeah, some other team would probably be desperate enough to pay league minimum once he was released.
Its a cruel sport KB…………… its bad for the team to see this going on……….. MH is robbed…nice play by the LF
Punto is going to be playing some short….hope is arm is up to it…………. Lets hope that Holiday was brought back to his senses when Colby sucked the air out of the stadium with that shot…… the smell of burning Pony has mysterious effects………….. Yanks are crushing Brewers…….good time to make a move.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=Aj_rmfBQBq16eK02PyKyl08RvLYF?slug=ti-brown_mccourt_dodgers_bankruptcy_auction_062811
I was right………….Fox lawyers were blocking for Selig………. they will shut down the auction angle…not be a part of it…………it was a herding job……….. into the old “box canyon”…………. I’ve also decided……while I’m sure there is a collusion to contain and regulate the AP contract anomaly…..and its effect on salary precedents for the Free Agent markets………….. ..it doesn’t necessarily mean that he won’t remain in St Louis………………. I put that at 1/5 though…….no more……….