'Stros v. Cards, NLCS

[vaball]

This one time, I met these Cub fans, and man were they obnoxious! There was just something so "Cub fan" about them. They thought their team was great, and they rooted for it; they were even putting down the other team, sometimes even the other's team's fans!

 

The worst part was that they were so arrogant! They thought their team was the best, better than the other team. Can you believe that? They were actually proud of the Cubs' triumphs over the years and even bragged about them.

 

I hope the Cubs never win anything with fans like that.

[Exile on Waveland]

I guess this kind of surprises me, I thought the Cubs/Cards hatred ran a little deeper.

 

Hatred by some. Healthy respect for most.

Same is true for me and the Astros.

I agree, Cubs/Cards 'hatred' is mostly a myth. There are some bitter fans on both sides but mostly it is a healthy, friendly rivalry. I would rather have the Cards win than the Astros or the Sox because a) their fans aren't obnoxious and b) they're probably the best team remaining and they deserve to win.

 

The Cardinal fans aren't obnoxious? You must have never been to St. Louis before. They are some of the most arrogant and obnoxious fans that I've met. Of course I say that respectfully.

 

The one time I was in STL, it was the airport. A couple of stereotypical 30 somethings stood near me in the bar watching a game. They were the most condescending A's I've ever heard.

 

You should actually try going to a game there. Man, it's brutal. They've totally taken the "best fans in baseball" thing to heart. Now, they do truly love their team and almost everyone shows up in Cardinal uniforms or shirts. So, yeah, they're good fans. But just blindly cheering for every player seems pretty close to what Cubs fans get grilled for. Besides the whole best fans thing is so totally unquantifiable.

 

Funny story that by no means is supposed to describe all Cards fans: My friend and I were at Busch for a Cards-Cubs game sitting behind two guys and their two dates. They, of course, were doing the typical guy thing while at a sports-date. They were being complete know-it-alls, and also bashing Cubs fans for not knowing anything about baseball.

Anyway, the scoreboard had a list of the NL leaders in slugging percentage. One of the dates asked what that meant, and after a few seconds of stumbling through, one guy says, "Uh, um, possible doubles?" I'm pretty sure they knew we were laughing at their expense. Possible doubles? Really?

[ManCrushOnNomar]

Has this become the official rag on Cards fans thread?

 

Because living where I do I could go on and on...

[stitchface]

LOL, you gotta love curtain calls for first inning solo homers.

[Mizzou]

I go to several Cubs games in St. Louis every year and I can honestly say that I've never had a problem with any Cards fans there. Maybe it's just my personality, maybe it's luck, maybe it's reality, but whatever it is, the Cards fans there have always treated me well. And I'm the type of guy that (loudly) cheers after clutch hits or big outs. Never had a problem.

[AcesHigh]

I go to several Cubs games in St. Louis every year and I can honestly say that I've never had a problem with any Cards fans there. Maybe it's just my personality, maybe it's luck, maybe it's reality, but whatever it is, the Cards fans there have always treated me well. And I'm the type of guy that (loudly) cheers after clutch hits or big outs. Never had a problem.

Yeah, I've never really has any problems with them. They show up, cheer loud and are knowledgable. I can't really be annoyed with that.

 

I still hate the Cardinals, just not their fans. Go Angels!

[Exile on Waveland]

I go to several Cubs games in St. Louis every year and I can honestly say that I've never had a problem with any Cards fans there. Maybe it's just my personality, maybe it's luck, maybe it's reality, but whatever it is, the Cards fans there have always treated me well. And I'm the type of guy that (loudly) cheers after clutch hits or big outs. Never had a problem.

Yeah, I've never really has any problems with them. They show up, cheer loud and are knowledgable. I can't really be annoyed with that.

 

I still hate the Cardinals, just not their fans. Go Angels!

 

I agree here. I have no problem with Cards fans, they've always been hospitable. I didn't mean to bash all of them in my previous posts, I just hate the best fans garbage.

[dalgreen]

This one time, I met these Cub fans, and man were they obnoxious! There was just something so "Cub fan" about them. They thought their team was great, and they rooted for it; they were even putting down the other team, sometimes even the other's team's fans!

 

The worst part was that they were so arrogant! They thought their team was the best, better than the other team. Can you believe that? They were actually proud of the Cubs' triumphs over the years and even bragged about them.

 

I hope the Cubs never win anything with fans like that.

 

You forgot about the time Cub fan gave a standing ovation to someone everyone pretty much suspects and by at least one person's account injected steroids. Yet Cub fan then roundly booed their relief pitcher for giving up a two runs in a meaningless game all on the same night.

[vaball]

This one time, I met these Cub fans, and man were they obnoxious! There was just something so "Cub fan" about them. They thought their team was great, and they rooted for it; they were even putting down the other team, sometimes even the other's team's fans!

 

The worst part was that they were so arrogant! They thought their team was the best, better than the other team. Can you believe that? They were actually proud of the Cubs' triumphs over the years and even bragged about them.

 

I hope the Cubs never win anything with fans like that.

 

You forgot about the time Cub fan gave a standing ovation to someone everyone pretty much suspects and by at least one person's account injected steroids. Yet Cub fan then roundly booed their relief pitcher for giving up a two runs in a meaningless game all on the same night.

 

I didn't see the need to bring Sammy Sosa and LaTroy Hawkins into it.

[Laura]

LaTroy's talent was giving up runs in then-meaningful games.

 

Hop on for the trip to rivalries.

 

P.S. And the booing worked. Even if Dusty didn't approve.

[satxcubfan]

I'm rooting for the 'Stros (the fans here in the SA/Austin area aren't that bad) to win the NLCS. However, I have to go with the Angels to win the WS.

[reggiemiller rules]

Has this become the official rag on Cards fans thread?

 

Because living where I do I could go on and on...

 

Listen I went to Eastern in 2003 when the cubs were in the playoffs and as a Cards fan had to put up with so much crap from cubs fans who thought they knew everything. Eastern is like 50% cubs fans and the rest is split between Sox and Cards so you have plenty of support.

[PujolsPower]

You should've heard a bunch of the fans (especially those that only come out for postseason) griping about the 10 pm CT start on Saturday. They really think the world is out to get St. Louis. Never mind the fact that the Yankees had a 10 pm ET game two ALDS against the Angels and the Padres had a 10 am PT game in game one of the NLDS. I will put up my obnoxious Cardinal fan against obnoxious White Sox fan and obnoxious Yankee fan any day.

 

I think that Cardinal fans had a legitimate complaint. Each game of the NLDS the Cardinals played in was at the least favorable time on that day. I don't enjoy having to miss watching post season games because I have to work. As for the 10:00 p.m. CST game, I was upset that it was starting an hour later than a normal west coasr game would start. THe Cardinals did finish with the best record in baseball, and then played the least favorable time schedule.

[ManCrushOnNomar]

Has this become the official rag on Cards fans thread?

 

Because living where I do I could go on and on...

 

Listen I went to Eastern in 2003 when the cubs were in the playoffs and as a Cards fan had to put up with so much crap from cubs fans who thought they knew everything. Eastern is like 50% cubs fans and the rest is split between Sox and Cards so you have plenty of support.

Those weren't real Cubs fans. Trust me, I hated most of them too. Those were the people who realized the Cubs were in the playoffs and claimed to be lifetime fans, yet couldnt name 2 guys off the bench.

[tgk]

For the most part 'Cards fans are fine. However, like every other team - including the Cubs, there is a vocal minority that can be completely obnoxious. They are the people who feel the need to troll other teans' boards when they are winning and disappear when losing.

 

In my opinion, the world would be a lot better off without them, but unfortunately the authorities tend to frown on random disappearances, even of obnoxious fans. :roll:

[reggiemiller rules]

Has this become the official rag on Cards fans thread?

 

Because living where I do I could go on and on...

 

Listen I went to Eastern in 2003 when the cubs were in the playoffs and as a Cards fan had to put up with so much crap from cubs fans who thought they knew everything. Eastern is like 50% cubs fans and the rest is split between Sox and Cards so you have plenty of support.

Those weren't real Cubs fans. Trust me, I hated most of them too. Those were the people who realized the Cubs were in the playoffs and claimed to be lifetime fans, yet couldnt name 2 guys off the bench.

 

Oh I agree with you . I was just saying that there is fans like that on both sides. There are defintley annoying Cardinals fans there that are like that too, every team has that come playoff time. I was just trying to say that it happens on both sides of the fence.

[dalgreen]

I think that Cardinal fans had a legitimate complaint. Each game of the NLDS the Cardinals played in was at the least favorable time on that day. I don't enjoy having to miss watching post season games because I have to work. As for the 10:00 p.m. CST game, I was upset that it was starting an hour later than a normal west coasr game would start. THe Cardinals did finish with the best record in baseball, and then played the least favorable time schedule.

 

They had a legitimate complaint in only that a lot of STL sports fans think the world is out to get them. It was on a Saturday night for pete's sake. It wasn't a Tuesday or Wednesday night 10 pm start. Were some Cardinal fans complaining that the Padres had a 10 am PT start for game one? Were they complaining that the Angels/Yankees ALDS (game 2) had a 10 pm ET start? I've lived here for 10 years and don't understand why STL fans can't understand that STL is not a large television market and that's what dictates who plays at what times --- not best records. STL, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, KC, Milwaukee are like cities when you talk about television markets. And all of them would get the worst time slot if you had a NY team, LA team or a Chicago team (especially the Cubs) playing.

[K-Town]

I think that Cardinal fans had a legitimate complaint. Each game of the NLDS the Cardinals played in was at the least favorable time on that day. I don't enjoy having to miss watching post season games because I have to work. As for the 10:00 p.m. CST game, I was upset that it was starting an hour later than a normal west coasr game would start. THe Cardinals did finish with the best record in baseball, and then played the least favorable time schedule.

 

They had a legitimate complaint in only that a lot of STL sports fans think the world is out to get them. It was on a Saturday night for pete's sake. It wasn't a Tuesday or Wednesday night 10 pm start. Were some Cardinal fans complaining that the Padres had a 10 am PT start for game one? Were they complaining that the Angels/Yankees ALDS (game 2) had a 10 pm ET start? I've lived here for 10 years and don't understand why STL fans can't understand that STL is not a large television market and that's what dictates who plays at what times --- not best records. STL, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, KC, Milwaukee are like cities when you talk about television markets. And all of them would get the worst time slot if you had a NY team, LA team or a Chicago team (especially the Cubs) playing.

 

I think that most Cardinal fans understand that. I heard very little complaining, actually. Here's an article that addresses that:

 

Media Views: Cards fans show they'll put up with late games

By Dan Caesar

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

10/11/2005

 

New York isn't the only city that never sleeps. Put St. Louis in that category, at least when major sporting events involving the local teams are taking place after the clock strikes midnight.

 

Late Night With The Cardinals, their 7-4 victory over San Diego that ended in the wee hours Sunday (St. Louis time), generated the biggest Redbirds TV rating of the season. The game, in which the Cards won their first-round series, was simulcast on KPLR (Channel 11) and cable's ESPN, and Nielsen Media Research says the telecasts were seen in 26.5 percent of homes with a TV in the market. That surpasses the previous Cards high, a 24.1 rating, for Game 2 of the series.

 

The game began shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday and drew a 15 rating on KPLR and an 11.2 figure on ESPN. Another impressive figure from Nielsen: 48 percent of TV sets that were on while the game was being played were tuned to the contest.

 

"Nothing should surprise me about Cardinal fans watching Cardinal baseball anymore, but yeah, I was pleasantly surprised that that many people were up," KPLR general manager Bill Lanesey said.Advertisement

 

 

From 1:15-1:30 a.m., when the contest ended and postgame coverage aired, the rating was 20. And the rating for the final hour of game coverage was 23.3.

 

But the late-night crowd has tuned in in droves for key St. Louis sporting events in recent years. To wit:

 

In 2002 the Cardinals' playoff opener, in Phoenix, didn't begin until after 10 p.m. (St. Louis time) on a weeknight. But it generated a higher rating (18.8) than any Cards game to that point of the season despite not ending until nearly 1 a.m.

 

The Blues beat Phoenix in Game 7 of a playoff series in 1999, a contest that didn't end until about 1:15 a.m. in St. Louis. But it drew the best hockey rating of that season to that point - 13.2.

 

And in 2003, the Blues' season ended with a 4-1 loss to Vancouver in a playoff game that didn't end until after midnight. But it pulled the top local hockey rating (8.2) of that season.

[dalgreen]

I think that Cardinal fans had a legitimate complaint. Each game of the NLDS the Cardinals played in was at the least favorable time on that day. I don't enjoy having to miss watching post season games because I have to work. As for the 10:00 p.m. CST game, I was upset that it was starting an hour later than a normal west coasr game would start. THe Cardinals did finish with the best record in baseball, and then played the least favorable time schedule.

 

They had a legitimate complaint in only that a lot of STL sports fans think the world is out to get them. It was on a Saturday night for pete's sake. It wasn't a Tuesday or Wednesday night 10 pm start. Were some Cardinal fans complaining that the Padres had a 10 am PT start for game one? Were they complaining that the Angels/Yankees ALDS (game 2) had a 10 pm ET start? I've lived here for 10 years and don't understand why STL fans can't understand that STL is not a large television market and that's what dictates who plays at what times --- not best records. STL, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, KC, Milwaukee are like cities when you talk about television markets. And all of them would get the worst time slot if you had a NY team, LA team or a Chicago team (especially the Cubs) playing.

 

I think that most Cardinal fans understand that. I heard very little complaining, actually. Here's an article that addresses that:

 

Media Views: Cards fans show they'll put up with late games

By Dan Caesar

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

10/11/2005

 

New York isn't the only city that never sleeps. Put St. Louis in that category, at least when major sporting events involving the local teams are taking place after the clock strikes midnight.

 

Late Night With The Cardinals, their 7-4 victory over San Diego that ended in the wee hours Sunday (St. Louis time), generated the biggest Redbirds TV rating of the season. The game, in which the Cards won their first-round series, was simulcast on KPLR (Channel 11) and cable's ESPN, and Nielsen Media Research says the telecasts were seen in 26.5 percent of homes with a TV in the market. That surpasses the previous Cards high, a 24.1 rating, for Game 2 of the series.

 

The game began shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday and drew a 15 rating on KPLR and an 11.2 figure on ESPN. Another impressive figure from Nielsen: 48 percent of TV sets that were on while the game was being played were tuned to the contest.

 

"Nothing should surprise me about Cardinal fans watching Cardinal baseball anymore, but yeah, I was pleasantly surprised that that many people were up," KPLR general manager Bill Lanesey said.Advertisement

 

 

From 1:15-1:30 a.m., when the contest ended and postgame coverage aired, the rating was 20. And the rating for the final hour of game coverage was 23.3.

 

But the late-night crowd has tuned in in droves for key St. Louis sporting events in recent years. To wit:

 

In 2002 the Cardinals' playoff opener, in Phoenix, didn't begin until after 10 p.m. (St. Louis time) on a weeknight. But it generated a higher rating (18.8) than any Cards game to that point of the season despite not ending until nearly 1 a.m.

 

The Blues beat Phoenix in Game 7 of a playoff series in 1999, a contest that didn't end until about 1:15 a.m. in St. Louis. But it drew the best hockey rating of that season to that point - 13.2.

 

And in 2003, the Blues' season ended with a 4-1 loss to Vancouver in a playoff game that didn't end until after midnight. But it pulled the top local hockey rating (8.2) of that season.

 

Well if you listened to sports radio here (I try and do very little of) and some of the tv sportscasters and some of my friends and co-workers you would know where I'm coming from. In fact, the Post-Dispatch put in some quote by Selig after the NLDS game in 2002 after the D-backs/Cards game that started at 10:00 pm CT playing it as if he just now said it. I think it was in last Thursday's paper. I think your statement would've been supported more if Caesar had have interviewed some fans, too.

[K-Town]

Well if you listened to sports radio here (I try and do very little of) and some of the tv sportscasters and some of my friends and co-workers you would know where I'm coming from. In fact, the Post-Dispatch put in some quote by Selig after the NLDS game in 2002 after the D-backs/Cards game that started at 10:00 pm CT playing it as if he just now said it. I think it was in last Thursday's paper. I think your statement would've been supported more if Caesar had have interviewed some fans, too.

 

What do you suppose the fans would have said? Something like "I'd rather the games didn't start so late".? You can't blame fans for wanting the games to start earlier. I realize that it's all about marketing, but the Cards busted their tail to have the best record in baseball, and it would be nice if they could have been rewarded with at least one prime-time game, but that wasn't the case for the Division Series. Cardinal fans were disappointed. If that makes them a bunch of whiners, then so be it, I guess.

 

I assume that this is the Selig remark that you're talking about, and I think it's relevant:

 

Selig indicated he had no choice because of television commitments, but Bond said baseball could have done better - and in fact had promised three years ago in a similar situation to do so. In the 2002 postseason, when the Cards had a similar start against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Selig said he was sorry at the time and that, "I told our people, no more 10 p.m. starts. That's the end of it."

 

 

Basically, Selig made a promise in 2002 that he couldn't keep, and didn't keep.

[dalgreen]

What do you suppose the fans would have said? Something like "I'd rather the games didn't start so late".? You can't blame fans for wanting the games to start earlier. I realize that it's all about marketing, but the Cards busted their tail to have the best record in baseball, and it would be nice if they could have been rewarded with at least one prime-time game, but that wasn't the case for the Division Series. Cardinal fans were disappointed. If that makes them a bunch of whiners, then so be it, I guess.

 

I assume that this is the Selig remark that you're talking about, and I think it's relevant:

 

Selig indicated he had no choice because of television commitments, but Bond said baseball could have done better - and in fact had promised three years ago in a similar situation to do so. In the 2002 postseason, when the Cards had a similar start against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Selig said he was sorry at the time and that, "I told our people, no more 10 p.m. starts. That's the end of it."

 

 

Basically, Selig made a promise in 2002 that he couldn't keep, and didn't keep.

 

It's just that we (or I) keep hearing the same crap every postseason. The "best fans in baseball" should've realized that a STL/San Diego series wouldn't be a draw on a national basis, just like a STL/Arizona wasn't. Records have nothing to do with it. Then it's the old, "I can't believe SportsCenter only spent one-minute on the Cardinals clinching the division. Well, make the division race interesting and quit winning it in July and then you might get more of a story. So that you won't be shocked. If it ends up a Cardinal/White Sox World Series, be prepared to have the story center around whether the White Sox will break the long drought. That will be the story. If the Cardinals win, it won't be about the Cardinals winning. It will be about the White Sox still waiting for a championship. If the White Sox win, it will be about Chicago having a World Series Champion for the first time since 1917 or 1918, I forget. Just predicting what will happen to lessen the blow a bit.

[K-Town]

What do you suppose the fans would have said? Something like "I'd rather the games didn't start so late".? You can't blame fans for wanting the games to start earlier. I realize that it's all about marketing, but the Cards busted their tail to have the best record in baseball, and it would be nice if they could have been rewarded with at least one prime-time game, but that wasn't the case for the Division Series. Cardinal fans were disappointed. If that makes them a bunch of whiners, then so be it, I guess.

 

I assume that this is the Selig remark that you're talking about, and I think it's relevant:

 

Selig indicated he had no choice because of television commitments, but Bond said baseball could have done better - and in fact had promised three years ago in a similar situation to do so. In the 2002 postseason, when the Cards had a similar start against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Selig said he was sorry at the time and that, "I told our people, no more 10 p.m. starts. That's the end of it."

 

 

Basically, Selig made a promise in 2002 that he couldn't keep, and didn't keep.

 

It's just that we (or I) keep hearing the same crap every postseason. The "best fans in baseball" should've realized that a STL/San Diego series wouldn't be a draw on a national basis, just like a STL/Arizona wasn't. Records have nothing to do with it. Then it's the old, "I can't believe SportsCenter only spent one-minute on the Cardinals clinching the division. Well, make the division race interesting and quit winning it in July and then you might get more of a story. So that you won't be shocked. If it ends up a Cardinal/White Sox World Series, be prepared to have the story center around whether the White Sox will break the long drought. That will be the story. If the Cardinals win, it won't be about the Cardinals winning. It will be about the White Sox still waiting for a championship. If the White Sox win, it will be about Chicago having a World Series Champion for the first time since 1917 or 1918, I forget. Just predicting what will happen to lessen the blow a bit.

 

 

I think you're right. Cardinal fans are well aware of all of that, and understand it. That doesn't mean that we have to like it, or pretend to like it.

[PujolsPower]

I understand why the games are scheduled the way they are time iwse, but as k said, I don't have to like it. The late weekend game didn't bother me as much as the two day games during the week. I think it is ok to hope that MLB would try to be more fair rather than focus only on financial considerations.

[Marco4]

I understand why the games are scheduled the way they are time iwse, but as k said, I don't have to like it. The late weekend game didn't bother me as much as the two day games during the week. I think it is ok to hope that MLB would try to be more fair rather than focus only on financial considerations.

 

For some reason, finances often stand in the way of fairness. Perhaps because fairness only buys good will whereas finances buy concrete things.

[vaball]

I'd just like to give some props to the Cubs fans who are rooting for the Cardinals in this series. That you can swallow your pride and want your rival to win is a testament to you as a baseball fan. I'm not sure I could do the same thing if the roles were reversed.

 

And I now see why so many Cubs fans hate Roy Oswalt. Granted, I'm mad he beat us, mainly that we wasted a great game by Mulder, but he really is one punk azz motha. There's just something about him that makes you want to punch him in the face.