New Blue Jays fan - Thoughts and advice

[baseballsss]

This guys prob the dogg trying to get you guys to let him in on the board drinking/game crew. He's finally going to get his chance to ass rape ECJF.

[Deadpool]

No need to bring up the Tampa Bay Rays on here. Yes, they do have some serious hurdles to address and likely need to consider a huge rebuild or a relocation.

 

Uhh... Yeah, I don't see the Rays winning ~81 games this year, nor spending anything to take a "kick at the can" for 2015.

[Governator]

1) Listen to Mike Wilner's post game on the Fan 590. He is the best!

 

lol... this is only if you want to hear 100 reasons why playing .500 baseball is awesome.

[TDotttt2005]

Advice: Don't become a Blue Jays fan

 

This. Seriously, if I had it to do over again, I wouldve become a Yankee fan. Sure, the high was great in the early 90's, but the 23 year hangover that ensued filled with misery and frustration...and now im just stuck. I would not wish it on my worst sports fan enemy.

 

[Governator]

This. Seriously, if I had it to do over again, I wouldve become a Yankee fan. Sure, the high was great in the early 90's, but the 23 year hangover that ensued filled with misery and frustration...and now im just stuck. I would not wish it on my worst sports fan enemy.

 

 

There's 29 other teams I'd rather cheer for.

[jaysblue]

Also, read RA Dickey's new book "Knuckleball Ted." I think it provides great insight on the game, written by none other the former NL Cy Young himself!

[scottishbluejay]

I know you guys are saying it’s hard to be a fan etc, but I think the fact that Blue Jays are something of an underdog team was part of the appeal that drew me towards the team. Like I said, I was in Philly when they had a World Series team. I never felt the same attachment to the team… mainly because it felt like jumping on the bandwagon. I wasn’t there for the bad or even the average days, so following from a Championship onwards didn’t have the same authenticity.

 

I meet a lot of soccer fans in Canada and when they hear my accent they always want to talk soccer as the sport is exploding here and in the USA. I’m always happy to talk soccer and all, but when I ask them what team they “support” I brace myself and cringe. Why? Because I know the answer will be:

 

A) Chelsea

Man City

C) Arsenal

D) Man Utd

E) Spurs

F) Liverpool

 

Or sometimes Barca and Real Madrid. But mostly Premier League teams from England, so basically the top 6 richest teams in the richest league in the world that buy players as products to sell to football “consumers” not fans. I’m not saying there aren’t legit fans out there, but I fail to see the connection they have with a team half the world away. I’m also exceptionally sceptical when they tell me “I’ve always supported Chelsea / Man City, way before they had money”. I’m pretty sure this is of course isn’t true and they began following the side after rich billionaires turned the clubs into personal fantasy football teams.

While the team I support in Scotland (Celtic) are very successful in their league, I started following them in 1991 when; the club was minutes away from bankruptcy, 5th in a 10 team league and a million miles away from their bitter rivals who were spending like the Yankees.

 

So while things might not seem great for the Jays right now, I’m hoping it’s actually a good entry point for me. In fairness I’ve been to 5 games this year and they have won 3 of them.

 

To follow up a few suggestions; Yeah I already have MLB TV. It is a great service and I watch what I can. I’ve seen moneyball and a few other films. Thank you very much for the list of books etc, I’ll defo be having a look into reading a few of those and checking out some sites.

 

Regards certain pundits being bad or good. I’m at the stage of novice knowledge that I can’t really tell the difference. Most broadcasters in any sport speak in broad terms for the uneducated masses. I bang my head against the wall listening to soccer coverage, however in this respect I am defo one of the uneducated masses. So while the pundits might patronise guys on this forum, it probably serves as a point of entry for me.

 

I’ve a friend in town Thursday who is a Yankees fan. He’s bought us both expensive seats that include a buffet which should be a blast. A one off though as it’s too expensive. All my other tickets I’ve bought a $5 seat for 500 level and I’ve just watched the 1st inning from the back and then sat behind home plate. Kind of a jerk move I know, but I’m always on my own and there’s always a ton of seats.

 

Would defo be interested in watching a game with you all sometime so you can smarten me up a little and talk me through it.

[Governator]

I've only been to 1 game by myself and I loved every bit of it. However, I'm not allowed to go alone anymore without taking wife & kids per the household rules.

[GD]

I’ve a friend in town Thursday who is a Yankees fan. He’s bought us both expensive seats that include a buffet which should be a blast. A one off though as it’s too expensive. All my other tickets I’ve bought a $5 seat for 500 level and I’ve just watched the 1st inning from the back and then sat behind home plate. Kind of a jerk move I know, but I’m always on my own and there’s always a ton of seats.

 

Would defo be interested in watching a game with you all sometime so you can smarten me up a little and talk me through it.

 

Lesson #1 of baseball: Yankees fans are not your friends.

 

You can join the game day threads sometimes, but not much intelligent discussion goes on in there.

[scottishbluejay]

Ha Ha, I'll tell him that! Thanks for the info

[dineke]

I know you guys are saying it’s hard to be a fan etc, but I think the fact that Blue Jays are something of an underdog team was part of the appeal that drew me towards the team. Like I said, I was in Philly when they had a World Series team. I never felt the same attachment to the team… mainly because it felt like jumping on the bandwagon. I wasn’t there for the bad or even the average days, so following from a Championship onwards didn’t have the same authenticity.

 

I meet a lot of soccer fans in Canada and when they hear my accent they always want to talk soccer as the sport is exploding here and in the USA. I’m always happy to talk soccer and all, but when I ask them what team they “support” I brace myself and cringe. Why? Because I know the answer will be:

 

A) Chelsea

Man City

C) Arsenal

D) Man Utd

E) Spurs

F) Liverpool

 

Or sometimes Barca and Real Madrid. But mostly Premier League teams from England, so basically the top 6 richest teams in the richest league in the world that buy players as products to sell to football “consumers” not fans. I’m not saying there aren’t legit fans out there, but I fail to see the connection they have with a team half the world away. I’m also exceptionally sceptical when they tell me “I’ve always supported Chelsea / Man City, way before they had money”. I’m pretty sure this is of course isn’t true and they began following the side after rich billionaires turned the clubs into personal fantasy football teams.

While the team I support in Scotland (Celtic) are very successful in their league, I started following them in 1991 when; the club was minutes away from bankruptcy, 5th in a 10 team league and a million miles away from their bitter rivals who were spending like the Yankees.

 

So while things might not seem great for the Jays right now, I’m hoping it’s actually a good entry point for me. In fairness I’ve been to 5 games this year and they have won 3 of them.

 

To follow up a few suggestions; Yeah I already have MLB TV. It is a great service and I watch what I can. I’ve seen moneyball and a few other films. Thank you very much for the list of books etc, I’ll defo be having a look into reading a few of those and checking out some sites.

 

Regards certain pundits being bad or good. I’m at the stage of novice knowledge that I can’t really tell the difference. Most broadcasters in any sport speak in broad terms for the uneducated masses. I bang my head against the wall listening to soccer coverage, however in this respect I am defo one of the uneducated masses. So while the pundits might patronise guys on this forum, it probably serves as a point of entry for me.

 

I’ve a friend in town Thursday who is a Yankees fan. He’s bought us both expensive seats that include a buffet which should be a blast. A one off though as it’s too expensive. All my other tickets I’ve bought a $5 seat for 500 level and I’ve just watched the 1st inning from the back and then sat behind home plate. Kind of a jerk move I know, but I’m always on my own and there’s always a ton of seats.

 

Would defo be interested in watching a game with you all sometime so you can smarten me up a little and talk me through it.

 

People over here support the richest teams in PL because they're the only ones who have a chance of winning a championship. In American sports leagues like the MLB and NFL, all teams have a chance to win the Championship, not just the richest teams.

[scottishbluejay]

The vast majority of NFL teams have no chance of winning a championship.

 

Also Chelsea and Man City never had a chance of winning a championship over ten years ago. Blackburn, Newcastle, Leeds Utd and Aston Villa are teams that did. So if they money runs out like Leeds Utd / Blackburn will the people jump ship?

 

With any sport you are better picking a team you have some form of connection with rather than just supporting a team who have a chance of winning the title.

 

I enjoy following the Raptors, shouldn't I just support the heat? Where would the legitimacy be in me celebrating Miami winning the NBA?

[McD]

Ill jump in on this. Im a Scottish baseball fan from Glasgow, living in Dundee (partick thistle are my team, monajags!).

 

I started following the blue jays in 2003ish when I visited Toronto and visited a game. It is the equivalent of following partick thistle...this board is interesting for getting valuable insights into the game. Mlb.tv and actually watching games is the best thing to get to know the games.

 

I have the same problems as U here, I think I might be the only baseball fan left in Scotland.

[scottishbluejay]

Believe it or not, there is a podcast by two Celtic fans in Glasgow that follow the Mets called Metsbhoys.

My old man is into it, but never met anyone else.

[dineke]

The vast majority of NFL teams have no chance of winning a championship.

 

Also Chelsea and Man City never had a chance of winning a championship over ten years ago. Blackburn, Newcastle, Leeds Utd and Aston Villa are teams that did. So if they money runs out like Leeds Utd / Blackburn will the people jump ship?

 

With any sport you are better picking a team you have some form of connection with rather than just supporting a team who have a chance of winning the title.

 

I enjoy following the Raptors, shouldn't I just support the heat? Where would the legitimacy be in me celebrating Miami winning the NBA?

 

There have only been 6 teams that have won a a title in the PL since its' formation in 92. Why would anyone with no connections to the city cheer for a team like Fulham or Southampton when they wont ever have a shot at the title.

 

The Raptors at least have a shot at a title one day if they draft a superstar, even though the chances are very small.

Edited May 14, 2014 by dineke

[BlueJaysGirl]

There's a number of singles clubs and such that go to games. You might want to google around for one. They usually sit in the cheap seats.

Where in Scotland are you from? I'm from the Stirling area.

 

That's neat. I toured castle Stirling when I was in Scotland for uni.

[scottishbluejay]

Where did you go to Uni? Was it stirling you were at?

 

Answer to the soccer question: You don't need to support a Premier League team in England. It's an overrated league anyway.

There's no reason to support a poor team, but equally no reason to support the rich teams. Most people in Canada have some form of European heritage, best bet is to trace that back and look for the cities etc you may have a connection with. I've a friend who's a huge west ham fan that likes them because he's tons of friends in east London and has visited and been taken to games. I've also a friend who claims to support Chelsea due to having Torres. I asked him who he'll support when Mourinho gets rid of Torres and if he'd have supported Liverpool if the player had been loyal to his previous club?

 

In my opinion the guy who follows West Ham has the right idea. You don't always need to support a team that wins. Plus the bubble is going to go bust on the overspending unethical teams who are ruining football in England. Financial fairplay rules will cripple them eventually.

 

Anyway, my point is... although times might be a little tougher being a Jays Fan... I have at least some form of connection to the city of Toronto. The concept of just being a Red Sox or Yankees fan just does not appeal at all.