Am I a bad Twins fan? Are you?

[DocBauer]

Half fun...half serious. Am I bad Twins fan? Are you?

 

As I've stated many times, almost 50, a Twins fan since I was five. Roughly 45 seasons of seasons, owners, managers, players, prospects, wins, losses, heights, and depressions. Scrambling for every bit of information I could find in mags and rags, listening to games on various radios through static to hear late innings and west coast games. And at times, turning my eyes and ears away in frustration during bad games and seasons. But always...always a die-hard lover and believer in next game and next season. And lifted to exalted heights on occassion, especially twice.

 

I've made reasonable arguements public and private the past few seasons, and endured them with you all. Regardless of differing opinions. The record will show I picked the Twins to finish at .500 this season...based on the ST question of expectation...with the possibility of a few games above if a few things broke right. (What those things were to be/are to be is impossible to speculate).

 

When we suppositioned before the season began what "a few games above .500" actually meant in the context of being in contention for a playoff spot...wild card...I didn't contemplate. But here we actually are. Chasing and in contention.

 

I did see Hunter having one more good year. I did see Dozier being as good if not better. I did see the rotation improving, just not quite the way it worked out.

 

I didn't see D Santana failing/flailing, or Vargas. Nor Arcia. I didn't see Rosario, Sano, Hicks, Duffey doing what they've done. Regardless...this season has been fun...a total blast...and whether or not we actually make the playoffs...very fulfilling.

 

But while I am rooting every single day for the Twins to make the playoffs...to make a statement...to go as far as they could possibly go...the voice in my head keeps telling me that my beloved Twins just aren't ready to make a serious push until next season.

 

Does this make me a bad fan?

 

As much as I want the Twins to put their best foot forward every single remaining game, I keep thinking games played, AB's and IP to Buxton, Vargas, Sano, Kepler maybe, May, Duffey and others will do nothing but fortify my beloved Twins for 2016.

 

Does that make me a bad fan?

 

I keep thinking about FA signings for the pen, maybe a DH if Plouffe is traded, the absolute need to rid ourselves of Nolasco...not a bad guy or pitcher just bad karma and a log-jam we have to breK up...and just how damn good this team could be in '16 with all the young talent we have, will promote, and just a couple smart moves made.

 

And I can't help but speculate for next year...run through roster options...tinker with stuff on paper and in my head...falling asleep with rosters and lineups in my head...and look forward to 2016.

 

Even as I root for my favorite team to win every game they can here in 2015.

 

So...am I a bad fan? Be honest.

 

Are you with me? Are you a bad fan?

[ashbury]

the voice in my head keeps telling me that my beloved Twins just aren't ready to make a serious push until next season.

By this metric put me down as a bad fan as well. I am only lately coming around to the idea that they will finish above .500. But playoffs? Don't talk about playoffs. You kidding me? Playoffs? I just hope we can win a gam- ... oops, channeling my Inner Jim Mora there for a second.

[DRizzo]

I don't think you're a bad fan. I think the feeling is one of the many results of the previous 4 years. We haven't really had a reason to care as much as we do this season because it was bad baseball. "Next year we'll be better." and "Sano and Buxton are coming, we'll be better in a couple years" was how most people felt about the team and now that they are here, along with other prospects, we don't know what to do.

 

But it's great to watch and still fun to see them over .500 as we transition to thinking about the present, over the future, more regularly 

[Twinfan603]

Yeah I guess I'm a bad (or merely cynical/practical--pick whichever you see as more appropriate) fan too. To be honest, I don't even think this team would stand a chance in the WC game on the road. I'd rather them win as much as possible, finish above .500%, but just miss out on the WC to avoid the smackdown they'd inevitably receive. It also scares me since I think nabbing that extra WC spot might placate the FO a bit into doing less than needs to be done in the offseason.

 

2016 though? As long as the FO doesn't jumble the offseason (and hold down Berrios for too long...) the Twins could have a real shot to not only win games, but make an impact in the AL.

[dxpavelka]

"But while I am rooting every single day for the Twins to make the playoffs...to make a statement...to go as far as they could possibly go...the voice in my head keeps telling me that my beloved Twins just aren't ready to make a serious push until next season."
 

That's why they play the games.  Enjoy the ride.

[Ex-Iowegian]

All season long, I've been thinking that this is not an "improved" team so much as it is an "improving" team. Kind of a psychotic, up and down, step forward, step backward thrill ride. Which seems to describe .500 baseball. 

I wouldn't say you are a bad fan. Just good at observing what these guys are doing.

[JustinCB]

Ain't no magic on this team.

[Craig Arko]

I consider myself more of a psychotic serial killer fan. It's way more fun.

[Platoon]

Totally agree. This teams success in the future will be predicated by its ability to get reps for the youth now. I am of two minds on this year. The WC would be fun, but would inevetibally cause complacency at One Twins Way. Maybe it's an over anaylisis to be concerned about that, but the history is there for the looking. All you have to do is look to last year. Anything close to .500 last year and Gardy Is back. It took 4 years of sub standard baseball to cause a change. This run is unexpected, and enjoyable. But I fear it's going to come back to haunt is in a developmental manner next year.

[Dr. Evil]

I'm almost 50 and have been a Twins fan for 45 years too. Your story sort of mirrors my feelings about this team. You should not consider yourself a bad fan. Just a realistic one. We are trending in the right direction now. I'm excited for the upcoming seasons. This season is a real fun bonus in my mind. It's been really fun even if they fall short of the playoffs.

[Doubles]

Barring a total collapse by a lotta guys, they're gonna be fun to watch next year as well.   

 

You're not a bad fan at all for as long as you've followed them.    But man, allow yourself to "enjoy the moment" a bit here.    Relevant, meaningful baseball in September.    That's a big part of what we, as fans, live for.   

 

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N0O7FQuYzXo/U-vKVNjpMhI/AAAAAAAAASQ/PTu8zYpoRN8/s1600/shawshank2.jpg

[Doubles]

http://www.48days.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/48days-podcast-graphic-8-28-15-300x300.png

[diehardtwinsfan]

being honest in that this team isn't a strong playoff team doesn't make you a bad fan.

[Thegrin]

I have enjoyed this year tremendously, but I find that I am not "rooting" for the Twins to make the playoffs.

I am watching without expectation or hope. Yes, I know that if the Twins become a Wild Card Team, there is hope that they could go to the World Series. Once in the World Series anything can happen.  I know that but I don't hope for it.  I watch.  I watch and see what happens. The Twins fall behind in a game. They tie it. Then they lose it.  I hate losing to the Tigers (or the ChiSox or Indians or Royals) and I particularly hate losing in extra innings. I was watching with interest but without expectation.  And tonight I will do the same and will continue to do it until the Twins season is over.  Does that make me a bad Twins fan ?

[Otto von Ballpark]

Nothing wrong with realism. But if you are excusing the GM/manager from making low-cost moves that could help the 2015 effort, that is kinda bad.

 

- Why is Aaron Thompson still on the 40-man while we are try to stretch out short relievers under expanded rosters?

- Why are we running out of position players while contributing two very good 40-man prospects to a AA championship drive?

- How did we not give Berrios a look in August and/or scale back his August AAA innings to give him a look in September?

 

Outside of Jepsen and Cotts, this GM/manager are largely acting like its another 90 loss season, rather than an incredible opportunity to sneak into a postseason spot.

[Halsey Hall]

I'm probably one of the oldest posters here.  I think the bad fans left a couple years ago, and anyone who stuck around can't be considered a bad fan.

 

I highly doubt the Twins will get a wild card spot and if they do, great.  But the odds are long.  I wouldn't even be surprised to see the Indians move ahead of us.  But still, we'll win more games this year than I thought we would. 

 

I'll even go so far as saying TR is a fan, and a bit surprised as to how we are doing, at least the way we are doing it.  And after listening to Gladden and Dave St Peter last night talk during the rain delay, have to give TR some credit.  As St Peter said, some of the best trades are the ones not made.  Then he immediately said how Escobar is playing a good shortstop.  It seemed like he was saying TR turned down offers for Esco that he could have taken, but didn't.  If so, kudo's to TR. 

 

Next year I'll have greater expectations, and the year after even greater leading to an 2018 ring.  Some guys have to be gone next season and if not, I might become a bad fan. 

[Monkeypaws]

Being realistic makes you a bad fan, if you consider fan short for fanatic.

 

I don't think you need to worry on this one....

[Platoon]

Barring a total collapse by a lotta guys, they're gonna be fun to watch next year as well.   

 

You're not a bad fan at all for as long as you've followed them.    But man, allow yourself to "enjoy the moment" a bit here.    Relevant, meaningful baseball in September.    That's a big part of what we, as fans, live for.   

 

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N0O7FQuYzXo/U-vKVNjpMhI/AAAAAAAAASQ/PTu8zYpoRN8/s1600/shawshank2.jpg

Great great flick!

[Andrew Luedtke]

This season has been a fun ride.Finally igniting this state, making baseball in Minnesota fun again. I went into this year optimistically, like I do every year. I keep a tally at my desk of the Twins record and how many games back we are of the WC.

 

We are in this race for sure and I think everybody in that clubhouse is going to do everything they can to push us to the playoffs. I watch every game enjoying meaningful September baseball as long as it's here and hope that we have it for many years to come.

 

Im not a bad fan, but an optimistic, hopeful one. Because at the end of the day as a fan, all we have is hope.

 

Go Twins!

[wavedog]

As a young fan I didn't think long-term - you live and die with each game always with hope that the team wins.  Part of the fun of the '87 World Series was low expectations and enjoying each game.   As I got in my thirties, you become both more of a realist and view things with more of a long-term thought and try to make projections because we all like to know or think we know the future.  That is very natural.  For example, 10 years a go I thought we would have Mauer and Morneau for the next 10+ years and would be guaranteed to be in the playoff hunt each year and look where that got me. As I have recently hit my fifties, I am trying to make a concerted effort this year to not think with the future in mind but to try to enjoy each game as it happens.  So as long as there is a mathematical chance for the playoffs this year I will hold out hope they make the playoffs and get on a hot streak once they get there.   I will think about next year - next year.    Getting back to the post - no one on this site is a bad fan - we are all just show our fandom in different ways which is a good thing.  

[ashbury]

All season long, I've been thinking that this is not an "improved" team so much as it is an "improving" team. Kind of a psychotic, up and down, step forward, step backward thrill ride. Which seems to describe .500 baseball. 

I wouldn't say you are a bad fan. Just good at observing what these guys are doing.

Quick Twins history recap:

 

1983: 70-92

1984: 81-81

1985: 77-85 (and mid-season change of manager)

1986: 71-91 (and mid-season change of manager)

1987: 85-77

 

After a 90-loss season, the 1984 Twins ended up achieving .500, and even challenged for the postseason before fading. Sound familiar? That team followed up with two seasons of disappointment, before edging their way into the promised land and unexpectedly going all the way.

 

I enjoyed the ride in 1984 (remember Gaetti's great quote about choking?), and am enjoying 2015 on its own merits as well.

 

Just don't fall into the trap of thinking the young'uns are a slam dunk for even greater progress in 2016. It could happen that way, or this team could follow the pattern of the 1987 team by needing a few more seasons to gel. I remember seeing 2018 mentioned during the early stages of this rebuild; could still turn out to be "the" year.

[Kwak]

So, a "bad fan" is what?--someone who doesn't think the team will make it to the playoffs?  Or what?  To think "not make it to the playoffs" is simply pessimism.  Is criticizing management the determining factor for a "bad fan"?  I'd like to know--because that trait is virtually universal, and not just in baseball.

 

Is the source of your discomfort that the Twins just lost two games to team that you dislike (or perceive to be a pushover)?  Patience Doc, the Twins will win some more games this season--maybe even tonight.  Now go have a Snickers Marsha, you get all cranky when you're hungry.

[Winston Smith]

One of my best memories as a kid was opening a bundle of the Mlps. Star to deliver. The headline was the Senators were moving to the TC and I went to the Met with my parents for the 3rd home Twins game another great memory.

Now I consider myself a bad fan. I will NEVER forgive the Pohlad family for putting us thru the contraction BS. I'm getting old, retired and really want to see another WS crown. The thing that bothers me the most is that Terry has never "went for it" and the Pohlads seem to only want profits and that fielding a winning team comes second.

So yes I'm a bad fan, grumpy, complaining sick of always seeming to be playing for next year. But I keep watching and checking in here to read the days nonsense!

[Monkeypaws]

To me, the "bad fans" are exactly the opposite, the die-hard folks that put 99% of their lives into the support of a team whose players would have as little to do with them as possible IRL.

 

Think euro soccer hooligans as the most extreme example.

 

I'm old enough to remember when a lot of major league athletes had off-season jobs. Harmon Killebrew sold bloody cars for example.

 

There is a sense of entitlement that exists in top level sports professionals that wasn't there a generation or two ago. 

 

Hard to lose sleep over a devastating loss when my club of millionaires lost to another club of the same.

[Thrylos]

No such a thing as a bad fan

 

Even people who go to baseball games for the food etc and chitchatting all the time and don't even know what is going on and don't even watch anything that is going on and some ended getting hit by objects are not bad fans.  They are not fans.

 

Even the ones who do not care whether the Twins win or lose, but just like going out and watching baseball and there are glad there is baseball in the Cities are not bad fans.  They are baseball fans, not Twins' fans and would probably be happier watching the Saints or the "U", because the atmosphere there is probably more to their liking (i.e. non-competitive.)

 

You are a fan

 

Oh.  I amend this.  There are bad Twins fans:  The ones who are rooting for other AL Central teams in the postseason (every KC or DET, or SUX or CLE win = more $ for them = better players for them etc).  Maybe not bad fans.  Just uninformed.

[bird]

Guilty as charged here. Have been a bad fan all season. Still am pessimistic that Mauer, Dozier, Plouffe, and Hunter are good enough. Still am pessimistic that Hicks, Buxton, Sano, and Rosario are ready enough. Still don't think Ryan did enough to fix the BP at the break to get the team over the hump. Still worry that LAA, Cleveland, Houston, and Texas all finish with a better record. But my lord is this fun!

[blairpaul715]

This is a fun race, I am enjoying the ride.....................as far as the WC I am more worried about Cleveland than I am Houston, and if we can win the LAA series , then it will be us , Houston and Cleveland for the WC spot.