From: niepornt@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (David Marc Nieporent)
Subject: Re: Cecil signs :-( :-( :-(
Originator: news@nimaster
Organization: Princeton University
Date: Sat, 9 Jan 1993 06:31:46 GMT

In<BALWB71Z@cc.swarthmore.edu> behrens@cc.swarthmore.edu (Eric Behrens) writes:
>In article <1993Jan8.193127.18165@Princeton.EDU>, roger@crux.Princeton.EDU (Roger Lustig) writes:

>> Will Detroit need Fielder if he doesn't win the RBI title? Will Detroit
>> care wbout Fielder when his skills fall apart a little more?  That's 
>> *five years* we're talking about here.  

>> How many players in baseball history have been a draw for that long?  How
>> good were they?  The stats are *entirely* relevant, because they point
>> to the player's long-term prospects for helping the team.  As soon as
>> Fielder's downside becomes more visible, the fans will begrudge him
>> every dollar dollar of Little Caesar's money.

>Did Milwaukee begrudge Robin Yount?  Kansas City begrudge George Brett. 
>Pittsburgh begrudge Stargell?  Will Baltimore ever hate Cal Ripkin?  Will
				^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>Minnesota ever begrudge Kirby?  I could go on.  

No, but we'll hate *you* for spelling his name wrong.  Come on, people.
This isn't that hard to get right.  RIPKEN, RIPKEN, RIPKEN.

As for your examples, neither Mikwaukee nor KC is paying their star these
kind of wages.  And ALL the people you listed have been stars in that
city for 10 years or more.  Not Fielder's 3.

>Yet New Yorkers booed Reggie, even in some good seasons.  And Pittsburgh
>booed Barry Bonds, even in one of his best years ever.

What does this have to do with anything?

They may have booed Reggie, but they came to the park.  That's what
counts.  He helped them to the World Series, and that's all that
matters, is what we're saying.

>Performance makes you a star, but only personality can keep you popular.  I
>am a diehard Pittsburgh fan.  I go to a lot of games at the ballpark.  I
>know there is no comparison in skill and athleticism, but I would much
>rather have had Cecil in Pittsburgh than Bonds.  The whole world loves a
>slugger.  Babe Ruth was pretty fat, folks.

But Cecil isn't likely to *be* a slugger much longer.  
And Babe Ruth wasn't fat during his prime.

And why would you rather have had Cecil?  Because he's a slugger?  You
mean, Bonds ISN'T?  And you mean you'd rather see Cecil hit a home run
40 times a year than see the Pirates make the playoffs?

>The longer Cecil stays in Detroit, the more they'll love him, I'll wager. 
>Dedication to a city IS appreciated by fans.  

What does dedication have to do with staying in a city?  He demanded a
trade if they weren't going to pay him, anyway.

>The big thing about Cecil (aside from his waist band) is that he makes
>baseball fun.

Really?  When he whines about not getting an undeserved MVP, that's fun?

Personally, when the Orioles are *winning*, that's fun.  When they're
losing, I don't care how many fat one-dimensional players are on the team.

>Remember: IT IS, AFTER ALL, A GAME!!!
>You did remember that, didn't you?

No.  I forgot.

>I mean just because brussel sprouts would be BETTER FOR ME than Lucky
>Charms, I must confess to a preference for the green clovers and blue
>diamonds.

It's been all downhill since purple horseshoes.
-- 
David M. Nieporent   | Is it too early to start making predictions for 1993?
niepornt@phoenix.    | Probably, but that never stopped me before.
   princeton.edu     | ALE: Baltimore ALW: Chicago NLE: Montreal NLW: Atlanta
Baltimore Orioles 93 | AL MVP: Cal Ripken  AL Cy Young: Mike Mussina
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball