Baseball is a funny sport. As a San Francisco Giants fan, hearing the Los Angeles Dodgers have signed yet another blooming superstar, frustration and disappointment are bound to happen. But the immediate frustration that not only myself and other fans have felt over this signing has sparked some realizations.
Baseball in its nature is an unpredictable sport. No matter how you look at it, there is no telling what will happen any given night at the ballpark. Yes, the super stars are always expected to be game changers, but one player doesn’t make the entire team. Yes the Shohei Ohtani’s of the world will make the headlines, but what about the Kyle Harrison’s or the Matt Duffy’s that contributed to a win more than the star player. The point is, as fans, we always jump to the advanced metrics and stats looking for a place to put the blame.
The lesson baseball taught us as fans that we forget, is patience. Baseball is humbling, and really brings out the human element in professional sports. As fans, I feel that we’ve forgotten about the journey the game takes us on, growing up with our rookie players, and witnessing them bud into stars, and eventually building winning teams. Competition brings out the best and worst baseball fans alike, and the rivalry with the Dodgers remains no different. Pitchers and catchers still have yet to report, the season hasn’t started, and yet we still run off with the same narrative that we are a “dying” franchise, or no one wants to play in a city as beautiful as San Francisco. All great teams need time to grow and develop, and the San Francisco Giants are no different. One more star won’t change the fact that baseball is unpredictable, and it always will be.
Maybe this is just a rant about annoying takes from sports commentators like Larry Kruger, but who knows, I’m an overly patient fan waiting for winter to end, and spring training to begin.
5 comments
Been a Giants fan since 75! Most don’t even remember the 80’s until 89. We go up, we go down, and I will always be a Giants fan regardless. FTD
The problem is that LAD is abusing the defferals to make a super team. This was the reason why salary caps were created, to allow all teams to compete on the same level. LAD is basically buying their WS championships, and they’re succeeding. I get that other teams can do it too…but that’s really not a good reason.
Being a Giants fan since a kid growing up through the rough times 70’s,80’s I am a little biased probably when I say MLB is ruining baseball allowing this, the Dodgers have a 8 billion dollar TV deal so with that money they can afford basically any player they want. Smaller market teams don’t have a chance with the amount of money they get from their TV deals.
Throw in ownership that doesn’t want to spend money and it just adds to the problem of separating the teams in the league. The three in five Championships were built on home talent for the most part with a few trades but nothing earth shattering.
Farm systems these days are a big hit or a huge failure it seems. Free agency is basically the farm system for teams willing to spend the money.
MLB has to do something about spending both a cap on a limit on what can spend and what you have to spend.
Just a frustrated Giants fans thoughts
I keep having to say, the Giants had one, maybe hall of famer on the 3 in 5 teams. We did have a home grown core of good players. What Baseball dynasty, didn’t have that, and was just a team of mercenaries? This is my cope-hill of future Doyers failing.
What a beautiful and refreshing commentary if you’re not already you should consider sports writing. You’re a natural. Thank you 🙏🏽