Wednesday, May 25, 2005
How to send me hate mail
Look guys, if you are going to send me hate mail, at least spell it right. Y'all would be amazed at my hate mail. Untill recently, most of it came from Jeff fans who thought I should be more supportive. Seriously, that's who usually enjoys sending me hate mail. And honestly, "hate" is a strong word to describe most of it, it's exactly what you'd expect for hate mail written by the basically nice people who are usually Jeff fans. "You were mean!" "You should be more supportive" "How can you call yourself a Jeff fan?"
Recently, I've gotten a nice string of hate mail from people who find it hard to live in a world where anyone is walking around thinking that Jeff is a decent player. Feeling the same way about a certain short-lived Angel who is now with Atlanta, I understand.
I know that I should just ignore it. But I find such blatant illiteracy difficult to ignore. And I admit that I am puzzled by people who spend a good chunk of time sending me hate mail (often laced with difficult-to-decipher descriptions of what the particular Jeff-hater would do to me or thinks others should do to me in an alley) when they could have spent that time leaving my site and forgetting it existed. Or actually reading more and finding out that this site is only somewhat about baseball and is more about the on-going struggle between my inner fangirl and my logic-bound mind. Being a fan is supposed to be an experience free of logic, but I can't seem to get to that place. I don't do blind devotion all that well.
I have bet on a risky horse. I'm not blind. Sometimes my horse doesn't win, or even show up. It's more fun that way.
I don't have a problem with anti-Jeff mail. It isn't my favorite, but people have a right to their opinion. I'm not a good person to debate though, because I'm not a stats-wonk. My argument is always going to be that I like Jeff, and I like watching him play, and I like rooting for him. That isn't an assertion that we can really debate about. But send it if it makes you feel better. But if the only thing you can come up with is to dismiss me and my opinion outright because I'm a woman, and then contend that I deserve to be sexually assaulted because of my opinions, then don't e-mail me that. Say that to my face so that I can kick your ass in exactly the way you deserve. Normally I'd just ignore the trolls, but there are several of these freaking idiots and it pisses me off when people manage to be misogynistic, mean-spirited, Jeff-haters, and poor spellers all at once.
Recently, I've gotten a nice string of hate mail from people who find it hard to live in a world where anyone is walking around thinking that Jeff is a decent player. Feeling the same way about a certain short-lived Angel who is now with Atlanta, I understand.
I know that I should just ignore it. But I find such blatant illiteracy difficult to ignore. And I admit that I am puzzled by people who spend a good chunk of time sending me hate mail (often laced with difficult-to-decipher descriptions of what the particular Jeff-hater would do to me or thinks others should do to me in an alley) when they could have spent that time leaving my site and forgetting it existed. Or actually reading more and finding out that this site is only somewhat about baseball and is more about the on-going struggle between my inner fangirl and my logic-bound mind. Being a fan is supposed to be an experience free of logic, but I can't seem to get to that place. I don't do blind devotion all that well.
I have bet on a risky horse. I'm not blind. Sometimes my horse doesn't win, or even show up. It's more fun that way.
I don't have a problem with anti-Jeff mail. It isn't my favorite, but people have a right to their opinion. I'm not a good person to debate though, because I'm not a stats-wonk. My argument is always going to be that I like Jeff, and I like watching him play, and I like rooting for him. That isn't an assertion that we can really debate about. But send it if it makes you feel better. But if the only thing you can come up with is to dismiss me and my opinion outright because I'm a woman, and then contend that I deserve to be sexually assaulted because of my opinions, then don't e-mail me that. Say that to my face so that I can kick your ass in exactly the way you deserve. Normally I'd just ignore the trolls, but there are several of these freaking idiots and it pisses me off when people manage to be misogynistic, mean-spirited, Jeff-haters, and poor spellers all at once.
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Are we out of the parking lot yet?
I went to the Saturday LA at LA game, and it was super fun. We had Jeff action. We had Juan finally doing something that didn't make me think he sucked. We had drunk people running onto the field. We had a better anthem singer than has ever graced Angel Stadium. We had shady seats on the fied level. I tried to post from the game, but that didn't work out so well. It was a great game, and we spent half as much time driving to and fro as we do to Angel stadium. I couldn't believe how many people arrived late and left early, I mean I've heard about it happening, but on a Saturday? I would never leave a game early when my team was only down by 2. My husband says it's because the exiting and parking situation is so sucky, knowing what lies before them, many of the fans elect to leave early. The ones that don't leave sure know how to make noise as if they were at their full numbers, though, wow.
The most important thing to come out of the weekend series is that Jeff would need to string together a series of impressive offensive games to really get back in the DH mix in a real way. 'Cause Juan Rivera hit so well in Dodger stadium that I think he should become a Dodger. When Josh Paul has more home runs than you do, it doesn't bode well for your future as a power-hitter. Jeff has always been a little streaky, but this season can't even be defined as streaky.
The news broke yesterday that Kevin "Mr. Goggles Revisited" Gregg has been sent to the salt mines where he can get real work in and hopefully, suck less. [We aways referred to Ben Weber as "Mr. Goggles" and when he was sent into a game we would quake with fear]. Let us now do the dance of joy.
and we're done.
The most important thing to come out of the weekend series is that Jeff would need to string together a series of impressive offensive games to really get back in the DH mix in a real way. 'Cause Juan Rivera hit so well in Dodger stadium that I think he should become a Dodger. When Josh Paul has more home runs than you do, it doesn't bode well for your future as a power-hitter. Jeff has always been a little streaky, but this season can't even be defined as streaky.
The news broke yesterday that Kevin "Mr. Goggles Revisited" Gregg has been sent to the salt mines where he can get real work in and hopefully, suck less. [We aways referred to Ben Weber as "Mr. Goggles" and when he was sent into a game we would quake with fear]. Let us now do the dance of joy.
and we're done.
Saturday, May 21, 2005
Live from dodger stadium
Testing live blogging from my sidekick. 2nd inning, nothing of note.
Light up the halo!
Monday, May 16, 2005
That's my boy!
There was much happiness on Saturday when Jeff got hits, made plays, hustled, layed down a perfect bunt, and generally rocked the house. Blip or return to normal Jeff action? Who can say right now.
And then he was sent back to the bench so we could watch Juan Rivera generally stink up the place and (unbelievably) pick a fight with Figgins. Why pick a fight with the Golden Boy Savior of the Angels? You'll have to ask Juan that. Why sit Jeff when he is on a streak? Because the pitchers were all Lefty and as we all know, Jeff is not thought of as a strong right batter.
We got to see Prieto. I kept thinking "why didn't they call up Pride?" Free Curtis Pride!
Grrr.
In other news, people have recently come to my blog looking for the Casey Kotchman fan club. Look elsewhere. And honestly, I think you might need to start that one yourself.
Bad moment of Sunday's game... when they send in Kevin Gregg and even with a huge lead I'm convinced he'll manage to screw it up. Kevin Gregg is not someone I'm happy to have on the team right now. Good moment of Sunday's game? Realizing that if Kevin is pitching on Sunday he won't be starting this week.
And then he was sent back to the bench so we could watch Juan Rivera generally stink up the place and (unbelievably) pick a fight with Figgins. Why pick a fight with the Golden Boy Savior of the Angels? You'll have to ask Juan that. Why sit Jeff when he is on a streak? Because the pitchers were all Lefty and as we all know, Jeff is not thought of as a strong right batter.
We got to see Prieto. I kept thinking "why didn't they call up Pride?" Free Curtis Pride!
Grrr.
In other news, people have recently come to my blog looking for the Casey Kotchman fan club. Look elsewhere. And honestly, I think you might need to start that one yourself.
Bad moment of Sunday's game... when they send in Kevin Gregg and even with a huge lead I'm convinced he'll manage to screw it up. Kevin Gregg is not someone I'm happy to have on the team right now. Good moment of Sunday's game? Realizing that if Kevin is pitching on Sunday he won't be starting this week.
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Jeff's to do list
Sorry guys! I had a big event for LOST fans that was kicking my ass, and then all the Jeff news was too freaking depressing to write about. It isn't any better now, but I can't hide from the world forever.
I present to you Jeff's to do list:
1) Hit above .300 again
2) Get DH job back
3) Hit a home run
4)Undo weird change to batting stance
5)Trim hair
6) Go back to old shoes
7)lose DH job
8) stop hitting
Things just aren't working so well for my boy. He isn't really drawing walks. He is inexcusibly tentative at the plate. He strikes out looking more than he should. The first week of the season, he was getting it done, getting on base, then scoring runs on the middle of the order. Now I'm tempted to send him a postcard from second base, since it has been so long since he's been there.
Of course, Jeff's issues drive me crazy, but let us not unjustly lay blame at his feet. No one is hitting well at the Angels right now. Juan Rivera? Not impressive to me. Vlad? Off to a slowish start. GA? His offensive production just manages to offset his defensive screw-ups. We're winning games by the skin of our teeth, not on "small ball" but on home runs and pitching. Hardly any walks. It doesn't feel right at all. And any winning strategy that hinges on home runs and pitching is certain to unravel.
I present to you Jeff's to do list:
1) Hit above .300 again
2) Get DH job back
3) Hit a home run
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
Things just aren't working so well for my boy. He isn't really drawing walks. He is inexcusibly tentative at the plate. He strikes out looking more than he should. The first week of the season, he was getting it done, getting on base, then scoring runs on the middle of the order. Now I'm tempted to send him a postcard from second base, since it has been so long since he's been there.
Of course, Jeff's issues drive me crazy, but let us not unjustly lay blame at his feet. No one is hitting well at the Angels right now. Juan Rivera? Not impressive to me. Vlad? Off to a slowish start. GA? His offensive production just manages to offset his defensive screw-ups. We're winning games by the skin of our teeth, not on "small ball" but on home runs and pitching. Hardly any walks. It doesn't feel right at all. And any winning strategy that hinges on home runs and pitching is certain to unravel.
