Boston on Booing

[Elster88]

Interesting SoSH thread on whether or not Pedro will be booed, started in response to a Peter Gammons' comment in a NY Post article.

Here is the quote in question:

]A New Englander for all of his 61 years, ESPN's Peter Gammons has a good feel for Boston, so he probably is the right person to predict the reaction Pedro Martinez will receive when he returns to Fenway as a Met. "There will be a lot of booing,'' Gammons said of Martinez' scheduled Wednesday start. Gammons doesn't think the booing is deserved, but said that some Boston sports-talk radio hosts and Web sites have made it a point to present Martinez as greedy for leaving the Red Sox for the four-year, $53 million Met offer in 2005. "It is really unfair, some of the hits he takes here on the radio and shots people take at him,'' Gammons said.

[Elster88]

As much as the "enlightened" New York sports' fan hates M&MD, I've heard from some Bostonians that they seem like geniuses compared to the comparable show on their station WEEI.

I've never actually listened to said show myself.

[MFS62]

I was in Boston on buisness a few years ago. It was the year the Celtics moved from the Boston Garden to the Fleet Center.
I called WEEI to say how much the "Grand Old Lady" would be missed and to talk about some memories of games I'd seen televised from that place..
The host listened appreciatively. But when I mentioned that I was from New York, he treated me like I had leprosy and quickly cut me off. They are very parochial about their sports on that station. I think the Boston fans I've met were usually more willing to discuss sports in general with you (beyond their local teams).

Later

[Willets Point]

WEEI is just bad, bad, bad. Testosterone-fueled reactionarism at its worst.

[stevejrogers]

MFS62 wrote: I was in Boston on buisness a few years ago. It was the year the Celtics moved from the Boston Garden to the Fleet Center. I called WEEI to say how much the "Grand Old Lady" would be missed and to talk about some memories of games I'd seen televised from that place.. The host listened appreciatively. But when I mentioned that I was from New York, he treated me like I had leprosy and quickly cut me off. They are very parochial about their sports on that station. I think the Boston fans I've met were usually more willing to discuss sports in general with you (beyond their local teams). Later

Thats bad. I think they are tied in with that Boston.com Dirt Dogs site I saw where the home page is saying boo Pedro and such

Its not like you called and said "The Boston Garden should ROT IN HELL! MSG IS THE BEST THERE IS, BEST THERE WAS...ect"

Love or hate WFAN, they'll let outside market callers have their say, even just to garner a sense of whats going on in that market

[metirish]

I was reading today on Boston.com where Bob Ryan said any fans that boo Pedro are fools, for what that's worth.

[MFS62]

Thanks.
Boston fans usually stand up and salute when Ryan speaks. It will be interesting to see (hear?) what happens.

Later

[Centerfield]

I don't see why they would be fools. Pedro is no longer on the Red Sox...and though he did a lot for their franchise, he chose to leave for greener pastures.

If it were up to me, I wouldn't boo Pedro...much like I will embrace Piazza (remember, he was offered a "deal" too) when he returns. But if someone chooses to boo a player on another team, I don't see how that makes them foolish.

[Benjamin Grimm]

The nearest thing I can think of in Mets history is Darryl Strawberry, who was, of course, a bit less likable than Pedro. I was at Shea when Darryl made his first appearance as a Dodger in New York, but I don't remember what the reaction from the fans was. I suspect it was probably a lot more booing than cheering. But I don't recall Darryl having any nice parting words for New York when he left.

Another free agent I can think of who could have returned but chose not to was Mike Hampton. And he didn't have a long history with the Mets, and his crap about the quality of local schools pretty much clinched an unfriendly return for him.

Who else is there? John Olerud? He probably would have gotten a nice hand, but I don't think he ever returned to Shea. Sid Fernandez? I can't remember the circumstances of his departure. He signed as a free agent with Baltimore, but I don't know if the Mets tried to keep him.

Piazza and Alfonzo didn't really have the option of staying, so they can't really be "blamed" for leaving.

What other star free agents have the Mets lost? There really haven't been that many.

[Willets Point]

Mike Hampton. Don't forget the "LOOSER" sign.

[stevejrogers]

Yancy Street Gang wrote: The nearest thing I can think of in Mets history is Darryl Strawberry, who was, of course, a bit less likable than Pedro. I was at Shea when Darryl made his first appearance as a Dodger in New York, but I don't remember what the reaction from the fans was. I suspect it was probably a lot more booing than cheering. But I don't recall Darryl having any nice parting words for New York when he left. Another free agent I can think of who could have returned but chose not to was Mike Hampton. And he didn't have a long history with the Mets, and his crap about the quality of local schools pretty much clinched an unfriendly return for him. Who else is there? John Olerud? He probably would have gotten a nice hand, but I don't think he ever returned to Shea. Sid Fernandez? I can't remember the circumstances of his departure. He signed as a free agent with Baltimore, but I don't know if the Mets tried to keep him. Piazza and Alfonzo didn't really have the option of staying, so they can't really be "blamed" for leaving. What other star free agents have the Mets lost? There really haven't been that many.

Straw was more based on him being the Met version of Patrick Ewing. The guy that was supposed to be the savior and despite one or two moments in the NLCS and WS really wasn't THE GUY that delivered the championship. Don't forget him coming up short on his "monster years" despite his saying that he would deliver on a Mantle-esque type of season

Sid I think was simply a sign of the team going small market, not really signing the old guard and just simply moving on

[Guest Mr. Zero]

Some almost enlightened New York based Sox (and a couple Wankee) fans on booing.

[nymr83]

Willets Point wrote: Mike Hampton. Don't forget the "LOOSER" sign.

he got what he deserved, "great school district" my ass. if you left for the money, be honest and say so, i won't boo you for trying to secure your family's financial future.

if i were a sox fan i dont think i could boo pedro, he helped you win a WS, for 99.9% of Sox fans the first of their lifetime.

for what its worth i wouldnt boo piazza either.

[MFS62]

I asked a friend of mine, a longtime Red Sox fan (he posted on FASTBALL as "Still Cursing Bucky") what he would do. Here is his reply as he said he posted on SOSH.

Later

]I just can't imagine booing Pedro. I know some will, but when the hamster comes off the wheel inside some folks heads, what can you do? Those six no-hit innings in Cleveland in '99 meant I got to go to one last game with my Dad, for that I'm eternally grateful. And seven shutout innings in St. Louis in 2004 mean my son never has to be sad that his old man never saw them win one. And the 17K game in Yankee stadium is the best game any of us will ever see pitched. Five K's in 2 IP in the '99 All-Star Game, with all five victims at least borderline HOF candidates. And on and on it goes - the brightest peak any pitcher ever had happened while Pedro Martinez pitched for the Sox - anything less than the biggest ovation a visiting player at Fenway has ever received would be bush league, IMO. If I wasn't so goddam broke right now - I'd happily shell out the several hundred bucks it'd take to get an obstructed view ticket for this on e-bay. [/unapologetically slobbering fanboy]

[nymr83]

]And on and on it goes - the brightest peak any pitcher ever had happened while Pedro Martinez pitched for the Sox

Koufax.

but this guy's points are right on, would met fans boo Seaver (did they?)

[Benjamin Grimm]

No. I was there for Seaver's return, too. He got a big hand when he took the mound, but then we all rooted for Jerry Koosman to beat him and his Reds.

Didn't happen, though.

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

I rooted for Seaver that day.

I was pretty mad at the Mets that year.

[Guest Iubitul]

Nymr83 wrote: would met fans boo Seaver (did they?)

Apples and Oranges. Seaver didn't willingly leave.

[Benjamin Grimm]

And the Boston fans showed Pedro lots of love during Tuesday's game.

Nice to see.

I hope we see more of the same when Pedro's on the mound tonight.

[Frayed Knot]

Iubitul wrote: ="Nymr83"]would met fans boo Seaver (did they?) Apples and Oranges. Seaver didn't willingly leave.

Well he did pretty much force his way out of town.
Now you can re-hash all the 'who started it' details but I do remember being somewhat resentful of him at the time. I was at his return game also and while I didn't boo him I was upset at all the Met fans who were cheering for him over the team as he out-dueled Koosman that afternoon (and hit a double btw).

[Guest Edgy DC]

Expo fans had it right. Standing O for Gary Carter upon his return, then they accepted --- almost by the next at-bat --- that he was the cleanup hitter for the opposition and rooted against him accordingly.

[metirish]

A certain famous poster on the SoSH had this to say about Perdo..

] ``You can't possibly want to boo this guy," proclaims Gehrig38, a regular contributor to the Sons of Sam Horn website. ``What you got a chance to see included three of the most dominating seasons in baseball history."

I thought it was class that the Sox took the initiative with the video welcome, good stuff all round.

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2006/06/28/cheers_would_raise_bar/

[Elster88]

I didn't see his post yesterday. I'll look at that thread again.

[MFS62]

I believe Gehrig38 was the screen name of Curt Schilling when he participated in a strat league on the Dickie Thon Fan Club site (the one that spun off the SOSH) last year.
That could be him.

Later

[Guest silverdsl]

I understand why some fans will feel compelled to boo, but as G38 points out, Pedro had some outstanding seasons for the RS, and fans saw some incredibly dominating pitching performances from him. I guess it's just me, but if I were a RS fan, I'd rather cheer in memory of those things and concentrate on all the ways he helped the team to win when he was there, rather than focus on the negative and when he left.

[Benjamin Grimm]

MFS62 wrote: I believe Gehrig38 was the screen name of Curt Schilling when he participated in a strat league on the Dickie Thon Fan Club site (the one that spun off the SOSH) last year. That could be him.

By George, you may be right!

[metirish]

I wonder what "certain famous poster" metirish was talking about.....

[Benjamin Grimm]

We gotta get David Wright to join our little group!

[Guest Edgy DC]

Adept move by the Sox management giving him the welcome yesterday when he can't hurt them, rather than a day when he's pitching and nobody wants the fans or the Sox having any warm fuzzies for him.

[Elster88]

Gehrig38 is about midway down this page