The Enemy Uptown: The 2012 Yankee Thread

[Benjamin Grimm]

Did you feel as if you were surrounded by evil?

[TransMonk]

They're finally thinking about changing this...

http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/7874251/mlb-eyeing-end-annual-rival-series-including-mets-yankees-sources-say

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I've been to both of the more recent incarnations of MFY Evil many times (including my first ball game ever, and pennant-clinching Game 6 of the ALCS in 2009), and openly, loudly cheered against the home team on a few of those occasions, and rarely gotten more than a little rude razzing.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I've been to Yankee Stadium twice. Once, in 1984, because I figured I ought to go once in my life, and I was able to get $1.50 bleacher seats for a Yankees-Red Sox game. The second time was in 1985, to see Tom Seaver win his 300th game.

I was at the Seaver game, too! Brought my parents, brother and sister, too. That was magical.

I used to go to the MFY House II during the three years we lived in Connecticut. My wife worked nights, and in those carefree days I probably went to a game a week, depending on whether the Mets or MFY's were in town. I'd never root for the MFYs, of course. But they sucked in those years, and I'd go and cheer for players I liked in the AL. I was in an AL rotisserie league at the time, so it was a chance to see players I liked, like Joe Carter, Kelly Gruber and BJ Surhoff. I became a master at buying one, inexpensive seat, and ending up in the sections behind the visitors dugout. The MFYs were during a down period, so getting a cheap seat and moving down was never a problem. And I could wear a Blue Jays, Indians or Brewers cap and not get any crap from fans. I guess it just wasn't as toxic as it is today.

I had two other special moments there. The second-ever Subway Series game was a lot of fun even though the Mets lost, and I saw Jim Abbott's first New York appearance. I've never seen a visiting pitcher get a standing ovation just for his warm-up tosses. But watching him switch the glove back and forth in that fluid motion was really cool.

[batmagadanleadoff]

TransMonk wrote: They're finally thinking about changing this... http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/7874251/mlb-eyeing-end-annual-rival-series-including-mets-yankees-sources-say

"The nine largest crowds at Citi Field during the first three seasons of the stadium's existence were the Yankees' nine visits to Queens -- an average of 41,513 tickets sold per game."

[metirish]

I was at the new place on Father's Day when Santana got hammered in the 1st inning , I was in the bleachers wearing my FAFIF shirt, apart from not being able to see the field from 2nd base all the way over to RF all I got was some ribbing , plenty of Mets fans there though .....didn't hang around long though in those shit seats ...

[Fman99]

I went to the old park for a MFY/Red Sox tilt, sometime in the early 2000's. The fans were all animals, from both teams. I won't go back.

[metirish]

Yes, it's absolutely not a place I would bring my son.

[Ceetar]

Fman99 wrote: I went to the old park for a MFY/Red Sox tilt, sometime in the early 2000's. The fans were all animals, from both teams. I won't go back.

Sunday?

I find in general weekend night crowds are the worse, even at Shea. I blame ESPN.

[Fman99]

It was a Saturday matinee, box score here.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Pettitte just testified that Roger told him he took HGH to help recover from injuries.

[Edgy MD]

Andy Pettitte: American.

(Of course, he's helping Roger set up his steroids-didn't-make-me-great-I-just-used-them-as-medicine-the-way-you-or-I-would-use-an-aspirin-so-we-could-go-to-work-and-feed-our-kids defense.)

[Edgy MD]

So, the Mets are home on Friday night. Should they hoist the 2000 championship flag then or wait until the Sunday matinee?

[stevejrogers]

metsguyinmichigan wrote: The MFYs were during a down period, so getting a cheap seat and moving down was never a problem. And I could wear a Blue Jays, Indians or Brewers cap and not get any crap from fans. I guess it just wasn't as toxic as it is today.

Not to play amateur psychoanalyst, but I'd wager it also wasn't a "thing" to rip in opponents, especially if they aren't playing in the same stadium. And most of the fights generally stemmed from just the usual reasons fights break out rather than blaming it on a fan being in the wrong place.

Don't know whom to entirely blame for this kind of behavior, ESPN for constantly driving home the "rivalry" to the point where I'm sure a match up between the teams 20 games apart in the standings will be treated as if the division title is on the line.

Hell, Bobby Valentine has a paid spot on ESPN radio in New York! What does that say about how they treat the Red Sox.

Makes you wonder though about how much shit people take these days just for wearing a cap or a hat when the team isn't playing.

I usually approach those fans in a good natured way usually saying "(chuckle) shouldn't you be in (wherever that team is that day)?" but I tried that bit on a Phillie fan one time at Citi and he looked at me with a cold "don't fuck with me" glare and said "Walk away." Even after I explained I was just having some good natured fun and conversation.

Did have another experience outside a ballpark here in the Westchester area one time that was similar when I saw a child in a Chipper Jones Braves shirt outside of a movie theatre. I walked up to him, same manner chuckling and smiling and saying how it was pretty bold to be wearing that shirt around these parts. Kid stared at me blankly and didn't respond, the mother (or a woman whom I'd assume was his mother) scurried him away as I was explaining what I was talking about, saying, it looks like he's a Braves fan. Her response while walking away was "No...no...he's not." Almost as if the kid had real stupid DB shit thrown at him that was worse than a simply saying it's a bold move to be wearing that shirt in this town.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

It's also possible, Jeets, that she saw an older guy talking to her little boy and made another protective assumption.

[Frayed Knot]

SteveJRogers wrote: The MFYs were during a down period, so getting a cheap seat and moving down was never a problem. And I could wear a Blue Jays, Indians or Brewers cap and not get any crap from fans. I guess it just wasn't as toxic as it is today. Not to play amateur psychoanalyst, but I'd wager it also wasn't a "thing" to rip in opponents, especially if they aren't playing in the same stadium. And most of the fights generally stemmed from just the usual reasons fights break out rather than blaming it on a fan being in the wrong place. Don't know whom to entirely blame for this kind of behavior, ESPN for constantly driving home the "rivalry" to the point where I'm sure a match up between the teams 20 games apart in the standings will be treated as if the division title is on the line.

I vote for: 'Sense of entitlement among YLDBs who think their team winning extends to them a feeling of superiority over those unfortunate fans who root for the "wrong" teams and therefore the right to mock and/or intimidate (verbally or physically) them'.
But, hey, that's just me.

[Edgy MD]

Steve, considering how high the stakes and tensions have risen, instead of gently and jokingly playing the part of unwelcoming asshole, I'd cut right past that and play the part of welcoming prince.

Seriously: "You must be from Atlanta! Welcome to New York! Are you having a good time?! I hope everybody's been hospitable! My name's Steve and I just want you to know that... Wait, let me get that cotton candy! No, I insist! Folks do no less for me when I'm down in Georgia!"

[metirish]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: It's also possible, Jeets, that she saw an older guy talking to her little boy and made another protective assumption.

dying

[Ceetar]

I vote for "economy sucks, people struggling at home or walking crappy jobs. pent up aggression likely to come out with other strong emotional (Fan) reactions. "

Probably a contributing factor to "Ya Gotta Believe" becoming "Ya Gotta Sell!" too.

[metsmarathon]

yankee fans were raging assholes before the housing house of cards tumbled to the ground.

mets fans were raging lunatics before the madoff hit the fan.

[Ceetar]

metsmarathon wrote: yankee fans were raging assholes before the housing house of cards tumbled to the ground. mets fans were raging lunatics before the madoff hit the fan.

yeah...but that may have bumped up the percentages.

[Edgy MD]

metsmarathon wrote: yankee fans were raging assholes before the housing house of cards tumbled to the ground. mets fans were raging lunatics before the madoff hit the fan.

I see a bumper sticker.

[MFS62]

metsmarathon wrote: yankee fans were raging assholes before the housing house of cards tumbled to the ground.

That's funny, because the most virulent Yankee fan in my office calls people from the State in which the Red Sox play "Massholes".

I see a pot/kettle thingie going there.

Later

[soupcan]

metirish wrote: Yes, it's absolutely not a place I would bring my son.

That's how I felt about Giants Stadium and probably holds true for Giants/Jets/MetLife Stadium.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: SteveJRogers wrote: Did have another experience outside a ballpark here in the Westchester area one time that was similar when I saw a child in a Chipper Jones Braves shirt outside of a movie theatre. I walked up to him, same manner chuckling and smiling and saying how it was pretty bold to be wearing that shirt around these parts. Kid stared at me blankly and didn't respond, the mother (or a woman whom I'd assume was his mother) scurried him away as I was explaining what I was talking about, saying, it looks like he's a Braves fan. Her response while walking away was "No...no...he's not." Almost as if the kid had real stupid DB shit thrown at him that was worse than a simply saying it's a bold move to be wearing that shirt in this town. also possible, Jeets, that she saw an older guy talking to her little boy and made another protective assumption.

I would say that that is EXACTLY what she did.

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

Masshole is a term used locally here in Massachusetts as well, generally to describe the stereotypical aggressive and selfish drivers of our fine Commonwealth.

[metsmarathon]

soupcan wrote: metirish wrote: Yes, it's absolutely not a place I would bring my son. That's how I felt about Giants Stadium and probably holds true for Giants/Jets/MetLife Stadium. LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: SteveJRogers wrote: Did have another experience outside a ballpark here in the Westchester area one time that was similar when I saw a child in a Chipper Jones Braves shirt outside of a movie theatre. I walked up to him, same manner chuckling and smiling and saying how it was pretty bold to be wearing that shirt around these parts. Kid stared at me blankly and didn't respond, the mother (or a woman whom I'd assume was his mother) scurried him away as I was explaining what I was talking about, saying, it looks like he's a Braves fan. Her response while walking away was "No...no...he's not." Almost as if the kid had real stupid DB shit thrown at him that was worse than a simply saying it's a bold move to be wearing that shirt in this town. also possible, Jeets, that she saw an older guy talking to her little boy and made another protective assumption. I would say that that is EXACTLY what she did.

stranger danger!

[seawolf17]

[Frayed Knot]

Ivan Nova (I like to call him New John) in danger of actually losing a game in the Bronx tonight. Such a loss would break his streak of like 89 in a row or something despite only pitching well in about 1/3 of them. This season, for instance, he was 3-0 in 4 starts coming into this game even though his ERA sits north of 5.00.
All the O's have to do is hold on to their 5-0 lead through the final two innings. IOW, it's about a 50/50 proposition.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

first place O's

[G-Fafif]

If A.L. playoffs began today, MFYs out of the picture completely, even with the extra Wild Card.

Not that I notice stuff like that or anything.