Pittsburgh is a Horrible Sports City

[johnbattle]

You're only halfway to the Indians record in a stadium that seats 10,000 fewer fans (in a much bigger market), yet your team inflates its attendance figures.

I don't understand how Red Sox fans can still root for that team. The Sox have become everything they once despised in the Yankees: they have a huge payroll and annoying fans who everyone in the league can't stand. It's funny that Sox fans don't notice this though.

 

[crazedcav333]

Yup. 5 years ago it was "Screw the Yankees. Cheaters!!! They are buying their players! It's not fair."

Look at ya now, Boston.

 

[James]

Keeping up with the Jones's is bad?? We dont do what the yankees do and take from other teams, we sign in Free Agency, and then overpay for them, we have devolped tons of talent. Before Johnny Damon played for the Red Sox, he was a nobody, and Ortiz, he was AWFUL in Minnesota. Manny is the only huge overpayed guy.

Look at us now? yea, look at us we broke the curse in 2004, made history by coming back from 0-3 and then swept the Cardinals. That was the most amazing thing in my life. As far as sports achievements go, i dont think anything will ever top that high.

And we devolped tons of talent, Nomar came up through our system, Papelbon came up through the system, Before we traded Eckstein, he was a Red Sox, and Carl Pavano used to be as well, he came through the system and our captain, Tek, has been with us since he was a rookie. Mo Vaughn back in the day.

And cant stand us? right, thats why there are Red Sox bars in almost every major city in the country, and thats why when you go to a baseball game, you always somehow manage to see red sox hats even when they arent playing. Red Sox fans make up more then one state, its not a team confined to a city, its the New England team, Vermont, Maine, Mass, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, the northern part of CT. Boston is the only city thats not a "football town" Boston has always been and always will be baseball.

 

[cavincali]

Have a small ass stadium, um ok its still one of the most historic baseball fields in America. And last i checked we were half way to the Indians record, and yes, it is hard to get a ticket, most of the time your only chance is a scalped ticket.

And yes, the Cubs are a hard ticket and there games are very well attended.

Hard to find much for under $100 thats a good seat, even seats in the triangle go for like 60, and thats in centerfield.
Ebay

You cant be serious. Half way to 455 is over 220 games, thats nearly 3 freaking years.

Look at your first sentence, I talk about the size and you talk about its history. Thats comparing apples and oranges and it defutes your point on attendence.

People go there to see the stadium, not the team which helps your attendence ratings.

The cubs do get good attendence, ill have to take that back. I remember many games when there was barely anyone there, but that must have been olny a couple of times.

 

[James]

The cubs do get good attendence, ill have to take that back. I remember many games when there was barely anyone there, but that must have been olny a couple of times.

Cubs got some of the most loyal fans in baseball, hell even sports, they will be at that stadium regardless of how the team is doing.

And please, of course people go to the game to see the team, thats a stupid comment. And like i said, i dont give 2 shits about a "attendance record."

 

[cavincali]

Cubs got some of the most loyal fans in baseball, hell even sports, they will be at that stadium regardless of how the team is doing.

And please, of course people go to the game to see the team, thats a stupid comment. And like i said, i dont give 2 shits about a "attendance record."

You didnt understand what I was saying. What I meant was that people go just to be at the stadium, and arent interested in the team. Of course the vast majority like the sox.

You have to remember that chicago is what the biggest city in America, or the second.

 

[Deadlock]

All I can say is if the Tribe had the payroll and would spend as much of the Red Sox we would of still never had a non sold out game at the Jake.

But unfortunatly we don't.

 

[johnbattle]

Keeping up with the Jones's is bad?? We dont do what the yankees do and take from other teams, we sign in Free Agency, and then overpay for them, we have devolped tons of talent. Before Johnny Damon played for the Red Sox, he was a nobody, and Ortiz, he was AWFUL in Minnesota. Manny is the only huge overpayed guy.

Look at us now? yea, look at us we broke the curse in 2004, made history by coming back from 0-3 and then swept the Cardinals. That was the most amazing thing in my life. As far as sports achievements go, i dont think anything will ever top that high.

And we devolped tons of talent, Nomar came up through our system, Papelbon came up through the system, Before we traded Eckstein, he was a Red Sox, and Carl Pavano used to be as well, he came through the system and our captain, Tek, has been with us since he was a rookie. Mo Vaughn back in the day.

And cant stand us? right, thats why there are Red Sox bars in almost every major city in the country, and thats why when you go to a baseball game, you always somehow manage to see red sox hats even when they arent playing. Red Sox fans make up more then one state, its not a team confined to a city, its the New England team, Vermont, Maine, Mass, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, the northern part of CT. Boston is the only city thats not a "football town" Boston has always been and always will be baseball.

Where to begin?
1. You say you develop your own talent, but of the players you name to prove that point, only Papelbon is still with the team. Let's look at your pitchers: Beckett, Donnelly, Schilling, Dice-K, Timlin, Tavarez, Romero, Pinero--all aquired through signs and trades. Youklis and Varetek are your only everyday position players not acquired through trades or free agency. The Yankees at least developed Jeter, Rivera, Bernie Williams, and Posada.

2. Did you watch baseball before 2004? While Damon was with the Royals (in 2000), he led the AL in steals, and runs scored, and was second in hits.

3. Look at that 04 team: Ortiz, Ramirez, Mueller, Millar, Schilling, Damon all bought through free agency. Martinez was obtained in a trade, but then was given a huge contract (75,000,000) to stick around.

Honestly, I hate to be the one to break it to you, but the majority of Americans don't like the Red Sox and are sick and tired of hearing about them. You guys won a couple of years ago, and everyone thought you would just go away after years of bitching. But, unfortunately for everyone, Sox fans haven't shut up since.

It's just hilarious that to me that the Sox are basically the same as the Yankees. You guys claim to hate each other, but what you don't realize is that you might as well be the same team. It's like watching 2 spoiled rich kids argue about whose yacht is better. 51 million just to negotiate with Dice-K? Overpaying J.D. Drew and Julio Lugo? Those don't sound like things the Yankees would do?

How does it feel to know that your team has become everything you once hated? (Try and respond without a typical Yankee-esque response like "Who's got the ring?")

 

[James]

How does it feel? Im happy my team has an owner who is willing to shell out money to put a good on the field product. And Damon may have had good seasons with the A's. but he wasnt a league wide name until he got to Boston. Times have changed, and so have the Red Sox, they will always be my team regardless, and im not going to complain that we spend our money to compete every year to try to win our division, last season was bad but there were tons of injuries down the end of the season that cost us big, but i still enjoyed watching them try to somewhat redeem themselves down the stretch even though ultimatley they didnt. Boston is a big market, just like New York, they get as much money as people are willing to give out for advertising and what not, do you want them to have teams that generate all kinds of money, but only pay $100 Million to have a team? I would be pissed if that was the case because that meant the owners were keeping the money for themselves and not putting it into the team.

I know you guys arent Sox fans, but really, you would be saying the same thing. Or you would say "You are hating on us." I dont care wether you like my team or not, but we have a great history and a great tradition and great fans, so if you dont like the Red Sox or the Yankees, i suggest you find another sport to watch because those teams will always be on the top as far as money goes.

 

[Mac]

If we had the same owner, Id be loving it. I could care less how we spent, even if it is like the Yanks. ALl I want to do is win.

 

[crazedcav333]

And cant stand us? right, thats why there are Red Sox bars in almost every major city in the country, and thats why when you go to a baseball game, you always somehow manage to see red sox hats even when they arent playing. Red Sox fans make up more then one state, its not a team confined to a city, its the New England team, Vermont, Maine, Mass, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, the northern part of CT. Boston is the only city thats not a "football town" Boston has always been and always will be baseball.

You and NYY have always been dominant in the AL East. People love teams, and thats why. It's not an isolated Boston thing. You also see Dodgers, Yankees, and Cubs hats. In college, you always see Duke and UNC. In the NBA, it's the Lakers and Knicks. It just goes with winning and the teams that always seem to come up short. That doesn't mean all those people are die-hard fans.

 

[Deadlock]

If we had the same owner, Id be loving it. I could care less how we spent, even if it is like the Yanks. ALl I want to do is win.

Hit it on the nose. I can careless if we spend 500 million in payroll or 50 million. If we win then I'm happy.

 

[chiefwahoo]

I could really care less too... but it would be a hell of a lot more satisfying for me to go up against the Red Sox or Yanks in the playoffs and beat them (like in 95 and 97) but this time with our low payroll.

When you look at the talent Shapiro has been able to assemble it's quite amazing. We have a great core (Sizemore, Hafner, Martinez), up-and-coming possible stars (Barfield, Marte, Peralta), solid rotation (CC, Lee, Westbrook, Byrd, Sowers), and great pitching prospects (Miller, Carmona, Cabrera, etc).

The real key to this team's future will be their ability to keep the potential free agents (Hafner, CC, Westbrook) and iron out the bullpen problems. And maybe find some solid corner outfield guys instead of the platoon situations.

I would have liked to see them avoid committing to Michaels for two years (still don't understand that one) and bringing in a guy like Dellucci. But I think Nixon was a solid FA signing.