I tried to root against the A's today...

by vk on Apr 23, 2005 6:18 PM PDT

I never realized how difficult it is to root against the A's until today. My 6-year-old son is a member of the Menlo Park pitching-machine Little League Yankees (he was drafted by the Yankee manager after a tryout, most of the kids his age are still in T-ball so he was probably one of the last kids picked, but he's improving). The little Yankees are pretty cute in their NY hats and jerseys, especially when they put black under their eyes.
Today was their first game against the little league A's, which isn't a very good team by league standards. (If your defense can make an infield out half the time, you're a good team.)
The Yankees got up early, 10-1. I felt sorry for the A's, who haven't won all season. They kept blowing plays on the infield. Suffice it to say I changed my rooting interest to the A's, much to my wife's displeasure, though of course I kept rooting for my son. The A's made a comeback and the final score was respectable, Yankees 16, A's 11.
The game reinforced to me how powerful the A's colors and logo are, I had to try to force myself to root against them before heading back to my green car with a buff colored leather interior.
Has anyone had any similar experiences in kids' baseball?

Tweet Comment 8 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Sort of

I actually played in the Menlo Park little leagues back in the day... I played on the Twins and Dodgers in pitching machine, and the Dodgers and Royals in "AAA". My last year in little league, with the Royals, we had a great team. I was the master of small ball, always stealing bags left and right, even stole home once when the catcher went out to the mound but forgot to call time... anyway, the best team that year was the A's. We were vying for the league title but the A's were just better than us... and I hated it! I hated the A's, yes, I admit it. Though I guess in your case the fact that they were the underdogs against a Yankee team probably made it different and reminded you more of the real A's plight.

by OaktownTribesman on Apr 23, 2005 6:32 PM PDT reply actions

Root for your kid

not against the A's.

"Put a Milo on him."
-Billy Beane

by kaweahkaweah on Apr 23, 2005 8:00 PM PDT reply actions

I had to umpire today,

and it was the a's versus the angels. It pained me when the little league angels beat the a's 6-4.

"Oh hell yes! Are you kidding me? I think we're gonna win the AL West." -Gary Huckabay, A's stat consultant, when asked if the A's can compete this year.

by Roscoe Parrish on Apr 23, 2005 8:14 PM PDT reply actions

roscoe

do you ever give the weaker teams a break when you're umpiring? I thought I saw a little of that today, the A's batted out of order and the umpire just kind of ignored it when it was pointed out.

by vk on Apr 23, 2005 8:38 PM PDT up reply actions

commuter

Since it's only little league, if the game is seperated by five or more runs, i'll give them any borderline calls. If it's ten or more, they will get some favorable calls, but nothing too crazy. Although, with batting out of order, you have to do something about it.

"Oh hell yes! Are you kidding me? I think we're gonna win the AL West." -Gary Huckabay, A's stat consultant, when asked if the A's can compete this year.

by Roscoe Parrish on Apr 23, 2005 9:26 PM PDT up reply actions