We're All Oakland Athletics Fans Here

by Tyler Bleszinski on May 4, 2005 12:06 AM PDT in News

Normally, this thread would be used for talking about the A's inability to score runs, but there has been something cropping up on the site more and more lately that I want to discuss instead.

In the past week or so, I've received multiple emails from people complaining about other posters on the site.

I want to just remind all of you very simply, we're all A's fans. We all feel pain when this team loses. We all want to win that World Series ring. Just please when someone says something inflammatory, try to ignore them or if you wish, you can try and reason with them. Just be aware that some people just get off on trying to make other people angry and if you respond you feed the monster.

Remind yourself over and over, "We're all A's fans here. We're all A's fans here." You may be a different religion, different ethnicity, a different political view, but in my view, we're all one family because we all bleed green and gold. I get a lot of crap because I'm almost always positive about the team, but I know that crap is coming from people who care about the team the same way I do and that's where it's coming from.

Try and remember that. Also, remember, the more in-fighting there is here on AN, the less is left over to battle those who really deserve it. Angels and Yankee fans.

I founded this site because I wanted a place where intelligent discourse can go on 24/7/365 between the most intelligent sports fans on the planet...A's fans. Let's continue to try and keep it at a high level.

And one last thing to think about. The more I have to try and mediate over these arguments among our own, the less time I'm spending lining up my next interviews.

Thanks and sorry to have to spend my time writing this, but I figure it's easier to write it here than respond to all the emails I've been getting lately. It's also somewhat easier than writing one more time about our, cough, cough, offense.

WE'RE ALL A'S FANS HERE. And this is still the best online community in the world. Bar none.

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Comments

Blez....

please comment on what you think is going to happen with A's. BB makes move, no move, whatever. I've been waiting up late (east coast) for your late night perspective. Personally I think there will be a move made after this road trip if something doesn't spark for the offense. I don't think it'll be drastic, but maybe sending someone (byrnes) down. Remember he did send down Menichino, a beloved vet.

"Don't you play the flute, Huddy?"

by capper3 on May 4, 2005 12:14 AM PDT reply actions

That piece is coming tomorrow

Sorry, capper3, but this needed to be said tonight.

by Tyler Bleszinski on May 4, 2005 12:18 AM PDT up reply actions

ok, i don't wake up until about 4pm est anyway.

I believe we will make a run at the division this year despite the offense. Just remember 8-17 or whatever we were 2 years ago.

"Don't you play the flute, Huddy?"

by capper3 on May 4, 2005 12:22 AM PDT up reply actions

Remember the 2003 Marlins

It's baseball, anything can happen.

"First of all, I'm not calm about it. Every time they lose, I freak out." - Andy Painter

by secret ASian man on May 4, 2005 12:23 AM PDT up reply actions

Thanks Blez,

We needed that.

and forgive us our rants on AN,
as we forgive those who fail to drive in runners in scoring position,

And yes, forgive me, I am diary pimping right now but I do think it's relavant.

"First of all, I'm not calm about it. Every time they lose, I freak out." - Andy Painter

by secret ASian man on May 4, 2005 12:15 AM PDT reply actions

I agree...

no negative comments. Only positive energy!

"The sun was bad, but was it any worse than it's been the last 10,000 years? I'm gonna say no." -- Eric Byrnes

by FoolshGame22 on May 4, 2005 12:53 AM PDT up reply actions

woo woo!

i agree!

The face of a child can say it all, especially the mouth part of the face.

by JJ on May 4, 2005 1:53 AM PDT up reply actions

oops

I attached this to a somewhat sarcastic remark... meant to back Blez's "We're all A's fans"

The face of a child can say it all, especially the mouth part of the face.

by JJ on May 4, 2005 8:40 AM PDT up reply actions

I wasn't saying no negativity

but at least be constructive.

by Tyler Bleszinski on May 4, 2005 2:51 AM PDT up reply actions

When 20% of the diaries

are about the posters, not about the A's, you suspect there's a problem. (And when that percentage exceeds the A's average with RISP, you KNOW there's a problem!)

On a unrelated note, Blez: I still haven't bought my tickets to AN day in August, because I don't have PayPal--is there any other option or will there be? I want to make sure I'm counted in!

Nico

by Nico on May 4, 2005 7:18 AM PDT reply actions

Thanks, again, Blez

"And when that percentage exceeds the A's average with RISP, you KNOW there's a problem!"

O.K., so I figured out RISP is Jargon for (with) Runners In Scoring Position, but KNOW would be what... Kids Need (an) Oakland Win! Or something like that. Abbreviations, initials, jargon, and way too many stats... must be sports. :-)

"Holy Manama!" ~Bahrain, 5,000+ miles east of Toledo :-)~

by NomAd on May 4, 2005 7:49 AM PDT up reply actions

KNOW stands for

Kills Negativity? Only Winning.

Nico

by Nico on May 4, 2005 8:26 AM PDT up reply actions

I want to be counted in ...

how do I get to be counted in?

I just needed something new here, since the season had started ...

by devo on May 4, 2005 9:31 AM PDT up reply actions

Don't worry about AN Day just yet

I've got to send out the 50 tickets already purchased first. Then in a few weeks, I'll be putting up details about deadlines for payment, etc. My main goal was to get the area reserved.

Thanks, Nico.

by Tyler Bleszinski on May 4, 2005 9:39 AM PDT up reply actions

a's fans need to unite

quit acting like its a school playground. Everybody needs to enjoy time on this site. IF YOU DON'T LIKE SOMEONE ELSES POST JUST IGNORE IT.
DON'T TRY TO CHANGE SOME FOOLS OPONION IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN. QUIT BITCHING AND START ENJOYING
PLEASE QUIT SENDING BLEZ E-MAILS ABOUT OTHER POSTERS TRYING TO GET HIM IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR SCHOOL YARD RANTS SO HE CAN FOCUS ON THE SITE AND NOT TRYING TO BE A REFEREE. APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY HOMERUNS.

by firedog on May 4, 2005 7:37 AM PDT reply actions

Good rant about ranting

Today's secret word: "irony"...

Nico

by Nico on May 4, 2005 8:27 AM PDT up reply actions

this fussing sort of gives me insight

into the whole 'chemistry' argument. You know, when Beane was defending Depodesta for trading away the Dodgers' low-stat, high-chemistry players. He said 'winning makes chemistry'. Here, we're just a bunch of fans, but when the A's win, everyone gets along here. When they lose, we don't get along as well. So I'm predicting at least through May that we'll be getting along 50% of the time. :)

By the way, I think that quote is typical Beane drama. It's true (old-school people just can't accept that the Dodgers have been better since the 'bad for chemistry' trades last summer and this off-season), but it obscures the fact that the A's have consistently sent away 'clubhouse cancers'.

by Apricot on May 4, 2005 8:20 AM PDT reply actions

Well sais Blez...

As someone who is probably guilty of too much negativity, I will try and watch what I say out of frustration. Usually I just laugh at the A's failures, but I admit I do get frustrated.

Thanks Blez.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on May 4, 2005 8:43 AM PDT reply actions

I'm guilty, too.

Now is the time to stick together and support the team no matter what's happening. The 2005 season, so far, has been frustrating because this team has great pitching which, according to the experts, was suppose to be the A's downfall. And I don't know about the rest of you, but the other teams in the A.L. West do not impress me and, I think, are beatable. Texas has the best lineup, but suffers in starting pitching (Chris Young is NOT this good), Anaheim has good starting pitching, but I see holes in their lineup, and Seattle, they just might have the worst 7-8-9 hitters in the division. So with good fundamental play, the A's have a chance to hang with the big boys.

For 2005, let's at least "Spoil the Party" for all the other teams, fat reporters, and the "expert" naysayers that have written the Oakland A's off!

by Coach Cleats on May 4, 2005 8:58 AM PDT up reply actions

What negative posts?

Oh, I must've been ignoring them already.

I am, however, amused by:

whining
lapses in logic
misspellings
any sign of behavior that betrays a poster hasn't been online long enough to know better. You know, using foul language, ALL CAPS, etc.

Yes, we're all A's fans. Some of us are just sunnier and cheerier and, um, have better people skills than others.

by BillybUcko on May 4, 2005 8:57 AM PDT reply actions

billy whoever

iam sorry you feel the need to bemean to me. people like you are the reason i had to drop out of schol in the 8th grade after my school bus wreck. you might be able to type and illerate better than me .but that doesnt change anythingt. because you are the same people that use to knock the shitout ofme and knock me out of my wheelchair while i was recovering know that i do not have the use of my arms ihope you feel better to make fun of me because you can type and are so much better than me. check my post ihave never cursed but f u you jerk after i had to put up with people like you you genous i decided to make something of my self and not be a looser and feel sorry for mty self i made something of my self i would rather not get into my real self but every time you watch satellite tv if you enjoy it or not ithank you icould have one of my secretaries typethis but ienjoy being an a's fan iwill promise if yoy want to get into any kiond of debate please let me know by e mail which city you live in i probable have a casino that i own that is with in 3 hour5s an i would love to give you a free room and will by you dinner . sorry i cant type as good as you or articulate as good you but i am still an a's fan if you believe in your self and your dream it can happen good luckk and go a's

by firedog on May 5, 2005 12:44 AM PDT up reply actions

IMO...

...this type of issue is never-ending and it usually spirals into "stupidom" (new word, i think?).

whats someone's negativity is another's reality. what one person's constructive criticism is someone else's pessimism....it just never ends.

i give blez credit (plus, i think he'ii make a great father)...he is very patient with his "children in the sandbox". i've had my scraps with some on this site. i don't mind it either-in fact, i expect this coming on a blog, chat room, whatever.

so, i'ii reiterate what blez pointed out so eloquently, if you don't like what you read- ignore it, plus any future posts/diaries/comments by that individual. try it, its easy....in fact, i dunno, you may start with this one! its up to you.

The "Free Matt Watson from Sacramento" Committee is now taking new members. Membership is free.

by bigelephant on May 4, 2005 9:06 AM PDT reply actions

mission impossible

keeping people from expressing their displeasure with one another as often as they express their displeasure with the A's offense is next to impossible. as bigelephant mentions, it's part of the blog territory. i just scroll right past them, luckily the AN format makes this easy as all the 'reply to's keeping indenting as people vent on each other and i just don't look again till the posts get back to the left (no political metaphor).

"No one goes there nowadays, it's too crowded." -yogi

by JMC @ Athletics Nation on May 4, 2005 9:24 AM PDT reply actions

In the words of Brick Tamlin...

...and the signature of one AN member... " I dont know what we're all yelling about!"

...White Shoes for Life

by heatchaser on May 4, 2005 9:25 AM PDT reply actions

The former signature of an AN member

I've switched it over to an Andy Painter quote. It's more relavant now, since I am freaking out when they lose.

"First of all, I'm not calm about it. Every time they lose, I freak out." - Andy Painter

by secret ASian man on May 4, 2005 10:18 AM PDT up reply actions

take a break

Im disappointed in the A's when they lose games with 7 hits and no runs - who wouldnt be right? If you find yourself getting so pissed take a break from the club, take a break from baseball. The A's need some positive vibes up in here!!!

GO A'S!!!!

by alamedabomber on May 4, 2005 9:36 AM PDT reply actions

I hear ya

I took a break after Zito's first loss at home. Of course I was back after three days or something.

by BillybUcko on May 4, 2005 10:21 AM PDT up reply actions

No doubt

I always liked Blez's analogy of AN being like an "Online bar", but I'm sure that quite a few posters here have yet to live thier "golden bar-hopping days".

From someone who spent many nights on both sides of the bar, let me tell you it's like this in real world:

If you disagree with someone and it escalates into a heated argument, you have a 50/50 chance of getting your ass beat.

Lord Vader... ...yesss massster? ...RISE!!!

by Force on May 4, 2005 10:43 AM PDT reply actions

Amen Blez!

I wonder if it mostly comes down to how people deal with their team losing. Some people, like Blez, like to stay positive while others, myself included, feel better only by bashing the team. Can't we all just get along?

I'm the guy with the Carney Lansford jersey

by gojohn10 on May 4, 2005 10:50 AM PDT reply actions

Flame Warriors

Something to ponder (though likely not news to many of you). See if you can find yourself in here... http://redwing.hutman.net/%7Emreed/warriorshtm/troller.htm

by anahola fan on May 4, 2005 11:10 AM PDT reply actions