X-Met fan, joining the Nationals Camp.

by Kitchnsnk on Nov 2, 2011 5:05 AM EDT

Hey Guys.

Be gentle ok.?

I am a VA native, and grew up in the tidewater area, where the Mets HAD their AAA club. So, it was cool to go see the METS hopefuls play for cheap.

A few years ago, the AAA farm club sold the team to the O's, and the METS farm club moved back up to NY....

The METS ownership is lost. They probably need to sell the team, or take on additional owners, but they refuse to do that. They seem less and less committed to providing a quality product for their fans, and more focused on grasping at straws....

So, they seem to be done with me, so I will head off to greener pastures.... or at least to a club that seems committed to finding a way to put a quality product on the field.

Go Nats!

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Welcome

Step 1 of world domination complete

by Benson L on Nov 2, 2011 9:46 AM EDT reply actions

Welcome to our little corner of the InterNats

Many of us have come from other fandoms, and some of us hold dual fandoms (although mostly that’s with one AL team and the Nats). Feel free to jump into discussion threads – it’s a family friendly site (no foofnarfeling bad language here!) and Patrick tries to keep us civil during the discussion threads. Even when Doghouse is posting his arbitrary and capricious grades! ;-)

by d_c_guy on Nov 2, 2011 10:04 AM EDT reply actions

I resemble that remark!

Welcome, Kitchnsnk. Now we have everything!

"If you ain't got the pants, you ain't got a chance." --PerryMason (on the sartorial component of being a Real Ballplayer)

by Doghouse on Nov 2, 2011 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Congratulations on your step up!

You will find the Nats can be both fun and frustrating (sometimes at the very same time), but at least they’re not pull-your-hair-out truly-deeply-maddeningly-frustrating like I’m sure the Mets are these days.

Rob

-- In baseball we trust.

by RobBobS on Nov 2, 2011 10:32 AM EDT reply actions

Welcome!

Like d_c_guy said, most of us are immigrants from another fandom, and some still hold affection for the old country. I moved to DC about the same time the Nationals did, and I was throughly frustrated with the Royals, who had not made the post-season in 20 years and won a whopping 56 games that year. The upside is that it seems very unlikely that I will ever have to choose between the two teams. As a Royals vs. Nationals World Series, is probably a sign of the end of the world. Anyway, welcome everyone is pretty friendly here so feel free to join the conversation and find us a new lead-off CF.

by chubias on Nov 2, 2011 11:08 AM EDT reply actions

Yay, another poor soul is ours!

Welcome!

by dc Roach on Nov 2, 2011 12:31 PM EDT reply actions

tip: comment regularly.. you’ll find it hard to look smart and rational compared to the rest of us.

by dc Roach on Nov 2, 2011 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Fixed

you’ll find it hard not to look smart and rational compared to the rest of us

by d_c_guy on Nov 2, 2011 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions

lol, yes, that is indeed what I meant to say :)

really..

by dc Roach on Nov 2, 2011 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Which just proves your point!

Welcome kitchnsnk, from one in his 20th year (more or less) of recovery from NY baseball teams. The posters here range from extreme statheads to curmudgeonly (but usually friendly) “back in the day” types. Post early, post often, and post what you think.

Again, welcome to the fold!

Brain: "Pinky, are you pondering what i'm pondering?"
Pinky: "Yes, ... wait, ... no, ... never mind"

by jbg2772 on Nov 2, 2011 10:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Welcome to NatsTown!!!

I too, was an immigrant. Originally from Alabama, I was naturally a die-hard Braves fan, having lived through some very tough, and also some wonderful eras following “America’s Team.” Even though it was extremely tough in the beginning, I vowed to support a local team if we received one here in DC….to make matters worse, it HAD to be the Expos, who I despised as a Braves fan! Now, however, I am a die-hard, season ticket holder of the Nats, and I relish the opportunity to see them kick the crap out of the Atlanta Braves! I have a feeling that with more Nationals success, more locals will also make a similar jump! This area is logically filled with Philly fans, since that was the closest NL team for such a long time, so getting some of those folks to change their allegiance, will also be nice.

"Integrity First, Service Before Self, Excellence In All We Do" - USAF Core Values

by sullyzz on Nov 2, 2011 12:41 PM EDT reply actions

I think most of the Philly Phans are expats from the Philly/South Jersey area

Having lived here all my life, I don’t know a single local who is a Philly fan. I’m sure they exist, but I doubt that the numbers are really noticeable. It may be shocking to some, but those that felt comfortable rooting for a non-DC team mostly stopped looking when they got to Baltimore.

by d_c_guy on Nov 2, 2011 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions

I know a LOT of local Philly Fans.....

…..and have seen more than a fair share of them from Northern Virginia, to Northern Maryland. I take notice when I am out and about, and see that annoying “P” baseball cap or T-Shirt. I see lots of them in our area, as well as Braves gear. However, I see more Braves fans in Virginia which is not surprising considering the Richmond Braves were there for so long. I may not be a Washington native, and you may have lived here all your life, however, I have lived in the DC area since the USAF brought me here 22 Years ago (1989). BTW…we still need to work on that issue with you and the Yankees! ;-) A Washington fan can’t also be a NY fan….can’t happen. That would be like me being an Alabama AND an Auburn fan! Or a local being a Cowboys AND a Burgundy/Gold fan! NY/DC is like mixing oil and water! The two cities hate one another in sports! lol I have adopted all local pro teams, except the Burgundy/Gold, regardless of the fact that I grew up near Atlanta in nearby Alabama. BTW….when Snyder changes the nickname, I will also become a Burgundy/Gold fan, which will be tough, but I will do it.

"Integrity First, Service Before Self, Excellence In All We Do" - USAF Core Values

by sullyzz on Nov 3, 2011 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions

Oh I see plenty of Philly fans in the area

It’s just that when I talk to them (I try to be pleasant to everyone lol) they are invariably from the Philly/South Jersey area and brought their allegiance with them. When I said “local,” read “native.”

by d_c_guy on Nov 3, 2011 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions

Gotcha…..transplants. I’ve never asked them where they are actually “from”. Still, it’d be nice to see them now support their local team, but that would be somewhat hypocritical of me, since I don’t support the Burgundy/Gold. However, my refusal to be a Burgundy/Gold fan is more of a political and humanistic reason.

"Integrity First, Service Before Self, Excellence In All We Do" - USAF Core Values

by sullyzz on Nov 3, 2011 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions

Although I was already a Yankee fan by the mid-70's

It was probably cemented for me because my Mom moved to Long Island at that time and I was able to go up & spend some summers with her there. The first Yankee game that I attended was actually at Shea Stadium during the renovation of the original Yankee Stadium (it was April, and it was COLD – it snowed that night on Long Island). I watched a lot of games on WPIX back in the day.

So, although a DC native, I did have some ties to NY during my formative years. :-)

by d_c_guy on Nov 3, 2011 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions

I was a Braves fan from the day I could talk! The Braves and I sorta grew up together….they moved to Atlanta a year after I was born. I vividly remember Phil Niekro, Bob Horner, Dale Murphy, etc. I also, unfortunately, remember those three straight 100 loss seasons before Stan waved the Kasten magic. Stan’s best move, was convincing John Schuerholz to come to Atlanta. So, if I was able to turn on my beloved Braves, and adopt the local Nats, especially considering how badly I HATED the Expos, trust me…..YOU CAN DO IT TOO! LOL

I am also happy that the Braves realized how inflammatory their mascots (Chief Noc-A-Homa and Princess Win-A-Lotta) were, and did away with them. If only the Burgundy/Gold would follow that fine example.

"Integrity First, Service Before Self, Excellence In All We Do" - USAF Core Values

by sullyzz on Nov 3, 2011 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Correction…..those three straight 100 loss seasons were “during” Kasten’s rebuilding years, and were actually 106, 97 and 97 losses, before going to the World Series the following season as a worst to first team. However, it “felt” like 100 loss seasons.

"Integrity First, Service Before Self, Excellence In All We Do" - USAF Core Values

by sullyzz on Nov 3, 2011 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Kasten, humph

I’m convinced that Kasten’s greatest career move was hiring Schuerholz, which enable Kasten to ride his coattails to an inexplicably long career.

Kasten. [spits]

by d_c_guy on Nov 3, 2011 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Yep…..I agree that it was theft prying Schuerholz away, to come to Atlanta, but Stan did it….he got his man. However, Schuerholz was DEFINITELY NOT responsible for “rebuilding” the Atlanta Braves….he was most notable for “reloading” the Atlanta Braves, so I disagree with your comment that Kasten “rode” the coattails. Most of the key pieces, that made the Braves successful, were already in place prior to Schuerholz’s arrival. So, it is either a credit to Kasten, or Cox….most likely, both. I think they equally share responsibility for rebuilding that franchise. I personally, am a big fan of Kasten….just not his antics with bringing Philly fans to DC.

"Integrity First, Service Before Self, Excellence In All We Do" - USAF Core Values

by sullyzz on Nov 3, 2011 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions

It's funny - if my parents were baseball fans I'd almost certainly have been a Senators fan

I was ten when they left, but I have no memory at all of them. Our parents were never fans (although my Mom encouraged us, taking us to those early Yankee games) and my brother an I sort of wandered into baseball on our own. When we got the fever we started reading about the sport, and if you read about baseball you’re reading about the Yankees. So we adopted them even though at the time they were pretty terrible (Jerry Kenney, Danny Cater, Horace Clark … shudder). At the time the Orioles were the class of the AL East, but that’s hard to remember nowadays.

by d_c_guy on Nov 3, 2011 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions

to officially join you have to give up a home run to the first batter you face

welcome aboard

Yeah, well, you know, that's just like, uh, your opinion man

by TJL on Nov 2, 2011 3:57 PM EDT reply actions

chants: [One of us! One of us!]

Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."

by Patrick Reddington on Nov 2, 2011 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Strasburg and Harper

It’s like Doc and Gooden without the coke.

Aim for the head baby Jesus

by Doncosmic on Nov 2, 2011 5:02 PM EDT reply actions

welcome from another x-met fan

I grew up in queens, moved down here in 1984, and stayed loyal to the mets for another 5 years or so – basically thru the davey johnson era. Then i started following the “local” team 30 miles up the road, enjoyed them for awhile -especially during the davey johnson era – until i got fed up with the loathesome peter angelos.

So it was a happy day when dc finally got a real local team, particularly one that played under the correct (nl) rules. And now they’re led by the same manager who led my former teams to glory. Funny how davey just keeps following me around.

by dc rl on Nov 2, 2011 10:01 PM EDT reply actions

I suppose having Davey as our manager eases the transition for you

welcome. I was a long-time Reds fan, but Schott pretty much wrecked that one, so I understand how bad ownership can really kill your team-buzz. (of course, Snyder’s been trying that for years with another of our local teams).

If we end up with Reyes (as some regular posters here desire), you’ll feel right at home!

(oh, and our 3b is better than the Mets’ 3b!)

If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding! How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat?!

by ricksnats on Nov 3, 2011 9:40 AM EDT reply actions

Where d'ye live now, Kitch?

Speak up, before yer suspected of being some kinda’ mole. Wouldn’t put it past the Mets.

Tentative welcome, from a dinosaur who actually grew up here – and as a 10 yo bidness-man, counted Morris Siegel among my lawn-mowing clientele.

"On my tombstone just write, 'The sorest loser that ever lived.'" - Earl Weaver

by Whupass on Nov 6, 2011 10:56 AM EST reply actions

Hey
No not a mole… though I can’t help myself from checking in on Mets news…. that might take a while to break that habit.

I actually live in Germany. My wife and I are school teachers for the Department of Defense. I’d be lost if it wasn’t for MLB TV.

I get back to the states for about 3 weeks in August. I am hoping to get to a Nats game when I am visiting the folks (VA Beach)… I’ll bring my old man, who is “debating” making the switch to the Nats too.

Thanks for the warm welcome guys!

by Kitchnsnk on Nov 9, 2011 2:18 AM EST reply actions

Gotta love DODDS! Thanks for your contributions in teaching the children of America’s Warriors!

"Integrity First, Service Before Self, Excellence In All We Do" - USAF Core Values

by sullyzz on Nov 9, 2011 4:15 AM EST up reply actions

I know the feeling

I quit the Yankees in ‘88 in favor of the Orioles, weakened in the mid-90’s, and still follow them on occasion. Rooting rights, however, now rest 100% with the Nats. Don’t worry, it will come :)

Brain: "Pinky, are you pondering what i'm pondering?"
Pinky: "Yes, ... wait, ... no, ... never mind"

by jbg2772 on Nov 9, 2011 11:02 AM EST up reply actions

As we all know

I’m still seen in pinstripes as well as curly w’s. I have a lot more Yankees gear, but that’s not surprising given the 30+ year head start. The Nationals paraphenalia is catching up pretty quickly though :-)

by d_c_guy on Nov 9, 2011 11:54 AM EST up reply actions