Until today. Feeling compelled to post because of the NL Wildcard Game tonight between the Pirates and the Reds. First of all, I abhor the current playoff system. Major League Baseball (or Bud-dumber Selig) want there to be an exciting "playoff race" in September, but then do everything in their power to get rid of the teams that provided such excitement. Rather than have a Best of 3 or Best of 5, it's a winner take all Wild Card Showdown. Fine, there may be some excitement there, but for the loser it's 162 games to basically play an exhibition and go home.
But that's what we have for now. So I look at Pittsburgh vs. Cincinnati and think "C'MON PITTSBURGH!!!" Why? I'm a Cubs fan, so why would I care deeply about who wins this game. Well if the Cubs didn't exist, even though I'm in Chicago, I would be a Pittsburgh fan. Let's breakdown the good and bad of the Pirates and Reds.
PIRATES GOOD
- Andrew McCutchen - Amazingly talented player who, if his facebook page and posts can be believed, is committed to his community and life outside of baseball.
- PNC Park - I've never been, but from what I've seen on TV it is the best park in all of baseball. Yes - I realize the Cubs play at Wrigley.
- Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell, Dave Parker, Honus Wagner. Wonderful, wonderful player history.
- Roberto Clemente Bridge. Painted yellow and shut down on game days/nights for fans to use to access the park.
- Pittsburgh itself - Home of the Steelers and a true blue collar work ethic.
- We Are Family - 1979, a great season.
- They employed Barry Bonds. However, this was the pre-Juiced-Cheater Bonds. This was the Bonds that everyone says was a Hall of Famer before he creamed and cleared his way to a fake homerun title.
- 20 years of losing. Well that's over, but it sure did take a long time to win more games than they lost.
- Notice I'm starting with the bad things about the Reds? I really don't like the organization.
- Marty Brenneman. This may be a bit personal, but he decided to take shots at Cub fans. Can't remember why. I'll admit a lot of Cub fans are idiots, but Marty - focus on the damn game. You and Hawk Harrelson should realize your job is to report on the game and not try to be a personality of it. Need an example? See Vin Scully. Oh and teach your son how to talk like a normal human being. That fake announcer voice he uses for baseball and football is really stupid.
- Joe Morgan, Johnny Bench, Pete Rose. Yes, great players. Also great egotists that think they are better than the game (Rose) or that they are the game (Morgan).
- Dusty Baker - this one probably should have been listed #1 on my list. Still can't believe he didn't have the bullpen up and going in Game 6, 2003 NLCS. Took great happiness in watching his Reds win the first two against the Giants last year and then tank three in a row a home. God that is sooo Dusty.
- Their fans. Many of their fans are arrogant, pains in the asses. That could probably be said for many or all ML teams. I just really don't like Cincinnati.
- There's only two things I can think of. Great American Ballpark. Not as great as PNC, but it's on the river and you can watch the barges float back and forth during a game. Took the family there for Cubs vs. Reds back in 2008. Really nice park.
- People of Cincinnati. Very pleasant and kind. Couldn't be nicer trying to help some out of towners find their way around the city.
- WKRP in Cincinnati. Johnny Fever, Venus Flytrap, Les Nessman. The whole crew. Awesome show but not enough to sway me to cheer for the Reds.
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