2012 Mud Hens Season Thread

I go for the comradery and food, the game is kind of a side event. But have to root for the home team, Go Mudhens!

Kindly indulge me here for a sec, please, (or just tell me to screw off, that's fine too.) Disclaimer: I'm no baseball person, just intrigued by how Toledoans view the local pro teams as competitive sports teams versus sources of entertainment or something to do.

@Johnny, are you more into the team for the game itself, as opposed to just a fun night out in Toledo? Do you feel the team actually tries to be successful or just goes through the motions?

@Coffee, does the team's performance have any bearing on whether or not you patronize the team? Do you do the same for the Walleye?

WalleyeWinger: I'm not a big baseball fan so their performance really doesn't matter to me. Just an excuse to go out and do something different with people.

For hockey on the other hand, you can often find me in section 113 with a vuvuzela, jersey, and very much into the game. While record wouldn't change my willingness to go, a win does mean something more to me. I equate it to going to see the Red Wings or Penguins.

A little of both. I want to see good baseball and I want them to win, and I would go to more games if they were in the playoff picture. But, I go to watch the game, mainly.

My wife and kids go for the experience, the food, the "night out."

I think the Tigers haven't really done enough to put a good team in Toledo for a few years, now, as they haven't signed any AAA free agents and have relied on organizational players too much. I think the Tigers think the two championships from 05 and 06 still are buying them enough good will that they can save some coin on the Toledo roster.

(or just tell me to screw off, that's fine too.)

Okay, screw off.

Just pulling your chain, chief. Fifth Third Field is excellent. We almost always get good seats and the food is much better than most stadium slop. Last time I was there the food was good quality, and I hope they keep the quality up.

I find professional ball very boring. Results are predictable and exciting plays are very rare. In minor league ball anything can happen, and I mean anything. Want to see an infield grand slam? Watch the minors leagues. Want to see someone steal home? How about a red hot double or triple play? This kind of stuff happens in the minor leagues and it's a lot of fun watching it live, before the TV crew has a chance to edit the excitement out of it. How about catching a foul ball? Your best bet is going to a minor league game.

The Hens aren't having the best year ever, but that's to be expected. As soon as a player gets good enough, he leaves the minor leagues and starts pulling down $10,000,000 a week in the major leagues. Get enough good players and they all leave the team, with the third string wannabes remaining.

If you're wondering if the Mud Hens team is any good, ask yourself when the last time was that anyone ever asked you to play minor league ball. My uncle used to play some ball, and let me tell you he was so far and away better than the other parents at baseball that they weren't even in the same league. Get it? Ha! The way it works with a minor league player was like this. I'd stand fifty yards away from Uncle and hold my glove out. He'd throw the ball and it would smack into the pocket of my glove. Every single time, at fifty yards.

Eventually the other minor leagues will lose a few of their best players and the Hens will gain a few, and the Hens will start winning again. Meantime, it's still a great game.

Any game with a close score is fun to watch at Fifth Third, especially if the score is not zero to zero.

For hockey I occasionally go to Columbus and watch the Blue Jackets lose, but that isn't all bad either. Mainly for the same reasons.

I think the Tigers haven't really done enough to put a good team in Toledo for a few years, now, as they haven't signed any AAA free agents and have relied on organizational players too much.

The Tigers are no longer rebuilding--they're in full on "win it now" mode.

Tigers owner Mike Illitch is 82 years old and wants to win a World Series before he dies. That's it...end of story.

So, he's gone out the last couple years and allowed the Tigers to sign some massive free agent contracts (Fielder being the big one this year). I'm sure a .500 team was not what he expected after dishing out all that dough!

Not a lot of focus on stocking the minor leagues for current success, IMO.

Another thing to consider.. when you have guys like Fielder and Cabrera locked in on the major league team, you're not going to get a lot of minor league free agent 1B/3B wanting to come to Toledo.. their path to the majors is blocked (barring an injury.)