Is It Time For A Divorced Yankees Fan To Reconcile With MLB?
I haven’t cared about Major League Baseball in 30 years. Some of you might find that strange given my passion for the New York Jets, Brooklyn Nets, and New Jersey Devils that (I hope) comes across on this platform, even in posts that are laced with bitterness over those teams’ struggles.
I left MLB in 1994 because it ditched me first. I had been a Yankees fan since the days of Bobby Murcer, George “Doc” Medich, and Thurman Munson. I stood by them past their glory days in the late 1970s through their ensuing playoff drought. In 1994, they were poised for a return to excellence that had defined the franchise, and I was stoked.
Only MLB’s owners and players quit after 113 games, with New York in first place. To me, it was unforgivable. Sure, every league had intermittent strikes/lockouts that wreaked havoc on those seasons, but they always eventually came back to finish them. This was the first and only time a pro sports league said, “No mas” midway through a season. The NHL skipped the entire 2004-05 campaign, but at least it had the decency to notify its customers before they got emotionally invested in the season.
When MLB returned, the Yankees were good again, and often great. As a general sports fan who worked in Manhattan, I was happy for the fans in the city. Baseball success helped us heal after 9/11. Only my viewership was cursory. I really didn’t care. For the kids, zero FOMO.
The only baseball in my life had become coaching youth teams. Where once my favorite books were Jim Bouton’s “Ball Four” and the annual “Bill James Baseball Abstract”, I was comfortable becoming baseball illiterate. I can’t even tell you what WAR means or how it’s computed, and this is from someone who regularly mines NBA.com data for stuff like a player’s defensive rating during the last five minutes of close games.
MLB’s attempt at reconciliation was to make a mockery of the game by putting its head in the sand during the Steroid Era. Storied home run records weren’t just broken; they were obliterated by juiced bodies and (possibly) balls. Don’t be fooled—I have first-hand accounts that it was so prevalent that the non-cheaters were a heavy minority.
The game then devolved into a parade of pitches that landed in a catcher’s mitt until one was sent out of the ballpark. Thank you, ”Moneyball.” For the select handful of games I accompanied a friend as their guest over this period, it was three-plus hours of boredom.
What has changed after 30 years? Both parties. MLB tweaked its rules to speed up the pace of play, possibly the first fan-friendly thing it has done in my lifetime. And then there’s my own mindset after seasons of misery over the Jets, Nets, and Devils. Folks, I know it shouldn’t—I have been blessed with a loving wife and three wonderful adult children. Still, fanaticism is by definition illogical, and I can’t lie about how the incessant losing has taken a toll on my mental well-being, no matter how helpful this forum has been in allowing me to let off steam.
So I guess I’m saying I’m open to a new outlet, even if it’s the same as an old outlet. It’s been just three games, but the Yankees seem interesting enough to entice me back into the fold. Again, I’ve only watched a few pitches at a time and some highlights of their series against Houston during commercials of other programs, so I’m not an expert. I’m also well aware of the sport’s marathon nature—as bad as the Astros have looked, no one should be shocked if they return to their role of Yankees nemesis come October. Meanwhile, injuries seem to be a thing no matter which team I root for, so the lineup New York has been putting out might not look the same by June.
However, the Yankees, though imperfect, are at least attempting to make amends. They’ve added a must-see star in Juan Soto to their already must-see star Aaron Judge. They have a good mix of veterans and youngsters who seem to play the game the right way. And if the first three games are any indication, they must have fortitude in their character to battle back when trailing late. All admirable qualities for a team that promises to remain competitive this season.
Shouldn’t I meet them halfway? Maybe I won’t chase them all over the streaming spectrum, but I can start by paying more attention to them when they’re on the YES Network. No commitment, just playing it casual.
For you readers, that means I could be sprinkling in some baseball columns during my typical break between the Nets/Devils eulogies and Jets training camp. When I do post, you can count on me being up to speed and informed.
And hopefully a lot less bitter about the past, present, and future of MLB.