In Defense of Bitching, Kind Of
Everybody’s got a hero. And whether they’re raising four kids on their own, setting Major League Baseball batting records, or perched on the scaffolding of a church tower, cape billowing in the wind, they are people to be admired, cherished, and loved.
We grow accustomed to seeing them do their thing, filling our own lives with a breed of heroism we would otherwise never taste. Not because we’re cowards, but because we lack the exposure and inhumane talent possessed by someone who only comes along once in a lifetime. Also because we’re cowards.
And yet, people don’t stay the same. Temptation calls. Heroes become villains. Players change uniforms.
We have a tendency to look upon these changes with fury or disgust, as if we’ve been wronged personally, when really all that has happened is someone has moved on with their lives. Unlike us, they were ready for the next step. Just because they didn’t consider our feelings isn’t an indication of malice; it’s an indication that they, despite our devotion, have absolutely no idea who we are or what we care about. Does that really give us the right to bitch and moan and burn stuff and throw stuff and hate them? Are we really that ignorant of their perspective?
Yes. Yes we are. And that’s fine.
Shockingly, Albert Pujols’ multi-hundred-million dollar, transcontinental, decade-long deal with the Angels sparked a curious topic. Do elite players have any loyalty to maintaining their regional legacy anymore? Pujols became a legend under the Arches, but he left St. Louis with a cloud of full page newspaper ads in his wake. With so many long tenured superstars on the market, foregoing any promises to stay local, it’s a fair question as to whether they are trying to get paid or merely curious.
They’re going to do what is best for themselves. That’s fine. But we the fans get to have our perspective as well. The intimidating, obnoxious part of that is that there are a lot more of us than there are of guys like Albert Pujols, and large groups are all saying/doing/burning the same things. Now you get to have my opinion, which is, unfortunately for you, Philadelphian.
Our Big Offseason Thing in Philly is Jimmy Rollins. Jimmy is the same as every other franchise player, in that he came up in our system, made a statement early, and by way of raw talent and a contagious personality, built a powerful resume and a loud fanbase. Like every franchise player, he has a very special place in our hearts for a lot of memorable reasons and we do not want him to go. Throw in the fact that the shortstop market is pretty weak and even the “objective” fans can get on board.
And, like every other franchise player’s contractual negotiations, HIS RE-SIGNING IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE IT EFFECTS US. PLEASE DON’T GO JIMMY. OH GOD PLEASE DON’T GO EVER.
Ha ha ha ha. Of course I’m not that panicked. Our minor league system is flush with talent, focused on their intensive offseason training.
Look the point is, it’ll be rough seas without him. And I believe that the hurt is worse not only because he contributes, not only because he’s a leader, and not only because of that smile, but because he’s only ever been a Phillie.
That’s just one voice in a huge fanbase. There are millions of fans with millions of motives for wanting a player to stay. So is it really important for someone to wear the same clothes throughout their career? Is there a special honor bestowed upon them for doing so? Well, yeah. Those are the people who get statues or themed giveaways or retired numbers.
But that honor does not apparently mean as much to them as an increased number of millions of dollars. Which sounds horrible, but… it’s not. It’s one of the most understandable choices I’ve ever read. A plaque with my face on it, or stacks of cash in another city? Are you kidding? I’d change places for money, and because I have no motor skills, I wouldn’t have anybody burning my jersey or throwing poop at my house for doing so.
So good for the guys who wear the same colors with pride. They may even be doing it because they want to. But, despite our right to do so, don’t curse them out for doing the same thing you would do when offered a bunch of money and a change of scenery.
Which is easy to say when you’re not discussing one of your own. Because all of this course applies to everyone but me and Jimmy Rollins.
DON’T YOU LEAVE US JIMMY.
NOT EVER.