Joe Schulman is the author of a new column in the Kansas City Star about becoming a fan of a new baseball team. He has written for ChopTalk, the Atlanta Braves' magazine. Joe is a freelance writer in Atlanta, and he and his wife, Cady, are avid Braves fans.
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Looking BackHope everyone had a great holiday. Today's the day I start looking to next year's fantasy baseball draft. Looking ahead means looking back at last year. What went right, what went wrong and what I didn't even think about at all during the season. I figured I could use that same formula today and look back at last year's Royals from two different perspectives.
First off, I'm more than just a Braves fan. I'm a baseball fanatic. I watch any game I can, no matter how good or bad the teams. It's one of the things I love about the sport. Every night you can get your fix. I always hate Mondays during the season when there are only a handful of games. I know the players need a travel day and all, but it's rough for us fans.
So last year, I knew almost nothing about the Royals. That's the sad truth. I saw their name in the standings, but that's about it. As the season wore on, I read just bits about the team, because the way I saw it, they were far from contending for anything.
That changed in the late part of the season when I started putting together the idea for this blog. But even then, the Royals were only a footnote to my everyday scouring of box scores and wild card standings. As bad as it sounds, I think it's the problem with so many fans.
We end up caring about our team and their division and that's about it. Sure, we watch other games, but how many of us are guilty of turning off a Rockies/Pirates game because we just don't care? I know I'm guilty. I said I would watch any game, but sometimes they just aren't interesting.
One of my goals this year is not to watch more games or more teams, but to know what's going on with more teams. I'm sure there were plenty of good games and great plays by KC players and guys on teams like the Nationals or the Pirates.
By the end of last season, I had started taking an interest in the Royals, but it was much too late to mean anything in the context of 2006. Now it's almost 2007 and I no longer tell people I'm just a Braves fan. I'm a Royals fan too.
I'm already looking forward to '07. They may not make the playoffs, but it should be the best season in years.
My question to you is: What did I miss from last year? Memorable plays? Great pitching duels? Offensive explosions?
Also, what do you think will be the players or games we'll be looking back on next year?