UCB Roundtable: Still watching?

It’s time once again for the United Cardinal Bloggers to gather in the virtual meeting room and tackle a roundtable discussion. Here’s the question I posed to my UCB brethren, inspired in part by my InsideSTL column on Monday:

 

The 2010 Postseason is in full swing, and for the third year out of the last four Cardinal fans are watching someone else play baseball. Or are they? What are you doing with your Cardinal-free October? Are you still interested in the Postseason? Are you rooting for or against specific teams, and why? Are you protesting the playoffs but still staying glued to the rumor mills for hints about the Cards for 2011 and beyond? Or have you given up on baseball altogether and shifted your attention to football and hockey?

 

–I will pull for whoever wins tonight to beat the Yankees, and root for the NL to win the World Series. -Mike, Stan Musial’s Stance

 

—A couple weeks ago, I guess I was being bitter and had very little interest in watching postseason baseball.  However, I convinced myself that at least I needed to root for the Reds to lose (of course); not necessarily rooting for the Phillies to win.  And, thanks the almighty powers of Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt, that happened; the Reds were swept right out of the postseason.  So, I am happy.  I wanted the Braves to win, only for Bobby Cox.  Now that the Giants are in the NLCS, I guess I am being forced to root for the Phillies again.  Although I haven’t really followed the games closely, I can’t help but pay attention – sports will always run my life. 

As far as the Cardinals in October – I am doing my best to avoid listening to rumors regarding contracts and free agency, at least for right now.  I would like for us to get to November before we really start in on all that.  (Let’s face it; the rumors will be flying for this team this offseason.)  After this year, I think we all need some breathing room/re-grouping since we have all were crowded around the ledge for some time.

 

Rooting for two things: Giants lose, Yankees lose.  I guess I would be OK with the Phillies winning the World Series since they are in the NL.

 

P.S. yeah, I am in hockey season now – Go Blues! -Cadence, Cardinal Diamond Diaries

 

—I try to watch as much postseason baseball as I can. It’s definitely not as high on my priority list as it would be if the Cardinals were in it. I went in cheering heavily against the Yankees and Reds but have also developed more and more of a dislike for the Giants. As far as the Cardinals off season is concerned, well it’s time for Mozeliak to have a productive one. He’s got a lot on his plate that’s for sure. I love hot stove time so I’ll be tuned in for that and everything surrounding the winter meetings. In the meantime I’ll have college and NFL football to pass the time along with Blues hockey. We only have 4 months or so until pitchers and catchers report. -Dustin, Welcome to Baseball Heaven

 

–I do not watch post season baseball if the Cardinals are not in it. I follow all the rumor mills and read all the blogs and suck up all the winter activities I can find. There are too many other sports to watch now with NHL, NFL and NCAA football for me to look in on the other teams. It just kinda makes me throw up a bit in my mouth to see some of those teams playing! -Tom, Cardinals GM

 

–I want the Cardinals to remain the last team to win 3 consecutive NL pennants (1942-44). So I’m rooting for the Giants. -Mark, RetroSimba

 

–I’m a sports fan, so I’m really into college and pro football. I always participate in way too many fantasy leagues. I’m psyched that the Rams are showing improvement and the Chiefs are doing so well. As a Mizzou alum, I try to attend as many home Mizzou games as possible. I’m also a Gator. I love watching the big games of the week. I’m a huge hockey fan as well, so go Blues!

 

But all that doesn’t preclude me from staying up to date on all the Cardinal scoop. I want to know everything that’s going on. I enjoy watching the baseball postseason. I don’t watch all the games as much as I do when the Cards are involved. I despise the Yankees, so I always want to see them get beat. I watch the NL games more because the AL is not real baseball. The DH is an abomination. I like the Giants and the Phillies so as long as one of them win the Series, I’ll be a happy camper. Now sign Albert and all will be right with the world. -Jacqueline, Cardinal Diamond Diaries

 

–I still watch the playoffs. Every year. Of course I’m without a doubt upset that the Cardinals aren’t competing, but at the end of the day, I’m still a baseball fan. There’s no better baseball than playoff baseball. I have a deep appreciation for the game of baseball and I love seeing magical moments happen. That’s sure to happen during the post season.

 

I usually find a team to root for – one with a good story, or one that has assumed the “underdog” role. This year, I found myself rooting for the Braves for the Bobby Cox story. Now that they’re out, I root for anyone who isn’t the Yankees or Phillies (except when the Phillies played the Reds). If it comes down to Yankees vs. Phillies (like last year) I tend to side with the Phillies (lesser of two evils). It’s not an ideal situation like it would be if the Cardinals were playing, but it’s still fun to watch. For those of you who chose not to watch, you missed history in Game 1 of the Phillies/Reds series. I’d hate for you to miss more by simply not watching. -Cole, Redbird Report

 

–While there is always disappointment and frustration when your team doesn’t make it, I can never get enough of the baseball playoffs. Whether my team is playing or not, nothing tops October baseball. I guess I just love baseball enough that I can find a reason to be excited. It doesn’t take much when the World Series is on the line. The point is every year is making history. Another team gets etched in history and the moments that led to that pinnacle are all a part of the game’s history and I don’t want to miss out on that because I was sulking about my team’s failures. How can you not get chills watching Roy Halladay throw a no-hitter in the playoffs? And then be excited to talk about it all day until the rest of the games start at night. I know I am and I can always feel it every October. How can’t you at least get a little emotional watching Bobby Cox talk at a post-game press conference for the last time? There has to be something to grab you in the postseason. Your favorite team is what brings out the passion in the game. But the game alone is why you have that favorite team and that passion. It’s still baseball and it’s the best baseball of the year, so I’ll be watching year in and year out regardless of the competition. And when my team’s in it, I’ll be even more interested and I’ll be rooting like crazy to see them win it. When they’re not, the interest will still be there. -Ryne, Redbird Rants

 

–I think great minds think alike. Here is my Monday post for a website called “More Hardball”.

 

To elaborate:

 

I am enjoying a great post-season despite by birds being on the sideline.  I always keep my eyes peeled for Cardinal news throughout the year, that is a 365 day addiction for sure. As for Football and Hockey, I am not a Hockey fan at all and, while I watch football, it will not get my full attention until Baseball crowns it’s world champions.

 

I hope that helps, great questions, let’s just not start saying “Wait until next year”, there are a group of fans that phrase belongs to. -Bill, I-70 Baseball

 

–There are other sports?  Really?

 

I’ll kinda keep up with how the Razorbacks are doing, but that’s the extent of my following of other sports.  Don’t get me started on how football is over-hyped and overrated. As for the playoffs, I’ve not been able to see as much of them as I’d like.  I’ll catch moments here and there, but not as much as if the Cards were still in it.

 

Basically, I just spend my time with my various baseball related projects–this roundtable, the Baseball Bloggers Alliance, the blog, the UCB Radio Hour–and keep whiling away the time until the Hot Stove League really kicks off. -Daniel, C70 At The Bat

 

—I am watching and following the post-season. My only favorite team I am rooting for are the Rangers. I am hoping the Rangers are able to make it through the Yanks and meet the Phillies in the World Series! -Joe, The McBrayer-Baseball Blog

 

—I’m watching every possible game of the playoffs, and my interest has nothing to do with placing a pre-season wager on the playoffs.  Nope, it has nothing to do with any such hypothetical wager that never, ever took place.  I never even considered picking the Cardinals, Phillies, Giants, and Reds (WC) in the NL.  (Maybe the AL picks would’ve been more accurate, but this conversation never took place.)

 

I’m done rooting against the Reds, because they were dropped like a wingman at midnight.  I’m still hoping for a Rangers/Yankees ALCS, because that match-up intrigues me more than Yankees/Rays (they play each other enough as it is).  If there is a Yankees/Phillies WS rematch, I’ll probably spend my time focusing on something compelling like starting a chain letter to John Mozeliak and Mr. Dewitt about coughing up the money for Cliff Lee. Oh, there will be plenty of college football, hockey, and professional football. Multitasking at its finest. -Dennis, Pitchers Hit Eighth

 

Wow! As usual, various viewpoints and great answers. If you are unaware of the UCB and the individual member blogs (most of which are linked above), make yourself aware pronto! All it will cost you is some fantastic fan journalism if you don’t…

 

As for me, I have to side with the watchers. While I’m excited about the St. Louis Blues and encouraged by the St. Louis Rams, I can’t seem to turn away from baseball while it’s being played. That’s especially true about playoff games. Maybe I don’t sit down and devote undivided attention to every inning, but I’m into it. Now that the NLCS and ALCS teams are set, I’m in full underdog mode. The Texas Rangers may technically be seeded higher, but almost any team playing the New York Yankees in the playoffs can’t be an overwhelming favorite. And the Philadelphia Phillies will be tough to beat, but I’d really like to see the San Francisco Giants get a chance to erase 50+ years of World Championship drought.

 

But even if it’s a Phillies-Yankees World Series rematch, I’ll be watching.

 

–Chris