Nightmare in Tampa

Today, I was given the opportunity to attend the White Sox Game versus the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. I entered Tropicana Field expecting Rays fans to be loud and obnoxious, but things were definitely different and almost hysterical. While I was walking up to the stadium, I was wearing my usual White Sox gear: a 1983 hat signed by Joe Crede and Dewayne Wise and a Bobby Jenks Jersey with a 2005 World Series shirt under it. I walked up to the ticket usher, the lady told my Mother to enjoy the game, she told my Sister to enjoy the game, she even told my Father to enjoy the game. Then I hand her my ticket, she looks at my jersey and says "You, don't enjoy the game that much" with a smile. C'mon, I'm here to watch a baseball game, not get heckled by ticket ushers.

I have been to many baseball games of different teams in many stadiums. I have been to a Diamondbacks game in Phoenix, a Rockies game at Coors Field, a Cardinals game in St. Louis, a Brewers game in Miller Park, an Astros game in Houston, Cubs games at "historic" Wrigley Field, and of course, I have been to too many White Sox games to count. Now that I have said that, let me get back to my nightmare. Out of all the games that I listed above, I've only experienced heckling from fans at Wrigley. I went to my seats to be extremely surprised, there were about 50-60 other Sox fans in my section alone. This helped out a lot, but it would not compare to the embarrassment I had to face later. I also could not believe how many Cubs fans I saw at this game. I'm at a White Sox vs. Rays game, and yet Cubs fans still decide to come with Cubs gear on, acting like they have entitlement to wear apparel of a team who calls themselves the Lovable Losers.

The game started with a double play in the top of the 1st, the place erupted with cheering. It's nice to see the fans enjoy seeing their team succeed, but there's also something called being a sore winner and excessive cheering is definitely sign of it, especially when you cheer like crazy over a single strike. Let's go the top of the 5th, the game was 2-1 with the Sox in the lead. Alexei Ramirez was on first, Brian Anderson was on a full count. Anderson walked and Alexei, like any player in that situation, attempted to steal second. Brian took a ball and Dioner Navarro threw it to 2nd and Iwamura tagged out Alexei. Ramirez was safe since Anderson walked, but Tropicana Field apparently thought differently. The place literally erupted with cowbells and fans cheering, but then in about 5 seconds, the fans started to boo, thinking he was out. They did not know what had happened. White Sox fans' laughter soon followed. One other thing to point out is how many of the Sox players got booed during the game, specifically Jermaine Dye in the top of the 2nd. Jermaine hit the go ahead home run yesterday which locked the White Sox' win yesterday. Jermaine Dye and Carlos Quentin soon hit home runs in the 6th, both home run balls thrown back into the field. I know this happens a lot, but where's the class? Catching a home run ball is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and to give it away like that is something really idiotic to do. I don't care if I caught a Justin Morneau walkoff home run ball, I still wouldn't throw it back onto the field. It's a once in a lifetime moment and it's a piece of history. I don't care who hit it, I'd keep it. I'd keep a Carlos Pena home run ball, the least they could do is keep a Carlos Quentin home run ball, just because he's that awesome. Let's jump to the bottom of the 6th, bases loaded, 1-1 the count, 2 outs, Ben Zobrist hits a go ahead grand slam. I'll give that one to the Rays, they hit the once thought unhittable Matt Thornton and took the lead. They played the game well, but the fans, they went crazy, like I would expect. But I think they were louder when they were watching an old man dance on the "Dance-Cam." It's the top of the 7th, James Fields is taken out after Carlos Quentin grounds out. The Rays are up 6-5. Shields pitched 6.1 innings and gave up 5 earned runs, he was not spectacular at all. As he was walking back to the dugout, he gets a 5 minute standing ovation when he pitched a mediocre game at best. He was given a win by his offense and the White Sox could have scored many more runs off him had it not been for his defense. Now its the top of the 9th, 2 outs, 1-0 on Josh Fields, runners on the corners, Fields pops out to Iwamura, Iwamura raises his hand and continues to as he runs back to the dugout. The Rays won, good job, but don't be rub it in like that.

So to my real point, Rays are a really good, young, fast, and talented team. They are fun to watch and they have some really talented young players. But they are plagued with obonoxious fans who don't know what they're watching and cheer for just about everything. It'll take a few years for the city to get used to a winning team, it's a new feeling to have an absolutely awful baseball team for 10 years, then have a Pennant winning team the next. It's a great feeling to be winning, I would know, I went through a championship year like them. The White Sox are full of experienced fans who have been watching baseball for longer than the Rays have existed, they understand the game, they know when to cheer, and they respect the visiting team. Same goes with all the other stadiums I've been to, except Wrigley Field. But I really just can't get it out of my head. I went to a baseball game to enjoy the game, enjoy watching my team play. I wasn't cheering over every strike put against the Rays, I respected them and their fans there. But after tonight, I know I will never go to Tropicana Field to ever see the White Sox play again, it's a headache, and if I want to see fans cheer for nothing, I'll take the 15 minute L Train ride to Wrigley Field.

-James (White Sox Writer)