msn Thats true I'm sure Nolan boosted attendance. Though Astros had the rocket for a few years too.. Anyways I dont think the Rangers have a great fanbase but no means near the bottom. I'm not a Ranger fan so I'm done defending them :grin:
I'd thought I'd throw this story in this thread. I'm at a sports bar in Katy the table in front of us has a group of Ranger fans 5 or 6 or so. (jerseys, hats etc etc ) They promptly get up and close out during the break before Frees(sp?) hits the homer comes up. The game is TIED!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They were there for the first pitch and leave during the World Series in a TIE GAME! Unfrigginbelievable! I can see you guys say they are a pathetic fan base!
I get your point but to be fair they just had their heart ripped out TWICE in about 40 minutes, most fan bases don't have that happen to them in their lifetime. That said, can't leave there. At that point your strapped in for the ride and just hope to survive.
I don't blame them in that situation... the Rangers were out of good pitchers thanks to their crappy manager, their best hitter had just been subbed out due to injury, and they'd already hit an extra-inning HR from a guy who hadn't had a HR at all for a month. Add to the fact that the game could have literally gone for another 6-7 innings without a score, and they were at a sports bar that was an hour-2 away from closing, and they probably just wanted to catch the rest from home. If they had left the ballpark, now... that would be a different story. If there's one "good" thing to come out of the Astros move to the AL West its that they will be FORCED to compete with the Rangers, and will try to emulate their business/organizational model... or risk permanent fan alienation. I don't think it will be quite Red Sox-Yankees, but the new owner will have to be proactive to avoid being permanent second-fiddle in the state/division/league.
The thought of the Astros playing second fiddle to a junior circuit team that has been a barely-existent freaking joke for the better part of four decades is repulsive one indeed.
Honestly, I now hope Bud Selig dies the most painful death possible. Hopefully, I never run into him anywhere, because I'll most likely get arrested for punching him in the face.
Exactly... any new (or old) owner should realize that the Astros should and have been the "better" franchise for all of this time. Houston had firm control of the ENTIRE Texas market... and within 5 years has completely pissed that away, and is now being forced to switch leagues against their wills, to help appease the affore-mentioned "lesser" franchise.
something both McMullen and McLane screwed up cataclysmically: Nolan Freaking Ryan. That guy should have gotten two more no-nos in our uniform; he should have been our president of baseball operations; he should be our owner. Gee, thanks, Dr. McMullen, for Jim Clancy. *yay* Gee, thanks, Drayton, for Tal Smith. *yay*
I was so excited when they signed him. My dad and I went out to see him pitch the first time in a 'stros uniform. Not good.
I was too bent over Nolan going to Dallas to be excited about Jim Clancy. It didn't help matters at all when he sucked big hairy donkey balls.
Having been in DFW for 13yrs now, I can say that there are a LOT of people here who root for both teams. Even with the World Series here, I still see people in Astros hats often, and I know a lot of people that own both Astros and Rangers garb. We own both in our house as well. The only time I've rooted against the Rangers is when they're playing the Astro's. Moving the Astros to the AL West is going to force people to choose between their two favorite teams..causing both teams to lose a lot of fans and ticket/merchandising sales. I go to about 4 games a year, and after the move, I'll only go when the 'Stros are in town. I won't buy any Rangers gear anymore, but that doesn't mean I'll buy MORE Astro's gear, I'll just buy less MLB gear overall.
Go to College Station and you will start to hate the Rangers. The amount of bandwagon fans is insane. I also don't think that franchise deserves a championship AT ALL.
sorry, but with what Nolan has done that team most certainly does deserve a title. It should be the Astros. But sour grapes never helped anyone. Kudos to the Rangers and to Nolan. Man, it must be good to be a fan in DFW right about now.
I used to feel this way but honestly Jon Daniels has done more to make them who they are than Nolan. Hamilton trade Getting Cruz with Caballo Tex trade Napoli trade I mean Jon Daniels is pound for pound the best GM in the game and he was there before Nolan arrived as President.
I chuckled Daniels has done an amazing job putting that roster together. Hamilton/Cruz/Andrus/Napoli all came via trade. Young/Kinsler/Murphy via the draft. Beltre was their only positional starter that they had to acquire via FA.
Young via trade(drafted by Toronto, traded w/ Darwin Cubillan for Esteban Loaiza) David Murphy via trade(drafted by Boston; traded in '07 w/ Engel Beltre and Kason Gabbard for Eric Gagne) Only nitpicking
I think Friedman is better since he has to compete against the Red Sox and Yankees with one hand tied behind his back.
