Defending the Yard: Two Days Until the Yankee Invasion

by Stacey on Apr 16, 2008 2:39 PM EDT

We sit just two days from what is easily the most frustrating thing about baseball season, a weekend where the Yankees or Red Sox come to town. Attendance has been down this year so far, and I fear that will make it even worse for those brave O's fans who head to the park this weekend. I know we bring this up every year, but it's important to defend against out-of-towners (and worse, the locals who think it's ok to root for the Yankees). If you'll be in the Baltimore area this weekend and have a free day, PLEASE go to one of the games.

Hopefully one day in the not so distant future, the Yankees and Red Sox fans will find it hard to get a cheap ticket to our beautiful ballpark because it will be filled with O's fans. We all know that winning is the only cure for the attendance woes. Until that happens, the Yard will be infested by out-of-town fans chanting for their ballplayers and team, trash talking our team and our town, and being a general nuisance . It's our duty as some of the loyal diehards to not let these folks keep us from our ballpark and our team.

There's no excuse not to see the team this weekend. The weather is going to be beautiful, a good team is visiting, and our boys need our support. Remember that Adam Jones, Luke Scott, and George Sherrill have never played the Yankees in Baltimore before. Even if their teammates have warned them, chances are they have no idea how bad it will actually be. I'll be there Saturday night letting them know there are some fans who are happy to support them and not scared off by the opposing crowd. Hopefully some of you will be there too.

Let's Go O's!

FanPosts are user-created content and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors of Camden Chat or SB Nation. They might, though.

1 recs | Comment 31 comments

Read Related

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

As someone who has been imported on more than one occasion

to cheer for the Os against the Yankees in Baltimore, I wish I could be there.

Also, for what it’s worth, I would NEVER want to be a Sox fan in Baltimore during a Sox/Os series. Despite team affinity, etc, we have our own park.

Plus, I went to the Canadiens/Bruins game last night in Boston and I think I might know how Os fans feel now when the Sox are in town. So not cool being outnumbered in your own park. You surely have my support in spirit, anyway.

"Yeah, I mean - Cal was much more important to me growing up than Jesus. And frankly, set just as good an example. Loyalty, discipline, hard work, humility, generosity, charity, AND 3,184 career hits. Is JESUS in the 3,000 hit club? I don't think so." - 2632

by Kristen on Apr 16, 2008 2:51 PM EDT 0 recs

I don't really have an issue with opposing team fans

I mean, I’m going to Milwaukee and Chicago this summer to see the Orioles, and I’ve already seen them in a couple different ballparks. I don’t mind having a family of, say, White Sox fans sitting in my section, especially if they’re friendly and can engage in some friendly banter. The Red Sox/Yankees issue is a horse of a different color for two reasons. One is that I really believe Orioles fans stay away from the park because of them. Another is that a lot of those Red Sox and Yankees fans have no fucking respect. I don’t come into a house where I’m a guest, prop my muddy feet up on the coffee table, monopolize the remote, and make fun of my host because he’s not as successful as I am. But that’s what the Red Sox and Yankee fans do when they’re in town.

by Stacey on Apr 16, 2008 3:07 PM EDT up 0 recs

re:

I’ve been watching that Canadians vs. Bruins story line. I admit it makes me smile just a little. But it’s not like the Bruins have strong support, and it doesn’t seem to bug people very much. At least that’s the case where I work and live, which includes some strong hockey towns. Sucking for a long time has a way of doing that.

The local establishments like the Red Sox/Yankee influx. At least those in the touristy areas near the Inner Harbor. My brother is in the food industry and he’s had to drum up a lot of business elsewhere to make up for the decline in the city.

by drj on Apr 16, 2008 4:02 PM EDT up 0 recs

I have more of a problem with the Red Sox fans

at Camden.

DO NOT fucking call Camden Yards “Fenway South.” You can come and root for your team and all of that fine, but th name of the stadium is Oriole Park at Camden Yards, not Fenway South.

Also, didn’t appreciate all of the fans in the LF seats last September yelling for the kid to throw back Markakis’ HR ball. Dicks.

"If you're not practicing, somebody else is, somewhere, and he'll be ready to take your job." -Brooks Robinson

by exitfare on Apr 16, 2008 3:09 PM EDT 0 recs

For what it's worth

I chewed some dude out for calling OPACY “Fenway South” too. My momma raised me to be respectful in someone else’s house.

by Kristen on Apr 16, 2008 3:15 PM EDT 0 recs

thanks!

"If you're not practicing, somebody else is, somewhere, and he'll be ready to take your job." -Brooks Robinson

by exitfare on Apr 16, 2008 4:04 PM EDT up 0 recs

That's just being a toolbag

It’s not your park. Don’t be acting like it is.

Like how last night I had no problem with the Canadiens fans who were mostly benign and just there to support their team – and they should because those people fucking LOVE their hockey team – except for the dudes with the cowbells and the insults and shit. That’s just not cool.

by Kristen on Apr 16, 2008 4:16 PM EDT up 0 recs

Last O's/Yanks game I was at

Was the one in 2003 where the Orioles lost because Jack Cust tripped twice between third and home.

I am still angry about it, too.

I became uncharacteristically belligerent with the Yankee fan sitting next to me when he yelled at me for booing the Yankees during pre-game intros.

Why the Hell Not?

by BrianS on Apr 16, 2008 3:28 PM EDT 0 recs

there were these pricks in yankees caps on the flag court...

giving nick markakis the business last night. i had to give them the serious lee van cleef stare (if you dig the man w/ no name flicks, you KNOW what i’m talking about) and seriously contemplated getting in their grills.

"Well, I've been to one world fair, a picnic, and a rodeo, and that's the stupidest thing I ever heard come over a set of earphones."

by j.q. higgins on Apr 16, 2008 3:57 PM EDT up 0 recs

Now this really bugs me

WHY are there always Yankees and Red Sox fans starting shit at games where neither of those teams are present? It’s so obnoxious. I was sitting in the bleachers at an O’s-Twins game (one day AFTER Nick his three HR) and there was a very polite family of Twins fans one section over from us. A couple of assholes started giving them a REALLY hard time, saying all sorts of shit about the Twins. I figured they were Orioles fans, although even the assiest Orioles fans don’t usually say shit like that. Finally the dad of the Twins family said something to the guy, I assume along the lines of “Your line of insults is pretty rich considering the Twins are in a pennant race and the Orioles are godawful.” and the guy yells, “I’m not an Orioles fan! Fuck the Orioles! I’m a Yankee fan!” Then everyone started booing him and telling him to shut the fuck up.

I also was at an O’s-Angels game once where a Red Sox fan and a Yankees fan got into a fist fight and the police had to be called.

by Stacey on Apr 16, 2008 4:24 PM EDT up 0 recs

what a great rivalry

Camden Chat
Bad Left Hook

by SC on Apr 16, 2008 4:39 PM EDT up 0 recs

I know it's not this weekend

But my dad is in Baltimore for business right now and just said he’s going to the game tonight. He promises to hold it down for the Os.

So that’s one imported Sox fan helping your cause anyway.

by Kristen on Apr 16, 2008 4:15 PM EDT 0 recs

We would rather not choose sides

in the Yankees/Red Sox rivalry.

Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words—"mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
-Jack Handey

by jobe on Apr 17, 2008 6:39 AM EDT up 0 recs

Hank Steinbrenner is helping me pick a side

Camden Chat
Bad Left Hook

by SC on Apr 17, 2008 6:45 AM EDT up 0 recs

But so is Curt Schilling

by jobe on Apr 17, 2008 6:59 AM EDT up 0 recs

Curt Schilling is a billion times better than Hank Steinbrenner. At least Curt Schilling doesn’t think construction workers should be beaten up for attempting to cause a “curse.” Hank Steinbrenner is a mouth-breather.

Camden Chat
Bad Left Hook

by SC on Apr 17, 2008 7:11 AM EDT up 0 recs

I can't offer much argument there

When it comes down to it, I have more hatred for the Yankees than the Red Sox, and I’m all for defending the Yard but I would rather not have a Red Sox fan routing for the Orioles sitting in those seats. Glad to say I’ll try and be at the game friday night though for seriously my first Orioles/Yankees game in at least ten years.

by jobe on Apr 17, 2008 7:20 AM EDT up 0 recs

I'll take a PHN fan

who’s respectful. Yeah, come in and buy a ticket and root for your team. But don’t boo the home team, don’t curse and laugh at the home team fans and “rename” the stadium on your way out. That’s just classless.

"I win! I think I'm better at chess than you, Dad." - My 7 year old, after he beat me for the first (and not last) time.

by duck on Apr 17, 2008 9:04 AM EDT up 0 recs

Since Lewis Black isn't here...

In the case of Steinbrenner vs Schilling I rule that the root of all evil is – Curt Schilling!

And since he’s on the DL for a while, I sentence him to take over Joe Lieberman’s job of spoon feeding John McCain his oatmeal.

Court adjourned!

You can't fix stupid. Stupid is forever.

by sluggo 2.0 on Apr 17, 2008 2:49 PM EDT up 0 recs

Not just "Fenway South"

I haven’t been to a Yankee game in years. I did go to a Red Sox game in 2005. I’ve been home a few times when the Red Sox are in town. I was at Faidleys raw bar when a couple assholes were not so quietly badmouthing Lexington Market, which is one of my favorite places to mill around. Too bad it was after they got their food.

Stay in the Inner Harbor (m)assholes. I figure Yankee fans are the same. I just have no desire to see it.

by drj on Apr 16, 2008 4:18 PM EDT 0 recs

Last O's Yanks game I went to...

I went with my mens’ group at church. We had two MFY fans on the flag court getting so drunk and so vulgar, our youth pastor ended up taking one of them out after they started shit with some 100-pound-soaking-wet 19 year old trying to defend the O’s. That was 10 years ago, and I’ll not go back during MFY or PinkHatNation games.

Dude, when pastors have to start throwing ‘bows to keep MFY fans in line, it’s a sad state of affairs.

"I win! I think I'm better at chess than you, Dad." - My 7 year old, after he beat me for the first (and not last) time.

by duck on Apr 16, 2008 4:23 PM EDT up 0 recs

See this is what makes me sick

I don’t blame you for not going back, honestly. It’s simply ridiculous that an O’s fan has to feel that way in the first place. But it’s precisely why I go. That and if the Orioles DO win, it is SO much sweeter than your run of the mill victory.

by Stacey on Apr 16, 2008 4:27 PM EDT up 0 recs

yeah...

i went to the game last year where myers (i think?) walked a shitload of dudes in the bottom of the 9th and razor walked in the winning run w/ the bases loaded.

so, sweet to not just win, but win in a way that is very humiliating to all the yankees fans that talk trash all game long.

"Well, I've been to one world fair, a picnic, and a rodeo, and that's the stupidest thing I ever heard come over a set of earphones."

by j.q. higgins on Apr 16, 2008 4:34 PM EDT up 0 recs

I remember being there two years ago

And the Yankees had won the first two games in the series but were getting absolutely blown out in the third game. Jorge Posada was playing first. I swear some dude they found on the street in a random Yankees jersey was pitching. Javy Lopez hit two home runs. It was excellent.

There was a little kid sitting in front of us and his mother kept feeding him sugar all damn game. They were straight out of central casting, Jersey Shore Yankee fans. Long about the eighth inning, the kid – who was like four – looks at the scoreboard and he goes, “The Orioles are winning. I like them better. Go Orioles!” His mother, I kid you not, threatened to smack him. That must be that Yankee fan class you hear so much about.

by Kristen on Apr 16, 2008 4:40 PM EDT up 0 recs

i think the worst...

was this game i went to where luis matos got shaken up crashing the boards for a deep fly. now, this was when he actually showed some promise, so me and my colleagues were understandably a little concerned. a healthy contingent of los yanqui fans started BOOING matos. it was truly outrageous. me and my buddies kind of got in to it w/ the yanqui cabrones in front of us and a couple of them got ejected!

"Well, I've been to one world fair, a picnic, and a rodeo, and that's the stupidest thing I ever heard come over a set of earphones."

by j.q. higgins on Apr 16, 2008 5:03 PM EDT up 0 recs

I went to a game in ‘98 – so one year after we went wire to wire – and was sitting in the club level in front of a family of Yankee fans. We were playing Toronto, I believe, so they were definitely just tourists. Little Jimmy (prick that he was) kept talking about how BORED he was, and how this game was BORING, and that nobody was DOING anything, and couldn’t he have another soda? His Jersey princess mutha kept spoon-feeding him the sugar, because that’s what you do with an overactive child. We were down something like 3 runs in the 8th inning & Little Jimmy asked if the Orioles were EVER going to DO anything. Jerseymum told him, and I quote, “No, honey. If they were the YANKEES they would win this game, but they’re not.” She then turned to Fatty Mc-I-Love-The-Sopranos-Because-They’re-From-Jersey-and-I’M-From-Jersey and told him they should go since the game was obviously over.

I was 6 deep into my drinks, so I stood up & told them that, not only should they leave, but they should also go back to the hotel & pack their shit since they obviously made such a horrible mistake in ever choosing to visit our fine city & there was no way in hell we could ever measure up to the brilliance that is NYC’s armpit.

Mr. I’m Not Fat, I’m Big Boned wanted to jaw a bit, but he didn’t want to get his ass tossed over the railing by 3 guys fresh out of college either. Plus, we started mounting a comeback as they shuffled out, so they got an earful from the crowd too.

That was the worst until a PinkHatNation game a few years back. But that’s another post for another time…

From the Land of Pleasant Living...

by OEutaw on Apr 19, 2008 9:37 AM EDT up 0 recs

since i was one of the ones last year that made alot of noise about this

i feel doubly ashamed that i cannot go to any of the games this weekend.

but i want you all to know that i just bought a pair of tickets for Saturday’s game therefore preventing MFY fans from buying them.

it’s a small and futile jesture, but it’s the only thing i can do about it this weekend.

THIS is Birdland?!?

by Dave at Bottomfeeder Baseball on Apr 16, 2008 4:57 PM EDT 0 recs

I would pay good money to see Hank $tnbrn*r explain himself

to my cousin’s LI construction union local (pipefitters). He’d really have to talk fast. Or somebody’d fit him with a pipe.

Oh, and my highlight of the ‘07 season: Sunday game at the Yard, walk-off Millar donger gives O’s first series win over Sawx since, I dunno, the Dead Ball era or something. Sweet. And yeah, I had a few high-spirited and ironic comments for the Sawx-fen hordes on the way out. To which they responded with what you’d expect. Classy buncha folks.

Rah Rah Rasputin / Lover of the Russian queen
There was a cat that / Really loved Birds. -- Boney M

by Titov on Apr 17, 2008 11:16 AM EDT 0 recs

My daughter and I will be there on Saturday

and nothing would please us better than to see the Os give the MFY a royal ass kicking.

by Bluehen on Apr 17, 2008 1:11 PM EDT 0 recs

So

after work today I walked up to Camden Yards to buy tickets for Saturday night’s game. I asked her what was the best available for four people and she said “Oh we have tons of stuff down on the field. How’s 5 rows back?”

This means 1 of 2 things. 1) There are only going to be 15 O’s fans at the game, or 2) The Yankees fans are staying home this time. School is still in session so that’s a factor I’m sure. Maybe high gas prices kept them away? Other economic reasons? I really have no idea. It’ll be interesting.

by Stacey on Apr 17, 2008 6:45 PM EDT 0 recs

I think that also means

That season ticket sales are way down. Aren’t box seats like that usually reserved for season ticket holders first?

"The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again."

by 2632 on Apr 18, 2008 9:29 AM EDT up 0 recs