Okay loyal readers, here is your chance to get the discussion going. Let us know what is on your mind. Today is a great day for the Pine!
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bill ribassays
Here’s a question for you – should fans be allowed any say in player changes? In other words, could they be enabled like stockholders to vote on actions made byt the team, or bring forth suggestions?
Case in point, there’s been a lot of rumbling here about how Trent Edwards is ineffective at his position. Do you think a fan collective could vote to have him booted? Similarly, Buffalo had TO last year, but no one threw to him, and he’s now gone – could the fans have saved him?
I don’t want to get too involved in how the whole scene would be implemented, but given the investment fans make in a team (and include ticket prices, food, all paraphernalia, etc), should the fans have some sort of voting power or control over their team of choice?
Wallysays
Bill —
Fans sort of have this power in Green Bay, where the team is publicly held by shareholders. I believe this is the only instance where fans “own the team” in major pro sports. But as good as your idea sounds to Joe Fan, I’m sorry to say that it’s highly impractical. Unfortunately, fans can only essentially vote with their wallets and their viewership. Displeased with your team? Don’t go to the games, don’t watch ’em, and don’t buy the gear. Unfortunately in the NFL particularly, the fans weapons have probably the least amount of impact vs the other sports because of the way money … esp TV money … is distributed fairly equally across the board.
I guess if you’re disgusted with Edwards, you can always go to the game with thousands of your buddies and boo him mercilessly whenever he’s on the field … maybe the coach will “get the message”. Sounds pretty exhausting though and it probably won’t help him play any better.
Bill – Impractical? Probably. At least in the United States. I did a piece a while back on an English soccer club that actually used what you are suggesting.
Time for some thoughts or predictions from our readers on the following:
— Who will win the AL East?
— Who will win the NL East?
— Who will win the NL West?
— Who get’s the NL wildcard slot?
— Will the Twins ultimately claim best record in the AL?
— Why did the WhiteSox crash and burn? Let me handle this one … a) the pitching faltered. The bullpen “closers” were crappy all season (Boobie Jinx and the cast of clowns), but the clock struck midnight on a few of the starters who turned back into pumpkins over the past 3-4 weeks. b) Kenny Williams never got the much needed left-handed clutch power bat this team desperately needed …. this one the heels of letting Jim Thome go …. to the Twins of all teams!!! c) The Twins have just been fantastic since the All-Star break … I believe they’ve won 9 or 10 more games since the break than ANY OTHER team!!! Of these 3 reasons, the last one if the biggest factor. Gotta tip our caps to the Twins … they may even capture best record by game 162.
bill ribassays
Oh I know it’s impractical, but it just hit me that for the knuckleheads who invest so much time and money and all on their team, they have zero input, outside of some message boards. Just seemed weird for a minute.
Crossword Petesays
I would think that fan input could at least be looked at. No promises; just get a sense of how many, not just who is the loudest. If there are many opposed to some player, it’s not like he/she is going to be surprised. After all, game day jeers can’t go unheard. Owneres and GMs make the final decisions, but the old saying is “you can’t fool all the pople all of the time”. If a majority feel a certain way, the decision makers should know that and factor it in, especially in this day of the more-informed fan.
Okay loyal readers, here is your chance to get the discussion going. Let us know what is on your mind. Today is a great day for the Pine!
Here’s a question for you – should fans be allowed any say in player changes? In other words, could they be enabled like stockholders to vote on actions made byt the team, or bring forth suggestions?
Case in point, there’s been a lot of rumbling here about how Trent Edwards is ineffective at his position. Do you think a fan collective could vote to have him booted? Similarly, Buffalo had TO last year, but no one threw to him, and he’s now gone – could the fans have saved him?
I don’t want to get too involved in how the whole scene would be implemented, but given the investment fans make in a team (and include ticket prices, food, all paraphernalia, etc), should the fans have some sort of voting power or control over their team of choice?
Bill —
Fans sort of have this power in Green Bay, where the team is publicly held by shareholders. I believe this is the only instance where fans “own the team” in major pro sports. But as good as your idea sounds to Joe Fan, I’m sorry to say that it’s highly impractical. Unfortunately, fans can only essentially vote with their wallets and their viewership. Displeased with your team? Don’t go to the games, don’t watch ’em, and don’t buy the gear. Unfortunately in the NFL particularly, the fans weapons have probably the least amount of impact vs the other sports because of the way money … esp TV money … is distributed fairly equally across the board.
I guess if you’re disgusted with Edwards, you can always go to the game with thousands of your buddies and boo him mercilessly whenever he’s on the field … maybe the coach will “get the message”. Sounds pretty exhausting though and it probably won’t help him play any better.
Bill – Impractical? Probably. At least in the United States. I did a piece a while back on an English soccer club that actually used what you are suggesting.
https://pickinsplinters.com/2008/11/10/ebbsfleet-taking-on-the-status-quo/
Time for some thoughts or predictions from our readers on the following:
— Who will win the AL East?
— Who will win the NL East?
— Who will win the NL West?
— Who get’s the NL wildcard slot?
— Will the Twins ultimately claim best record in the AL?
— Why did the WhiteSox crash and burn? Let me handle this one … a) the pitching faltered. The bullpen “closers” were crappy all season (Boobie Jinx and the cast of clowns), but the clock struck midnight on a few of the starters who turned back into pumpkins over the past 3-4 weeks. b) Kenny Williams never got the much needed left-handed clutch power bat this team desperately needed …. this one the heels of letting Jim Thome go …. to the Twins of all teams!!! c) The Twins have just been fantastic since the All-Star break … I believe they’ve won 9 or 10 more games since the break than ANY OTHER team!!! Of these 3 reasons, the last one if the biggest factor. Gotta tip our caps to the Twins … they may even capture best record by game 162.
Oh I know it’s impractical, but it just hit me that for the knuckleheads who invest so much time and money and all on their team, they have zero input, outside of some message boards. Just seemed weird for a minute.
I would think that fan input could at least be looked at. No promises; just get a sense of how many, not just who is the loudest. If there are many opposed to some player, it’s not like he/she is going to be surprised. After all, game day jeers can’t go unheard. Owneres and GMs make the final decisions, but the old saying is “you can’t fool all the pople all of the time”. If a majority feel a certain way, the decision makers should know that and factor it in, especially in this day of the more-informed fan.
Such a world exists, Bill. They’re called fantasy leagues 🙂
Hahahaha
Anyone changing their opinion on instant replay? Adding a fifth umpire to every crew who sits in a booth and makes the calls sounds good to me.
I like that idea too … at the very least for playoff games.
replay worked for the little league world series, shouldn’t be a problem with the big boys. well, maybe except for Jeter.