5 of 8

Write now Article Tools

Bragging in itself is not the most positive influence a player or fan can give their team. By doing so the excited fan is predetermining a set of high standards that usually only predestine you to be disappointed. Jimmy Rollins stated that the Mets were not the team to beat this year in fact the Phillies were. All his hopes seemed to be crushed after opening day at She Stadium when Jimmy, the shortstop made an error allowing the mets to score in a late inning taking the lead only to win the game. The chants and cheers at the stadium were loud and hilarious considering the public statement made by the Phillies. For weeks in flushing the only thing that could be herd was, "JIMMY!....ROLLINS!". All year the Philadelphia team stayed in second place and every chance they got to come in first was shattered by the Met team.

All this remained true until the end of the September when the Mets practically laid over and let the aggressive and determined Philly team take them by one game locking their spot in the playoffs. Very disapinting for the met fans and their high hopes of success. For the most part the bragging seemed to pay off. The Phillies were in and the Mets were out. All the bragging in the world could not have prepared them for the Rockies. Even at home the Phillies got beat with a stick. The fans were so happy that they made it to the playoffs they didn't factor in that the Phillies had to play real ball against a real team that has won their last fourteen out of fifteen games to clinch their spot in the post season during the last month of the regular games.
The Phillies got swept by the Rockies. Showing the bums from Philadelphia that bragging will not get your team past the first round of playoffs. I can almost guarantee that Colorado fans had nothing to brag about during the preseason, season and last month of regular games. And what do you know, the results showed that a team and fan base set on playing ball and not making predictions would do better. The team had less of a hype to live up to and if their season was ended in September their fan base would be nothing but proud.
With this being said the Mets had a comfortable lead all season ranging from two to at one point seven games up almost making it a sure thing for them to get into the playoffs. Their goal seemed to be to make it to the World Series and it wasn't until the last minute that the team showed any fight. And why did it take so long? Because the team, managers and fans all thought the playoff position to be a lock. The Mets fell asleep getting swept by last place teams showing fans that just because there is hype doesn't mean the team can live up to it. Met fans and Phillie fans do not differ that much on this topic. Both teams had extraordinary players and a superb amount of talent. Both teams thought that their team was the best and predicted that their team was either the team to beat or the team going to the World Series. Both of these cases showed to be untrue and demoralizing when the goals and achievements were failed to be capitalized on. Hopefully the thought of failing and disappointing the fans will make these teams both work harder next year. My advice to fans and players alike would be to keep the mouth quiet letting the team prove themselves on the field not just in the media. But for now, lets go Rockies!

Learn more about this author, ibeatbrucelee.
Click here to send author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about The negative effect of preseason bragging in Major League Baseball?
We want to hear your view. Write now!