In some towns, booing the home team is considered sacrilege, but at Shea Stadiums it happens early and often, especially when Carlos Delgado is at the plate. But on Sunday, after Delgado hit his second home run of the season, the fans put aside their negativity and instead cheered in anticipation of a curtain call ... that never came. After realizing they were being snubbed, the fans reverted back to their regularly-scheduled boos.So was was Delgado holding a grudge for all of the boos rained upon him the last few weeks? From Bill Madden of the New York Daily News:
"The fans here are very passionate," Delgado said, "and you just don't know what they're gonna do. The way I look at it, I hit a solo homer in the seventh inning. I got a great deal of respect for the game and I don't think that's a place for a curtain call. Having said that, I'm not going to lie. I feel good. It's a lot better than the boos. At first I said: 'This couldn't be for me.'"From the sounds of it, though, even Delgado's teammates knew that his refusal to doff his cap might be interpreted the wrong way. From Jim Baumbach of Newsday:
Yesterday, Delgado came off looking sensitive at best and vindictive at worst. Nobody in the clubhouse criticized his decision yesterday, but you got the sense that players knew that his snub will make everything worse. Without being asked about it, Beltran said, "About him not going out, I didn't advise him."Billy Wagner, who's becoming something of a connoisseur of judging appropriate fan behavior, thinks the hometown fans simply need to relax and give the players a break. From Joel Sherman of the New York Post:
"To some extent it is overdone," Billy Wagner said of the disapproval at Shea that comes quickly and loud. He added, "I think it gets a little malicious with no reason for us."So who's in the right? I'm siding with Delgado for sticking it with the fans. It's a long season and in the grand scheme of 162 games, making snap-decisions in the first 24 seems a little bit foolish. Either the guy's going to hit just like he's done every other year of his career or he's going to struggle all year long because age has robbed him of his ability. But until he starts loafing, he deserves respect.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-28-2008 @ 5:14PM
ace said...
Really? So the guy who makes $16 million a year, the guy who is supposed to be the clubhouse leader of this listless bunch who treated the fans to the worst collapse in baseball history last year, the same fans who endured a huge increase in ticket prices, can't get up to say thanks to the fans?
Really? You're espousing the same $16 million man "sticking it" to the fans, the guy who's batting under .200 (read: loafing) on a .500 (read: loafing) team. "Sticking it" to fans that can only voice their displeasure by booing because we will not endure half-hearted play that contributed to their epic choke last year.
Really? Really? Do I get a discount on my tickets? Do these games count less in the standings than those in July? It's so "mainstream media" to think it's "too early" in the season.
Really? You think "sticking it to the fans" is valid communication. Guess what? The Mets' fans are the only part of the organization that can't be replaced. So the current Mets need to change their attitudes and play with some heart and fire, and we'll stop booing.
And in the meantime, before you side with the "non-loafing" Delgado, watch some Mets game. Watch how the clubhouse leader laughs and jokes with every player on first base. Watch how seriously he plays each ball, or takes each at bat.
Your article is less "Fanhouse" and more "JournalistHouse". Get over yourself.
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4-28-2008 @ 6:05PM
tobrien28 said...
This guy is one to talk about class. He refused to stand for the National Anthem once. This guy is stinking up the joint and then whines when people don't think a .200 average with no power is good enough for a middle of the lineup batter.
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4-29-2008 @ 1:02PM
mathesond said...
Actually, Delgado refused to stand for the 7th-inning rendition of God Bless America as at the time the US Navy was busy destroying part of his Puerto Rican homeland.
AS for Delgado refusing to give a curtain call,why should he show respect to the same people that jump all over him for a 2-week slump? To get respect you have to earn it, and from what I understand, the Shea faithful come up woefully short on that score.
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5-12-2008 @ 12:56PM
LEW said...
KEEP DELGADO 7TH. KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON PEREZ WHEN HE [ITCHES AS A FAN A CAN SEE HIS FARAAWAY LOOK WHEN HE PITCHES. ITA ALMOST LIKE GET ME PUT OF HERE I CANT DO OT TODAY. HE HAS AN EMPTY LOOK ON HIS FACE, HE DIDNTMHAVE IT YESTERDAY. SO 6 INNINGS. THEN HE STARTD TO LOSE IT. RANDOLPH PULLED HIM .. GOOD MOVE BEFORE HE BLEW THE GAME. HOW COME I CAN SEE THIS AND RANDOLPH. OESNT. YOU CANT KEEP HIM IN ONCE HE ATARTS TO LOSE HIS CONCENTRATION.
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5-12-2008 @ 12:59PM
LEW said...
DEL GADO WILL BE GONE EXT YEAR SO WILL PEDRO. 29 MILLION WILL BE AVAILABLE.. IF YOPU LOSE PEREZ ANOTHER 6MILLION.THATS 35 MILLION. GO GET A SECOND BASEMAN. GO GET A BANGER FIRST BASEMAN.
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5-16-2008 @ 1:44AM
AtTheWall said...
Why is it that every game you look at DelGado you see the same drowsy laid back ultra relaxed look on his face? No matter what the situation in the game is or what the importance of the game is its always the same look. The same look thats on my cats face after ripping open a bag of catnip. drowsy, lazy laid back. Well the reason is because he has it made. Hes set. He is guaranteed 16 MILLION DOLLARS this year no matter how poorly he performs and at least another 4 MILLION DOLLARS next year even if the METS decide to cut him from the team. Hes all set right down to his brand new Mazerati we saw him driving to spring training on TV. Hes spoiled. DelGado has very little further incentive to get gritty and become more alert and play hard. He himself is already all set. But the Mets arent.
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5-16-2008 @ 1:44AM
AtTheWall said...
Why is it that every game you look at DelGado you see the same drowsy laid back ultra relaxed look on his face? No matter what the situation in the game is or what the importance of the game is its always the same look. The same look thats on my cats face after ripping open a bag of catnip. drowsy, lazy laid back. Well the reason is because he has it made. Hes set. He is guaranteed 16 MILLION DOLLARS this year no matter how poorly he performs and at least another 4 MILLION DOLLARS next year even if the METS decide to cut him from the team. Hes all set right down to his brand new Mazerati we saw him driving to spring training on TV. Hes spoiled. DelGado has very little further incentive to get gritty and become more alert and play hard. He himself is already all set. But the Mets arent.
Reply