Was I that listless?

Barry Svrluga writes that the fans at yesterday's game were "listless." I guess they (we) were, but how exactly are the fans supposed to get excited when the team is getting pounded by the opponent? The Nats were down 2-0 after four innings and had only one hit to show for their efforts. In fact, Brian Bannister had faced only one more hitter than the minimum through four and only two more than the minimum through five. By that time the score was 4-0, and, with the Nats making Brian Bannister look like Walter Johnson, the odds were heavily stacked against the team the fans wanted to cheer for.

The fans weren't so quiet at the beginning of the game. They rained loud cheers on the home team during the introductions and gave a huge ovation to Frank Robinson. They then unleashed their furor on Dick Cheney as he walked off the field. In other words, the fans were quite vocal until the play on the field depressed them to the point of silence.

It is just not credible to suggest, as Svrluga does, that the players were listless in response to the fans' failure to be vocal. The Nationals are not a good team. In the home opener the starting pitcher was someone who should not be starting for any major league team and arguably shouldn't even be in The Show. And the starting second baseman, shortstop, and centerfielder wouldn't be starting for any other major league team. Let's stop acting like the sitation is anything other than what it is: the Nationals are a poor team this year, and they have no choice but to use this year as a rebuilding exercise.

It is just wrong to blame the fans for not responding to this team like it's a World Series contender. The team has the obligation to put onto the field a productive unit that lures fans into the seats, and it (and its putative owner--Major League Baseball) has failed miserably to do that. And even the rebuilding can't get started until Major League Baseball finally gets around to choosing an owner.

The fans have been remarkably supportive throughout this difficult period, and it's the team's responsibility to give them something to cheer for. Until they do, it is entirely appropriate for the fans to show their displeasure or just remain silent if they choose to do so.