But why does it have to be one or the other? We cheered them when they came up first AB and then sat down and cheered for strike 1. It's not like we were rooting for them to get a hit or something.

 

Admin is right. both were with the team in 1998 when we lost over 100 games. both were on our world series team, and its quiet possible we wouldn't have won the world series if both those guys were not on our team. see game one of LCS for mikey, game 4 of the series for gonzo. They had their ups and downs, but both went about their business and are A+ people and you could only hope for the best for both.

 

you all on here should be marlins fans and must appreciate what they did for the franchise, yet you are a marlins fan and you want to see them win. cheer for what they did in hte past, cheer for the marlins when your playing the game.

I gave Mikey and Alex standing ovations along with the thousands of others there tonight. Both were great moments especially since they both recognized the cheers and tipped their helmet.

 

We then turned to cheering for an out, but you can not just forget the things they did for this franchise

 

Completely agree, I loved that the stadium cheered like that for Mike and for Alex. Many people are quick to forget all the good times and only remember last season. They deserved the ovation and i'm glad they got it. Does that mean I want them to beat us? Hell no...but I do think they deserve the recognition.

 

 

Actually I sat silently when Lowell and Gonzalez made their first plate appearances and grandstanded for the crowd. But I cheered like crazy when Mike flied to center and Gonzo struck out in ninth just every Marlin fan in attendance.

 

Personally I like winning a whole lot more than hero worship.

 

I gave Lowell and Gonzalez a standing ovation but when Gonzo K'd in the 9th the first thing I thought was same old Gonzo.

Same here, I was screaming to pitch him low and away all game long.

I gave Mikey and Alex standing ovations along with the thousands of others there tonight. Both were great moments especially since they both recognized the cheers and tipped their helmet.

 

We then turned to cheering for an out, but you can not just forget the things they did for this franchise

 

 

:notworthy I will do the same tomorrow. Wanting to win and rooting for your team does not mean you can't respect and appreciate your former players especially those who are the faces of our WS championships. It's not a black & white issue - appreciating them does not equal wanting them to beat us.

Mike Lowell made like 2005 all over again.

Mike Lowell made like 2005 all over again.

 

And it was a beautiful thing :thumbup

Actually I sat silently when Lowell and Gonzalez made their first plate appearances and grandstanded for the crowd. But I cheered like crazy when Mike flied to center and Gonzo struck out in ninth just like every Marlin fan in attendance.

 

Personally I like winning a whole lot more than hero worship.

 

You were one of the few that sat silently, as you know. What happened tonite was the right and classy thing for the crowd to do. It wasn't hero worship from the crowd,,,,and it wasn't grandstanding by Lowell or Gonzo. I remember when the Marlins fans gave Clemens a standing ovation after his 2nd or 3rd or 4th retirement. That wasn't hero worship, it was also the right thing to do at the time. He also tipped his cap. Was he grandstanding also? Some of you have to get beyond this hate you seem to harbor for a player that simply slumped.

I was standing, cheering loud and clear for Mikey and Gonzo when they first came up to bat. They deserve my respect. I am not going to look at the negative, but look at the positive. What Boog posted above is correct. You can't forget that Mikey and Alex are a huge part of the reason why we are 2003 World Champs. I am sorry, but I am not going to let one crappy season get to me. These guys got the respect they deserve and I am glad they did. I got chills when the fans gave Mikey that ovation. It was an awesome experience. And yes, I was wearing my Mikey t-shirt proudly.

To my surprise, I ended up not rooting for Lowell to do well. I think it was partly because Dontrelle was pitching, and partly because he came up in some big spots.

 

But I certainly did stand and cheer for him when he came to the plate. It was a nice moment. You shouldn't be so Marlin crazy that you completely forget about the people who were such a vital part of the franchise.

Actually in the case of Clemens, no I don't think that at all.

 

The difference between a Roger Clemens and an Alex Gonzalez or Mike Lowell should be obvious. I didn't boo them, call them names or any other thing that could be seen as disapproval, rather I decided their underachieving performances the last couple of years did not meet my criteria for adulation the media has been suggesting for the last 24 hours.

 

Are we supposed to cheer every former Marlin who comes to town with another team? Or only the ones from 2003? What are the rules? Do we give Todd Hollandsworth a standing O? He was on the 2003 team.

 

Now if it were Beckett, no doubt I would have cheered. And others too. But after two years and $16 million I think South Florida has given Mike Lowell everything he deserved and more based on his 2004-2005 performance.

 

We can just agree to disagree.

Lowell had ONE bad year. Not two. Where is this 2004 stuff coming from? He batted .293 and hit 27 HRs. It's amazing how one bad year can erase the 5 seasons before that in which he was one of the best 3B's in the league, and seemingly always a stand-up guy.

 

It's ridiculous that you're even comparing him to Todd Hollandsworth.

I think a big part of Lowell being cheered is because he never got that 'last game' at Dolphin stadium. He was traded without the fans being able to say goodbye and believe it or not he was a huge part of this organization. This was the fan's way of appreciating everything he did during his tenure here. He was definitely reason #1 that the Marlins did not make the playoffs last year and that pisses me off, but you've got to remember the awesome years he put in before that.

 

I'm sure as hell not going to cheer for him, but he definitely deserved a standing ovation.

Actually in the case of Clemens, no I don't think that at all.

 

The difference between a Roger Clemens and an Alex Gonzalez or Mike Lowell should be obvious. I didn't boo them, call them names or any other thing that could be seen as disapproval, rather I decided their underachieving performances the last couple of years did not meet my criteria for adulation the media has been suggesting for the last 24 hours.

 

Are we supposed to cheer every former Marlin who comes to town with another team? Or only the ones from 2003? What are the rules? Do we give Todd Hollandsworth a standing O? He was on the 2003 team.

 

Now if it were Beckett, no doubt I would have cheered. And others too. But after two years and $16 million I think South Florida has given Mike Lowell everything he deserved and more based on his 2004-2005 performance.

 

We can just agree to disagree.

 

The only other ex-Marlin that I would give the same standing ovation on his first return would be Castillo. And if Castillo had happened to slump in late2004-all 2005 like Lowell did it wouldn't make a difference to me.

Actually in the case of Clemens, no I don't think that at all.

 

The difference between a Roger Clemens and an Alex Gonzalez or Mike Lowell should be obvious. I didn't boo them, call them names or any other thing that could be seen as disapproval, rather I decided their underachieving performances the last couple of years did not meet my criteria for adulation the media has been suggesting for the last 24 hours.

 

Are we supposed to cheer every former Marlin who comes to town with another team? Or only the ones from 2003? What are the rules? Do we give Todd Hollandsworth a standing O? He was on the 2003 team.

 

Now if it were Beckett, no doubt I would have cheered. And others too. But after two years and $16 million I think South Florida has given Mike Lowell everything he deserved and more based on his 2004-2005 performance.

 

We can just agree to disagree.

 

I guess we all do what we think is right. You think the difference between Roger Clemens and Alex or Mike is obvious, well, I agree but to me that difference is that Roger Clemens never did a damn thing for the Florida Marlins.

Marlins2003, I think the point is that there ARE no rules on who you give a standing O for.....if it feels right to you, then do it. I'm sure a lot of people got all warm and fuzzy (and maybe goosebumps) when Alex and Lowell came up, and wanted to show the two their appreciation for so many memories. I would've done the same thing. But I understand where you're coming from.

 

As it is, if anyone can find any video of the standing O's, posting it here would be much appreciated. I'm a sucker for nostalgia.

I think knowledgeable fans who understand what former players meant to the team, and understand the milestones, and get the intricacies of the game, are why baseball fans are the best in sports. I was at DS for a day game with maybe 4000 other people dying in the 100 degree heat when Treanor (I thinks?) got his first major league hit, and all 4000 gave him a standing O. Stuff like that, or cheering for Lowell and Gonzo, give me a huge smile.

 

By the way, I kind of remember a recent post about how Treanor said he caught Dontrelle's first win? IIRC the game I'm thinking about was against the Reds and Willis carried a perfect game into the 7th and ended up with a loss. Maybe that's what he was referring to?...

I don't want to turn this into another Lowell sucks thread. I intend on clapping for the guy when he steps into the batter's box the first time, in appreciation of his many productive years here and the joy he brought me as a key part of a WS champion team. If you want to stand and jeer him all game like the jacka** in Tampa Bay does to a player on the opposing team...go ahead. It's a free world. I hope and think the majority on hand tonite will be clapping.

 

 

You can blame this a**hole over here in Tampa..Steve Duemig of WDAE. He encourages hostility towards visiting teams...also rants on the air that when you move here you HAVE to cut your ties and become a Rays/ Lightning/Bucs fan or move back.

 

When John Lynch came back with the Broncos to play the Bucs, Duemig said Buc fans (I'm a Patriots fan) should not applaud him..he's a VISITOR and whatever he did in the past...was in the past. He also says that visiting fans..if they get attacked..they deserve it for wearing visiting apparel.

 

So when you hear Rays fans (those that actually exist) doing that..they are Duemig fans.

I don't see what's so taboo about showing respect and appreciation for someone on another team. Then again, what do I know?

Good for the fans there for cheering Alex and Mikey. I know I would've been -- it's about respect. After that you cheer for the outs, but a nice welcome is a good thing. Either way, it sounds like they weren't booed so it doesn't matter. Plus the Marlins were already winning at that point, so everyone was probably happy.

 

I actually have a funny OT story that goes along with this. I went to Yankee Stadium last year and saw the Yanks/Indians. So Aaron Boone comes up to bat for the first time and everyone cheers... then he gets a hit -- each time he came up and would be cheered he would get a hit (including with 2 outs in the 9th inning that became like the first run Rivera would let up in like some disgusting number of innings). They won, but still... you don't want to make the opposing players TOO comfortable .

I don't see what's so taboo about showing respect and appreciation for someone on another team. Then again, what do I know?

 

 

I dont usually disagree with Marlins2003, taking the stance that you truly belive that Mike Lowell is not worth stading up for just seems out of place. He WAS the picture of the marlins from 98-04. I do understand your stqce on rooting for the win, not the players, or former players, but it was the lack of appreciation for him as a Marlin that got me to post...

Marlins2003, I think the point is that there ARE no rules on who you give a standing O for.....if it feels right to you, then do it. I'm sure a lot of people got all warm and fuzzy (and maybe goosebumps) when Alex and Lowell came up, and wanted to show the two their appreciation for so many memories. I would've done the same thing. But I understand where you're coming from.

 

As it is, if anyone can find any video of the standing O's, posting it here would be much appreciated. I'm a sucker for nostalgia.

 

Gee, thank was always my contention. In this case I'm being chastised for not going along with conventional wisdom (or from my point of view, the lack thereof) but I don't think anyone will find me lecturing them on how "they" show act, who "they should cheer and now cheer", rather, it is in the end individual choice.