Things I like

[cosmolinguist]

Do you ever wonder why you like the things you like?

You know: why knitting? why Buffy? why football? why Macs? why bi poly kinky pagan gamer geeks?

(Thought I made that last one up, didja?)

Okay, so maybe I'm the only one. But sometimes I do wonder about this.

Apparently there are people that ask themselves, "If I were someone else, would I like me?" I think that's boring (and obvious: of course I would! I'm cool!); I ask, "If I were someone else, would I still like what I like?"

For instance. Would I like the Minnsota Twins if I weren't from Minnesota?

Last night's game made me think that I would.

First of all, they beat the Yankees, and I always like it when anybody beats the Yankees, especially in the playoffs.

Second, they set a record for double plays in a postseason game (five), and I like double plays. I like defense in baseball. I just think it's more interesting to watch than the kinds of games where fifteen home runs are hit. I like the idea of a team effort and a collection of small feats of competence winning the game, instead of a single big moment of power-hitting achievement by an individual. Of course, a game can also be won or lost on a single big defensive play, so it's not a perfect hypothesis. But still, there seems to be more grace and style and fun stuff to watch in one of Torii Hunter's catches than one of Barry Bonds's homers.

I suppose I wouldn't be too likely to care about the Twins if I weren't from Minnesota, or about baseball at all if I weren't from the US (or at least from Japan or Latin America). I don't imagine any new fans will be won over by my incoherently-expressed happiness over last night's game. But I thought I'd write about it anyway.

Comments

[soltice.livejournal.com]

Oooo...that community has much shininess...

[parakleta.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes it does. That's very cool.

[cosmolinguist]

Too bad I only fit one or two of those groups. :-) They do so often seem to go together, though.

[cosmolinguist]

Those groups all overlap anyway. As seen here.

[angel-thane.livejournal.com]

yes, but the Blue Jays still ahve the only World Series Triple Play (even if the dumb umpires were being chauvenistic about it)

[dawgdays.livejournal.com]

Hates Yankees, loves defense. DPs over homers. Be still my beating heart.

But I umpire, so I'm crazy too, so take this comment with a bag of salt.

[cosmolinguist]

Hey, I like people who like me. :-) Or at least like the things I like.

[madscience.livejournal.com]

I don't know, but have you heard Brak's song about all the things he likes?

[cosmolinguist]

I've heard too much from Brak for my liking.

[madscience.livejournal.com]

I wonder who would win in a fight... Zorak or Tom Servo.

[cosmolinguist]

I'm voting for Servo. But now you've made me wonder ...

[nminusone.livejournal.com]

Sorry, got to go with Zorak on this one, mainly because he's such a cheater. ;)

[j4.livejournal.com]

Do you ever wonder why you like the things you like?

Ceaselessly. Question everything!

[cosmolinguist]

:-)

There are reasons I like you.

[kratkrat.livejournal.com]

The best of those 5 double plays: Torii Hunter catching a fly ball, then gunning out Posada at the plate as he tried to score from third. That was GREAT!

I've been telling people that the Twins are going to be very dangerous in the postseason. First, Johan Santana is going to win his games. Dude hasn't lost since June 9, and hasn't given up more than two runs or pitched less than 7 innings in any of those games. AL Cy Young is his. But if Radke pitches like he can, he's lights out, too. They play small ball and have that great defense you mention... and that wins playoff games. Though they lost to The Evil Empire by one run in 12 innings last night, they are now going back home and could well win this thing. They are the exact type of team that is dangerous in a short series.

[cosmolinguist]

I was worried abou their pitching this year—no Eric Milton, no LaTroy Hawkins, no Eddie Guardado—but they shut me up admirably. Santana really impressed me (even in May, when I was actually watching all the games on TV with my dad). And Nathan is just cool. Besides that, their offense improved a bit this year (didn't take much), so even if the pitching wasn't perfect, they could sometimes get enough runs that it didn't matter.

I just hope they beat the Yankees. Sure, it'd be lame of them to tank yet another ALCS, but the Red Sox would be tough to beat. I'd actually like to see those two play; it'd be a good series and I'd be happy with either of those teams going on.

Actually, now that I think about it, if the Twins pick this year to be in the World Series, the year I'm out of the country and can't watch the games, I'm going to be rather displeased.

[emmycantbemeeko.livejournal.com]

It frightens me slightly that although previously unaware of it, on closer inspection I have two friends in that community.

[cosmolinguist]

Well, several of mine have shown interest after seeing me mention it here. A few are members, though I don't know if that's a pre-existing condition or if they were inspired to join after finding out about it here. Neither would surprise me.

[gentleman-lech.livejournal.com]

Dammit, you made me join another community. :p

I've always preferred defense to offense myself. Back when I actually watched baseball, I was much happier with a 3-2 nail-biter that came down to the bottom of the ninth than one of those 10-7 slugfests. 10-7 is a football score, dammit! Any time a team scores more than 5 runs in a game (unless that sixth run is needed in the 11th inning to finally end the game or something), the defense has royally fucked up.

[cosmolinguist]

What I thought was a throwaway reference seems to have captured the attention of many of my friends. I see that five of my LJ friends signed up for it by this point. I suppose I should've known better and not been surprised at this. I'd join myself, but I'm really only one or two of those things. :-)

And I have a similar belief concerning football scores in baseball. It's just not right.

[gentleman-lech.livejournal.com]

Well, I figured 3 1/2 out of six was close enough. :)
(I'm not bi or pagan, and only slightly kinky. But I fit the -friendly category for all of them.)

I know karaksindru and soltice, but who are the other two?

[cosmolinguist]

But I fit the -friendly category for all of them.

As do I, really. (Look at me, I'm so tolerant!)

who are the other two?

jrfrench and angel_thane.

[burkesworks.livejournal.com]

I thought the Minnesota Twins were a couple of blonde bimbos like Mary-Kate and Ashley only with less clothes. Then again though, where you come from most people probably think Sheffield Wednesday is a bank holiday.

[cosmolinguist]

I imagine they're called the Twins because of the Twin Cities, Minneapolis and St. Paul. Silly, I know, but they used to be the Washington Senators, so it could be worse.