Beloved by One Fanbase, Hated by Another: Which Players Fit This?

[johnlocke36]

Originally Posted by stevebay

:

Anthony Rendon — A World Series hero for Washington, but a disappointment during his time with the Angels.

Agent was Scott Boras

Originally Posted by TBTC Baseball

Kris Bryant - loved by Cubs fans, seemingly hated by Rockies fans.

Do Nationals fans hate Bryce Harper?

Both agent are Scott Boras

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

Also Juan Soto, a target of ire by the Yankees, but nattys still love him.

Isn’t this like a jilted girlfriend question?

Agent was Scott Boras

Originally Posted by JMStang

For Ranger fans it’s Alex Rodriguez.

Bad contract, thanks Tom Hicks, and clubhouse vibes. To winning a World Series with the Yankees.

Agent was Scott Boras

Originally Posted by SaveMeTheGum

JD Drew might fit this if there’s any fanbase that likes him.

Older but Agent was Scott Boras

[PuddleMonkey]

Originally Posted by johnlocke36

Agent was Scott Boras


Both agent are Scott Boras


Agent was Scott Boras


Agent was Scott Boras


Older but Agent was Scott Boras

[abaseballjunkie]

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

The SF Giants traded for AJ in 2004 and he proceeded to lead the league in double plays with 27. He had a -1.19 WPA. The Giants missed the playoffs by a couple of games. He left the following season and was not liked by Giants fans at the time.

The White Sox obviously love him for his contributions to their 2005 World Series championship.

This is the one that immediately came to mind as a Giants fan. Gave up a good reliever (Joe Nathan) and two prospect starters, one of whom turned in multiple very good years (Francisco Liriano). Pierzynski was a cancer and terrible on the field. It ticked me off when he was lauded for some "gamesmanship" moments down the road with different teams (acting like he got hit by a pitch when he clearly didn't, if I recall, was a big one in the playoffs). Looking up his antics, he also kneed the Giants' trainer in the crotch after being asked what it felt like to get a baseball to the same area. Complete douche.

[rudan007]

As an Astros fan, I think Carlos Beltran fits the criteria. Not sure what Royals or Mets fans feel about him. It was a very big disappointment that he did not sign with us after the '04 season and of course his last stint with the team was all about a trash can.......

[rats60]

Originally Posted by finfangfan

They inducted Bonds into the Pirates Hall of Fame in 2024 which indicates any animosity for him softened over time. Did you visit PNC before then?

There wasn't ever any animosity. Bonds didn't make their Hall of Fame until the third class because he won nothing in Pittsburgh and was horrible in the postseason. Dave Parker was in the first class and they threw batteries at him. His leaving as a free agent was far worse, but he won a World Series and that matters most.

Bonds is hated because he is a doper and he broke two of the most important records by cheating. That is why he will never be in the Hall of Fame. Other players will never forgive that.

[Handsome Wes]

Originally Posted by rudan007

As an Astros fan, I think Carlos Beltran fits the criteria. Not sure what Royals or Mets fans feel about him. It was a very big disappointment that he did not sign with us after the '04 season and of course his last stint with the team was all about a trash can.......

Speaking on behalf of Mets fans, Carlos Beltran is going to be the first Hall of Famer to have a fan base groan when he chooses to have their logo on his plaque.

A very vocal section of fans (of which I am not one of them) are salty because of the way the 2006 NLCS ended, and also because he was good - but not transcendently good - in Queens.

[Baergas]

Not a big name but Jesse Winker was worthless as a Mariner. Poor play, out of shape, bad attitude, and no hustle. He goes to the Mets where they treat him like a vibe king

[BostonNut]

Originally Posted by SaveMeTheGum

JD Drew might fit this if there’s any fanbase that likes him.

ALCS grand slam saved him in Boston.

[base set]

Originally Posted by Baergas

Not a big name but Jesse Winker was worthless as a Mariner. Poor play, out of shape, bad attitude, and no hustle. He goes to the Mets where they treat him like a vibe king

Milwaukee said to him hey, yah there, go ahead and let the door hit you on the way out eh

[carlo16]

Didn’t read the rules

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by rats60

Bonds didn't make their Hall of Fame until the third class because he won nothing in Pittsburgh

Winning the division three years in a row for only the second time in franchise history is winning nothing? Having the second-most wins in a three-season stretch in franchise history is not winning anything? Being the only Pirate to win two MVPs is not winning anything?

You have a strange idea of what winning is. Yes, he didn't win a championship with the Pirates, but that doesn't mean he didn't win anything of importance with them.

[carlo16]

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

Winning the division three years in a row for only the second time in franchise history is winning nothing? Having the second-most wins in a three-season stretch in franchise history is not winning anything? Being the only Pirate to win two MVPs is not winning anything?

You have a strange idea of what winning is. Yes, he didn't win a championship with the Pirates, but that doesn't mean he didn't win anything of importance with them.

You continue your winning streak of being wrong.

Losers celebrate winning divisions. I don’t wanna get suspended but…..

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by abaseballjunkie

This is the one that immediately came to mind as a Giants fan. Gave up a good reliever (Joe Nathan) and two prospect starters, one of whom turned in multiple very good years (Francisco Liriano). Pierzynski was a cancer and terrible on the field. It ticked me off when he was lauded for some "gamesmanship" moments down the road with different teams (acting like he got hit by a pitch when he clearly didn't, if I recall, was a big one in the playoffs). Looking up his antics, he also kneed the Giants' trainer in the crotch after being asked what it felt like to get a baseball to the same area. Complete douche.

Joe Nathan was a borderline Hall of Fame-worthy closer and Francisco Liriano ended up being an All Star starter as a rookie for the 2006 division-winning Twins. The AJ trade kept paying dividends years after AJ left -- it's a cautionary tale.

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by carlo16

You continue your winning streak of being wrong.

Losers celebrate winning divisions. I don’t wanna get suspended but…..

Everyone says the postseason is a crapshoot and a small sample size, yet Bonds somehow takes the blame for the Pirates not winning a championship, even though he was clearly the number one reason they got to the postseason three years in a row in the first place. They weren't contenders until Bonds broke out in 1990, and they stayed contenders even after Bobby Bonilla left in free agency after 1991.

The Pirates haven't been a contender since Bonds left in free-agency, yet somehow he was a self-centered prick who ruined clubhouses.

[carlo16]

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

Everyone says the postseason is a crapshoot and a small sample size, yet Bonds somehow takes the blame for the Pirates not winning a championship, even though he was clearly the number one reason they got to the postseason three years in a row in the first place. They weren't contenders until Bonds broke out in 1990, and they stayed contenders even after Bobby Bonilla left in free agency after 1991.

The Pirates haven't been a contender since Bonds left in free-agency, yet somehow he was a self-centered prick who ruined clubhouses.

That’s a great word salad but winners don’t define winning divisions as winning.
Stick to Babip

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by stevebay

Garvey and Lasorda never played for the Giants.

Where in the OP did it say that players had to play for both fanbases? It just said loved by one/hated by another.

As a lifelong Giants fan, I can tell you that as a kid, we used to cut out the heads of Lasorda and Garvey from magazine articles and use them as the bullseye on our dartboard .

That's hatred.....

[Bosoxfan5990]

Originally Posted by mfw13

Where in the OP did it say that players had to play for both fanbases? It just said loved by one/hated by another.

As a lifelong Giants fan, I can tell you that as a kid, we used to cut out the heads of Lasorda and Garvey from magazine articles and use them as the bullseye on our dartboard .

That's hatred.....

Originally Posted by stevebay

Now that Anthony Rendon’s contract with the Angels is finally over, it got me thinking about an interesting question:

Which players are beloved by one franchise’s fan base, but strongly disliked (or resented) by another team’s fans for whom they also played?

A couple examples that come to mind:

Anthony Rendon — A World Series hero for Washington, but a disappointment during his time with the Angels.

Barry Bonds — Loved by Giants fans despite controversy, yet his Pirates tenure feels almost erased. I once took a tour of PNC Park and the tour guide even mentioned there are hardly any Bonds references or photos in the stadium.

I know there’s always initial animosity when a player leave a team for another, but is there long lasting “hatred” from some fan bases toward a player?

Who else fits this category? Curious to hear some good examples?

See bolded above.

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by carlo16

That’s a great word salad but winners don’t define winning divisions as winning.
Stick to Babip

Winning a World Series should be devalued due to the fact that it is strongly correlated with payroll total -- only one team in the bottom third in league payroll has won the World Series since 1990, and only a handful of teams in the bottom half of league payroll have won one. This is the case even though there has been playoff expansion since 1995, with there now being 6 wild card teams.

The Dodgers far outspent their opponents the last couple of seasons and won two World Series as a result.

In a league where a small-market team like the Pirates have practically no shot at a title, winning three division titles in a row is a big accomplishment.

[carlo16]

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

Winning a World Series should be devalued due to the fact that it is strongly correlated with payroll total -- only one team in the bottom third in league payroll has won the World Series since 1990, and only a handful of teams in the bottom half of league payroll have won one. This is the case even though there has been playoff expansion since 1995, with there now being 6 wild card teams.

The Dodgers far outspent their opponents the last couple of seasons and won two World Series as a result.

In a league where a small-market team like the Pirates have practically no shot at a title, winning three division titles in a row is a big accomplishment.

Hopefully you don’t teach your kids to do well in school Sept-April.

I get that you’ve never competed at anything on any level but ask any mlb player, 20 division titles zero World Series or 1 World Series and 19 last place finishes what do you think the answer will be?

[PhillyVintage]

I think Phils fans have come around on him a little bit after his Wall of Fame induction in Philly, but Scott Rolen is nowhere near as beloved in Philly as he is in St. Louis.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

Everyone says the postseason is a crapshoot and a small sample size, yet Bonds somehow takes the blame for the Pirates not winning a championship, even though he was clearly the number one reason they got to the postseason three years in a row in the first place. They weren't contenders until Bonds broke out in 1990, and they stayed contenders even after Bobby Bonilla left in free agency after 1991.

The Pirates haven't been a contender since Bonds left in free-agency, yet somehow he was a self-centered prick who ruined clubhouses.

In 20 postseason games with the Pirates, Bonds hit .191 with a .265 slugging percentage and 3 RBIs. On the last play of game 7 in 1992, Bonds was out of position and refused to come in when instructed to by Jim Leyland and Andy Van Slyke. So, yes, Barry Bonds is the reason why the Pirates won nothing in Pittsburgh. Doing well in the regular season is meaningless when you play like crap in the postseason.

The Pirates were in the post season three years in a row 2013-15. Not to mention 1970-72 with a championship. Keep posting and showing everyone how little you know about baseball. You said it yourself, the playoffs are a crap shoot. Being in the playoffs makes you a contender. Just ask the 2014 Giants who beat the Pirates in the Wild Card game.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

Winning a World Series should be devalued due to the fact that it is strongly correlated with payroll total -- only one team in the bottom third in league payroll has won the World Series since 1990, and only a handful of teams in the bottom half of league payroll have won one. This is the case even though there has been playoff expansion since 1995, with there now being 6 wild card teams.

The Dodgers far outspent their opponents the last couple of seasons and won two World Series as a result.

In a league where a small-market team like the Pirates have practically no shot at a title, winning three division titles in a row is a big accomplishment.

More nonsense from you. Small market Cincinnati won the 1990 World Series. Small market Minnesota won the World Series in 1991. The economics of the game in 1990-92 were completely different from today. Keep posting and showing how little you know about baseball.

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by rats60

More nonsense from you. Small market Cincinnati won the 1990 World Series. Small market Minnesota won the World Series in 1991. The economics of the game in 1990-92 were completely different from today. Keep posting and showing how little you know about baseball.

You named two of the only four teams since 1990 to win a World Series with a payroll ranked in the bottom half of the league -- the 2003 Marlins and 2017 Astros being the other two.

Prior to 1990, these were the payroll rankings (out of 26 teams) of the WS winners:

1989 A's -- 5th
1988 Dodgers -- 2nd
1987 Twins -- 12th
1986 Mets -- 8th
1985 Royals -- 9th
1984 Tigers -- 10th

[JoshMN]

Cap Anson was an insufferable pr!ck after he left Philadelphia. The people on South Broad Street never really got over it.

Rats will back me up on this. I’m sure he remembers the furor.

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by rats60

In 20 postseason games with the Pirates, Bonds hit .191 with a .265 slugging percentage and 3 RBIs. On the last play of game 7 in 1992, Bonds was out of position and refused to come in when instructed to by Jim Leyland and Andy Van Slyke. So, yes, Barry Bonds is the reason why the Pirates won nothing in Pittsburgh. Doing well in the regular season is meaningless when you play like crap in the postseason.

The Pirates were leading 2-0 in the bottom of the 9th inning in game 7 of the LCS. Bonds is not the reason they didn't win the series. He had an uneven series, but was good overall -- .868 OPS.