Is he wrong about Reds fans being [Mark May]? Not that I see. Cincinnati likes to call itself a good baseball town, the game isn't as big a deal around here as it is in other cities.
That said, I've stayed away from the ballpark this season and after a certain point I've stopped watching games on TV or listening on the radio. I can tolerate a truly bad team better than I can tolerate a decent team playing bad baseball - even if they do happen to get away with it more than they deserve to.
I pity Ryan Ludwick. He's too dumb to realize that his own lousiness is part of what keeps people away. He's too dumb to realize that his very presence offends Reds fans who really care because they realize that his position is a glaring weakness that the club has neglected or failed to address.
I don't mind the criticism of fans by players, and I don't even mind when it comes from a [Mark May] player like Ludwick. A little bit of self-awareness goes a long way in this kind of situation though, and maybe more fans would get behind what he has to say if him or anybody from the club would admit that they play a brand of baseball that win or lose, more often than not makes the crowd feel like they are wasting their time and money.
Think about the best moments you've seen in other ballparks. Two men on, nobody out, middle of the lineup at the plate... That's a situation where the crowd my be on its feet, buzzing in anticipation, ready to erupt for a timely hit and a couple runs scored. Now think of how often the Reds fail in those instances. The crowd is trained to know what's going to happen next - so much so that not only do you not get the eruption anymore, you don't even get the anticipation. That's the kind of atmosphere that the Reds' play fosters at their own park. If I'm at the game, why should I get on my feet in anticipation of something good happening when they're just going to make me look like an asshole for having any sort of hope?
