One of the things I've always hated is to have numerous fans of the visiting team show up and act like they own the place. You know, Yankee fans, Dodger fans, Red Sox fans, Cubs fans. They're big market teams with huge followings, transplants, and travelling fans. Often over the years, the Oakland Coliseum has had many a game where A's fans were outnumbered by Yankee or Red Sox fans, and Giants fans since interleague play started.
Well, the Giants have a national following, too, just not quite as big as the Yankees or Red Sox. But one place we always show up in massive numbers is San Diego. Transplants, college students, and cheap Southwest Airlines tickets. This four game series vs. the Pads was no exception. Thousands showed up and hijacked the crowd noise this weekend. And Padres fans hate it.
You simply can't listen to the game and tell who just made the big play. Today I was fooled by Tim Lincecum's two run single. The crowd erupted in a roar, and I thought, "Oops, the Padres are coming back." No, it was the Giants fans.
I've seen the Giants on the road in LA, San Diego, Oakland, Colorado and Arizona. It's amazing how many show up, and how many cheer all the louder because they know they're on the road. The first interleague game in Oakland between the Giants and A's back in '97 was about two-thirds Giants fans, and it was louder and more rowdy than most every game I've ever seen in San Fran.
Thanks to the fans who showed up this weekend and cheered the Orange and Black to three out of four to tie for first place.
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