Fandom is, almost by definition, irrational. “Fan” is short for “fanatic”, after all, and nobody every accused fanatics of being logical thinkers. We all have our biases, whether they’re unconscious or gloriously flagrant. We are not computers beholden to bWAR and fWAR, analyzing players, coaches, managers and owners based entirely on objective metrics. We have our favorites, and it’s only natural that we react and respond based on those gut feelings. But admitting your biases are key to having control
over them. I suspect that something similar is to be found in the 12-Step Program for recovering addicts. So, with that in mind…
Which person involved with the team will you defend, despite what the numbers say?
This can be past or present, and the involvement can be in any capacity, from top to bottom. These would typically be people whose value to the franchise is particularly determined in the nebulous category of “intangibles”. You may even wish to invoke the sabermetric nemesis which is “veteran presence” for this one. Bonus points for explaining your choice. Though bonus points will also be awarded for simply dropping the person’s name and leaving it at that!
