(Note from Howard: Last weekend, commenter Bonzo43 wasn’t happy with yet another unflattering mention of Twins pitcher Sidney Ponson. I asked Bonzo43 about writing a post that would explain why she roots for Ponson with the same enthusiasm that others have for Santana, Mauer or even Nick Punto. Bonzo43 took me up on the offer.) 

A while back, I saw a news item announcing the poll results for the Most Hated Man in the World. I breathed a sigh of relief when the “winner” of the honor was not Sidney Ponson. Whew! Now, of course I wonder if I should have checked the results, because the way some folks write and talk about him, Sidney MUST have at least finished second.

I know I am one of a select group who admits to (still) liking Sidney, a lot. HE IS MY FAVORITE PLAYER! I believe he still can show the Twins and their fans that he IS a bona-fide MLB starter, and may turn into a winner once more. Will he get going the right way before the team yields to the vocal masses demanding Ponson be replaced? Will the team start playing well again, so everyone can relax a bit? (I think the pitchers’ recent “Fielding Follies” may be a result of trying to do too much, being too aware that the offense has been having a hard time.) Stay tuned. I have my fingers crossed, and just hope the people who make those decisions don’t give up on this guy!

Why would anyone still like Sidney? Well, I say, How can anyone NOT like this guy? I can relate to the guys who don’t always win, aren’t all-stars, but do have skill, play hard and show some emotion. Guys who sign autographs at the ballpark, who don’t sulk on Photo Day and avoid cameras despite being demoted to bullpen duty the day before. I like guys who admit their mistakes, can take the blame when they cost their team and don’t mind giving credit to teammates.

And Sidney meets all of the above criteria. He also has a great sense of humor,and is very quotable (usually-but I feel his silence has been a wise choice when he has clammed up.) He also has one of the nicest smiles around. Too bad it hasn’t been seen often enough in 2007.

Not everyone can win a Cy Young. Is it a crime to be an underachiever? Or to have human problems off the field? But it sure was easy for fans and the media to turn on Sidney. He was once in demand, now a team is laughed at for thinking of signin him. No, his stats have not been impressive, but does that make him Suddenly Satan?

I think because we all know way too much about his off-field troubles, fans and the media have judged him to be a criminal, a monster, and not fit to play in front of children. All because of what is actually a disease! (And I really thought how honest he was about rehab and his new lifestyle was kind of inspiring, especially last spring. Most people probably don’t appreciate how hard such interviews must be, but he wanted to be honest and set the record right, and he also felt he should not be ashamed.)

He took the right action when he saw his problem — as he has said, you won’t get sober just because a judge orders you to rehab — until you decide you want to get better, you won’t. No one really gives him credit for this, but he was not SENT to rehab. He went on his own. (Sure, it was more likely he’d return to baseball if he did it. But I believe his motivation was more that he was tired of what was happening and not being in control.)

I admire Sidney as a person who makes mistakes, but tries to do better. Right now, I sense he’s very frustrated with his pitching results — more so than any Twins’ fan could be. He has high standards for himself as a pitcher. No one needs to criticize him because he’s always been good at ripping himself for bad pitches, stupid fielding, or anything else he feels he did wrong.

Read his analysis of his own games. He can be hard on himself even when he wins. (For example, in 2005, he beat Johan Santana for Baltimore – but what did he say post-game? That he felt bad for outfielder Jay Gibbons because he made him get an error when Sidney forgot to back up his catcher! I doubt many would have realized Sid’s mistake, but he felt bad about it because it made a teammate look bad!

What a horrible, disruptive non-team player Sidney is!

I just guess I am not a normal fan, so I like Sidney. I like his style of pitching, I like seeing his reactions to what happens on the field. I like his hair! I know he’s misunderstood by most, but he doesn’t usually let that bug him. He loves playing ball, he likes having fun, and he is his own person. He may fail too often for his talent level, but really, him just making the majors was more than anyone should have expected from him. Adjusting to life in pro baseball in a strange country had to be a challenge for an Aruban kid who started his pro career at 17.

And maybe his adjustments to new teams, villain status, and sobriety have been even more challenging. So while many demanded his release before spring training had started, I had hopes he would be able to change their opinions. He did, but four starts into the season, he was booed at home. Some seem to have pools on when he will be released. There seem to be campaigns to drive him out of town. What is wrong with people?

Why root against Sidney? He’s only trying to live his life and pursue a career he DOES STILL have the ability to succeed at! How exactly does he merit such cruel treatment? Because he has obvious flaws? Because he is a bad Fantasy pick? Because bald guys are jealous of his hair? Because he went to rehab for alcohol?

Not every pitcher with his stats gets this insane response. How can so many be hateful about a mere VERY human being? He’s got to be PURE EVIL and fans like me are his minions! Oh well…I’ve been called worse! And Sidney has been called worse yet!

This entry was posted on Saturday, May 12th, 2007 at 11:05 am and is filed under Guest post. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.