Should Rangers Fans Boo C.J. Wilson?
C.J. Wilson returns to Arlington, Texas to face his former team, the Texas Rangers, for the first time as a member of the Los Angeles Angels after signing on with L.A. in free agency this past offseason. There is an internal debate raging amongst Rangers fans regarding what the greeting should be for the straight-edge starter from southern California. The opinions range from standing ovation to boisterous boos.
Wilson was first drafted and signed by the Rangers in the 5th round in 2001. After undergoing Tommy John surgery, Wilson made his major league debut with the Rangers in 2004. He spent the next four seasons as a key member of the team’s bullpen, averaging 59 appearances per year. In 2010, Wilson fought for and won a position in the Rangers starting rotation. He would go on to produce 9.1 bWAR over 2010 and 2011, far and away the best pitcher on two American League champion Texas Rangers baseball clubs. If you were to select which players were the most important to the Rangers winning the American League the last two years, Wilson would certainly be in the the top five.
On the other hand, C.J. Wilson also has a reputation for getting under the skin of opposing fans. His overall demeanor is often construed as being arrogant and egotistical, which most fans understandably react to in a negative manner. In 2011, the left-hander had this to say about Oakland, “I hate pitching there. The mound sucks, the fans suck. There’s no fans there.” During Spring Training 2012, Wilson purposefully tweeted out Mike Napoli’s phone number as a prank. Additionally, Wilson signed with the Angels this offseason, who are the Rangers biggest rival. It wasn’t a surprise that Wilson signed with the Angels, nor was it his choice to not return to the Rangers, as Texas never offered the 31-year old a contract. Nevertheless, that is just the way that sports work; Wilson puts on a different red jersey, and he is now seen as the enemy.
Perhaps the larger question here is if any professional athlete should ever be booed. After all, they are just trying to do their job on the field the best way they know how. Imagine if someone came to your workplace, and anytime you did something they didn’t agree with, they were there to jeer you for your entire workday.
I will not be at the game that will face C.J. Wilson against Yu Darvish for the first game of 2012 between the Angels and the Rangers. If I were, I don’t believe I would bring myself to give Wilson a standing ovation. I also know that I wouldn’t be one to boo Wilson. I am an advocate of the silent treatment for Wilson.
I tip my hat to C.J. Wilson for the work that he did while he was a member of the Texas Rangers. I respect him as one of the best pitchers in the game today. He was also a big part of the transformation of the Texas Rangers franchise from the perennial last place team in the AL West to the now perennial World Series contenders, so he certainly does not deserve to be booed. However, when he steps on the field in Arlington, it is battle time. A hat tip, game face, silent respect, and gritty determination are the proper response for the return of C.J. to the ballpark. Any more, or less, may distract from the bigger issue at hand – the fight for the A.L. West division.
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