Welcome to Snyder’s Soapbox, your weekly dive into the world of Major League Baseball. Here, I tackle topics that range from the hot-button issues shaking up the league to the quirky tidbits that add flavor to the game. Whether you find these discussions critical or trivial, my aim is to enlighten you—an offer that’s free of charge and guaranteed to make you a bit smarter. So buckle up, and let’s get started.
Sometimes, there are things that just stick in your mind, refusing to be forgotten. Such was the case for me on a particular October night. I was taken aback by an incident that seemed minor but was, frankly, quite astonishing.
Let me take you back to October 28, 2018. The Boston Red Sox had just wrapped up one of the most remarkable seasons in the history of Major League Baseball. With a staggering 108 wins in the regular season and a +229 run differential, their playoff performance was equally impressive, boasting an 11-3 record without ever facing elimination. The Red Sox fans who traveled to Dodger Stadium were understandably ecstatic. But then, echoing through the concourse, came the chant:
“Yankees suck! Yankees suck! Yankees suck!”
This is what I call “Little Brother Syndrome.” Deep down, Red Sox fans are painfully aware that, despite their success, the Yankees remain the more storied and illustrious franchise in baseball history. It’s a fact that continues to nag at them.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. There’s room for a shift in perspective.
I still just can’t believe it. How could you possibly let another team affect your psyche like this? The phrase “rent-free” might be overused, but this was totally a case of the Yankees living rent-free in the heads of these Red Sox fans. I felt sad for them. How can you not enjoy a championship without worrying about something you hate instead?
It isn’t just relegated to the Red Sox fan base. We see it all over the place. Mets fans obsessing over the Yankees. White Sox fans obsessing over the Cubs. It isn’t even just fans. How about the Brewers flying an incorrect “L” flag after they beat the Cubs? Boy, I’m shocked they got swept the next round after acting like the NLDS win was the top of the mountain.
I went to Indiana University. When I witnessed our football team do the unthinkable and actually win a national title, I can honestly say the absolute last thing on my mind was Purdue. Why would I think about anything other than just being happy about IU?
I don’t get it.
But it happens, and it’s a really bad look.
MLB Power Rankings: Braves riding the hot hand all the way to the best record in baseball
Matt Snyder
I’m not going to pretend fans of my favorite teams are immune. I saw plenty of IU people talking trash about Purdue on social media in the wake of our title. I’ve heard — and HATED — “Green Bay sucks” chants in Wrigley Field. It’s so stupid! And it screams “little brother,” even if the Bears won the NFC North and a playoff game last year. Stop doing that, please!
The internet is good for so many reasons. Hell, I wouldn’t have this job without it. I’m grateful for its existence. This area, though, is one of the areas where it’s bad. Little Brother Syndrome permeates every corner.
A team wins in a walkoff? A bunch of naysayers show up in the comments. A fun player makes an incredible defensive play? There’s always THAT GUY on Instagram to explain that even a Little League player could’ve made that play and everyone who is happy is actually a dumb loser. Someone posts on Facebook about a ballpark they love, but then here come the fans of the rival to explain to everyone why that park is actually a dump and the worst place ever and all the fans are morons and don’t know ball. Have you ever heard that this particular ballpark is where fans cheer for fly balls as if they were home runs for a second? Yeah, it happens in all 30.
The nadir is the constant obsessing over the hated rival. If I’m an IU fan and IU is not playing Purdue, I’m sorry, but I just really don’t give one iota of a crap what Purdue is doing. But we’ve all seen it, right? Insert any team with its rival into this discussion. We see people all over social media making comments about the team they hate, often more frequently than about their favorite team. I saw a Cardinals account last week make a snide remark about Pete Crow-Armstrong when the Cardinals won a game on a robbed home run catch. It wasn’t against the Cubs.
That’s Little Brother Syndrome behavior to a T.
It must be an utterly exhausting way to go through life.
I realize I’m far from qualified for such a position, but if I were your life coach, I’d suggest simply ignoring everything you hate in sports. Sports are merely a vehicle for our entertainment. Why make yourself angry over that? The key to a fruitful life is happiness. Why do you work? So you can put food on the table and a roof over your head, right? But why? So you can be comfortable. Why? Because comfort makes us happy. Everything is all about being happy.
Chanting about a team you hate after your favorite team wins the World Series? Hey, I’m sure some people would argue that’s their happy place. For me, I think it’s sad. Drop the obsessing with the rival that isn’t even in the series and instead just be happy that your team won.
