"You know going in that they're going to say the worst things they can and we're going to say the best things we can," said Hart. "That's the way it goes. I have thick skin. I know a lot of fans don't like me. But I have fans that do like me."Oh, the problems with Corey Hart. I don't think there has been a player - one of the core players, even - whom the fans have turned on faster. The amount of criticism he has been getting over the last year or so has turned Yostian, and it is all deserved.
You see, in Corey Hart's mind he's a really good baseball player who doesn't take terrible angles to flyballs and doesn't strike out on the same low-outside slider every single game. In Corey Hart's mind he is still batting the delicious .892 OPS that made him one of the game's rising athletes and a first-time All-Star. In Corey Hart's mind 2008 and 2009 don't exist, and because they don't exist he expects and demands a $1.55 million raise.
In the real world, where Corey Hart obviously does not reside, we have stats. Stats show how good of a baseball player you are, or how bad of a player you are. In this new found reality Corey Hart has gotten worse each of the last two seasons to the point where he just goes to the plate and flails hopelessly at pitches. Brewer fans remember watching you play games, Corey. You really aren't very good.
Just look at that quote at the beginning: "You know going in that they're going to say the worst things they can and we're going to say the best things we can," said Hart. "That's the way it goes. I have thick skin. I know a lot of fans don't like me. But I have fans that do like me." OK, Great Corey! What exactly are you going to tell them? "I, Corey Hart, deserve a $1.55 million raise because I've continually improved each year in the majors and I expect to improve again this year." To which the arbitrator would reply, "Get the hell out of my courtroom!"
"I know a lot of fans don't like me." Really, Corey? Why do you suppose that is? It's because you are the exact same player you were when you were a rookie trying to fill Carlos Lee's shoes. You haven't gotten better, you've gotten worse. You are Bill Hall. The league has figured you out. You can't hit sliders, you are a terrible baserunner, you are barely average on defense, and flat-out it just seems like you just don't care. See, Corey? Fans don't like you because we think you don't care, and this whole "Aw shucks! I'm not going to change a thing" mentality is why. You have been mediocre for a while now, Corey, and you refuse to change your approach.
And now, for the second year in a row, you are the last player under team control to settle on a contract. You are consistently thinking you are better than you really are, in reality. I think starting tomorrow I'm going to go to work and consitently suck at my job for two years and when the boss calls me into his office and asks just what the hell is wrong with me and demand that I wise up and change what I'm doing I'll say, "Seriously, boss? I'm not changing a damn thing until I get my deserved 20% raise." Then I'd proceed to take a dump on his desk and then I'd be fired and probably end up homeless. But no, the baseball equivilent to this scenario nets you a $1.55 million raise. Frankly Corey, you just seem really stupid.
Oh, and your tattoos are god-awful. That's also why fans hate you.
