DANNY ONEIL

The Eye-Opener: Irrational anger a tell-tale sign of Fatal Fan Syndrome

Jul 21, 2017, 9:00 AM | Updated: 10:52 am

Felix Hernandez turned back the clock on Thursday. His team couldn't turn up the offense. (AP)...

Felix Hernandez turned back the clock on Thursday. His team couldn't turn up the offense. (AP)

(AP)

Fatal Fan Syndrome was formally diagnosed in Seattle in 2013.

Abbreviated as FFS, it was typified by a fatalistic belief that Seattle sports were destined to inflict maximum suffering upon the fans. It was typified by an underlying belief that Seattle would forever be denied a championship. The primary symptom was a specific involuntary reaction to any mention of Seattle’s Super Bowl loss to Pittsburgh, which would prompt the FFS sufferer to weave a tapestry of expletives around the name Bill Leavy followed by a swift kick to an inanimate object.

FFS was successfully treated in Seattle in 2013 with a Super Bowl championship that let everyone know it was OK to not just believe you were going to win, but to expect it.

A residual case has been diagnosed two blocks south of CenturyLink Field, the most recent manifestation being Thursday’s 4-1 loss to the Yankees in which Felix Hernandez delivered a vintage performance only to receive vintage run support, which is to say the Mariners didn’t score while he was on the mound.

Of course they didn’t. Because it’s simply not possible for the Mariners’ lineup to produce at the same time Felix is pitching well. Not in Seattle. Either you get good Felix and no offense or a good offense and a sputtering Felix.

Oops. Sorry. That was the FFS talking.

I’m trying to be rational about this.

I’m trying really, really hard.

I’m trying to focus on the fact that Hernandez had his second sterling outing in his past three starts, and what that will mean going forward. I’m trying to focus on the number of hits the Mariners had – 10 of them – as opposed to their one measly run and to remember that’s how baseball works sometimes. That being unlucky for an evening doesn’t equate to being cursed for a lifetime.

I’m trying to think about the outfield defense that was so good, and reminding myself that this was the first game back from an exceptional road trip that included two extra-innings victories, and that you simply can’t overreact to one game.

But I’m having a hard time being rational, and judging from my Twitter feed, I’m not the only one in Seattle feeling that way.

This is typical of FFS: an irrational fatalism about the fortunes of the team and a tendency to overreact to a single result. In an effort to treat this outbreak of FFS, we are soliciting both the symptoms you have suffered from and especially looking for successful treatments you have tried.

The first step to recovery is admitting to a problem. Well, that and scoring some runs tonight.

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The Eye-Opener: Irrational anger a tell-tale sign of Fatal Fan Syndrome