So, Baseball.

Its into the season where I feel I can afford to waste enough time to start watching baseball again. American league, it looks like everybody in the entire league, including the Yanks and KC are conspiring to make the Blue Jays the top team, and it sure seems like they deserve it. Young guys, playing hard, with a few veterans to keep them a bit grounded. The other night, Donaldson hustled out an infield hit and beat the throw to first. One of the reporters asked the manager in the post about his hustle, and the answer was, "This is baseball. That's how its supposed to be played." I like that, and I think I might be able to take off my Tigers cap and join the rest of the country on the Jays bandwagon.

I fear, though, (not really, since I'm a Cards fan) the world series might just go to whoever comes out of the NL central division. Jeez, the Cubs are 9 games up on the third place wild card team, and they are third in the division.

Lifelong die hard Cubs fan.

I want this to be our year. I don't think it will be just yet. I'm actually scared of the Mets, and I feel like no one else is. Plus the Dodgers. Two potential cy young pitchers on one team is frightening.

Oh, and yeah--it sucks that the Cubs or pirates could be first in any other division in either league, and will be knocked out in one game.

Life long Pirates fan, I hope they can make it but I've always liked the Cubs so I'm conflicted. With moving to West Virginia a couple months ago Ive been able to watch Pirates games way more often so that's been fun. I'm looking forward to some good games this post season no matter what teams there are.

My father, who passed in February, was a lifelong Mets fan since their inception in 1962. (To his dying day, he was PO'd that the Dodgers left Brooklyn.)

It is bittersweet to me that the Mets are doing so well.

All I know is the Cubs are going to win the World Series. BTTF2 said so.

Oh hush now! The Dodgers bought this season so you all can step aside!

(The Dodgers have a larger payroll then the Yankees!)

I find the lack of salary equalization in baseball a bit irritating (I mean how much must it suck to be a Brewers fan!). Historically I was a bit of an A's fan, but in general I don't really care much. Do you realize, they used to have bat day, in Oakland! Imagine that concept today!

I do not like the idea of the Dodgers winning because of how much they spent. I have to say though I have enjoyed seeing the Yankees not doing good for the past few years despite spending huge amounts of money.

So I pull for the underdog.

Dodger fan since '55

and since this was an odd yr, really shouldn't have been sweating the SF Giants …

looking like first round could be Dodgers v. Mets

aircooled wrote: Oh hush now! The Dodgers bought this season so you all can step aside! (The Dodgers have a larger payroll then the Yankees!) I find the lack of salary equalization in baseball a bit irritating (I mean how much must it suck to be a Brewers fan!). Historically I was a bit of an A's fan, but in general I don't really care much. Do you realize, they used to have bat day, in Oakland! Imagine that concept today! I do not like the idea of the Dodgers winning because of how much they spent. I have to say though I have enjoyed seeing the Yankees not doing good for the past few years despite spending huge amounts of money. So I pull for the underdog.

baseball seems to be the only one of the major stick/ball sports that can make it work without having to rely on a salary cap … just because you spend more doesn't mean you're going to win …

Texas, Houston, KC, Blue Jays …

mtn wrote: Lifelong die hard Cubs fan. I want this to be our year. I don't think it will be just yet. I'm actually scared of the Mets, and I feel like no one else is. Plus the Dodgers. Two potential cy young pitchers on one team is frightening. Oh, and yeah--it sucks that the Cubs or pirates could be first in any other division in either league, and will be knocked out in one game.

Ah, Cubs fans.

You guys do an amazing and eloquent job of making Red Sox Fans look like a bunch of whiners.

The curse of the goat >>>> the curse of the Bambino. Yet few cry and whine about it. No, they just sit out in the bleachers, hang our with the ivy, and drink beer.

That's a fan.

This from a lifelong Reds fan, who love to remind Red Sox fans that the game 6 home run in '75 that was so dramatic still ended with the Reds winning the World Series.

Snore......

Ooops, I fell asleep just reading about baseball. Seriously how is it still a thing in todays world where there is SO MUCH going on that people will watch 5 minutes of excitement jammed into 3 hours.

not EVERYONE is as OCD as others …

KyAllroad wrote: Snore...... Ooops, I fell asleep just reading about baseball. Seriously how is it still a thing in todays world where there is SO MUCH going on that people will watch 5 minutes of excitement jammed into 3 hours.

Way better than football at least.

This is the Cubs year I tell ya!

Although I'm a longtime Cubs fan, it always makes me a little nervous when they are doing well.....and they are looking damn good.

Something about four horsemen, a lamb and seven seals.........

and to KyAllroad---- it's ok if you don't appreciate baseball. Fortunately millions of people still appreciate the game and all of it's idiosyncrasies. The game hasn't changed much in over 100 years, for good reason---- people like it the way it is. If you don't--- good for you---- go spend your time with something else. Your lack of interest isn't really relevant.

In reply to Joe Gearin:

the biggest problem for me, is that baseball HAS changed... WAY too much … I still like the game … the DH sucks …inter league play sucks … (no mystique left for the WS) …the All Star Game being used to determine home field advantage … sucks

plus, living on the east coast and being a west coast team fan, sucks …

now you kids get off my lawn

You 'Muricans seem to be ignoring the Canadians in your midst. I see the Jays as a real threat this year.

Won't break my heart if they lose, but...

Streetwiseguy wrote: You 'Muricans seem to be ignoring the Canadians in your midst. I see the Jays as a real threat this year. Won't break my heart if they lose, but...

I'm ignoring the American League in general--not because I think the NL is better, just because I haven't watched any of the AL other than the White Sox this year.

wbjones---- True, there have been a few changes, but at least they are still using wooden bats--- as they always have. The game is generally the same game that was played 100 years ago.

Compare that to Golf, or Tennis where they allowed technology to run rampant, and fundamentally change how the game is played. Tennis is radically different these days, with 130mph serves, and short volleys due to racket technology. Golf has also changed so much that even a marginal player can hit the ball 300 yards, due to club and ball technological advancements.

If you jumped into a time machine and headed back 100 years and went to a baseball game, you'd recognize it as the same game played today. I like that. Most other sports have allowed technology, or safety concerns to fundamentally alter the way the game is played.

go Cubs!

I like all the people pissing and moaning that there's no playoff tickets for sale that haven't watched a Cubs game in years.

I'm a life long mets fan. I look forward to a series win I can remember. (2 in 86)

As far as the Cubs, For all the things for BTTF2 to get right...

neon4891 wrote: I'm a life long mets fan. I look forward to a series win I can remember. (2 in 86) As far as the Cubs, For all the things for BTTF2 to get right...

The management for the cubbies must be fans of BTTF2, because they've spent A LOT this year attempting to make it happen.

Let's go Mets! Nuff said.
/thread

It looks like the red sox will end the season the best they can after getting eliminated, spank the Yankees in ny.

Go Dodgers.

Go whoever plays the Cards in the playoffs.

I'm a Detroit Tigers fan. What an epic meltdown of a season.

In general I haven't been happy with the way baseball is headed. Instant replay making a slow sport even slower, extra wild card slots, and a play-in game?! Get off my lawn indeed.

bastomatic wrote: In general I haven't been happy with the way baseball is headed. Instant replay making a slow sport even slower, extra wild card slots, and a play-in game?! Get off my lawn indeed.

They've actually sped up the game. They time the pitchers between pitches, they time the inning changeovers, the game is speeding up. Much better. Of course, the first game I ever saw in person the Human Rain Delay (Steve Trachsel) was pitching, so I always go back to that as my standard.

As for the play-in game, it is necessary because the extra wild card slot is necessary. Why is the extra wild card slot necessary? Because without it, then the 3rd best team in Major League Baseball (BOTH LEAGUES) would not have made the playoffs. Your way, without the extra wild card team, then there are 8 teams in the playoffs, and 6 are worse than a team that did not make it. That ain't right.