Baseball Is Back!

[+ Lucky]

Baseball fans are breathing better as their favorite teams resume regular season play this week. For me, that's the Yankees, who I will watch on the YES network, courtesy of MLB.com.

Last year I bought the Extra innings package on cable that let me watch up to 80 games a week. But, I really only watched the Yankee games.

This year I have canceled my expensive cable tv package and watch shows on my TV through a Roku box.

Even MLB.com is cheaper. But, the games streamed to my TV often fade out as the picture buffers, but these are short, and I am grateful for the games.

 

The NY Post today has a great illustration by Leah Tiscione accompanying an article on how a Cubs fan learns to love the Yankees:

 

http://www.nypost.com/rw/nypost/2012/03/31/oped/web_photos/yankees--300x450.jpg

 

If it turns into a red dot, click this link to the article: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/how_learned_to_love_the_yankees_VokF3GfcUzASmcsHGf21XO

[KMEM]

Just in time because the NCAA basketball season finishes Monday night, the NBA play-offs have not begun and football is months away.

 

I like warm weather and baseball is generally a warm weather sport. Chipper Jones of the ATL Braves has announced this will be his farewell season (if he can get off IR). As always, now holds the promise of an interesting summer of baseball for each and every fan. Hope springs eternal, at least until June or so.

 

Best regards,

KMEM

[+ deej]

As always, now holds the promise of an interesting summer of baseball for each and every fan. Hope springs eternal, at least until June or so.

 

Cubs fans usually start the season saying "wait'll next year" but that refrain has special meaning this year. The Cubs have hired Theo Epstein, the general manager who broke the Curse of the Bambino in Boston, as Vice President of baseball ops, and his buddy/cohort Jed Hoyer as general manager.

 

They're undertaking a complete rebuilding of the organization from scouting and farm clubs to the front office and the results so far are encouraging. For the first time in my memory the Cubs have a front office with the talent and an owner with the will (and money) to field a winning team. The sweeping changes taking place are already showing.

 

But then there's that damn curse of the billy goat.

 

Time will tell.

 

This PlayStation commercial is almost cruel, but it sums up Cubs fans' opening day dreams:

 

[video=youtube;jJ3rndjje30]

[KMEM]

I have been a "closet" Cubs fan off and on for years and understand completely what you are saying. Too bad the Wrigley's either could not or would not do better. That family has a fascinating history, but that was then and now is now.

 

Best regards,

KMEM

[+ deej]

The Wrigley family hasn't been in the picture since they sold the team to the Tribune in 1981.

 

But the Trib was worse. They wouldn't spend anything developing the team as long as the seats were filled, and that's one thing you could always count on: rain or shine, win or lose, they'd sell all 38,000 seats for every game.

[leigh.bess.toad]

Unfortunately, Lucky, baseball has already been back for a few days. The first 2 games of the major league baseball season were played a few days ago in Japan.

 

Since when did the "American pastime" start it's season overseas like that? Why in the world would MLB start their season over there to no fanfare here at all.

 

Seems very odd to me.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/standings;_ylt=Aq09iGQPN1pH0TjD4n7XOQIRvLYF

[+ deej]

Why in the world would MLB start their season over there to no fanfare here at all.

 

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[Guest verymarried]

My enjoyment of baseball is directly proportional to the cuteness factor of the pitcher/catcher combo. I will be glued to baseball to watch my fav combo Tim Lincecum/Buster Posey.

[Michael Wayne]

Go marlins in the nl and rays in the al!

[whipped guy]

Definitely glad that the boys will be back on the field "for real" in a few days! Caught the end of Yanks/Marlins at their spanking new Miami facility today... must have been a wild one!

[+ Lucky]

Unfortunately, Lucky, baseball has already been back for a few days. The first 2 games of the major league baseball season were played a few days ago in Japan.

 

Since when did the "American pastime" start it's season overseas like that? Why in the world would MLB start their season over there to no fanfare here at all.

 

Seems very odd to me.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/standings;_ylt=Aq09iGQPN1pH0TjD4n7XOQIRvLYF

 

I did note that baseball returns to its "regular" season. The japan games were hugely successful as PR for baseball. Both Oakland and Seattle have players who are worshiped in Japan. The Japanese press sends hordes of camera men and reporters to follow them through the entire season. Japanese get up at all hours to watch US games. The visit to the earthquake site won universal praise. So, it's a plus for baseball, but yes, games played one week before the "regular" season starts are more exhibition games than anything else.

[+ Lucky]

A Taiwanese cutie made his major league debut against the Yankees tonight. He did okay after a shaky start, but they kept him in too long and he tired.

Now, he is in the shower...

http://tw.people.com.cn/mediafile/200808/05/F200808051132002804121740.jpg

Chen Wei-Yen

[Toulouse]

I'm a huge baseball fan, Lucky, and am so glad it's "that" time of year again! I'm a Braves fan through and through.

[KMEM]

Then you should be thrilled that Chipper came back from rehab last night and had an outstanding performance both fielding and hitting. It was interesting to see the old Colt 45 uniforms and see and hear some of their history.

 

Best regards,

KMEM

[+ Lucky]

I learned something strange last night. We were streaming the Yankee v Texas game on mlb.com to the television. I thought to pick up the Ipad to check the stats on mlb.com's At Bat feature and learned that the game on TV was two pitches behind the game on the Ipad. So, I started predicting what was going to happen. After about 5 pitches, the bf was getting irritated with me, wondering how I knew. I did tell him. But try this yourself- you can impress everyone with your clairvoyance, and then have them wondering how they can be watching the game live and be two pitches behind!

BTW, streaming the game does not always work so well. The game frequently has to reload, and sometimes we lost it altogether and have to start from point A again.)

[Rick Munroe]

But try this yourself- you can impress everyone with your clairvoyance, and then have them wondering how they can be watching the game live and be two pitches behind!

 

Does this little trick work for lottery drawings? Have your iPad at the newsstand and collect your winnings!

[seeker630]

I learned something strange last night. We were streaming the Yankee v Texas game on mlb.com to the television. I thought to pick up the Ipad to check the stats on mlb.com's At Bat feature and learned that the game on TV was two pitches behind the game on the Ipad. So, I started predicting what was going to happen. After about 5 pitches, the bf was getting irritated with me, wondering how I knew. I did tell him. But try this yourself- you can impress everyone with your clairvoyance, and then have them wondering how they can be watching the game live and be two pitches behind!

BTW, streaming the game does not always work so well. The game frequently has to reload, and sometimes we lost it altogether and have to start from point A again.)

 

Does this remind anyone else of The Sting?

[+ Lucky]

A Taiwanese cutie made his major league debut against the Yankees tonight. He did okay after a shaky start, but they kept him in too long and he tired.

Now, he is in the shower...

http://tw.people.com.cn/mediafile/200808/05/F200808051132002804121740.jpg

Chen Wei-Yen

 

And i have found just the match http://media.scout.com/media/image/92/924908.jpgup for him with Oakland A's backup catcher Anthony Recker:

[+ WilliamM]

A Taiwanese cutie made his major league debut against the Yankees tonight.

 

I am surprised that no one has ever mentioned World Series and National League Championship Series MVP David Freese of the Cardinals.

 

Even if I was not a baseball fan, I would have watched the World Series just to see David.

 

 

http://s3.amazonaws.com/newscloud-production/newscloudcms/2012/04/4f9b7b047fd0dc741c01c7f9/photos/1576344/original.jpg?1335589652

[+ Lucky]

Sex on a Stick Los Angeles Angels outfielder, 20-year old Mike Trout, gets a big write up in today's NY Times for his sensational start this year:

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/23/sports/baseball/at-20-years-old-the-angels-mike-trout-is-beginning-to-reach-potential.html

 

http://profantasybaseball.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/trout_mike.jpg

[+ Lucky]

The bf and I went to an Angels game last night to see Mr. Sex on a Stick, Mike Trout. We had decent seats, not near Trout's position, but he chose to do his pre-game stretching exercises right in front of us. I can attest that he has a very meaty butt!

The bf got an autograph from slugger Mark Trumbo. The stadium was packed with cute guys, but it was by far the whitest audience I have ever seen at a baseball game. Orange county!

[+ purplekow]

Baseball crowds tend toward the white side. Not as bad as tennis or hockey though.

[+ Lucky]

Well, I have been to games in Oakland and New York for comparison. Plus I have seen countless audiences on TV. I still say the Angels have the whitest crowd. Who goes to hockey games?

[+ Lucky]

I would love to have personally congratulated Buster Posey on his grand slam in Cincinnati.

http://ww2.hdnux.com/photos/15/51/75/3579725/3/628x471.jpg

 

 

 

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/giants/jenkins/article/Posey-celebrates-and-deservedly-so-3941470.php#ixzz298hJQGBR

 

As it is, I had to listen to the Yankee games on the radio because I don't have cable. Can't understand why TBS is given the games when so many cannot watch them.

But the Yankees won despite a lackluster offense, so I will make a point to see some of it on TV against Detroit. My entire family are Tiger fans, and I grew up a Tiger fan.

[RM]

Buster Posey is quite a player. I went to his first major league game, and he was great that day. Last night's game against your Tiger's was a disappointment. A's attendance has been poor most of the season, up until September, but the fans were crazy last night. Every time there was a 2 Strike count on the Tigers, the fans stood and cheered and waved 30,000 yellow towels. And it was louder when the A's were up.

 

No one left early even though the score was 6-0. When the game ended, the fans still didn't leave. They stood and cheered for the A's for over five minutes until team members came out of the dugout to acknowledge the fans.