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It's that time of year again. Spring is in the air, and baseball is back!

1. Who's your team?

2. How are they going to do?

As we saw yesterday, the Cubs are clearly going to continue to average 16 runs a game and sweep through the regular season...okay, maybe not, but I really think, even without Sammy and Moises, this lineup has a chance to be better than last year's version, mainly because ALL of our hitters can hit for contact and average, instead of swinging for the fences on EVERY SINGLE PITCH. My favorite part about yesterday's game is that we built up 9 runs before anyone hit a home run. Anyways, I think the Cubs have a realistic chance of beating the Cards this year and getting to the playoffs.

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Hip-Hop QOTW:

"Yeah, where I'ma start it at, look I'ma part of that
Downtown Philly where it's realer than a heart attack
It wasn't really that ill until the start of crack
Now it's a body caught every night on the Almanac"

"Game Theory"
The Roots

Being from Cleveland I am of course an Indians fan and there is alot of optimism around for the team this year. The positive is that the AL Central is up for grabs between the Indians, Twins, White Sox and maybe even Tigers. The negative, it is impossible for any AL Central team to get the Wild Card so it is either win the division or nothing. Like I have heard from many sports writers, if the Indians stay healthy they have the best shot at the AL Central, but it will be interesting to see what happens.

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War is for the participants a test of character; it makes bad men worse and good men better. - Joshua Chamberlain

U sir R a n00b >:-( - Cactuar

I think the Twins are still the front runners in the AL central, however, after Santana they're pitching is such a huge dropoff is ridiculous. All this "Brad Radke is an outstanding #2 pitcher" business has to stop.


The Cubs variables for this season are going to depend on two things:

Their pitchers staying healthy.

and

Getting production from their outfield.

If Prior and Wood stay healthy, they should be in good position to win most of their games. And going from an outfield that had Sosa and Alou to Jeromy Burnitz and Todd Hollandsworth is just a bit of a downgrade to say the least. Hopefully Corey Patterson has learned that leadoff hitters are meant to hit for contact, and average.


We shall see. I really hate all the Cardinal supporters. They're offense is outstanding yes, that middle of the lineup is frightening. However, I still don't think their pitching staff is. If Mulder turns back into form, that should help things there. BTW, I am foreseeing a HUGE dropoff for the Astros offense. All of their players are ragged and old, and Berkman is on the DL.

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The clouds ran away, opened up the sky
And one by one I watched every constellation die
And there I was frozen, standing in my backyard
Face to face, eye to eye, staring at the last star
I should've known, walked all the way home
To find that she wasn't here, I'm still all alone

-Atmosphere "Always Coming Back Home to You"

1) The Atlanta Braves

2) Win the NL East

The braves have kept pretty much the same field roster as last year, but this years big change is the move of John Smoltz from a closing pitcher back to a starter. The club is consistent enough to win their division yet again, but I've been watching them too long to expect any more.

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"That Light has bestowed upon me the greatest black magic!"

In every sport, I just root for Toronto. Live near it, so might as well avoid any hassle the locals might give me.

Based on the Blue Jays performance in the past, I doubt they'll do much better this year. But, they had a nice spring training record so I'm hopeful.

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This is my world: (Got my second chapter up, 3rd Chapter about 80% complete)
http://www3.sympatico.ca/daniel876/homepage.html

1) Yankees

2) HOPEFULLY, stand alone as the champions in October. But after last year, anything is possible.

And it's after last year that I love what I'm seeing at the beginning of this year. New acquisitions (Johnson, Pavano) show up big on their debuts. The offense picks up where it left off. And most importantly, a 2-0 start on the verge of sweeping the Sox in the Bronx. So it's a good start to the season, but of course there are still 160 games to play.

I also love watching the Mets and the Pirates...

I have pretty high hopes for the Mets. And after watching Pedro tear open the Reds lineup in his debut yesterday, it shows that he has not lost a step. He, Kris Benson, and Victor Zambrano (and Steve Trachsel if he stays consistent) will make for a great rotation. And Carlos Beltran earned his paycheck. 3-5, HR, 3 RBIs yesterday. I think he'll get some consideration for NL MVP this year. But as it showed yesterday, the achilles heel for the Mets will be their swiss cheese bullpen (ie: too many holes). That's what's going to keep them from being a great team this year. The starters will be good and the offense will be there, but the bullpen will blow a lot of games this year. I would like to see the Mets surprise everyone and take over the NL East. But realistically I think they'll give chase in the NL Wild Card race, but fall 4 or 5 games short.

As for the Pirates....


I predict another cellar-dweller year . At least before I die, I would love for the Pirates to have an ending record above .500. And dare I dream of 3rd place in the NL Central?

This post has been edited by Sabin on 5th April 2005 20:44

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"When I turn the page
The corner bends into the perfect dog ear
As if the words knew I'd need them again
But at the time, I didn't see it."

~"This Ain't a Surfin' Movie" - Minus the Bear

Definetely the Yankees. No matter what you say, nobody can beat the Yankees. I AM A TRUE BRONXITE!!!! YANKEES ROCK!!!

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"No matter what happens, I will always be with you... forever." ---- Pocahontas, Pocahontas

"Only those who are already at the top are rewarded without trying."----- Delita Hyral, Final Fantasy Tactics

http://www.ffshrine.org/fft/fft-midi/1-42-back_fire01.mid ---- My favorite FFT battle song

well, i used to like the blue jays because my uncle carlos had been with them for quite a long time, but now that hes a marlin im gonna be rooting for them. i dont like baseball all that much, but i gotta root for my tio. hopefully that team can get back to the championship caliber they were a few years ago!

This post has been edited by baralai888 on 6th April 2005 00:45

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"The answer is, of course, that it would be best to be both loved and feared. But since the two rarely come together, anyone compelled to choose will find greater security in being feared than in being loved."
- Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince

Oaktown baby. I've been an A's fan since I was tiny. You know how as a kid you always cheer for the team that you play little league on? Well, I was an A, so it just made sense. I was Jose Canseco for Halloween two years in a row.

...

Anyway, it'll be tough for them to make the playoffs this year. The Angels are solid, and are my favorite to win it all actually. The Yankees/Sox loser will be the AL wildcard, so it looks like another year of rooting for my No. 2 team, Boston.

Living near Atlanta, I'm compelled to be a Braves fan since I can watch every game and they're local, AND they got my favorite player (Tim Hudson) in the offseason. But I still can't seem to get into them.

The braves and their hammer thing...it's just so irritating.

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The clouds ran away, opened up the sky
And one by one I watched every constellation die
And there I was frozen, standing in my backyard
Face to face, eye to eye, staring at the last star
I should've known, walked all the way home
To find that she wasn't here, I'm still all alone

-Atmosphere "Always Coming Back Home to You"

I live in San Jose, CA and so I have a couple options. A's or Giants

Giants. Probably because the rest of my family likes the Giants and watch their games whenever they come on.

I'm also a Braves fan (growing up I wanted to be a pitcher=Braves pitchers own).

That being said, I can't watch a full game. It's just too slow-paced, ten minutes into the game, I'm like, "Where's FFT?"

It's hard for me to watch just any avergage baseball game if I don't care about either team. If I've got a fantasy baseball league going, or $$ on the games, now then I'll rattle off the career stats of the Royals' best Triple-A reliever. As much as I love baseball, there's just too many games to care about an April contest between the Blue Jays and Orioles.

This time of year it's all about college baseball- conference play has just started (my Auburn Tigers are looking hot) and the games matter. After Omaha when it's closer to the All-Star break and playoffs, then I'll tune back to the majors. Unless I catch my A's on ESPN that glorious time once a month or so.

I'm a fan of the Red Sox, and have been ever since they lost to the Yankees in the 2003 ALCS. (Yes, I shared in the joy that was the 2004 World Series, which was one of the few things in my life that 'came out right' that year.)

I'm pretty much a newbie to baseball (such as being advised by my friend while watching a game not to call runs 'points'), but I'm starting to learn it.

(I also played softball on a YMCA kids' team when I was very young.)

Edit: Oops! Thanks for noting that, R51. *changes*

This post has been edited by Glenn Magus Harvey on 6th April 2005 12:19

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Check the "What games are you playing at the moment?" thread for updates on what I've been playing.

You can find me on the Fediverse! I use Mastodon, where I am @[email protected] ( https://sakurajima.moe/@glennmagusharvey )

Quote (Glenn Magus Harvey @ 6th April 2005 02:57)

I'm pretty much a newbie to baseball (such as being advised by my friend while watching a game not to call runs 'points'), but I'm starting to learn it.

Let's start by pointing out that the Yankees played Boston in the 2003 ALCS, not the World Series. Teams from the same league can't meet in the WS. After that, though, I suppose you're off to a good start.

The I love how one game into their season, the Cardinals are already a half-game ahead of the Cubs. Seriously, though, the Cardinals were a solid, solid team last year who quite simply fell apart when they ran into a superior team in the World Series. The Red Sox will not go again, I don't think, but I think the Cards have a shot, if they get their starters happy and maybe find some sort of bullpen. They've already got the bats, and even if they don't even make the playoffs, the bats make me want to watch... (highlights. I don't have the time or attention span for a full game these days)

So, here's my pat answer.

1. StL
2. NLCS, possibly WS, which they will lose again.

Oh, and Tidu, the feeling is mutual. Cardinal fans find you folks up there to be the great, unwashed ignorant mass of MLB. Except Gears. There was a poll, and it was found that we like him.

This post has been edited by Rangers51 on 6th April 2005 11:34

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"To create something great, you need the means to make a lot of really bad crap." - Kevin Kelly

Why aren't you shopping AmaCoN?

Braves. Been that way ever since I was a kid.

I rarely ever watch the games, though. I hardly do for any sport (except basketball every now and then), but during baseball season I make a mental note to at least check the scores and read the article covering Atlanta's games the next day.

I think they have a good shot. Hell, they always have a good shot.

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Words of Wisdom:

If something can go wrong, it will.

If anything simply cannot go wrong, it will anyway.

If there is a possibility of several things going wrong, the one that will cause the most damage will be the one to go wrong. - Murphy’s Law

Boing! Zoom! - Mr. Saturn

Quote (Rangers51 @ 6th April 2005 06:25)

Oh, and Tidu, the feeling is mutual. Cardinal fans find you folks up there to be the great, unwashed ignorant mass of MLB. Except Gears. There was a poll, and it was found that we like him.

Ha. Well actually, by "cardinals supporters" I wasn't referring to Cardinal fans. I meant all the analysts and the like that are ready to parade them into another World Series before the season even got underway. I guess that's just how it goes though the year after.

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The clouds ran away, opened up the sky
And one by one I watched every constellation die
And there I was frozen, standing in my backyard
Face to face, eye to eye, staring at the last star
I should've known, walked all the way home
To find that she wasn't here, I'm still all alone

-Atmosphere "Always Coming Back Home to You"

Quote (Tidu-who @ 5th April 2005 21:45)

The braves and their hammer thing...it's just so irritating.

Would you be refering to the "tomohawk chop"?

I'm afraid I'm a little depressed about this season. Smoltz gave up 7 runs in 1 2/3 innings on opening day. I'm sure he'll improve but sheeeesh what a crappy start.

This post has been edited by The Ancient on 7th April 2005 12:50

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"That Light has bestowed upon me the greatest black magic!"

The Mets, baby! And they're gonna suck!

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Some ghost of me might greet my son
the day he is delivered.


Eternal Sleep, Track 1-1: The Blue Planet

I've been an Orioles fan for several years, getting really in to it when I was eight seven or eight and Cal Ripken's pursuit of the consecutive games played record was garnering a lot of attention. My dad's been an O's fan since the days of Brooks Robinson in the 60s, and he almost certainly had a hand in my Orioles fanship (and probably my Redskins fanship as well). I completely lost faith in the Orioles (and to a degree, baseball in general) after Pete Angelos and Syd Thrift destroyed them immediately following the back to back ALCS heartbreakers in the late 90s. The only things that keep me interested in baseball nowadays are the playoffs and World Series, particularly because the past four years have been AMAZING playoffs-wise, starting with the time the Diamondbacks won and the Yankees modern dynasty comes screeching to a halt .

Edit

grammar mistakes

This post has been edited by laszlow on 7th April 2005 15:59

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this is a blog mostly about comics and videogames
END SPOILER

My team: Boston!

Outlook: Probably the wild card again.

They'll win their fair share of games, since they're capable of waking up their bats, they just need their pitching to wake up and not be injured before they can really go out there and make a dent in the AL east.

My other team is my fantasy team, which looks incredibly good this year and is currently in first place.

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Hey, put the cellphone down for a while
In the night there is something wild
Can you hear it breathing?
And hey, put the laptop down for a while
In the night there is something wild
I feel it, it's leaving me

Quote (L. Cully)

The Mets, baby! And they're gonna suck!

That's the spirit!

My Team: The White Sox!

Outlook: Looks very good, and they have a 4-1 start so far.

The pitching is awesome this year, and the batting order is very balanced. No huge superstars are in the lineup but all of them are decent hitters. Our #9 guy had at least 20 home runs last year.

Cleveland has some decent pitching but when they played the Sox their offense was pretty weak except for right at the end of the last game in the serries. The Twins don't appear to be overwhelmingly powerful either but we'll see what happens as the season progresses. It should be a good race in the AL central.

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FFXI (Siren server)
Tauu the Windurstian Tarutaru!
White Mage & Paladin

The Cubs all the way! Chicago have had some bad luck recently and have been unable to win the pendant. As a fan of the "Cubbies", I think this will be their year!!

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"Thought I was dead, eh? Not until I fulfill my dream!"
Seifer Almasy


"The most important part of the story is the ending."
Secret Window


"Peace is but a shadow of death."
Kuja

Quote (FabulousFreebird @ 11th April 2005 10:44)

The Cubs all the way! Chicago have had some bad luck recently and have been unable to win the pendant.

I guess, as long "recently" begins with 1909.

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The clouds ran away, opened up the sky
And one by one I watched every constellation die
And there I was frozen, standing in my backyard
Face to face, eye to eye, staring at the last star
I should've known, walked all the way home
To find that she wasn't here, I'm still all alone

-Atmosphere "Always Coming Back Home to You"

True, but I'm still going with my home team!

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"Thought I was dead, eh? Not until I fulfill my dream!"
Seifer Almasy


"The most important part of the story is the ending."
Secret Window


"Peace is but a shadow of death."
Kuja

I think I'm the only person from NY that likes Boston. You have no idea the scorn I've suffered.

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M777: lightweight 155mm howitzer
3/11 rules over all artillery!

Quote (bahamut0013 @ 11th April 2005 21:16)

I think I'm the only person from NY that likes Boston. You have no idea the scorn I've suffered.

I'm a Yankees fan in New England. I think I have a general idea.

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"When I turn the page
The corner bends into the perfect dog ear
As if the words knew I'd need them again
But at the time, I didn't see it."

~"This Ain't a Surfin' Movie" - Minus the Bear

1: Red Sox

2: We got our win, I'm patient enough to wait another couple decades.

Quote (Sabin @ 12th April 2005 07:48)

Quote (bahamut0013 @ 11th April 2005 21:16)

I think I'm the only person from NY that likes Boston. You have no idea the scorn I've suffered.

I'm a Yankees fan in New England. I think I have a general idea.

Yeah, but there's a difference: you deserve yours.

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M777: lightweight 155mm howitzer
3/11 rules over all artillery!

"Life 2!"

And with that, the thread is revived at the All-Star Break. How's your team doing? Is your All-Star a deserver or a manager's (read: pity) pick?

In my case, my A's are finally back around .500. Bad news: the Angels are 19 games over .500. Ouch. That said, it's not ridiculous to think they might compete for the wild card. So there's still hope in a rebuilding season; the young guys are doing alright.

My adopted teams (teams with starters that played for my glorious Auburn Tigers) are doing well too. Boston (Mark Bellhorn) is around the top of the AL East. The White Sox (Frank "The Big Hurt" Thomas) is on fire. Frank is averaging a homer every other game (but is still batting .250...?) Atlanta (Tim "Legenday Winning Percentage" Hudson) is heating up too.

The A's All-star, by the way is RP Justin Duscherer (sp? WHO..?) Definite Manager's pick.

Hopefully your teams are still in the running for the post-season and your All-Stars earned their tickets. To all (any?) Royals and Rockies fans out there: better luck next decade.

Well my yearly Cubbie heart is already beginning to shatter before they even reach the All Star break. 2 and a half weeks ago, they were leading the Wild Card. Now they're something like 7 games back. 8 game losing streaks will do that to you. Thankfully, they finally sent Corey Patterson back down to the minors where he belongs. I think it would have been hilarious if they sent down Corey and brought up his younger brother Eric to replace him. Gotta love sibling rivalry.

And Derrek Lee is hurt at the moment, so that's a real sack of crap. By far the MVP of the league.

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The clouds ran away, opened up the sky
And one by one I watched every constellation die
And there I was frozen, standing in my backyard
Face to face, eye to eye, staring at the last star
I should've known, walked all the way home
To find that she wasn't here, I'm still all alone

-Atmosphere "Always Coming Back Home to You"