I'm talking baseball

[puppetmaker]

Well the BoSoxs came out swinging and won the first one but that doesn't give them the series, just a leg up on the next game. Remember the AL pennant went the distance and I won't give up on the Rockies yet.

With Joe Torre given a choice of taking a rather substandard contract or leaving the Yankees and he took the high road and hit it at the same time, there has been a lot of talk on the various sports radio stations about who is next in the role of punching bag for Steinbrenner. Currently it is looking like Don Mattingly is the front-runner with Pena being the dark horse. Whoever gets it is getting some major slack from the front office. They are going on record that they are not expecting a World Series the first year for this manager or possible even getting to the play offs. They are willing to give the person time to develop the team and his style with the team. I'm wondering how long that is going to last. I think was annoys me the most is that whoever is next is getting a much fairer shake than Torre ever got his entire career by the Yankee organization.

If the Yankees are smart, they let A-Rod go off and be fabulous elsewhere. But this is the Yankees we are talking about.

The Mets have to get their house in order. They need pitching especially on the back end of the game. Sure they did really well this year only to lose it in the last week of the season but the pitching was shaky most of the year. And I don't think first base is sorted out yet. They have potential and lots of it but they need to not fall apart when they need to keep it together.

The Braves have seen this before. Most of the 70s were not kind to the Braves. But in the 90s, having built the farm team in the 80s, they came back and took it all. They dominated the National league for years. Then there were some bad trades and other moves and now the Braves are back in the 70s trying to figure out how to win ballgames and keep butts in the seats.

The Cubs fans have seen the light at the end of the tunnel and it turned into the on coming train. I predict that the Cubbies will be in the World Series sometime in the next 4 years but I'll be surprised if they win. Again it is that potential thing that has not been fulfilled.

Then there are my poor Orioles. My first baseball team which would consider it a good season is they finished above .500. Someday they too will be in contention.

So what are your thoughts on the baseball season in general or your favorite team specifically?

I am grateful for the game of baseball.

Comments

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

I'm a lifelong Red Sox fan, and I know to take each series one game at a time. A win (even a blowout win) in game 1 does not mean anything other than that the Sox won't get swept in four.

And I can feel for you and your Orioles. I have a basic philosophy that I'm happy if the Sox are above .500 at the All-Star break (this philosophy grew out of years of watching the Sox be unable to string two wins together).

[redaxe.livejournal.com]

(Seen via friendsfriends)

Working backwards, the O's won't contend next year (nor any for a while; to compete with the Yankees and Sox, they probably need to become the Yankees and Sox, with either the world's greatest farm system and coaches or a well-spent huge budget). However, they have to be better than this year. I especially look forward to a healthy year by Adam Loewen, who hurt himself early in 2007, after shining at the end of 2006. If he's healthy, he could be really special.

The Mets need stability not only at 1B, but at 2B. And don't even MENTION pitching :-) But watch their outfielders; they could have the fastest outfield in baseball next year, starting Beltran, Gomez, and either Endy Chavez or Lastings Milledge (I think Moises Alou is a free agent; if not, then he does start in LF).

The Braves are always dangerous, but losing John Schuerholz is going to hurt LOTS.

I really hope the Cubs win one of these years. They have some talent, and if they can avoid burning out their big arms, they might actually win in that division. And while they are winning, Steve Goodman gets more airplay, which is always a good thing.

I, too, am grateful for baseball. Thanks for inspiring some thoughts, yourself.

[kradical.livejournal.com]

If the Yankees are smart, they let A-Rod go off and be fabulous elsewhere. But this is the Yankees we are talking about.

Huh???? No, if the Yankees are spectacularly stupid they let the greatest all-around player in the game go. If they're smart, they back up a Brinks truck to his door.

The only way it would be smart to let A-Rod go is if he actually opts out of his contract, because then the Texas Rangers aren't taking on half his salary. The smart play would be to negotiate an extension of the existing one so he won't opt out.

But he's the best player in the game, bar none. Losing him would be a huge loss to the team (indeed, to any team).

[popfiend.livejournal.com]

Red Sox.

I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.

/Yankee fan