Hot damn, it’s April! Opening Day is just two short days away, and I’m not ashamed to say that I have planned my Sunday around the TV.
Most of Spring Training is done, most of the trades and signings have happened, most of the starting lineups for the season have been set. So, time to make your predictions.
Personally, based on the current set of injuries, I’m feeling better about the Indians’ odds of making the playoffs than I am the Dodgers. The Dodgers just feel exceptionally fragile to me, but we shall see. The Indians 5 looks solid enough that they felt they could send the talented (but somewhat erratic) Trevor Bauer to the bullpen to start the season. I’ll be interested to see how that works out.
Then I get to decide whether I’m going to adopt my new local teams. I feel like I’m leaning more toward the Orioles than the Nationals at this point, though the Nationals look much more geared for success this season. I’m definitely planning on attending games at both parks, whether or not I become a true “fan” of either team.
And I’ve got a Pittsburgh/Cleveland/Toronto road trip planned for this season that I’m thrilled about — Pittsburgh and Toronto will both be new stadiums for me, bringing the total to 15 and putting me at the halfway mark to complete my goal of seeing a game in every (current) stadium. If luck and finances hold up, I’ll find my way to Philly, the two NYs and Boston, too. We shall see.
I cannot express the joy I felt in my heart when I turned on last night’s game against the Orange County Angels of Poserdom and heard Vin’s voice. This is his last season. I may have to give up baseball next year.
Baaaaaaaseball’s back, baseball’s back, I love baseball, baseball, baseball! Lots of baseball, lots of baseball, lots and lots and lots of baseball!
Baseball hats and baseball gloves! Baseball on radio and on TV! Live baseball, baseball stories, baseball players! Home runs, strikeouts, great plays and stolen bases! Baseball! Lots and lots and lots of baseball!
Baseball!
Baseball!
Baseball!
Baseball!
I wrote a haiku about baseball!
Green diamond, timeless
Heroes clash upon the field
The greatest of sports
Many years ago I was just about there (of course it wasn’t 30 teams), but then everyone started getting new stadiums. I think the only current stadiums I’ve seen a ball game in are: Cleveland, Boston, Chicago (Wrigley), and Dodgers (I think they still play in what was called Chavez Ravine when the Angels played their home games there.)
But I also have old Comiskey, old Yankees, Three Rivers (Pitts), Riverfront (Cin), The old Brewers park, Candlestick, Shea, The Polo Grounds (Giants, Mets). The old stadiums in Atlanta, Kansas City, Baltimore, St. Louis, Minnesota, Cleveland. Giffith Stadium and RFK stadium (both in Washington DC) Briggs Field (Detroit), Forbes Field (Pittsburgh older than 3 Rivers), Shibe Park (Phi), and I’ve probably forgotten some.
I’m excited to get baseball back. I have great fear of both the Giants and the Dbags this year and correspondingly low hopes for the Dodgers but it’ll still be great watching baseball for the next 6 months.
As a long-suffering Cub fan, I’m more than a little apprehensive about their fate this season. Last year was a huge season for both the organization and the players.
The pragmatic part of me says that we’ve finally turned a corner, and we can end the drought within the next few seasons.
However, the other part of me knows that it’s just hype. But, god, there’s been a lot of hype with this team. And the Cubs find new ways to break my heart every year
I live very near to Wrigley and I’m ecstatic. I spend a lot of time in sports bars and you won’t believe how much Cubs hype there is this year. There’s almost no Bulls talk at work and there is less Blackhawks talk this year. It’s a Cubs year, but I’m ready for another Hawks Stanley Cup too.
I’m watching the Giants on TV right now (sorry, Dodgers fans) - in a real Major League ballpark, with real Major League broadcasters in the booth, and real Major League players on the field…it’s almost like a real Major League baseball game!
I’m cautiously optimistic about the Giants this year. I think that both Cueto and Samardzija will benefit from playing at AT&T Park, which would mean that the pitching staff should be solid, and the offense ought to be better than last year.
And, of course,…because *somebody *has to say it…it’s an **Even **Year!
Same here. As with you, the number of stadiums I’ve seen games in that no longer exist vastly outnumber the current ones. If it weren’t for Fenway and Wrigley, I’d be even worse.
Interesting time for the Astros, who seem to be one of the trendy picks to win it all this year. It’s been a solid decade since they went into the season with real expectations. I’m interested to see how Tyler White, the new first baseman, plays - he’s pretty much a one-tool player but that one tool is hitting which is pretty much the one that you want.
I’m extremely excited and a little sad about the start of the season. Upon the first “Play ball!” of the year, the Royals are 0-0. They may be defending World Series champs, but they’re back in the thick of it all over again. Everything’s back up for grabs.
But…everything’s back up for grabs! Baseball’s back! I’m headed back to KC next weekend for a game against the Twins (and to introduce my newborn to his grandfather, aunt, uncle and cousins). Baseball! BBQ! Boulevard!
The sport is in such a great position these days. There’s a tremendous amount of exciting young players, new teams are on the rise, pitching and defense is back in fashion. Spring has sprung, and the grass is green. Let’s play two!
I am unbelievably excited for the beginning of baseball!
I am trying to be rational, but I am also a Cubs fan. I believe in these guys, and they are so fun to watch. But it is super-weird to suddenly be the overdog.
The Dodgers are having bad luck, but I think they’ll still win the NLW.
I think the Angels should trade Trout, but there’s no way they’ll get a fair return if they do, so they’ll just be wasting his prime which makes me
I think any team could win the ALC or ALE, except maybe the Orioles. I’m rooting for my man Jose’s Blue Jays again. And ‘anyone but the Sox’ in the ALC of course.
I’m happy (knocking on wood) that other that the Dodgers there seem to have been relatively few stupid ST injuries, across the board.
The Dodgers are starting the season very broken, with Grandal, Kendrick and Ethier all on the DL for Opening Day. And for our 5th starter, we have a guy who will throw his very first major league pitch this Friday.
Oh, well. Everybody will be rehabbing with Rancho Cucamonga, which means I can see them for less than $75!
