Well, not like, ALL baseball. I know from baseball. I grew up a huge baseball fan. I’m originally from San Francisco and my family are Giants fans and the only reason my mom would allow us to have dinner in the living room was if there was a game on TV. I was like, obsessed. I used to have the MLB internet radio thing so I could listen to Giants games online, since I haven’t actually lived in the Bay Area for a long time now. Those morons have made me cry, guys. Last day of the season, 1993, Saloman Torres. Goddamn you. Seriously, I hate them.
Then, some stupid person (I forget who) decided I should go off and live in Eastern Europe for two years. I came back last year and I have NO IDEA what is going on in baseball. My parents offered to take me to a Giants game last summer, but I watched some games on TV and they were terrible and I didn’t know who any of the players were. I haven’t watched a single game this year.
Today I was in a cafe and there was a TV showing SportsCenter or something and it made me sad that I am not following baseball anymore. But I have a two and a half year gap in my knowledge of the game and trying to fill that seems exhausting. So I turn to you guys. Can you give me a sort of summary of what’s going on in baseball? What teams are good, what teams are lousy (probably the Giants), any players I should be watching?
NL Dodgers - best record in baseball right now, despite one of their best players, Manny Ramirez, on a 50-game suspension for a positive drug test for a hormone treatment frequently used by steroid users Phillies Mets Brewers Cardinals
(BTW, your Giants are currently at .500)
AL Yankees
Red Sox
Blue Jays
Rangers
Tigers
Particularly pathetic teams: Nationals (worst record), Rockies (just fired their manager), Astros, A’s, Indians. Also, the Devil Rays, while not pathetic, are under .500, after winning the AL last year.
Zack Greinke (Royals starting pitcher) is 8-1, with an ERA just over 1.
Your Giants have a couple of interesting pitchers:
Randy Johnson is 45 years old, and currently at 299 career wins.
Tim Lincecum won the Cy Young last year. He’s a little guy with an unorthodox delivery and a neat story – his father, an engineer at Boeing, worked with him to develop his delivery.
As a Cubs fan, I would have to say pretty much the same thing about my team. Granted, we made the playoffs, but after being swept out both times in the first series – especially last year, when we had the best record in the NL and arguably the best Cubs team in a few generations – I almost wish we just outright played .500 ball and didn’t even bother. I see the Cubs this year are granting my wish.
Kyla - I was in your boat about 8 years ago. When I decided to come back to baseball, I did so via fantasy baseball. It’s an immediate way to shore up any gaps in what players are good, what teams are doing what, etc. There’s always a few leagues here on the SDMB, ranging from beginner to advanced, and people are more than welcome to join.
