Last year’s World Series champions reside in this tight division, along with the fabulous choke artists formerly known as the Mets, and two highly competitive teams in the Braves and Marlins, all of whom could contend in another division. Alas, only one team can emerge on top. After the jump, let’s separate the chaff from the stalk and see what happens.
Archive for the 'Baseball' Category
05
Apr
09
This Year in Baseball – NL East
05
Apr
09
This Year in Baseball – AL West
Despite being only a 4-team division, the AL West hasn’t been particularly competitive for several years; last year the Rangers finished in second in the division but a robust 21 games out of first. This year, the balance of power swings back to Oakland as the other teams in the division are just not up to snuff. Join us after the jump as our eyes look to the west, and dream.
The Chicago Cubs are the clear favorites in the division, everyone else is vying for second; or more accurately, third and fourth place. The other 5 teams are middling and unlikely to be involved in any way whatsoever with the post-season unless they go to the games as fans. After the jump hop on board as we go in-depth into the mediocrity that is the NL Central.
Decided last year by a one-game playoff, the AL Central featured 4 probable contenders last season, that is until the Tigers and Indians proved not up to the task. This season, the competition within the division should be pretty fierce; the White Sox, Tigers, Indians and Twins could all be contenders and the Royals are a hot pick to shock the world. Any team in this division could finish first, or just as easily last. After the jump join us as we venture into the wild wild world of the AL Central, the most maddening division to figure in baseball. And tomorrow, we go into the NL Central, NL East and AL West, stay tuned!
03
Apr
09
Everyone Loves a Makeover!
MLB network has been firing on all cylinders, pumping out pretty strong programming, particularly for such a nascent entity. Now the network is planning on taking some of the most iconic moments in baseball history and give them a makeover. The six historic moments — like Willie Mays’ over-the-back catch and Jackie Robinson stealing home in the 1955 World Series –will serve as lead-ins to the Thursday night games the network will be broadcasting. MLB will take real footage and combine it with new footage of actors in a studio, mixing in computer-generated stadium backgrounds. The end result features a “sort of replay on steroids” which also includes new camera angles that weren’t possible at the time.
“It’s just meant to be fun and not a scientific recreation,” says MLBN president Tony Petitti. “It’s not meant to show if Jackie Robinson was really safe or out.”
The replays, only about 35-45 seconds include all sorts of modern shots that fans are now accustomed to, including zoom-ins on the catchers and cable-cam shots.
Check out one of the newly made-over spots by clicking this link, it features Bob Gibson and his 17 strikeout performance in the 1968 World Series. Overall, it looks kinda cool, if obviously messed with.
Also, here are my predictions for the names of the inevitable “Web Gems” and “Touch ‘Em All” knock-off segments that MLB Network’s MLB Tonight will certainly present. “Flashing the Leather” and “Going Yard.” You heard it here first.
And all three men are there to pay attention to balls. As they did last season, the same 3 religious men were invited to the Phillies stadium to bless the balls that will be used on Opening Day. Since, clearly, God was on the Phillies’ side last season, it was a prudent move by the Phillies brass to bring back the same men, they seem to have God’s ear…
Vodpod videos no longer available.
For the record, I consider my own balls to be quite blessed.
03
Apr
09
This Year in Baseball – NL WEST
From the best division in baseball to what might be the worst, we now head over to the National League West. The problem with the NL West is that really ANY –besides the Padres– team could take this division, and the whole field is wide open. Join us after the jump as we take a trip out West.
03
Apr
09
This Year in Baseball
“People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.” Rogers Hornsby
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With opening day tantalizingly close, we’re going to present our predictions/evaluations of each division from now until Sunday’s opening night when we’ll present our playoff and award winner predictions. Since I know the dear readers would be lost without my prognostications, I am only too happy to serve them up to you. Hopefully you will have lots of thoughts about my evaluations and I urge you to chime in with your own comments, let the great debates begin!
American League
East; Central; West
03
Apr
09
This Year In Baseball – AL EAST
We’ll start off with the American League East, home to the best three teams in all of baseball, (sorry South Korea) and the likely winner of the American League Pennant. Join us after the jump for the full divisional roundup.
03
Apr
09
We’re Going to Kansas City!
Yesterday the Kansas City Royals and their new food provider — and minority Red Sox owners — Aramark held a press conference to show off some of the new food options available this season at Kauffman Stadium. The new fare looks delicious, none more so than this 24 ounce bone-in buffalo rib-eye with onion rings. Yum!
The rest of the new options all look delicious too, and with many analysts projecting a leap forward for the Royals, who knows, maybe the awesome food dishes will match up with the play on the field. In the meantime, I like my buffalo steak medium rare.
02
Apr
09
How Mommy and Daddy Met
Corey Hart jacked a home run yesterday off Danny Haren but the real hero of the play was an alert fan who tracked the ball off the bat and makes a great play on the grassy knoll. The ball gets knocked out of his glove by the ground, but the fan manages to do the more important thing, saving the bikini’d hottie who was sunbathing from getting an unexpected ball to the face.
This is how romance starts; reminds me of the end of the cinema classic, Speed.
Sandra Bullock: You didn’t leave me. I can’t believe it. You didn’t leave me.
Keanu Reeves: Didn’t have anywhere to be just then. I have to warn you; I’ve heard relationships…based on intense experiences never work.
SB: OK…we’ll have to base it on sex, then.
KR: Whatever you say, ma’am.
02
Apr
09
Tigers Pull the Ol’ Switcheroo
For yesterday’s game with the Braves, in a team-unity measure, Curtis Granderson got his Tigers teammates together and they decided to trade uniform tops before their game. Magglio Ordonez went out in Hall of Famer Al Kaline’s jersey, while Justin Verlander traded in his top for Gerald Laird’s. Newly named closer Fernando Rodney played kiss-up a little, going out to the mound as Fernando Leyland.
“Fernando asked if he could wear my shirt,” Leyland said. “So I let him. I had a pretty good change-up, didn’t I?”
When Leyland was asked about Magglio’s day, after he went 0-4, Leyland quipped, “Not a Hall of Fame day.”
[Det News]
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