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.
Archive Page 96
05
Apr
09
This Year in Baseball – AL West
With the nightlife scene stagnant in Edmonton, fans organized a rally pleading for Oilers coach Craig MacTavish’s dismissal. Over 8,800 people belong to the group on Facebook, but when media first showed up for the rally it numbered a mere 10 people. Fans are upset that the team has lost 6 of their last 7, pushing their already precarious playoff hopes further away. MacTavish’s job for now though, is safe, team owner Darly Katz delivered the clearest possible message of confidence; he sent a text message to the Bob Stauffer, the team’s radio analyst to give to MacTavish reading “MacT is not going anywhere.”
I feel warm and tingly.
05
Apr
09
Sean Avery, Always Full of Class
Sean Avery is back in Gotham and he obviously grew as a person since his suspension and dismissal from the Stars. Case in point, when the Bruins were in town Saturday, Avery went out of his way to express a neighborly congratulations to goalie Tim Thomas on his new contract extension. For some crazy reason, Thomas freaks out and goes nuts and attacks Avery and then it becomes a full-on melee. It’s so nice to see people better themselves, well done Sean.
04
Apr
09
This Man Hates the Ground!
The unfortunate thing about being angry in tennis is that the most of the ways to express it involve just smashing your racket to pieces, and that’s cool initially, but then you’re just some dude in white shorts carrying a broken racket over to your gym bag. Any thoughts on this Mr. Federer?
04
Apr
09
Colts Stadium May Have to Close
Only a few short months after opening the shiny new Lucas Oil Stadium, the head of the Indianapolis Capital Improvement Board said that without an infusion of $47 million the stadium might be forced to close.
The State Senate Appropriations Committee has passed a bill that would raise taxes on alcohol statewide, restaurant meals and hotel stays in Marion county, and tickets to sporting events in Indianapolis but that is facing a tough fight in the larger senate.
A major part of the cost overruns have been the higher-than-expected costs to run the new stadium. The previous Mayor, Bart Peterson, didn’t allocate enough funds, partly because they didn’t do a proper estimate of how much it would cost to run the new stadium.
According to the president of the CIB, Bob Grand, “If you want me to give you worst-cases, I mean the worst-case scenario is we could be out of money and the facilities would be, arguably, closed.” Of course, since he couched it with “arguably” and the state paid $620 million to build it in the first place, this scenario seems unlikely.
Fortunately, the Colts who are the only real tenant of the building have promised to chip in money and are suitably grateful to their fans who built them a stadium so they could be charged money to come visit. Or, instead, Colts President Bill Polian responded with a courteous, “We look forward to working with you and your colleagues in the Legislature in taking a look at this problem and in sharing with you data and information that we will make available to you.”
I hope they close the place to the Colts and turn it over to the citizens of Indianapolis to turn it into the most bad-ass Lazer Tag joint in the country.
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!
This video starts out nice, the Utah Jazz dancers seem to have nice moves, and delectable bodies; then the camera pans to this winner in the stands. I’m less enthused. However the man has moves, you can’t argue with talent after all.
[Youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KxE_C8JCsY]
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
The Slanch Report 
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